Chapter 406 Advertising War 1
Is this going to rush out of the Mediterranean and head for the Atlantic?
It doesn't sound real.
Mussolini and his son-in-law, Count Ciano, looked at each other, and Count Ciano said: "Marshal, since we have lost two aircraft carriers, it is impossible to capture Gibraltar at present, unless Spain joins us in the war."
If Gibraltar is to be captured from the sea, air cover is essential. But Gibraltar is more than 1,200 kilometers away from Sardinia, Italy. Even the combat radius of the Fokker Zero is not enough to cover from Sardinia to Gibraltar, so carrier-based aircraft must be used to provide air cover.
"Then let Spain join!" Hessman said lightly, "Franco's regime was defeated by our two countries, and we have the ability to make him roll down!"
For Spain, Hessman is not as easy to talk to as Hitler in history. And Germany is not preparing for the Barbarossa plan now, so isn't it a piece of cake to invade Spain?
"But... Spain is our friend after all." Count Ciano said with some embarrassment.
"Spain is your friend in Italy!" Hersman corrected, "but not Germany's friend. Because Spain is a fascist country, and we in Germany are socialist countries."
There is no concept of "fascist Germany" in this time and space, because Germany and the Soviet Union have always publicly called each other "socialist comrades and brothers." Moreover, Germany is still a socialist democratic country with a multi-party parliamentary democracy. This year, that is, in 1941, Germany will hold a general election. During this period, Hitler is preparing for re-election.
"Of course, we in Germany do not want to use force to force Spain. That is only the last resort." Hersman suddenly smiled slightly, and his tone has eased. "We obviously have other means to urge Spain to join the war."
If you use force to attack Spain, you actually want to tell Franco through the Italians. Since Italy played the leading role in the intervention in the Spanish Civil War, Mussolini and Franco have a very close relationship. He will definitely convey the words of "German War God" Hersman to Franco.
"Marshal," Count Ciano reminded in a low voice with a smile on his face, "In fact, Marshal Franco has already mentioned the conditions for joining the war."
Hissmann was not very clear about Franco's conditions, because the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was responsible for contacting Spain. However, Hirschmann knew the most critical condition: to prove that Germany can definitely win the war!
As long as this condition is met, everything else can be discussed. Because there is no risk for Spain to join the war on the side of the victor, no matter how much benefit it has, it is better than no benefit, and Spain cannot afford to offend the future world hegemon.
"I think the current situation has met all the conditions for Spain to join the war."
Hersman gritted his teeth and smiled: "Didn't we just win a historic and decisive victory? The British Mediterranean Fleet was defeated and lost 4 battleships and 1 aircraft carrier. Now, the sea control of the Mediterranean belongs to Germany and Italy. Britain will soon lose the Middle East and North Africa, and then India. Britain's defeat is doomed, and the prospects of Germany and Italy's victory are beyond doubt!"
If the useless Italian Navy had not lost two precious aircraft carriers, then the victory of the "Eastern Mediterranean Battle" would indeed be historic and decisive. But after the Italians lost two aircraft carriers, the quality of the victory was greatly insufficient.
In the Mediterranean after the "Eastern Mediterranean Battle", Britain had 4 battleships and 2 aircraft carriers, while Italy had 5 battleships but no aircraft carriers. At first glance, Italy seemed to have no advantage.
"But it's hard for us to prove this." Count Ciano said somewhat embarrassedly. "You can't rely on propaganda for this, because the British will also do propaganda."
After a naval battle, the propaganda departments of the participating countries will naturally brag. Mussolini is good at bragging, but Churchill is also good at this. It is difficult to tell who is better between Mussolini and Churchill.
"We can fight an advertising campaign." Hersman had already had a way to deal with it.
"Advertisement... campaign?" Mussolini asked with his eyes wide open, "Is it advertising or a real war?"
"Both," Hersman explained with a smile, "Advertisement and campaign are the same thing."
"The same thing? How to do it?"
"Speeches in newspapers, radio and mass meetings, and invitations to the navies of various neutral countries." Hersman said in a very serious tone, "First tell everyone where we are going to attack, and then invite naval observers and war correspondents from various neutral countries to visit the site... In this way, we can publicly show the strength of the German and Italian naval and air forces in front of the whole world."
