Iron Cross

After two months, General Wolfgang von Richthofen returned to the Eastern Front. His heart was ups and downs and he was so excited that he could not contain himself. Although it was only two months, in his mind it seemed like two years had passed. Two months ago, due to Hoffman's transfer order, this Air Force veteran who had played every game since the beginning of the Spanish Civil War resigned from the position of commander of the Southern Air Force on the Eastern Front and became the commander of the Naval Air Force and began to assume the responsibility. With the construction work of the German HNA, even the rank of air force general was changed to navy general.

If it were peacetime, 2 months would only be enough for the bureaucrats to complete the handover procedures and farewell ceremony. Especially for such a critical transition from the Air Force to the Navy, any link may be delayed for a long time. But this speed during the war was obviously unsatisfactory, but no one could do it as perfectly as Richthofen. In two months, he completed three things, which was enough to make everyone praise him. Weird things:

First, a complete naval aviation team was established. Although Hoffman promised a 400-person naval aviation force when he opened his mouth, the Navy had just been allowed to obtain resources from the Air Force to independently form a pilot team when he said this. What Hoffman issued was a completely empty promise and he was a veteran. Richthofen used his charm and influence in the Air Force for many years to attract (including explicit robbery or inducement) a large number of Air Force pilots to become HNA pilots. So far, there are not only 316 front-line pilots with actual combat experience, but also He established a reserve team of nearly 500 people. Except for a small number of reserve pilots who were independently recruited by the Navy and had just completed theoretical studies, the rest were students he had racked his brains to poach from the Air Force Flight Academy - these This point made Air Force Chief of Staff General Jeshunek very unhappy.

Second, a complete naval aviation training base was built. Although the Zeppelin aircraft carrier would not be officially put into use until at least January 1943, Richthofen did not want to wait and waste his time. Based on Hoffmann's suggestions and soliciting opinions from all parties, he established a new aircraft carrier in Kiel Port. The two famous naval bases in Sevastopol and Sevastopol have established aircraft carrier simulation training bases. The aircraft carrier deck and attached bridge command facilities were built with steel plates on a flat ground to allow pilots to become familiar with the environment of aircraft carrier takeoff and landing as soon as possible. After the aircraft carrier officially entered service, he spent a lot of time practicing boarding training. Fortunately, most of the pilots are experienced veterans, and many of them are particularly skilled in flying but unruly and unruly. Under Richthofen's training, their personal personalities have become as paranoid about technology. pursuit.

Third, a preliminary naval aviation command and operation system was established. Although he is the commander of the naval aviation, Richthofen himself has a disdain for the command of naval aviation operations. This feeling brings him back to the era when the German Air Force was rebuilt, and everything needed to be taken care of by him personally. Aviation command and operation are completely different things. Germany lacks professionals in this field and did not even have a normal command structure and talent team at the beginning. Admiral Redl, Commander of the Navy, undoubtedly strongly supports the construction of Hainan Airlines. Materials and resources are provided at an incline, but when it comes to talents, he is blind and can only issue guarantees - Richthofen will definitely decide which officer he likes. Help him get it. The problem is that the introduction of naval officers is enough with a transfer order from the Navy Commander. The introduction of air force officers is not as effective as Richthofen's own signature. Finally, we have the systematic experience of the United Kingdom and Japan in the use of aircraft carriers to learn from. The Japanese naval command regulations sent before and during the war, coupled with Hoffman’s half-baked command (for example, he suggested the introduction of multi-color vests) System and command gesture system), Richthofen slowly got in and built a prototype of the maritime transportation system. It can't be called complete, but can only be regarded as preliminary at best.

The reason why Richthofen was so desperate was not only the high sense of responsibility and mission of a German soldier, but also an accident: not long after he transferred to the Navy, he suddenly discovered during a routine physical examination that he had cancer, and The tumor is still in the brain and is almost impossible to cure. Although the lesions are still small and do not affect his normal life and work, doctors judged that he would continue to grow. They gave him advice that he might have about 3-4 years to live, and suggested that he spend the rest of his life in leisure. After repeated consideration, Richthofen asked the doctor to help him conceal the results of the physical examination, and he devoted himself to work with greater enthusiasm. He wrote in his diary: "I was told by the doctor that I still have 3-4 years to live. I am determined to further increase the intensity of my work, requiring myself to work more than 15 hours a day, and strive to do what others can do in 3-4 years. With the performance of 2017... I want to build an excellent German naval aviation force - only in this way can it be worthy of the name Richthofen."

