Chapter 640 "Fair and Reasonable" Recommendations

Dunkirk is a new generation of battleships designed by the French Navy within the tonnage specified in the Washington Naval Treaty in 1926. This battleship has a full-load displacement of more than 35,000 tons, but only has a 330 mm main gun, almost A lot of weight was added to the defense.

At the same time, its top speed is almost 30 knots.

The imaginary enemy targeted by this high-speed, heavy-defense design was the German "Deutschland-class armored ship" and the cruisers being developed and constructed by the navies of the great powers at that time. It can be said that this kind of battleship is in line with the combat characteristics of a battlecruiser, but the French Navy is still called a battleship.

This battleship, which was completed in 37 years, is absolutely the main battleship of France. At this time, it is moored in the port of Mierskebil, and it is the flagship of the French garrison in North Africa.

It is said that it is already late at night, and it is the time when people are sound asleep, but on this flagship, the commander of the French Navy's squadron, Admiral Marcel Bruno Jean Sur, was not sleepy.

He listened to the report from his subordinates, British Navy Colonel Holland, wanted to step on this warship and have a meeting with General Jean Sur.

Of course Sur knew what his old friend meant when he came, but he was unable to respond, and he held another order in his hand.

Admiral Darlan ordered that all commanders of the French naval fleet at all ranks must not have any contact with the British.

After thinking for a while, he said, "Let Colonel Holland go back, I don't have time to see him."

At this time, the destroyer that Colonel Holland was riding was almost parked next to his battleship.

"General Sur, don't want to see me?" On the destroyer here, Colonel Holland originally planned to disembark and pedal on the other side's boat, but he heard such an answer.

I don't want to see myself! In this situation, Colonel Holland did not expect. Originally, he had a lot of exhortations, hoping that General Sur could lead the fleet and join the British Navy. Unfortunately, now, he can't see General Jean Sur, nor Can't say anything more.

How to do?

After thinking for a while, Colonel Holland took out a document from his briefcase: "Please hand over this document to General Jean Sur and tell him that our meeting is very important and concerns France. The fate of the Navy."

It was a well-worded letter from the Admiralty of London, personally ordered by His Majesty the King.

"A few days ago, Prime Minister Reynolds promised to send all the warships to the British port. Now, at the cabinet meeting, a decision has been made: the French fleet should join the British navy, otherwise it will sink itself."

When he saw this, General Sur had already felt a spark in his eyes. Why should the fate of the French navy be decided by the British cabinet meeting? What do the British see themselves as? Take it as their own?

Those nasty British people!

In later generations, after an analysis of the events at the port of Mirskbil, some military observers believed that the British were too anxious and had too much appetite.

If the British navy does not annex the French navy, but cooperates with the French navy, then the French may accept it.

However, in the subconscious of the British, they have always regarded the French navy as their meat, and this is the reason why the tragedy finally broke out. After all, the French are also arrogant.

Rubbing his eyes, he let General Sur continue to watch.

"While the present French Government may consider that they and Germany's armistice terms with Italy and these commitments are reconciled, His Majesty's Government, on the basis of our past experience, believes that Germany and Italy will seize the French fleet as they see fit. , and used it in warfare against Britain and its allies."

"So far we have been your comrades in arms, and cannot sit and watch your best ships fall into the hands of enemy Germany or Italy. We are determined to fight to the end, and if we prevail—and we think we can—we will never Forget that France was our ally, our interests are France's interests, and our common enemy is Germany. If we win, we solemnly declare that we must restore French glory and territory."

Seeing this, the hands of General Jean Sur are already tightly clasped together, the British are still talking about these nonsense!

Although the ordinary people at the lower level don't know it yet, it is clear to General Sur that the British did not hesitate to use the French army as bait in order to withdraw their expeditionary force! Let the French army go to Dunkirk while the British are at Calais ready to break out!

Friends are used for betrayal. At the critical moment, they just stepped on the corpse of a friend and climbed out of the trap. This is the usual practice of the British!

Will they also help restore French glory and territory? If there is such a day, then France, I am afraid that it will become a vassal of the United Kingdom!

He resisted the urge to shred the letter and continued to read.

"For this purpose, we must ensure that the most elite ships of the French navy will not be used by the enemy to attack us. Therefore, the French fleet at Mierskebil must act according to one of the following methods:"

1. Sail with us and continue to fight for victory in the wars against Germany and Italy.

2. Cut crew and sail to UK ports under our supervision. The reduced crew should be repatriated as soon as possible.

3. Then reduce the crew, and join us in a French port in the West Indies, such as Martinique, where the ships are fully disarmed at our request, or put in safe custody by the United States until the end of the war, The crew can be repatriated first.

Almost every method here is formulated with a superior attitude. Your French fleet must do this!

Moreover, seeing the following makes General Sur even more angry.

"If you reject these fair and reasonable proposals, then, with my deepest apologies, I ask you to scuttle your ships within six hours. In the end, if you fail to comply with the above, then I shall have no choice but to obey the King of England. By order of His Majesty's Government, use all necessary forces to prevent your ships from falling into German or Italian hands."

"Fair and reasonable, these British guys, still think such conditions are fair and reasonable?" General Jean Sur said to himself: "Now, even if I don't see my old friend, I know what his attitude will be. "

Do you still need to meet?

"General, then how should we reply to the British?" asked the captain of the Dunkirk, beside General Jean Sur.

How do you reply? Jean Sur looked at the sea in the distance and said, "Telegram back to France and ask Marshal Petain and General Darlan for instructions."