< World War II - Darkest Hour (2) >
June 18, 1940
Berlin, Northern Germany, Governnt Complex Just days before the execution of the Italian invasion operation, tragic news arrived.
“It seems France is preparing a large-scale landing operation and air raid.”
At the report from Abwehr Director Wilhelm Canaris, a heavy silence fell over the conference room.
“What is the estimated scale?”
“I cannot be certain, but it appears at least a million troops from the Army and over 2,000 aircraft will be committed.”
Hearing Canaris's answer, my head began to throb. Those crazy French bastards are finally going to make their move.
“What is their destination?”
Director Canaris shook his head at my father's question.
“As of now, we cannot specify.
They might be aiming for a landing in northwestern Germany, but-”
Canaris hesitated for a mont, glanced at , and then spoke again.
“Their deploynt is strange for that.
We can understand the Army being split between Brest in the northwest and Calais in the northeast due to transport ship boarding issues, but the Air Force is similarly dispersed.”
“In terms of flight range, if the Air Force were targeting Germany, they should all be stationed in the east.”
As Director Canaris pointed to the map and spoke, and I added my piece, my father and Ludwig Beck stared at the map, lost in thought.
“Is there no possibility they're deployed for coastal defense?”
My father asked, but he was imdiately countered by Beck.
“Even without the Italian Navy, the French Navy is more powerful than ours. Even if a minimum force for coastal defense is needed, deploying a million troops, and concentrating them around naval ports, looks to be for an offensive.”
“It could be a feint, to deliberately prevent us from grasping their intentions.”
Director Canaris kept glancing at
as he spoke.
The director had a point.
They know full well that we have deployed our own agents against France and Italy.
So, it would make sense if the Air Force stationed in northwestern France were older, decoy aircraft. No matter how skilled the Abwehr is, they can't infiltrate an air base and check the aircraft models.
But looking at the deploynt, no matter how you look at it, this is for striking southern Britain.
“If you assu it's a deploynt to strike southern Britain, it's a textbook deploynt.”
However, Ludwig Beck shook his head at my words.
“Even if they strike southern Britain, the main British fleet is at Scapa Flow in the north.
Besides, Britain is their ally. If they intended to go to war with Britain, why would they have withdrawn the Hawk Corps from Italy?”
Certainly, from a common-sense perspective, that is the case.
Is this just a groundless fear? Or is this thought constantly popping into my head because I know about the Pearl Harbor attack from the original history, which they don't?
“The Vice Minister, much like when he figured out Spain's intentions, seems to think that France might be targeting Britain.”
My father looked back and forth between the map and , then spoke, asking casually.
“What's the basis for that judgnt?”
“It's because of France's situation and Spain's attitude.”
“Hmm.”
Thinking by the standards of this era's diplomatic common sense, it is indeed absurd for an ally, France, to suddenly launch a surprise attack on Britain. But considering France's situation, is there really no possibility of that?
“In fact, it was because of Britain that we were able to win the diplomatic battle against France.
Britain and France were always closer to being rivals than allies, and the French people have been building up animosity towards Britain, claiming that they alone have been bleeding and suffering losses since the last great war.”
If France were to inflict a massive blow on Britain with a surprise attack, the French public is more likely to be ecstatic than flustered.
The logic that they should have broken the alliance and not pulled out of Italy beforehand could, if used in reverse, beco a ans to make Britain let its guard down completely.
“Moreover, if Spain had agreed to side with France in a war against us in exchange for colonies, it makes no sense for them to sell us tungsten and secure their neutrality.
If that were the case, they would have let go of France's hand entirely and demanded our definite support.”
Therefore, the deduction is that whatever France promised Spain is likely not directly related to Germany.
“On the other hand, if France succeeds in knocking Britain out, it becos possible to completely isolate Germany and draw Spain in using Gibraltar as a bargaining chip.”
“Well, the motive is explained.
But looking at the deploynt, it's clearly a landing operation. Is it even possible to break through the Royal Navy and land in Britain?”
“If they were to fight a head-on engagent, they would of course have no prospect of success, but…”
Ludwig Beck's doubt is extrely common-sensical and natural.
After all, there is no precedent for launching a surprise attack without a declaration of war to strike the main fleet.
They even showed themselves backing down from Italy due to British intervention, and have maintained the alliance despite such a heated confrontation.
Who could imagine they'd suddenly launch a surprise attack now?
“…Perhaps it's just my groundless fear.”
