The Rise of the Third Reich

"hiss……"

This is the commander of Japan's First Mobile Fleet, Lieutenant General Nagumo Chuichi, taking a breath of cold air. He is holding the telegram he just received in his hand - it is from the Combined Fleet Headquarters. The telegram says something that makes people brave. Little Nagumo couldn't sleep for several days after the news: 5 aircraft carriers are likely to come to him for trouble!

These are 5 American aircraft carriers! There are about 400 carrier-based aircraft on it. As long as they seize the opportunity, the First Mobile Fleet may suffer disaster.

And since the American aircraft carriers have been dispatched, Pearl Harbor is likely to have been prepared. A sneak attack or something seems impossible... But General Isoroku Yamamoto has issued a secret order: Climb the new peak 1208!

This order conveyed in a secret language meant that the First Mobile Fleet would launch an attack on December 8, 1941, as originally planned.

"Genda-kun." Nagumo Chuichi seemed a little undecided, so he called the aviation staff officer Genda Minoru to his side.

"Commander," before Nagumo could ask, Minoru Genda knew what Nagumo wanted to ask. He said, "There are currently 48 Comet dive bombers on board the Akagi and Kaga. When loaded with bombs, they have a range of more than 3,000 kilometers and can search the sea area of ​​1,000 kilometers around the fleet. Moreover, they are very fast, with a maximum speed of 580 kilometers per hour, and even the fighter jets on the US aircraft carrier cannot catch up. The fleet does not have to worry about being spotted first by a U.S. aircraft carrier."

Because Hirschmann provided a batch of DB601E liquid-cooled engines to Japan a few months ago, the mass production of the "Comet" carrier-based dive bomber was greatly advanced. Currently, 48 "Comets" have been deployed on the "Akagi" and "Kaga". Although the number is not large, it is enough to be used as a trump card. It can not only launch a quick strike against the enemy fleet, but also conduct a large-scale search for the enemy. If it were not so easy to fall onto the deck, the "Comet" could definitely become an ace model.

However, the problem of being prone to "falling on the deck" is not a problem now. The skills of the veteran pilots that the Japanese Navy has worked hard to accumulate since the 1920s are still very good, and they are enough to control aircraft like the "Comet". This is also the reason why Japan dares to challenge the powerful United States.

Nagumo Chuichi took a deep breath, nodded heavily, and issued a combat order to the staff around him: "1. Starting from dawn tomorrow, we will send out enemy planes to establish a 250-nautical-mile search circle; 2. Starting tonight, all ships will turn off their lights and sail; 3. Communicate Operation Z to all officers and soldiers; 4. Be ready for battle at any time... The politics of the United States of America have begun now!"

…

"Onboard! Onboard! Onboard!"

Little Hersman was startled by the sudden cheers around him.

When the loudspeaker in the officer's mess room of the "Akagi" came from the speech of Captain Hasegawa Kiichi of the "Akagi", little Hersman was with his good friend, Egg, who was also sent to support Japanese imperialism. Prince Mon. Lip-Wiesenfeld is enjoying salt-grilled lobster, beef curry, pickled vegetables and rice.

These delicacies are probably what little Hersman is most satisfied with about the country of Japan. This reminded him of the days when he served as a "foreign aid" on the Italian aircraft carrier. If there is one thing about the Italian Navy that surpasses the German Navy, it is undoubtedly the delicious meals. German food has always been relatively boring, and it became even more boring after the war broke out. Even for "military aristocrats" like pilots, all kinds of sausages plus bread, vegetables, beer and chocolate are served. Although the nutrition is sufficient, the taste is really not good.

The food provided by the Japanese Navy's aircraft carrier "Akagi" is even better than the Italian "aircraft carrier cuisine". There are not only various Western dishes, but also Japanese dishes made like works of art. Moreover, the chefs on board are very skilled, and you can tell at a glance that they are professional.

Just as little Hersman was enjoying his dinner, the Japanese officers in the restaurant suddenly occupied the restaurant, then raised their arms repeatedly and shouted "Onboard! Onboard!"

"Captain Hersman, Your Highness, there's going to be a war! This time it's really going to be a war!" Major Shigeru Itaya accompanied Herssman and Prince Lip-Wiesenfeld to dinner, and saw the two Germans looking confused. He quickly explained to them in English.

"A war?" Little Hersman, who has been participating in the war for more than two years, is not as excited as Itaya, "With the United States?"

"Yes! Fight with the United States!"

"Do you know where to attack?"

Shigeru Itani nodded and said loudly: "Pearl Harbor! We are going to attack Pearl Harbor, the home of the U.S. Pacific Fleet! The estimated time of attack is December 8, 1941! This battle will be won and all the achievements will be accomplished in one battle!"

