At 5:30 pm on May 15, Churchill flew to Paris, France. After the special plane landed at the seat of the government, Churchill hurriedly got off the plane, eager to see it in person. Looking at the real situation in France now, Churchill immediately realized that the real situation might be really serious. He discovered that government ministries were burning documents and files. He saw the main figures in the French government, such as Reynaud, Daladier, Baudouin and Gamelin, "all with sad faces." In France, the phenomenon of terror was not limited to the government, but perhaps worst of all, to the army. In northern France, it spread like wildfire through the various headquarters.
After a brief chat with Paul, Reynaud and Daladier, Churchill, Reynaud and Daladier entered the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After the two sides sat down, an anxious Churchill immediately asked, "Dear President, Prime Minister, and Chief of General Staff, how serious is the situation in France now? Can the necessary counterattack be made?"
"Counterattack?" Gamelin answered Churchill's question bitterly: "Your Excellency Prime Minister, I really want to counterattack! But in front of the German armored cluster, we can only passively defend! The current situation can only be The northern army that is retreating from Belgium desperately goes south to join our troops from the north and south in order to stabilize the front, but as you know, Your Excellency, the German Sixth Army behind them is holding them tightly!"
"Besides," Gamelin added, "According to reports from frontline personnel, after they lost air supremacy, the German Sixth Army immediately came up with a terrible weapon! We already know the name of this weapon. Because the Germans don’t keep secrets at all!”
"What is that?" Churchill asked in confusion.
"It's the 800mm giant train gun newly developed by the Krupp family! After we lose air supremacy, we can no longer stop this behemoth. No matter where our troops are stationed, this train gun will immediately blow it up. Crush!" Gan Molin said in frustration.
"Oh, God!" Churchill was also shocked by the capabilities of the German military industry: "The German military industry is so crazy!"
Just as Lin Wei guessed, anyone who sees the Gustav Cannon will be shocked. The huge size and incomparable destructive power are secondary. The appearance of this weapon is mainly to attack people's psychological defenses. The collapse of psychological defense is what Lin Wei wants.
"By the way, Prime Minister!" Paul Reno interrupted, "I wonder if you and your government agree to the ten squadrons of air force that I mentioned in the telegram?"
As soon as Reno mentioned the problem of the air force, Churchill suddenly woke up. He came to cheer up the allies, not to be attacked. So he immediately adjusted his mentality and said, "The war cannot only be fought on the territory of France, we must lead the war to the German mainland! I have decided to immediately send the Royal Air Force to bomb the Ruhr area, the industrial area of Germany! Let Germany People often feel the taste of fear!”
In fact, this is exactly what happened. Before Churchill came back, he had ordered the Royal Air Force to bomb the Ruhr area. So the Ruhr area was bombed for the first time since the war started, but the losses were negligible. According to Lin Wei's father Gusta According to the husband's description, in the entire city of Essen, the Krupp family did not lose even a single factory.
Churchill didn't care how much success the Royal Air Force had achieved. The purpose of his order was to convince his French allies that we could still resist and even bring the war to Germany. However, Churchill's painstaking efforts obviously did not bring about the expected results. Neither President Reno nor President Daladier, or even General Gamelin, the direct person in charge of the military, had any reaction after hearing Churchill's words.
Seeing no reaction from his allies, Churchill refused to give up and asked, "General Gamelin, where are our strategic reserves?"
"No, we don't have strategic reserves!" General Gamelin shrugged and smiled bitterly, "We always thought that the Maginot Line could stop the Germans. To a certain extent, this is not wrong. The Maginot Line It is indeed very strong, but it has been bypassed, so we have no need to mobilize. Moreover, we fought on our own territory during the last war, so the birth rate at that time was very low, which caused the current situation in France. There are very few men of military age! Today’s French men simply cannot bear any losses!”
Churchill listened in shock to the facts Gamelin told. It took him a long time before he had to say, "General Gamelin, I have to admit that this is one of the most unexpected things I have ever heard in my life."
