The Rise of the Third Reich

On the night of April 15, 1940, when Guderian led his armored army to the north overnight in the battle of Monte Dieu, the Prime Minister of the British Empire, Winston Churchill, locked himself in his office and drafted a letter to the US President Roosevelt for help. He and Roosevelt had maintained a "private correspondence" for several months. Although today's communication was approved by the cabinet meeting, Churchill still used the name "former naval personnel" instead of the name "British Prime Minister Churchill". Because the content of the letter really damaged the face of the British Empire. In the letter, Churchill first asked to maintain a private communication between the two. Then he reported the situation of the war in Europe to the US President. He said in the letter: "The situation has deteriorated rapidly. The enemy has obviously gained an advantage in the air, and their new technology is making a deep impression on the French." Churchill also told Roosevelt: "Although it is not certain, we must expect that Mussolini will also rush in to participate in the plunder of civilized countries." Britain and France's activities to win over Mussolini lasted for several months, giving a lot of loans, oil and steel, but Mussolini never joined the "World Anti-National Socialist League" (the Anti-Fascist League cannot be used because Mussolini himself is a fascist). But on April 14, British intelligence officers sent back top-secret news from Rome: The Italian army is being urgently mobilized and the combat readiness level has been raised to the highest level! This is obviously a precursor to Italy's participation in the war! But Churchill knew that at this time when France was about to be defeated by Germany, Mussolini would never be stupid enough to fight Germany. Italy would definitely join this world war as an enemy of Britain rather than an ally, but this was not too bad news for the British Empire. What really worried Churchill was France, as he had already anticipated the fall of France.

So he said to Roosevelt in his letter: "We expect that in the near future, we will be attacked by air attacks, paratroopers, air transport troops, and even seaborne landing troops. We are prepared for this. If necessary, we will continue to fight alone, and we are not afraid of fighting alone."

Although he wrote "not afraid of fighting alone", Churchill still warned Roosevelt: "But, Mr. President, I believe you will realize that if the voice and power of the United States are suppressed for too long, it may not have any effect. You will see a completely conquered Nazi Europe will soon appear before your eyes..."

Then the British Prime Minister began to ask the United States for help again. He wrote in the letter: "What I am asking now is that you declare a state of non-belligerence, which means that you will do everything you can to help us except not actually sending armed forces to participate in the war." Then he proposed that the United States borrow "forty or fifty older destroyers to make up for the gap between our existing ships and the large number of new ships we have started to build since the beginning of the war." In addition, Churchill also hoped that the United States would provide hundreds of the latest combat aircraft and a batch of urgently needed air defense equipment, ammunition and steel.

Finally, the Prime Minister of the British Empire wrote in a begging tone: "As long as we can still pay in US dollars, we will continue to buy with US dollars; but I have reason to believe that even if we can't pay, you will still supply us with materials."

The Prime Minister of the dignified British Empire is now begging the President of the United States in a humble manner. You know, the world war has only been going on for more than 8 months. The British Empire started to "beg for food" after fighting for 8 months. If it had continued for another year or so, Britain would have gone bankrupt without the German landing!

Early in the morning of the second day after writing the "begging letter", Churchill flew to Paris, France. As soon as he arrived in Paris, he heard terrible news from the British ambassador-the French government departments were burning documents and files!

Soon, Churchill met the "dejected" French Prime Minister Reynaud and the Allied Commander-in-Chief Gamelin at the Matignon Palace. The three of them were silent for a long time in a lifeless conference room. Churchill then asked the two Frenchmen who looked like they were about to cry: "How serious is the situation?"

"Mr. Prime Minister, the Germans have now stabbed France in the unprotected abdomen!" Gamelin looked very depressed, and he was completely different from Marshal Joffre in 1914. He had briefly cheered up yesterday morning and followed Joffre's example to issue an order for a decisive battle. But this morning, more bad news came, which made his spirits slump again.

