Chapter 510 New Battlefield (End)

Winning over France is part of Hoffman's established strategy. It's not that you can't have fun without France, but France is a country that is too big and important. It is difficult to completely suppress it with Germany's strength. Moreover, if the French problem is not solved for a day, the real The European Union cannot be established. Europe can still be a union without Britain, but without France, the EU is really in tatters.

As he wins successively on the battlefield, he not only has to think about ways to end the war, but also finds ways to deal with the EU's problems. He has a way to solve the EU's organizational system, operational logic, and interest relationships - he was a generation who grew up under the EU before time travel, and he is very clear about various advantages and disadvantages.

Recently, he has been thinking about the European Union, trying to create a more ideal and comprehensive subject. Although the overall framework will be reached after the war, many things must be laid out now. The EU in his mind is completely different from the EU before he crossed over: one is a round table conference with consensus, and the other is a concentric circle structure surrounding Germany. The latter is far more powerful and solid than the former.

From now on the European Union will have only one leader, and that is Germany. Germany will not only provide a nuclear umbrella for all of Europe, but will also form military groups and rapid reaction forces covering all of Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Germany's main territory will include the mainland, Alsace and Lorraine, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic and most of Poland and Denmark. It is roughly equivalent to the German territory before World War I plus the German part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, with an area of ​​more than 1 million square kilometers and a population of more than 1.2 billion (excluding Polish people), it will be the country with the largest territory and most populous population in Europe (excluding Russia). In terms of area and population, it is roughly the same as France, Italy and the United Kingdom combined. Only this size and advantage can guarantee Germany's leadership position.

Below Germany are the second-tier powers: France, Italy, and the United Kingdom (you can observe them for a while first);

Then there are the third-tier powers: Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Romania, Hungary, Portugal, Ukraine, etc.;

Then there are a number of small countries that follow Germany, including Slovakia, Norway, Sweden, the Baltic States, Belarus, Bulgaria, Greece, etc.

The most difficult thing to solve is the problem of second-tier powers. Italy is currently the core of the axis. It cannot fight but is very good at fighting. More importantly, it has a leader who is completely ignorant of its own strength and is arrogant. Without France, If balanced, the European Union will have moderate troubles in the future.

Overall, the economic strength, population, territory and military strength of countries at all levels will be fully considered. The European Council to be formed in the future will never adopt a one-country, one-vote, unanimous consent system, but will be based on influence and capabilities. Countries are given different voting rights. Germany has a veto power (more than one-third of the voting rights). Most issues will be passed with a two-thirds majority. A very few issues (such as absorbing new member states) require more than three-quarters. Count the votes in favor.

Germany has ways to deal with many small European countries, especially Eastern European countries. As long as the threat from Russia remains, they cannot do without Germany. The problem lies in how to balance the power of Britain, France and Italy. The most troublesome thing is the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom not only has a special relationship with the United States, but also has many colonies. In Hoffman's view, it is a hot potato and must be reorganized by taking the opportunity of the war.

This time France proposed to take back Madagascar and even offered to send troops. However, Hoffmann refused due to the important status of the island. However, he generously stated that France could obtain compensation from other places. Ribbentrop was in this context. I went to Paris with a package of agreements, mainly including:

1. France declares war on Britain (it does not need to declare war on the United States and the Soviet Union), and declares to join the Axis. Germany will return all occupied French territories (except Alsace and Lorraine);

2. France produces equipment according to Germany's technical requirements, from rifles, aircraft, artillery, tanks to warships, and pursues unification with Germany. Germany provides drawings and does not charge any technical fees;

3. The former French colonies currently occupied by the Axis remain unchanged - including Djibouti, Madagascar, French Indochina, etc., but Germany agrees that France will receive compensation from the British colonies;

4. French capital can invest in the development of oil fields in the Middle East.

Although the Pétain government has not accepted the plan proposed by Germany for the time being, it would be false to say that it is not convinced. Those equipment drawings alone are enough for the French to learn from: in addition to the will wheel drawings it has obtained, Germany also stated that it will use the G43 rifle, The drawings of the No. 4 tank and the Yunlong modified aircraft carrier were all handed over to France, and it was also agreed to establish authorized production lines in France including the Bf-219 and other new aircraft.

Economically, France can not only sell its agricultural and animal husbandry products at good prices, but French financial oligarchs can also find good oil development projects - even during the honeymoon between Britain and France, Britain did not allow France to intervene in the exploration of oil fields in the Middle East. From this point of view, Germany is sincere in its desire to reconcile with France.

