Hitler stared at Volkov now. They called this man the Prophet, because his predictions have been uncannily accurate, but this one was foolhardy. How could he know this? How could the British defeat the Italian’s so quickly? They were badly outnumbered, not only in the Western Desert, but also in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa, and he stated as much.
“You place too much faith in the Italians,” said Volkov. “Believe this. You will soon see how little prowess they have at the art of war. The British will defeat them easily in both the Western Desert and East Africa. They are useless! Even the Greek Army will soon have them on the run there. In time you will be forced to intervene to stave off a collapse of their colonial empire in Africa, and this you must do. We are here to discuss Turkey, but remember that the Turks will most likely be strongly supported by Great Britain when we begin our battles there. That is your real enemy for the next six months-the British!”
“Yes, yes, the British. I was planning to invade England, but was dissuaded by my Generals and Admirals. They convinced me to strike at Gibraltar first, which no doubt pleased you, Volkov.”
“That was a fortunate stroke, but you must continue what you have begun in the Mediterranean. There are three kings there. The first you have dethroned at Gibraltar, the second sits on a tiny island at Malta, and that is where you should bend your will to strike next. This will allow you to keep forces in North Africa adequately supplied. Finally there comes the real prize, the Suez Canal and the British position at Alexandria. Three kings. Slay them before June of 1941and you will win this war.”
Hitler smiled. “Another of your predictions, Volkov?”
“Consider it good advice. Whether it comes to pass or not will depend upon your actions. Yes, finish up in the Balkans with this Operation 25 as you call it. Yes, send me as many planes as you can spare, and I will stop Sergei Kirov from getting his hands on my oil in the Caucasus. Then we will smash Turkey, but if the British are not defeated soon, they will become a cancer that will grow in strength in the Middle East and become a major threat. They can read a map even as we do here, and they will do everything in their power to drive a wedge between us and prevent what we are now planning. Slay those last two kings in the Mediterranean, and you can assure your victory, and it will start here.” Now Volkov pointed at the map, fingering the Western Desert and the tiny island of Malta.
Hitler did not immediately see the importance of this. Graziani had just crossed the Egyptian frontier unopposed. He was staging to renew his offensive soon, and with three times as many troops and tanks as the British now had, he should be able to drive all the way to Alexandria. He made this argument again, in an almost offhanded manner, clearly confident and not sharing Volkov’s dark vision of imminent Italian defeat. Italy was on the attack, everywhere, he said again.
“They will be defeated,” Volkov insisted, putting more iron in his tone. “The British will counterattack and destroy the entire Italian 10th Army. There is a man there that you must watch very closely. He is presently commanding the British Western Desert force, and he will be the one who destroys Graziani’s army. He will kick the Italians out of Egypt, and overrun all of Cyrenaica, as far as Benghazi. If he is not stopped, he will soon pose a threat to Tripoli as well.”
“Who is this man you speak of? You make him out to be a demigod!”
“General O’Connor.”
“O’Connor?” Hitler may have been briefed on the matter, but it was one of those many minor details of the war that slipped from his mind. “Why should I worry over a single British General? They were no bother in France.”
Volkov smiled, then he was deadly serious again. “Listen to me,” he said. “Forces are present in this world that could unhinge everything we have been planning if they are not countered. This man is dangerous. He must be stopped, and I have every faith that you can handle the matter. It may need a good general of your own to match him, and German troops. And do not be stingy! If you send any force to North Africa, it must be strong. Don’t think the Italians will ever take Egypt for you, not while that man remains undefeated-General Richard O’Connor.”
“Because your own strength is unequal to the task, do not assume that it is beyond the powers of man; but if anything is within the powers and province of man, believe that it is within your own compass also.”
