Reborn South Africa as a police officer

Chapter 1051 Dilemma

After the outbreak of World War II, the British government ordered a total of about 4000 aircraft from southern Africa.

At first, the aircraft were only used for the defense of the British mainland. In fact, Germany did not start air strikes on the British mainland until 1915, the third year after the outbreak of the World War. At this time, the air force gradually appeared on the battlefield.

As the war progressed, the air force became more and more important. When Haig served as the commander-in-chief of the British Expeditionary Force, he did not pay enough attention to the role of aircraft, and there was little room for the air force to play on the Western Front.

After Rock became the commander-in-chief of the British Expeditionary Force, the Air Force finally played a correct role. From the later stage of the Battle of the Somme, the role of the Air Force became more and more important, especially the bomber force of the Expeditionary Force, not only to support the frontline troops, The strategic bombing of military targets in Germany was also carried out. After the expeditionary force invaded Belgium, the staff estimated that without the support of the air force, the expeditionary force would recover a large area of ​​lost territory in Belgium, and the number of casualties would increase by more than 10.

After forming an encirclement of the German army on the Marne, the air force began to enter a combat state, bombarding the German army in the encirclement indiscriminately. In Trélou-sur-Marne, a retreating German army was discovered by a reconnaissance plane. Hours later, the Expeditionary Force bombers swarmed in, and [-] kilograms of standard aerial bombs were dropped like raindrops. In addition to high-explosive bombs, there were incendiary bombs and gas bombs.

The German army did not have anti-aircraft machine guns, and the soldiers could only resist meaninglessly with simple rifles. An hour later, the 3000-strong supply unit was almost completely dead, and only 120 people escaped by hiding in a small river.

In Châtillon-sur-Marne, the Expeditionary Force bombers blew up the only bridge on the [-]-kilometer nearby river. On the other side of the river, there were nearly [-] German troops who had not had time to retreat across the river. Facing the tank troops of the British Expeditionary Force, they almost lost All heavily armed German troops could only raise their hands and surrender.

In this battle, the British Expeditionary Force captured nearly 128 German officers and soldiers, including six generals, including [-] officers above the colonel level.

As of April 25th, the Anglo-French forces had wiped out 17.5 German troops and captured 14 of them. Otto von Bülow and Huthier led the remaining less than 20 German troops and were surrounded by groups within a short distance from Reims. Fifty kilometers away from Soissons, it has been nearly two weeks since the formation of the encirclement. The German army in the encirclement has run out of ammunition and food. Many wounded died tragically due to lack of medicine. German life.

This time the U.S. pandemic caused a total of 16.5 German soldiers and nearly 40 civilian deaths.

Compared with the Entente countries, Germany and Austria-Hungary have been in a state of blockade since the outbreak of the World War. During the outbreak of the Great Influenza in the United States, Germany could not get enough medical supplies. Because of lack of nutrition, the Germans were weak and their resistance to the virus declined. to an unprecedented extent.

On April 26, Otto von Bilow sent someone to contact the British Expeditionary Force, hoping that the British Expeditionary Force could accept the surrender of about 4.5 wounded German soldiers and provide medical treatment to these wounded German soldiers.

This "request" was naturally opposed by Pétain and Foch.

"The Germans are crazy. They want to dump these wounded soldiers who have become cumbersome to us, and then break out of the encirclement with light clothes. It is absolutely impossible for us to agree to such a request!" Foch's hatred for the German army is beyond words. Killed in World War I.

"Unless all the German troops lay down their arms and surrender, then we can provide medical treatment for the wounded German troops." Pétain's hatred of the Germans is less, but not much less. If the German troops can be forced to surrender, then the casualties of the British and French forces can also be reduced , this result is acceptable to Petain.

"Why don't we look at this issue from a different angle--" Rock and Winston agreed that they didn't want to weaken Germany too much, so Rock had nothing to do: "--we have been fighting the Germans for four and a half years , the hatred can no longer be dispelled, and the Germans in the encirclement are not sure about our attitude, so they will not lay down their arms until they see hope."

One thing must be explained is that there is no "International Law" in the war at this time. Although countries will talk about "giving treatment that matches their status" when persuading them to surrender, in fact there will definitely be Deviation, let’s not talk about the western front. Germany captured nearly 60 Russians on the eastern front. These Russians were forced to work in exchange for meager food to maintain their lives. After Germany and the new Russian government reached an agreement, only less than 40 were released. The captives returned to Russia, where did the remaining 20 people go?

neither knows.

So the Germans are also very worried about what kind of fate will be waiting for them if they put down their weapons.

