Chapter 899: The Situation Is Full of Twists and Turns (End)

ps: The flight was delayed yesterday, and I returned home in the early morning. What's worse is that I was probably hurt by the sea breeze in Qingdao. My head hurts a lot. I didn't get up until the evening. I want to comfort myself with monthly tickets...

Montero couldn't just let one division of the expeditionary force fight against a German armored division. That would be too obvious. He also mobilized three front-line divisions to advance step by step and cover the flank of the expeditionary force in a horn-shaped posture. Such a tactical arrangement looks much more reasonable.

The entire counter-insurgency army stipulated that Major General Joao Morais, commander of the 1st Expeditionary Infantry Division of the expeditionary force, would serve as the commander, and the command headquarters would be jointly composed of American and Brazilian staff officers. Morais himself approved of this and couldn't wait to think that he could fight.

The United States also accepted it: 4 divisions were dispatched together, one of which was a fully American-equipped reorganized division plus American heavy armored units, and then there was also supporting air fire cover. If they still couldn't win, then Brazil's situation would be really unbearable.

The frontline generals were confident, the American advisers were confident, and no one could say anything. General Clark, the emperor, expressed cautious optimism about this military action. Although Vargas still had doubts, he dared not say anything. Diplomatic pressure has been transmitted: Recovering lost territory is first of all the business of the Brazilians themselves, and they cannot rely on American soldiers to fight for everything - Brazil is not a colony of the United States.

Given that the whole country of Brazil is now excited, repeated obstruction will only further dampen morale. If he does not take action and make substantive statements, his position will not be stable. Vargas also believes that it is necessary to fight from a political perspective. In addition, everyone seems to be very confident, so his confidence has also risen, and he has launched a massive propaganda campaign, as if this counter-insurgency operation was carried out under his strong promotion and comprehensive leadership. The original initiator and initiator Montero has shrunk back and made no sound, let alone trying to gain the initiative. Vargas is very satisfied with the latter's "sensible" performance.

Little did he know that Montero was sneering in secret: he knew Vargas' personality too well. He was hesitant at the beginning, and rushed out to pick peaches when the general trend was formed. He didn't know that peaches were not so easy to pick. This attack would fail sooner or later.

Montero was also fully prepared in other aspects, especially summoning several other division commanders except the expeditionary division to give lectures. Because the expeditionary division drew the best soldiers from various departments and got the most sophisticated weapons, it had a lot of conflicts with other divisions in the country. In addition, the generous logistical treatment under the supply guarantee of the United States made others quite dissatisfied. American advisers were equipped from top to bottom, and the main officers communicated in English. Some main combat units were directly Americans. Even all officers and soldiers learned to sing the American national anthem in English in order to get along with the Americans. Such phenomena fueled the dissatisfaction of friendly forces, and strange names such as "Colonial Division" and "American Brazilian Expeditionary Force Advance Team" were common.

Montero knew this very well, but usually pretended not to know. On the one hand, he appeased his trusted subordinates, and on the other hand, he flattered the United States to express his importance to the expeditionary division. Now at the critical moment, he must give special instructions. The task he gave was simple: advance step by step, slowly and steadily, let the expeditionary division take the lead, and grab it when there are benefits and military merits...

"If the situation is not good, have you written down all the orders I gave you?"

"Yes."

"That's good, everyone be careful, you are our own people!"

In order to make the Brazilians fight for their lives, Emmons used all his skills to move the tactical air force forward, mobilizing more than 300 aircraft in total, of which nearly 200 were P-51 and A-26 suitable for ground suppression, and even P-47 was also on the battlefield.

The Brazilian Air Force was also unwilling to lag behind. The Brazilian First Fighter Squadron also moved forward. This unit was led by Major Nairo Mora. The core members of the squadron, including combat officers, intelligence officers, and the squadron leaders of the four squadrons of red, blue, yellow and green, all received systematic training in Florida, the United States. In addition, about 350 other members of the squadron went to the US military base in Panama for training. They continued to receive training while coordinating patrol missions in the Panama Canal area.

By the end of April, more than 70 pilots had completed 80 hours of flight training and received new P-47 fighters, and ground crews also received new equipment - the equipment provided by the United States was relatively advanced for the Brazilian army, which could exert significant influence and control (this was Montero's biggest dissatisfaction) (Note: The emblem of the Brazilian Air Force is similar to the emblem of the US military, so the vertical tail fin rudder also uses green and yellow to indicate its Brazilian nationality)

Adding up all kinds of aircraft, the counterinsurgency operation has accumulated nearly 400 aircraft, with a total scale including more than 80,000 army troops, more than one-third of Brazil's army; the fleet exceeds the strength of Brazil, and as for equipment, that is, the top equipment that Brazil can get is all emptied.

