The Rise of the Third Reich

Rudolf, whose full name has become very long (he is now called Rudolf von Yusupov-Heinsberg-Hersmann) has now finished his sweet but short honeymoon and was ordered to fly to Berg, Norway. He arrived at the naval base and reported to Admiral Helmut Haye, who had just been transferred to the commander of the 2nd Fleet. He was currently on the aircraft carrier "Adolf Hitler", the flagship of Task Force 20.

The "Adolf Hitler" aircraft carrier was the largest aircraft carrier Rudolf had ever seen in his life, and was larger than the "Yamato" class battleships he had seen in the Pacific. The length of the ship exceeds 300 meters (304.5 meters), the width of the ship exceeds 75 meters (the widest part of the flight deck is 75.5 meters), the full load displacement exceeds 74,000 tons, and the number of personnel on the ship is said to be nearly 4,000. It can really be regarded as a small maritime city!

In addition to its huge and peculiar appearance, this huge aircraft carrier also has three eye-catching features. One is several Me262T jet carrier-based aircraft placed on the flight deck; the other is a jet aircraft on the edge of the middle section of the flight deck. A huge mirror is installed on the platform; the third is the two twin W-10 "waterfalls" installed next to the two elevators on the starboard side (Germany's large aircraft carriers have adopted a side elevator layout since the B41 aircraft carrier) "Missile launcher.

Young Hersman has also flown the Me262T jet carrier-based aircraft before, but he has never taken off and landed on a real aircraft carrier. He has only done it on a replica platform of the flight deck of the "Adolf Hitler" class aircraft carrier built on the ground. Take off and land. So he knew that the big mirror was an aircraft carrier landing mirror that could shoot several layers of light beams of different colors into the air at a certain angle to help the pilot land accurately. At least on land where the landing platform does not shake, this landing mirror is very easy to use.

As for the W-10 "Waterfall" missile, Hersman Jr. had seen it in Buenos Aires and knew how powerful it was. Now this latest anti-aircraft weapon has finally been installed on the aircraft carrier.

In addition to these two twin-mounted W-10 "Waterfall" ship-to-air missile launchers, the "Adolf Hitler" aircraft carrier is also equipped with 18 single-mounted 128mm high-level dual-purpose guns and 28 twin-mounted 40mm guns. Anti-aircraft guns and 32 20mm single-barreled machine guns. The strong anti-aircraft firepower is second to none among the surface ships of the German Navy.

Little Hersman followed the guidance of a "Traffic Map of the Adolf Hitler" that he received at the headquarters of the Bergen Naval Base and found the headquarters deck located at the stern of the ship. Outside a hatch leading to the commander's office, a blond sailor saluted him with a gun as quickly and neatly as a clock struck.

"Sir, Lieutenant Colonel Rudolf von Yusupov-Heinsberg-Hersmann of the Naval Air Force has been ordered to report to you." Rudolf announced his name loudly outside the door.

"It's Rudolf. Your name is really long now. Please come in."

Helmut Haye's voice came from inside the door. Hersmann Jr. was a first-generation carrier-based aircraft pilot, and Heyer was the first-generation aircraft carrier captain of the German Navy, so the two knew each other as early as 1939.

Rudolf opened the door and walked in, and saw Helmut Haye sitting behind a desk, wearing a dark blue woolen military uniform, looking very gentlemanly. The only decoration on the bulkhead of this simple office is the framed and hung uniform portrait of Emperor Wilhelm III. Since the restoration of the Hohenzollern dynasty, now the German Wehrmacht soldiers, except for a small number of SS Apart from that, they only swore allegiance to His Majesty the Emperor (the SS was loyal to both the Emperor and leader Hitler). Therefore, in most occasions where photos need to be hung, the photos of the German Emperor are hung. A large Atlantic navigation chart hangs on the very wide bulkhead behind Admiral Haye.

"General." Rudolf gave a German salute, and then sat on a chair at the signal of General Haye.

"I have read your resume, and it is perfect. It is the most perfect resume I have ever seen." Admiral Haye said in an appreciative tone, "My chief of staff, Major General Christiansen, also highly recommends you to serve as the aviation operations officer of the 201st Aircraft Carrier Group." Officer, I think you will be qualified for this position, right?"

The 201st Aircraft Carrier Group is one of the main aircraft carrier groups under the 2nd Fleet. In the Bermuda Battle, it was equipped with Zeppelin-class and Prussian-class aircraft carriers. Now it is replaced by two Adolf Hitler-class aircraft carriers. The aviation operations officer of the aircraft carrier group is similar to the super flying wing commander in the US imperial aircraft carrier formation in later generations. He is responsible for formulating air combat plans and conducting air combat command (flying on the Bv138E waterborne early warning aircraft for command). Although the military rank is not high (because the German Air Force/Naval Air Force has only been established for a short period of time and there are not many senior officers, so colonel officers can also serve as commanders at the division and regiment levels), they have great power and responsibility.