Facts have proved that a piece of white paper has the greatest potential, because it can draw the most beautiful paintings in the world. The maritime navigation of the Third Reich started with a staggering start, but the fearless innovative spirit of the ignorant is refreshing, even recently. Japanese Navy Vice Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo who arrived was also full of praise. After unexpectedly losing the position of commander of the mobile fleet, this aircraft carrier command expert in the Japanese naval system did not have a particularly ideal place to go. Out of the need for closer German-Japanese relations, according to Germany's request and reciprocal exchange (Germany sent a tank officer and radar expert), Ozawa Jisaburo took up the rank of German admiral and served as the general adviser of the German Navy.

According to Hoffman's request, Cole frantically searched for all available Japanese naval personnel. Colonel Aoki Taijiro, who served as the captain of the USS Akamai during the Battle of Midway, was also invited to Germany and was given the rank of rear admiral. Anyway, this was After the failure of the Battle of Midway, a group of people were regarded as scapegoats by the Navy's senior officials and were all put into the reserve force one after another - except for Ozawa Jisaburo. He was obviously instructed by the Navy's senior officials. Once the new aircraft carriers are put into service in the future, he will return to China to serve as the second officer. Commander of the Polish aircraft carrier fleet, he was very interested in this secondment to Germany. In addition, senior aviation staff Lieutenant Colonel Masatake Okumiya also came to Germany and took up the rank of naval captain. Together with Ozawa and Aoki, they formed the leadership core of the Japanese expert group. Below them there are several middle and low-level officers, all of whom It was Cole who recruited them directly from the reserves, and even some unlucky ones picked out from the wounded soldiers in the naval hospital. Originally, Cole wanted to recruit a few meritorious naval pilots to serve as flight instructors, and he was even optimistic about the candidates. Unexpectedly, Yamamoto Isoroku, who had always been very talkative in other aspects, refused to let them go this time, saying that Japan would also train new pilots. aircraft carrier pilot - so Cole's performance was fully worthy of the rank of colonel and the Knight's Cross awarded to him by Hoffman.

"Although the Germans are still relatively clumsy in commanding aircraft carrier operations, they work very hard, especially some pilots, who can be regarded as elites in the Imperial Navy..." At the exercise site, Lieutenant Colonel Masatake Okumiya praised him repeatedly.

"We cannot underestimate the Germans. Although they have no experience, they are not bound by any rules and can quickly use any innovative ideas. Look at the commanders and gestures wearing multi-colored vests..." Xiao Saburo Sawaji praised, "It allows pilots to understand ground handling responsibilities and the next step at a glance. I suggest that we can do the same, but I don't know if the conservative elements in the country can accept it."

Taijiro Aoki on the side couldn't help but fell silent after hearing Ozawa's comment. He was a captain and naturally knew how difficult it was to introduce a new command system and command gestures in the fleet. Moreover, this innovation was first developed by the Germans. Taking into account Germany's blankness in aircraft carrier operations, it will only make the Japanese Navy, which thinks highly of itself, sneer at it. Seeing that the atmosphere was a bit awkward, Okumiya Masatake quickly changed the topic, pointed to an aircraft and praised: "Well, Germany's technological strength is very strong... They tested the new aircraft yesterday, and the effect was unexpectedly good."

"Is it better than what we have improved?" Ozawa frowned and said, "The country has been trying to find ways to improve, but with little success. I once communicated with the designer Mr. Horikoshi Jiro. He regretted that he had to cater to the military. He did not adopt a large model according to the requirements. Although it caused a sensation and took an advantage at once, it was so used to the extreme that there was little room for subsequent improvement. He wanted to go back and pick up the large model. "

"It's better than ours. I even think this is an improvement idea. The aerodynamic layout is exactly the same. The weight of the German-made ones is heavier than ours, but it is faster than us and is not limited by the dive speed. Of course, the range still cannot catch up to zero." Zhan 21." Okumiya Masatake sighed sincerely, "The key to the performance difference is engine technology. The Germans are not only slightly better than us, but the engines they make are not only more powerful than us, but they also don't leak oil. If there is no oil leakage, it is not a Japanese aircraft, and the German pilots are very nervous when they hear about the oil leakage - can they still fly if there is an oil leakage? "

Taijiro Aoki sighed: "Don't think about it. The voyage alone is not enough. The country takes this very seriously. Losing 200 kilometers is like killing them."

"This concept should be reversed. Special Envoy Cole said it right. An airplane can last for five hours. Can a person last for so long? One day, every day?" Ozawa said, "Even the ultra-long-range attack technology we originally designed We should also find ways to update our concepts.”