Battle of the Third Reich Chapter 109: Terminal
Remember [67♂Book ÷] in one second, free reading of wonderful novels without pop-up windows!
The French only made partial modifications to the Normandy, mainly for cabins below first class. For example, the double-layer wooden bed in the guest room was changed to a four-layer steel frame bed, which increased the number of sanitation and water supply facilities. , Simple ventilation ducts were installed on the lower deck to expand the scale of the kitchen and dining room to meet the daily needs of the tens of thousands of French soldiers on board during wartime transportation.
However, the French did not change the facilities and layout of the rooms above the first class. They still retained the luxurious facilities and interior decoration originally enjoyed by the first-class passengers, and provided accommodation for senior officers and VIPs according to their ranks.
After all, the French are not so extravagant to transform such a world-class super-luxury cruise ship into an ocean-going troop carrier. There are not many super cruise ships of the level of Normandy. The French are ready to wait to replace her professional high-speed troop carrier and restore the ship to its original appearance and put it back into commercial operation.
However, before that, France still needs her to continue to serve the country, fast to and from the mainland and the Far East colonies, to transport important supplies, military equipment and soldiers to the east.
This ship can transport a light infantry division and its ammunition and equipment from France to Southeast Asia within one voyage. It only takes about fifteen days to complete the journey, of which two days are still stopping at the port for supply. The speed of deployment in the 1940s should be quite astonishing.
When the Normandy returned from French Indochina, the ship would of course not be empty. In addition to the resources and commodities produced in the colonies of various countries, the Normandy also carried foreigners from various Asian colonies who were preparing to return to Europe and was dispatched to the European mainland. Of active duty troops and veterans preparing to return home.
When European countries rebuilt their military, they found that there was a huge gap in middle-level officers. The development of officers was a systematic project, and the entire cycle time was relatively long. So the high-level officials focused on the officers who served overseas. People received the most formal military education before the war, and long-term service abroad also allowed them to accumulate a lot of military management skills. Therefore, during this period, colonial officers are often transferred back to serve in the country. Basically, these people will be incorporated into the reorganized army to serve as middle-level officers.
The Normandy did not berth in the Port of Suez, but instead stopped at the military pier next to the Zibilite (also translated as Kebilite) Air Force Base, where nearly a thousand passengers disembarked and unloaded at the same time A large number of supplies are all weapons and ammunition produced by Indian arsenals.
The British are currently building a strong army in Egypt, preparing to deal with the anti-British trend spreading in the middle and lower levels of the Middle East. The desert chiefs who are behind the scenes think they are hiding well, but they are too underestimated. The British intelligence services are now capable. The Imperial Military Intelligence Agency is not a place to eat fish and potatoes. The British Empire has already possessed sufficient evidence of these people's activities, and only waited for the time to uproot this group of scum. This time The British will no longer be soft. In order to maintain the stability of the British Empire, they must use steel and blood to deter other non-commissioned officials.
Two German military officers and their French female companions walked down the cruise ship's gangway in the crowd, followed by a few white-cloth headed Indian handymen carrying their luggage.
"Today's weather is good." Standing on a military dock paved with a large precast concrete floor, Krieger set up a pergola and looked out at the blue sky.
"It's a good day for flying. Let's wait here first. The telegram says that someone will pick us up here." Horn took out his wallet from his pocket and counted a few 5 pfennig coins ( One mark was exchanged for one hundred pfennigs) and stuffed into the hands of the leading Indian handyman.
Because the local Egyptians were really unreliable in their work, the British hired some coolies from India to serve the army. These Indian handymen who helped passengers carry their luggage were one of them. All of them were Dalits. (The untouchables who are classified outside the caste system are the so-called untouchables.) The irony is that from the British masters, they learned all kinds of modern knowledge and gained self-esteem that they had never felt in their hometown, so Worked quite hard and loyal.
German soldiers were not allowed to own private currency when Hitler was in power. Soldiers can only use military currency issued by the army, which is the notorious military ticket. They can use military certificates and military tickets in the barracks. Or in stores designated to serve military personnel, buying all kinds of merchandise for the military is generally much cheaper than on the market, and some of them are ration merchandise that cannot be bought by money outside.
