Reborn as a police officer in South Africa

European countries' fear of Russia is rooted in the Russian workers' movement. If British and French workers also become national leaders, it will be a disaster for the current British and French leaders.

Leonard Capet himself is France's largest capitalist, and he knows this very well.

Darlan may indeed want to counterattack the French mainland, but for Leonard Capet, the desire to counterattack the mainland is not so urgent. After all, the ruling classes of Vichy France and Free France are essentially the same as before the outbreak of the war.

It's all the same group of people.

So the situation is very clear. For France, Germany is the enemy.

For French capitalists like Leonard Capet, French workers are the real enemy.

While Leonard Capet was in Pretoria, Darlan was in Walvis Bay inspecting two "Richelieu" class battleships that were ready for service.

Even around the world, the performance of the "Richelieu" class battleships is extremely outstanding.

The current "Richelieu" is very different from the original design version. After Walvis Bay Shipyard took over the construction task of "Richelieu", it made some modifications to the design of "Richelieu", mainly

Partly by adding more air defense weapons and canceling carrier-based aircraft.

This kind of modification is acceptable. When France determined the "Richelieu" plan, it revised the plan as many as six times before it had the final version.

This version is still considered incomplete by engineers in southern Africa.

In the French design, the "Richelieu" has only six twin-mounted 100mm anti-aircraft guns and four quadruple-mounted 13.2mm anti-aircraft machine guns.

Engineers in Southern Africa increased the number of 100mm anti-aircraft guns to 12, replaced the 13.2mm anti-aircraft machine guns with 20mm and 40mm anti-aircraft guns, and increased the number to 48, greatly improving the air defense capability.

In order to install more anti-aircraft guns, the "Richelieu" canceled the hangar and catapult. The original "Richelieu" carried 3 seaplanes. This task will be undertaken by the light aircraft carrier in the formation.

The light aircraft carriers in Southern Africa are similar to the escort aircraft carriers in the United States. They are also modified from commercial ships. They carry about 20 fighter jets and their displacement usually does not exceed 12,000 tons. With the industrial capabilities of Southern Africa, they can be built in about two months.

One search.

This speed shocked Darlan inexplicably.

"We have to admit that in terms of industrial capacity, we are already far behind southern Africa and the United States." Georges Blum, the Free French Minister of Industry, happened to be in Walvis Bay and accompanied Darlan during the inspection.

Darlan looked solemn and looked at the "Richelieu" docked at the berth without saying a word.

The "Richelieu", with a full load displacement of nearly 50,000 tons, is undoubtedly the most powerful warship on paper in French history.

Unfortunately, this is not what Darlan wanted.

Since the World War, the confidence of navies in various countries in battleships has been completely broken. Aircraft carriers are the future development direction of navies. What Darlan really wants is a "city" class or "island" class aircraft carrier similar to southern Africa.

Coincidentally, docked next to the "Richelieu" was the aircraft carrier "Bloemfontein" equipped by the Atlantic Fleet.

"Bloemfontein" is the third ship of the City-class aircraft carrier. This class of aircraft carrier has a full load displacement of 35,000 tons and can carry about 110 fighter jets. Before the "Island" class aircraft carrier entered service, the "City" class carried the largest number of aircraft in the world.

The most aircraft carriers.

Last year, "Bloemfontein" was once deployed to serve in the Indian Ocean Fleet. At the beginning of this year, it was just transferred back to the Atlantic Fleet. Now, "Bloemfontein" is undergoing routine maintenance in Walvis Bay and is undergoing equipment upgrades, mainly the latest radar.

Search system.

The radar search system installed on "Richelieu" was removed from "Bloemfontein".

Both Darlan and George Bloom knew about this matter, and they had a tacit understanding and did not mention it to avoid embarrassment.

"Does our shipyard have the capability to build aircraft carriers now?" Darlan is determined to build a brand new French navy.

Without destruction, the self-sinking of the Toulon fleet is a tragedy for the French navy, but it is also an opportunity for nirvana and rebirth. After accepting the two "Richelieu", Darlan can rebuild the French navy according to his own will.

