The Rise of the Third Reich

"Stalin wants us to go first, but we want the Soviet Union to go first and fight Germany to the death. This is indeed a problem."

In the Oval Office of the White House, the President of the United States looked at Secretary of State Hull, who had just met with Soviet Ambassador Litvinov, with a wry smile on his face.

Surely Roosevelt, his cabinet and think tanks knew what the defeat of the British Empire in the Mediterranean meant? As an empire based on maritime hegemony, the British Empire once faced a hostile Europe ruled by Emperor Napoleon, but at that time the British Empire was still the ruler of the world's oceans. Not even Emperor Napoleon's navy could defeat the British navy in the Atlantic, English Channel and Mediterranean.

But now, the Royal Navy, which was the foundation of the British Empire's world hegemony, failed. They lost the Mediterranean, the most important ocean in the world. The once invincible fleet fled in a hurry in front of the sea and air power of Germany and Italy. They no longer had the spirit and strength to destroy the enemy when they saw it!

This defeat means that the crown of the British Empire has fallen. The question now is who can pick it up?

There are only three countries in this world that are qualified to replace Britain as the world's leading power, the United States, Germany and the Soviet Union!

Among them, the one with the strongest industrial strength and richest resources is undoubtedly the United States, and the economic and financial ties between the United Kingdom and the United States are very close. If the United Kingdom is bound to lose its hegemony, then it is obviously in the best interests of the United Kingdom for the United States to inherit its hegemony.

Germany is currently the most popular challenger. It has used a series of military victories to break the division and balance of Europe for hundreds of years. It has become the leader of Europe in one fell swoop and is still fully promoting European integration.

If Germany succeeds in promoting European unification, then Germany can use the shell of the European Community to catch up with the United States in terms of population and industrial strength. At the same time, by controlling the resources and markets in Africa, the Middle East and India, the European Community suppressed the United States and the Soviet Union and firmly established itself as the world's king.

Therefore, Germany is now in a more favorable position than the United States. As long as it continues along the route of defeating the United Kingdom and unifying Europe, it will be able to win the final victory - because world hegemony is ultimately created, not based on GDP. Comparable!

As for the United States, although its GDP is very high and its industry is large, the combat effectiveness currently displayed by Germany is really terrifying. Therefore, the most ideal situation is for Germany and the Soviet Union to fight and lose both sides, while the United States uses the British mainland as a stronghold to carry out strategic bombing of Germany's large cities and industrial centers, and finally crosses the English Channel to defeat Germany, which has long been exhausted, and seize the world's power. crown.

However, Joseph Stalin had seen through everything long ago. He now asked the United States to go first and the Soviet Union to cover...

"William," Roosevelt glanced at White House Intelligence Coordinator Donovan, who was sitting next to Secretary of State Hull, "are there any signs now that Germany is going to attack the Soviet Union?"

"Unfortunately, I don't see any signs of this." Donovan is also a busy man. He quit working as a good Wall Street lawyer and travels to Europe every day. He just returned to the United States from Yugoslavia two days ago (he went to and Yugoslav Air Force General Dusan Simovich met secretly).

“The Germans’ strategic intentions are very clear,” Donovan said. “First defeat Britain, then complete the integration of Europe, and then use Europe’s industrial strength to build a powerful navy, thus finally replacing Britain as the world’s hegemon.

As far as I know, shipyards in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium are very busy now, and even French shipyards have received many orders from the Germans. The resources of Europe under German control are limited, and it is impossible to support the large-scale construction of the navy, army, and air force at the same time. "

At present, Germany and Italy have only just gained control of the Mediterranean Sea, and resources from the Middle East and North Africa (oil, nonferrous metals, cotton, grain, etc.) have not yet been shipped to Europe in large quantities. Therefore, it is impossible for Germany to let Europe's industrial machines operate at full capacity, and it must focus on armaments construction.

The focus of Germany's armaments construction is obviously naval shipbuilding. Since the Geneva Conference, shipyards in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, and even France have become busy.

This already shows that Germany's strategic focus in the next stage is on the sea!

"President, according to the information provided by the British," Donovan continued, "Currently, Germany has two 50,000-ton Bismarck-class ships built, two 60,000-ton Hindenburg-class ships will be built next year, and four A 70,000- to 80,000-ton battleship is under construction. Italy has two 40,000-ton Veneto-class ships built, and another two are under construction, and France has two 40,000-ton Richelieu-class ships. It has been built, and there is another one under construction, which is expected to be completed in 1942. "

"By 1942 there will be a total of 11 new super battleships!" Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox said in a somewhat sad tone, "And by 1942 we will only have 3 Colorado class, 2 North Carolina class and 4 South Dakota class. We are 9:11 behind in number of super battleships.”