In history, after the German army conquered more than half of Europe, it used military tickets to buy foreign goods in the occupied areas. This military ticket is also called the occupation mark, because it does not require any reserves and collateral. A currency without credit guarantee.
At the end of the war in history, German soldiers with only military tickets in their hands began to use this kind of banknotes for shopping in Germany, causing serious chaos in the economic activities of the German mainland.
Actually, after the Allied forces occupied Germany, they also issued military tickets. They were called Allied Marks, which could be exchanged one-to-one with the Reich Mark and Leedenmark on the German market. We must know that the Reichsmark is a gold standard currency. The foreign exchange rate did not depreciate much until the time of defeat. The reason for the domestic inflation in Germany was the extreme shortage of goods, not the over-issue of the national currency. The Reichsmark still maintained its original gold content. The Leedenmark is a currency issued with land as collateral, and the exchange rate is one to one with the gold mark. It can be said that the Allied forces have made a fortune by issuing the Allied Mark.
However, after Xu Jun came to power, he ordered the prohibition of German soldiers from using military tickets in the occupied areas. All officers and soldiers serving outside the German mainland were allowed to own and use locally issued or international currencies.
Of course, when German soldiers are serving in the country, the original regulations still have to be observed. The German army issues military currency for internal use mainly to allow soldiers to reduce contact with the civilian population, avoid problems such as economic disputes, and facilitate the military. Regarding the recovery and management of funds, simply controlling the soldiers' shopping channels can provide the Army with a stable financial source.
Horn’s military pay during his overseas service was all Reich Mark cash. When he set off, he also received an extra special grant from the command headquarters. A thick pile of brand-new French francs, which he ate in French Indochina He lives in a barracks and basically didn’t spend much money. On the contrary, he got a lot of oil and water in the jungle. He has no financial pressure at all, but the thrifty habits he has cultivated on weekdays cannot be changed in a short time. .
"It seems that the guy who picked us up is late." Lieutenant Krieger looked at the busy scene around him. Most of the passengers who disembarked have already left. Now only the cruise ship’s sailors and pier staff are left on the pier. Military supplies were unloaded in the cargo warehouse on board.
Two French beauties are sitting side by side on Lieutenant Krieger’s suitcase at this time~IndoMTL.com~ They are wearing a white umbrella with lace. The style should be Miss Duval’s personal belongings. .
"Perhaps it was delayed because of something, a little bit patient, Krieger." Horn took out the cigarette case from his pocket and handed it to the two ladies first.
"You are really a gentleman." Miss Duval picked up a cigarette from the box without notice.
"Thank you, I don't smoke." Miss Bloom shook her hand and declined.
"Don't worry, we shouldn't have to wait too long." Horn took out a lighter from his pocket and helped Miss Duval light a cigarette.
"The temperature is fairly comfortable now. If it were in July and August, the outdoor temperature would sometimes be as high as forty degrees or more." Horn handed Krieger a cigarette.
"Will it be dried into dried meat."
"There is no problem at all, if you can't add moisture in time."
"How is the water in Egypt, is it delicious?"
"The water quality in some places is good, but there are some wells in the desert. The water quality is so poor that it can only be used for drinking animals."
"Did you encounter that high temperature the last time you went to Cairo?"
"How should I say, I went during the summer vacation." Two German military officers were smoking cigarettes while chatting with two beautiful women about ill nutrition.
"Look at the captain, is that coming to pick up our car?" Miss Bloom suddenly pointed in one direction, and several people quickly turned their heads along their fingers.
I only found an old convertible car coming slowly towards them. It seems that the style is really some years old. With the gasp of the engine, the tail exhaust pipe still emits puffs of black smoke from time to time.
PS: The first chapter is here. After the meal, the second chapter may be later. Those who go to bed early can read it tomorrow.
It's the end of the month, continue to ask for monthly tickets, the author needs more motivation, thank you for your support of this book.