The Rise of the Third Reich

The Germans' efforts to win over Brazil and Argentina cannot be hidden from the United States. After all, the United States has been operating in South America for more than a hundred years, and its roots have long been established. The political economy of many South American countries is under the control of the United States.

Moreover, the United States is also a place where various South American warlords, politicians, corrupt officials, profiteers, and big landowners store their dirty money. Most of the children of these people also receive education in the United States. Once the various rich and powerful villains in South America are in the country, If he loses power, he will usually flee to the United States to live out his old age.

Therefore, although there are many big figures in South America who talk about being anti-American, in fact they are the biological parents of the American people. Once they lose power, they will run to the United States, and most of their descendants will become Americans.

Parents generally love their children, so anyone with a certain status in South America will have a few American children they love. With such a close relationship, it would be very difficult for Germany to deceive big South American countries like Brazil and Argentina into switching sides by relying on empty promises. If you want them to surrender, Germany must provide real evidence to prove that the United States will be unable to maintain its dominance in South America, and Germany will definitely replace it. In this case, the various great men in South America will become the fathers of future Germans. Damn it.

And the most authentic evidence is, of course, that the German army beat the Americans hard on the land of South America and on the nearby sea!

When the German army took advantage of the fact that the United States was not paying attention, it could not be regarded as a beating of the Americans when they reached into Guyana, because it was the last stronghold of Europeans in South America - whether it was British, Dutch or French Guiana, they were all European colonies.

Therefore, Guyana being controlled by Germany is not enough to prove that Germany will definitely replace the United States as the master of South America. Although there will be many South American greats who have good relations with Germany and even put on a pro-German face. But if they want them to follow Germany to fight the United States, Germany must first really beat the United States. Otherwise, these South American great men would not casually put their wealth, life and the happiness of future generations on the newly arrived German boss. If the wrong treasure is pressed, the American boss will settle the score in the future, and it will be an ugly death. Of course, President Roosevelt was well aware of this unspoken rule in South American politics.

“We cannot easily go to war in South America,” Roosevelt shook his head. “If we suffer a disastrous defeat in South America or on the ocean near South America, the big shots in South America will defect to Germany.

Otherwise...the most they hedging their bets, and I'm not worried about them hedging their bets, it doesn't hurt us that much. Anyway, we still have a lot of supplies and gold that can be exchanged for South American resources. Moreover, Venezuela, the most strategically valuable country in South America, is still under our firm control! "

Roosevelt smiled coldly and said, "So, let the Germans attack and we will be responsible for the defense."

Venezuela's current oil production is about the same as that of the Soviet Union, and its strategic value is extremely huge. If Venezuela is controlled by Germany, the oil production (including synthetic gasoline and shale oil) controlled by Germany will be close to 80 million tons. Although it is still not comparable to the 200 million tons of the United States, it will still greatly enhance the power of Germany's military machine.

Therefore, after Germany entered Guyana, Roosevelt immediately ordered the U.S. Army to enter Venezuela, and also stationed a large number of troops and aircraft on the Caribbean islands near Venezuela.

In Trinidad and Tobago alone, which guards the southern entrance to the Caribbean (and is also close to Venezuela), the United States has established as many as 225 military bases (that many in history)!

Since the United States controls Venezuela militarily, all Venezuelan oil is now under the control of the United States. If you include the oil from Mexico, which is next to the United States (Mexico was also a major oil-producing country at this time), the United States now controls more than 260 million tons of oil.

At the same time, the entire European Community currently controls only over 40 million tons of oil production capacity, and Japan controls even less, less than 8 million tons.

The advantage in the quantity of oil will be transformed into an advantage in the quantity of commonly used aircraft. The production of aircraft was not a problem for the European Community, Japan, the Soviet Union and the United States, but pilots had to be fed with gasoline. The United States has at least a five-fold advantage in oil quantity over Japan and Europe. If it can all be converted into an advantage in the number of commonly used aircraft, the United States will be invincible.

Therefore, the battle for Venezuela can, to a certain extent, determine the course of the war. The United States has a great advantage in Venezuela. It not only controls Venezuela's territory, but also controls all important islands in the Caribbean.

In addition, Venezuela’s oil fields are currently concentrated around Lake Maracaibo (known as the Oil Lake) in the west of the country, close to Colombia and the Caribbean Sea. The straight-line distance from the German-controlled Guyana border is nearly 1,200 kilometers. And there are not many transportation facilities along the way. Like all South American countries, Venezuela's transportation at this time mainly relies on sea transportation. The shipping routes are firmly blocked by a series of US-controlled Caribbean islands with Trinidad and Tobago as the core!