Militarily, France can also fully restore its military strength. Hoffman agreed that once France joins the Axis, all remaining French prisoners of war will be repatriated immediately. The French army can immediately be expanded to 1 million or more, and the French navy can also be rebuilt. Most importantly, The most important thing is that he promised that France would not have to fight to the death with the Americans or the Soviets.

The conditions for France to obtain compensation from British colonies are actually not low:

The first is Uganda. After the war in Kenya, Uganda and Zambia will naturally fall into place. Germany said it would coordinate the relationship between France and Belgium, and give France a piece of northern Congo from its share, so that French Central Africa and Uganda can be united. Belgium's The losses received some compensation from Zambia;

The second is Sierra Leone and Liberia, which are close to French West Africa. Germany will not send troops but allows France to move freely;

The third is Southern Africa. Hoffman plans to bring Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), Botswana, and Namibia into competition. All EU countries that cooperate with Germany and contribute to the war, including Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France , Spain or Italy can all get a share of the large chunk of land in Zambia (the remaining part), Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, and Malawi. Germany itself will not interfere, and France can take the majority of the pie with its strength. .

In Hoffman's thinking, if the British surrender earlier, South Africa can still be left to the British. If it continues to be stubborn, South Africa will also be dealt with - although there will be some trouble.

"But France wants Nigeria," Ribbentrop added, and then he saw the Führer fall silent.

"Pétain has a big heart." Hoffman sighed, "I don't agree with Nigeria, but we can give the Gold Coast (Ghana) to the French. We just need to build a channel through Dahomey (Benin). Just connect Togo, Nigeria and Cameroon..."

Hoffman knows that Nigeria has oil, which is very important to Germany and the future of the European Union. He cannot let it out easily - oil and atomic bombs are the magic weapons for Germany to rule the European Union and establish a foothold in the world. Algeria and Libya are both under French control. Oil, if it continues to control Nigeria, it will have a trump card to compete with Germany in the future. Hoffman does not want to fight another Franco-Prussian war.

Regarding Germany's future interests in Africa, he circled two locations: one was German East Africa - roughly including Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya and Tanganyika (German colonies in World War I); the other was German West Africa - roughly Including Togo, Nigeria and Cameroon. For Germany, apart from taking back the colonies of World War I, it only has Somalia, Nigeria and Kenya. It does not look too big from the territory.

It’s not that he doesn’t want colonies, but that it is a general trend for colonies to separate from their mother countries in the future. After the war, there will be waves of independence movements, and the United States will definitely fan the flames among them. The more they get now, the heavier the burden will be on Germany in the future. There are already a large number of subordinates in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and the colonies are far less important. The motivations for forming German West Africa and German East Africa are different - the former is to save face and show that Germany has fully recovered; the latter is to preserve the flanks of the Indian Ocean oil channel, and neither is simply a colony for the sake of colonization. .

As for letting the French and Italians expand their colonies, Hoffman's motives are not simple - once the energy of these two countries is dragged down on the colonies, they will not be able to cause trouble for Germany in EU affairs. After all, Germany does not rely on colonies. Plans to live life.

"We can talk to the French again. We don't need to be anxious, but one thing must be reminded of Pétain. If Britain completely collapses, then his condition will become a declaration of war on the United States. Moreover, if he doesn't want to declare war on Britain, he can't. Let him figure out where to go in purging the influence of de Gaulle elements.”

"Towards beauty?" Ribbentrop smiled bitterly, "If he had the courage to face beauty, he wouldn't be the same Petain he is now."

"I'm not kidding. When Africa is cleared and Japan hits India, what will be left of Great Britain? South Africa? - a lonely bridgehead; Canada? - a land of ice and snow on the edge of the United States; Australia and New Zealand? - far away in the Pacific Ocean At that time, there was no need for France to fight against Britain. If he still wanted to get such favorable conditions, he would have to fight against the Americans together, "Hoffman said harshly, "If Pétain continues to pretend to be deaf. , we can only tell Darlan, either he will do it, or we will support Lavargan."

Ribbentrop rolled his eyes: "Can you tell him the news about the upcoming attack on India?"

"This... it's up to you. The key is to control the situation and choose a suitable time. The United Fleet hasn't left yet. After it leaves..."

Ribbentrop immediately excused himself with understanding.

Hoffman was lost in thought in the office. The Frenchman's conditions were still a bit high, but they could still be negotiated. To ensure the final victory, immediate means are not enough, there must be something powerful, such as - super bomb!

He flipped through the calendar. Two days later, on May 13th, there would be a secret meeting about the super bomb. Academic leader Heisenberg would make a comprehensive report, and then project leader Speer would deploy the next phase of work. He tapped lightly. Banging the table, thinking about how to promote the project in the future.