Jackboot Britain: The Alternate History - Hitler's Victory & The Nazi UK! (22 page)

“Peace with the British Empire is vital,” he continued. “Capturing their army en masse led to political confusion and the overthrow of the warmongering criminals, which allowed for Operation Sealion’s success. Even so, dealing with their Navy alone almost cost us, let alone the disaster had the troops we did been stranded with no reinforcements or supplies! Four countries against one – an island in disarray less – and we still got lucky. It’s clear that aircraft production would have continued in defiance of any armistice – weeks later and even the Luftwaffe may have struggled. We are not infallible, my Reichsführer, and Reichsicherheitsleiter. Armed resistance in England, even if it is partisan, ragged and doomed to fail, will be costly, economically and politically. We need stability, and peace, to establish the New Order.”

Himmler was silent. His usual attentiveness was heightened, if possible, by the as-yet unspecified news that his SS subordinate was integral to the Führer’s plans. Heydrich for his part noted the catch-all title the Führer had used for him as he glanced from Himmler, “Reich Security Leader.” Had the old man slipped that in to bait Himmler, perhaps to stoke rivalry? Musing on the odd handle, Heydrich briefly considered its use with his lengthier ranks and positions. It was fair game now, of course.
Führerprinzip
.

“Herr Heydrich, as the Reichsführer reported to me in detail, you already implemented a Security Police system in place operating behind the Wehrmacht’s frontlines of resistance pockets, for clandestine special actions in the cities and townships.”

Heydrich’s answer was readily available and detailed, as was customary.

“Yes my Führer. Einsatzgruppen were set in place under SD-Brigadeführer Dr Six of the Reich Security Main Office, for unleashing at the moment of choosing. SD overseers were appointed, and Gruppenführer Nebe was drafted there due to his enormous policing experience, in a senior role. Meanwhile Dr Six took control of the major police forces in the occupied zones on behalf of the Reich Security Police and SD, and the transitional period was quite smooth.”

Heydrich enjoyed declaring Six an ‘SD Brigadier-General’, of ‘his’ security office. He could sense Himmler’s discomfort growing with the irrepressible confidence of his powerful junior in the presence of the old man himself. And Nebe? He was the Kriminalpolizei chief, appointed by Himmler. Heydrich had attached him to
Einsatzgruppen Britain
as a Gruppe commander, subordinate to a doctor of lesser rank, a Brigadier of the SD.

The Blond Beast felt his infallibility increase, swelling powerfully in the presence of Hitler and Himmler and fighting hard to prevent his body betraying the force of his pride.

“Some of the Special Arrests List have been completed, quietly,” Heydrich reported. “Others identified as being known subversive elements have gone underground; others still, such as Lord Halifax were seen as vital in the capitulation and integration process, and as such were allowed to remain in an operational capacity, under close observation. But all in all, the focus remained on smashing the resistance movement across towns, villages and rural areas stretching all the way north to the Scottish cities. In the towns and cities themselves, the majority of the people are resigned to the new order. The army continues to hunt the remaining pockets of bandits and their special hideaways. Cleared from settlements and aid, they will not survive into winter.”

“They should not have survived this far!” Hitler screamed.

The piercing shriek echoed slightly through the great, high-ceilinged halls of the house. Then the leader calmed himself, and his fists unclenched.

“Of course, you have done as excellent a job as ever, Heydrich. But I need you there in person. I have lost what little faith I had with the military commander. They are not the bearers of the National Socialist political will. Bormann and Reichsmarschall Göring agree, that Reinhard Heydrich as
Reichsprotektor of Great Britain
is the best means to achieve the complete pacification of our enemies while maintaining the profitability of our coming arrangements and total efficiency, with no untoward disruptions to that isle.”

Heydrich had expected it – even putting the term ‘Protector’ in Bormann’s mouth, although Britain was not a Protectorate, nor an Axis partner, an occupied Commissariat or Gau – post-armistice, it simply remained a prickly thorn in Germany’s side; huge swathes of land occupied, including the main southern chunk, while sections of the populace continued to refuse the new order. But even in knowing what would come from the Berghof meeting, Heydrich still revelled in hearing the Führer bestow more power on him, delighting in his spoken word. Basking in the hated language of bureaucracy, and political jargon of the Reich.

