The Rise of the Third Reich

Standardization and large-scale industrial production are often suitable for large markets such as the United States and the Soviet Union, but are not suitable for Europe, where there are many small countries. Just formulating unified standards is an endless wrangling matter.

However, now that the European single market is taking shape, and Germany has become a leader in social ethics, there are already conditions for promoting "European standardization."

In fact, in Germany, since the establishment of the General Armament Administration, it has been sparing no effort to promote standardization. Most of Germany's weapons and equipment are now standardized products, and parts can be interchanged between weapons of the same model.

However, unified standards have not yet been established for civilian products. In other EU countries outside Germany, standardized production is even worse.

Therefore, Hersman hopes to work with France to solve the problem of European standardization step by step.

At the same time, France (and the United Kingdom in the future) will be brought together to develop improved versions of the E-50 and Me-262. Of course, it also intends to abolish the independent development of tanks, aircraft and other large weapon systems by Britain and France and other countries.

In the future European Community, it will be enough for one country to have the ability to independently develop large-scale weapons systems.

As for Hessman's plan, Darlan understood it and could not refuse it. After all, France lags far behind in the two fields of tanks and jet aircraft and can no longer catch up with Germany. Following Germany's development is a shortcut for France to possess advanced weapons and equipment, and French companies will definitely benefit a lot from it.

Therefore, discussions on military-industrial cooperation between France and Germany easily reached a high-level consensus. Of course, the specific negotiations will not be completed so quickly, and all parties will have to deal with it for several months.

Although this verbal agreement with the French Prime Minister to cooperate in the development and production of advanced weapons and equipment has far-reaching implications, it is only a by-product for the Cairo Conference. There were only two main issues discussed at the Cairo Conference. One was how to win the war; the other was how to build a post-war order.

On January 5, the second day of the meeting between the heads of state of France and Germany, Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, Minister of Navy Isoroku Yamamoto and Foreign Minister Masayuki Tani, accompanied by Japanese Ambassador to Germany Shigeru Oshima, arrived. Saladin Fort is full of historical vicissitudes.

The venue for the meeting was the majestic "Alabaster Mosque" in the castle. The official name of this mosque is the Muhammad Ali Mosque. It got the nickname "Alabaster Mosque" because of its large milky white dome that looks like alabaster.

"That's the tomb of Muhammad Ali," Hessman stood at a window that opened to the west on the third floor of the mosque, pointing to a solemn cemetery outside, and told Hideki Tojo, Isoroku Yamamoto and Masayuki Tani in English. Said, "He was a great man who did things similar to your Meiji heroes. He carried out truly effective reforms in Egypt, established a Europeanized navy and army, developed industry and education, and in 1831 -During 1841, he sent troops to West Asia twice, defeated the Ottoman army trained by Count Moltke, captured Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria, and forced the Ottoman Sultan to recognize his right to rule the Arabian Peninsula and Crete. But in the end. , but he became a loser and died in anger and regret. Do you know why? "

"Because of the joint intervention of Britain, Russia, Austria and Prussia." Yamamoto Isoroku replied. Of course he knew who Muhammad Ali was. The elites of the Japanese navy were all people who knew world history very well.

"No," Hessman shook his head, "His failure was due to his excessive greed. The benefits he wanted to obtain exceeded the extent of his own strength, so he attracted unanimous intervention from the European powers. If he had stopped at Lebanon and Syria and made peace with the Ottoman Sultan in Istanbul, Egypt would have won a valuable historical opportunity and the country would now be a modern power, just like Japan is now if you decide to attack in 1895. If Beijing wants to replace the Tatar dynasty and take over China, your country will now be like Egypt.”

Hersman then repeated his words in German. Both Tojo Hideki and Oshima Shigeru could speak German. Of course, the army's big deer and the shameless navy couldn't learn the same foreign language.

The four Japanese devils are all human beings, so why don’t they understand what Hessman’s words mean - the Japanese Empire should not be too greedy now, because it will be difficult to end if it is too greedy.

"The expansion of the Japanese Empire is controlled," Tojo replied with a smile. "We will not be like Muhammad Ali. Our current national policy is only to maintain the security of the absolute defense circle."

Before today's meeting, Hersmann and Hitler had received Ribbentrop's report - the German Foreign Minister had attended a banquet at the Muhammad Ali Palace and had a separate meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Masayuki Tani. , so they know Japan’s stance on the Hawaiian Islands and also know that they want to attack the Panama Canal to buy time to deploy defenses.

