On March 14, 1940, when the news of peace talks between Finland and the Soviet Union had spread throughout Europe the day before, Reinhardt launched the Danish control plan in the most inconspicuous way.
First, Reinhard personally sent a telegram to the King of Denmark, detailing Denmark's evil deeds of invading the Schleswig-Holstein region of North Germany during the Prussian-Danish War.
Then, he carried out Denmark and took advantage of Germany's weak period after losing the First World War to cut off the northern Schleswig area that had previously belonged to Germany, causing great trauma to the hearts of the German people.
Finally, Reinhard contradicted the previous magnanimity and stated that as long as Denmark atones for its sins by cooperating with Germany, the Third Reich will not interfere with Denmark's territorial integrity or political independence, but will only take back what originally belonged to Germany because of World War I.
The North Schleswig region was lost due to defeat.
As for the content of the cooperation...after they disarm, it will be whatever Reinhard says.
After receiving Reinhardt's telegram at 5 a.m., the Danish cabinet immediately held an efficient debate, and in the end the vast majority of members agreed to surrender.
Then, about three and a half hours after Hans led the rebuilt 30th Infantry Division into Denmark, King Christian of Denmark announced his surrender and asked the Danish people not to resist.
During these three and a half hours, there was basically no resistance from the Danish defenders on the border. All the defense sections were almost ineffective and collapsed at the first touch. In the whole process, a total of 9 ignorant Danish soldiers were shot dead because they tried to resist.
Most of the Danish troops were very optimistic. They realized that they could not defeat Germany anyway, and the result would be the same regardless of whether they resisted or not. They might as well surrender quickly.
After all, Denmark's terrain is flat and there is no danger to defend. And the German army can wipe out even the fifth largest country in Europe like Poland, let alone a small country like Denmark.
Almost all Danish politicians have no psychological burden on surrender and feel at ease!
So, when the Danish people woke up after a long sleep, they discovered that German troops had appeared in major cities. When asked carefully, holy shit, the country was subjugated in one morning?!
"I said, wasn't it calm when I went to bed last night? Why did I hear that we were being occupied by the whole territory as soon as I got up? Am I still dreaming!?" A fat middle-aged man looked confused.
I asked a neighbor I met on the street.
"Come on, that's why you got up so late." The neighbor shook his head and sighed: "If you got up earlier, you could hear the national announcement issued by His Majesty the King."
"Announcement, issued by His Majesty the King?" Not only the middle-aged man, their king generally has a very high status in the hearts of the Danish people. The announcement issued by the king himself symbolizes the imperial edict in Denmark.
"Denmark will accept German protection from today. His Majesty the King hopes that no one will make fearless resistance." The neighbor said slowly.
Similar scenes happened on almost every major street in Denmark. At this moment, many people suspected that they were still in an inexplicable dream before they woke up...
"What?! Let us hand over the weapons to the Germans over there!" The commander of the remnant of the Danish support group who had just been repatriated from Finland looked at the Danish government officials who received his delegation with suspicion.
A few days ago, they were fighting for Denmark and the League of Nations in a foreign country. As soon as the battle was over, they returned home and found that they now belonged to neither Denmark nor the League of Nations, but had become members of the German side.
.
What kind of joke is this?!
"After fighting for so many days, it was all in vain." The commander lowered his head in frustration and said in a bitter tone: "Two days ago, we served the League of Nations and fought and bled for the League of Nations. Two days later, we
He was forced to join the German camp that was hostile to the League of Nations... If I had known better, I would have signed up not to go to Finland to fight."
"No way?" The adjutant who came back with him still refused to believe it: "Last night, the person who contacted me was our government. Why was the whole territory occupied early this morning?"
"In fact, I heard that our army surrendered without any resistance at all." The official in charge of the reception said with a wry smile: "To be honest, the number of people killed in the Great Patriotic War may be less than the number of you on the Finnish battlefield.
....."
Of course, the attitude of the Danish government also paid off very well. In this "war", of course, if it is counted as a war, the number of casualties on both sides was less than 50, and most of them were caused by accidents. From
It started and ended in a total of 3 and a half hours, and the actual fighting time was only the first few minutes.
In return, Reinhardt treated the Danish government as favorably as possible. Except for placing the Danish king under house arrest, other high-level officials of the Danish government were basically not affected. This will also set a good example for other countries in the future and encourage everyone.
Surrender a lot, and you will be given preferential treatment if you surrender...
On the other hand, the news of Germany's easy and huge success in Denmark also made many European countries jealous.
Moscow, Krem Palace.
"I just saw the intelligence sent by Reinhard before breakfast, saying that they have launched a retaliatory war against Denmark." Stalin, who believed that "a cigarette after a meal is better than a living god", took it in his mouth just after breakfast
He smoked a big pipe: "But I only had one meal, and you told me that the whole of Denmark surrendered!"
The war with a small country had just ended, and Stalin had mixed feelings when he heard the news.
It took him more than a hundred days and nearly 600,000 troops to conquer a small country. But Reinhard conquered a small country in just one morning and only one division of troops.
When there is comparison, there is harm. Molotov, who was well aware of Stalin's inner pain, comforted him in a tone that was as non-irritating as possible: "General Secretary, after all, there is still a gap between Denmark and Finland in terms of national strength. They are like this."
A small country of this level has no choice but to surrender."
"That's what you said about Finland back then..." Stalin replied abruptly, scaring Molotov into a cold sweat.
Rome, Venetian Palace.
"Reinhard gained Denmark effortlessly and expanded the coastline of their empire by a large margin." Mussolini said gloomily with unconcealable jealousy.
"Leader, there is nothing to envy." As Mussolini's son-in-law and Italian Foreign Minister, Ciano, after seeing through Mussolini's thoughts, immediately comforted: "Under your leadership, Italy is pragmatic rather than pragmatic.
We don’t need to pay attention to that kind of illusory expansion.”
I actually really want to expand my sphere of influence as easily as Reinhardt did, but I don't have that chance! Mussolini thought to himself.
"That's what I say..." Mussolini patted Ciano's shoulder earnestly and said in a deep voice: "But our new Roman Empire will not work if its sphere of influence is too small."
"I will give you a task. Find me a country that is as easy to conquer as Denmark. We in Italy must also expand our power easily..." The father-in-law said in an unrealistic way.
The dream once again shocked Ciano into sweating profusely.