Reborn as a police officer in South Africa

If there was no hatred between European countries, they would not know how to get along with each other.

Britain and France are old rivals. The Hundred Years' War, the Seven Years' War, the Anti-French Alliance, and only in recent decades with the rise of the United States and Germany have they had to join forces to keep warm.

Germany was unified relatively late. The Franco-Prussian War became famous in the first battle. In the subsequent World War I and World War II, the conflicts between the two sides could only come to an end when one side completely surrendered.

Southern Africa gained independence later, and the damage it caused to France was no less than that of Germany. Madagascar is an eternal pain in the hearts of the French.

As the commander of the French Navy, Darlan still remembers the incident of the "France" hitting the rocks and sinking more than ten years ago.

Although what Ribbentrop said is true, Darlan is not stupid.

Southern Africa is too far away from Europe, and the threat to France is greater than that of Germany.

For the European continent, southern Africa is at best a plunder of interests, but the Germans are capable of destroying the French nation.

Before leaving, Ribbentrop warned Darlan that if the French fleet tried to leave the port of Toulon, Mustache would tear up the agreement, send troops to occupy the southern French territory, and bring the entire France under German control.

Ribbentrop may not have expected that his warning did not have the desired effect, but instead opened a new window for Darlan.

After France stopped resisting, according to the armistice agreement, France was divided into two parts: the "occupied zone" and the "free zone".

The occupied zone accounts for 60% of French territory and is directly occupied by Germany. However, the military expenses of the occupying forces are paid by France. France's administrative institutions in the occupied zone are retained, and management rights still belong to France.

The free zone occupies 40% of French territory and Germany has no right to interfere.

The French army was reduced to 100,000 men and could only be stationed in southern France.

Thinking of the Treaty of Versailles, which allowed Germany to retain only one hundred thousand troops, the agreement signed between Germany and France was a huge humiliation for the French.

Southern France is now a free zone, under the control of the "neutral" Vichy government.

Once the German army occupied the free zone, the southern African army, which had already been gearing up in Spain, would have a reason to attack the French mainland.

"Does this count as luring a wolf into the house?" If possible, Darlan wouldn't want to do this.

Admiral Rappold said nothing. It was the lesser of two evils. Compared with the Germans, the French were more accepting of the "invasion" of southern Africans.

In the last world war, the main battlefield was in France. Millions of Southern African expeditionary troops fought in France for many years, leaving a good impression on the French.

Compared with the military discipline of European, American, and even French troops, the discipline of the Southern African army is relatively excellent. At least the Southern African army rarely uses violence against the French. Whether it is exchanging souvenirs or lovers on the battlefield, they are all French.

A way that people can accept.

The outstanding skills of doctors in southern Africa saved the lives of countless French people during the last World War. Not only soldiers, but ordinary French people also benefited from this.

The high-quality, low-price, and rich variety of southern African goods left a deep impression on the French, so much so that many French people asked why French North Africa and Southern Africa were so different from each other in the same African region.

After the outbreak of World War I, the southern African troops stationed in French North Africa also showed surprising discipline.

Twenty years have passed, and the civilized army of southern Africa has returned.

"Inform the fleet to be ready, and as soon as the time comes, light the fire and lift anchor." Darlan made up his mind to lead the French navy to defect to the Allies.

"Before the reinforcements from southern Africa arrive, we cannot spread the news, even within the navy." Admiral Laborde is worried that the plan will be exposed. There are many French traitors within the French navy. Darlan's "neutrality" decision has still suffered.

question.

Not everyone wants to be neutral.

When France stopped resisting, many French people were frightened by the fierce German offensive and hoped that France could ride on Germany's coattails and get a share of the unprecedented changes.

It's not a shame for the French to join if you can't beat them.

Darlan's "neutrality" decision seriously hindered the advancement of some French people and made them resentful.

"Before that, we need to clear up some hidden dangers." Darlan sneered. He became the French Minister of Defense not by flattering others.

The next day, the French Navy carried out large-scale job adjustments. Some officers were ordered to go to military academies for further training, some officers were transferred away from the front line, and some retired from the army due to personal reasons.

