Running naked around the center of the capital in your underwear?!
Alejandro couldn't believe his ears. He stared at the middle-aged reporter with wide eyes. It took him a long time to come back to his senses: "Senior, can the Germans accept this crazy request?! German*
Isn’t there any normal person in the * department who would question it?”
"Question? What question do you think you should raise?" The middle-aged reporter shook his head and sighed in his heart that Alejandro was still too young.
This request made by someone else, the German head of state, is neither illegal nor criminal. How can the German generals question it?
Besides, that is the German head of state, the most powerful person in Germany. Who can stop him?! Our Italian leader Mussolini wants to build a bunch of ugly buildings that fit his "unique" aesthetics, and no one from the Ministry of Architecture will do it.
Who dares to question it?
Alejandro, who did not hear what the middle-aged reporter was saying, actually questioned the German generals: "No one asked why the German head of state named Reinhard had to wear uniforms."
Naked underwear?!"
It's normal for Alejandro to have such doubts. If anyone accepts Reinhardt's obscene thoughts from the bottom of his heart, that's abnormal!
When it comes to Reinhardt's achievements, Alejandro has heard of a lot, and each of them can be regarded as super meritorious:
Leading Germany out of the shadow of defeat in World War I, he single-handedly planned Operation Rainbow, quelled the Kapp Rebellion, defeated the Franco-Belgian coalition, stationed troops in the Rhineland, and merged with Austria, which even the "Iron Chancellor" Bismarck failed to win, and was under the eyes of the League of Nations.
They annexed Czechoslovakia and wiped out Poland, the strongest country in Eastern Europe, in less than a month...
Even if he only has one or two of the above-mentioned achievements, he is already considered a legendary hero. What's more, Reinhard has taken all of these credits by himself!
Anyway, this German head of state will definitely leave his name throughout the ages. However, this is too far away from the founding emperors that Alessandro has heard of?!
Other founding emperors and legendary leaders of great countries all give people the impression that they are either majestic, virtuous, different from popular customs, or have extraordinary bearing.
But why does Reinhardt, who is destined to leave his name in history, always give people the impression of being mentally ill?!
"Hey!" The middle-aged reporter waved his hand in front of Alejandro's eyes and raised his voice: "Are you distracted again?"
Because the same problem was pointed out twice by his seniors, Alejandro rubbed his head and laughed twice in embarrassment.
"Don't be distracted." The middle-aged reporter did not blame the newcomer, but comforted him considerately: "Just pay attention next time, don't worry about it."
"Okay." Alejandro nodded his head vigorously, trying to express his determination.
Seeing that Alejandro had such a good attitude, the middle-aged reporter smiled happily and said: "By the way, I happen to know that someone asked the German head of state about the question you just raised, and I also know his answer."
"Doubts about streaking around Berlin?" Alessandro asked with burning eyes.
"That's right." The middle-aged reporter nodded.
"Then, why did you propose to wear a pair of underwear and run naked?" Alessandro asked, swallowing his saliva.
"Because it's unsightly to wear nothing, I decided to run in underwear." The middle-aged reporter awkwardly repeated Reinhardt's original words.
For such a ridiculous answer, Alessandro simply couldn't laugh or cry. What kind of answer was this?
It's like asking a prisoner why he makes counterfeit money, and he replies because he can't make real money!
At the same moment, the military band playing on the street played: "Germany's ancient and noble reputation inspires us to engage in noble causes..."
It seems that the ancient and noble reputation of the German ancestors has finally come to an end today!
.........
"Hi! Reinhard!" In the Führer's Residence, Lundstedt rarely greeted Reinhard with the raised-hand salute popularized by SS generals.
But Reinhard didn't appreciate it at all. In front of the generals who had gathered in his office early, he smiled and rubbed his hands and said, "Here you go... then take it off."
There was no transition at all. As soon as he started, he opened his face and asked to take off his clothes without any concealment.
As for the report on the defense situation on the Eastern Front... don't worry, we'll talk about it later.
Standing behind Lundstedt, Manstein, who had returned as a member of the headquarters, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
General Lundstedt, who has always stayed away from politics, was able to greet Reinhard with a raised hand today. This is already a great deal of face, and can even be said to be a big concession!