"Yes, sir, I am qualified for this position." Little Hessmann has no humility - a stubborn German is not very humble. If you can do it, you can do it, if you can't, you can't. There is no need to be modest.

And Hersman Jr. is indeed the perfect candidate to serve as the aviation operations officer of the 201st Aircraft Carrier Group. First of all, he is a "trained" elite officer who put on a military uniform when he was less than 10 years old. This experience makes him superior in the German Air Force system (the German Navy does not have a junior military academy); secondly, he is a senior naval aviation carrier-based aircraft pilot. He has flown Fokker Zero, Fokker 99, Fokker 100, Fw190 and Me262, and is an ace with the Blue Marx Medal; in addition, he has extremely rich maritime combat experience and has participated in many combat missions in the Mediterranean, Pacific and Atlantic. Second important sea and air combat, and he also played an important role in the Battle of Bermuda, for which he received a Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Silver Leaf and Swords (this is a very high honor).

"Okay, from now on, you will be the aviation operations officer of the 201st Group." As General Haye spoke, he handed a velvet-wrapped box and a document with the eagle emblem on the header to Little Hess. Man. "In addition, you have been promoted to Naval Aviation Lieutenant Colonel. Congratulations."

"Thank you, sir."

Little Hersman stood up and raised his hands in salute, then took the documents promoting him to lieutenant colonel and the box containing his military rank with both hands.

"Sit." General Haye did not let little Hessman leave, but asked him to sit down again.

"Now I can tell you some secrets." Admiral Haye said, "Task Force 20 will leave the waters near Bergen as soon as April 1, 1945, and head to the waters near Newfoundland to fight."

"Newfoundland?" Little Hersman was surprised. He also thought that the main target of the European coalition forces was Trinidad!

"Yes." Admiral Haye continued, "Task Force 20 has three missions. One is to use aviation forces to cooperate with long-range heavy bombers to attack the American interceptor groups taking off from Newfoundland and the Nova Scotia Peninsula; The aviation force competes for air supremacy in the 7,000-11,000-meter airspace above Newfoundland; the third is to use aviation force to attack the U.S. naval fleet that is reinforcing Newfoundland.”

Actually going to land on Newfoundland! Little Hersman thought to himself: This time it is really beyond everyone’s expectations!

Admiral Haye glanced at Hessman, who had a surprised expression on his face, smiled, and then continued: "In order to achieve the above three goals, the 201st Aircraft Carrier Group must carry out operations in the middle of its combat mission near Newfoundland. A carrier-based aircraft force replacement, replacing at least 9 Me262 squadrons with e410 squadrons.”

Construction of four Adolf Hitler-class ships began, all of which will be commissioned in the first half of 1945. Therefore, there are also four aviation groups supporting them, and training has begun long ago. There are a total of 20 squadrons under these four aviation regiments, of which 10 squadrons are equipped with Me262T and the other 10 squadrons are equipped with Me410T. According to the plan, all 20 squadrons should be ready by early April. However, only two Adolf Hitler-class aircraft carriers were delivered. Therefore, in the Fort Gotchi plan, there was a plan for 20 squadrons to take turns on the aircraft carrier to participate in the battle.

"You go to Major General Christianson to get the guidance plan." Haye continued, "As for the specific combat plan, it will be jointly between you, Fleet Aviation Staff Prince Lip Weisenfeld and Colonel Helmut Poehler of the Air Force. Formulate. Colonel Poehler is now on board the aircraft carrier Adolf Hitler, so we can start formulating the plan now. I hope to see the plan completed before February 15."

"Understood, General."

…

When Rudolf began to participate in formulating the most secret battle plan, his brother, another "Little Hersman" Reinhardt, was driving across the frozen land to report to Petrograd. According to the order, he will serve in the Russian Royal Guards Heavy Tank Battalion "Santa Ana Stashinia" and serve as the platoon leader of a heavy tank platoon equipped with E-50 tanks. For a newcomer who has never been on the battlefield, this is a good starting point.

But sitting in the carriage, looking at the blond German officers in the carriage, Second Lieutenant Reinhard von Heinsberg-Hersmann, as a newcomer to the battlefield, was a little strange: the White Russian army landed on Trinidad. Why hasn’t it left for Belém Port yet? Could it be that what he was going to was a reserve force? It would be terrible if this really happened. Maybe he wouldn't be able to go to the battlefield when the war ends. As an officer without any battlefield experience, his future in the army can be imagined.