This situation immediately attracted Ribbentrop's attention, and Ribbentrop came to Darlan again to express his concerns to Darlan.

"Your Excellency Minister, the French Navy is an independent and free force. I have the right to make adjustments to the French Navy without asking anyone for instructions." Darlan had a tough attitude. He did not expect to completely deceive the Germans and France would stop resisting.

In the past two years, this fleet has been riddled with holes by the Germans.

"Of course you have this right, I just remind you not to play with fire, which will bring devastating consequences to this fleet." Ribbentrop did not give up. The situation of the Axis powers in the Mediterranean was serious enough that they needed to be persuaded.

The extent of Darlan.

"Your Excellency, Minister, giving up the current neutral position will bring devastating consequences to this fleet." Darlan insisted on "neutrality" and did not lean towards any party.

"You'd better be like this." Ribbentrop was worried. If the French navy remained neutral, it would not be unacceptable to the Germans.

Ribbentrop came to Darlan this time and formulated different plans according to different situations.

For the Germans, the best situation is to successfully convince Darlan and let the French navy obey the command of the base camp and join the battle against the Allies.

If the French navy had a firm attitude, Ribbentrop would not have forced Darlan too harshly to avoid forcing Darlan to the Allied side.

The worst-case scenario is that Darlan decides to join the Allies, then the Germans will have no choice but to take risks and send ground troops to occupy Toulon Port, unable to seize control of the fleet.

Don't even think about the navy. The Italian navy lacks fuel and can't even go out. It has no ability to control the French navy in the port.

While Darlan was trying his best to deal with Ribbentrop, the Cyprus Squadron and the Mediterranean Fleet once again jointly launched a large-scale attack on Italian port cities.

The Allied forces have been attacking Italian port cities for more than two years, especially the military ports in southern Italy, which have suffered devastating blows from the Allied fleet and have lost the ability to provide supplies to the Italian Navy.

After more than two years of fierce fighting, the Italian Navy has now lost the ability to operate out of the port. It has been docked in ports in northern Italy all year round and has become a fleet.

Objectively speaking, the strength of the Italian Navy is still good. Its most powerful "Veneto" class battleships have now been built three, namely the "Vittorio Veneto" and the "Littorio"

", as well as the "Roma", and the fourth ship "Imperial" are also under construction, but they are currently in a state of shutdown and are far from being commissioned.

Fat Bald and Big Bearded were equally happy with their success. Not satisfied with the completion of the two "Venetos", in 1937 when relations between Italy and Britain and France became tense, Fat Bald decided to add two more ships.

Italy is not the United Kingdom, nor is it southern Africa. Its comprehensive strength is not even as good as Japan's, and it has no ability to maintain such a large fleet. After the "Veneto" and "Littorio" were completed, they fought in the Battle of Cape Matapan respectively.

It was severely damaged in the Allied air raid on Taranto, and the repair work of the "Veneto" was only completed in March this year.

During the construction of the "Roma", the Italian Navy was already in a fuel crisis. After it was completed at the beginning of this year, the "Roma" was docked in the naval port due to lack of fuel and never went to sea to participate in the war.

The fate of the "Imperial" was even more tragic. Both warships were built in 1938. Half of them were built. The Italians found that there was a shortage of raw materials, so they could only focus more resources on the "Roma" and the "Imperial".

The construction speed of the ship is seriously lagging behind. At present, it seems that even if the Italians are given another two years, the "Imperial" will not be completed.

Even if it is completed, the "Empire" will not be able to go to sea due to lack of fuel.

Under this circumstance, the Cyprus Squadron and the Mediterranean Fleet acted with impunity, reaching as far as La Spezia in northern Italy.

Ribbentrop was surprised to find that La Spezia was only 300 kilometers away from the port of Toulon.

300 kilometers is about 186 nautical miles, which only takes five or six hours for a faster warship.

La Spezia is the home port of the Italian Navy, and the three "Veneto" ships are docked in the port.

