Reborn South Africa as a police officer

Chapter 2315 The Marshal Who Drilled The Box
If there is no hatred between European countries, they don't know how to get along with each other.

Britain and France are old rivals. The Hundred Years' War, the Seven Years' War, and the Anti-French Alliance. In recent decades, with the rise of the United States and Germany, Britain and France had to report to the regiment to keep warm.

The reunification of Germany was relatively late, and the Franco-Prussian War became famous in the first World War. In the following World Wars and World War II, the contradictions between the two sides can only come to an end when one side completely admits defeat.

The independence of southern Africa was later, and the harm it caused to France was no less than that of Germany. Madagascar is the eternal pain in the hearts of the French.

As the commander of the French Navy, Darlan still remembers the incident of the "France" hitting a rock and sinking more than ten years ago.

Although what Ribbentrop said was true, Darlan was not stupid.

Southern Africa is too far away from Europe, and the threat to the French mainland is no greater than Germany.

For the European continent, southern Africa is at most plundering interests, but the Germans are capable of causing the French to perish.

Before leaving, Ribbentrop warned Darlan that if the French fleet tried to leave the port of Toulon, the mustache would tear up the agreement, send troops to occupy the southern French territory, and bring the whole of France under German control.

Ribbentrop may not have expected that his warning did not have the desired effect, but instead opened a new window for Darlan.

After France stopped resisting, according to the armistice agreement, France was divided into two parts: "occupied zone" and "free zone".

The occupied area accounts for 60% of the French territory and is directly occupied by Germany, but the military expenses of the occupying army are paid by France, and the French administrative agencies in the occupied area are retained, and the management power still belongs to France.

The free zone occupies 40% of French territory, and Germany has no right to interfere.

The French army was reduced to 10 and could only be stationed in southern France.

Reminiscent of the "Versailles Peace Treaty", Germany was only allowed to retain [-] troops. The agreement signed between Germany and France was a humiliation to the French.

Southern France is now a free zone, under the control of the "neutral" Vichy government.

Once the German army occupied the free zone, the southern African army, which had been gearing up in Spain for a long time, had a reason to attack the French mainland.

"Are we leading wolves into the house?" Darlan didn't want to do it if he could.

Admiral La Bode did not speak, and the two evils were the lesser. Compared with the Germans, the French were more receptive to the "invasion" of the southern Africans.

In the last world war, the main battlefield was in France. Millions of southern African expeditionary troops fought in France for many years, which left a good impression on the French.

Compared with the military discipline of European, American, and even French troops, the discipline of the southern African army is relatively good. At least the southern African army rarely uses violence against the French. Whether it is exchanging souvenirs or battlefield lovers, they are all French human acceptable way.

The excellent skills of southern African doctors saved the lives of countless French people during the last world war, not only limited to soldiers, but ordinary French people also benefited from it.

The French are deeply impressed by the high-quality, low-cost, and rich variety of southern African goods, so many French people are asking why French North Africa is completely different from southern Africa in the same African region.

After the outbreak of World War I, the southern African troops stationed in French North Africa also showed surprising discipline.

Twenty years on, the southern African civilization is back.

"Notify the fleet to be ready. Once the time is right, set fire to anchor immediately." Darlan made up his mind to lead the French navy to join the Allies.

"Before the arrival of reinforcements from southern Africa, we can't spread the news, even within the navy—" Admiral Lapoud was worried that the plan would be revealed, and there were many traitors in the French navy. Darlan's "neutrality" decision has not yet been Doubtful.

Not everyone wants to be neutral.

When France stopped resisting, many French people were intimidated by the fierce German offensive, hoping that France could take a ride with Germany and get a share of the unprecedented change.

Join if you can't beat it, it's not ashamed for the French.

Darlan's "neutral" decision seriously hindered the promotion of some French people and made them hold grudges.

"Before then, we have to clear up some hidden dangers." Darlan sneered, he was not able to become the French Minister of Defense by flattery.

