Chapter 896: Turbulent and Vast (Medium, 3900 Votes and Additional Update)
Early the next morning, Emmons held talks with Montero, the actual controller of the Brazilian army.
In order to cheer up the other party, he first told the other party about the weapons and equipment that the Joint Chiefs of Staff was preparing to assist Brazil. When he heard that there were 2 cruisers, 4 destroyers and 2 army divisions, Montero smiled and said that he would fight the Germans. In the end, he vowed to regain the lost ground.
"But ground forces alone are not enough. We need air cover." Montero suggested, "Your country should send more aviation forces to Brazil."
"We will do it." Emmons said, "This time I brought 300 aircraft, but the Rio de Janeiro air base is too far away, which is not conducive to our military operations."
"I have agreed to select a site for your army to open a base in Sao Paulo."
"Not even Sao Paulo. It's still more than 800 kilometers away from the rebel state. We want to be closer."
"Which one did you choose?"
"Florianópolis, the capital of Santa Catarina state near the rebel state."
"Well...is it too close?" Montero smiled awkwardly, and then said, "The enemy pressure we are facing is too great, and the state's defense forces have been repelled by the German army."
Emmons thought to himself: What does it mean to repel? It is obviously to scare people away, okay? However, he still showed sympathy on his face and said: "Considering this problem, we suggest that your expeditionary force be deployed in this state, and then quickly build an airport and forward aviation base, and use it as a base to launch a counterattack."
"But the expeditionary force only has one division, which may not be enough."
"We will send another 2-3 divisions and sufficient aviation forces over."
"How long do we need to wait?" Montero sighed, "Now the hearts of the southern states are unstable, and Germans and Italians are making trouble every day. I'm afraid..."
"How about the expeditionary force being deployed in early June? As for our army..." Emmons thought for a moment and gave an uncertain time, "It is estimated to be completed in early July."
"Thank you for your country's great assistance..." The two people, who had their own concerns, ended the meeting.
Before Emmons set off, he received news: In order to prevent the worst situation from happening, President Roosevelt had instructed Marshall to formulate a relevant combat plan - once a dangerous situation was reached, troops could be quickly and preemptively sent to control the entire territory of Brazil and ensure the security of the backyard. Originally, the plan was shelved after Brazil joined the Allied Forces, but now the situation has changed drastically. Truman once again instructed that this strategy needed further study and deployment, and it was scheduled to be implemented by Lieutenant General Clark.
Lieutenant General Clark is not good at fighting. Ten Clarks combined are not as good as one Patton. But when it comes to diplomacy and conspiracy, Patton is not good. Ten Pattons are not as good as one Clark. Therefore, this time the South American Army set up one main and one There are two deputy commanders. The more senior Clark is the commander on the surface, responsible for coordinating and negotiating with all parties, while Patton is the commander secretly, responsible for leading the troops to fight. Both of them found this arrangement strange, but since the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Marshall considered it this way, they had no choice but to comply.
As for Montero, he certainly has his considerations.
Unlike Vargas, he never believed that the United States was sincerely helping Brazil. The reason why he changed his pro-German stance was entirely because of the military assistance provided by the United States. In other words, Vargas was doing it for his own status and believed that whoever the United States or Germany might win would depend on him. Otherwise, it would not be difficult to explain the motivations of many projects. In the summer of 1940, Vargas decided to build a large-scale new project in Brazil. For a modern steel plant, he negotiated with both the German and American companies at the same time. The plan proposed by Krupp was better. Vargas had always said that he would choose the German side for cooperation. However, when Germany failed in the air battle over Britain, he believed that Germany could not win the war. war, immediately changed his attitude and signed a contract with the United States.
In May 1941, as the Bismarck sank in the North Atlantic, Vargas believed that the main force of the German navy was almost destroyed, so he announced a joint maritime patrol and escort between Brazil and the United States. After the outbreak of the Pacific War, Brazil's position further moved closer to the United States. After the United States achieved a major victory at Midway, Brazil finally made up its mind to declare war on Germany on August 21, a few days before Hoffmann crossed.
At this stage, although the war is still ongoing, everyone can see that the situation of the Allies is very bad.
That afternoon, Montero listened to a secret report from his confidant: "Although the United States has repeatedly stated that it will support us, as far as we know, the U.S. military will not be able to provide strength in the short term... The U.S. Navy has been defeated by Japan and Germany in succession, and now Unable to argue with the Axis, the so-called deployment in early July is a complete pretext. The US military is now only deployed on the front lines in Colombia, Venezuela and Guyana..."
Montero raised his eyebrows: "Do you think the Americans are ready to lose us?"
"At least they don't have enough confidence to defend us. What they have to ensure is the Caribbean front line."
Montero nodded: He could see that Emmons was not confident today. If the opponent is tough enough, Sao Paulo can be used as a base for the US military to launch air strikes. The Germans only have more than 100 aircraft, and the Americans have at least 400-500 aircraft. Why can't you fight? 4 of them can't compete with 1 of the opponent?
