Empire in Progress

Chapter 127: Towards war

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Hitler and Göring amidst the tsunami-like screams of the coral in Hamburg Port. Ludwig Beck, von Brauchitsch, von Bock and others appeared in front of the crowd and waved to these civilians.

A melodious song sounded, which was the military song of the German Navy. The song was still very low, perhaps in memory of the powerful High Seas Fleet in World War I, but gradually the song became louder and louder, and in the end almost all naval personnel were roaring. Even Admiral Raeder was no exception. Lin Wei was so hurt that he almost worried about whether Redel's body could bear it.

"We hunted in the ocean with our eyes closed day and night. Standing behind the telescope until we were soaked to the skin, the guards searched for merchant ships. The diesel engines were rumbling, the sea was rough,... "

The loud military songs spread far away, and everyone present felt sad in their hearts and silently blessed these soldiers fighting on the ocean.

At this time, Hitler's familiar high-pitched roar sounded: "On the glorious day of May 14, 1938, the world's largest warship was completed and launched, and the empire honored the great man who created the Second German Empire, the "Iron-Blooded Chancellor" Austria Thomas von Bismarck named this battleship in the hope that it would usher in a new chapter for the German Navy."

The crowd present did not care whether the sound was harsh or not, nor did they care what would happen in the future. They only knew that they were happy now. "Hi, Hitler..." Countless people raised their hands and shouted Long Live. At this moment, the whole heart of Germany was here.

The majestic and elegant hull of the Bismarck battleship slowly rowed down the slipway, with totem symbols originating from the ancient Eastern civilization engraved on its deck. Its fearless armor and invincible gun group will soon become a nightmare in the hearts of opponents. It is a display of the imperial industrial technology that led the electrical industrial revolution, and is the carrier of the Teutonic nation's will, force, and art. Both its inner essence and external history push it to write its own history. It is born like this.

And all this is just the beginning. Plan S has been fully launched, and the keel of the improved Bismarck-class model has begun to be laid. The dense blast furnaces from Cologne to Königsberg are heating up day and night, and the powerful industrial empire once again bursts out with amazing energy. If they continue, they will melt the entire European continent and the British Isles.

After the launching ceremony, the German Navy announced the parameters of the battleship Bismarck.

Actual standard displacement is 41,700 tons

Design full load displacement 49,400 tons

Actual full load displacement is 50,900 tons

Actual full load displacement 52,900 tons*

Hull length 250.5 meters

Waterline length 241.55 meters

Hull width 36 meters

The hull is 15 meters deep

Actual standard draft 9.00 meters (at41700t)

Designed full load draft 10.2 meters (at49400t)

The actual full load draft is 10.4 meters (at50900t)

Actual full load draft 10.7 meters (at52900t)*

Steel for hull secondary structure St42 shipbuilding steel

Steel for main structure of ship hull St52 shipbuilding steel

Steel for mine protection armorWwhigh elasticity homogeneous steel

Steel for horizontal armor Wh high strength homogeneous steel

After the data was released, the British couldn't sit still at first, because according to the "Anglo-German Naval Agreement" signed between Germany and the United Kingdom in 1935. The displacement of the Bismarck-class battleships should be limited to 35,000 tons, so the British government immediately protested to the German government, but then Deputy Foreign Minister Ribbentrop rejected the British protest, but Germany argued that it was not a signatory to the Washington Naval Treaty He flatly refused on national grounds.

I really don’t know what the relationship between the Anglo-German Naval Agreement and the Washington Naval Treaty is. Anyway, after Ribbentrop rejected the British protest, the foreign ministries of the two countries began to argue endlessly. This kind of thing Ribben Trop was most willing to do it. Ribbentrop would not miss any opportunity to lose face to the British.

On the way to Berlin, Hitler was very happy to make a car with Lin Wei. Under Hitler's kind invitation, Lin Wei had to be smart. As a result, on the way to Berlin, Lin Wei tried his best to listen to Hitler's speech. The Bismarck's compliments, one after another, poured out of Hitler's mouth, which was not stingy.

"By the way, Lampard, what happened to the plan I asked you to make last time?" Hitler suddenly stopped and said.

"Huh?" Lin Wei was confused by Hitler's leaping thinking. It took him a long time to say, "Führer, I have asked the staff to hurry up and complete it."

"Oh! We must work out quickly," Hitler ordered, "Lampard, how will the British react if we attack the Poles?"

"Well!" Lin Wei thought for a moment and said, "With all due respect, Head of State, the British will not back down this time. Even if Chamberlain is weak, he must give an explanation to the British people. After all, the last Munich Agreement has already Chamberlain can't hold his head up. So, if we take action against Poland, the British will definitely declare war on us."

Hitler laughed loudly and said, "Chamberlain dared to declare war on us!! Lampard, this is a good joke." It seemed that Hitler didn't care about Lin Wei's warning at all.

Looking at Hitler's reaction, Lin Wei sighed secretly, knowing that he could not change Hitler's mind, so he could only make remedies based on this. Lin Wei solemnly said, "Führer, I think the action against Poland is It won’t happen until at least a year later.”