Himmler again had to recover; after all, his chief SS deputy had just officially been granted administrative jurisdiction over a nation; a great nation, no less. “That is a most brilliant idea, Führer. General Heydrich is best placed to perform this vital task for the Fatherland. But the disruption to –”

“Oh, nonsense,” Hitler cried, waving him away with a dismissive, impulsive jerk. “The Security Main Office has nominal chiefs of each department. Herr Heydrich’s bureaucratic excellence means that the proper delegations will ensure minimal disruption. And you are still present in Berlin as Chief of SS and Police.”

That mollified him somewhat. Heydrich had consolidated the criminal and political police forces, Kripo and Gestapo, and married them to his SD intelligence service, seizing the position of INTERPOL President just some weeks prior and merging it all into the Reich Security Main Office. But Himmler remained SS chief and overlord. The unified German police as a whole came under the office of the Reichsführer-SS.

Hitler eyed them keenly, trying to ascertain if there was a change in their dynamic. He loved to stir rivalry between his lieutenants. It was the irrefutable law of Darwinism; the strong shall survive. It was the perfect metaphor for the new Germany.

But, he needed Himmler. The man was too capable an administrator, too loyal to leave by the wayside to be cannibalised by his iron-hearted subordinate. However brilliant he was. However cunning; the most dangerous enemy of the Reich’s enemies.

“Herr Reichsführer,” Hitler began, smoothly, “I know your plans to establish a
Britisches Freikorps
with Heydrich’s hostage army were underway as soon as the SS were granted custody, yes?”

“Yes, my Führer. There were considerable difficulties with the Wehrmacht, until Field Marshal Keitel stepped in to acquiesce to Waffen-SS jurisdiction on this matter.”

The Führer nodded, and the glint returned to his manic eyes. Even Heydrich found it difficult to not stare into the depths of his mania, and the suppressed rage of his hypnotic power.

“Now Himmler, let me outline the importance of this,” Hitler leaned in, his voice taking on a steely edge, as it always did as he lived in the future. “SS actions in Britain will help determine the face of the New Order in the World. Upon it could rest the very fate of our world struggle, with Russia and the Americans to consider.
There are only two possibilities
; the triumph of the German Reich, or the complete subjugation and annihilation of its people! The SS
must become
the
driving force
of this vision, as we shape the world to our ends and become masters of our time, to ensure the
mastery of our future race
. You must ensure Britain is culturally cleansed, and set to establishing the correct system of integration and cultural harmony between our peoples. To achieve it…,” and the Führer’s intense monologue resumed its conversational tone, “… you will go to England yourself with Heydrich. You can direct the
Ahnernerbe
personally, ensuring that this historic task is completed on behalf of our cultural integrity. Go with Heydrich. You are commanders of the most valuable mission of the Greater Reich. The two tasks are one and the same. They are intertwined. For cultural purity we must have security, and we need security to ensure cultural purity.”

Himmler and Heydrich both nodded. Evidently, Heydrich realised, he wasn’t entirely free of the Reichsführer’s protective arm around his shoulders. The usual idiocy that would ensue; no doubt the Reichsführer would commission some archaeological digs and make vapid noise about cultural matters; SS authority would be alluded to in political language, and the office of Reichsprotektor would require a boost. Himmler would not stop there. More digs, with an obedient press nearby. There would be some tedious public spouting about the discovery of ancient links between the Teutonic peoples and the pre-and-post Roman English; a bunch of old Saxon and Viking history dredged up. Even
Hitler
mocked such Teutonic lunacy, he knew from Göring, whom Speer had told. Thus, the Reichsführer would
ensure the mastery of our race
in England.

Meanwhile he, Heydrich, Reichsprotektor, would suppress all subversive elements and simultaneously keep the population sweet. The real work would fall to him, as ever;
The Dustbin and Handmaid of the Third Reich
. At least, finally, he was now being granted the power by official decree. His value was acknowledged. Heydrich was now a Minister.

“What of my work here in Germany?” Himmler asked the Führer, whose back was turned to them, gazing out of the window. Once more, Hitler waved his hand impatiently.

