Chapter 967 Black Cat (End)

"You mean, we can only take the remaining 120,000 square kilometers of Southern Rhodesia to form British Rhodesia?"

"Yes!" Ribbentrop smiled, "You don't have to work hard for this piece of land, we will help your country to conquer it."

In fact, Germany supported France to get a large piece of French Rhodesia and there was a deal: as a condition for supporting the French to expand their colonies, Hoffman was ready to gradually move more than 2 million natives on the island of Madagascar to French Rhodesia - Madagascar was a traditional French colony, and the natives were deeply influenced by France. The French agreed to accept these natives.

"We also want to build a Boer Republic in South Africa?"

"Sir, you are more proficient in history and diplomacy than me. This is obviously a restoration of the old order. How can it be said to be established?" Ribbentrop said with a fake smile, "The Boer Republic (Transvaal Republic) was established 90 years ago and lasted at least 40 years ago. It has a much longer history than the South African Dominion."

"But!" Eden wanted to say that Great Britain won the two Boer Wars. But Ribbentrop obviously blocked his next speech: "Our attitude towards the Boer War has always been clear and continuous."

The so-called clear and continuous means that since the time of William II, Germany has clearly supported the Boers in disrupting the British.

"We will hold a referendum, and we will draw the boundaries based on the number of Boer descendants willing to join the Boer Republic. If there are more people, we will draw more, and if there are fewer people, we will draw less." Ribbentrop explained, "The Führer prepared the Waffen SS Army Group for the South African invasion, and there are many Dutch in it. Can't they get a piece of land after fighting bloody battles?"

Eden was blocked and had no words: the British did not want to send troops but wanted to take all the land. There is no such free lunch in the world.

"What will we have left after this adjustment?" Eden complained, "almost nothing."

"That's not necessarily true." Ribbentrop shouted, "You still have a lot of land? British Rhodesia, Bechuanaland Protectorate (now Botswana), South Africa, and the Dominion of South Africa. Together, they still cover nearly 1.4 million square kilometers, making it the largest country in southern Africa, and the best land is in your hands."

As for Namibia, which is currently occupied by South Africa, it was originally a colony of German Southwest Africa. Eden didn't even need to ask, Germany would definitely take it back.

After Ribbentrop's division, Britain ranked first in southern Africa, with 1.4 million square kilometers; Portugal ranked second, with 900,000 square kilometers (Mozambique after expansion); Germany ranked third, with 800,000 square kilometers (Namibia); and then France, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands. This means that all countries have a hand in southern Africa.

Although Germany ranks third, this does not include Madagascar. If Madagascar with 600,000 square kilometers is added, Germany will be the vague first in southern Africa.

After this adjustment, Germany had 4 colonies in Africa: German East Africa (roughly including Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, Tanganyika, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi, part of Zambia and Uganda), about 2.4 million square kilometers, German West Africa (roughly including Togo, Benin, Nigeria and Cameroon), about 1.6 million square kilometers, Southwest Africa (Namibia), about 800,000 square kilometers, Madagascar, about 600,000 square kilometers. The total African colonies are 5.4 million square kilometers.

Madagascar has a different status from other colonies. After clearing the indigenous population, Hoffman intends to build it into the German African Republic, but he is still hesitant whether to build it as a third home. The African Republic is obviously not as obvious as the American Republic in terms of locational advantages. In the future, the possibility of serving as an extra-large overseas military base will exceed the living space-after all, this is the only advantageous territory stuck between South Africa and Australia and New Zealand.

On the eve of World War I, France had 11 million square kilometers of colonies, and Britain had 9 million square kilometers. After this adjustment, France only reduced less than 1 million square kilometers, still more than 10 million square kilometers, firmly ranking first; Germany jumped to second place with more than 5.4 million; Italy ranked third with 3.5 million (Libya, Ethiopia, part of South Sudan, Eritrea); Portugal ranked fourth with 2.15 million (Angola, the expanded Mozambique), followed by Belgium, and the sixth place was barely Britain's turn.

Now it is Germany's turn to play the role of a troublemaker - in the African colonies, Germany has split pieces of land into pieces, introducing a large number of European countries to confront Britain.

Of course, the location retained by Britain is still the most ideal. The most developed areas in South Africa are still in its hands. Not only does it have an industrial base, but also railways, gold mines, and diamond mines are on it.

After several days of communication, the two sides still could not make any progress. Eden said: "If this is the situation, it will be difficult for me to explain to the country."

"I almost forgot, there is another prerequisite. Your country must allocate transport ships to provide logistics services - 1 million ship tonnage, 40% of tankers and 60% of cargo ships, to assist us in mobilizing materials from the mainland and the Middle East to supply the army."