The next day, the French Navy carried out large-scale job adjustments. Some officers were ordered to go to the military academy for advanced studies, some officers were transferred from the front line, and some officers retired from the army due to personal reasons.

This situation immediately attracted Ribbentrop's attention, and Ribbentrop came to Darlan again to express his concern to Darlan.

"Your Excellency, the French Navy is an independent free force. I have the right to adjust the French Navy. I don't need to ask anyone for instructions." Darlan's attitude was tough. He didn't expect to completely deceive the Germans, and France stopped resisting. In the past two years, this fleet has also been infiltrated by the Germans.

"Of course you have this right. I just remind you not to play with fire. It will bring devastating consequences to this fleet." Ribbentrop did not give up. Lang's degree.

"Minister, abandoning the current neutral position will bring devastating consequences to this fleet." Darlan insisted on "neutrality" and did not favor any side.

"You'd better do this—" Ribbentrop was worried. If the French navy remained neutral, it would not be unacceptable to the Germans.

Ribbentrop came to Darlan this time and made different plans according to different situations.

For the Germans, the best situation must be to successfully persuade Darlan to let the French navy obey the command of the base camp and join the battle against the Allied forces.

If the French navy is firm, then Ribbentrop will not persecute Darlan too harshly, so as to avoid forcing Darlan to the Allied side.

The worst case scenario is that Darlan decides to join the Allied Forces, then the German army can only take the risk and send ground troops to occupy Terlon Port, unable to seize control of the fleet.

Don't even think about the navy. The Italian navy is short of fuel and doesn't even go out. It has no ability to control the French navy in the port.

Just as Darlan tried his best to deal with Ribbentrop, the Cyprus Squadron and the Mediterranean Fleet jointly dispatched again to carry out a large-scale attack on the Italian port city.

The Allied forces have been attacking Italian port cities for more than two years, especially the military ports in southern Italy, which have been devastated by the Allied fleet and have lost the ability to provide supplies for the Italian Navy.

After more than two years of fierce fighting, the Italian Navy has now lost its ability to operate out of the port. It has been docked in ports in northern Italy all year round and has become an existing fleet.

Objectively speaking, the strength of the Italian Navy is still good. Three of its most powerful "Veneto" class battleships have been built, namely "Vittorio Veneto", "Littorio Veneto" ", as well as the "Rome", the fourth ship "Empire" is also under construction, but it is currently in a state of suspension, and it is far away from service.

The fat bald head and the bearded man are as successful as they are, and they are not satisfied with the completion of two "Venetos". After the tension between Italy and Britain and France in 1937, the fat bald head decided to add two more ships.

Italy is not the United Kingdom, nor is it southern Africa. Its comprehensive strength is not even as good as that of Japan, and it is simply not capable of maintaining such a large fleet. The repair work of the "Veneto" was only completed in March this year.

During the construction of the "Roma", the Italian Navy was already in a fuel crisis. After the completion of the "Roma" at the beginning of this year, the "Roma" has been docked in the military port because of lack of fuel, and has never gone to sea to participate in the war.

The fate of the "Empire" was even more tragic. Both warships were built in 1938. Half of the Italians found that the raw materials were insufficient, so they could only shift more resources to the "Rome". The construction speed of the ship is seriously lagging behind. At present, it seems that the "Imperial" will not be completed if the Italians are given another two years.

Even if it was completed, the "Empire" would not be able to go to sea to fight due to lack of fuel.

Under such circumstances, the actions of the Cyprus Squadron and the Mediterranean Fleet were simply unscrupulous, all the way to La Spezia in northern Italy.

Ribbentrop was surprised to find that La Spezia was only 300 kilometers away from the port of Toulon.

300 kilometers is about 186 nautical miles, and it only takes five or six hours for a faster warship.

La Spezia is the home port of the Italian Navy, and all three "Venetos" are docked in the port.

The Allied forces are well aware of the potential threat of the three "Venetos". If the Italians can solve the oil problem, then the three "Venetos" will have the ability to threaten Cyprus and Alexandria.

