The Rise of the Third Reich

"Imperial Marshal, from January 23rd to 25th, a large American fleet passed through the Panama Canal. The fleet has at least 4 battleships and 20 aircraft carriers!"

Berlin time, on January 26th, Hersmann, who had just arrived at the General Staff in Zossen, received an urgent report submitted by Major General Geiger, the Director of Military Intelligence.

"Four battleships, 20 aircraft carriers..." Hersmann shook his head slightly, "This is enough for the Japanese to bear."

"But this is good news for Marshal Kesselring," Guderian, the First Quartermaster General, was also in Hersmann's office. He came to discuss the latest anti-Soviet war plan with Hersmann. After hearing the news that a large number of American ships were transferred to the Pacific, he interrupted and said: "In the Atlantic battlefield, we can finally make a difference."

After losing 4 battleships and 20 aircraft carriers, the US Atlantic Fleet (the Allied Atlantic Combined Fleet) lost the strength to fight a decisive battle with the European Combined Fleet. In other words, the control of the Atlantic Ocean has returned to Europe from now on.

"By the way, Heinz, you reminded me of something," Hersman said with a smile, "Stockhausen (Director of the Central Security Bureau) called me last night and told me that Argentine Army Colonel Juan Peron will soon be appointed Vice President and Minister of the Army."

"Juan Peron? Who is he?" Guderian didn't pay much attention to South America, so he didn't know much about Juan Peron.

"He was a big figure in the Argentine military coup last May and the soul of the joint group of officers." Major General Geiger, Director of the Military Intelligence Bureau, was familiar with Peron's situation. "Before that, he had served as a military attaché in Italy for a long time and admired the Italian leader and Chancellor Hitler very much."

"All politicians in South America admire Mr. Mussolini and Mr. Hitler." Hersman added, "If someone is said to be the Mussolini or Hitler of a certain country, it is definitely a compliment."

"It's a pity that they can't compare with Mr. Mussolini and Chancellor Hitler." Guderian commented.

"No," Hersman shook his head, "It's the people of South America who can't compare to the German people! In terms of personal charm and ability, Colonel Perón is outstanding even in Europe."

"Is he one of ours?" Guderian asked.

"No," Hersman said, "Although he has received funding from the Central Security Bureau, he is still an Argentine... I think he is an Argentine politician with ideals. There are not many such people in South America. Perón may be the unique hero of South America in our time. For us, he is also an opportunity to change the political landscape of South America."

Hersman praised Perón very highly because he knew that Perón was actually a Nazi leader! Unlike those "Caudillo" (meaning leader) dictators who like to call themselves "Mussolini of a certain country" or "Hitler of a certain country" but actually only know how to cling to the United States and make money, Perón is a real Nazi!

His Peronism is actually the Argentine version of Nazism. Except for the lack of a very obvious anti-Semitism (there are not many Jews in Argentina), the other ways are similar to the Nazis.

Although Perón came to power through a military coup, he took the route of the lower working people. He won the support of the lower class by redistributing social assets - constantly giving "shirtless men" (referring to ordinary Argentine people at that time) salary increases, building houses and increasing welfare. He also supported the development of state-owned industries and domestic private industries through state intervention, attempting to modernize the national economy. Basically, these are the routes that Hitler implemented in Germany.

Therefore, although Perón was considered an "undemocratic dictator" by Americans in history, he was widely supported in Argentina. Later, Americans could only support a "democratic military coup" to overthrow Perón, and after the military government returned power to the people, the undemocratic Peronist Party won the election with an overwhelming advantage, allowing Perón to become the president of Argentina for the third time.

However, the real reason why Hersman was full of favor for Perón, whom he had never met, was not what he had done for the Argentine people, but that he had accommodated a large number of Nazi exiles in history - if Hersman's career in Germany failed, the places he could escape to were not Spain, but Argentina and Chile in South America.

According to some legends, Hitler himself hid in Argentina after the fall of Berlin... How could such a true friend of the German people not be supported?

So at the meeting of the High Command on January 26, Hersmann proposed to invite Peron to visit Europe after he officially took office as Vice President of Argentina.

"Argentina... This country has always been pro-German, and it is also a white-dominated country, which has a better future than Brazil." Hitler had a very good impression of Argentina, "Is it possible for it to become the leader of South America?"

"In terms of national strength, Argentina cannot compare with Brazil. After all, the latter has a larger population and more vast land, as well as abundant resources." The person who answered the question was Schleicher. He was responsible for the exchanges between Germany and South America during the interwar period, so he knew the situation better than Hersmann.

