Chapter 450: The Second in the European Community
By April 1941, although the Battle of the Land and Sea, which had lasted for several months, had not yet ended and the British still occupied three strongholds - Gibraltar, Tobruk and Crete, the whole world knew that the German-Italian coalition had won a decisive victory.
Marshal Hessmann, who won this decisive victory, became a double god of war on land and sea, and his reputation was much higher than before. Even fascist leaders such as Mussolini and Franco had to give him three points. Mussolini awarded Hessmann the rank of Honorary Italian Navy Marshal, and Franco readily agreed to give Hessmann the command of all Spanish troops during the Battle of Gibraltar.
As for the King of Egypt, the King of Iran and the Prime Minister of Iraq, they worked hard to curry favor with this imperialist marshal who could make them lose everything with just one order or one word.
However, not everyone in the Mediterranean was eager to curry favor with Hessman. At least one person in power was somewhat indifferent to Hessman and Germany. He was the Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Commander-in-Chief of the Navy of the French Republic, Admiral François Darlan.
He is now considered the successor of Henri Pétain, and he also controls the well-trained French Navy with hundreds of various types of combat ships, including the powerful battleships "Richelieu", "Jean Bart", "Dunkirk" and "Strasbourg"!
This fleet was attacked by the treacherous British Royal Navy in June 1940, and several battleships were damaged or even sunk. However, 10 months later, not only have all the damaged ships been repaired, but even the unfinished "Richelieu" and "Jean Bart" have completed all the construction work, and they have also left the port for sea trials after the British Royal Navy withdrew from the Mediterranean.
By April 1941, the French Navy under Darlan had regained its former glory - at least it seemed so. Now this naval fleet has become a key force that can change the course of the world war.
If Darlan turned to Germany and led his navy to become an accomplice of the Germans, the Royal Navy would be less in tonnage and number of capital ships than its opponents, the German-Italian-French Navy.
If Darlan is willing and able to continue to remain neutral, the Royal Navy can at least temporarily maintain its advantage in number and tonnage.
Obviously, the French naval fleet is now the biggest trump card in the hands of the French Republic and Darlan himself.
In mid-April, when the Spanish were making a big fanfare in La Linea and Algeciras near the Gibraltar Peninsula, Admiral François Darlan received an invitation from Marshal Hessmann, Chief of the General Staff of the German Wehrmacht - Hessmann invited him to visit Kiel, the home port of the German Navy's High Seas Fleet.
The seaport where a famous sailor uprising once broke out is now heavily guarded, with 10 huge castle-like anti-aircraft towers standing near the dock. These anti-aircraft towers are the product of Britain's nighttime harassment bombing of German cities. Not only important naval ports such as Kiel and Wilhelmshaven have anti-aircraft towers built, but also major German cities such as Berlin, Hamburg, Vienna, Cologne, Essen, and Frankfurt have also built anti-aircraft towers.
Darlan also knew that the Germans had built similar anti-aircraft towers in several "military concessions" in France, such as Brest, Calais, Dunkirk, Le Havre, and Brussels and Antwerp in Belgium.
These anti-aircraft towers are solid reinforced concrete structures with an outer wall thickness of 2.5 meters and a height of up to 35 meters. The top is equipped with dense anti-aircraft firepower or large anti-aircraft radars. The interior space is wide and can be used as civilian bunkers, field hospitals and warehouses.
Anti-aircraft turrets are usually grouped in two, one of which is equipped with a radar, and the other is equipped with four twin-mounted 105mm anti-aircraft guns on the top.
And under the protection of these tall anti-aircraft turrets, there are neatly arranged, very majestic warships in the port!
Admiral Darlan roughly counted that there are at least 100 combat ships of more than 1,000 tons, of which there are as many as 16 large ships with a displacement of at least 10,000 tons. And there are two battleships that are even larger than the "Richelieu" class, which should be the "Bismarck" and "Tirpitz".
Next to the two "Bismarck" class ships is the much smaller "Gneisenau". However, this battleship is different from what Darlan remembered. The three triple-mounted 280mm turrets have been replaced with three twin-mounted 380mm turrets. Although the number of main guns is reduced by 3, the firepower is more powerful. It is obvious that this battleship was greatly modified after the "Scharnhorst" was sunk, and its firepower was enhanced.
