Battle of the Third Reich

Throughout August, the international situation was ups and downs, like a roller coaster, which dazzled the Japanese. ⊙ The meeting between the Japanese envoy and the German head of state judged the Japanese side to be generally successful. Although the two sides failed to deepen the cooperation as expected, such as the signing of the alliance treaty, the German head of state is serious about this diplomacy. The way the incident was handled clearly showed that he still attached great importance to the friendly relations between Germany and Japan, which made the Japanese government take a little bit of peace of mind and the corresponding guts began to grow. Since the Germans do not want to turn their faces, then Japan will do some small moves in those European Asian colonies. Presumably, Germany will also open its eyes. The Japanese judge this way.

The Japanese government finally made up its mind and agreed to the plan of the army and the navy to send to the French colony. However, based on the army’s messy history, the guard cabinet considered that this time they must be tied with a rein, because this is an issue of international relations. It will surely attract the attention of a bunch of European countries, especially the attitude of the United States. Japan is still somewhat unclear, so Wen Weiwen asked the Secretary of the Army to ensure that the combat scope and process must be closely monitored by the Department of the Army. In the event of changes and control, if the Army needs to stop its operations, the Army must immediately implement it without hesitation.

Regarding these concerns of the Cabinet, Hideki Tojo was actually very touched. The atmosphere of the army in the army was inspired by their generation of young officers, and it was only when it was their turn to take the seat of the high-level commander. What a **** these defiant authorities disobey the orders of their superiors. Razor Tojo patted his chest to assure that he would supervise the entire battle throughout the entire process. If there was any behavior that violated the order, he would personally send the responsible officer to the military court. Now that the Army has shown their determination so firmly, the Guard Cabinet nodded and agreed to the plan.

Once the Japanese war machine was operational, the speed of mobilization was extremely alarming. In just one week, the Japanese Army mobilized a large amount of materials and funds. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians have been used successively, and finally they have made preliminary preparations for war within the time specified in the plan. This invasion of French Indochina was Japan's first battle with white troops after the Russo-Japanese War. The significance of this is significant, and the Japanese military has made a substantial contribution to this.

A large amount of strategic reserve materials were transferred from various military warehouses in the south, and concentrated through various means of transportation towards the planned departure base, Hainan Island. In addition to supplying the second wing of the Guards Infantry to undertake landing tasks. The rest is mainly prepared for the next step. Once the attack is successful, the Japanese army is ready to hit the iron while it is hot, and it will simply take the entire northern part of French Indochina into the arms. In that case, there must be a lot of supply support, or you must do it in advance. Be prepared and wait until it is time to mobilize.

At this time, the high-level command of the Japanese army has let go of the uneasy mood. Now that it is ready to go to war, it is necessary to forget the fear of the enemy and focus on how to defeat the enemy. The officer must set an example to his subordinates and give the soldiers confidence in victory.

By the early hours of August 22, everything was ready, and all the troops began to move towards the predetermined offensive position, waiting for the arrival of the command of the general attack. The second detachment of the Japanese Imperial Navy is responsible for the transportation and fire protection of landing forces. On weekdays, it is mainly responsible for combat and patrol tasks on the southern coast of China. Haikou Port on Hainan Island is an advance base for this fleet.

At the moment, the fleet commander is the Japanese navy lieutenant general Takashiro, who has served as the Japanese martial arts embassy in Japan and also served as the principal of the Japanese Naval University. It should be regarded as a strong force in the navy. He once commanded the First Air Force to join the Japanese attack on Shanghai. Under his orders, the bombers on the Japanese aircraft carrier carried out inhumane bombardment on the residential area of ​​Shanghai. The Admiral's hands were already covered with the blood of the Chinese people. He was then sent to Northeast China as the commander of the squadron of the Japanese navy stationed in "Manchuria". At the same time, Takasu Shiro actually took over the command of the "Manchurian naval fleet". It is conceivable to know what the so-called "Manchuria" was like.

