The Rise of the Third Reich

When Joseph Patrick Kennedy returned, Washington was already covered in a sheet of white snow. Both sides of the Potomac River are covered in silver. Looking through the light snow, even the surface of the air-proof balloon floating high in the sky seemed to be covered with a layer of white snowflakes.

Compared with New York, which was under the threat of German missiles, the city looked very peaceful. There were far fewer anti-aircraft guns on the streets, almost no fortifications and tanks, and not many people wearing military uniforms. After becoming the interim president, Wallace ordered the Joint Chiefs of Staff to deploy defenses on the east coast, not only to prevent German missiles and bombers, but also to prevent them from suddenly landing somewhere on the east coast. Therefore, large cities on the Atlantic Ocean like New York and Boston now look like they are facing a powerful enemy. Fortifications that have been built or are being built can be seen everywhere, as well as tanks and heavily armed National Guard soldiers. Everywhere.

Many factory workers or company employees working in Manhattan have also begun to receive short-term but effective military training - this is not difficult for everyone in the United States to own a gun - many people also received old-fashioned Springfield rifles, Hand grenades and steel helmets, and some purchased Thompson submachine guns and Browning automatic rifles at their own expense. The old M1917 water-cooled heavy machine guns and 60mm mortars were also stored in designated locations, and designated personnel were designated for safekeeping and use. Theoretically, all it takes is an order from New York Governor Dewey, and hundreds of thousands of armed militiamen can be organized in New York City alone!

In addition, the parliaments of 14 states on the east coast have successively passed resolutions authorizing state governments to arm people. They must ensure that all adult male citizens in the 14 states who are mentally sound and have not been detained have a gun - at least one, the more the better!

But in the capital of the United States of America, the situation seems to be much calmer. Washington, DC is not a coastal city and is still some distance from the Atlantic Ocean. Moreover, this city has a small population and a small area. It has no value other than being the political center of the United States.

However, as the vice president-elect, Kennedy knew some inside information. Behind the "undefended" Washington, D.C., was a top-secret capital relocation plan. Once Washington, D.C., is within the combat radius of German long-range bombers, the political center of the United States of America will move to Chicago in order to prevent the United States' command center from being destroyed by nuclear weapons.

While the plan to move the capital was being secretly prepared, residents of Washington, D.C., were also organized to dig bomb shelters in case Germany suddenly developed missiles or ultra-long-range bombers that could drop an atomic bomb on Washington, D.C. However, as the "spare tire" of the US president, Kennedy did not have to live in the capital that might be bombed by atomic bombs. After being sworn in, he would lead a "spare tire cabinet" composed of "spare tire" officials from various government departments to go to Chicago first. . And stood ready to become Commander-in-Chief of the United States of America after Truman was killed by an atomic bomb...

Before taking office, Truman and Kennedy could not appear in Washington at the same time. Only one of them left, and the other could come to the capital from Catoctin Mountain Resort (later Camp David), located 120 kilometers northwest of Washington, the capital.

Now Truman is taking his family on "vacation" at the Catoctin Mountain Resort, and Kennedy has come to the capital to discuss peace issues with Wallace and big bosses from the Republican and Democratic parties on behalf of Truman.

Although the daytime bombing of Buenos Aires by the U.S. Army and Naval Air Forces a few days ago dealt a heavy blow to fascism in South America, the Germans still showed a disappointing performance at the negotiation table. tough attitude.

Not only were they unwilling to compromise on the amount of war compensation (or in any other name), but they also made demands on the issue of "self-determination of American nations" - the Germans demanded the merger of European colonies in the Caribbean and many independent island countries in the Caribbean , establish a completely neutral and completely independent Caribbean Federation!

Obviously, the Germans want to build several big countries in the backyard of the United States that can fight against the United States! The New Asbania Federation located in the southern part of South America is one, and the Caribbean Federation is probably also one. Maybe it will support Mexico to unify Central America.

In addition, the Kingdom of Canada, which is independent from the British Empire, is also very likely to be supported by the European Community... This is very possible, because the future heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Canada is also a princess, and her husband follows the practice of the British royal family. , and it can only come from the ancient royal families who believe in Protestantism on the European continent. And almost all such families come from Germany!

