The Rise of the Third Reich

By April 1941, although the Battle of Earthsea, 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 Germany - The Italian coalition had achieved a decisive victory.

And Marshal Hessmann, who won this decisive victory, has become a god of war on both land and sea, and his reputation is much higher than before. Even fascist leaders like Mussolini and Franco wanted to give him three points. Mussolini awarded Hessmann the rank of Honorary Marshal of the Italian Navy, and Franco readily agreed to serve as the commander during the Battle of Gibraltar. Command of all Spanish armies was given to Hersman.

As for characters like the King of Egypt, the King of Iran, and the Prime Minister of Iraq, they worked hard to please this imperialist marshal who could make them lose everything with just one order.

However, in the Mediterranean, not everyone rushes to curry favor with Hersmann and the God of War. There is at least one powerful figure who is somewhat indifferent to Hessmann and Germany. He is the French Republic. Admiral François Darlan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Commander-in-Chief of the Navy.

He is now considered the heir to Henri Pétain, and he also controls the well-trained French navy with hundreds of combat ships of various types, including the powerful battleship "Richelieu" and the battleship "Jean Bart" , "Dunkirk" class battleship and "Strasbourg" battleship!

This fleet was attacked by the treacherous British Royal Navy in June 1940. Several battleships were damaged or even sunk. However, today, 10 months later, not only the damaged ships have been repaired, but also the "Richelieu" and "Jean Bart" that were originally unfinished have completed all construction work, and the British Royal Navy has withdrawn After sailing to the Mediterranean Sea, it sailed out of the port for sea trials.

By April 1941, the French Navy under Darlan's control had returned to its former glory - or so it seemed. Now this naval fleet has become a key force that can change the course of the world war.

If Darlan turns to Germany and leads his navy to become an accomplice of the Germans, then the British Royal Navy will be smaller in tonnage and number of battleships than its opponents, the German-Italian-French navies.

If Darlan was willing and able to remain neutral, the Royal Navy could retain at least a temporary advantage in numbers 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, just as the Spaniards were carrying out "infrastructure construction" in La Linea and Algeciras near the Gibraltar Peninsula with great fanfare, Admiral François Darlan received a request from the General Staff of the German Wehrmacht Invitation from Marshal Herschmann - Herschmann invited him to visit the port of Kiel, the home port of the German Navy's High Seas Fleet.

The harbor where a famous sailors' uprising broke out is now heavily fortified, with 10 huge castle-like anti-aircraft gun towers standing near the pier. These anti-aircraft turrets were the product of Britain's nighttime harassing bombing of German cities. Anti-aircraft turrets were built not only in important naval ports such as Kiel Port and Wilhelmshaven, but also in German cities such as Berlin, Hamburg, Vienna, Cologne, Essen, and Frankfurt. Anti-aircraft towers were also built in large cities.

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, Brussels and Antwerp in Belgium.

These anti-aircraft turrets are solid reinforced concrete structures with outer walls up to 2.5 meters thick and heights up to 35 meters. They are equipped with intensive air defense firepower or large air defense radars on the top. The interior space is wide and can be used as a civilian bunker, field hospital and warehouse.

Anti-aircraft turrets are usually a group of two, one with a radar and one with four twin 105mm anti-aircraft guns mounted on the top.

Under the protection of these tall anti-aircraft turrets, there are very powerful warships lined up neatly in the port!

Admiral Darlan roughly counted, there are at least 100 combat ships with a displacement of more than 1,000 tons, among which there are as many as 16 large ships with a displacement of at least 10,000 tons. There are also two battleships that are even larger in appearance than the "Richelieu" class, which should be the "Bismarck" and the "Tirpitz".

Next to the two "Bismarck" class ships is the much smaller "Gneisenau". However, this battleship looks different from what Darlan remembers. The three triple-mounted 280mm turrets have been replaced by three twin-mounted 380mm turrets. Although the number of main guns is 3 less, the firepower is still the same. More powerful. It is obvious that this battleship underwent major modifications and increased its firepower after the "Scharnhorst" was scuttled.

And next to the "Gneisenno" with enhanced firepower, four brand-new "battlecruisers" are parked! Admiral Darlan estimated that the displacement of these four identical-looking warships 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 they will definitely not be able to defeat "Dunkirk" "level, but it is enough to deal with heavy cruisers.

Darlan estimated that these four battlecruisers (actually P-class armored ships that had just completed outfitting but had not yet begun 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 join, 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."