"Hehe, if the Germans refuse to lay down their arms, then we will completely annihilate them." Foch, the general of the coalition forces, is indeed ruthless. Now the British and French coalition forces can indeed wipe out the German troops in the encirclement at any time, but to destroy nearly 20 German troops, The British and French allied forces must prepare for at least 10 casualties.

This number is not random. According to past battles, even if the coalition forces surrounded the German army, they would have to pay a price of almost 1:2, sometimes even 1:1, in some battlefields. There may even be extreme cases of 2:1.

If the German troops in the encirclement can be forced to lay down their weapons, it would be the best choice for the coalition forces.

"Ferdinand, what we have to consider now is how to end this war, not let the hatred continue." Rock didn't want unnecessary casualties, and the lives of the soldiers were life.

"Locke, you just said that our hatred cannot disappear." Foch still disagreed, the dead Germans are the best Germans.

"So what are you going to do after the world war is over, kill all the Germans? Or exile all the Germans to Africa? Be rational, Ferdinand, you definitely don't want another world war in 20 years." Rock said again Inadvertently revealing the secret, the world war wiped out a whole generation of Britain, France, and Germany. Even if the Germans are forced to surrender now, will the next generation of Germans grow up to be disappointed with this history?Will he, like the French after the Franco-Prussian War, never forget the humiliation imposed on the French by the Germans after the Franco-Prussian War?

It definitely will.

Foch finally stopped talking. His emotions made him want to kill all the German troops in the encirclement, but his reason told him not to do so.

"Let's make a bet that if we provide medical treatment to these wounded, then other Germans will voluntarily lay down their arms and surrender-if this is not the case, then the British Expeditionary Force will be responsible for destroying all Germans in the encirclement." Rock In this way of betting, Foch and Pétain's last doubts were eliminated.

"Yes!" Pétain immediately agreed, whether the Germans in the encirclement surrendered or the British Expeditionary Force was responsible for destroying the German troops in the encirclement, it made no difference to the French troops.

That's it!

As long as Roque and Petain agree, Foch has nothing to do even if he disagrees.

In fact, when Roque was discussing with Foch and Pétain, the British Expeditionary Force of Soissons had already begun to receive German wounded soldiers.

Surprisingly, there were very few seriously wounded among the wounded in the German army, and most of them were officers. This shows that only officers who were injured could receive treatment. The fate of the wounded was miserable, and it was estimated that they were all given up directly.

Many German wounded were able to walk alone to BEF positions without the help of others.

In order to ensure safety, the expeditionary force dispatched tanks and armored vehicles to maintain order. Nearly a thousand doctors and nurses were on standby. Water and food were burning in the open space next to the armored vehicles. Compared with the injuries on the body, nutritional supplements were equally important.

"Sir, the situation is terrible. Many of them have reused bandages, and their wounds have not been treated in time. Some people's wounds have begun to deteriorate. Many people may need to be amputated. The operation must be carried out immediately, otherwise Many of them may not be able to see the sun of tomorrow.” Tim Mitchelson, the chief physician of the 16th Division Field Hospital, has a serious expression, and the 16th Division does not have many spare medicines.

"Then perform the operation as soon as possible, and save medicines if you can—" The on-site commander is Zhou Bu, the commander of the 2nd Brigade. Rock's orders must be implemented, but Zhou Bu has the final say on how to implement them.

Besides, Roque didn't say that he would go all out for these wounded soldiers.

Because there are too many wounded soldiers who need surgery, many novices who have just arrived in France have also obtained valuable opportunities to use mobile phones. Anyone who has studied medicine knows how precious this opportunity is. If it were not for the World War, they may have to practice after graduation. Only then can we get the opportunity to enter the operating room to observe.

At this time, the open space in the middle of the field hospital was full of wounded soldiers. Several German soldiers came over carrying a German officer, put the German officer down, turned around and left, and was stopped by soldiers of the expeditionary force.

"What are you doing?" The expeditionary soldier with a shotgun looked serious.

"Sir, we just sent Major Miller here, and now we are going back to Soissons." Several German soldiers expressed calmly. Now it is the wounded German soldiers who are about to surrender, and these soldiers have not put down their weapons yet.

"So, are you going back to continue fighting?" The soldiers of the expeditionary army clenched the shotguns in their hands, and the heavy machine gun shooter on the armored vehicle next to him put his finger on the trigger. The atmosphere immediately became tense, not only the soldiers of the expeditionary army, but those who had just The wounded German soldiers who entered the prisoner-of-war camp were also paying attention to how the soldiers of the expeditionary force would deal with them.

Is it a direct shot?

Or let them go back?

It seems that it is not appropriate to do anything.

(End of this chapter)