The Rise of the Third Reich

Although Henry Arnold was very reluctant to use Army Air Corps transport planes to transport supplies to Trinidad, which was close to the front line. However, what happened in the next few days forced the Army Aviation Corps to shoulder this too heavy task.

Because after several days of busy work by the minesweepers of the U.S. Navy's Third Fleet, not only did not a single new German mine be recovered, but even the minesweepers that dropped depth charges were sunk several times. In the end, they had to switch to seaplanes. Drop depth charges. But in this way, the mine clearance efficiency has been reduced a lot.

What made Commander Kincaid of the U.S. Third Fleet (Halsey's successor) vomit blood even more was that the "old" mines had not yet been swept away. On January 5, the Germans launched the second "Thousand Planes of Night" "Attack" and dropped more mines around Trinidad.

Moreover, the German minelaying tactics were improved during the second thousand-aircraft night attack. Not only did they dispatch aircraft to mine mines, but they also dispatched Type 21 U-boats and S-100 torpedo boats (these torpedo boats have a very long range) to attack special targets. More than a thousand "oyster mines" were dropped around Trinidad. Counting the results of two aircraft mines, there are now at least 2,000 "oyster mines" that the Americans don't know how to sweep have been dropped on the waterways around Trinidad.

Although he does not know the number of "Oyster Mines" dropped by the Germans, Kincaid is very clear that if the weaknesses of this new mine are not found, his Third Fleet may be difficult to clean them up in the short term... Considering that the Germans can lay mines much faster than they can clear mines with depth charges, I am afraid that this mine will never be cleared.

Mines cannot be swept clean, but Trinidad's transportation cannot stop, otherwise the island's reserves will not be able to withstand the consumption of hundreds of thousands of people day after day.

There are two methods for non-stop transportation. One is to take risks with transport ships and transport materials into Trinidad at a loss rate of 20% or even 30%; the other is to transport by air and gather two to three thousand C- 47 flies the Puerto Rico-Trinidad route and can import tens of thousands of tons of supplies every day, which is enough to maintain the various consumption of the US military on Trinidad...but the price is a bit good!

"Harry," in the White House cabinet meeting room, President Wallace, who was about to leave office, said to President Truman, who was about to take over, "it seems that the Battle of Trinidad has now begun... This is a battle that will determine the future and destiny of the United States. The decisive battle!"

Truman nodded and agreed with Wallace's judgment. In fact, this was not just Wallace's judgment, but also the judgment of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The Germans went to such great lengths to lay mines near Trinidad to prevent the entry of U.S. reinforcements and at the same time weaken Trinidad's defenses through siege - if the Germans did not cut off Trinidad With the maritime transportation capabilities of the Americans and the handling capacity of Port of Spain, this island will never be occupied by the German army.

Therefore, the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff unanimously believed that blockading Trinidad was the beginning of an attack on Trinidad.

In addition to the blockade, the Germans are also using a combination of "missiles + night fighters" to launch a war of attrition against the American aviation power on Trinidad, and they seem to have achieved a good exchange ratio.

If the German blockade tactics can continue, the U.S. aviation forces on Trinidad will be exhausted sooner or later.

After gaining air superiority around Trinidad, the German troops armed to the teeth and their equally battle-hardened Russian lackeys could swarm onto the beach of Trinidad like a tidal wave.

"If Trinidad falls, the Joint Chiefs of Staff recommend that the federal government seek peace with greater sincerity." William Leahy said to Truman and Wallace very solemnly, "This was also the national policy decided by President Roosevelt while he was still alive. !”

Of course, both Wallace and Truman knew this national policy - the war cannot really be fought to the end. If it really doesn't work anymore, the money must be paid, let alone 500 billion European marks. Even if it is doubled, 1000 billion must be paid!

Therefore, the American war has a stop-loss point, while the Germans seem to just want money to live a better life...

It seems that Truman is still President Wallace, who is the incoming Secretary of War and the highest official in charge of war affairs under the President of the United States.

"We should continue this policy." Although Wallace extremely hated the Nazis and fascists, he could not gamble with the survival of the United States. "We should concentrate all our efforts on the island of Trinidad to fight. If we cannot win, I believe we have let the Nazis know how powerful we are, and there should be more favorable peace conditions."

When Wallace spoke, he turned his attention to military bosses such as William Leahy, Marshall, Ernest King, and Arnold.

"Mr. President, the U.S. military knows its responsibilities and will go all out to fight the Battle of Trinidad." General William Leahy immediately expressed his position.

"Who's directing?" Truman asked.