There are no mobile phones or the Internet in this era. After boarding the "Akagi", the only place to communicate with the outside world is the "Akagi" radio station. That's why Chuichi Nagumo informed all the officers and soldiers of the First Mobile Fleet of the "extremely good news" of the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on the night of December 2.

And just when all the officers and soldiers of Japan's First Mobile Fleet learned that they were going to attack Pearl Harbor. Lieutenant General Douglas MacArthur, commander-in-chief of the U.S. Far East Army, also received reliable news that the Japanese were about to attack the Philippines.

In fact, as early as early 1941, MacArthur, then commander-in-chief of the Philippine Army, knew that the Japanese would attack the Philippines sooner or later. After the United States announced an embargo against Japan and froze Japanese assets in the United States, MacArthur was convinced that an attack was imminent.

In order to better defend the Philippines, MacArthur asked for help from the mainland and asked for more American soldiers to protect Filipino maids; on the other hand, he also proposed merging the Philippine Army with the US military stationed in the Philippines. His suggestion was approved in July 1941, and MacArthur himself changed from Commander-in-Chief of the Philippine Army to Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Far Eastern Army. Responsible for the unified command of 130,000 US-Philippine troops (including 31,000 Americans) and more than 300 combat aircraft (including more than 400 spare aircraft). In addition, the U.S. Asiatic Fleet, commanded by Admiral Thomas Hart, is cooperating with the U.S.-Philippine coalition forces.

After receiving the news, MacArthur immediately invited Admiral Thomas Hart to his headquarters in Manila.

"Reliable news!" MacArthur told Admiral Hart in his private reception room, "The Japanese will attack soon. They have already deployed hundreds of aircraft in Taiwan. In addition, nearly 100,000 Japanese troops are stationed in Taiwan. Arriving in Taiwan soon!”

Admiral Thomas Hart was stunned for a moment. The information provided by MacArthur seemed to be too accurate. He asked: "Douglas, do we have such a powerful intelligence network in Taiwan?"

MacArthur glanced at Admiral Hart, lowered his voice and said: "It's not our intelligence network, it's the intelligence network of the Third International!"

There were also Bolsheviks in Taiwan at this time. They now accepted the leadership of the west coast of the Taiwan Strait and were still working underground under the guidance of the Third International. Confidential information cannot be found, but information about a large number of Japanese troops and aircraft heading to Taiwan can still be collected. This information was handed over to U.S. Secretary of State Hull through Litvinov.

"Third International?" Admiral Thomas Hart immediately showed a disgusted expression, "Washington is cooperating with the Bolsheviks?"

MacArthur also showed the same expression. He was equally hostile to the Bolsheviks. He shook his head and smiled bitterly: "Washington thinks the Bolsheviks can help us defeat Germany... so they are our friends now!"

There are no permanent enemies in the world, and there are no permanent Bolsheviks. Therefore, there is no obstacle that cannot be overcome between the Bolsheviks and the big American capitalists.

"Okay," General Thomas Hart nodded, "then you believe the intelligence provided by the Bolsheviks?"

"Yes," MacArthur nodded, "The war is about to break out... in the past few days. Admiral, your fleet can no longer stay in Cavite and must leave immediately."

Admiral Thomas Hart replied: "The Naval Operations Department has already made arrangements. Once the situation becomes critical, surface ships will evacuate to Singapore with the families of US military personnel stationed in the Philippines and American expatriates. Submarines will take torpedoes to lurk in the sea, waiting for the war to begin. "

In the past few months, the number of U.S. aircraft stationed in the Philippines has increased significantly by more than 100, and the number of submarines has also increased. Although not as many as advertised, it has also increased to 52.

In addition, the British Royal Navy has also deployed 15 submarines and 8 camouflaged attack ships in Singapore. Be ready to launch a war against Japan at any time!

"I think now is the time when the situation is very critical!" MacArthur looked at Thomas Hart, "Hurry up and act, the war will break out at any time! The Japanese Navy will definitely blockade Manila Bay by then."

"Okay, then the Asian Fleet will start taking action from now on!" Admiral Thomas Hart nodded and agreed to MacArthur's arrangement.

The US military stationed in the Philippines has begun to take action and is fully prepared for war!

On the same day, orders for emergency retreat and emergency preparations for war were also sent from London to Hong Kong and Singapore.

One of the two pearls of the British Empire in the Far East will be abandoned immediately - all troops, officials, expatriates and important citizens in Hong Kong will be evacuated to Singapore within three days. And Singapore will become a fortress and defend it to the end.

At the same time, British oil fields and oil facilities in North Borneo were also equipped with bombs, ready to blow up at any time! Moreover, the Royal Air Force stationed in Singapore also received orders to prepare for bombing the Palembang oil fields in the Dutch East Indies!