Chapter 30: The Long Vigil – 1939–1941
The first year of the war was a time of waiting. The Germans called it the Sitzkrieg—the sitting war. On the Western Front, soldiers huddled in their fortifications, waiting for something to happen. In Zeelandia, Adrian watched, waited, and prepared.
He ordered the construction of new coastal defenses: concrete bunkers, anti‑aircraft batteries, and submarine nets. The army was expanded to 500,000 men, all of them trained and equipped with modern weapons. The navy patrolled the waters, sinking three German U‑boats that ventured too close.
In the spring of 1940, the waiting ended. Germany invaded Denmark and Norway, then the Low Countries, then France. In six weeks, the German army had conquered Western Europe. Zeelandia was now surrounded by Axis‑controlled territory: Vichy France to the west, Italian East Africa to the south, and Japanese‑occupied Indochina to the east.
Adrian called a meeting of his military commanders. "We are alone," he said. "The British are still fighting, but they cannot protect us. We must protect ourselves."
General Hendrik van Oranje, the commander of the army, spoke. "Your Majesty, we have fortifications, but we cannot withstand a full‑scale invasion. If the Germans or the Japanese decide to take this island, they will."
Adrian nodded. "Then we must make the cost too high. We will fight to the last man, the last bullet, the last ship. And we will make sure the world knows that Zeelandia does not surrender."
The turning point came in December 1941, when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. The war in the Pacific had begun, and Zeelandia was directly in the path of the Japanese advance.
Adrian watched the newsreels in the palace cinema. The images of burning American battleships filled the screen. Bergman sat beside him, his face pale.
"They will come for us next," Bergman said.
"Perhaps," Adrian replied. "But we are ready."
In January 1942, Japanese aircraft carriers were sighted off the northern coast of Zeelandia. Adrian ordered the air force to scramble. Zeelandian pilots, flying American‑made P‑40s and British Spitfires, intercepted the Japanese reconnaissance planes.
The dogfight lasted twenty minutes. Three Japanese planes were shot down; two Zeelandian pilots were killed. The Japanese carriers turned away.
Adrian knew that the threat was not over. He sent a secret message to Tokyo, warning that any invasion would be met with "unacceptable losses." He also sent a message to Washington, offering Zeelandian ports for refueling and repair.
The balancing act continued. Zeelandia sold oil to Japan, but also shared intelligence with the Allies. The kingdom became a hub for spies, diplomats, and refugees—a neutral island in a sea of war.
That summer, a young Dutch woman named Anne Frank arrived in Koningstad with her family. They had fled Amsterdam after the German occupation. Adrian met her at the refugee processing center.
"Welcome to Zeelandia," he said.
She looked up at him, her eyes wide. "Will we be safe here?"
Adrian knelt to her level. "As safe as I can make you. I promise."
She smiled—a small, fragile smile. It was enough.
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