In order to eliminate the threat, Mike Tolan and Dudley Pound dispatched hundreds of carrier-based aircraft, hoping to sink the three "Venetos" in the port.

At least it must be severely damaged, so that the three "Venetos" will lose their ability to go to sea, and let the Italians slowly repair them.

The Italians were not reconciled to failure. With the cooperation of the ground air defense firepower, the air force launched a fierce air battle with the Allied fighters, and both sides suffered casualties.

At the same time as the air battle broke out, the battleships of the Mediterranean Fleet also bombarded La Spezia.

At this time, the power of the battleship can be seen.

La Spezia has complete fort facilities, and its counterattack capability is very strong. Only battleships are eligible to participate in artillery battles of this level. Heavy patrols are almost impossible. The range of artillery is insufficient. He was shelled by coastal defense artillery.

The three "Veneto" ships of the Italians are not completely decorations. Although they lack fuel, the three triple-mounted 381 main guns of the "Veneto" class are powerful. The Italians simply use the "Veneto" as a fort. , The three "Venetos" add up to 27 main guns, and the firepower projection intensity is not weaker than that of the Mediterranean Fleet.

When the air battle and the artillery battle broke out at the same time, a supply fleet escorted by six warships quietly left the battlefield and joined another fleet in the waters of western Italy, whereabouts are unknown.

The Germans immediately judged that the destination of this fleet was likely to be the port of Toulon.

Only then did Mustache realize that the "betrayal" of the French navy was irreversible.

Mustache was not unprepared for the betrayal of the French navy.

As early as a month ago, the French troops stationed in the Port of Toulon were transferred away, and the defense tasks of the Port of Toulon were all taken care of by the French Navy.

At the same time that Ribbentrop arrived at the port of Toulon, two German army divisions were ordered to be stationed in Aix, less than 60 kilometers away from the port of Toulon, and could arrive at Toulon within two hours by rail at any time.

In order to keep the French fleet in the port, German submarines even exported secret mines in the port of Toulon, Darlan and Petain knew nothing about it.

This is not enough, the fort near the port of Toulon has long been replaced by German troops.

On July 7, the day the La Spezia naval battle broke out, Robertson Walton drove to Darlan's headquarters.

"Impossible, no matter what the circumstances, I will be with my fleet, even if we collectively die in the Port of Toulon." Darlan refused to leave the headquarters.

"Marshal, the situation is very urgent now. The Germans have boarded the train at Aix and will arrive in Toulon in two hours. After you leave Toulon, we will do our best to assist the fleet to evacuate. You are the symbol of the French Navy, you cannot He fell in the port of Toulon." Robertson Walton was very anxious, and he had been authorized to use coercive methods if Darlan did not agree to leave Toulon.

"So you've been preparing for so long to let me go in this way?" Darlan was very angry, Robertson Walton brought a big box, let Darlan get into the box, and then take the Robertson Walton car leaving.

"Impossible, it's absolutely impossible!" Darlan's roar could be heard in the corridor.

Just kidding, no matter what, Darlan is also the French Minister of Defense and Admiral of the Navy. Leaving Toulon in this way is also a humiliation for Darlan.

Will Bridges is eager to try, all he needs is a look from Robertson Walton, and Will Bridges will do it.

"Marshal, there is a fierce exchange of fire in the port, please leave here immediately." Admiral Malki, the port defense commander, was in a panic, and his clothes were not buttoned properly.

After the French troops stationed in the port of Toulon were transferred away, Admiral Marchi became a loner, and he now has no soldiers under him.

"Marky, look at your appearance, are you still a French admiral?" Darlan was heartbroken, even at the most dangerous moment, as a senior general, he must maintain his demeanor.

Robertson Walton nodded lightly to Will Bridges without talking nonsense.

"I'm sorry, Marshal—" these were the last words Darlan heard before he passed out.

(End of this chapter)