Even I wouldn't have co up with this idea if I didn't know about the Pearl Harbor of the original history.
And unlike at Pearl Harbor, Britain has a separate northern naval base called Scapa Flow. The French Air Force can't reach it, and France has only one aircraft carrier.
France isn't stupid; they wouldn't think that just dealing with the Channel Fleet is enough. Besides, even if things unfold as I predict, there's nothing we can do right now.
Even if we tried to tell Britain, we'd have to reveal our secret talks with Spain, and it's not like we're their allies. We don't go beyond the level of a friendly nation with overlapping strategic interests.
Besides, even if we told them there's a risk of a French surprise attack on Britain, would they believe us? We'd be lucky if they weren't just wary of it being a sche to sow discord.
“It's not bad to keep the possibility in mind.
So, what's the counterasure?”
At my father's question, I t Beck's gaze.
“We'll need a response unit prepared for a contingency.”
Whether those French bastards do the crazy act of attempting a landing operation in Germany, or the crazy act of betraying their ally with a surprise attack, we need a unit to respond.
“In the end, we'll have no choice but to pull so of the forces for the invasion of Italy.”
Beck said with a sigh, but this was an unavoidable problem. If we took a chance and the French Army landed in northwestern Germany, or—
This is just my own thought, but heaven forbid, if the French Army landed in Britain.
If a response unit isn't ready in that case, we would be helpless.
“…Let's prepare a response force for the worst-case scenario.
We will center it around armored units that can mobilize quickly, and assemble transport ships and the entire Reichsmarine in northwestern Germany.”
If we even move the Eastern Fleet, which was there to secure Danzig and defend K??nigsberg, the German Navy, with the Luftwaffe's support, should be able to handle coastal defense.
“Hmm, then whether they launch a landing operation in Germany, or-”
My father smiled in a sohow unsettling way and added.
“Do sothing unexpected, it will be easier to respond, won't it?”
“Yes, Chancellor.”
“Good, go ahead with it.”
Finally, the budget invested in the Reichsmarine will see the light of day.
Though, I'm honestly not sure how much.
Will those French bastards really strike Britain? Or are they pretending to be crazy and trying to open a second Gallipoli in Germany?
In any case, even if I can't know that, I can only hope our response isn't too late.
The problem now is who to pull from the Italian front, where all that's left is to rack up achievents. If it's left to the Army, I have a rough idea of who will be withdrawn.
The military's politicking is no joke, after all.
If it goes as I expect, there's nothing good about becoming too successful, but he's quite the right person to operate a separate detachnt centered on an armored unit, so I won't stop it.
---
June 19, 1940
Paris, the ‘City of Light,’ capital of France
“Welco, General de Gaulle. And congratulations on your promotion to general.”
French Pri Minister Jean-Fran??ois de La Rocque greeted de Gaulle with a broad smile, but Charles de Gaulle's expression was a little unimpressed.
“Thank you for the welco, Pri Minister.”
“Haha, please, have a seat. The great performance you showed in Italy was very impressive, General.
You taught those German bastards a lesson, didn't you?”
De Gaulle did not look very comfortable even as he sat in the seat La Rocque offered.
“The place and luck were on my side, Pri Minister.
We fought at the most perfect mont on the most perfect terrain, but all I did was learn of their latent power.”
Without the support of the German Air Force, we fought in the most advantageous environnt for French tanks.
As a result, we were able to achieve significant military gains and repel the enemy.
But despite that, the damage suffered by the French and Italian armies was by no ans small.
De Gaulle, on the contrary, felt a sense of crisis from that battle, and the mood of the French Army high command, as he heard from his colleagues and subordinates, was by no ans positive.
La Rocque's expression turned slightly unimpressed at de Gaulle's words, but he soon smiled faintly.
“Well, not underestimating the enemy is also a general's virtue. Don't worry too much, General.
The enemy we have to crush is a much easier opponent than them. Our ho country is protected by the Maginot Line, and reinforcents for Italy will also be arriving soon.”
De Gaulle's expression did not improve much at La Rocque's words.
“Pri Minister, we had a cooperative relationship.”
Charles de Gaulle had contributed to La Rocque's election by advocating for his support among his connections and subordinates.
“Ah, of course, General.
In our quest to make France great again, how could I fail to recognize a talented individual like you, General?”
At La Rocque's reply, which ca out as smoothly as if it were oiled, de Gaulle's expression subtly hardened.
