0p0 Third Reich Episode 193
Third Reich Episode 193
"Leader," Ciano, who was still conscious, hurriedly said, "It's not that we can't participate in the struggle for world hegemony, but our initial goal should not be north, but south."
Hearing what his son-in-law said, Mussolini also became a little interested.As long as it can expand, he doesn't really mind going north or south.
Seeing that his father-in-law finally stopped mentioning his stupid strategy of sending troops to Norway to show national prestige, Ciano also heaved a sigh of relief: "According to Italy's current superior external environment, we can completely stay out of the hegemony competition among Britain, France and Germany. But the essence On the other hand, they can take advantage of the geopolitical turmoil caused by the rise of Germany, take advantage of the opportunity to hide their strengths and bide their time, try their best to avoid the war, and after realizing their own comprehensive self-improvement, they can flexibly formulate new strategic goals according to the changes in the European situation.”
Ciano's idea is very simple. Anyone with a discerning eye can see that the Battle of Norway is the last layer of window paper between Britain, France and Germany.In the near future, a large-scale war should break out in these three countries.
According to the experience gained from the last world war, the war between Germany and France will not be fruitful for a year or so.And Italy only needs to use this long period of time to develop itself well, and finally join the party that is about to win, and use the well-trained troops to hit with all their strength, and they will be able to win the final victory.
If Germany and Britain and France want to fight, they can fight as long as they want, so that the country in front of them, which is so rich and jaded, can have time to reorganize itself and prepare for war.Whether Mussolini thought so or not, at least Ciano thought so.
"My dear Ciano, tell me about your southward strategy." Mussolini said excitedly.
He could no longer stand the fact that only the German head of state was in the limelight.Obviously he is the senior, obviously he is much wiser than that Reinhardt sergeant.
"It has to be said that we are far from being able to compare with countries like Britain and Germany in terms of population size, national territory, natural resources, economic base, military strength, and scientific research capabilities..." Ciano gradually explained to Mussolini.
"Nonsense! Italy is obviously very powerful, and we will surpass them in these things in the future!" Mussolini interrupted these harsh words angrily.
Finding that this method doesn’t make sense in front of his father-in-law, Ciano wisely skipped the ugly part, and started directly from the part that Mussolini liked to hear: “We in Italy have an excellent geographical location, and the Eastern It is surrounded by the sea on three sides, west and south, and the Alps are easy to defend and difficult to attack on the north. In such an environment that is particularly easy to defend, it is almost impossible for European countries to attack us. "
"On the other hand, under the leadership of your leader, we have established a powerful naval force. We should make full use of this force to expand overseas interests." Ciano inserted a flattering Mosuo Lini's words.
"Yes, I should make good use of the powerful navy I built." Mussolini said with satisfaction when he heard someone flattering him.
Ciano rationalized his thoughts and gave his father-in-law a final guide: "As a long and narrow peninsula country, the main part of Italy is composed of the Apennine Peninsula, Sardinia and Sicily. The Apennine Peninsula is like a balcony. Exploring into the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and Sardinia and Sicily are the largest and second largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea respectively, this gives Italy a great geographical advantage in the Mediterranean region. Coupled with our powerful navy, this is almost Heaven will give us the opportunity to expand into the Mediterranean."
"That's exactly what I want to hear!" Mussolini clapped excitedly.It seems that my son-in-law understands my ambitions and can give me good advice.
Mussolini had always wanted to restore the glory of the Roman era, and now Ciano's strategy of going south to seek the sphere of influence around the Mediterranean Sea is simply a grand strategy tailored for his ideals.
"Ciano, my dear Ciano, you are my Lepidus!" Mussolini patted Ciano on the shoulder and praised.
I can become Lepidus with this ability?Ciano thought with a wry smile, it is you who want to be Caesar. (Flying fish's note: During the Roman Empire, Lepidus worked faithfully for Caesar and was known as Caesar's most trusted agent.)
Body 3 Chapter [-] D-word Counterattack Plan (Eighth)
If everything is just as Ciano described, wouldn't Italy have an advantage against the sky?Of course, such a powerful advantage does not exist.
In order to draw the leader's attention from the dangerous north to the relatively less dangerous south, Ciano deliberately concealed many factors that were unfavorable to Italy's Mediterranean strategy.
First of all, since Corsica and Malta were under the control of France and Britain respectively, this severely limited the Italian Mediterranean advantage Ciano mentioned earlier.Although Italy can be regarded as the strongest force in the region in the Mediterranean, it is still far from being able to eliminate the influence of Britain and France in the Mediterranean at the same time and achieve true dominance.
Coupled with the closed nature of the Mediterranean Sea, even if Italy really wins partial hegemony in the Mediterranean Sea through all kinds of difficulties and dangers, it is impossible for it to have the opportunity to compete for world hegemony as Mussolini imagined.
After all, now that Britain controls Gibraltar and Egypt at the same time, even if Italy gains regional hegemony in the Mediterranean, it will be difficult to freely enter and exit the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, let alone seek world hegemony like Britain.
"I have decided that if Italy wants to gain world hegemony, it must come up with a record that convinces the world!" Mussolini said big things to himself again: "Supplement another 10 troops to our African Army, and strive for Further expand the territory of the new Roman Empire."
Pinch soft persimmons in Africa.Well, acceptable.Ciano nodded respectfully in response.
"In addition, recruit another mercenary army in Albania. The more troops you recruit, the better. As for the needed weapons and supplies, they should be dispatched as soon as possible." Mussolini continued to issue instructions.
Hearing this, Ciano sighed helplessly in his heart again.My father-in-law seems to think that more troops means stronger force, and he always likes to expand the number of troops, even if it is not a big expansion.
