Battle of the Third Reich Chapter 185: Welcome
The Taranto Airport has been under construction for some years, and Mussolini has modernized it in the early days of his administration. In fact, the airports in Europe were basically the same at that time. Aviation technology has not yet developed to the jet age, and aircraft take off and land. The requirements for runways and airport facilities are not very high. Most airports in Germany and France still use soil runways.
The runway of Taranto Airport was paved with cement. After the construction was completed, it was praised by the Italian media, and it has almost become the national pride of fascist Italy.
The cement floor is indeed flatter and firmer. The problem is that it is close to the sea, and the cement components are eroded by salty moisture all the year round. Some obvious cracks have appeared in the joints of the original local floor. It's just that the current damage is not too serious and will not affect the safety of the aircraft.
But General Vorndorf, commander of the German garrison in Port Taranto, didn't think so. He was grabbing the collar of the Italian airport commander with both hands and berating him angrily.
"You said you need cement, I gave you cement, you said you need construction workers, and I gave you workers. Now you tell me where you used those materials." General Worndorf shook vigorously The fat Italian man in hand.
"General, please calm down, general, let me explain." The Italian colonel's face was flushed, and he tried hard to break free, while stammering in German for mercy.
"General, please calm down, you are about to choke Colonel Giovanni." The general's adjutant couldn't stand it anymore, he stepped forward to stop him.
"Don't stop me, Ludwig, what do you think the Führer would think if he saw all this? Before I was shot by the Führer, this greedy **** was simply strangled to death." Vorndorf had both arms. With force, the fat Italian man in his hand rolled his eyes.
"Quickly separate them, the general has lost his mind." The adjutant shouted to the guard on the side.
Several strong German soldiers hurriedly rushed over, and they finally managed to divide the two with their strength, and saved the Italian colonel's life.
"No matter how angry it is now, General. The Führer’s plane is about to arrive, and you still need to preside over the welcome ceremony." The adjutant took a canteen from the soldier, and he was still breathing. Major General of the German Army.
"Thank you, I'm fine, Ludwig." General Vorndorf waved away the water bottle. He took a handkerchief from his pants pocket and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"Is the honor guard ready?" Vorndorf asked.
"It's all ready." The adjutant replied solemnly.
"Where is the team?"
"Standing by the tarmac."
"Go and see if that **** is dead."
"There should be another breath."
"First lock him up and then prosecute him for corruption and malfeasance."
"Yes, General Vorndorf." The adjutant stood at attention and saluted.
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The head of the empire didn't know about this farce on the ground, and even if he knew it, he wouldn't have much reaction. For him who rules the whole Europe, there are more important things to care about.
"We have controlled the entire Mediterranean Sea. The geographic importance of Taranto Port has been reduced. The role it plays must be changed." Xu Jun turned his head and looked at the Gemini Harbor below the fuselage.
"She has the greatest value right now." Xu Jun pointed to several commercial piers beside the old city.
The urban construction of Taranto is very slow. Like most ancient cities in Europe, there are still many buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries. Baroque-style apartments and Gothic spires, as well as counterfeit ancient Roman style house. The infamous Taranto Steel Plant in later generations has not yet been established, and the city is still bathed in the fresh sea breeze.
After the plane circled over the city for several weeks, it began to slowly descend towards the airport. Since the end of the war, there has not been a fleet of this size over the port of Taranto. The citizens on the street could not help but stop and raise their heads. Curiously watching the flock of eagles hovering overhead.
The Führer’s plane landed for the first time. The pilot’s skills were very good. Before the wheels touched the ground, he could hardly feel any bumps. The head of state's special plane landed steadily on the runway. All the military and political officials who came to greet him gave a long sigh of relief. The officials' faces were filled with smiles, ready to welcome the head of the empire with the most enthusiastic looks.
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"The commander of the German garrison in Taranto is Major General Frederick Worndorf. You met him at the Alcy Forest Camp before." Disenhofen reported to Xu Jun.
