The Rise of the Third Reich

Chapter 452 A long beginning

"Your Excellency, Marshal, are we really going to take the Shetland Islands or are we just launching a feint attack?"

The Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Marshal Redl, still didn’t seem to understand Hersman’s intentions. He said: “Now the Americans have taken over control of Iceland from the British. There is also news that the United States is pushing to turn Iceland into an overseas possession. . Once the U.S. Congress and the Icelandic Parliament pass resolutions, materials shipped to Iceland will no longer be subject to the Neutrality Act, and Iceland will become a transit base for U.S. materials exported to Britain.

In the future, British ships will only be responsible for the transportation tasks on the Iceland-Scotland route. This section of the route is only more than 500 nautical miles long, and the strength of the British Home Fleet is sufficient to carry out strict escort. At that time, submarines will not be able to conduct diplomatic-breaking operations. "

Raeder frowned and continued: "If we still want to use naval blockade and break the engagement to attack Britain, then we must occupy the Shetland Islands and the Faroe Islands."

The Americans' entry into Iceland was actually a war brinkmanship aimed at forcing Germany to launch an attack first. If Germany dares not take action, then the United States will turn Iceland into a large forward stronghold supporting the British. In the future, materials exported to the UK will be transshipped through Iceland. In this way, the threat of German submarines to Britain's maritime lifeline will be greatly reduced, or even no longer play any role.

Occupying the Shetland Peninsula and the Faroe Peninsula became the best and only way to effectively blockade Britain.

"In addition," Redl continued, "the UK now has a large number of shore-based aircraft deployed in northern Scotland, the Faroe Islands and the Shetland Islands. The United States has deployed aircraft and squadrons in Iceland. The High Seas Fleet wants to break through the blockade and enter the Atlantic It is very difficult to join forces with the French and Italian fleets. Unless we choose to break through during the Arctic night, we can only occupy the Shetland Peninsula and the Faroe Peninsula.”

Obviously, Marshal Redl is inclined to occupy the Shetland Islands! He had actually always had this idea, but because the German shore-based aviation airports were too far away from the Shetland Islands, they were unable to provide effective air support for the attack fleet. Therefore occupying the Shetland Islands is just a thought.

But now Norway will soon join Germany in the war. With Bergen and Stavanger, two bases close to the Shetland Islands, Germany's shore-based aviation will be able to reach the Shetland Islands.

"The primary goal is to attract the British Home Fleet and create favorable conditions for the Battle of Gibraltar;" Hessman said thoughtfully, "The second goal is the British aircraft carrier; and the last is to occupy the Shetland Islands."

Hessman paused for a while and then said: "Considering the importance of the Shetland Islands and the fact that it is only more than 200 kilometers away from the British mainland, the operation to seize the islands must be difficult and long, and there will be repeated battles. Therefore. This operation can also be regarded as the beginning of the capture of the Shetland Islands. The battle to capture the Shetland Islands will be a long war of attrition. The German High Seas Fleet must be mentally prepared for a long and hard battle!"

As air power had come to dominate naval warfare, suppressing British shore-based aviation around the Shetland Islands became key to capturing the islands. To achieve the goal of suppressing the British shore-based aviation, repeated efforts and attrition were necessary, so the Battle of Shetland was bound to be very long.

"Mr. Quisling, on behalf of His Majesty the Head of the European Community and Emperor of Germany, I welcome the Kingdom of Norway to become a member of the European Community."

While Hersmann and the heads of the German Navy were discussing the Shetland Islands operation, German Chancellor Adolf Hitler was receiving visitors at Fort Europa (the original Strasbourg) in Alsace, the capital of the European Community. Norwegian Prime Minister Vidkon Quisling.

The Norwegian National Unity Party led by Vidkon Quisling recently launched a bloodless coup, forcing the Norwegian Parliament to pass a special authorization law, giving the Quisling government legislative power.

In other words, the Quisling government can now ask Norway to request membership of the European Community at any time.

Joining the European Community is quite attractive to Norwegians now. Because the North Sea oil fields have not yet been discovered, Norway is not a rich country with high welfare, but a poor country in Europe. The economic strength and people's living standards are far inferior to those of rich European countries such as Germany, France, the Netherlands and Belgium.

Therefore, joining the European Community can be supported by the majority of Norwegians. But joining the European Community now means joining a German-led war! It means going to war with Britain, and there is also the possibility of war with the powerful United States.

Therefore, before the Mediterranean Campaign, although Quisling had become the Prime Minister of Norway, he still had no way to drag Norway onto the German tank.

