The Third Reich in Desperation

Text Chapter 33 Young Commander (please recommend more)

Since Petain took office, the French army attacking the Ruhr has been fighting with the SS for two days.Apart from a few intrusions into the city on the first day when the SS was caught off guard, the French offensive went nowhere.The intruding troops were driven out, and the oppressive attacking troops were desperately stopped by the SS.

"Is this tenacious or stupid?" Pétain muttered to himself, looking at the crumbling line of defense of the SS on the battle map.He couldn't figure out why these Germans were still working so hard after it was already doomed to fail.The Ruhr Industrial Zone fell a few days earlier and fell a few days later. What is the difference? Is it worth fighting for with your life?

Staring at the line of defense that was struggling to be supported by the SS, Sheldon looked at the calendar on the wall again, and took a few steps back and forth.

The country has urged itself many times. Since the international situation does not allow France to monopolize Germany's cake, the French government has received increasing international pressure.

Just yesterday, under the leadership of the United Kingdom and the United States, the League of Nations has issued a mediation notice to the French and Belgian governments!The flames of war are about to be extinguished.

Thinking of this, Petain turned to the adjutant and said, "Can we contact the German commander now?"

The adjutant who followed Petain from the First World War did not ask much questions, and replied straight at attention: "Since the telephone network in the Ruhr Industrial Zone has not been damaged, we can make calls to the Ruhr Industrial Zone at any time." .just, can't be sure...."

"Can't confirm the phone number of the militia headquarters in the Ruhr Industrial Zone?" Pétain sneered, "Would the German government not know about the fight on the border for so long? Is this militia really not related to the German government at all? Some It’s just a tacit understanding. You can call the mayor’s office in Dortmund, Germany, and ask them to forward it to the front-line commanders.”

"Yes!" The adjutant gave a standard military salute and left quickly.Although he didn't know why the marshal suddenly wanted to contact the commander of the other party, the adjutant still obeyed Petain's instructions unconditionally.In the adjutant's memory, the marshal's instructions have never been missed!

Outside Petain's headquarters, cannons roared and whistled continuously.Since the SS in Steve's hands secretly received heavy weapons including 30 37mm anti-tank guns provided by the Rhein company, the SS in the Ruhr area now has the local area for fighting the French army. The power of artillery.

A moment later, the SS received a request for a ceasefire from the French army, and the sound of gunfire on both sides gradually fell silent.

An hour later, the call from the French headquarters was transferred to the SS headquarters through the telephone exchange in Dortmund.

"Mr. Steve." Because he didn't know what to call Steve, who joined the SS and had no military rank.Pétain had no choice but to use the generic word Mr. to address each other: "I am the current Field Marshal of France, Pétain."

"Hello. I've heard about your identity from the secretary of the mayor of Dortmund. If you have anything to say, just say it. I believe that His Majesty the Marshal has tried his best to contact me, not just to talk about family matters." Without a trace of his usual hippie smile, Steve responded with a cold tone.

Although he knew that Petain could not see himself now, Steve still buttoned his cuffs at this moment, put on the silver epaulettes made by the SS, and stood upright beside the phone, holding the phone.

At this moment, Steve felt that he was standing in front of this legendary French general, as if the two were talking face to face.He dare not and is unwilling to relax!

After listening to the young and unaffected tone on the phone, Petain sighed in his heart.

Although from the previous battles, he has already seen what kind of person the commander of this army is.The command level shown by the opponent in many aspects is quite satisfactory.In other words, it is the immaturity of command methods!The other party is a young commander who lacks experience. He has a solid foundation but lacks experience.Petain made a conclusion in his mind.

However, even if the opponent's command art is not as good as his own.The fortitude and determination shown by this commander are not lost to himself!

It wasn't until now when he heard the voice on the phone that he truly understood what a determined soldier this young commander was.

Right after the other party answered the phone, he spoke calmly and without any emotion.Petain heard Steve's determination. He led the troops here to fight, and he didn't plan to go back alive!

"Although I know that some words may be difficult for you to accept," Petain pondered for a moment, and said slowly: "However, I still want to ask your troops to give up resistance. Such a battle is just meaningless for my troops killing."

"Surrender is not in the German dictionary. We built our country on iron and blood, and we are also developing on iron and blood. "Surrender" can be said to be the most distant word in our opinion." Steve shook his head with a smile Shaking his head, he firmly rejected Petain's proposal.

"Don't you think this kind of futile battle is a kind of cruelty to the soldiers under your command?" Petain asked with a raised tone.

"You can always say incomparably despicable things with such a righteous face." Steve laughed loudly: "Is this kind of shallow provocation useful?"

Petain said lightly: "While you are talking to me, your soldiers are dying!"

"Yes, they are dying!" Steve's laughter stopped suddenly, and he roared loudly: "We lost 200 million soldiers in the last world war, and most of our SS soldiers survived that world war. Yes. For us, it is an honor and a blessing to be able to return to the battlefield and die instead of dying of old age lying on a hospital bed!"

He continued coldly: "You call it cruel in front of me!? The Treaty of Versailles squeezed out every bit of bone and blood in Germany, and the heavy compensation made the German people miserable. Isn't this cruel? The Franco-Belgian coalition invaded the Ruhr industrial area, no Isn’t it cruel to leave Germany alive? The invaders don’t think they are cruel, but the resisters are cruel. Don’t you think your logic is absurd?”

"If you stop resisting, I will ensure that you and your subordinates leave safely." Petain didn't want to stay on this topic.