After a long silence, Churchill's cigar spewed smoke like a volcano. He said firmly, "Even if France is invaded and conquered, the British will continue to fight. Until one day, he will direct this war in Canada. England has been razed to the ground, and the ruins of France have long since cooled. , what was left was an aerial war between the New World and the Old World controlled by Germany."
"Yes, we will not surrender!" Paul & Renault were deeply moved by Churchill's words, "We will fight the Germans to the end! It is too early to say that we have lost. As long as we can successfully let the German armored clusters Slow down and give us time to hold them back, and we will kill the Germans like we did in the last war!" Paul & Renault clenched his fists and said excitedly. Churchill had successfully inspired the French president's fighting spirit, and his purpose of coming had been successful.
Subsequently, Churchill, accompanied by Renault and Daladier, inspected the French army. When he learned that although the French did not have a strategic reserve, they still had nearly seventy divisions, Churchill was immediately full of confidence in the future occupation. In Churchill's view, as long as the French army can hold off Germany and wait for the British to mobilize, the Germans will definitely be no match for Britain and France combined.
After strengthening his confidence, Churchill immediately returned to the UK without staying much longer. Now there are still a lot of things waiting for him in the UK! Although Britain today does not have the massive chaos that Churchill saw in France. However, the situation is only slightly milder. Although most people are not too troubled by the advance of the German army due to the protection of the Great Sea Wall, the government has lost its mind. At this time, in order to maintain domestic tranquility, it should have To calm people down, the danger of the situation should not be exaggerated. However, the government has taken many measures that can create panic without thinking, so the whole country is panicked and feels that a disaster is coming.
Barriers were erected frantically on the roads, all road signs were removed overnight, and the names of train stations, hotels, villages and towns were suddenly changed. Hundreds of loyal citizens, simply because they believed the war was a mistake, were imprisoned and held in custody, sometimes for several years, without charge or trial, as if they were guilty.
Churchill knew the shortcomings of these measures, but he could not stop them now. After going to France, although he saw a glimmer of hope in Paul Reynold, the general failure mood of the senior officers of the French army also made Churchill see that In eyes. At the same time, the progress of the German army's appeal shocked Churchill, so he must take advantage of the opportunity while the French are still resisting. Take the time to establish measures of resistance in Britain as quickly as possible. For all the reasons mentioned above, Churchill finally acquiesced to the government's measures.
Churchill then immediately committed to the target, and four of the ten air force squadrons took off first. Go to France to support the allies in their fight.
At this time, Guderian had ordered German armored groups to set up pontoon bridges at various crossing points on the Somme River. A bridge erecting vehicle converted from a Panzer IV tank and a pontoon bridge prepared in advance. Barely providing the most basic safeguards for the tank cluster.
French commander Gamelin hoped that the army could repel the Germans and destroy the German pontoon bridges on the Somme. Both armies were well aware of the importance of pontoon bridges over the Somme. For Guderian, the French Air Force had been disabled when it forcibly crossed the Meuse River. Guderian reasoned from common sense that the French Air Force would not pose a threat to his armored cluster. So he immediately ordered to cross the river.
Guderian stood on the turret of his armored command vehicle and frowned at the calm Somme River in front of him. A group of tanks was carefully crossing the pontoon bridge on the river. The infantry and tanks that had boarded the other side were arranged in a chaotic manner. They moved inland in their respective formations.
"General Guderian, what's wrong with you?" Paul Hausser asked.
"Nothing, General Paul Hausser!" Guderian replied, "I always feel that something is a little unusual! It is too easy for us to cross the river!"
"You are too worried!" Paul & Hausser said, "The only thing that can pose a threat to us now is the air force! But we must know that in the decisive air battle over the Meuse River, the French Air Force has basically The whole army was wiped out! The French army has lost its fighting spirit now, so it was expected that we could cross the Somme so easily!"
Guderian forced a smile and said, "I hope I'm overthinking, but why doesn't Gamelin strengthen the defense line? If we go south to Paris, France won't be in danger now!"
Paul & Hausser has no such worries. What it is now concerned about is how to speed up. So he impatiently urged to speed up.