Next to the "Gneisenau" with enhanced firepower, there are four brand-new "battlecruisers" anchored! Admiral Darlan estimated that the displacement of these four warships, which look exactly the same, must exceed 20,000 tons, and the main guns they are equipped with seem to be two triple-mounted 280mm turrets... The firepower is a bit weak, and it is definitely not as good as the "Dunkirk" class, but it is enough to deal with heavy cruisers.
Darlan estimated that these four battlecruisers (actually P-class armored ships that have just completed outfitting and have not yet started sea trials) should be used to escort aircraft carriers or support landing forces.
Next to the four P-class armored ships, there were three "Deutschland"-class armored ships. Darlan was very familiar with this class of armored ships, so he didn't pay much attention to them, but immediately turned his attention to the four ships beside them. A larger heavy cruiser (Admiral Hipper-class heavy cruiser), this is another large battleship that has not been exposed in the past. The standard displacement should be around 15,000 tons, and the main gun is eight 203mm cannons. , obviously the configuration of a heavy cruiser.
Next to the four heavy cruisers are two aircraft carriers, the "Seidlitz" and the "Sekt".
3 battleships, 4 battlecruisers (P class), 3 armored ships, 4 heavy cruisers and 2 aircraft carriers. These completed capital ships alone already have the strength to fight the French Navy. Even if they encounter the British Royal Navy's home fleet, they may not be unable to fight...
"Admiral, our country's naval strength has grown rapidly in the past two years, and many new ships are completed and put into service every year."
Hersmann, who was accompanying Admiral Darlan to the battleship "Bismarck", the flagship of the German High Seas Fleet, told Darlan in fluent French.
"Currently being outfitted, there are two more battleships that will be assigned next year. They are the 'Hindenburg' class, which is larger than the 'Bismarck' class. It has a standard displacement of more than 55,000 tons and is equipped with eight 406mm main guns. It will be available by the end of the year. Among the battlecruisers that have completed outfitting and can begin sea trials early next year is the 35,000-ton Barbarossa. Its firepower and defense are similar to the modified Gneisenno, but it is faster. Some. There are also 2 aircraft carriers with a standard displacement of more than 28,000 tons and can carry 82 carrier-based aircraft. By then, the strength of our German Navy will exceed that of the British Home Fleet! A large cruise ship is being converted into an aircraft carrier and will be put into service next year.”
Hersmann threatened Darlan and said: "When you visit the shipyard, you will see these ships being built."
Another 4 battleships and 7 aircraft carriers! Admiral Darlan took a breath. This is 11 battleships and 9 aircraft carriers... How many battleships and aircraft carriers will the British Royal Navy have by 1942? I am afraid that as long as Germany is enough, it is enough to fight the British. If you add the 6 Italian battleships (3 of which are Veneto class), Britain will definitely lose even without the help of France. Unless the United States can intervene at a critical moment!
"Admiral, the situation is very clear now." Darlan said as Hersman walked away. "Unless the United States joins the war, Britain will definitely fail in 1942, regardless of whether France joins this year. And if you do, then we will It is possible to achieve a decisive victory in 1941! In this way, even if the United States joins, it will not change the final outcome of the war... and this will be the battle that unifies Europe after this war. , Germany, France, Britain and most of Europe will come together and become one. The dream of Emperor Napoleon will be realized in the hands of our generation."
"Britain?" Darlan was stunned, "Marshal, do you think Germany will come together with Britain?"
Hersman shrugged and said with a smile: "Of course, we have no deep hatred against Britain. The current war is just to distinguish ourselves... If Europe wants to be unified, it must have a strong leader. And a country that can become a leader, There are only three countries in Europe: Germany, France and the United Kingdom. After all, this is a war of brothers, so as long as the superiority is determined, there is no need to continue the war. After all, Europe and the world will still have to decide. Germany, Britain, France, or jointly led by Germany, France, and Britain!”
Hersman seemed to say the same sentence again, but Darlan still understood it. In the future, Europe will be united externally, but it will still have to be divided internally. The eldest child must be Germany, so how to distinguish the second and third children? Is Britain suppressing France, or is France suppressing Britain?
"Marshal, I understand what you mean." Darlan stopped and looked at Hessman. He knew that he could not wait and watch forever. France would just accept being overwhelmed by Germany. If it was because of him that it would be defeated by Britain again in the future. If he suppresses it, his political life will be over.
"The French navy will collectively join the German side in the war as naval volunteers after the Battle of Gibraltar," Darlan said, "and I will also work hard to get the entire France to join the war as a member of the European Community!"
Hersman nodded, "It's a deal!" He paused, "I hope the general will become the president of France and the deputy head of state of the European Community by then."