"Don't put on such a Madonna-like face!" Steve said coldly, "The German people have seen enough of this face in the League of Nations before!"

Petain sighed regretfully on the phone: "Actually, I'm just telling you this because I can't bear to continue the slaughter. In fact, within 24 hours, your entire line of defense will collapse. Could it be that as a commander? Can you not see it? For me, it’s just waiting 24 hours longer. But for you and your soldiers, it’s the difference between life and death!”

"It's not the difference between life and death, but the difference between resistance and weakness." Steve said in a loud voice, "The bones of German soldiers are much harder than you think! The battle has only been going on for two days. To defeat us in the third day, you Frenchmen will have to work hard. But... you are just dreaming!"

"If you don't believe me, you can try it! You can't take down the SS line of defense for 24 hours." Before cutting off the communication, Steve returned to the state he had been with Zhang Chengtian for a long time, and said with a sly smile: "You have to call me dad!"

Communications were cut cleanly, and it was evident that the SS side would not connect again.

Petain gritted his teeth.He was going to persuade Steve to surrender.If you can't persuade the other party to surrender, simply promise to let the other party leave.After all, there was news that a regiment of the Belgian army had lost contact inexplicably before, which is not a good sign.However, before he finished speaking, the stubborn young commander cut off the communication.

"Order the troops, press them all up!" Petain ordered viciously: "At all costs, within 24 hours, break through the enemy's defense line in the Ruhr Industrial Zone!".

Text Chapter 34 The choice of the head of state (secondary update)

"Reinhardt is about to succeed, he is about to become the new hero of Germany. I will not allow, absolutely will not allow such a thing to happen!" Ludendorff, who was almost out of control, faced a group of key members of the Nazi Party Be furious.

In the face of this general who is accomplished in military affairs but knows nothing about politics.Hitler frowned contemptuously.

The mediation of the League of Nations has already begun, the loan from the United States is about to enter Germany, and the United Kingdom has also hinted at Germany's military expansion.

All this Ludendorff could understand, but he pretended not to see it.In other words, Ludendorff at this moment has been blinded by his narrow jealousy and blinded his eyes.

Ludendorff's ambitions are too great!Hitler secretly made a comment about Ludendorff.

A shrewd man, with the right amount of ambition, would be a good company.If a person is stupid and doesn't know how to control his ambition, then only an idiot will cooperate with him without reservation!Hitler, don't want to be this idiot.

Compared with a mature politician like Albert, Ludendorff is a lunatic with unlimited ambitions and a lack of sound mind.

The current Ludendorff really thought that Albert's patience with him was awe of him!

One is a president who can bend and stretch, and the other is an old general who doesn't know how to restrain himself.Hitler felt that it might be time for him to change his ship.Even if you can't get on Albert's new ship, at least you have to get off Ludendorff's broken ship.

Hitler 15 years ago was just a down-and-out painter living on the streets of Vienna.It was only by virtue of his natural political talent and eloquence that he quickly gained a firm foothold in the Socialist Workers Party (referred to as the Nazi Party) and became the chairman.

Hitler had extremely high means of wooing, and he knew how to satisfy his supporters.He promised more jobs to the working class, bigger markets to the bourgeoisie, and a chance to restore honor to the Junkers.

At the same time, Hitler also possessed the most basic quality of a politician - greed for power!He is not content to be the chairman of a small party.

For Hitler, now that he has joined the game of thrones and stepped onto the foreground.Then, he should continue the game.

The crisis Germany is facing now is the best time for him to leap to the pinnacle of power.

All along, he has tried to unite opposition parties and senior officials in office.He united the Junkers, the working class, and the bourgeoisie.

Even Hitler united with the original Kaiser Wilhelm II who was far away in the Netherlands. (Historically, Hitler promised to allow William II to return home to the throne after he came to power. For this reason, William II assisted Hitler with a full 600 million marks. In addition, William II also sent his youngest son to join Hitler's stormtroopers as a general Captain. However, Hitler, who took advantage of it, not only failed to let William II return to China as emperor, but also killed Little William of the Stormtrooper on the Night of the Long Sword.)

However, Hitler, who has now united many classes, found that perhaps the last thing he should have done was to unite with Ludendorff's old army faction.

Looking at Ludendorff who was still shouting, Hitler shook his head.He winked at Goring and Rom beside him, implying that they were about to leave.

Finally, when a secretary came to report to Ludendorff, Hitler and his party found time to leave Ludendorff’s language bombing (in fact, Hitler of later generations often language bombed his generals. This may be related to Ludendorff’s speech bombing. It's about his influence...)

On the way to leave, Rohm looked at Hitler worriedly, and Goering took Hitler directly and asked, "Party leader, Ludendorff is about to ask some members of the United Nations Congress to propose the dismissal of Army Commander-in-Chief Sickert. At this time, shouldn't we please Ludendorff so as not to be affected?"

Seeing that Goering had already started, Romm also answered: "That's right, the party leader. The troops Sickert sent to defend the Ruhr industrial area this time are the SS troops known as our Socialist Workers' Party. I It seems that Ludendorff has become wary of us because of this incident. Do you think the party leader should take the time to explain it to him?"

Watching the two comrades-in-arms who had been following him express concern one after another, Hitler explained patiently: "Is it useful for Ludendorff to bribe the congressman to make a proposal at this time? Regardless of the war in the Ruhr Industrial Zone, Sickert has already helped The government has gained a lot of benefits internationally. Can such a hero be dismissed?"