As the train pulled into Berlin Station, Xiang Xiaoqiang suddenly felt nervous for no reason. After all, this was the first time he met a foreign dignitary, and he represented the entire Ming Dynasty and the interests of the Ming Dynasty. Although he was a powerful influence in the country, going to the palace to meet the emperor was a common occurrence.
It's the same, but no matter how big the people I meet in Daming, I have no idea. The people I might meet this time are all historical celebrities, and they are all figures of World War II whom I have read about since I was a child.
He repeatedly said to himself, "Don't be nervous, don't be nervous." But when he thought of the people he might face, his heart kept beating.
"Oh my god, please don't let me see Hitler," Xiang Xiaoqiang said to himself, "I will be nervous to death."
Xiang Xiaoqiang has always been conflicted about whether he wants to see Hitler. On the one hand, Hitler is the head of state of Germany and the great dictator of a country, so being able to see him is of course a great honor. But on the other hand, he imagines this
When famous figures in history stand in front of you, how nervous do you feel?
For people like Qiu Qiu and Song Ruhai, Hitler is just the German Chancellor. The name "Hitler" sounds to their ears like "Baldwin" or "Daladi". But for Xiang Xiaoqiang...
The Berlin train station is brilliantly illuminated by lights. The bright mercury lamps and warm yellow halogen lamps overlap each other and are played just right. Together with the fiery red flags, the whole train station feels majestic and magnificent, as if it was built by humans.
The most brilliant achievements can arouse the German people's sense of glory.
This is the visual style of the Third Reich.
Others in the Xiang Xiaoqiang delegation were also impressed by this magical and magnificent feeling.
"Xiaoqiang..." Qiu Qiu held Xiang Xiaoqiang's arm and said somewhat confusedly, "It would be great if one day our Nanjing train station could be like this..."
Heydrich and Little Krupp had also got out of the car and were guiding them with a smile. Although this was not a formal visit, there was no welcome ceremony or guard, but Xiang Xiaoqiang noticed that the people around him were already surrounded by people.
People wearing windbreakers and top hats. Their right hands were in their pockets, the collars of their windbreakers were standing up, and the brim of their hats was pressed down. The two eyes in the middle were scanning vigilantly, like eagles. When other passengers saw this posture, they also hid far away.
, for fear of getting involved with them.
Very good, there are no annoying reporters, not even reporters stationed in Germany from Western democratic countries. This is much better than in the Ming Dynasty.
It seems that authoritarian countries also have pleasant places!
They got into several black Mercedes-Benz cars and drove out. They didn't even honk their horns. The Berlin police had already blown whistles and used batons to drive away pedestrians and quickly cleared a path among the crowded people. Several cars were added.
Throttle the car hard and drive almost sideways out of the station.
Berlin is much more prosperous than Xiang Xiaoqiang imagined. The shop windows on both sides are dazzling, the streets are full of lights, the traffic is busy, and the traffic lights are in order. Every time the convoy stops at a red light, a large group of people will pass by on the crosswalk in front of the car.
Pedestrians include ladies in high-end fashions, handsome men in suits and leather shoes, and many workers in plain clothes. They are talking, laughing, and in high spirits, all showing their confidence in their current lives and future prospects.
This really doesn't feel like Berlin under Nazi rule, it feels like the streets of New York in the golden twenties.
No matter how you look at it, Berlin is now a vibrant city, and Germany is also a prosperous country. The prosperity of Berlin and the vitality of its people are incomparable to Nanjing. The night in Nanjing is not so dazzling. Don’t talk about Nanjing,
Even London, Paris, and New York at the same time were not as vibrant as Berlin. It is impossible for other countries with large unemployment rates to have this kind of vitality.
On the sidewalk, those blue-collar workers still wearing work clothes were chatting and laughing with each other, standing in front of the gorgeous display windows, choosing things, and walking in with their heads high when they liked it... Everyone has a job, and everyone has money in their pockets.
It was this that made Germany generally full of confidence, and also contributed to Hitler's great prestige among the people. Because the people had enough to eat and restored their national self-esteem, they tolerated his dictatorship leniently.