“The Großbritannien question must be solved. You have been delegated considerable work to capable administrators. The Reich is stable.”

Hitler returned to his two paladins, and began pacing in front of the marble fireplace. Himmler sprang to his feet, but the Führer waved him back down. Heydrich was reclined, at ease. Hitler continued his speech. “Popular opinion for the government has never been higher. All we ever had to do was take France and reattach East Prussia. Even the workers’ districts have renounced the Kozis. Taking Paris avenged the memory of Versailles. Our position is secured,
forever
. In the here and now, working towards the racial and political reliability of a National Socialist Britain is of paramount importance, and this is my unalterable will. You are the Reichsführer-SS. No Wehrmacht general has any power over you, to impede you in your great and historic task for the Reich.”

The SS leader bowed his head. “It is a great honour, mein Führer.”

Hitler gazed beyond them, again, his eyes misty and unseeing. “We need England, my
Reichsicherheitsführers
. Controlling Europe with a British Empire amenable to German goals gives us a foothold in every corner of the globe. Frederick the Great could only have dreamed of this triumph. We have succeeded where the Spanish Empire failed… where Napoleon and the French failed! We took on the English, and won; our troops patrol British soil. But,” the Führer lowered his tone, and began pacing:

“… It is unnecessarily bleeding the Reich; intolerable to waste time and blood on Saxon brothers with the real ideological and racial enemy to our east. Why fight the British when need an
alliance
with this strong empire, by pacifying their volatile island? We need the resources and support of this white European power in our noble struggle against the freemasonry of Jewish-Bolshevik world tyranny! There are
only two possibilities
; we succeed, or we fail, and if we fail in this task then the Fatherland and Reich face complete and total annihilation by the Bolshevik menace…”

There was a brief silence following the Führer’s pronouncements that the SS men felt was appropriate to the profundity of his statements, and the seriousness of the Reich’s predicament.

Heydrich waited until Himmler shifted in his seat, showing signs of preparing to speak, before he found his own voice. “My Führer, just to clarify with regards to operational policy; is the decision to attack the Bolsheviks unchanged, and set in stone?”

With the Blond Beast’s interjection, Himmler’s own question died on his lips, and Heydrich sensed his punitive master’s irritation rising. There was a tension in his poise and movements. Hitler, on the other hand, was shaken from his reverie, and fixed unwavering eyes once more on the tall, pale ‘Hangman’ that commanded his police.

“It is our sacred duty for Germany and the thousand-year Reich. The Judeo-Slavic untermenschen and their poisonous freemasonry, the insidious weakening of culture, the seizing of institutions, the subversion of economy – the WARS they cause, the violations of our German blood – the
untermenschen
are our mortal enemy, and nowhere is this more apparent than England!”

He was almost frothing at the mouth, his calm tones having risen to the trademark yell of a Nuremberg rally speech. Himmler was mesmerised. Heydrich, utterly immune, wondered why the Führer bothered when there were only he and the Reichsführer-SS present. But Hitler continued ad nauseum, nonetheless.

“England has been slower than the French to embrace the Reich’s work in its struggle against world Jewry, but they will come to join forces with us, in time. Before democracy softened them, they were revolutionaries in the field – England expelled the tribe in 1290! Look at their greatest writers; from Shakespeare, with
Shylock the Jew
, and Dickens, with
Fagin the Jew
; Marlowe – if indeed an entirely different playwright to the former – with
Barabas The Jew
, and Chaucer’s Jewish rabble; England’s greatest artists and literary minds have always known what Germany’s Wagner’s and Luther’s and Hohenzollern’s have known and warned; the Jew is a vile corrupter of the nation!”

The Führer took a deep breath, which Heydrich suspected was theatrical. Nevertheless, he drank in the Führer’s every word, as ever. It was useful to do so. Himmler, for his part, sat rapt.

“England’s creative minds are a model…” Hitler said, thoughtfully. “These men; Shakespeare, Marlowe, Dickens… they are Saxon men of sentiment and creativity, like Goethe. They understood that the Jew is a microbe of decomposition… capable only of analytical thought, incapable of true creativity…” he paced, slightly, while Himmler gazed at him, as completely spellbound as ever.