Reborn as a police officer in South Africa

When the time came to 1942, the situation of the French Navy became increasingly difficult.

After the Italian Navy's frogmen raided Alexandria, the strength of the British Mediterranean Fleet was greatly damaged. The Italian Navy took the opportunity to transport troops and material assistance to North Africa to help Rommel maintain the German-Italian coalition's front in North Africa. The Mustache temporarily postponed the pressure on the French Navy.

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The strength of the British Navy is still very strong. It only took half a year for the Mediterranean Fleet to regain its strength, and it was even better than before. The Italian Navy was once again suppressed.

In June, Rommel launched a new round of offensive against the British troops in North Africa in order to cooperate with the German offensive on the Russian battlefield.

After more than two years of fighting, the British army in North Africa has greatly improved both in terms of combat effectiveness and equipment level.

Rommel's offensive fell far short of expectations and needed more help to achieve strategic goals.

The importance of the French navy has become increasingly prominent.

If the French Navy joins the Axis powers, then the French Navy and the Italian Navy join forces, even if they cannot defeat the Cyprus Squadron and the Mediterranean Fleet, they can at least open up the channel between the Italian mainland and North Africa, giving Rommel the opportunity to delay the war in North Africa until

After Germany defeats Russia, the main force of the German army can turn around and go south to fight the Allies.

Mustache sent Ribbentrop to contact Francois Darlan in early July, promising that if Darlan led the French navy to join the Axis powers, Germany would support Darlan to become president of Vichy France.

Darlan did not want to be president, nor did he want to lead the French navy to defect to Mustache. As the top figure of the French navy, Darlan, based on a comprehensive judgment based on the situation in the Russian battlefield, the North African battlefield, and the East Asian battlefield, believed that the Axis powers had lost the possibility of winning the war.

The addition of the French Navy cannot save the Axis Powers, nor can it save the Italian Navy. Unless countries from southern Africa or the United States join the Axis Powers, the Axis Powers will have the possibility of victory.

While Mustache was wooing Darlan, the Allies were not idle either. During the meeting between Ribbentrop and Darlan, Robertson Walton, a businessman from Nice, arrived in Turkey as the personal representative of de Gaulle and Leonard Capet.

The port of London brought the conditions offered by Free France to Darlan.

"If the French Navy joins the Allies, General de Gaulle and Mr. Capet can guarantee the independence of the French Navy. The French Navy does not need to rely on others and can refuse any mission that the French Navy does not want to perform. You will serve as the Minister of Defense and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Free France.

, we now have more than 300,000 freedom fighters in North Africa, and with the addition of the navy, France's interests after the war can be protected." The conditions offered by Robertson Walton were very sincere, and the conditions offered by Mustache

Although it is better, there are no guarantees.

The president of Vichy France seems to have a higher status, but the entire Vichy France is a vassal of Germany. The president of Vichy France is just a puppet. He can be replaced at any time if his mustache doesn't suit his eyes.

The conditions offered by Free France are more sincere, and the double guarantees of de Gaulle and Leonard Capet can ensure that the French navy has a higher degree of freedom while maintaining its independence, which is what Darlan values ​​most.

"You transferred France's power in French India to southern Africa. Is this how you protect France's interests?" Darlan was dissatisfied with some of the practices of the Free France, although he knew that De Gaulle could not help himself.

"Without the cooperation between Paris and the Japanese Empire, General de Gaulle would not have done this." Robertson Walton smiled bitterly. De Gaulle at least saved France's colonies in Africa and left a glimmer of hope for France.

The status of France's colonies in Asia is obviously not as important as that of its North African colonies. When the Vichy government decided to cooperate with Japan, the fate of French Indochina was already decided. Neither Britain nor Southern Africa would take French Indochina after the war.

Return it to France.

Under such circumstances, it was undoubtedly a wise move for de Gaulle to give French Indochina to southern Africa.

Without any benefits, Southern Africa would not have helped de Gaulle establish the Free France, let alone arm the 300,000 Free French troops.

Faced with this situation, Darlan could only look up to the sky and sigh, his drums were broken and thousands of people beat him, and the wall collapsed and everyone pushed him down.