"Where are the aircraft carriers?" Roosevelt asked. "The war in the Mediterranean seems to indicate that the era of air power dominating the seas has arrived."

"Excluding converted carriers and escort carriers, we will have two Lexingtons, two Yorktowns, two Wasps and up to one Essex class by the end of 1942. The Germans will have at least 2 One Seidlitz class and two Zeppelin class. The former should be a 15,000-ton light fleet aircraft carrier, which is equivalent to the Wasp class, and the latter is a large aircraft carrier of more than 30,000 tons, which is equivalent to the Essex class."

"The aircraft carrier is 7:4, we are ahead." President Roosevelt smiled.

"But we still have an opponent in the Pacific - Japan!" the Navy Minister reminded. "The Japanese also have 6 fleet carriers and two super battleships. If Japan is included, the ratio of super battleships will be 9: 13, and 7:10 for aircraft carriers.”

The United States has many large shipyards, and its technology in the field of military ship construction is also very good. But no matter how awesome it is, according to the current timetable, it will take three years for a battleship or a large aircraft carrier to go from laying out the keel to being fully completed.

In other words, the shipbuilding plan started in the second half of 1940 would have to wait until 1943-1944 to "lay the dumplings". Before that, if the United States is jointly attacked by Germany and Japan, the situation will be very critical.

"But if you include British battleships and aircraft carriers," Roosevelt said, "until a large number of our battleships and aircraft carriers are launched, the numerical advantage is still on our side." He paused, "So we cannot lose Britain as an ally!"

If the British can hurry up the construction of the King George V class, then by 1942 they will have 5 George V class ships, in addition to the Nelson and the Hood, a total of 7 ships that can barely be called "super battleships" Powerful battleship. Moreover, the UK also has 4 Glory-class aircraft carriers and 1 HMS Ark Royal, a total of 5 fleet aircraft carriers that have been completed or will be completed soon. In addition, the UK still has two Vengeance-class ships under construction. If progress can be made quickly, they may be put into service by the end of 1942.

"Yes, Mr. President, we cannot lose Britain," Secretary of State Hull said, "but we still have no way of entering the war."

"But there are things we can do," the Navy secretary added with a shrug, "like taking over the defense of Iceland, the Canary Islands, Cape Verde and the Azores."

Iceland has now declared independence and is protected by the United Kingdom, the Canary Islands belong to Spain, and Cape Verde and the Azores belong to Portugal. These islands are located in the Atlantic Ocean close to Europe and Africa. They can barely be regarded as an island chain, which can prevent the German and European fleets from rushing into the Atlantic Ocean.

In particular, Iceland is less than 500 nautical miles away from the United Kingdom. Once occupied by the United States, it can become a transit point for transporting war supplies to the United Kingdom. American merchant ships can transport goods to Iceland, and then British merchant ships can transport them from Iceland to the British mainland. The mere 500 nautical miles of water was too small for German submarines and aircraft to exert their power.

"This is a kind of war brinkmanship!" Harry Hopkins commented on Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox's plan. He said: "For the domestic people, taking over several islands in the Atlantic is a necessary defense. measures to keep the war out of the Americas, so opponents won’t get much of a response.”

"I think you can," Roosevelt said to Hopkins. "Harry, you go to England once and discuss with Prime Minister Churchill the United States' takeover of Iceland, the Canary Islands, Cape Verde, and the Azores."

Then Roosevelt said to Hull: "Go tell the Soviet ambassador that the United States will soon intervene in the war. The occupation of Iceland, the Canary Islands, Cape Verde and the Azores is the first step. Then it will enter the British mainland and Landing on the European continent at the appropriate time, I look forward to the meeting of American, British and Soviet armies in the city of Berlin!”

Roosevelt agreed to Stalin’s proposal—the United States goes first! But he was not the general secretary of the American Bolshevik Party who kept his promises.

"President, how can we get to the British mainland?" Hull was stunned and asked quickly.

Roosevelt said calmly: "Now start sanctioning Japan! Steel, oil, weapons, chemical products, and all materials related to Japan's war preparations are prohibited from being imported into Japan." He looked at Harry Hopkins again, "Go and talk to Japan Prime Minister Churchill said that the British and Dutch East Indies authorities must also join the embargo."