"Vorndorf?" The Führer searched in his memory.
"Major General, tall, brown hair, very strong." Weierle prompted from the side.
"Oh, that Vorndorf, I remember, the commander sent him here?"
"You should really take a closer look at the list of appointments and removals submitted by the Italian Theater Command." Disenhofen suggested.
"Let's talk about it when I have time." The imperial head waved his hand and strode towards the plane door.
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There was a crowd of people on the side of the apron. In the front row stood local municipal officials in Taranto and senior military officers from Italy and Germany. In the back, there were almost three or four hundred people, all of them family members and foreign residents of the German garrison.
The German Garrison Command put on a grand welcoming guard. The German navy, army and air force units stationed in Taranto assembled a whole battalion. The officers and soldiers dressed in military parade gowns of various services and stood neatly in line. By the side of the ground, in front of the queue, an army colonel is fully armed, holding a shining command knife and standing upright. Behind him stands a row of flag bearers, holding the flags of various units diagonally in his hands.
Standing next to the Germans is the guard of honor of the Italian Garrison, consisting of a hundred army soldiers and an equal number of black shirts. Mussolini wanted to reproduce the glory of the Roman Empire. The Italian army paid great attention to appearance. Regardless of its combat effectiveness, the Italian army had a strict military appearance second only to the German army.
The three bald eagles that came with them landed safely one after another. The officers and soldiers of the flag guard jumped off the plane quickly. The soldiers of the flag team stood around the head of state plane, and the oblique weapons formed a warning formation.
When everything was ready, the crew members opened the cabin door, and the handsome empire head appeared at the door of the cabin. The atmosphere of the whole welcome scene suddenly plunged into a boil. His eyes were full of his right arm raised high, and everything he heard in his ears It was cheers and compliments.
"Hi! Reinhardt! Welcome to Taranto, my head of state!" Major General Werndorf, as the highest commander of the German garrison in Taranto, won the honor of direct dialogue with the head of state, so emotional Looks a little excited.
"It's been a long time, Vorndorf." Xu Jun raised the marshal's stick slightly, and gently knocked the brim of his military hat.
"Yes, my Führer, the last time I met was in July." Vorndorf replied respectfully.
"You should know General Weierle, this is Major Disenhofen." Xu Jun introduced the entourage.
"General Weierle, Major Disenhofen." According to the ranks, the two sides salute each other.
Next is the regular procedure. The head of state reviewed the honor guards of the German and Italian armies. A group of Italian cavalry also performed a dressage show for the head of state on the lawn by the tarmac, during which the artillery fired a 21-gun salute. Then, the representative of the Italian government gave a welcome speech to the head of state. The head of state of the empire addressed all the welcoming people. The representatives of the nationals and military members presented flowers to the head of state. When the dust settled, the sunset had fallen below the horizon.
"Please get in the car, my head of state." Vorndorf graciously opened the door for the head of state~IndoMTL.com~ This is an Italian Lancia Asturia luxury convertible, originally from Italy The car of Admiral Cavgliani, the chief of the navy's general staff. After the admiral was arrested, the Italian government seized this luxury car. After that, it was tossed around several times and was eventually requisitioned by the German Garrison Command.
"How tall are you, Major General Vorndorf." The Führer stood by the car door and turned his head to look at Vorndorf. Von Steide was already taller among the Germans at the time, but this major general turned out to be a head taller than the head of state.
"Two meters and six, my head of state." The major general proudly raised his chest, showing off his strong physique to the head of state.
"Do you usually like to watch movies? Vorndorf." Xu Jun had a strange smile on his face.
"My Führer, what did you mean by... the movie?" Vorndorf's eyes widened in surprise, a little confused.
PS: Thank you for your support, the author will continue to work hard.
In the past few days, I have been busy familiarizing myself with the environment, and there is not much free time, so there is no way to repay the account for the time being.