Now Lieutenant General Takasu, standing majesticly standing on the command bridge of the fleet's flagship heavy cruiser Tokai, holding a telescope to observe the situation in front of the sea. Starting from Haikou, the straight line distance to the destination Haiphong Port is 300 kilometers, so the fleet departed before dawn. It is expected to arrive at Haiphong off the coast at noon. After the order arrives, it will start to launch a surprise attack on Haiphong at full speed.

The Navy was also very serious about this operation. Not only did it designate the entire second detachment to be dispatched as a whole, but it also specifically mobilized the aircraft carrier Kaga of the First Air Combat Team to join the operation. Because the army hopes that the naval aviation unit can participate in the air defense and ground support missions in northern defense of Indochina, the head of the naval headquarters believes that this is a performance that the army shows to the navy, because Intelligence shows that the French air force is very weak, which is simply to give the naval exploits in vain.

Takasu Shiro had previously served as the commander of this aircraft carrier and was very familiar with aviation operations, so the superior was very confident that he would be the commander-in-chief of the entire formation, responsible for the command and mobilization of all naval forces in this operation.

The Army created an interim establishment of the Indochinese dispatch army for this landing force, which was completely constructed for this operation. It will be abolished after the operation is completed. The main force is the third of the Second Wing of the Japanese Army Guard Infantry The formation of the brigade, because it is the Emperor's guard, it is necessary to keep a brigade to defend in the local. The Army also dispatched the so-called Indochinese troop to the temporary formation, equipped with attached chariots, anti-aircraft guns, communications, health, and heavy troops. The total number of all the forests was more than 4,000 troops, and they were each riding on ten transport ships. Escorts of the Indochina Task Force from the navy.

The strength of this fleet may not be enough to see in Europe. The main battleship has only one heavy cruiser and one large aircraft carrier, and the rest are ten destroyers. However, in the face of the existing naval power of French Indochina, this fleet can completely do it. Various aspects of rolling. The Far East Fleet of French Indochina has not been replenished for a long time. At present, only one Diguetruan-class light cruiser and six or seven inland gunboats on the Mekong River are still available. Originally, the French Far East Fleet also had a heavy cruiser, Sufferon, which might still cause a little damage to the Japanese navy, but as early as April this warship was transferred to the Mediterranean by the Renault government.

The guiding ideology of the Japanese navy executives during this period was that everything should be safety-oriented, and the generals would only be enthusiastic when confronted with such a battle that poses little threat to themselves. Historically, fighting against French Indochina. At that time, the Navy’s military commander Yong Ye was more active than the Army. It was said that at the tripartite meeting, he said that when the attack was launched, whoever dared to block it would kill him. I'm stunned.

The reason for this is well understood. French Indochina has little maritime power. For the Japanese navy, there is not much threat to this kind of easily obtained military exploits. How can the navy easily give up. There are a large number of officers waiting to be promoted in the navy, and every day he hopes to get some experience on the battlefield. Especially when playing soft persimmons like French Indochina, it is both beautiful and safe. Of course, Nagano’s words and deeds related to his self-cultivation are also related to his own activism. In history, this man has been pushing the navy to advance south and wage war with the United States. To see.

Now turn my eyes back to noon on August 22, just after 11 o'clock, half an hour before the scheduled dispatch time of 11:30, everyone is doing the final preparations . The maintenance personnel on the Kaga are adjusting the sequence of the aircraft parked on the flight deck, and many aircraft have already begun engine test runs. The first wave was the formation of six nine-six wars and twelve nine-four ship explosions. The former is the main fighter of the Japanese naval aviation at this time. It is much more advanced than the old model of the Chinese Air Force. After entering the Chinese battlefield, there was a burst of limelight. However, after the Chinese Air Force was equipped with a batch of Soviet-made fighters, this fighter’s Life is a bit difficult. The Type 94 carrier-based bomber is a two-winged aircraft. It looks very much like the British navy swordfish style. From the performance point of view, it can only be regarded as the level of the twenties, but the mobility in the air is good. The Japanese pilots are After the bombing, she even used her to fight with the Chinese Air Force fighters in combat air combat, and some of the old aircraft can also fight vividly. However, the performance of this carrier-based bomber has been completely outdated. The Japanese Navy is intensively developing alternative models.