He continued: "Although Argentina is rich in resources, it has two major shortcomings: insufficient coal and lack of iron, which are not very suitable for the development of heavy industry."

Hitler nodded, "So what does Argentina need now? What kind of assistance can we provide to Argentina?"

“Argentina is generally a wealthy country,” Schleicher replied. “The country’s per capita income is similar to ours, it is rich in agricultural products and oil (Argentina was an oil-producing country during World War II), and it does not lack the means of payment. , so we can’t talk about assistance, so whatever Argentina needs, I think we can provide it.”

"That's good," Hitler smiled, "I will ask Ribbentrop to go to Argentina first and exchange views with Colonel Peron in person."

After talking about South America, Hitler turned the topic to the Pacific battlefield, "Ludwig, has the main force of the American Atlantic Fleet entered the Pacific?"

"Yes," Hersman replied. "We can move freely in the Atlantic before they take the Hawaiian Islands. This is our opportunity, and it is also the opportunity of Colonel Peron and Argentina."

…

The news that the main force of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet has been transferred westward to the Pacific means that for Germany it has the opportunity to make waves in South America. For Japan, it undoubtedly means that the ultimate decisive battle in the Pacific is about to begin.

When this news reached Japan on January 27, 1943 (Tokyo time), it happened to be the day when Admiral Nagumo Tadayama took over as commander of the Combined Fleet.

"Nagumo-kun, from now on, the combined fleet will be entrusted to you!"

In the Combined Fleet flagship "Yamato", Yamamoto Isoroku handed the appointment letter of Combined Fleet Commander personally signed by Emperor Hirohito to Nagumo Chuichi with both hands.

"If you receive this important task, you must serve the country for seven lifetimes and live up to the divine grace."

Nagumo Chuichi received the appointment certificate with both hands respectfully, and then bowed to Marshal Yamamoto Isoroku. Amidst a round of applause, he officially became the 29th commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet.

After the takeover ceremony was completed, Nagumo Chuichi began to give routine lectures to a group of combined fleet generals who gathered in the "Yamato" commander's conference room to watch the ceremony.

He said: "The former Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet, Admiral Koga Mine, was transferred to the position of Military Counselor on January 26, 1979. Now, thanks to the great favor of His Majesty the Emperor, I will personally fill the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet. Please give me your thanks. Please work together to repay your kindness."

Koga Minemoto was originally a transitional figure. If it weren't for a bunch of naval promotion conventions, Yamamoto Isoroku would have promoted Nagumo Chuichi to take over as commander. Although Koga's commander-in-chief did not make any big mistakes during his tenure, and did not lose any big ships except for the sinking of Soryu and Feilong, the generals in the conference room all knew that the situation on the Pacific battlefield had reversed, so everyone Looking at Nanyun's face, everyone felt a trace of tragedy.

Nayun cleared his throat and continued: "Now I will explain the observations and countermeasures of the Combined Fleet Headquarters and Military Command on the current war situation."

Hearing these words, the generals who appeared in the succession meeting room were stunned - why did the succession ceremony turn into a combat meeting? However, Nagumo Chuichi's next words made everyone nervous and breathless.

"The strength ratio of the Japanese navy to that of the United States has been significantly lower than 50%!"

Nagumo first pointed out a cruel reality. Although the Japanese combined fleet has been invincible in the past two years, it still cannot prevent the United States from gaining strategic advantages.

"Furthermore, the results of the Christmas Island aviation battle and a series of subsequent aviation operations resulted in a large loss of aviation forces. Now even if the decisive battle in the Hawaiian Islands that we expected can take place, the odds of winning are obviously low. It should be said that it is only about 50%!"

This judgment is not only Nagumo Chuichi's, but also the two great gods Yamamoto Isoroku and Nagano Shushen.

Nagumo continued: "Although the 50% chance of winning is not high, if we don't fight the decisive battle in the Hawaiian Islands now, I'm afraid there won't even be a 50% chance of winning in the future. Therefore, an immediate decisive battle is still the best plan, and this is why the military can withstand it. Pressure, the reason for carrying out germ warfare against the United States. This time, we will have a decisive battle with the Hawaiian Islands, which is strategically and geographically favorable to me, and the US military, which is not fully prepared. Even if the fleet is shattered, we must achieve final victory and kill a large number of US landing troops. This is our goal. This is our only chance to win the war."

These words of Nagumo Chuichi set the tone for the future fate of the combined fleet: we must abandon the idea of ​​​​saving the ship, and now we must prepare to join the ship!