From beginning to end, only two people were not optimistic about the prospects of this war: one was Montero, and the other was Patton. The latter had fought against the Flying Fortress in Africa, and he knew the opponent's level very well. Not to mention the Brazilian division with full American equipment, even the fully armed American division might not be able to win. Of course, he also told this concern to Clark, who was silent after hearing it, but the few words he said immediately left Patton speechless.

"George, maybe your judgment is right, but you can only say this kind of thing in private and not in public."

"Why?"

"Do you know Hitler's ridicule of the Brazilians?"

Patton shook his head, looking very confused.

“Hitler said: If the Brazilian army can also defeat the German army, then all the cobras in the world will smoke…”

The staff laughed out loud, this metaphor is really a bit hurtful. But Patton and Clark did not laugh. The strongest army in South America is either Chilean or Argentine, never Brazilian - there is no dispute that Brazilian football ranks first.

Clark continued, "If the best Brazilian troops with all American weapons and our help and training can't beat the Germans, why do Brazilians want to be enemies with the Germans?"

Patton was surprised and said, "Should they surrender if they can't beat them?"

"Brazilians don't have to follow us. They can also follow the Germans. Didn't the Argentines follow the Germans? What's wrong with the Germans taking the Argentines?" Clark advised, "Politics is a very complicated thing. Brazil already has pro-German and pro-American factions. If the pro-American faction is afraid of the enemy, how can it gain the upper hand?"

"So our army has to fight this battle."

Clark shook his head: "The election is coming. I don't recommend a big fight in Brazil. Victory is fine. As long as there is a little sign of failure, it will be Dewey's artillery shells to attack the current government and the Joint Chiefs of Staff... Are you fully confident that you can defeat the Germans?"

Patton shook his head. He didn't even have 4 divisions in his hands to land.

"Let the Brazilians fight. If they win, it means that the Germans are just so-so. If they lose, it can also prevent our army from acting too hastily. Don't you think that we can't accomplish anything with the current force?" Clark said casually, "If the Germans send two more divisions to land in Recife next month, how will you deal with it?"

"What about our navy?"

"The navy has just received two new aircraft carriers. It will be difficult to complete sea trials and form combat effectiveness next month." Clark sighed, "The East Coast is so big and the gates are wide open. The navy can't just focus on South America and ignore the East Coast. South America is the main battlefield for us, and it is just a small sub-battlefield for the Germans."

Just as the Brazilian army was preparing to launch an attack, Schocken was also making targeted adjustments and rest for the troops. After receiving intelligence that the Brazilian army might come to attack, he did not make a decision to defend the enemy outside the country, but advocated letting the opponent in to fight.

"Sir, what do you want?"

"Attract the enemy here so that we can better play our advantages on the plains. In addition, I have discussed a new battle plan with General Hinz."

After Krank led the other fleets back home, the remaining forces including the Jean-Bart, King, Richelieu, Scharnhorst and other warships reorganized the South Atlantic Squadron, commanded by Lieutenant General Hinz and under the jurisdiction of Schauken. The plan discussed by the two was to withdraw about 2 Marine brigades from the Falkland Islands garrison, prepare to carry out an amphibious landing in Florianopolis after the Brazilian army gradually advances, take over Santa Catalina State in one fell swoop and surround the Brazilian army.

"Why do we need to withdraw troops from the Falkland Islands?" a staff officer asked, "Don't Argentina and Uruguay already have two Marine brigades?"

The Falkland Islands is the base camp for the German army's troop accumulation. In addition to the two Marine brigades, there are also three Army divisions (7th Armored Division, 27th Armored Grenadier Division, 92nd Infantry Division), but the distance is a little far, and a round trip (including loading) will not be completed in 12 days.

"There must be someone watching the troops of Argentina and Uruguay, but the Falkland Islands is a closed environment, and no one can tip off, which is conducive to achieving surprise in combat." Shao Ken smiled, "If necessary, I will ask the troops of Argentina and Uruguay to reinforce the Republic of America."

"Reinforce?"

"The Brazilians have such a large force. If I don't withdraw troops, it seems that I can't resist. How can I make them rush over quickly?" Shao Ken smiled evilly.

"Does the plan require Berlin's approval?"

"I have reached an agreement with General Manteuffel. He agreed and even said that the 7th Armored Division and the 27th Armored Grenadier Division can be used. Considering the needs of landing operations, two Marine brigades are enough. After General Hintz agrees, the three of us will jointly send a telegram to Berlin." Schauken said confidently, "Based on my understanding of the personalities of the Führer and Chief Rommel, they will approve this plan. Don't you think that the Führer likes to fight such battles the most in the past two years? The tactics of hard fighting, layer-by-layer blocking, and no retreat are no longer popular."

"That's right..."

"To be honest, sometimes I can't bear to watch my opponents jumping into the pit one by one."