"I declare in advance that the French Navy will not cooperate in any form with the British Navy." Darlan has not forgotten the humiliation brought to the French Navy by the British through the ballista operation.

"Of course, even without your request, we will keep our distance from the British -" Robertson Walton looked serious, and all French people will not forget the betrayal from the British: "-In fact, we are passing through various

In this way, the British government is required to compensate for the losses caused by the ballista operation, and the UK is required to hold the relevant responsible persons accountable."

Compensation is still possible.

Holding those responsible accountable is just talk.

Operation Ballista was ordered by Winston. Now Winston's prestige in Britain is unmatched. British courts have no right to try a sitting British Prime Minister, and will not try him.

"What do people in southern Africa say?" Darlan knew very well that without the support of southern Africa, France would most likely not receive any compensation.

Walton smiled and said nothing. Southern Africa's attitude on this matter was acquiescence.

Southern Africa also has lingering fears about the backstabbing from the UK.

France is also an old friend of Britain. Without France's all-out efforts during the last world war, the Germans might have unified Europe.

Before the launch of the ballista operation, Darlan had repeatedly stated that the attitude of the French navy was neutral.

Winston did not trust Darlan's promise. In order to eliminate potential dangers and ensure Allied control of the Mediterranean, he launched Operation Ballista.

Southern Africa is also objectively a beneficiary of Operation Ballista.

In this case, southern African neutrality is the best choice.

"It is not easy for the fleet to leave the port of Toulon." Darlan's attitude had already wavered, which made Walton secretly relieved.

A few months ago, Leonard Capet tried to gain control of the French navy by killing Darlan.

This plan has not been abandoned now. While the Free French are wooing Darlan, they are also prepared to implement the final plan if Darlan cannot be persuaded.

Now this is the best result. To avoid the situation of fighting among the same room, the strength of the French navy is quite good, especially the two Richelieu-class battleships that have been built but have not yet been commissioned.

In 1935, France started construction of the first Richelieu-class ship, the Richelieu. By 1940, only 95% of the construction progress had been completed. Although the main equipment on the ship had been installed, it had not been debugged.

Guzan

After France ceased its resistance, the unfinished "Richelieu" left Brest with the ammunition and spare parts it could collect, and arrived in Dakar, the French colony of Senegal, on June 18. It only completed The second hull engineering ship "Jean Bart" was also towed to Casablanca, Morocco.

After the French colonies in North Africa were electrified and surrendered to Free France, the subsequent construction of these two warships was undertaken by the Walvis Bay Shipyard in southern Africa.

Both warships have now been completed, but there is a lack of professional naval personnel who can operate these two powerful warships. The reason why de Gaulle offered generous terms to Darlan was to gain the loyalty of the French navy.

The reason why Darlan accepted the invitation of Free France had a lot to do with these two warships.

The "Richelieu" class battleship is currently one of the most powerful battleships in the world, with a standard displacement of 38,500 tons and a full load displacement of 47,548 tons. The "Jean Bart" has a full load displacement of 49,850 tons.

The main guns of the two warships are two quadruple-mounted 380mm 45-caliber guns, and the secondary guns are three triple-mounted 152mm 55-caliber guns. The latest air radar search system and artillery are also installed on the ship. Radar control system.

Even with only these two warships, the French navy is still one of the most powerful navies in the world.

Not only Darlan, the British Navy and the US Navy, and even the Southern African Navy are coveting these two powerful warships.

When the two warships just arrived in Africa, the British Navy sent warships to try to take over. After the "Richelieu" refused, it was torpedoed by a carrier-based aircraft of the British aircraft carrier "HMS Arenas", and the "Richelieu" No injuries.

Two months later, the British Navy made a comeback. This time it sent three battleships, determined to sink the "Richelieu".

The "Richelieu" and the British battleship launched an artillery battle. With the cooperation of coastal defense artillery, the British battleship "Resolution" was damaged and the British battleship was forced to evacuate.

The Pacific War broke out last year, and the "Richelieu" was about to be completed. The U.S. government contacted Free France and tried to buy the "Richelieu" for use in the war against Japan in the Pacific region, and then return it to Free France after the war was over. This was equivalent to Lease the "Richelieu".

