The issuance of the euro or Euromark has always been Hersmann's goal. This was not only for the sake of facilitating the post-war leadership of the world economy, but also for the needs of the world war.

Historically, two of the three main enemies that Germany faced, Britain and the United States, possessed an "international hard currency" that could be used to buy supplies for the war effort from abroad with paper money.

Germany, on the other hand, does not have its own "hard currency", and if it wants to get supplies from abroad, it must either rob or exchange.

The precondition for robbery is occupation, and the occupation of many countries that are not ready to annex will create many unnecessary burdens for Germany. Moreover, the productivity of the occupied countries will inevitably become low.

The premise of the exchange was that Germany had enough capacity to produce goods for exchange, such as machines, airplanes, automobiles, weapons, and so on. But wartime Germany did not have such production capacity.

Therefore, as early as the twenties, Hersmann began to lay out the euro and European banks, hoping that by issuing a super-sovereign European currency, Germany could also have its own "hard currency".

If the "euro" or "Euromark" could appear at a time of German triumph, it would most likely be accepted by the European countries that relied on German protection. A German-led European Union would emerge on the continent at the same time that Germany defeated Britain.

"Leader," said Hersman slowly, "the role of money is enormous, and we should not ignore it, not only as a proof of trade exchange, but also as a symbol of capital. National Socialism should guide capital, not eliminate it, nor control it completely. The land under German rule could be exploited by absorbing the capital of friendly European countries. For example, investment in new steel plants and mines in western Ukraine could be drawn from Sweden, Switzerland or the Netherlands. If we use imported machinery and imported capital to develop Western Ukraine, then we ourselves will not pay anything.

Moreover, the issuance of the 'Euromark' had the enormous advantage of allowing Germany to obtain the resources needed for the war effort from neutral countries such as the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland by means of debt rather than occupation. Keeping these countries neutral would allow Europe to continue to receive resources from all over the world without Germany having sea supremacy......"

In Hersmann's view, the countries of Europe are now divided into two kinds, one is the enemy country that needs to be integrated into Germany in whole or in part, or the enemy country that needs to exercise military control after defeat - Germany is the backbone of the future European Union, of course, it must be as strong as possible, but it must not annex land indiscriminately.

The other is a country that does not need to be incorporated into Germany.

For the former, it is natural to occupy, such as Ukraine, Lithuania, and Poland on the eastern front, as well as Belgium and France on the western front, and the British mainland across the sea from the European continent.

The latter, on the other hand, should not be occupied as much as possible. Because once occupied, it will not only cause problems in control, but also increase the shortage of supplies throughout Europe. It is most advantageous to keep these countries neutral and to use "Euromarks" and "German bonds" to obtain their supplies.

"But it's not easy......," said Adolf. Hitler listened to Hersmann's words and frowned slightly. This is not the first time he has heard Hersmann say this, in fact, the Army Policy Council controlled by Hersmann has been promoting "European money" and "European integration" for the past decade or so. In Europe in 1939, especially in Western Europe, there were really not many adults who did not know these two concepts.

But there are not many people who think that "European integration" and "European money" are really achievable. German leader and Chancellor Adolf. Hitler was equally unconvinced that this was possible.

"If we defeat France on land in 1940 and Britain in the Mediterranean in 1941," Hersmann paused and accentuated his tone, "then nothing is impossible!" ”

Defeat France in 1940 is for sure! And defeating Britain in the Mediterranean in 1941 did not seem too difficult. As long as these two goals are met, Germany looks like it is locked in the win, and it will become the dominant player in Europe (except for the Soviet Union).

In this case, the establishment of the "European Union" or the "European Community" and the issuance of the "Euromark" are nothing more than the establishment of a new order under German leadership.

The more pro-German countries such as the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and even Switzerland will not be much resistant to it - after all, the German-dominated European Union is a very large common market.

As for France and Belgium, the two defeated countries, joining the European Union and participating in the issuance of the Euromark were directly written into the peace treaty.

Moreover, Hersmann would also propose a "European Colony Sharing Plan". The overseas colonies of France and Belgium would become shared colonies of all of Europe, and the African colonies that would be recovered by Germany in the future would also become shared colonies of Europe.

