Chapter 322 Layout

It is understandable that Montgomery was so eager to attack the German fleet. The victory or failure of the battle for North Africa actually depends largely on the comparison of naval power.

Before this, the British Mediterranean Fleet had always been the overlord of the Mediterranean... The Italian fleet was beaten without any chance to fight back, and the French Toulon Fleet remained neutral. As a result, the British fleet came and went freely in the Mediterranean, which gave the British army a lot of initiative. For example, it could block the German and Italian transportation lines while ensuring its own transportation, and even drive a nail into the Italian waters. Occasionally, it could send a force to go around the rear by sea to assassinate German and Italian military and political leaders.

But now it is different.

The Toulon Fleet fell into the hands of Germany, which completely changed the situation of the British Mediterranean Fleet being the only one. Even if the German Navy and the Italian Navy joined forces to fight together, it might be possible to completely overwhelm the British Mediterranean Fleet.

This is what Montgomery never wanted to see, because it not only meant that it would be difficult for the Allies to achieve further victory, but also meant that the Allies could not point their spearheads at Mediterranean countries such as Italy and Greece... Once a landing operation was launched in Europe, it would inevitably face the situation of being attacked from both sides by the German Navy.

This is also what Qin Chuan considered.

Qin Chuan stared at the map and fell into deep thought... In history, the reason why Mussolini fell was that, subjectively, Mussolini lost the support of the people and even the party (Mussolini even lost the support of the Fascist Party). Objectively, it was because the Allies captured Sicily and then used Sicily as a springboard to land in southern Italy.

The Italians have some strange thinking. They can accept wars in other countries, such as Egypt, Greece, and Libya. Although they also need to send troops, as long as the war does not happen in Italy, they can continue to numb themselves, such as promoting how brave the Italian army is abroad and what kind of victory it has achieved.

Even when the British army chased the Italian army all the way to Tripoli in the first battle, Italy was still reporting on the victory of the Italian army.

But...

Once the Allies landed directly in Italy, all the lies would be broken, and the people would certainly not give up, so the Mussolini government had to face various marches and demonstrations from the people when there were strong enemies outside... In the end, the Fascist Party could only abandon Mussolini by cutting off the tail to survive.

Now, as long as there is a German fleet and the German fleet's advantage in the Mediterranean is guaranteed, the Allies will not be able to break through the Tunisian Strait. If they cannot break through the Tunisian Strait, they will not be able to land in Sicily, because this will cause their landing troops to be attacked from Tunisia and even the sea.

The Allies' inability to land in Sicily means that Italy will not surrender, and the African Corps can also defend in Algeria, so that the war in North Africa will stabilize and will not collapse like history...

"Lieutenant!" Just as Qin Chuan was thinking, Darlan walked into the command center.

"General!" Qin Chuan was a little surprised to see Darlan.

Because after the German fleet defeated the British Air Force's attack, Darlan returned to the cabin alone and did not show up.

Qin Chuan could understand this. It was absolutely a shame for the French Navy and even for Darlan... The Toulon Fleet was just a decoration in the hands of the French Navy. They were beaten by the British in the "Catapult Plan" without any chance to fight back, but these same warships showed unexpected combat effectiveness in the hands of the Germans. This can only explain the quality of the French naval officers and soldiers. There is no other explanation.

"Oh, General Darlan!" Marshal Raeder saw Darlan and said with a sarcastic tone: "Sorry, we disappointed you. We didn't let you see the French warships sink to the bottom of the sea under the British planes!"

Marshal Raeder's pun caused a burst of laughter from the naval officers and soldiers in the command center.

Darlan ignored them. He walked up to Qin Chuan and said with a serious expression: "Can I talk to you?"

Marshal Raeder said something sarcastic again: "General Darlan, if you want to recruit the lieutenant, you can say it loudly, we don't care. But I'm afraid you also need General Rommel's consent, because I have failed!"

The naval officers and soldiers laughed again.

Qin Chuan asked Colonel Slaine for instructions, and after getting consent, he walked aside with Darlan.

"General Darlan!" Qin Chuan said: "I can understand your feelings, but I have to do this!"

"No, no..." Darlan replied: "I know, and I won't talk to you about this. It's too stupid!"

"Then..." Qin Chuan didn't understand what Darlan wanted to talk to him about. If there was anything, he should talk to Colonel Slaine or Marshal Raeder.

"Lieutenant!" Darlan looked at Qin Chuan and said, "I have a strong feeling that you are the mastermind of all this, right?"

"General!" Qin Chuan replied, "I just happened to think of this kind of air defense method..."

"No, I'm not just talking about this!" Darlan stared at Qin Chuan with his eyes, as if trying to see through him.

"What... could it be?"

"The strategic retreat of the African Corps, the entry and airborne capture of Algeria by the German army, and even the capture of the Toulon Fleet, etc." Darlan said, "And support for African independence... All of this is actually from your hands, right?"

Hearing this, Qin Zhong was shocked.

Darlan was right. On the surface, Qin Chuan seemed to be giving Rommel suggestions to resolve the crisis, but in fact, he was completing a strategic layout in Africa step by step.

Others might be "in it" and unaware, but Darlan, an outsider, discovered something.

"How could you do it?" Darlan asked, "With such foresight, you seem to be able to guess what will happen and prepare in advance?"

"No, General Darlan!" Qin Chuan smiled and said, "I'm just a lieutenant..."

"You are indeed just a lieutenant!" Darlan said, "But what you have done is not even Hitler can do. You have changed the entire North African war situation!"

Darlan was right. In history, Hitler was unable to change the outcome of the defeat in North Africa. It can even be said that Hitler was one of the reasons for the defeat in North Africa... Hitler thought he was a war genius, and he arrogantly believed Rommel's words and canceled the plan to attack Malta. He even transferred the 24th Air Wing when the war broke out on the Eastern Front. These were all reasons for the failure of the African Corps.