1011 Plans for the Middle East

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"So, my head of state... the three infantry divisions deployed in Turkey, are we going to call them back?" Ribbentrop heard this, and he knew Akado's plan. The head of state hoped that Turkey could rely on itself The strength to withstand the attack of the Allied forces, at least until the end of the battle on the Eastern Front, Germany will not mobilize excess power to support Turkey.

Akado didn't seem to hear Ribbentrop's question, and remained silent for a long time. But he did hear it, so after a while, he finally answered the subordinate's question: "Sometimes, for the benefit of the empire, it is worth sacrificing some people."

It seemed to be convincing himself, and it seemed to be an explanation. In short, after Akado said this, he added: "I have ordered Scherner to transfer all the commanders of the three infantry divisions. Come back, I hope this order is still in time."

After all, he is not one of those cold-blooded politicians who is unwilling to throw so many young lives on the battlefield so casually. But he is not that fledgling university assistant anymore, so he chose to use a sacrifice in exchange for a greater victory.

It is a pity that his decision was still too late. The Allied forces broke through the Turkish defense line on June 4 and encircled three German infantry divisions from the flanks. These German troops leave. The German army never really considered the option of surrender until they ran out of ammunition and food. They tried to contain the US armored forces and win a chance for the Turkish allies to win. Unfortunately, their Turkish allies were defeated and there was no cooperation from inside and outside. plan.

Siirt was occupied by the U.S. military a few days later, and Turkey had no strength to fight back, so it lost its large territory east of Lake Van to the U.S. and British troops. By the way, three German light infantry divisions were lost together, with nearly 25,000 soldiers.

In the end, more than 17,000 German soldiers surrendered to the U.S. Army. They burned most of their ammunition, and then burned their military flags before they walked out of the dilapidated bunker and handed over their weapons to the U.S. Army with dignity. And they also got the treatment they deserved. These prisoners were kept in separate custody by the Americans, distinguishing them from the nearly 100,000 local Turkish prisoners of war.

The Americans were immediately on the battlefield, showing the German weapons they had seized to the field photographers, including a car in which the German division commander was riding, dozens of horses, more than 100 MP-44 assault rifles, and guns known as Azerbaijan. Cardo Saw's mg42 general purpose machine gun.

This is the first time since the beginning of this war that the Allied forces have systematically wiped out German troops, and it is also the first time that more than 10,000 German troops have been unilaterally captured. The defeat of Turkey revealed the sharp contradictions within the Axis powers, and the voices of mutual accusation kept coming and going.

The German side blamed the Turkish army for betraying its allies, which led to the fiasco of Siirt; while Turkey cursed the Germans as meaningless, and Turkey lost so much land without reinforcements; Speaking of the partition of the Balkans,

Responsibilities Germany and Turkey are not nice people.

Subsequently, Turkey continued to persuade Germany and began to plan a new round of counterattacks. They invested almost all of their mobile forces, hoping to rely on quantity to make up for the lack of quality, and launched a full-line counterattack against the United States and the United Kingdom.

With this vague battle plan, none of the staff of the German High Command was optimistic about the attack. Marshal Brauchitsch, who hurried back to Berlin from the wolf's lair, looked at it for a long time before he raised his head and said to the head of state Akado who was waiting opposite him: "I have been your general for many years. Since the beginning of the war, we I have been using command and technical superiority to defeat enemies who are superior in number to us...so I personally don’t like this plan, and if I can, I will do everything I can to prevent Turkey from seeking its own death.”

"It's too late! Under the circumstances, Turkey won't listen to our suggestions. Their antipathy against us is everywhere. The more we oppose the plan, the easier it is for them to take action." Akado said helplessly Sighing, he asked Brauchitsch: "If Turkey loses, or if they withdraw from the Axis group... Is there any way for us to expand our own interests?"

"I will immediately order General **** to drive his tanks into Greece, occupy at least Istanbul and other areas along the route, and ensure unimpeded shipping in the Sea of ​​Marmara." Brauchitsch said coldly: "The plan has been drawn up long ago. It's over, just implementing it will involve the strength of Army Group J."

"If, I'm just making a hypothesis... Italy and Turkey have problems at the same time, how likely are we to stabilize the situation?" Akado asked with a hint of fatigue in his tone, leaning on the back of his chair.

