"Honorable Führer, the hearts of the Spanish people are forever united with Germany!"

With this seemingly loyal but meaningless diplomatic statement, Franco began to pour out his bitterness: "But Spain today is too weak. In the year since the end of the civil war, our fiscal deficit has been three times our annual revenue, unemployment has remained above 30 per cent for a long time, and millions of people have been left homeless because of the devastation caused by the war. As for the army, Spain is far inferior to the mainstream powers: there are only four unmaintained cruisers left in the fleet, and your country knows the situation of the army and air force best. ”

"Once the war is entered, Spain's economy will collapse quickly and without suspense, the army will not be able to bear the burden of defending itself, and the country will even be in danger of a second revolution. At that time, Spain will become an unhealable sore in the Axis camp, and this is not what the Führer would like to see, right? In addition, Spain's entry into the war would deprive your country of an important window for foreign trade. At present, your country can obtain many key materials, including aircraft engines and high-standard fuel oil, from the United States through our line, and if the United States completely cut off supplies, it may not be good news for your country's war. Franco's disc eyes blinked, and his expression was extremely sincere.

"So according to the Commander's idea, your country is still prepared to maintain the status quo?" Hitler stared at Franco with a knife, and said in a voice without the slightest emotion, "I have to remind you, Your Excellency, that the situation of war is changing every day. Today Germany is still very sincere in inviting your country to enlist in the army, but after a month or two, the situation will be different. When we defeat Britain, your country will not gain a share of this victory, and you will inevitably be excluded from the inner circle in the new European order. ”

In the face of Hitler's dissatisfaction and threats, Franco had cursed the other party countless times in his heart, but the current situation dictated that he could only force a laugh and give a negative answer. It is true that Franco is reluctant to give up the current good neutrality situation, but if he can get more gains than he has now at the lowest cost, Franco is still willing to make this exchange. He was convinced that neither the United States nor the Soviet Union could shake Germany, which had been worshiped and condensed by fanatical leaders, and that he had already boarded the chariot of the victors, and that the next step was nothing more than a struggle for more interests.

"On the basis of the fraternal affection that Germany has paid, we do have an obligation to help your country in its actions. However, Spain's strength was too weak after all, and any big move was beyond her ability to withstand as she was seriously ill. If your country can meet several of our conditions, Spain is willing to switch to limited neutrality. Franco licked his chapped lips without a trace, revealing his calculations.

"Limited neutrality?" Ribbentrop, who was acting as a foil on the side, frowned and asked.

Franco spoke slowly, explaining: "Spain does not have the strength to enter a war at the moment. In view of this situation, my country will remain politically neutral, but it will provide you with some special facilities. Your country can use our ports for a fee, and at the same time, in principle, you can obtain the right of passage for the military in part of your territory. ”

Hearing the last sentence, Hitler's eyes lit up in an instant. Didn't he go to such great lengths to win over Franco to join the gang just so that he could enter Spanish territory and capture Gibraltar from land? Now this old bastard is finally willing to relent, and agrees to the German army to cross the border through the road, which is really the best news he has received in the past month. Hitler forcibly suppressed the excitement in his heart, and suddenly remembered that Franco had just said that he was conditional—and with the usual style of the other party, making such a crucial concession this time would inevitably be a lion's mouth!

In response to Hitler's speculation, Franco said in a deep voice: "Gibraltar is a natural part of the Iberian Peninsula, but it has been savagely occupied by Britain for two and a half centuries, and every Spaniard cannot look directly at the southernmost point of the map of the motherland, which is the deepest pain engraved in the whole nation." Whatever your country's plans for this place, the Spanish Government will always insist on its full sovereignty over Gibraltar and will never waver. ”

Hitler nodded and agreed to the request very crisply. He had long expected Franco's request: in Spain, where nationalism was growing, the recapture of Gibraltar was a major event that would go down in history, and as the leader of an army that came to power on the basis of civil war, there was nothing more important than washing away this centuries-old national humiliation and making Franco's regime unbreakable. As soon as the Spanish flag is raised on the boulder of Gibraltar, 20 million Spaniards will bow down to Franco's rule and sing the praises of submission!

And in Hitler's plans, it was never envisaged that Gibraltar should be turned into a German enclave. Previously, the British regarded Gibraltar as a treasure because it held the sea route to India; Britain itself lacks territorial support on the European continent, so it must firmly block such key geographical nodes in order to maintain Great Britain's maritime hegemony and even world hegemony.