He hit the US military's soft spot: not to mention for the Brazilians, even the US military itself would not fight with 4 planes in 1 unless it was absolutely necessary. Even if they really chose to fight with 4 planes in 1, they would not be able to defeat the Americans, because the composition of US aircraft is 75% bombers and 25% fighters, while the Germans are just the opposite, with fighters accounting for 75% and bombers accounting for 25%. How can the rookie US Army Air Force, which flies more than 800 kilometers each time, fight hard and fight hard to be a match for the German elite? - That is basically a replica of the Guadalcanal air battle.
"What progress has been made in the secret negotiations with Frank?"
"If our country joins the Axis, he is willing to support you to become the head of Brazil, Brazil will enjoy the same treatment as Argentina, Germany will send a group of officers to Brazil, and use relevant weapons and equipment to trade with our agricultural and sideline products and minerals, and Germany will provide a credit line." The other party hesitated and said, "The status of the American Republic may not change, but Germany still agrees to keep the other three states in the south within the Brazilian framework, but only requires autonomous status; as for our relationship with the La Plata Group, Germany will come forward to coordinate."
"Do you think the Germans can win?"
Several confidants looked at each other, and finally said: "Yes!"
"I'm not asking about Europe, I'm asking about South America."
"This..." Several people hesitated, "Germany is strong in combat, and the United States has a large number of troops. It's not good for the time being. ..."
"Get ready, let the expeditionary force fight the Germans."
"General..." A confidant advised him, "We can't win. The opponent is the famous Flying Fortress Armored Division, which is one of the troops that beat the shit out of the Americans in Africa. We don't need to try."
"How can we let these people who have been brainwashed by the Americans know the strength of the German army without fighting?" Montero sneered, "Many people, including Vargas, still have unrealistic fantasies about the United States. I want to make them sober up. Anyway, they don't listen to me, so what's the point of keeping them?"
According to the agreement between Brazil and the United States, the Brazilian Expeditionary Force did not go to the battlefield as an independent force, but was completely placed under the jurisdiction of the US military. Not only the transportation of equipment and supplies, but also mail and allowances were the responsibility of the US military. At the beginning, it was stipulated that the entire Brazilian navy was also placed under the command of the US Atlantic Fleet for unified command. In Montero's view, this army was completely alienated. It was not the Brazilian Expeditionary Force but more like the US Brazilian Expeditionary Force.
There has always been a struggle between the mixed-race and European factions in the Brazilian military and political circles. Although both are dominated by white people (there are many blacks, yellow people and other colored people, but they are not mainstream in the military and political circles), the former holds the America-first theory, while the latter holds the Europe-first theory. They claim to be descendants of the nobility, and are immersed in the yearning for the European royal family (Portugal was once the suzerain of Brazil), and look down on the upstart United States. Montero is a typical representative of the European faction. Interestingly, the Brazilian Navy has always followed the example of Britain and the United States, so the mixed-race faction has always been in power, but after the main ships of the Brazilian Navy were destroyed by the Axis Navy, the mixed-race faction no longer has much energy.
Since Montero decided to do something big, he naturally had to weaken all opposition forces. As for fence-sitters and dictators like Vargas, he thought there were ways to deal with them.
The day after Emmons arrived in Brazil, Rudolf Hess, a veteran of the National Socialist Party who had been imprisoned in Britain for three years and had served as deputy head of state, returned to Belgium on a British frigate with more than 60 German pilots who were more or less injured, escorted by the Duke of Hamilton.
"Mr. Deputy Führer, the peace you are looking forward to is likely to be realized soon."
"I hope so." Hess smiled slightly, "Thank you for your care over the past few years. I will report your sincerity to the Führer."
That afternoon, Ribbentrop reported to Hoffman: "That madman, he is back..."
Hoffman nodded and said calmly: "I know, I have asked Comrade Goebbels to pick him up."
"Führer, you..."
"I know too well what kind of person and personality Churchill is. He is definitely the kind who will not cry until he sees the coffin." Hoffman smiled, "As for Hess... Hahaha, the weather is really good today."
As the deputy Führer, Hess was once prominent in Germany, but the war eclipsed him personally - he thought that managing party affairs was boring and no longer a very important position. Facing Goering, Ribbentrop, Himmler, Goebbels and the generals who were in important positions, he felt disappointed and jealous, so he embarked on an adventurous journey to Britain.
Hoffman was a little worried at first, fearing that Hess, who knew the Führer inside out, would say all kinds of unfavorable things when he met him, but from the first glance at Hess, he knew that the man in front of him had not changed his loyalty to him.
"My Führer..." Late that night, Hess met with the Führer at the Chancellery. He performed a standard hand salute and said in a fanatical and excited tone, "I am very sorry that my mission failed, but I am delighted to see that the cause for which the Führer has fought all his life is infinitely close to success."