In the past, as long as Lundstedt was unwilling, even if a gun was put to his head, it was impossible to make this respected veteran soldier salute a political party.
But today, Lundstedt has put down his dignity and prejudices and expressed through actions his acceptance of the existence of a political party like the Socialist Workers Party in the army.
A veteran-level army group commander takes the lead in raising his hands in salute. This is of extremely important significance to the Socialist Workers Party in developing party members in the National Defense Forces!
Even though Lundstedt did lose to Reinhardt in the grand strategic prejudgment duel, what he is doing now shows that he has agreed with the various plans of the head of state to a large extent.
At this time, if Reinhard persists and insists on letting the 63-year-old general wear a pair of underwear to run naked, that would be a complete insult!
In that case, instead of lamenting afterwards how amazing Reinhard's talent for prediction was, people would be dismissive of such a head of state who did not respect the personality of the veteran general.
Germans are always proud at heart!
They don't mind how shameless the head of state is to others, but if he uses this kind of insulting behavior on his own people, no matter how dazzling his achievements are, in the hearts of the German people, he will never get any respect!
"Fuhrer, I think this will damage the honor of the German military..." Manstein, who was Lundstedt's chief of staff and also served as Reinhard's confidant, stood up at the right time.
Come out and try to resolve this farce.
"Don't scare me by mentioning glory. Accepting defeat is also what a German with a sense of honor should do. What I said before must be done." Reinhardt continued to be indifferent.
For a moment, there seemed to be some profound estrangement between Manstein and the head of state whom he once respected so much.
"I lost, and I am willing to admit defeat."
In the end, it was Lundstedt who broke the embarrassing situation.
As he spoke, he had already unbuttoned his chest.
He closed his eyes heavily, he really didn't want to see Reinhard's hateful face anymore.
But that's fine, at least he didn't break his promise. In the end, he did what he said and suffered the consequences like a noble!
At this moment, among everyone present, not only did no one laugh at the old general, but they even more admired this true nobleman who symbolized an era!
This is the strength a German should have.
However, just when Lundstedt abandoned all distracting thoughts and started to unbutton his military trousers, an unexpected and violent exclamation sounded in his ears.
What's going on?
When he opened his eyes, Reinhard, who had stripped down to only his dark blue underwear, was already standing in front of him.
Vaguely, Lundstedt even felt that the guy wearing a pair of underpants seemed very excited. Could it be that he regarded this as an honor?!
The first head of state in the world to run naked is exciting to think about...
"General Lundstedt, you can't take off your clothes fast enough," Reinhard joked with a smile.
"My head of state, you are..." For a moment, a rush of blood poured into Lundstedt's brain.
At this time, any discerning person would understand that the head of state did not really want to embarrass the old general.
It did not exempt Lundstedt from bearing the consequences, which was in line with the character of the German aristocrats who meant what they said. But by putting himself in the same position as the old general, he turned the humiliating nature of the gamble into a joke.
.
In this way, humiliating Lundstedt is not humiliating himself.
It wasn't until this moment that everyone finally understood that Reinhard had never wanted to humiliate anyone from the beginning!
As for Reinhardt's handling of the matter, Manstein, who had previously tried to mediate between the two parties, marveled at his talent more than once afterwards.
If Reinhard simply exempted Lundstedt from the consequences, it would make sense emotionally, but it would undermine fairness and make a bad start. In this way, if someone violates the law again in the future
, and is it also treated with leniency? Or is it true that only high-level officials like Lundstedt can enjoy the privilege of immunity?
In short, no matter what, it will leave a bad impact.
But now, not only has the authority of the head of state been established (he must do what he says he will do, such as asking the loser to run naked), but he has also easily resolved conflicts.
More importantly, after the Battle of Poland, everyone will have a real and profound understanding of the Führer's ability to predict terror because of this turmoil. They will also subconsciously believe that the Führer is a man who sticks to his word.
This can only be beneficial to Reinhard's future leadership, not harmful.
After Manstein calmed down, he thought about it carefully and decided that Reinhardt was the only one in the world who could handle the incident in this way!