In the commanding room on the tall bridge of the heavy cruiser Tori, Takasu Shiro is in the final discussion before the attack with Major General Fu Yonggong, the commander of the Army Indochina dispatch army cooperating in this operation. Secondly, the major general of the army relied on himself as the first minister of the army staff. The arrogance has reached a point where people can't look directly. From the navy's perspective, the army sent this army major general to be completely ignorant. This guy is full of army stupid radical ideas.

"The army has a set of methods for the army to work, so the navy doesn't need to guide us how to do it. The navy only needs to tell us. When to start, it's all right." Major-General Fu Yonggong wears a brand-new army uniform with a full set of chests The medals were marked, and he was proud of his staff. Jin Cancan dangled. According to the major general, this was carefully prepared to accept the surrender of the French. As a senior army officer On diplomatic occasions, the dignity of the emperor must be maintained.

Takasu Shiro had been indifferent to this strange idea at this time. Anyway, when the landing operation began, this guy had to get off the boat, and now the other party would just toss about it. Takasu has already made up his mind that after completing this battle, he will not cooperate with any army horse dung next time he is killed.

"The Navy understands the Army's idea, then according to your request, after reaching the target area, the Navy is only responsible for fire protection, and the rest is handled by the Army." Takasu Shiro sat on the sofa and answered calmly. The other party's request.

"Very well, Mr. Takasu really is a reasonable person, and I hope there will be a chance to cooperate next time." Fu Yonggong, who had received the Navy's commitment and wanted to **** credit, finally smiled.

"Then I will say goodbye first, and I will go to explain to my subordinates about the landing." After receiving a satisfactory reply, Major General Fu Yong will be impatient to share this good news with his subordinates.

"The time for the total offensive is approaching. Your Excellency, what other requirements must be put forward, the Navy will try its best to meet the needs of the Army." Gao Xu felt that the Navy should still maintain basic etiquette anyway, and this battle is for both sides. Very important, at least not because of the attitude of the navy.

"The Navy has done very well. Thank you very much for your help to the Army. I will report to the Army Staff Headquarters."

"Then it is so, I wish you long martial arts."

"Thank you, let the Army do it next."

Just as the two sides are preparing to end this seemingly friendly and harmonious meeting. A naval staff officer took a telegram and knocked on the iron door of the command room.

"Sir! This is issued by the Joint Fleet Command, the emergency command of the military command." Navy Shao Zuo looked nervously to the two generals in the room, and then bowed his hands respectfully to the fleet commander and handed the telegram in his hand.

Takasu turned out the telegram, read the first two lines, and immediately stood up in surprise.

"Nani? Have you confirmed?"

"It has been confirmed repeatedly, sir."

"Order the fleet to immediately stop advancing, and all ships to stop all operations and wait for the flagship's further orders." Takasu gave instructions to Shao Zuo.

"Follow your orders, sir." Navy Shaozuo gave a naval salute to Takasu, then turned to Fu Yonggongji, and then lowered his arm to open the door and walked out of the command room.

"What happened!" Fu Yonggong was a little surprised by Takasu's order. The problem must be the telegram.

"The Command received accurate information. Just four hours ago, a French fleet sailed into the Saigon military port. What can be confirmed now is that there are two Dunkirk-class battlecruisers, the Dunkirk. Along with the Strasbourg, there was also a huge transport fleet, possibly carrying a large number of French Army soldiers. The cabinet had already issued a decision, the battle was stopped immediately, and all participating troops immediately returned to the place of departure, ending all targeting India. Military operations in northern China." Takasu put the telegraph in front of Fu Yonggongji.

I continue to ask for monthly tickets, and I can’t see the results. I don’t like to read the stories of Southeast Asia. Whether it’s clicking or subscribing is a bit bleak. (To be continued.)