"This is impossible!" Eden was so anxious that he jumped up and down.

"Don't think too much. If we put forward this condition to the French, the other party will be very happy to serve." Ribbentrop reminded, "Your country will not send troops, just sit back and enjoy the results. Is there anything better in the world than this?"

"I must report to the country."

"Of course, it will take about two months for the army to be dispatched and deployed." Ribbentrop reminded him, "We have begun to withdraw troops from the Russian front line, and will gradually transfer troops to South Africa, and launch an offensive around September 1. "

"How can we ensure our interests?"

"Are you worried that it will not be delivered after it is captured? Doesn't your country still want to accept our troops to land and hand over excess weapons and equipment? We will follow this rhythm and maintain coordination."

"Damn it!" Aiden cursed secretly in his heart. If Germany tied the two together, it would be Britain that would suffer. Compared with garrison power and equipment, South Africa and Botswana are obviously much more important.

"After our army delivers and restores the Boer Republic, we will no longer regard South Africa as an autonomous territory of your country. You can directly treat it as a direct colony, or simply turn it into an overseas territory. We have no problem with it."

A combat plan code-named "Avalanche" has been drawn up. The final large-scale battle will be reported and performed by Guderian and the SS Armored Group. In addition to including all the forces of Thor's Hammer, it will also receive full support from the navy and air force. Of course, the 1944-type troops consume a lot of materials, so Hoffman plans to allocate 3 million tons of ship tonnage for transportation. The United Kingdom is required to provide 1 million tons, and Germany, Italy, and France add up to 2 million tons. Portugal to open Mozambique's ports to German forces

As the Voluntary Wheel continues to be launched, Germany is fully capable of maintaining a large transport fleet.

This does not mean that a South African campaign requires so many supplies, and it is impossible to transport so many supplies during the two-month preparation period. This total of 3 million tons of supplies is the total for the next phase of the operation. The unused portion can be piled on the island of Madagascar and transferred to Namibia in the next step. Then the channel for future support to South America will be completely unobstructed.

Hoffman's request was: to be majestic and shocking, and to tell the Americans with a devastating attitude that "they will have no hope in a ground war for another 100 years!"

In view of the huge differences in the South African issue, Eden proposed to adjourn the meeting and let him return to the country for reporting and communication. Ribbentrop readily agreed, and he also went to prepare for the Axis Summit on August 15.

"That's it for the negotiations on the South African issue." Eden said at the cabinet meeting. "The first goal has barely been achieved. The Germans do not ask us to send troops, but only ask for logistical and material transportation assistance. They will take it. But the division of territory and post-war interests is very different from ours.”

Attlee frowned: "Apart from Rhodesia, is it all about the Boer Republic?"

Aiden gritted his teeth and said: "If it's just Rhodesia, I can barely take it. But now the Germans want to restore the Boer Republic in one fell swoop. This is a huge trouble. Not only is it huge in terms of benefits, Damaged and unable to account for history.”

The Boer War consumed Great Britain's endless resources and was regarded as a turning point from prosperity to decline, but at least the original slogan was victory - now the Germans do not even intend to retain this result.

"There is another question. Germany will launch an attack on South Africa in September. How long do you expect to win it?"

"South Africa is not strong, and the Americans have not been able to take care of transporting supplies and troops recently. If they only use the current troops..." Marshal Brooke pondered, "If the German army dispatches 150,000 elite troops, and the logistics can be guaranteed, It is expected that the strategic goal will be achieved by the end of 1944, or perhaps sooner."

"So fast?"

"Fast? I still think it's too slow."

Eden added: "The Germans linked the delivery of South Africa to the garrison, our handing over of weapons and other progress."

Attlee said angrily: "I know the Germans have a lot of tricks up their sleeves."

Porter smiled bitterly: "But we have no way to contain it. Americans can't care about South Africa's affairs, so how can we?"

"Can Marshal Smuts directly declare his allegiance to His Majesty?"

"This is impossible. The Americans will not agree to do this, and he does not like black cats."

"Let's report to His Majesty first and see how he reacts. In other words, can he accept such conditions?"

"What if..." Fraser frowned, "What if the Americans continue to add troops and strength to South Africa?"

Brooke's eyes lit up, but then dimmed: "Well... this is only a theoretical possibility. Even the Americans in Brazil are so worried now, how can they possibly care?"

"Let's discuss it some more, we still have some time."

Unknown to everyone, Nimitz has brought a huge fleet close to the Recife area of ​​Brazil, and a South American counterattack will soon begin...