He suddenly thought of the old man who had left him not long ago, and thought of the well-organized old Chancellor Augustus who handled the affairs of the whole of Germany. If this wise old man is still there, the situation in Germany must be much better than it is now, right? If that old man is still there, maybe Turkey and Italy wouldn't even dare to give birth to a fluke mentality?

"My head!" Brauchitsch stood up from his chair, stood in front of Akado, and said solemnly: "I have followed you all the way, and I may have something to do with you on the issue of military autonomy. Some differences, but I have always seen you as the one I am loyal to and follow."

He stood upright, and his slender body had the temperament and demeanor that a Prussian noble soldier should have. The marshal looked at Akado, and continued speaking at a leisurely pace: "March into the Rhineland, occupy Czechoslovakia, capture Poland, defeat France, land in the UK, and counterattack the Soviet Union. We are absolutely sure of which war we will fight against." What initiated it?"

"You led us from one victory to another. This is the pride of our third emperor* people piled up with countless victories! I just want to say this to you: Thankfully, we have not lost yet !” Marshal Brauchitsch said this, stood at attention and saluted, and ended his speech.

Yes, this is the pride of the German army. They followed their head of state and walked all the way from Poland. From the perspective of the war alone, it seems that they have never lost. Although there were setbacks at Kursk, Norway, and Turkey, these defeats were in enemy territory.

Akado nodded, and thanked his marshal softly: "I see, thank you, my marshal."

After he finished speaking, he didn't say anything else, because Brauchitsch had already told him the answer he wanted. The German army has more than 600,000 troops in the entire Balkan region. As long as 100,000 of these troops are drawn, they can fight all the way to Istanbul like the United States and the United Kingdom. And Akado is full of confidence in the army, at least the Army Group J of the army is much more powerful than the 100,000 rabble in the United States and Britain.

After Brauchitsch went out, when Akado seemed to be resting with his eyes closed, he suddenly told Anna who was pinching his shoulder: "Anna, draw up a telegram in my name and send it to the Supreme Command. To Marshal Rommel. The content is as follows: Immediately find a way to launch an offensive, sweep some important cities, then stabilize the defense line, and rush back to Alexandria to receive the Jews I sent there."

Since the Germans entered the Middle East, the local Jewish businessmen have been a little restless. They desperately hope that the Germans can immediately fulfill their promises and find a piece of land for them to build a country in their original hometown.

Akado did not intend to renege on his debts, and he was very willing to help the Jews establish a Middle Eastern country. It's not that the head of state is benevolent, but that doing so is in the fundamental interests of the entire Third Reich.

Once helping the Jews really gain a foothold in the Middle East, at least Akado can immediately get two deposits as a benefit: the first deposit is that the Jews in the United States will have differences, which will lead to a decline in the approval rate of the President of the United States. It is obviously good news for the Germans; the second deposit is a large number of industrial products of the Jews in Germany, as well as previous loans-this huge deficit will disappear automatically without being plugged.

As mentioned before, a large part of the funds for Germany's war and armament expansion came from borrowing money, sharing spoils in advance, and Mifu coupons. Now there is no need to repay part of the borrowed money and the stolen money distributed. This is undoubtedly good news for the German economy in a vicious circle.

So Akado agreed to the request of the Jewish mission to go to Egypt, and then go to the front line to investigate. This matter has to be handed over to Marshal Rommel, and it seems that the German side is more formal.

The reason for ordering Rommel to find a way to attack locally is to try to help Turkey share some pressure. After all, Turkey is an important ally of the Axis powers. It is obviously an extremely unwise choice to push it directly to the Allies. . Akado hopes to stabilize Turkey a little bit, so as to delay its time to find another way out as much as possible.

As for Akado asking Brauchitsch if Turkey and Italy have problems at the same time, whether Germany can deal with it, that is purely planning for the worst. Unless it is absolutely necessary, Germany does not want to lose its two major allies in the Axis at the same time.

"I understand! My dear. I'm going to prepare this document now." Anna stopped pressing Akado's shoulder. This kind of thing is not something she needs to do as a secretary—of course, she and Akado The relationship is not just secretary and boss.