Red Alert
0700 July 3rd 1945
Volkhov, Soviet Union
The battle of Volkhov raged as the Soviets suffered more and more casualties.
Only new Soviet divisions could be able to alter the battle's course; if this were the case, it would only prolong the inevitable destruction of every Soviet division engaged with Hausser.
1100 July 6th 1945
Diplomatic Offices, Berlin, Germany
"...Yes, it is of immediate importance!" Von Ribbentrop was requesting to talk with Martin Bormann and organize an Emergency Cabinet Meeting. The news he had were confirmed by consulting the Soviet ambassador in Berlin and it was imperative to inform the Cabinet as soon as possible.
Minutes later, the whole Cabinet was assembled at the Reichstag.
Martin Bormann was there and talked in a quiet manner "So Joachim, I'm sure you have a reason important enough to call us five days after our last Cabinet".
"I do, Martin" von Ribbentrop replied "The magnitude of this event far surpasses that of the fall of Japan. I have contacted the Soviet ambassador, as we thought it was false news at first, but I've been confirmed that it's all true."
He then continued "It was already evident that tensions between the US and Soviet-controlled Koreas would spark, but today they came from words to war. The northern part of Korea, closer to the Soviet Union, declared war on South Korea, dragging with them the two biggest contestants of the two sides: the Soviet Union and the United States of America."
"You mean they're at war now?" Bormann asked.
"Exactly. We would've never thought that they would come to open war" von Ribbentrop replied.
Von Ribbentrop then continued "The sphere of influence exerted by Japan and now contested between the two superpowers would have had to spark tensions between the Communist and the Capitalist world, but we'd never thought a war between them would ever happen that early, at least not with us still controlling most of Europe and at war with both of them."
"This is simply wonderful" stated Bormann "The Soviets recklessly backstabbing the US can only favor us against them. Beware however, not to party with caviar and champagne before the Bear is prisoner, even if he is bleeding himself with his own claws. Joachim, please advise us if and whenever the Allies start military operations against the Soviet Union that we can notice. For example, the consequences of an Allied invasion of Siberia would be marvelous" Bormann ended the meeting.
0500 July 7th 1945
Volkhov, Soviet Union
The German people was informed about the war between the US and the Soviet Union, and so were Hausser and his troops fighting against those very same Soviets. The news of this war really helped the morale of his soldiers, but not enough to hope for a rapid conclusion of the battle of Volkhov.
Several Soviet divisions started to reinforce the defense of Volkhov. They still had reserves big enough to reinforce their weak spots.
It was clear that the Soviets were really threatened when German aircraft could fly unscathed over the heart of the Soviet Union. This time, two Fighter squadrons under Mj. General Schwartzkopff approached the skies of Moscow itself. Not a terrific sight for Stalin, defended by only five divisions.
1100 July 8th 1945
Diplomatic Offices, Berlin, Germany
Summer heat was not the only responsible for making von Ribbentrop sweat. He was indeed forced by a certain etiquette to dress formal garment, but there were other reasons; the declaration of war from the Soviet Union to the United States first, and now an ambassador in front of him, asking him a question of the highest level he could not answer at the moment. He had to request another Cabinet meeting and keep the ambassador, and the request from his Country, on hold.
Von Ribbentrop was convincing enough to have Bormann quit his golf game he was playing at that moment, and in a half a hour, another emergency cabinet meeting was organized.
"Joachim, what else could have ever happened now?" Martin Bormann was, among the others, in the Reichstag, curious and eager to know from von Ribbentrop what news he was about to bring.
"I think it's good news what is happening Martin, but I'm just a diplomat and I need the whole Cabinet approval on this request made by a long time 'friend' of ours: Spain" von Ribbentrop replied.
"Yes gentlemen, good old Franco wishes to join our Alliance and join us in men and matériel against our foes." von Ribbentrop said, as he showed the document the Spanish ambassador showed him.
The debate was on. "That's outrageous!" Ringel bursted "we cannot accept such an offer from the very same man that wanted us to give them an insane quantity of privileges to have them join the war!"
"Opportunism over dignity, Julius. A good offer is a good offer notwithstanding past events. If Franco wishes to join our alliance now without requesting any particular aid, it can just be good for us" replied Guderian.
"I don't know what good can they do to us, Heinz" Ringel replied "Heck, we were about to invade them this year, if it weren't for your decision of invading Sweden!"
"Well, it looks like they've never come to knowledge of such plans to invade them" Guderian smirked "now we have an opportunity and we should grab it. Come on Julius, why this idealist behaviour? By the manner you are speaking now, we'd have never had von Ribbentrop sign the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact with our ideological foes.
"It's not a matter of idealism" Bormann intervened "as, afterall, Franco is ideologically close to us, even if he may appear ungrateful of our help we gave him from the Spanish civil war afterwards. I think the problems rely elsewhere: do we want a Spanish-controlled Gibraltar, assumed they can control it? Is their army able to defend their own beaches, or will we have to control even more beaches, and Spain has a lot of them?"
"I think we can spare a few divisions even if I think that's unnecessary" Guderian replied "in all these years it'd be a shame if they haven't been able to rebuild an army decent enough to protect a bunch of beaches."
"Well, if we really have to accept this alliance, then we'd better do it" Ringel continued "at least we have a new Country to acquire Oil from. Eventhough I don't really like the idea of a Spanish Gibraltar".
The debate was then cut short by the unanimous decision of putting the matter to votation. The nine cabinet members raised their hands at the question made by Bormann: "Those who want Spain in our alliance, raise your hand".
Seven people raised their right hand in support of the alliance; two abstained: Ringel and von Ribbentrop.
"Joachim, you know what to do: don't let our ambassadors wait." Martin Bormann quickly ended the meeting and dismissed everyone: Spain was now allied with Germany.
1400 July 9th 1945
LI. Gebirgskorps, Vytegra, Soviet Union
Five German divisions entered Soviet soil.
The assaulters of Volkhov would soon receive assistance from another flank. In a similar fashion, the Soviets in Volkhov would have to split their divisions shooting at an enemy right behind their lines.
How on Earth German pilots would have been able to reach the borders of Mongolia from the airports of Finland, that would be a mystery.
By July 10th the Soviet strenght in Volkhov decreased even further, but as their divisions disintegrated, fresh ones were ready to enter the battlefield.
0600 July 11th 1945
The skies above Kingisepp, Soviet Union
Soviet commanders showed keen interest for suicidal tendencies, as demonstrated by their declaration of war to the United States. This time, they would send six Fighter squadrons that barely mustered fifty fighters together.
The sheer amazement deriving from such ineptitude left the Luftwaffe unable to shoot them down, as shooting them down would've been an act of charity.