Reborn South Africa as a police officer

Chapter 2314 The boat is out of oil

Time came to 1942, and the situation of the French Navy became more and more difficult.

After the Italian navy's frogmen raided Alexandria, the strength of the British Mediterranean Fleet was greatly damaged. The Italian navy took the opportunity to send troops and material assistance to North Africa to help Rommel maintain the German-Italian coalition front in North Africa. Therefore, Moustache temporarily postponed the persecution of the French navy. .

The strength of the British navy is still very strong. It took only half a year for the Mediterranean fleet to recover its strength, and it was even better than before. The Italian navy was once again suppressed.

In June, Rommel launched a new round of offensive against the British army in North Africa in order to cooperate with the German army's offensive on the Russian battlefield.

After more than two years of fighting, the British army in North Africa has greatly improved in terms of combat effectiveness and equipment level.

Rommel's offensive fell far short of expectations and more help was needed to achieve strategic goals.

The importance of the French Navy has become increasingly prominent.

If the French Navy joins the Axis Powers, then the French Navy and the Italian Navy will join forces, even if they cannot defeat the Cyprus Squadron and the Mediterranean Fleet, at least they can open up the channel between Italy and North Africa, giving Rommel the opportunity to delay the war in North Africa until After Germany defeats Russia, then the main force of the German army can turn around and go south to fight the Allies.

Mustache sent Ribbentrop to contact François Darlan in early July, promising that if Darlan led the French navy to join the Axis powers, Germany would support Darlan as President of Vichy France.

Darlan did not want to be president, nor did he want to lead the French navy to join Mustache. As the number one figure in the French navy, Darlan believed that the Axis powers had lost the possibility of winning the war based on the comprehensive judgment of the Russian battlefield, the North African battlefield, and the East Asian battlefield.

The joining of the French navy cannot save the Axis powers, nor can it save the Italian navy. Unless there are countries in southern Africa or the United States joining the Axis powers, the Axis powers can win.

When Mustache wooed Darlan, the Allies were not idle. During the meeting between Ribbentrop and Darlan, Robertson Walton, a businessman from Nice, arrived in Turkey as the personal representative of Charles de Gaulle and Leonard Capet. Port London brought the conditions offered by Free France to Darlan.

"If the French Navy joins the Allies, General de Gaulle and M. Capet can guarantee the independence of the French Navy. The French Navy will not need to rely on others. It can refuse any mission that the French Navy does not want to perform. You will be the Minister of Defense and Commander-in-Chief of the Free France. , we now have more than 30 freedom fighters in North Africa, and with the addition of the navy, France's interests after the war can be guaranteed." Robertson Walton's conditions are very sincere, and Mustache's conditions While better, there are no guarantees.

The president of Vichy France seems to have a higher status, but the entire Vichy France is a vassal of Germany. The president of Vichy France is just a puppet, and the mustache can be replaced at any time if it is not pleasing to the eye.

The conditions offered by Free France are more sincere, and the double guarantees of Charles de Gaulle and Renard Capet can ensure that the French navy has a higher degree of freedom while maintaining independence, which is what Darlan values ​​most.

"You transferred France's power in French India to southern Africa. Is this how you protect the interests of France?" Darlan was very dissatisfied with certain practices of Free France, although he knew that De Gaulle was involuntary.

"If there is no cooperation between Paris and the Japanese Empire, then General de Gaulle would not do this." Robertson Walton smiled wryly. De Gaulle at least saved France's colonies in Africa and left a glimmer of life for France.

France’s colonies in Asia are obviously not as important as the North African colonies. When the Vichy government decided to cooperate with Japan, the fate of French Indochina was already doomed. Neither the United Kingdom nor southern Africa would put French Indochina behind after the war. Return to France.

In this case, it is undoubtedly a wise move for de Gaulle to give French Indochina to southern Africa.

If there is no interest, Southern Africa will not help de Gaulle establish the Free France, let alone arm 30 Free French troops.

Faced with this situation, Darlan could only look up to the sky and sigh deeply. Thousands of people beat drums and pushed walls down.