Therefore, after the leading figures here in Washington, D.C., learned about the latest peace terms from the Germans, they all opposed it with indignation. At the same time, many shocking photos of Buenos Aires on fire published in Roman newspapers also gave the highest-level decision-makers in the United States a false hope. Many believed that continued bombing would force progressive changes in the political landscape of the new Asbanian Federation. Military dictators will be overthrown by angry citizens, and entire countries will plunge into collapse and instability. This will greatly affect the German military deployment in South America, and the attack on the Caribbean will be delayed. And then is the best time to make a decent peace.

Kennedy himself was unsure about this somewhat wishful judgment. He was a banker and Wall Street speculator by profession, and was not an expert on South America. Out of the instinct of a financial speculator, Kennedy was also inclined to let the United States fight again.

Because when he met people like Mussolini and Hess in Rome, he still felt the goodwill of the fascists and Nazis. Even though the Americans turned Buenos Aires into a sea of ​​fire, Hess agreed to Mussolini's proposal to exchange prisoners of war. The two sides will first exchange the release of seriously injured or seriously ill prisoners of war - this is a tailor-made exchange condition for Little Kennedy, who has lost his arms and legs, but it is also more beneficial to Germany. The Germans are currently imprisoning There are 20,000 to 30,000 sick and injured patients in the United States, and the monthly medical expenses are a huge expense. Moreover, as a condition of the prisoner exchange, Germany also required the Americans to pay for the food and medical expenses of the released prisoners.

Since there are far more American casualties to be released than European Community casualties to be released, politicians in Washington believe that this is a sign of German "weakness" and "eagerness to reach a peace treaty." At the same time, Hess's position that he would not use atomic bombs to kill American civilians during the talks is unknown, but it is also considered to be a kind of weakness.

"The Germans are getting weak." Wallace, who is still president and will soon become secretary of war, told Kennedy and other top American officials attending the meeting in the White House Cabinet Room, "and we must continue to show toughness. The air strikes against Europe and Buenos Aires should continue."

The United States dropped bombs into the potato fields in Ireland. It started when Roosevelt was still alive and has continued to this day. It is unknown how many large craters were blown in the potato fields in the west of the island of Ireland. At the same time, more than 100 people were injured. A B-29 is missing! However, even if the cost was staggering, Americans still insisted on bombing potato fields because such actions showed that the United States was capable of fighting back.

If necessary, the B-29s now bombing potato fields will carry germ bombs to bomb the big cities in the European Community!

In addition, air raids on Irish potato fields could effectively contain the strength of the Luftwaffe. Forcing the Germans to increase the number of heavy fighters that can be used for night interceptions (usually twin-engine, two-seater and equipped with radar).

The Americans' daytime air raid on Buenos Aires was also costly! In the first thousand-aircraft raid, 177 aircraft of various types did not return. The loss rate exceeds 17%!

Such a high loss rate is definitely unbearable for a long time - this is equivalent to an average aircraft being shot down after performing 6 missions - but when thinking about the possibility of blowing up the New Asbanian Federation, a South American fascist country, China Leahy (who is now also the Secretary of War), Secretary of the Navy Forrest, and senior military officials such as William Leahy, Marshall, Ernest King, and Arnold, all agreed to continue this price. Expensive air strikes.

"Their military strength is also very tight," Wallace told Kennedy. "According to reliable intelligence, the Germans have asked Olga to send an air expeditionary force of the Russian puppet army to Argentina to participate in the war."

Kennedy was a little puzzled, "How could it be? The Germans have so many planes, how could they not send out hundreds of fighter jets to protect Buenos Aires?"

Arnold, commander of the Army Aviation Corps, had long known that Kennedy would ask this question, and immediately explained: "The maximum number of shore-based day fighters in Germany and France is seven to eight thousand. Although it is not a lot, the battlefield they are responsible for is also very large. Europe wants to defend, and many islands in the Atlantic Ocean have to be deployed. In addition, they also send a large number of aircraft to Belem, Brazil, and Guyana...that is the base for the invasion of the Caribbean.”

Kennedy understood: "In other words, the Germans have deployed the main force of their shore-based fighters to northern Brazil and Guyana, and are preparing to attack Trinidad from there?"

"Yes, that's it." William Leahy replied, "Germany began to deploy operations to attack the Caribbean Sea in 1942. It built many airports and terminals in Guyana, and after controlling the Port of Belém in northern Brazil, it continued to With expansion, there are currently no less than 50 large German airports in Guyana and Belem, which can accommodate 5,000 aircraft!"