"Why!" Hitler shouted, "Lampard, you don't know that just before the last war, Danzig was still in our hands. East Prussia, as the birthplace of the German Empire, was actually on par with the German mainland. It’s a huge shame for us to be segregated”.

"Führer, isn't the Bismarck great?" Lin Wei asked with a smile.

"Yes, it is true!" Although Hitler didn't know why Lin Wei asked this question, he still answered honestly.

Lin Wei sighed and said, "Führer, in order to build this warship, the army's equipment hunting equipment has been delayed."

"Oh? Why? Could it be that our German industry can't produce it?" Hitler said incredulously.

"No, head of state, there is no problem with our industry!" Lin Wei shook his head and said, "The problem is raw materials. Without raw materials, our industrial base is useless even if it is strong. In order to produce enough steel for the navy, there must be people The sacrifice was made, and this time it was the Army that made the sacrifice.”

Hitler didn't say anything. Being able to become the head of Germany fully demonstrated Hitler's intelligence. No one can deny his intelligence. It's just that Hitler was crazy. Now of course he knew that what Lin Wei said was right, so he didn't say anything here. Click here to refute Lin Wei’s opinion.

After thinking for a long time, Hitler said slowly, "Lampard, no matter what, you must come up with the plan as soon as possible. This is also to prepare early. After all, God only bless those who are prepared."

"Did God say this?" After all, he was reborn in a Western society. It is impossible to say that Lin Wei has not read the Bible since he was a child. Lin Wei has no memory of God saying this.

"Yes, Führer, I understand." Although he was still thinking whether God meant it or whether Hitler made up this sentence, Lin Wei was not slow at all.

The Polish Corridor is a narrow strip of territory ceded by Germany to Poland under the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 and is now Polish territory. Also called "Danzig Corridor". The First World's Polish Corridor to the Baltic Sea After the war of 1918-1939, Poland was restored. According to the Treaty of Versailles, a strip of approximately 80 kilometers wide was drawn between East Prussia and West Prussia, formerly German territory, and along the west bank of the lower reaches of the Vistula River, called the "Polish Corridor", which served as Poland's access to the Baltic Sea. The Port of Gdansk near the river mouth was designated as the "Free City of Danzig" and placed under international condominium management, dividing the German territory into two disconnected parts.

This is the worst clause in the Treaty of Versailles that Germany hates. East Prussia is the birthplace of the German Empire. Most of the Junkers in the country have their own manor in East Prussia. Even his father Gustav has more than Again and again, he gritted his teeth in front of Lin Wei to take revenge and take back the Polish Corridor.

Although Hitler took the initiative to sign the Polish-German Treaty with Poland in 1934, his purpose was to take advantage of the opportunity to gain the friendship of a country that was so resolutely anti-Soviet*, and at the same time alienate it from Geneva and Paris, thus destroying the European system created by the Versailles Peace Treaty. Poland's sympathetic and friendly relationship with Germany freed Hitler to do what he needed to do first: march into Inland and conquer independent Austria and Czechoslovakia. To all these actions that strengthened Germany, weakened the West, and threatened the East. It is not at all about peaceful coexistence with Poland.

So even if Hitler suddenly became peace-loving, he would not attack Poland. Sooner or later the Wehrmacht generals would find trouble with the Poles.

Just when Lin Wei was thinking wildly, Hitler suddenly said, "Last time the Japanese envoys came to discuss the alliance, I had already rejected them, but Japan seems not to give up, and this time they sent someone again."

"Führer, no matter what, it is dangerous to form an alliance with Japan," Lin Wei persuaded. "I still have the same opinion. All issues depend on the Japanese themselves. If Japan defeats China within a year, then I have nothing to say. No." Object again.”

Is it possible for the Japanese to defeat China? Of course that's not possible. It will be difficult for China to defeat Japan alone. But if we are determined to fight Japan and draw a tie, it will be easy.

After returning to Berlin, Lin Wei immediately returned to the SS headquarters, went to the staff office on the top floor, and took out the revised white plan. Then I went to the Prime Minister's Office excitedly.

After arriving at the office, Lin Wei was shocked to find that Albert Speer was also here. Albert Speer was an unknown architect. His architectural design features reproduced the dreams of Hitler's youth. As a result, he was appreciated by Hitler and became one of his close friends.

In the subsequent history, he successively served as Hitler's personal architect, German construction director, and director of the Ministry of Armament and War Production, making the German war machine run at high speed. Therefore, people think that Speer during the war was to some extent more important to Germany than Hitler, Himmler, Goering, Goebbels and those generals and marshals, who were more or less Speer's auxiliary, because in fact it is Speer who controls the huge machine of war.

"Lampard, please do it first. Albert Speer and I have something to discuss," Hitler continued. "The current mansion is suitable for a soap company to occupy. It is not suitable to be the center of the powerful German Empire. I have an urgent task entrusted to you. In the near future, I have to convene some extremely important meetings. For this, I need a great hall and a large living room, and I want to take this opportunity to invite dignitaries, especially in smaller countries. My majesty is displayed in front of me. As for the construction site, I want to leave the entire Forth Street to you to plan. I don't care how much it costs, but it must be built as soon as possible, and it must be solid and durable. How long do you need? ?How long will it take to make plans, make blueprints, everything included? To me, one and a half or two years is too long. Can you complete it by January 10, 1939? I would like to entertain the diplomatic corps next year The meeting will be held at the new Prime Minister's Office."

