The Rise of the Third Reich

"It's burning badly, there's fire everywhere..."

"This is the effect of solidification. The Americans dispatched more than 100 B-29s and dropped at least several hundred tons of solidification. They burned down the refinery, port and part of the urban area in Palembang, and also burned down a factory with an annual output of several An oil production area of ​​100,000 tons of light crude oil. Look at this picture. This is Palembang after the bombing. It suffered heavy losses!"

Just when the Japanese were stunned by the unexpected and extremely decisive counterattack by the Americans, Hersmann was looking at photos with Hitler in the office of the Chancellery - the "ship that happened to witness the bombing of Palembang" The photos taken by the captain of the cargo ship "Valsburghberg" were all in color and very clear.

"Don't the Japanese have many fighter jets with good performance? And the radar we provided, why can't it stop the American bombers?"

The tragic situation after the bombing of Palembang was obviously beyond Hitler's expectations. After all, Germany had exported a large number of high-performance aero engines to Japan before, and also transferred technology.

In the opinion of experts from the Luftwaffe, the technology provided by Germany to Japan is enough for them to deal with American heavy bombers, but now Palembang has been bombed into what it looked like.

"Of course it can't be stopped," Hessman shook his head. "Aren't our bases in Guyana often bombed? In the struggle between long-range bombers and interceptors, the long-range bombers have the strategic initiative, and the interceptors can only carry out Passive defense... This is like infantry fighting against enemy mechanized troops on a long line of defense. The enemy's mechanized troops can be concentrated at one point to break through, but the infantry must be dispersed. Therefore, even if the infantry has powerful anti-tanks. Cannons are also difficult to block the enemy's mechanized troops."

"So the interceptors must be deployed dispersedly, while the long-range bombers can concentrate on breaking through? It seems that the United States' long-range bomber force is also a big threat to us, right?" Hitler's brows were still frowning. He knew that Germany was relatively weak in the field of long-range bombers. The United States is at a disadvantage.

Because Germany's oil supply has been very tight for a long time, it is also facing pressure from two major battlefields in the Atlantic Ocean and on land in Eastern Europe. Therefore, there is no spare capacity to develop a long-range bomber force, so Germany's accumulation in this area is not as good as that of the United States.

The United States currently has three series of long-range heavy bombers in service: B-17, B-24 and B-29. Currently, it is intensifying its development of the B-36 intercontinental strategic bomber with a combat radius of up to 6,000 kilometers.

The only long-range heavy bomber model currently owned by Germany is the Me2e264 longer-range bomber development plan (Germany's next-generation bomber is jet-based, so it does not have such long-range endurance). Moreover, the development idea of ​​the Me264 is different from that of the B-29. It does not emphasize relying on its own solid defense and powerful firepower to penetrate defenses. Instead, it focuses on high altitude + high speed. Therefore, the aircraft's armor and firepower are not strong. Easily shot down by American interceptors.

The reason why the German Air Force and Naval Aviation purchased the Me264, which has insufficient self-defense firepower and defense, is also related to the resource shortage faced by Germany and the actual needs of the two-front battlefield.

Insufficient resources determine that Germany cannot build a bomber force as large as the United States, and the needs of the two-front battlefield determine that Germany needs long-range bombers that can simultaneously undertake Atlantic anti-ship/patrol/anti-submarine missions and Eastern Front strategic bombing missions.

Me264 can meet these two requirements. For the current air defense system of the Soviet Union, the Me264's high altitude and high speed are basically invincible, and there is no need to be very strong and have powerful firepower.

And the mission of patrolling the Atlantic Ocean or carrying missiles (remotely controlled gliding bombs) does not require a strong body and powerful firepower. Because most of the carrier-based aircraft they encounter in the Atlantic Ocean are American carrier-based aircraft, no matter how good the high-altitude performance of carrier-based aircraft is, they cannot be compared with shore-based aircraft equipped with turbocharged engines like the P47.

However, in the upcoming battle approaching the United States, Me264, a "thin-skinned and big-filled" aircraft, is not very suitable. Moreover, the number of Me264 currently equipped by the German Air Force and Naval Aviation is not enough. The commonly used number is only More than 300 aircraft.

Hersman placed another war report from the Japanese Embassy in front of Hitler and said with a smile: "The Japanese claimed to have shot down 22 B-29s and damaged 17 more... These two data are definitely There is some moisture, but there should be a discount. In other words, the Americans suffered a loss of about 10%, but they actually paid a certain price. "

The technical level during World War II was limited, and it was impossible to shoot down 100% of incoming enemy bombers. Therefore, both sides are actually fighting a war of attrition. Generally speaking, if the defending side can only shoot down 5% or less of the invading enemy aircraft, then the defense has failed. If the defending side shoots down 25% or more of the enemy aircraft, the attacking side is usually unable to bear it.

Now, according to reports from Japan, the German General Staff analyzed that the damage rate of American bombers in the Palembang air strike was about 10%. This happens to be a balanced offensive and defensive situation, and the war of attrition can continue.

Within two days after the Palembang air raid, American B-29s successively bombed the Sangathan Oil Field, Taranka Oil Field, Miri Oil Field and Balikpapan Refinery on Kalimantan Island.

During the air raid, the B-29s were also attacked by Japanese fighter jets. Although the German side did not receive a loss report, it can still be estimated that both sides suffered certain losses.