"Mr. President," Admiral Lacey exchanged glances with Chief of Naval Operations Ernest King and Army Chief of Staff Marshall, and then said, "I understand. We are on the defensive in South America and waiting for the Germans to come. attack, while taking the offensive in the Pacific.”

"Yes, that's it!" Roosevelt nodded and said in a serious tone, "But one thing you must remember is that the oil lake area cannot be lost, otherwise we may lose the war... If necessary, you can Deploy 1 million troops and 10,000 tanks there!”

…

"Albert, this battle in Venezuela is very difficult to win."

Zossen, General Staff of the German Wehrmacht. At this time, Hessmann was discussing the Venezuelan campaign with his old friend, Marshal Kesselring.

"I understand, but I am the most suitable candidate." Marshal Kesselring crossed his arms and looked at a large map of South America and said, "The Venezuelan campaign must be a collaboration between the sea, land and air forces. A commander with experience in this field The two of us are the officers...but you have better ways to deal with the Russians than I do, so you should be the chief of general staff."

It turned out that after the victory of the Battle of Britain, the Venezuelan campaign was already on the agenda. The Venezuelan campaign is related to the ownership of South American hegemony! If the German army could drive the Americans out of Venezuela, then all of South America would surrender to Germany. But if Germany is defeated in Venezuela, then South American countries will continue to obey the command of the United States. And once the German army suffers heavy losses in Venezuela, even Guyana may be lost! In this way, the plan to trap the United States in North America will completely fail.

Therefore, after discussing with Kesselring, Raeder, Weaver and others, Hersmann decided to establish the South American Front after the Western Front was withdrawn. Unified command of the land, sea and air forces operating in South America and the Caribbean. Among the current German Wehrmacht, there are only two commanders with this ability: Kesselring and Hessmann.

However, Hessmann does not want to leave Berlin and go to South America, not only because he is also unsure about the war in Venezuela, but he is also unwilling to leave Berlin as the center.

In addition, after the Western Front Headquarters is disbanded, Marshal Schleicher, who "conquered Britain", will be promoted to Marshal of the Reich and then retire from active service. However, he will not just retire, but wants to return to serve as defense minister again. So Hessmann planned to take over the position of chief of general staff again after Kesselring went to South America.

"So, Albert," Hessmann then asked, "do you think the Japanese's Operation Yamaha is guaranteed to succeed?"

"I don't know," Marshal Kesselring shook his head. "Now the American war machine is at full capacity. Not only have aircraft carriers begun to be launched in large numbers, but many new aircraft with excellent performance have been put into production. Moreover, they have a huge advantage in oil production. This means they can train more pilots and equip more aircraft, which is extremely detrimental to Japan and us.

Therefore, their idea of ​​​​"Operation Mountain" is correct. The United States must not be allowed to concentrate its absolutely superior naval and air forces, otherwise the Hawaiian Islands will not be able to defend it. However, whether their plan can be realized, or how far it can be realized, probably depends on whether the latest Type Zero 52 can maintain its performance advantage over American carrier-based aircraft? Because this issue will directly determine the strength of both sides' combat capabilities. "

The Type Zero 52 mentioned by Kesselring was the latest Type Zero carrier-based fighter developed in October 1942 after receiving engine technology provided by BMW. It is not the same type as the Type 52 in history.

After absorbing the technology of the BMW 301 series engines provided by Germany, Japan's Nakajima Company came up with the Rong 31 model with 1,350 horsepower.

This engine is 100 horsepower less than the maximum output of the BMW 301D. This is because the Japanese need to install a supercharger injection combustion system on the Rong 31 model to improve the aircraft's mid-to-high-altitude performance. In order to control the weight and volume of the engine (the Zero aircraft was too small and light to accommodate a large and heavy engine), the cylinder had to be slightly reduced, so the horsepower of the Rong 31 was smaller than that of the BMW 301D.

However, according to the report of a German pilot who flew the Zero 52 (actually Hessmann Jr.), he believed that this aircraft has better hovering performance and mid-to-high altitude performance than the Fokker Zero D. It only has armor, firepower and dive. Performance is slightly worse.

The speed of the two is similar, but the maximum level flight speed of the two is at different altitudes. The maximum level flight speed of the Fokker Zero D is at an altitude of 4,000 meters, while the maximum level flight speed of the Zero 52 is at an altitude of 4,000 meters. 6000 meters.