De Gaulle rejected this proposal because Patton had also contacted De Gaulle many times, hoping to buy the "Richelieu" and "Jean Bart" and use these two warships as the flagships of the Indian Ocean Fleet and Atlantic Fleet in southern Africa respectively.

If it is rented to Americans but not sold to southern Africans, things will be in trouble. De Gaulle will certainly not make such a mistake.

The fate of these two warships now affects the hearts of many people, and Darlan does not want these two battleships to be committed to others.

After the meeting with Darlan, Walton left Darlan's office and returned to the hotel. On the way, the car Walton was riding in was attacked by a bomb.

Fortunately, the bomb thrown by the assassin did not hit the car in which Walton was riding, and Walton was lucky enough to escape.

After returning to the hotel, Walton was still frightened, and soon Darlan's arc hit him.

"It doesn't matter, Marshal, our cooperation will definitely be hated by many people, and our friendship will not be destroyed by these conspiracies and tricks-" When answering the phone, Walton's face was ashen. He just said a few words, and then

When he saw Will Bridges next to him, he waved his hands crazily.

Walton covered the receiver and asked Will with his eyes.

"Don't talk about these things on the phone. The hotel's phone is not safe and may be monitored." Will Bridges looked solemn. Although Germany has no troops stationed in southern France, the Port of Toulon is under tight control of the Gestapo.

Under monitoring.

"Can the phone be monitored?" Walton was extremely surprised. In 1942, "007 Movie" had not yet become popular, and many people did not know that the phone could still be monitored.

Will Bridges looked slightly embarrassed. He was from Brad's office and was nominally Walton's personal butler, responsible for Walton's safety while in Toulon Port.

Darlan didn't say much on the phone. After confirming Walton's safety, in order to prevent trouble in the bud, he kindly offered to send two cars to the hotel for Walton's use.

After hanging up the phone, Walton's expression was still frighteningly white. He did not expect that German activities in Toulon Port would be so rampant.

Of course, he may not be German.

There are many people who want to kill Darlan, and the British are definitely not willing to see the French navy surrender to the Free France. In that case, the Free France will settle accounts with the British Navy sooner or later.

"The Germans are also in contact with Darlan. We have to go to Darlan tomorrow. It will be a long night and a lot of dreams." Will wants to strike while the iron is hot. If Mustache increases his chips, it is not ruled out that Darlan may accept Mustache's conditions.

"It won't be difficult for the French Navy to leave the port of Toulon, right?" Walton didn't quite understand the difficulties the French Navy faced.

The French navy is nominally neutral, but in fact it is involuntarily. It does not even have ammunition and fuel, and it is really unable to leave the port of Toulon due to its own capabilities.

Mustache was guarding against Darlan's actions and strictly controlled the supply of the French Navy.

Not only is the French Navy short of oil, but also the Italian Navy has reduced its dispatches due to lack of oil. The North African Army's oil supply can only last for seven days of operations. This is not because Mustache is deliberately making things difficult for the French Navy.

In fact, the oil problem is easy to solve. There is no shortage of oil in southern Africa, and any oil tanker can meet the needs of the French Navy.

The key is how to avoid German surveillance of the French Navy. Once the oil tanker arrives in Toulon, it will 100% be confiscated by the Germans, and the French Navy warships will still be unable to move.

"This is not a problem we have to worry about. We are only responsible for convincing Darlan -" Will has confidence in Brad's office. As long as Darlan decides to join the Allied Forces, these problems will always be solved.

The Germans did closely monitor Darlan. On the night Walton and Darlan met, Ribbentrop came to Darlan's office angrily and asked Darlan whether he had reached an agreement with the southern Africans.

"No, no, no, he is just an ordinary businessman. We only discussed some commercial issues, and the position of the French Navy has not changed." Darlan denied flatly that the French Navy is in a difficult situation now. Not only does it have no fuel, but it also has intermittent wages.

, Darlan, the French Minister of Defense, also has to make money.

"You'd better do this. Think about how the British treated you, and then think about how Southern Africa snatched Madagascar and French Indochina from your hands. They are all devils who eat people without spitting out their bones. They are

You won’t really consider the issue from the perspective of the French navy.” Ribbentrop’s words are a bit heartbreaking. The British and southern Africans are not friendly. Are the Germans friends of the French?

None of them are good people.