Xiang Xiaoqiang sighed: No wonder Hitler was much more generous than Stalin. As a dictatorship, the Soviet Union gave the world the impression of an "Iron Curtain", a high-pressure area that was completely closed to the outside world. However, Hitler allowed travelers from all over the world to
Journalists came to Germany to observe and tour, and at the same time, German people were allowed to travel abroad freely. Of course, except for a few people on the Gestapo blacklist.
Hitler was very smart to do this. Germany at this time was indeed very "good" in many aspects. Many people from Western democratic countries originally had strong opinions on Nazi Germany, but after visiting Germany, they
When I returned home, I had a lot of favorable impressions of the Nazi regime.
…
Heydrich led Xiang Xiaoqiang and his party into the most luxurious hotel in Berlin, and personally arranged for them to settle in. Then he bowed slightly and said with a smile:
"My Lord Count, Madam, I wonder if you have any arrangements for dinner tonight? Have you made an appointment with any friends in Berlin? Or is there a welcome dinner at your embassy?"
Xiang Xiaoqiang knew that the Germans were going to hold a welcome dinner for him. He looked at the three old consultants and saw that they all had no objections, and then said with a smile:
"We just arrived tonight and haven't made any arrangements yet. I was just thinking of asking you to introduce us to a better restaurant in Berlin."
Heydrich showed his most charming smile, showing his snow-white teeth, and smiled first at Qiu Qiu and then at Xiaoqiang:
"Madam, sir, if you don't mind, I would like to introduce you to a small dinner party tonight. There are several comrades in our party who would like to take this opportunity and let me introduce them to you."
Xiang Xiaoqiang smiled and said:
"Thank you, that's what I wanted."
...Several comrades in the party are probably the big party stickmen under Hitler. I wonder who I can see tonight? How high-level can I see them?
…
The car drove into an extremely gorgeous mansion. At the gate, two SS men in black uniforms stood at attention, raising their right arms in the Nazi salute without squinting.
Whose house is this? This is obviously not the Prime Minister's Office.
On the main building, two huge banners were red and dazzling. Under the banners, several children were running around and playing in the yard. In front of the gate, a lady stood there with a smile, wearing a cashmere shawl.
, as the hostess, greeting distinguished guests.
Heydrich stepped forward with a smile on his face. He first held her hand and kissed her gently. Then he spoke a string of German words, indicating to Xiang Xiaoqiang and Qiuqiu, and introducing them. Then the noble lady faced Xiaoqiang.
He smiled and said something. He translated to Xiaoqiang’s guard:
"This is Mrs. Magda Goebbels. She said that she and her husband feel very honored that your Excellency and Madam can come to the humble residence tonight."
It turned out that this was Goebbels' home. Xiang Xiaoqiang breathed a sigh of relief, as he would not see Hitler again. He immediately showed the same charming smile, bowed to Mrs. Goebbels and said:
"Madam, you are so kind. I have heard about Dr. Goebbels for a long time, and I admire his talent very much. It is a great honor to have the opportunity to visit you today."
After hearing the translation, Mrs. Goebbels bowed modestly, and at the same time stretched out a hand to Xiang Xiaoqiang. Xiang Xiaoqiang smiled, gently held it up and kissed her.
This hand was extremely cold. Xiang Xiaoqiang suddenly thought that this Magda was Mrs. Goebbels who poisoned her six children to death at the last moment in 1945. Xiang Xiaoqiang couldn't help feeling a chill.
Mrs. Goebbels guided Xiang Xiaoqiang and his party through the long marble corridor, through the palace-like hall, up the stairs, and finally came to an exquisite small living room.
…
Xiang Xiaoqiang stared blankly at the living room. There were several people sitting on the sofas:
A thin man wearing a yellow suit, black trousers, and armbands on his arms. He was short and had a thin face, like a heavy smoker.
A fat man in a white uniform with a slender face, high leather boots, and jeweled rings on his hands. He was like a giant, completely filling the sofa.
A man wearing an SS uniform, a pair of round glasses, a mustache, and a kind face. At first glance, he doesn’t look like a German, but he looks a bit like a Japanese.
A big man wearing a suit and armband, with a thick neck, a typical square face, clear bones, thick black eyebrows, and almost gleaming eyes.
As a group of people entered the living room, these people all turned around, looked at everyone, and then focused on Xiang Xiaoqiang.