"The commander of the army forces on Trinidad is General George Patton," General Marshall. "General Patton is the hero of the recovery of Niihau and Oahu. He has rich experience in island and jungle warfare."

Patton, who was supposed to be an expert in tank warfare, now became an expert in jungle and island warfare. He was transferred from the Hawaiian Islands to Trinidad in early January to serve as commander of the Army Forces and concurrently as commander of the 3rd Army. All land forces in Trinidad and Tobago, except the Army Air Corps, were under the command of General Patton.

"Admiral Kincaid is responsible for commanding the 3rd Fleet," said Chief of Naval Operations Ernest King. "The entire Caribbean naval force is now under the command of the 3rd Fleet. They will go all out to support Trinidad. The defense battle!”

Kincaid has now left Trinidad, and his 3rd Fleet headquarters moved to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba on January 5.

Gen. Arnold added: "In addition, all Army aircraft in the Caribbean are currently under the command of Lieutenant General Doolittle's 8th Air Force."

In other words, there are currently three main generals of the US military on the battlefield in Trinidad, namely Patton, Kincaid and Doolittle. They are all impeccable generals! At least Truman and Wallace could not have thought of anyone more suitable.

"Are there enough troops?" Truman was still a little worried.

Does he know what peace would mean for the Democrats? Now that Congress is not in the hands of the Democratic Party, in order for Congress to pass a peace treaty that is "degrading and humiliating the country," the Democratic Party must make deals with the Republican Party on the key issue, that is, the issue of repealing the New Deal legislation. This means that while the Democratic Party will bear most of the responsibility for the defeat, it will also lose the support of the beneficiaries of the New Deal. Although these people will not turn to the Republican Party, which represents the interests of the middle and upper classes, they are very likely to be won over by the National Fascist Party and the Bolshevik Party. This would mean the collapse of the Democratic Party!

Therefore, Truman would not take this step unless absolutely necessary. Truman's first choice was to fight the Germans in Trinidad and at least lose both sides.

"Enough." William Leahy said: "There are 14,000 combat aircraft of various types; more than 1,500 combat ships, including torpedo boats and submarines; and more than 1.5 million ground troops, including Trinidad and There are as many as 310,000 ground troops on Tobago Island, with more than 2,800 tanks, destroyer tanks and self-propelled artillery.

The Navy has also built a large number of coastal defense forts on Trinidad and Tobago, and deployed more than 300 large and medium-caliber coastal defense artillery. In addition, the Army also built 16 heavy artillery fortresses and deployed 25 howitzers on Trinidad and Tobago. "

Of course, the military strength is sufficient. As early as Roosevelt's lifetime, Trinidad was regarded as a key point related to the future and destiny of the United States. Of course, it must be defended at all costs. Not only were heavy troops deployed, but countless permanent and semi-permanent fortifications were also built on the island.

Lieutenant General Walter Krueger, the previous commander-in-chief of the Trinidad Army, once pointed out in a report: Even if we lose sea and air control, we can only rely on the defenses on the island to hold on. Before the supplies are exhausted, Nor can it fall. If the Germans land on Trinidad, no matter what the final result is, they will encounter the heaviest casualties and the longest bitter battle since the outbreak of the war...

However, for Truman and Wallace, Lieutenant General Krueger's report is still not reassuring - in fact, no matter how many troops and solid fortifications are, they can't make Truman and Wallace now. The American leaders who shoulder the fate of the United States and the future of the Democratic Party are reassured.

"I don't think it's enough." Truman said: "General, we should ensure that the Battle of Trinidad is won! Because... the United States cannot afford another defeat."

"And the Battle of Santiago!" Wallace added, "As long as we can capture Santiago while holding Trinidad, the United States will be able to end the war with dignity."

"But we have already invested a lot of troops in the battlefields of Trinidad and Santiago." William Leahy said with some embarrassment. "Neither of these two battlefields is very open, so the number of troops that can be accommodated is limited... No matter how many more we have, we won't be able to accommodate them."

"Let's increase it a little more." Wallace and Truman exchanged glances. "We don't need to increase the number of people too much, but we should send the best troops. Those divisions that came down from the Hawaiian Islands are very good and can be sent. Trinidad and outside Santiago.”

William Leahy and Army Chief of Staff Marshall looked at each other and nodded at the same time. Truman and Wallace, two politicians who did not know how to fight, were directly interfering with the command of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, but their opinions seemed to be reasonable.

Doesn’t the fate of the United States now depend on Trinidad and Santiago? Why not send more troops and increase the insurance factor?