Anti-Japanese War: The whole world is a base vehicle

Chapter 123 Are You Scared?
"What if someone else provides an aircraft carrier? And also carrier-based aircraft?" Lütjens suddenly asked whimsically.

"What a joke, there are carrier-based aircraft?" Dönitz's first reaction was that Lütjens was crazy. Who would sell an aircraft carrier that also comes with carrier-based aircraft?

"Let's give it a try. I believe that as long as we offer a high price, the other party will not refuse it." Lütjens felt more and more that this plan was worth a try.

Hearing this, Redel next to him suddenly spoke.

"Lütjens, can you tell me? Why do you have a special liking for aircraft carriers?"

To him, the planes on the aircraft carrier don't seem to have much use other than reconnaissance?

What's more, as for airplanes, their warships can also carry seaplanes, which can fully perform reconnaissance tasks.

So to Admiral Raeder, the so-called aircraft carriers were of no use at all.

He felt it was a waste to build this.

"I think aircraft carriers will inevitably play a huge role in future naval battles. The Japanese Navy in the Far East has already proved through actual combat that aircraft carriers play a very important role." Lütjens emphasized again.

"These reasons are not enough." Marshal Raeder shook his head. He felt that these reasons were not enough.

"Marshal, the great role of fighter jets can be seen from the army's blitzkrieg, and the same is true for the navy. Although all aircraft are under the control of the Air Force, if they are purchased carrier-based aircraft, I believe the Air Force should not have the right to govern us." Lütjens advised again.

Looking at Lütjens' expression, Field Marshal Raeder thought for a moment and then sighed.

"Then let's try. I'll ask Admiral Keitel to ask the other side if they have an aircraft carrier. If not, I'm afraid I can only apologize."

"Yes, Marshal." Lütjens responded quickly.

Just then, the phone rang. The adjutant picked up the phone, answered two sentences in succession, and then came to Marshal Redel with a serious expression.

"Marshal, Marshal Keitel hopes you can come over. There is something important that needs to be discussed with you."

"What's the matter?" Marshal Raeder frowned slightly. Didn't the meeting just end?
Why do you want to go again?
"He didn't say anything specific, just about the French fleet," the adjutant explained quickly.

Hearing this, Marshal Raeder tilted his head, wondering what this sentence meant.

After thinking for a while, I still couldn't figure out what would happen to the French fleet?

He simply didn't bother to think about it. After simply arranging the work, he left again with his adjutant.

.........

"The United States has agreed to lend us fifty destroyers as long as their parliament approves it." Churchill, who had just become prime minister, looked at the telegram that had just been delivered and a slight smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

Due to the unsuccessful rescue of Dunkirk, Chamberlain was subject to a motion of no confidence in the House of Lords and was eventually forced to resign.

He was appointed to become the new Prime Minister of the British Empire.

At this moment, he was in a conference room in Downing Street, listening to the report sent by his secretary.

The other ministers in the cabinet also listened to the secretary.

The content of the telegram was obviously good news. At least it showed that the United States stood on the side of the British Empire.

"In addition, the United States agreed to reduce the supplies to Germany and reduce their oil share." The secretary's words made many cabinet ministers laugh.

"With the support of the United States, we can continue to fight. Unless Germany surrenders, the war will never end." After the secretary finished speaking, Churchill stood up and said indignantly.

Now the cabinet ministers have gained confidence, and now they are basically the only ones left.

The Netherlands surrendered, Luxembourg surrendered, and Belgium surrendered.

France had also surrendered, so this news was a shot in the arm for them, meaning that they could transport more troops back and reduce their strength.

"Mr. Prime Minister, what about France? Are you just going to leave it alone?" the Minister of War could not help asking.

After all, they are still allies with France. Are they going to abandon each other now?
"There is no way. God can only save those who save themselves. Now that France has surrendered, I'm afraid even God can't save them." Churchill took a puff of his cigar and said calmly.

