Chapter 614: Absolute Neutrality
After hearing the French ambassador's suggestion, Queen Wilhelmina didn't grow angry; instead, the tension visibly drained from her body, replaced by a subtle sense of relief.
Still cautious, however, she refrained from immediately replying to the German ambassador. Instead, she returned to her office to find General Thomas once again.
Thomas was anxiously awaiting her, clearly uncomfortable. Although he understood the immediate danger from France—more precisely, Charles's unstoppable First Armored Army—he also worried deeply about Germany. The Dutch border with Germany stretched for hundreds of kilometers, and offending such a powerful neighbor could spell disaster for a small nation like the Netherlands.
Wilhelmina entered confidently, spreading out a detailed map on the table before General Thomas.
"You just said Charles's First Armored Army can quickly reach Amsterdam in a matter of days?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," Thomas replied with a respectful nod.
"What if," she asked, pointing at the border on the map, "Charles's objective isn't Amsterdam, but rather Germany itself?"
General Thomas paused for a moment, studying the map closely.
"In that case, they could likely cross into German territory within two days," he answered cautiously.
"Could the Germans stop them?" Wilhelmina pressed urgently. "I mean specifically Charles's armored forces."
"No, almost certainly not," Thomas shook his head decisively. "Germany's troops are scattered along multiple fronts—both east and west—leaving their interior lightly defended. On the Dutch-German border, their forces are minimal, inadequately trained, and poorly equipped. Even elite German divisions have proven incapable of halting Charles. They've repeatedly found themselves encircled and destroyed."
Thomas hesitated, wondering briefly why the queen was asking these specific questions. Was she planning to play one powerful neighbor against the other, tempting Charles into a clash with Germany? Such a game would be difficult. Charles wasn't someone easily manipulated.
Queen Wilhelmina, however, appeared satisfied with his answer, as though finally finding the solution she sought.
...
Meanwhile, in the waiting room, German Ambassador Stefan and his military attaché, Colonel Mark, had grown increasingly impatient. They knew British and French pressure could influence the queen's decision, possibly tilting the Netherlands away from Germany's interest.
"Do you think the queen might choose to align openly with the Allies?" Ambassador Stefan asked Colonel Mark nervously.
Mark paused thoughtfully before responding:
"I believe she remains hesitant. After all, Germany and the Netherlands share a 577-kilometer-long border. She can't afford to ignore that."
Stefan nodded slowly in agreement. His thinking was that the British naval fleet, imposing as it was, could not stay indefinitely in the North Sea. Eventually, it would need to withdraw. Charles's ground forces, although incredibly effective, numbered only twenty thousand men—hardly enough to maintain a sustained threat against the entirety of the Netherlands.
But the expansive Dutch-German border offered Germany multiple potential points of entry, something that should significantly worry the Dutch.
Finally, Queen Wilhelmina returned to the reception room, her demeanor entirely transformed. She radiated confidence, walking in with her head held high, a smile brightening her face.
Stefan mistakenly assumed this signaled the queen had chosen Germany's side. Rising eagerly, he bowed deeply and approached her.
"Your Majesty," he began enthusiastically, "I'm pleased you've made the correct decision."
"Of course, Stefan," she replied calmly, gesturing for them both to sit down again.
"Then where should we start?" Stefan pressed anxiously. "Forgive my impatience, but our two hundred thousand men desperately await your generosity."
"I understand," Wilhelmina said gently, "but I fail to see how that concerns the Netherlands."
Stefan's expression darkened instantly.
"What exactly do you mean, Your Majesty?" he asked tensely.
"I mean the Netherlands will remain strictly neutral," Wilhelmina explained carefully, maintaining her calm dignity. "Absolute neutrality—just as we've always publicly declared."
Seeing Stefan still confused, she clarified further:
"Do you remember two years ago, when your country invaded Belgium and besieged Antwerp?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, I recall," Stefan replied cautiously.
"At that time, many genuine Belgian refugees attempted to enter the Netherlands. However, Germany insisted on our strict neutrality and demanded we close our borders to them, despite their desperate pleas. In respect to our neutrality, we complied and denied entry."
Stefan's eyes narrowed angrily, realizing where this conversation was headed:
"You mean you intend to close your borders again?"
"Yes," Wilhelmina affirmed firmly. "Those Belgian civilians were true refugees, yet we refused them entry at your insistence. How, then, can we justify allowing your soldiers—simply disguised as refugees—to cross now? My ministers unanimously agree this would violate our neutral stance."
Stefan's voice took on a threatening edge:
"I sincerely hope you've thought carefully about the consequences of your decision, Your Majesty."
Wilhelmina didn't flinch, instead matching Stefan's intimidating glare:
"We have indeed. Our decision is final."
Colonel Mark now stepped forward, openly displaying his contempt:
"I don't think your country can bear the consequences of this choice, Your Majesty."
Wilhelmina smiled coldly, her voice calm yet full of quiet steel:
"And I don't think Germany can bear the consequences of violating our neutrality, either."
"What do you mean by that?" Mark demanded harshly.
"Do I really have to spell it out for you?" the queen asked casually, raising a cold cup of coffee to her lips. Even the chilled drink now tasted pleasantly sweet, infused as it was with the flavor of victory.
She set the cup down and continued coolly:
"Consider carefully: If Germany makes any aggressive move toward the Netherlands, we'd have no choice but to allow Charles's armored divisions to cross our territory. You've reminded us repeatedly that our border with Germany stretches more than five hundred kilometers—correct?"
Stefan and Mark froze simultaneously, realization dawning upon them both.
Previously, they'd regarded their long border with the Netherlands as a source of leverage, believing it forced the Dutch into compliance. But now the queen had cleverly turned this perceived strength into Germany's greatest weakness. Charles's unstoppable forces could cross at any point, directly invading Germany.
Stefan turned anxiously to Colonel Mark, wordlessly asking if German forces could possibly halt such an invasion.
Mark's ashen expression and subtle shake of his head provided a clear answer.
Stopping Charles under such conditions would be impossible. If Charles bypassed the heavily defended Liège fortress by crossing Dutch territory, Germany would need to defend over five hundred additional kilometers of vulnerable border—effectively doubling the front they had to hold. Such a vast stretch would demand hundreds of thousands more soldiers, which Germany simply did not have available.
Stefan sighed heavily, finally accepting the situation. Standing respectfully, he shook Wilhelmina's hand, his tone subdued and considerably humbler:
"I understand clearly now, Your Majesty."
He did indeed understand. Germany possessed no real leverage over the Netherlands. Ironically, it was now imperative for Germany itself to protect Dutch neutrality at all costs—maintaining the status quo, a position of absolute neutrality.
(End of Chapter 614)
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