But for Germany, none of these prerequisites exist. After the war, Germany would become the absolute dominant power in Europe, and even if Gibraltar were given to the Spaniards, the latter would be easily brought into line. What's more, Hitler's eyes have always been on Eastern Europe, which is the living space he dreamed of!

Therefore, even if Franco was ready to use Germany as a free thug to help him seize Gibraltar, Hitler was willing to agree to his "borrowing teachers to help him", all for each to take what he needed. In Hitler's eyes, the sentiment he sold to Franco was undoubtedly big enough: the fortress of Gibraltar was so strong that the Germans would inevitably consume a lot of manpower and material resources to conquer it, and all they got was the smooth passage of a strait, which was completely for the Spaniards. But he still underestimated Franco's appetite, whose conditions were just beginning.

“…… At present, China's economy is completely dependent on blood transfusions from the United States, which can barely support it from bankruptcy. Although Japan does not intend to give up its neutrality, it is inevitable that the United States will be suspicious or even misunderstood by the entry and stationing of your country and its troops. As soon as the United States withdraws its funds and cuts ties with us, Spain's economy will collapse. Franco said with a bitter face, but in a very solemn tone, "Your country must provide our country with an interest-free loan of 7 billion marks, which will be disbursed in one year and repaid in steps over 15 years. Otherwise, it will be difficult for Japan to change its current position. ”

Hearing the other party's words, Hitler's expression froze. Rao was with his concentration, and at this moment, he couldn't help but want to lift the coffee table angrily and smash the shameless face in front of him with a thick porcelain cup. You must know that last year's total fiscal revenue of Germany was only 24 billion marks, and even if France is added this year to exploit it ruthlessly, it is expected that it will not exceed 30 billion. Now that Franco wants to go to the quarter, how can Hitler remain calm? What's more, in order to meet military spending, Germany has already sold countless war bonds!

Seeing that Hitler's face was as harsh as ice for thousands of years, Franco couldn't help but feel a sharp increase in pressure, and reluctantly said: "Of course, this is the most serious estimate of our country's economic difficulties. If your country thinks that the amount is not appropriate, we can let the professional economic heads continue to talk. It's just that in any case, Spain must receive economic support from your country. At this point, Franco's words returned to the standard of soft and hard: "Once our attitude changes, it is very likely that we will not be able to do business with the United States." Without compensation, I will not be able to convince my comrades to agree with my decision. ”

Hitler gritted his back molars, knowing that some of what Franco said was not a lie. With the rapid defeat of France and Britain, Spain's traditional share of foreign trade has declined sharply, and Franco's life will indeed be difficult if it is sanctioned by the United States. In addition, in order to attract the hearts of the people and consolidate his power, Franco gave a large amount of the profits from the resale of goods between Germany and the United States to his old cronies to ensure the loyalty of these people. Hitler himself was doing something similar, and naturally knew that this benefit must not be easily lost!

"What else do you have? Let's mention it here. Seeing Franco's appearance of wanting to speak and stopping, Hitler forced himself to calm down, and said coldly with a bit of ridicule on the corner of his mouth. He really wanted to see how big Franco's appetite really was: how much he wanted to get out of himself with just a few ports, a few railways, and a few fields.

If it had been someone else, he would have been embarrassed by Hitler's scrutiny. But Franco is clearly not among them. After a pause, he continued with a grim face: "Since the 18th century, Spain has lost too many overseas territories under the pressure of the British, and the sins they have committed against Spain cannot be repaid by simply returning Gibraltar. Spain will retain the right to claim compensation against the British, and after the war it will first receive Sierra Leone in West Africa as compensation for the illegal occupation of Gibraltar by the British for 235 years! As a fraternal country, both of which have been oppressed by the British, Spain sincerely hopes that your country will help us in this matter. ”

Hitler's words were familiar to Hitler only a moment, and they remembered them for a moment, almost exactly the same as the Soviet pretext used to coerce Romania a few months earlier. Although Franco did not dare to completely offend the United States and openly declare war on Britain, this did not hinder his appetite for the British colonies in the slightest; Stalin's brazenness, Franco has undoubtedly mastered the samadhi. Suddenly, Hitler felt a sense of happiness in his heart: Franco, a politician, was fortunate not to be born in the top powers.