"If this is the case, then France will completely side with Germany. This is not good news." The Foreign Minister expressed what everyone was most worried about.

"I also think that France should not be allowed to completely turn to Germany," the Minister of War also said.

"No one can stop them from surrendering. They have lost all the will to fight." Churchill shook his head.

"Mr. Prime Minister, this is not the point. Their surrender is a fact and we should consider other things." The Foreign Minister shook his head.

"What's the matter?" Churchill was a little confused. What else could it be?

"France has many colonies. Once the resources of these colonies are used by Germany, they will become weapons of war. This is not good for us." The Foreign Minister said worriedly.

Hearing this, Churchill was stunned for a moment. It was true.

The surrender of France means that all its colonies will also surrender, and the resources of these colonies will definitely be used by the German army.

Although the British army currently blocks access to and from the Mediterranean, it cannot block access to and from neutral countries.

The German army can fully use neutral countries to purchase the necessary supplies.

Thinking of this, Churchill's face suddenly turned ugly.

He actually forgot all these things. He was indeed a bit careless.

"Do you have any good ideas to prevent these colonies from joining Germany?" Churchill looked at the Foreign Secretary and asked.

Hearing this, the Foreign Minister was not too flustered, but thought for a while and said.

"We can definitely support another force."

"What do you mean?" Churchill was a little confused and didn't quite understand what this meant.

"Since that guy Pétain established Vichy France, we can establish a Free France government-in-exile, choose a suitable leader, and use his name to persuade those French colonies that are willing to surrender to us. As long as we can divide some of their colonies, we can weaken some of the German army's potential." The Foreign Minister quickly explained his plan in detail.

After hearing the other party's plan, Churchill's eyes lit up. This plan was indeed good.

It is indeed a good method to divide the French army and create trouble for the German army.

"Is there a suitable candidate?" Churchill asked again.

"Yes, Colonel Charles de Gaulle, who has just escaped from Dunkirk, is very suitable to serve as the temporary leader of the Free French Government," the Foreign Minister continued.

"Colonel de Gaulle? Just a colonel?" Churchill was a little surprised. Was his military rank really too low?

"Yes, his rank is not high, but his teacher is Pétain. I think he is very suitable and may be able to divide a lot of French troops. As for the rank, we can temporarily promote him to brigadier general." The Foreign Minister thought of everything very considerately.

Hearing this, Churchill nodded, thinking it made sense.

The main reason was that he was quite interested in the fact that Charles de Gaulle was a student of Pétain.

This means that if he takes charge, he can divide many French colonies. "Very good, this plan is in your hands. You must complete it as soon as possible." Churchill said immediately.

"Yes, Prime Minister," the Foreign Minister hastily assured.

"However, what we need to worry about is that if the French army surrenders, the German army will get the French naval fleet. Together with the Italian navy, once the three countries form a joint fleet, it will be a huge threat to us."

After hearing this, many people looked extremely unhappy. This was indeed not good news.

You know, the French Navy and the Italian Navy are not much weaker than theirs.

Together with the German navy, the three countries formed a joint fleet, which could really pose a huge threat to the Royal Home Fleet.

Among other things, there are France's two Richelieu-class battleships and Italy's two Veneto-class battleships.

There are also the German Bismarck-class battleships. Although they only have 380mm naval guns and their performance is not particularly good, the battleships of the three countries combined are also a huge trouble.

"Prime Minister, we must never let the German army get the French fleet," said the Foreign Minister.

"Not only that, we also have to rescue the 300,000 expeditionary forces that are surrounded."

"Yes, that is the empire's most elite army, and we cannot afford to lose it."

"The German army may land in London next, so we need to protect Great Britain. These elite troops are exactly what we need."

The words of the Minister of War were agreed by many people.

After all, compared to those new recruits who can't even hold a gun steadily, veterans with combat experience are the most important.