"I declare in advance that the French navy will not cooperate with the British navy in any form." Darlan did not forget the humiliation brought by the British to the French navy through the ballista operation.

"Of course, even without your request, we will keep a distance from the British—" Robertson Walton looked serious, and all French people will never forget the betrayal from the British: "—in fact we are going through various In this way, the British government is required to compensate for the losses caused by the Ballista operation, and the British government is required to hold the relevant responsible persons accountable."

Compensation is also possible.

Holding those responsible accountable is just talking.

Operation Ballista was ordered by Winston. Now Winston's prestige in the UK is unmatched. The British courts have no right to try a serving British Prime Minister, and they will not try.

"What do the southern Africans say?" Darlan knew very well that without the support of southern Africa, France would most likely not receive any compensation.

Walton smiled and said nothing, and Southern Africa's attitude on this matter was tacit approval.

Southern Africa also has lingering fears about the backstab from the UK.

France is also an old friend of Britain. If France did not do its best in the last world war, the Germans might have unified Europe.

Before the launch of Operation Ballista, Darlan had repeatedly stated that the attitude of the French navy was neutral.

Winston didn't trust Darlan's promise. In order to eliminate potential dangers and ensure the Allied forces' control of the Mediterranean Sea, he launched Operation Ballista.

Objectively speaking, southern Africa is also a beneficiary of Operation Ballista.

In this case, the neutrality of southern Africa is the best choice.

"It's not easy for the fleet to leave the port of Toulon." Darlan's attitude has wavered, which made Walton secretly heave a sigh of relief.

Renard Capet tried to gain control of the French navy by killing Darlan a few months ago.

This plan has not been given up now. While Free France is wooing Darlan, it is also ready to implement the final plan if it cannot persuade Darlan.

Now this is the best result, to avoid the situation of fighting in the same room, the strength of the French navy is still quite good, especially the two Richelieu-class battleships that have been built but have not yet been commissioned.

In 1935, France started the construction of the first ship of the Richelieu class, the "Richelieu", and only 40% of the construction progress was completed in 95 years. Although the main equipment on the ship was installed, it has not been debugged.

After France stopped resisting, the unfinished "Richelieu" left Brest with the ammunition and spare parts that could be collected, and arrived in Dakar, a French colony of Senegal, on June 6. Hull Engineering's second ship, the Jean Bart, was also towed to Casablanca, Morocco.

After the French colonies in North Africa were electrified and surrendered to the Free France, the subsequent construction of these two warships was undertaken by the Walvis Bay Shipyard in Southern Africa.

Both warships have now been completed, but there is a lack of professional naval personnel who can operate these two powerful warships. The reason why Charles de Gaulle offered Darlan generous conditions is also to gain the loyalty of the French navy.

The reason why Darlan accepted the invitation of Free France has a lot to do with these two warships.

The "Richelieu" class battleship is currently one of the most powerful battleships in the world, with a standard displacement of 38500 tons and a full load displacement of 47548 tons. The full load displacement of the "Jean Bart" reached 49850 tons.

The main guns of the two warships are two quadruple-mounted 380mm 45-caliber guns, and the secondary guns are three triple-mounted 152mm 55-caliber guns. The latest air-to-air radar search system and artillery Radar control system.

Even with only these two warships, the French Navy is still one of the most powerful navies in the world.

Not only Darlan, the British Navy, the US Navy, and even the Southern African Navy are all salivating over these two powerful warships.

When the two warships had just arrived in Africa, the British Navy sent warships to try to take over. After the "Richelieu" refused, it was torpedoed by the carrier-based aircraft of the British "Hermes" aircraft carrier. No injuries.

Two months later, the British Navy made a comeback. This time the British Navy sent three battleships, determined to sink the "Richelieu".

The "Richelieu" and the British battleship launched an artillery battle. With the cooperation of coastal defense artillery, the British battleship "Resolution" was damaged, and the British battleship was forced to evacuate.

The Pacific War broke out last year, and the "Richelieu" was about to be completed. The U.S. government contacted the Free France, trying to buy the "Richelieu" for the war against Japan in the Pacific region, and return it to the Free France after the war ended. Lease the "Richelieu".