The Allies are well aware of the potential threat of the three "Venetos". If the Italians can solve the oil problem, then the three "Venetos" will have the ability to threaten Cyprus and Alexandria.

In order to eliminate the threat, Mike Toland and Dudley Pound sent hundreds of carrier-based aircraft, hoping to sink the three "Veneto" in the port.

At least it will be severely damaged, so that the three "Veneto" ships will lose their ability to fight at sea, and let the Italians slowly repair them.

The Italians were unwilling to fail. With the cooperation of ground anti-aircraft firepower, the Italian aviation forces launched a fierce air battle with Allied fighter planes, causing casualties on both sides.

At the same time as the air battle broke out, the battleships of the Mediterranean Fleet also bombarded La Spezia.

At this time, the power of the battleship can be seen.

La Spezia has complete fort facilities, and its counterattack capability is very strong. Only battleships are eligible to participate in this level of artillery battle. Heavy patrols are even worse. The range of the artillery is insufficient. It has not yet entered the combat range.

It was shelled by coastal defense artillery.

The three "Veneto" ships of the Italians are not entirely decorations. Although they lack fuel, the three triple-mounted 381 main guns of the "Veneto" class are powerful, so the Italians simply use the "Veneto" as a fort.

, the three "Veneto" ships have a total of 27 main guns, and the firepower projection intensity is not weaker than that of the Mediterranean Fleet.

When air battles and artillery battles broke out at the same time, a supply fleet escorted by six warships quietly left the battlefield and joined another fleet in the waters of western Italy. Its whereabouts are unknown.

The Germans immediately judged that the destination of this fleet was probably the port of Toulon.

Only then did Mustache realize that the "betrayal" of the French Navy was irreversible.

Mustache was not unprepared for the betrayal of the French navy.

As early as a month ago, the French troops stationed in the Port of Toulon were transferred away, and the defense tasks of the Port of Toulon were entirely handled by the French Navy.

At the same time that Ribbentrop arrived at the port of Toulon, two German army divisions were ordered to be stationed in Aix, less than 60 kilometers away from the port of Toulon. They could reach Toulon at any time by rail within two hours.

In order to keep the French fleet in the port, German submarines even secretly laid mines at the exit of Toulon Port, but Darlan and Pétain knew nothing about it.

If this was not enough, the forts near Toulon Port had long been replaced by German troops.

On July 28, the day the Battle of La Spezia broke out, Robertson Walton drove to Darlan's headquarters.

"Impossible, I will be with my fleet under any circumstances, even if we collectively die in Toulon Port." Darlan refused to leave the headquarters.

"Marshal, the situation is very urgent now. The Germans have boarded the train at Aix and will arrive in Toulon in two hours. After you leave Toulon, we will fully assist the fleet in evacuation. You are a symbol of the French navy and cannot

Fallen in the port of Toulon." Robertson Walton was very anxious. He had been authorized to use force if Darlan did not agree to leave Toulon.

"So you have been preparing for so long, and you just want me to leave in this way?" Darlan was very angry. Robertson Walton brought a big box and asked Darlan to get into the box and then take Robertson Walton.

car leaves.

"Impossible, this is absolutely impossible!" Darlan's roar could be heard in the corridor.

Just kidding, no matter what, Darlan is also the French Minister of Defense and Marshal of the Navy. Leaving Toulon in this way is also humiliating for Darlan.

Will Bridges is eager to try, and all it takes is a look from Robertson Walton for Will Bridges to take action.

"Marshal, there is a fierce exchange of fire in the port, please leave here immediately." Admiral Malki, the commander of the port defense, was in a mess, and his clothes were not buttoned up.

After the French troops stationed in the port of Toulon were transferred away, Admiral Marchi was left alone. He now had no soldiers under his command.

"Malky, look at you, are you still a French admiral?" Darlan was heartbroken. Even at the most dangerous moment, as a senior general, he must maintain his grace.

Robertson Walton didn't talk nonsense and gave Will Bridges a slight nod.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty Marshal." This was the last word Darlan heard before he fell into coma.