Even though the British Army has begun general mobilization and has formed dozens of infantry divisions, the only ones who can really fight are some elite troops in the expeditionary force. As for the newly formed troops?
I'm afraid that if I go to the battlefield, I'll just be giving away my life.

"Notify the navy that no matter what the cost, they must keep the experienced officers and non-commissioned officers. Let Admiral Verek come up with a plan to withdraw these elite troops first." Churchill said with finality.

"Next, we should consider how to prevent France from handing over its fleet to the Germans?"

"The best way is to sink them." The Army Minister said with a cruel look on his face.

"What? Sink them?" Even Churchill had to take a breath. This was too cruel.

"Yes, that is, to sink them, lure them, and then sink them completely, so that we can get rid of them once and for all."

Hearing this, Churchill thought about it and felt that it was too cruel and would completely offend France.

After all, with so many warships gone, France would definitely declare war on them.

Not to mention that they are also planning to support Free France?

I've offended you so much, yet you're still supporting me?
"Why not let de Gaulle try first? If that doesn't work, then sink them?" After thinking for a while, Churchill felt that this method was more reliable.

"Yes, Your Excellency, Prime Minister."

…………

"Let's go to Port Oran?" Having just arrived at Keitel's office, Raeder was stunned after hearing Keitel's words.

What do you mean?
Let them go to Port Oran?
"Isn't that the French port in North Africa?" Raeder, who was obviously very familiar with the Mediterranean, asked with some confusion.

"I want the navy to force the French fleet in the Mediterranean to surrender," said Field Marshal Keitel.

"Is this possible? The pride of the French Navy is no less than that of their Army." Raeder, who was obviously very familiar with the French Navy, shook his head and said.

"Let's give it a try, what do you think?" Marshal Keitel said.

"Marshal, I must find out why this is happening. Otherwise, I will refuse to carry out this mission." Raeder felt puzzled that he was going to force the French fleet in the Mediterranean to surrender for no reason.

Do they really think their navy will surrender?
Isn't this nonsense?

"And France has surrendered. Shouldn't their naval warships be handed over as war reparations?" Raeder asked more curiously.

Normally, after the war, France would have to hand over its warships in order to pay compensation, there is no doubt about that.

Because the German Navy did the same thing during the last war.

"Forgot Operation Rainbow?" Marshal Keitel's words made Raeder sad.

"Marshal, what's going on?" Redel asked again after taking a deep breath.

"Just now, I received intelligence that the British are going to attack the French fleet. They are preparing to sink all French warships." Keitel thought this information was ridiculous, but because the person who provided the information was very important, he had to believe it. This was why he invited Raeder.

"How is this possible..." Before he could finish the rest of his words, Redel suddenly felt that it was not impossible.

After all, based on his understanding of the British, they would definitely do such a thing.

The purpose is naturally to weaken the German army's war potential.

Seeing Raeder's face change, Marshal Keitel felt a little touched and asked quickly.

"Is it true?"

"It is possible that the British army will actually take action against their warships."

"Damn it, this is our negligence. We shouldn't have let the French fleet leave the port, otherwise these warships would be our spoils of war now." Raeder had long been coveting the French warships.

It was just that I thought that since France had surrendered, these warships would naturally be handed over to them.

Who knew that the other side actually escaped from the port, some hid in colonial ports, and some ran to British ports.

This made him sad.

"It seems that this information is true. Now we need to figure out whether to notify France directly or send warships to rescue them." Marshal Keitel said solemnly.

Hearing this, Redel immediately felt something was wrong.

How to save?
That must mean sending warships, right?
Damn, I got fooled.

But if they didn't rescue them, they would have to watch the French warships sink.

There is even a possibility of being incorporated into the UK.

These are all his spoils of war.

He felt a little distressed to have to give it up like that.

Just considering the strength of our own navy, I'm afraid it still won't work.

"Marshal, are you scared?" Marshal Keitel teased as he watched Raeder's face turn pale and blue.

(End of this chapter)