Chapter 297 Dance Hall

Qin Chuan and Colonel Slaine took Major General Oxter's jeep back to the barracks.

"I have a question!" Colonel Slaine, who was sitting in the co-pilot seat, said: "Marshal Raeder doesn't look like he's just coming to see these warships and leave!"

"Of course!" Major General Oxter replied: "Our warships in Germany can only stay in the port and can't move. If he wants to do something, he can only stay here!"

"Then who should we command?" Colonel Slaine said: "Marshal, or Admiral?"

Although Colonel Slaine didn't say it clearly, everyone understood... Marshal refers to Raeder, and Admiral is Rommel.

In terms of military rank, it should be Raeder, but this is obviously inappropriate.

"Oh, Colonel!" Major General Oxter replied: "I think your worries are unnecessary. At least the navy's warships can't drive to the shore to deal with the enemy's tanks, right?"

As he said that, several people couldn't help laughing. Although the driver didn't quite understand the meaning of the joke, he laughed along.

Amid the laughter of the crowd, the jeep drove into the barracks of the 36th Infantry Division... This was originally a shoe factory. After the 36th Infantry Division arrived in Algeria, it naturally used it as its own barracks because it could not find a suitable place.

In fact, this is because the 36th Infantry Division is used to their style of plundering. Colonel Slain's First Infantry Regiment and even the "Lightning Division" in Italy are camped in open spaces in the suburbs, and they have no contact with the people... This is not only because the First Infantry Division and the "Lightning Division" have strict military discipline, but also because of the way they bought people's hearts in Egypt, Libya, etc.

On the contrary, the 36th Infantry Division was transferred from France, and they have long been accustomed to the way of plundering the people.

As soon as the jeep entered the barracks, a faint sound of music was heard. After the car stopped, a factory building a few hundred meters away was seen with flashing lights and crowded people. The music came from there... Obviously, the officers of the 36th Infantry Division have transformed it into a dance hall.

Qin Chuan and Colonel Slaine looked at each other, and each saw a trace of dissatisfaction in the other's eyes... You know, Algiers was taken by the African Corps. At this time, most of the soldiers of the African Corps were still fighting the British on the Alexandria Line in the desert. Even the First Infantry Regiment and the "Lightning Division" that directly took Algiers were blowing in the cold wind in the suburbs, while these guys who had never fired a shot were enjoying the feasting and revelry in Algiers.

However, because Major General Oxter was a general, Colonel Slaine and Qin Chuan were not in a position to say anything.

"Hey!" After Major General Oxter jumped out of the car, he said to Qin Chuan and Colonel Slaine: "Look, there is a dance over there, why don't we go and relax?"

"Sorry, General!" Colonel Slaine said: "I think we'd better go back to the barracks, maybe something will happen..."

"Don't be funny, Colonel!" Major General Oxter invited Qin Chuan and Colonel Slaine to the ballroom without saying anything: "What can happen at this time? I understand that you just came back from the Alexander Line, but that's why you need to relax!"

"General!" At this time, a staff officer rushed up and said: "Here are a few telegrams that need your signature!"

"Sorry, gentlemen!" Major General Oxter said: "You go first, I'll come later!"

Because they couldn't refuse, Qin Chuan and Colonel Slaine had to walk into the ballroom.

The luxury in the ballroom surprised Qin Chuan. There were ribbons and lights hanging overhead, a band was playing waltzes on the stage, couples of men and women were dancing to the rhythm of the music, and waiters were constantly walking through the crowd to serve wine and food to the attendees... If he hadn't just gotten off the military jeep, Qin Chuan would have thought it was a medieval aristocratic ball.

"Where did they find these women?" Qin Chuan couldn't help asking, "This is Algeria!"

Qin Chuan noticed that the women were white... German officers disdained to associate with women they considered to be inferior races.

"They are French!" Colonel Slaine whispered.

Qin Chuan couldn't help but say "Oh"... Algeria is a French colony. In addition, because northern France has fallen and southern France is also in danger, colonies like Algeria are safer.

Even ordinary people can see this.

On the one hand, France may still start a war due to the existence of the Toulon fleet, fighter planes and other equipment, and on the other hand, the 100,000 troops stipulated in the Franco-German armistice agreement do not include colonial troops.

Therefore, during this special period, the size and combat effectiveness of the Algerian colonial army exceeded that of the French mainland army.

It is also for this reason that the wealthy and powerful French "upper class" have "emigrated" to Algeria to live.

But what they didn't expect was that Algeria was the first to be occupied, so these "big fish" were caught one after another.

Qin Chuan looked at the women dancing on the dance floor. Although they had smiles on their faces, their smiles contained fear. Look at the French men who came with them, their faces are full of helplessness and embarrassment.

Qin Chuan didn't like this atmosphere, so he walked out while Colonel Slain was talking to several officers...

Lighting a cigarette in the evening breeze, Qin Chuan walked alone into the garden path next to him.

The noise of the music gradually faded away, replaced by the sound of insects in the grass, which made Qin Chuan feel much better... This may be an occupational disease for soldiers coming down from the battlefield:

The battlefield is too noisy, so they prefer quiet places;

The battlefield is too dangerous, so they prefer areas without people;

There are no women on the battlefield, so they don’t know how to interact with women... They can even be said to be a little scared.

Of course, troops like the 36th Infantry Division are an exception.

At this time, there was a strange sound in the darkness. Qin Chuan habitually threw away the cigarette and then pulled out the pistol as quickly as possible and shouted to the darkness: "Who is it? Come out!"

"No, no... Don't shoot!" A woman's voice, speaking English.

"Don't shoot!" The woman said: "I was invited..."

"French?" Qin Chuan asked.

"Yes, French!" A frightened French woman raised her hand and walked out of the darkness.

Qin Chuan confirmed that she was not lying, because she was wearing a dress, but in the moonlight, her makeup was a little smudged, and she looked like she had cried.