Can we fight a war like this? Mussolini was stunned again and again, "Marshal, don't we need the surprise of the battle?"
"For the side with absolute advantage, it doesn't matter whether there is surprise or not." Hessman replied.
Count Ciano asked with some doubt: "Do we really have an absolute advantage?"
Five Italian battleships against four British battleships and two British aircraft carriers, no matter how you look at it, the British side is stronger.
"Of course!" Hessman said with great certainty, "In the just-concluded 'Eastern Mediterranean Campaign', it was not the surface fleet but the aircraft that really played a decisive role. Among the 4 battleships and 1 aircraft carrier lost by Britain, Two battleships and one aircraft carrier were sunk by aircraft, and the other two battleships were also severely damaged. Moreover, it was not the carrier-based aircraft that achieved such results, but the shore-based aviation in the Eastern Mediterranean. The main force on the battlefield, and the shore-based aviation forces deployed by our two countries on the Mediterranean battlefield have overwhelming advantages.”
Hersman said: "The long-range air strike force composed of Fokker Zero, Ju88 and S.M.79 played a decisive role in the 'Battle of the Eastern Mediterranean'. And we still have many such aircraft. Currently, the Fokker Zero The monthly production has exceeded 150, and more than 50 fighter squadrons of the German Air Force and Naval Air Force are equipped with this aircraft. The monthly production of Ju88 exceeds 200, and the monthly production of your S.M.79 is more than 100. There are more than 100 aircraft produced and more than 50 squadrons are equipped. In the "Eastern Mediterranean Campaign", we actually only used a small part of our air power. In future operations, we can invest more shore-based aviation. , to ensure another defeat of the British Mediterranean Fleet in front of reporters and naval observers from various countries.”
At present, Germany's monthly production of various aircraft is approximately more than 1,250 aircraft, which translates into an annual production of 15,000 aircraft, which is 50% more than the same period in history. In fact, it is not too much. Compared with the UK, it is just shoulder to shoulder.
However, due to the high-low combination of BF-109 and Fokker Zero, the losses of aircraft and pilots were far smaller than in history. In the battles over Belgium, the North Sea and the English Channel, and the northwest waters of Ireland, the Luftwaffe and naval aviation led by a large margin. Therefore, Germany can mobilize more forces to strengthen the Mediterranean battlefield.
In addition, Italy is now gradually realizing the huge role of S.M.79 in anti-ship warfare, so it has also begun to increase the production of anti-ship S.M.79 (which existed before the war). The bomber squadrons previously equipped with S.M.79 also began to transform into torpedo squadrons under the training of German instructors.
Therefore, on the Mediterranean battlefield, the advantages of Germany and Italy are indeed overwhelming!
"Faced with our huge advantage, if the British abandon Crete without a fight," Hersman smiled sarcastically, "then everyone will realize the prospect of victory for our two countries. Spain and France will definitely be very happy. Come join us, and our chances of victory will be greater. If the British dare to reinforce Crete with their Mediterranean fleet, we will destroy them all there!"
"So where are we going to launch an advertising campaign?" Mussolini thought for a long time and felt that Hersman's opinion was more reasonable.
Hessmann is the "God of War". Even the Italian Navy can defeat the British Royal Navy in his hands! Why did Mussolini not believe in Herschmann?
"Crete!" said Hersman, "announce it today at the mass celebration. Tell everyone that we are going to attack Crete next, and we will do it in a month. Let the whole world come. See the invincible naval and air superiority of our two countries!”
…
"What? Mussolini publicly announced at a mass rally in Rome that he would attack Crete next month?"
British Prime Minister Churchill was very well-informed. He knew it the night Mussolini announced that he would attack Crete.
“Yes, Prime Minister,” Eden, who had just become foreign secretary, told Churchill, “because Mussolini said it in public, the diplomats in Rome heard it. He claimed that he had He also said that the Royal Navy had completely failed in the recent naval battle and was no longer a powerful maritime force. It was only a matter of time before it completely withdrawn from the Mediterranean (Mussolini said to get out). , after Italy completely controls the Mediterranean, the German and Italian navies will attack the British mainland together..."
"This is the most ridiculous lie I have ever heard in my life!" Churchill frowned and looked at Admiral Alexander and First Sea Lord Marshal Pound. "Both of you, I think the Mediterranean fleet has the power to crush the Italian attack, right?"