De Gaulle rejected the proposal, because Patton had also contacted de Gaulle many times, hoping to buy the "Richelieu" and "Jean Bart", and use these two warships as the flagships of the Southern African Indian Ocean Fleet and the Atlantic Fleet respectively.

It would be troublesome if it was leased to Americans but not sold to southern Africans, a mistake de Gaulle certainly would not have made.

The fate of these two warships is now affecting the hearts of many people, and Darlan does not want these two battleships to be committed to others.

After the meeting with Darlan, Walton left Darlan's office and returned to the hotel. On the way, Walton's car was bombed.

Fortunately, the bomb thrown by the assassin did not hit the car Walton was riding in, and Walton was lucky to escape.

After returning to the hotel, Walton had lingering fears, and soon Darlan's electric arc hit him.

"It's okay Marshal, our cooperation will definitely be hated by many people, and our friendship will not be destroyed by these conspiracies—" When he answered the phone, Walton's face was ashen. Seeing Will Bridges next to him wave his hands wildly.

Walton covered the receiver and asked Will with his eyes.

"Don't talk about these things on the phone. The hotel's phone is not safe and may be monitored." Will Bridges looked solemn. Although Germany has no troops in southern France, the Port of Toulon is under the strict control of the Gestapo. monitoring.

"The phone can still be monitored?" Walton was extremely surprised. The 1942 "007 Movie" hadn't become popular yet, and many people didn't know that the phone could still be monitored.

Will Bridges had a slightly embarrassed expression. He was from Brad's office. He was Walton's personal butler in name and was responsible for Walton's security during the port of Toulon.

Darlan didn't say much on the phone. After confirming Walton's safety, he kindly proposed to send two cars to the hotel for Walton's use as a precautionary measure.

After hanging up the phone, Walton's expression was still frighteningly white. He didn't expect the Germans to be so rampant in the Port of Toulon.

Of course it may not be German.

There are many people who want to kill Darlan, and the British are definitely unwilling to see the French navy surrender to the Free France, so that the Free France will settle accounts with the British Navy sooner or later.

"The Germans are also in contact with Darlan. We have to go to Darlan tomorrow. There will be many dreams at night." Will wants to strike while the iron is hot. If Mustache increases the bargaining chip, it does not rule out the possibility of Darlan accepting Mustache's conditions.

"It's not difficult for the French navy to leave the port of Toulon—" Walton didn't quite understand the difficulties faced by the French navy.

The French navy is nominally neutral, but in fact it is involuntary. It doesn't even have ammunition and fuel, and it really cannot leave the port of Toulon by virtue of its own capabilities.

The mustache is guarding against Darlan's move, and strictly controls the supply of the French navy.

Not only is the French navy short of fuel, but even the Italian navy has reduced its deployment due to lack of fuel. The fuel supply of the North African Army can only last for seven days.

In fact, the oil problem is easy to solve. There is no shortage of oil in southern Africa, and any oil tanker can meet the needs of the French Navy.

The key is how to avoid the monitoring of the French Navy by the Germans. Once the oil tanker arrives in Toulon, 100% will be confiscated by the Germans, and the French Navy's warships still cannot move.

"This is not something we have to worry about. We are only responsible for persuading Darlan—" Will has confidence in Brad's office. As long as Darlan decides to join the Allied Forces, there will always be a solution to these problems.

The Germans did closely monitor Darlan. On the night Walton and Darlan met, Ribbentrop came to Darlan's office aggressively and asked whether Darlan had reached an agreement with the southern Africans.

"No, no, no, that's an ordinary businessman. We only discussed some commercial issues, and the position of the French navy has not changed." Darlan categorically denied that the French navy is in a difficult situation now. Not only is there no fuel, but even the salary is intermittent. Well, Darlan, the French Minister of Defense, also has to make money.

"You'd better do this, think about how the British treat you, and think about how southern Africa snatched Madagascar and French Indochina from you. I won’t really think about it from the standpoint of the French navy.” Ribbentrop’s words were a bit heartbreaking, the British and southern Africans are not friendly, so are the Germans friends of the French?
None of them are good people.

(End of this chapter)