"Now France's wound is getting bigger and bigger, and the troops are losing more and more." Gamelin said, "Since yesterday afternoon, the German armored forces have begun to move north. The troops of the 9th Army Group could not resist and are retreating one after another. The counterattack of the 2nd Army Group on Sedan did not work. The 3rd Reserve Armored Division and the 3rd Motorized Infantry Division fought hard for more than ten hours on the Monte Diou Heights. Every attack was repelled by the Germans... Mr. Prime Minister, it seems that we have no way to block the huge gap in Mans-Sedan. This gap has become even bigger now."

Is this the end? Churchill was stunned. The Germans only started their onslaught on April 10th, and today is only the 16th! Lost after playing for a week? Isn't this too fast? Although he had anticipated France's defeat, Churchill still could not imagine that France, the "world's largest army power", could persist in days under the German offensive.

"So where are the strategic reserves?" Churchill asked again after being silent for a while.

Gan Molin shook his head, shrugged, and replied: "No...it's useless."

Gamelin means that even if the troops being trained and formed are invested, they will not be able to save the fate of failure... Now it may be time to consider seeking peace!

Churchill was stunned by Gamelin's answer. He did not fully understand Gamelin's words. He thought France had no reserves.

Seeing Churchill's silence, Gamelin made another suggestion: "Prime Minister, you must now consider giving up Belgium... Belgian troops must be withdrawn to Normandy and Paris. The land route is likely to be cut off by the German army, and the Germans The goal can be reached by advancing 200 kilometers north. We do not have the power to stop the German armored group in this direction, so we must consider the possibility of withdrawing troops by sea. "

"Withdraw troops from the sea?" Churchill looked at Gamelin and said to himself, that is an army of hundreds of thousands! There is still so much heavy equipment. Do you mean to withdraw the troops immediately? All the personnel, equipment, baggage, and vehicles of an infantry division (motorized infantry) of the British Expeditionary Force cannot be transported without a ship of 200,000 to 300,000 tons! The nine divisions of the British Expeditionary Force alone require ships with a total tonnage of two million and several hundred thousand tons to transport them. Add in the French troops, and 10 million tons is not necessarily enough. Although the transportation distance is not far and ships can be used back and forth, a ship of 3 million tons is indispensable. Of course there are ships, but does the British Empire have air supremacy over the English Channel? If we want to retreat by sea, will the German aircraft and submarines destroy millions of tons?

"Okay, as soon as I return to London, I will immediately start studying the issue of retreat from Belgium." Churchill thought for a long time, but agreed to Gamelin's request.

"In addition, we need the UK to send more fighter jets to cover our operations in the Sedan area." Gamelin then made a request. "This is related to whether the dozens of divisions on the 'Maginot' defense line will be surrounded by the German army."

Gamelin had no hope of winning the war, but he still had to work hard to obtain the conditions for peace. If France lost these dozens of truly combat-effective divisions, it would have no choice but to let Germany slaughter it.

Therefore, Gamelin is now thinking about how to strive for a "decent peace", and his thoughts cannot be hidden from Churchill.

"Okay, we can provide 10 more squadrons of fighters!"

Churchill knew what he had to say to encourage Reynaud. He thought for a moment, "Now I know the dilemma France is facing. The situation may be worse than it was in 1914, but the heroic French people will never be like this." Difficulties scare us, but we in the UK will not give up the fight, even if we are alone, we will fight alone until we win! Because the final victory must belong to the just side!

Germany is not without its weaknesses. It is a country that cannot be self-sufficient. Not only do most industrial resources depend on imports, but even the most basic food production cannot meet needs. So as long as the British Empire controlled the seas, it could suffocate the German economy through continued blockade. And the United States of America will still stand with us this time. When necessary, the United States will definitely join the war.

This is how we win wars. I hope France can join us and win the crown again! "

Churchill's words seemed to inspire Reno, and the French Prime Minister's gloomy face gained a little more blood. He nodded and said: "Okay, France will definitely stand with Britain. No matter how difficult it is, we will never be alone." Make peace with Germany."

Renault turned to Gamelin, who was still frowning and said: "General, I ask the French army to launch a counterattack in the Sedan area with the greatest determination, and cover the transfer of the troops stationed on the 'Maginot' line to Paris... We To defeat the Germans again outside Paris, just like in 1914!”