"If it is a light aircraft carrier, we can build it, but the bigger problem is carrier-based aircraft." George Bloom smiled bitterly. Building an aircraft carrier is not that easy.

Compared with the tragic French Navy, the French Air Force is a greater tragedy.

Before the outbreak of the World War, the French Air Force was still equipped with old biplanes. When the Germans frantically improved the performance of their fighter jets through the Spanish Civil War, the French watched the excitement.

It was not until 1937 that France began to develop new fighter jets as the threat from Germany grew larger and larger, but the progress was not smooth.

France's aviation industry is relatively complex. There are many airlines. When developing fighter jets, they work independently and cannot form effective synergies. The French government at the time realized this problem and initiated the nationalization of the French aviation industry.

This idea is correct, but it is a pity that it was implemented too late. When Germany invaded France, France only had about 750 new fighter aircraft, a considerable part of which had just been delivered to the troops and had not yet formed real combat effectiveness.

Germany's blitzkrieg caught the French Air Force off guard. When France stopped resisting, there were still about 300 of the latest MB.152 fighter jets that had no time to play their role.

The Germans brought 150 MB.152 to Germany as training aircraft, and gave the remaining MB.152 to Italy and Romania. The French Air Force was brutally divided.

After the establishment of Free France, the French Air Force was rebuilt and currently has approximately 260 aircraft.

All these aircraft are provided by Southern Africa, and the pilots are also trained in Southern Africa. However, they have only received roadbed training. To become naval aviation, they need to receive new training content.

"Is it possible to obtain the most advanced aircraft technology from southern Africa?" Darlan thought in a whimsical way. Southern African airlines can sell aircraft, but technology is not for sale.

George Bloom didn't want to answer this question.

If it were a French airline, it would not easily sell the most advanced technology.

No, it's simply impossible.

Even if it is sold, it will definitely be an outdated technology.

"It's okay if it's an American." Darlan is not discouraged. France is now like a down-and-out aristocratic lady, waiting for bids from southern Africa and the United States.

"Americans are not stingy, but the key point is that American technology is not the most advanced." George Bloom smiled bitterly. A phoenix with hairless hair is not as good as a chicken. France now wants to have both sides, but southern Africa and the Americans are not stupid either.

Fortunately, Southern Africa still remembered its old friendship and gave Darlan four light cruisers and six submarines. These warships are now docked in the port and the French can leave at any time.

There were not many French naval officers and soldiers who arrived in North Africa with Darlan, and there were not even enough personnel for the two "Richelieu" ships. Darlan had to wait.

In the evening Darlan and George Bloom dined at the Rhodesian Hotel in Walvis Bay, unaccompanied by Southern African officials.

Darlan was a little angry. Southern Africans are too arrogant and don't even have the most basic etiquette. He is also a senior official at the level of the Minister of Defense. Free France is not Poland. A government-in-exile like Greece, which has completely lost its territory, should not be subjected to

Such a cold reception.

"Don't be angry. Southern Africans are very pragmatic and have a different attitude towards dinner parties than us." George Bloom was not angry. When the Germans invaded Paris, the Parisians were still drinking and dancing. They deserved it.

In the last world war, France was completely crippled. Many people expected France to perform so poorly this time.

Those who were unwilling to accept failure, such as Leonard Capet, began to plan overseas early to retain hope for France's future.

More people were completely lying down and didn't care about the war at all. Paris had already fallen into a mood similar to doomsday carnival before it stopped resisting.

There were many people in the restaurant, but it was not noisy. The melodious music could be clearly heard, and most of the guests were chatting softly. Darlan had not experienced this pleasant environment in France for a long time.

"After this battle, we should accept the fact that Europe is already weak." Darlan only realized this when he came to Walvis Bay.

"The colonial empire model is inherently unsustainable. What we can do is to delay the disintegration of the empire as much as possible." George Bloom had a deeper understanding than Darlan. France's North African colonies were also unstable, with resistance forces emerging one after another.

Free France spent more and more of its energy suppressing resistance movements.

This has a lot to do with France's colonial policy.