"Leader," Hirschman concluded, "we have been preaching the idea of the European Community for the last dozen years, and I think many will approve of it. Because the current Europe is losing its world hegemony. The United States on the other side of the Atlantic and the Soviet Union in the east are both 'intercontinental countries' with almost unlimited resources and potential, while the so-called European powers are actually some 'middle powers'.

If Europe's 'middle powers' unite, it will be a super-powerful Europe that can overwhelm the United States and the Soviet Union and continue to dominate the world. Otherwise, Europe will lose power, and then all its colonies. The glorious and powerful colonial empires of the past will no longer exist, and the world will be dominated by intercontinental powers such as the United States and the Soviet Union.

So what we are going to do now is not a war to destroy Europe, but a struggle to unite Europe. Germany must first become the leader of Europe through the war, and then it can lead the whole of Europe to continue to lead the world! ”

What Hersmann is talking about now is actually Germany's war goal, and the means to achieve it. It's somewhat similar to the historical Horsbach Memorandum (which Hitler proposed in November 1937, which is not available on this time and space), but it is much more modest. Much of it can be published directly in newspapers and told to the people of Europe. Because if Germany's goal is achieved, it will be beneficial for the vast majority of Europeans (except for the Soviets and the British).

Hitler listened quietly until Hersmann had finished expounding all his views, and then asked faintly: "So, what are we going to do now?" I mean, what do we have to do before defeating France? ”

The defeat of France did not seem to be so fast, the German army exposed a lot of problems in the Polish campaign, the soldiers needed to be strengthened, the equipment needed to be repaired and upgraded, the officers needed to change their thinking, and it seemed impossible to prepare for a few months.

"Of course, let all the neutral countries in Europe treat us as good people, and Britain and France as bad people!" Hersman smiled and said, "I think the principle of 'confirmation of neutrality' will allow everyone to see the true face of Britain and France." Leader, is this going well? ”

Hitler nodded and said with a smile: "Very well, Ribbentrop has already convinced the Dutch and the Italian leader, the Netherlands will play the accuser, and the Italian leader will play the arbiter...... It's a character he loves to play so much, and the audience will be the whole world! ”

……

"Comrade Pavlov, don't be sad, the working people of the whole world are looking at us, the pseudo-socialists defeated Poland in 12 days, what is the problem with us defeating Poland again in 1 month?"

On the outskirts of Minsk, in the headquarters of the Brest Rapid Cluster, divisional political commissar Fominech was giving the cluster commander Pavlov a refueling blow.

Although the weather was already cooler, Pavlov's bald head was covered with beads ......of sweat.

He was originally the commander of an armored group, but a few days ago with an order, he became the commander of a "rapid group".

It is said that it is a fast cluster, but there are three infantry armies that are not fast at all: the 4th Infantry Army, the 16th Infantry Army, and the 23rd Infantry Army. In addition, the 6th Cavalry Army, the 6th Tank Brigade, the 22nd Tank Brigade, the 25th Tank Brigade and other four independent tank brigades, as well as the temporary patchwork of the 15th Tank Army (3 tank brigades, 1 motorized infantry brigade) and the 25th Tank Army (the same organization as the 15th Tank Army) formed the so-called "Brest Rapid Cluster".

Compared with the troops originally assigned to Pavlov, he now has nearly three times more troops, three more fully equipped infantry corps, two tank brigades, and one cavalry division. The number of troops reached 200,000, with more than 1,300 tanks and more than 1,500 cannons.

But so many troops, tanks and artillery were not given for nothing. According to the order of the Belarusian Front, the Brest Rapid Cluster had to advance 350 km in 1 month and take the Brest Fortress, the largest stronghold of the Polish army east of the Bug River!

No one dared to imagine such a thing in August - 350 kilometers in a month was already considered fast, and a fortress garrisoned by more than 100,000 people would have to be captured. How is this possible?

But now, the Germans have defeated Poland with more than 1 million troops in 12 days, what dare Pavlov say impossible?

Pavlov sighed, raised his wrist, and looked at the time. It's already 2:30 a.m. Moscow time on September 15. He nodded: "It's almost, let's start attacking!" By 25 September, the vanguard was to advance to Brest...... We're pressed for time! (To be continued.) )