He seemed to have completely ignored the reports of material shortages that he had been reminding Germany of.Obviously, in terms of key strategic resources such as coal, iron ore and oil, Italy can only rely on imports for a long time.Under the circumstances that even the supplies of the existing army cannot be guaranteed, does the leader actually want to expand the new army and use hoes as weapons for the new army? !
Of course, this kind of words can only be thought in the heart.On the surface, Ciano still replied very respectfully: "No problem, great leader. We must prepare as soon as possible!"
.............
"Then get ready as soon as possible." Similar things also happened in Gan Molin's coalition headquarters in Paris.
Sitting behind Brooke, commander of the 2nd Army of the British Expeditionary Force, Montgomery turned his head contemptuously.
Gan Molin is the commander-in-chief of the coalition forces, and he doesn't seem to understand the current situation at all.For a piece of intelligence that he didn't know was true or false, he gathered all the coalition forces that could be mobilized in the rear of Belgium, preparing to fight a post-combat war on Belgian soil, a trench warfare with no technical content.
For this plan, he actually commanded the British Expeditionary Force on his own, asking all British officers and soldiers to prepare.
"General Brooke," Montgomery said in a low voice to Lieutenant General Brooke, his immediate superior, "It seems that our French general who is the commander-in-chief has no idea of reserving a reserve team at all. This is not a good sign."
Brook also frowned, turned his head slightly and said softly to Montgomery: "I don't know, they seem to believe in the captured German marching order, so they are only deploying plans based on that marching order... ..."
"That's right! We have reason to believe in the authenticity of the German battle plan captured in Belgium." Gamelin turned his attention to where Montgomery and Brook were, and interrupted loudly.
Was it heard so quietly? !
Montgomery looked surprised, looking at the French commander who was staring at him.This man's ears are so good!
The French generals on the side looked at this scene in embarrassment and smiled bitterly silently.
They are clear about Gan Molin's temper.What the French general hates the most is that someone criticizes his plan, even if his plan is a little flawed!
Fortunately, those who were quietly talking about it were several generals of the British Allied Forces. If this is a French general... then wait for the little shoes to be worn later.
Fortunately, Gan Molin is in a pretty good mood now, and he can't really clean up the allied generals, so he didn't get angry like before.Not only did he not lose his temper, he also gave an explanation to several British generals with rare patience.
"We have the unbreakable Maginot Line to rely on, and a large number of troops have been stationed inside the defense line, so there is no need to leave a reserve team to prevent accidents." Gan Molin confidently walked to the huge map in the conference room and used The telescopic pole outlines along the Maginot Line: "This line is a natural danger that will never be crossed!"
Gan Molin's self-confidence is not groundless.In the eyes of him and even the entire French military, the Maginot Line, a well-designed, expensive, permanent fortification group made of reinforced concrete, is a red line that the German army will never dare to touch.
The Maginot Line, this is a total of about 5800 permanent fortifications for various purposes, with a density of 15 fronts per kilometer. The roof and walls of the strongest reinforced concrete fortifications are as thick as 3.5 meters, and the armor of the armored tower The thickness is up to 300 mm, full of anti-tank trenches, cliffs, cliffs, and metal and concrete piles, and reinforced with minefields, dissatisfied with metal piles and wooden piles with barbed wire, and a red line of death with electrified barbed wire!
As long as there is one person in the top German leadership who remembers the battle called the Verdun Meat Ground during World War I, they will never have the guts to challenge today's Maginot Line.
"The Germans can only attack us through Belgium." Gan Molin's telescopic pole gradually moved to the north of the map: "This is their only chance! In the last world war, they did not dare to attack us head-on. Now We had the Maginot Line, and they didn't dare to attack us head-on."
"It's in their interest!" Gan Molin put away the telescoping pole, turned around and faced everyone at the conference table: "So, that plan is their only choice. Even knowing that the plan has been leaked, they don't There is no other choice."
"Defending Belgium is tantamount to blocking the German army's hope of victory." Gamelin said as he walked towards the direction of Montgomery and Brooke: "I don't know why, given that the enemy's only choice is known. It is also cowardly to leave a large number of reserve teams instead of going all out, defeating the opponent head-on, and striving for..."
"We will obey the dispatch!" Lord Gort, who was sitting in front, stood up suddenly, and used his body to block the aggressive Gan Molin for his two generals: "The British Expeditionary Force has no objection to the D-word counterattack plan."
"Very good." Gan Molin smiled slightly, waved his hands, and returned to his seat.
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Body 3 Chapter [-] Annihilation of the German Army (Ninth Change)
"Report to the division commander, Lieutenant Hoffman's leading battalion has arrived at the outskirts of Lillehammer and is setting up an attack position." The staff officer's report rang in Major General Hans' ears.
The 30th Division has already launched across the board.Under the guidance of the Norwegian Royal Guard Battalion, there was basically no delay along the way.As the staff officer said, the Hoffman Battalion, as the vanguard, has now arrived at the side of the British and French troops, and it will not be too long before the arrival of the entire division.
"Let them launch a tentative attack." Hans said with a faint smile: "Since the straggling of the Stalker Self-Propelled Artillery Battalion that we were worried about at the beginning did not happen, our speed is much faster than expected. Less than two more In an hour, the main force of the division should have arrived at them."
The Stalker self-propelled artillery is far more suitable for driving in the complex terrain of Northern Europe than Hans expected.The accompanying Norwegian Royal Guard Battalion, although its combat effectiveness seems to be unreliable, at least played a good leading role for the 30th Division, leading the whole division to a relatively easy shortcut.