However, after the Mediterranean Campaign, the situation has undergone a reversal change. Most Norwegians now believe that the British Empire is almost finished and that now is the time to join the European Community. If you don't join now, when Britain is defeated, the European Community may not be willing to accept Norway, a poor country...

"Leader," Quisling said to Hitler, "according to your instructions, we have built 6 regimental airfields in Bergen and Stavanger, which can station 6 aviation regiments and 6 anti-aircraft artillery regiments at any time." The ports and coastal defense forts in Ergen and Stavanger have been repaired, and the German High Seas Fleet is welcome to station at any time. In addition, the 20,000-strong Viking Division is also ready to fight for the victory of Europe! "

Although Norway did not participate in the war in the past year or so, it did not waste time. Instead, it followed Germany's instructions and prepared for war with funds provided by Germany. Six large airports were built, the ports of Bergen and Stavanger were repaired, and a 20,000-strong Viking division (the Viking Legion) was formed.

"Thank you very much for everything Norway has done for European unity," Adolf Hitler said with a smile. "Germany and other countries in the European Community will not forget Norway's contribution. After the war is over, we will definitely help Norway develop its economy. In addition, In order to ensure the security of Norway, please do not announce this news for the time being and allow our troops to be stationed in Bergen, Stavanger, Jan Mayen Island and Svalbard Islands first.”

Jan Mayen and Svalbard are both Norwegian territories, one in the Norwegian Sea close to Greenland (about 500 kilometers away); the other in the Barents Sea close to the Arctic Ocean. Although it is not a strategic location, Germany can set up weather observation stations there. If the Soviet Union and Germany ever went to war, Svalbard could also serve as a supply depot for submarines.

The news of Norwegian Prime Minister Vidkon Quisling's visit to Europa Castle was quickly spread to London by the pro-British faction in Norway. The first reaction of the wartime cabinet was that the big tiger of the German High Seas Fleet was coming out of the cage!

The island chain blockade operated by the UK based on airports in northern Scotland, the Faroe Islands, Shetland Islands and Orkney Islands (where Scapa Flow is located) will soon undergo its most severe test.

"There is news from Oslo that the Quisling government will hand over the ports and airports of Bergen and Stavanger to Germany."

Foreign Secretary Eden reported the bad news he had just received in a low tone.

"Is there any way to stop Quisling?" Chief of General Staff General Dill asked. "It would be good to delay it for a while, so that we can concentrate on fighting the Germans in Gibraltar."

"There is no way," Eden said. "This is the legacy of our failure in the Mediterranean. Now the pro-British faction in Norway are afraid to speak out, and some have even changed their stance."

The so-called pro-British faction does not mean that they are ready to go to hell with the British Empire. They are just leaning towards Britain out of interests. But now that Britain seems to be failing, pro-British politicians will naturally distance themselves from Britain.

There was silence in the meeting room of the War Cabinet Headquarters. Everyone turned their attention to Churchill, waiting for the Prime Minister to make an idea. This idea was not easy to come up with. With the strength of the British Home Fleet, it could not control the Norwegian Sea without taking care of Gibraltar. , trying to block both ends may end up failing at both ends.

"If the main force of the fleet goes to support Gibraltar, is it possible for Germany to occupy the Shetland Islands?" Churchill asked.

"This is not possible at the moment," replied First Sea Lord Pound, "because our defenses in Shetland, Onik and the Faroe Islands are quite strong. If you include the aircraft deployed in northern Scotland, we have There are more than 1,000 combat aircraft there, including 20 squadrons of Bristol Beaufort torpedo bombers and 20 squadrons of Wellington heavy bombers, which will be used in the same manner as the Germans and Italians. The tactic was to attack the German fleet in large groups as it attempted to approach the Shetland Islands."

Now the British have also learned the trick of large fleet saturation attacks, but they still lack a long-range dive bomber similar to the Ju88, so they can only use "Wellington" bombers to make up the numbers, and use horizontal bombing and torpedo attacks to deal with Germany Human surface fleet.

"Where are the escort fighters?" Churchill asked, "What aircraft do we use to escort them? The Germans have two aircraft carriers."

"If the distance is closer, you can use the Spitfire," Marshal Pound replied with a frown. "If it is farther, you can only use the P-51 provided by the Americans."

"So... what if the German surface fleet breaks through from the Norwegian Sea-Denmark Strait? After German aircraft are stationed in Norway, this possibility has increased a lot, right?"

Marshal Pound thought for a while and replied: "We can leave the Hood, Prince of Wales, King George V and Nelson at the anchorage in northwest Scotland just in case."

Churchill nodded: "Okay, let's do this... We will fight in two directions at the same time!"

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