He said that, but in the end, La Rocque only ousted Galin, a supporter of democracy, and installed Maxi Weygand, whom de Gaulle despised, in his place.
Weygand's great influence in the military might have made him necessary for its support, but seeing the state of the military afterwards and his own position, it was hard to say that La Rocque had genuinely shown consideration for de Gaulle.
Moreover, the installation of radios in the armored units that La Rocque had promised had gone up in smoke thanks to his foreign policy.
Instead of voicing his dissatisfaction about it, de Gaulle brought up another issue.
“…I heard you arrested the forr pri ministers of the Radical Party, Paul Reynaud and ??douard Daladier.”
La Rocque's face hardened slightly, before he broke into a faint smile.
“Ah, they were n who publicly criticized the current military buildup and were inducing dostic chaos in this ti of national ergency.
It was an unavoidable asure.”
But they had not responded in such a way when La Rocque had done the sa.
While de Gaulle was away in Italy, much had changed in France.
“But Pri Minister.
They, too, were patriots of France, even if their thods differed.”
Now, the smile began to fade from La Rocque's face, but de Gaulle was not the type to mince his words.
“I wanted a great France, not a dictator who oppresses Frenchn. I wanted us not to surrender to Germany, not a gamble that stakes the fate of the nation to stab an old ally in the back.”
The smiles now completely gone, La Rocque's and de Gaulle's gazes clashed as if in a fight.
In the end, La Rocque was the first to raise his hands and speak.
“It seems there's a misunderstanding, General. The Social Party and I ca to power with the clear support of the people, and as you know, I also only wanted to contain Germany.
But the previous administration's failures were too great, and there was nothing we could do when Britain betrayed our alliance and backed Germany.”
De Gaulle had only been inford of La Rocque's war plans after returning from Italy, and he held grave concerns about the adventurous and heartless operation.
“Even so, is this the only way, Pri Minister? This is an act of betrayal against a long-ti ally, and a gamble with the lives of proud Frenchn as the stake-”
“The ones who betrayed us first are those filthy British bastards! Blood is needed for a great France!”
La Rocque shouted, cutting de Gaulle off, but de Gaulle did not back down.
“How are you any different from that Mussolini or Hitler right now, Pri Minister?”
La Rocque scoffed and then replied.
“Unlike those corrupt dictators, I work only for the great France.”
De Gaulle spoke with a stiff, hardened face.
“It seems I have misjudged the man.”
“Oh, General de Gaulle.
I trust that you, too, will one day understand my true intention. Or, will you try to stop ? With both the people and the military praising
and the Social Party administration, a patriot like you couldn't possibly commit such a traitorous act on the eve of a war for the nation's fate, could you?”
De Gaulle finally fell silent, and La Rocque, feeling a strange sense of pleasure, added.
“You may go, General. Isn't ti tight if you are to say goodbye to your beloved wife and arrive in ti for the operation?”
De Gaulle glared at La Rocque for deliberately ntioning his wife, but instead of provoking him further, he turned his back.
“Don't feel too regretful, General. You deserve to be a hero of France, and I am the one who has given you the stage to beco one!”
Although he had installed the Weygand that de Gaulle loathed as Commander-in-Chief of the Army and had not directly supported his faction, La Rocque had not lied when he said he would give de Gaulle an important position.
He had, after all, appointed de Gaulle as the one responsible for this offensive, which would invade their forr ally Britain and would surely result in countless sacrifices.
De Gaulle did not stop at the words shouted from behind by his oneti comrade, and walked straight out.
Of course, it was not important to La Rocque.
Although de Gaulle was an important figure to him, he was ultimately just one of the pieces on the board he had drawn.
A piece has done enough once it has fulfilled its given role.
La Rocque, with cold eyes, looked down at the operational map, filled with a feast of lines drawn toward the British Isles and the numbers of units.
Those damn so-called allies in Europe are of little help, but the preparation for the operation is perfect, and the enemy has shown no sign of response so far.
There could be no more perfect surprise attack than this, and if this operation succeeds, that insolent de Gaulle and that bastard Franco who's just testing the waters will change their minds.
And that nation in Asia that has never suffered a single defeat will also enter the war as an ally.
If that happens, he can remain in history as a great leader who will surpass even Napoleon.
No, it will definitely happen.
La Rocque watched the scene of dark clouds in the dusky sky flowing north, and a triumphant smile appeared on his face.
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