After listening for a long time, Lin Wei understood that Hitler wanted a new Chancellery, but Lin Wei did not understand at all. How could the Chancellery, which was still magnificent in Lin Wei's eyes, become what Hitler said was "only suitable for soap companies" Taking up' something

"Okay, you go out first." After Hitler finished speaking, he waved his hand to signal Albert Speer to go out.

After speaking, Hitler was full of fatigue, took out a few pills from his arms and stuffed them into his mouth. He smiled bitterly and said, "Lampard, maybe you don't believe it. Sometimes, I'm really afraid that I won't live long."

"Führer, you should find some experts for consultation. To be honest, Dr. Hoffmann's food should not be eaten all the time." Lin Wei knew about Hitler's health problems, and that quack doctor Hoffmann, Lin Wei was even more concerned about Hitler's health problems. He knows everything. It's just that Hitler trusted him very much, so Lin Wei couldn't say anything.

"No, I can't let others know that I am sick. This will weaken my political status, and my enemies will come out to oppose me." Hitler pointed to the plate on the table and said, "You can survive alone with this little thing." ! Doctors all advise: A person should eat what suits his appetite. I almost have nothing to eat. After finishing a meal, my stomach starts to hurt. Do you want me to reduce my food intake? Am I still alive? "

Lin Wei didn't know how to comfort Hitler. After all, a large part of this was caused by Hitler himself. If Hitler didn't trust doctors, he wouldn't have allowed his condition to worsen, so Lin Wei could only change the subject and said, "Führer, The staff department has made a plan, do you want to take a look?"

"Okay, take it out." When the plan was mentioned, Hitler's eyes immediately lit up, as if the sick look just now was just an illusion.

"Okay, Führer." Lin Wei took out the documents from his briefcase and explained them to Hitler while sorting them out.

1. Army

The operational objective on the Eastern Front was to annihilate the Polish Army. For this purpose, on the southern wing, there is access to the Slovak area. On the northern flank, connections should be quickly established between Pomerania and East Prussia.

All preparations for war must be made so that an attack can be launched with existing troops without having to wait for the mobilized troops to arrive as planned. The concealed offensive starting area of the existing troops may be determined before the date of the attack. I reserve the right to decide on this matter.

Whether all the troops scheduled to be tasked with "western border protection" will be transferred there, or some will be retained for other purposes, will depend on the situation in Poland.

2. Navy

In the Baltic Sea, the navy has the following tasks,

① Annihilate or defeat the Polish Navy.

②Block sea lanes leading to Polish naval bases (especially Gdynia Naval Base). At the beginning of entry into Poland, the deadline for the departure of neutral ships anchored in Polish ports and Danzig was announced. Once the deadline expires, the navy will take blockade measures.

It must be estimated that setting a time limit for departure would have an adverse impact on naval warfare.

③Cut off Poland’s trade ties with overseas countries.

④ Protect the Empire-East Prussia sea channel.

⑤ Protect the sea lines of communication from Germany to Sweden and the Baltic countries.

③Conduct reconnaissance and warning in an unobtrusive manner as much as possible to prevent the Soviet Navy from interfering from the Gulf of Finland. Appropriate naval forces should be provided in advance for the defense of the North Sea coast and coastal areas.

In the southern North Sea and Skagerrak, measures must be taken to prevent sudden intervention by Western powers in the conflict. The measures taken should be limited to what is absolutely necessary and must be unobtrusive. The key is to avoid any action that might harden the political attitudes of the Western powers.

3. Air Force

The air force had to carry out raids on Poland, while only essential forces could be retained on the Western Front.

The Air Force should annihilate the Polish Air Force in a very short time. In addition, it is mainly responsible for the following tasks:

① Interfering with Poland’s mobilization and preventing the Polish Army from advancing as planned.

② Directly support the army, first of all, support the vanguard troops that have crossed the border.

The air force may have to move to East Prussia before the war begins, but this must not jeopardize the achievement of surprise.

The first flight over the border should be timed to coincide with Army operations.

An attack on Gdynia can only be carried out after the deadline set for neutral ships to leave port has passed (see the tasks of the navy in one task of the Wehrmacht).

The focus of anti-aircraft defense is the airspace of Stettin, Berlin and the Upper Silesian industrial area including Ostraau and Bluth in the Melen region.

"Yes, very comprehensive. I think we should discuss it with the generals of the Wehrmacht," Hitler suggested.

"Of course no problem, Führer"

Soon the generals of the Wehrmacht came to the Chancellery and were surprised to hear that the SS had come up with a plan. But soon, we began to discuss the issues of the plan itself.

"The plan is good, but the current weapons and equipment of the Wehrmacht cannot support the operation against Poland," General Ludwig Baker said. Now all policies are tilted towards the navy, and the army's new hunting equipment is already fully stocked.