"Such a situation is favorable to us," Hessmann told Hitler. "Only if the Americans can carry out large-scale bombing on the Nanyang Islands with affordable losses, Japan will continue to consume the aviation power of the United States. If Japan continues Too many American planes have been shot down at the beginning, and the Americans are likely to cancel the bombing plan. In this case, all B-29s will be deployed to the Caribbean."

"But it doesn't matter if Japan's oil fields have been bombed?" Hitler asked with a frown.

"They won't all be blown up," Hersman said, "at least not now... Oil refineries are easy to blow up, but oil fields are not easy to destroy. If the Americans don't blow them up for a few months to a year, they won't have a good effect. . Moreover, the Japan-Nanyang route has been very difficult since the second half of 1943. There is not much oil that can be transported back to the country from Nanyang. Even if 50% of the oil fields in Nanyang are destroyed, Japan will not be able to transport the remaining 50%. Ship it back."

"Can this situation improve?" Hitler asked worriedly.

"This is impossible." Hessman shook his head and smiled bitterly, "Even if the Japanese destroyer escorts come into service, the situation will not get much better. We can only ensure that it does not get worse...because now we lose 100,000 ships every month The ships in the Atlantic exceed 80,000 tons. This is despite the fact that the Joint Escort Command has invested more than 200 destroyers of all levels, 18 escort aircraft carriers, and hundreds of shore-based anti-submarine patrol bombers.

Moreover, the U.S. Atlantic Fleet has not dispatched large surface ships to break diplomatic relations recently. In the fight against submarines and mines, ships on the water are also relatively passive. If the diplomatic breaker party also dispatches a large number of surface ships and long-range patrol aircraft, then the escort party will need to invest a lot of power.

Of course, our submarines are now also causing great losses to American transport ships on the east coast of the United States and the Caribbean, with the total tonnage sunk exceeding 100,000 tons every month. "

The investment in escort must be greater than in breaking diplomatic ties, otherwise Germany, which has historically been at a disadvantage in naval strength, would not choose to use breaking diplomatic tactics to attack its opponents. Now it's the same thing if the United States comes to break diplomatic relations, and Germany comes to escort us.

There is no black technology that can reverse the investment in escort and break-up. Even the East China Sea anti-submarine patrol aircraft equipped with magnetic detectors, which are regarded as treasures by the Japanese, are of little use.

Magnetic detectors can only work at ultra-low altitudes, about 50-100 meters above sea level, and can only be used to search for underwater submarines. If the enemy submarine is floating (in fact, the submarine is floating most of the time) and can be seen from a height of 50-100 meters, what kind of magnetic detector should be used?

In addition, American ocean-going submarines have anti-aircraft guns (German submarines also have them) and anti-aircraft machine guns. If the anti-submarine patrol aircraft is not strong enough and flies too low, it can easily be shot down by the submarine.

After hearing Hessmann's explanation, Hitler sighed deeply: "In other words, Japan's best choice at the moment is to negotiate peace with the United States, and then attack the Soviet Far East and cause us a big trouble?"

"Of course not," Hersman replied, "Japan can still fight the United States. They still have a powerful surface fleet, which is enough to severely damage the Pacific Fleet that is besieging the Hawaiian Islands. And Japan's heavy damage to the Pacific Fleet is also the reason why we can fight in the Atlantic Ocean - Defeat the United States on the Caribbean battlefield and force the United States to surrender its financial hegemony. If they are unwilling to do so, it will be difficult for us to defeat the United States, and such a prospect is also very dangerous for Japan.”

"Is it dangerous?" Hitler looked at Hersmann and asked. He didn't think there was any danger in Japan making peace with the United States. Although it would cause big trouble for Germany, it was impossible for Germany to use force against Japan.

Because Germany, unable to seize financial hegemony, will have to spend more energy to integrate the European Community in the future and will not be able to take care of the Pacific.

"Yes, it is very dangerous." Hersman said, "Because it is only 6,000 kilometers from Hawaii to Tokyo! This was a long distance in 1944, but by 1948 or 1949, if the United States was not defeated, then it We will definitely build a long-range bomber with a combat radius of more than 6,000 kilometers! And... the United States will also have atomic bombs! By then, the Japanese capital Tokyo will be within the range of American nuclear weapons. Considering that American submarines have been using mustard gas in the past two days. Harassing Japan's coastal areas everywhere, once the United States possesses nuclear fission weapons, it will definitely be used against the Japanese. "

Hitler nodded, "I understand." He paused, and then said to Hersmann, "Oshima Hiro met with Ribbentrop this morning and proposed that we assist Heisenberg device technology. The request...I think if we reject this request, Japan will make a separate peace with the United States."

Hersmann understood Hitler's thoughts. The German Chancellor must hope to reach an agreement with Japan on the war and peace issues before the European Leaders' Conference (which was repeatedly postponed and finally decided to be held on June 15).

Only by reaching an agreement with Japan first can Germany formulate a corresponding policy towards the United States. If Japan insists on making peace with the United States alone, it is unlikely that the European Community's naval power alone will be able to defeat the United States' huge naval power and seize the Caribbean islands. In that case, the European Community can only find another way to compete with the United States for financial hegemony.

Thinking of this, Hersman smiled and nodded: "Prime Minister, let me handle this matter, and I will definitely solve it satisfactorily."