So both Hersmann and Hitler knew that the so-called "absolute defense circle" had the Hawaiian Islands as its core. However, they also know that the United States will not give up its efforts to regain the Hawaiian Islands - although the Hawaiian Islands are not yet the mainland of the United States, they are undoubtedly as important as the mainland states and cannot be given up!

Hersman nodded. Although Japan could not negotiate peace with the United States without giving up the Hawaiian Islands, the United States also had no intention of letting Japan go. That can only allow Japan and the United States to create some sparks in Hawaii!

"First of all, we do not support any territorial claims by your country on the Hawaiian Islands and New Zealand!" Hersmann began to elaborate on Germany's position. "But in view of the current needs of the war against the United States, we will support your country in deploying defenses in the Hawaiian Islands."

While Hessman was speaking, everyone had already visited the tombs of the great Egyptians and returned to the halal-style conference room, where the guests and hosts took their seats.

A list that had been prepared long ago was placed in front of Tojo, Yamamoto and Tanimasa. Listed above are the weapons and equipment that Germany can provide to Japan (provided through barter trade).

The list includes Fw-190 A (medium and high altitude combat type), G (long-range combat bombing type), T (carrier-based type) and other types of fighters; Type 4 H tank, Rhino tank destroyer; Fritz-X Remote control gliding bomb system, Hs293 remote control gliding bomb system, V3 remote control missile system; BMW801 series (excluding the four cutting-edge series such as T, F, TS and TF) engines, BMW802 series engines (excluding T series with turbochargers) ), BMW300 series engines (excluding any series equipped with supercharger and MW50 system).

"The weapons and equipment listed in the catalog can be immediately provided in stock." Hersman added, "All weapons can be immediately provided in quantities of 300-1,000 units/piece, and the delivery location can be Singapore."

Yamamoto Isoroku and Tojo Hideki exchanged opinions in a low voice in Japanese. The Germans provided some things that were urgently needed and some that were not needed.

"Your Excellency, Imperial Marshal," Tojo said, "We do not need Fw-1W801 and BMW300 series engines. We urgently need remote-controlled gliding bombs and remote-controlled gliding missiles. We hope that your country can provide 500 of each immediately. 100 Type H tanks are enough. We need 400 BMW802 engines.”

"That's all?" Hersman frowned slightly. The equipment listed on the list had been carefully studied by the General Staff and the Naval Command, and should be very useful for the defense of the Hawaiian Islands. So he originally thought that the Japanese would come to make a big purchase, but he didn't expect that the other party was not very interested.

"We also need your country to provide technology to speed up the development process of several Pacific decisive battle aircraft." Yamamoto Isoroku said, "What we need most now is 18-cylinder air-cooled engine technology with more than 2,000 horsepower."

"2000 horsepower 18-cylinder air-cooling?" Hersman frowned. This thing really doesn't exist in Germany. The power of the BMW802 mass-produced model is now heading straight towards 3000 horsepower.

"Is it a specially designed small 18-cylinder?" Hersman asked again.

"Yes." Yamamoto Isoroku nodded.

Japan's weapons development standards are different from Germany's. They pursue small and light weapons, simple structures, and easy production and maintenance. What Germany is now pursuing is big, heavy, and very complex.

Take 18-cylinder air-cooling as an example. Although Germany has mature products, they can only be installed on bombers and heavy fighters because of their overweight and oversize. However, the Japanese fighter development idea is to continue the Zero myth and pursue excellent dogfighting performance. . They didn't even look down on the Fw-190, let alone consider manufacturing and installing the BMW 802 for heavy combat. Therefore, in the cooperative development of the "Seventeenth Test Ship War", the two sides had serious differences from the beginning.

Fokker wanted to build a "milk machine" that could use the BMW 802 engine, while Japan wanted a fighting fighter with perfect aerodynamic performance. For this purpose, it needed a light and small 18-cylinder air-cooled engine - in fact They already have this engine, it's just not perfect yet.

"Okay," Hirschmann replied, "I will order BMW's technical department to assist you as much as possible in perfecting the small 18-cylinder air-cooled engine."

"Thank you very much," Yamamoto Isoroku smiled and nodded, and then added, "In addition, we also hope that the European Combined Fleet will open up the Caribbean battlefield this spring."