The Rise of the Third Reich

"Marshal Reich, I don't quite understand... Now, why are we rushing to declare war on the United States? Why can't we reach a secret agreement with Roosevelt to carve up the world? As long as the United States is willing to suspend aid to Britain, Europe will be ours. Then We can concentrate our efforts on dealing with the Soviet Union. After defeating the Soviet Union, the world will also belong to Germany!"

Berlin, inside the Chancellery. Adolf Hitler was chatting leisurely with the visiting Reich Chief of General Staff Hersmann.

"Leader, you..." Hersman was stunned by Hitler's words. Historically, Hitler had already gone to war with the Soviet Union in Germany, and the war situation was in an unfavorable situation, but he resolutely declared war on the United States.

Now, Germany's situation is not a little bit better than it was historically. The British Royal Navy has been beaten to death, and Gibraltar has been occupied by the German and Spanish forces. The Mediterranean Sea has now become the lake of Germany and Italy, the Middle East has become Germany's oil depot, and Egypt and Syria have become Germany's granary. France has also made up its mind to follow Germany. Now the French and Italian navies are conducting joint combat training. Once the training is completed, they will rush out of Gibraltar and cause trouble with the British Empire.

Under such a good situation, Hitler actually backed down on the issue of declaring war on the United States.

Hitler, who seemed to be in a good mood, smiled and said to Hessmann: "We, Germany, are a European country after all. The first thing we need to establish is absolute leadership in Europe, rather than contaminating South America or the Far East. Therefore, defeating the British Our core interests are with the Soviet Union. As long as the United States is willing to abandon Britain and the Soviet Union, we can conclude a "Mutual Non-Aggression Treaty" with the United States. "

"Leader, are you going to betray Germany's loyal friend Japan?" Hersmann looked at Hitler with wide eyes.

Hitler shrugged and smiled: "Japan just wants to use us Germany to dominate the Pacific...and we have given them a lot and don't owe Japan anything. Why give up an opportunity for Japan to solve Britain without much bloodshed? What if? If you feel sorry for Japan, we can give Japan more aid and let them hold back the United States."

Hitler's thinking turned out to be this. In his view, Germany and Britain were cousins, and the two sides were not fighting to the death. It was not worth shedding too much blood to defeat the British, and it was not good whether the Germans or the British died.

The reason why Britain is still resisting is actually because the United States is instigating it. If the United States is willing to give up its stance of supporting Britain, Britain will immediately choose to surrender and lose half. In this way, Germany will become the undoubted leader in Europe, and it can then concentrate its efforts on fighting the Soviet Union. If Germany unites the power of all Europe, it is very possible to defeat the Soviet Union and restore Tsarist Russia.

"But Americans will never give up supporting Britain!" Hersman's tone was very certain.

"If they are really stubborn," Hitler sneered, "then we will unite with Japan to defeat them! But now we should give the Americans a last chance! We Germans have always been very reasonable and we must give Roosevelt a last chance. of."

He looked at Hessman and said: "Marshal Imperial, I plan to send Hess as my special envoy to the United States to negotiate with President Roosevelt face to face. I think Roosevelt will seriously consider our peace proposal."

Hess goes to America? Hirschman thought to himself, if only he had been detained by Roosevelt! But this is just a thought. Germany and Germany have not yet declared war. No matter how much Roosevelt hates the Nazis, he cannot do this.

"Hess couldn't convince Roosevelt, that's for sure." Hessman thought for a while and then said, "Now Japan is attacking Hawaii, and they are very likely to capture it. This will completely change the relationship between the United States and Japan. Based on the balance of strength, Japan is likely to play a greater role in future wars. Japan will be the key to our victory over the United States, so we should give them more encouragement now if they know that we will not declare war on the United States in the short term. , they will definitely feel frustrated, and maybe their confidence in occupying the Hawaiian Islands will be shaken... Leader, how should we explain to the Japanese?"

"It's too simple," Adolf Hitler smiled. "Practical actions are always more effective than verbal encouragement. Hasn't the Navy always had a plan to break into the Atlantic? I think it's time to implement it now. Hess can compete with the high seas The fleet moves together, and then just send a destroyer to take him to Iceland... And the invasion of the Atlantic Ocean is also the best reason to delay the declaration of war, isn't it? Our navy's invasion of the Atlantic Ocean is the key to establishing a sea line of communication between Germany and Japan. ah!"

The "break into the Atlantic" plan is for the main force of the German High Seas Fleet to break into the Atlantic to join the French and Italian combined fleets.