After the end of the last world war, France had to open its doors and introduce colonial populations to enrich the French labor force.

Many French colonial residents immigrated to France, where they worked, lived, and received education.

What the French government did not expect was that some new immigrants who were educated in France did not contribute all their energy to France as the French government had envisioned.

When they received modern education, they began to examine the French colonial system from another perspective, and eventually made more demands for their interests to the French government on behalf of the colonies.

This is normal. The British overseas colonies are striving for autonomy and independence. Even the Indians are beginning to wake up. The same is true for the French overseas colonies.

Who doesn’t want to truly be the master of the family?

"Perhaps we can refer to the model of southern Africa and conduct more forms of cooperation with overseas territories." Darlan raised his expectations for overseas colonies. This is a big progress, and he has finally moved from exploitation to cooperation.

"This is the general trend," George Bloom agreed, taking the initiative to raise his glass to Darlan.

Darlan raised his glass in response, his expression not very happy.

Darlan and George Bloom ordered a bottle of champagne.

For the French, only Champagne produced in the Champagne region of France is real Champagne. Champagne produced in other regions is all fruit wine, and the name Champagne cannot be used at all.

The champagne provided by the Rhodesian Hotel was actually produced in Cape Town, and the label clearly used the "Champagne" logo. This once again made Darlan feel the malice of some southern Africans.

George Bloom has long been accustomed to the fact that the grapes used to make Champagne in Cape Town are also grown by French people. These French people in Cape Town are precisely the ones who insist on using the "Champagne" logo the most.

At this time a young man recognized Darlan and came towards Darlan and George Bloom.

Darlan obviously relaxed his vigilance in the peaceful environment of the Rhodesian Hotel, with neither his secretary nor his adjutant around.

"Marshal Francois Darlan, why did you order such a powerful fleet to leave this world in such a tragic way?" The young man's attitude was not very good, and the questioning tone made Darlan very uncomfortable.

"Because the French navy will never surrender, we will not cooperate with the enemy in any form." Darlan's mood suddenly became very bad. When he issued the order to scuttle, he was also under tremendous pressure.

"Then why didn't you sink with the fleet in Toulon instead of appearing in a high-end restaurant in southern Africa? Or is it that you are a greedy person who is afraid of death and obsessed with power. The French Navy has become a victim of your own honor.

You should be ashamed of this." The young man's attitude was fierce and his words became more and more outrageous.

"I am not, and the French Navy has not disappeared. It will soon be reborn and continue to fight for freedom and peace." Darlan was very angry and argued with the young people regardless of his image.

George Bloom raised his hand to call the waiter. The young man's behavior had obviously affected Darlan and George Bloom's meal.

"Sir, please go back to your seat and do not disturb other guests' dining." The waiter was polite and put his body between the young man and Darlan, preventing the young man from getting close to Darlan.

"You greedy guy, if I were you, I would blow off your own head with a gun. This is the only way for you to maintain your glory." The young man was furious and did not understand Darlan's difficulties at all.

Darlan's face was red, his body was shaking, and he couldn't say a word.

Darlan, who was born in 1881, is already in his sixties. He has been sick from overwork for many years and cannot stand this kind of stimulation.

"Sir, please return to your seat immediately, otherwise please leave the restaurant." The waiter's tone became more forceful, preventing the young man from verbally attacking Darlan.

With a ferocious expression on his face, the young man suddenly pushed the waiter away, took out a revolver from his arms, pointed it at Darlan and pulled the trigger.

Bang

The sharp gunfire broke the calm of the restaurant, and many guests looked around blankly, not knowing what was happening.

Although guns are not prohibited in southern Africa, there are certain situations where it is prohibited to carry guns.

The restaurant at the Rhodesia Hotel prohibits patrons from bringing firearms.

The waiter reacted quickly. The young man only fired once and was thrown to the ground by the waiter.

George Bloom's face was full of shock. Darlan was shot in the chest, and blood was gushing out from Darlan's fingers pressing the wound.

Darlan looked at the blood on his hands with disbelief on his face.

(End of chapter)