The conditions for implementing this plan are now fully mature. The British Home Fleet suffered heavy losses in the Battle of Shetland and is still licking its wounds. The main force of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet is now probably busy moving to the Pacific to rescue Oahu. There is no more concern about playing "freedom of navigation" in the North Atlantic. Therefore, Germany's two Bismarck-class, 1 Scharnhorst-class, 2 Seydlitz-class and 3 P-class armored ships can break through the Denmark Strait with swagger, and then go to Gibraltar to join the Italian-French combined fleet.

After the rendezvous is completed, the two "Seidlitz" class aircraft carriers will become the key to breaking through the Red Sea. Because of the protection of the aircraft carrier, Italian battleships can penetrate into the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea to support the army in opening up the maritime communication line from the Persian Gulf to Suez.

In addition, the penetration of the German and Italian fleets into the Indian Ocean is also an important step in opening up the sea line of communication between Germany and Japan! Opening up the sea lines of communication between Germany and Japan is also a prerequisite for Japan to receive a large amount of aid materials from Germany.

Obtaining German weapons, equipment and machines is the key to Japan being able to defend the Hawaiian Islands and block the United States in the Eastern Pacific in the future. Therefore, it makes perfect sense for Germany not to declare war on the United States for the time being, and Hitler is a particularly good person. Therefore, Hersman no longer insisted. After leaving the Prime Minister's Office, he immediately convened a meeting with the leaders of the Navy and Air Force to arrange the High Seas Fleet's operation to break into the Atlantic Ocean.

At the same time, US President Roosevelt also learned that Hitler would send Minister Hess to the United States as a secret envoy.

"Mr. President, we can reject Hess's visit." U.S. Secretary of State Hull said to Roosevelt in an extremely solemn tone. "As long as we reject Hull and reiterate our policy of supporting Britain, the Germans will most likely declare war."

"Then their High Seas Fleet will come to attack the islands in the Atlantic and Caribbean Sea," Navy Secretary Knox said worriedly to Roosevelt. "President, now we must transfer the main force of the Atlantic Fleet to the Pacific to rescue Hawaii. The British Royal Navy has lost the ability to control the Atlantic. If we declare war with Germany now, Germany may become the master of the Atlantic..."

Because Japanese aircraft carriers were stranded near the Hawaiian Islands and were conducting air raids for days. The U.S. Naval Operations Department has made a judgment that the Japanese army will capture Hawaii! Based on this judgment, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Stark has officially made a proposal to transfer the main force of the Atlantic Fleet to the Pacific to reinforce Hawaii. Under these circumstances, immediately declaring war on Germany was not a particularly wise choice.

Secretary of the Navy Knox said: "President, we should wait until the Battle of Hawaii is over before we consider declaring war on Germany."

"But Germany will still continue its military offensive, but the direction will be from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean." Roosevelt frowned. He said, "They will soon open up the Indian Ocean transportation line and join forces with the Japanese who have occupied Southeast Asia. This is also the case. Very bad situation.”

Once Japan and Germany join forces in the Indian Ocean, the two countries will be able to exchange what they need, and the resource bottlenecks stuck on the necks of Japan and Germany will disappear. Moreover, India will also be occupied by Germany and Japan!

"It is better than them immediately occupying islands in the Atlantic and Caribbean." Navy Secretary Knox said, "We need time to strengthen defenses in Iceland, the Azores, the Bahamas and a series of important islands in the Caribbean."

Before Hawaii was attacked by the Japanese army, the Americans only deployed relatively strong forces in Iceland. There are not many troops deployed in the Azores, and there is no thought of deploying defenses in Bermuda and Caribbean islands close to the United States. Because no one thought that one day, the powerful Atlantic Fleet would transfer its main force to the Pacific to deal with the Japanese.

"Okay," Roosevelt knew that he could not refuse Hess, because even among his own cabinet members there were people who believed that Hess should be allowed to come to the United States, let alone those members of Congress who were not in favor of war with Germany. "Let Hess come, but... no agreement will be reached. We cannot abandon Britain, let alone allow Germany to become the overlord of the Old Continent!"

Hull nodded and said: "Of course, we cannot compromise with Germany...unless they are willing to completely abandon the aggressive route."

Roosevelt looked at Secretary of the Navy Nosk again, "Since we are not going to war with Germany for the time being, the Atlantic Fleet can enter the Pacific... I think there will be no accidents in the Hawaii battle, right?"

Noske frowned, he didn't dare to confirm. Because the Atlantic Fleet's voyage from the east coast of the United States to the west coast is more than 5,000 nautical miles, it takes at least 14-15 days to arrive. Then we need to resupply and rest for a few days before heading to Hawaii. The journey to Hawaii is more than 2,000 nautical miles and takes another 6 days. It will take 25 days to add one piece after another. It is hard to say whether Hawaii can persist until that time.