Battle of the Third Reich Chapter 253: Combat stop

Throughout August, the international situation was ups and downs, like a roller coaster, which dazzled the Japanese. {For the latest chapter, please go to:} First release, the meeting between the pro-Japanese envoy and the German head of state. The Japanese side judged that it was successful on the whole. Although the two sides failed to deepen the cooperative relationship as expected, such as signing an alliance treaty, etc. However, the German head of state's handling of this serious diplomatic incident clearly shows that he still attaches great importance to the friendly relations between Germany and Japan. This gave the Japanese government a bit of reassurance and the corresponding courage. It started to grow bigger. Since the Germans don't want to turn their faces with themselves, if Japan does some small actions in those European and Asian colonies, it must be the same as Germany will turn a blind eye. The Japanese judge it this way.

The Japanese government finally made up its mind and agreed to the army and navy’s plan to attack the French colonies. However, based on the previous mess of the army’s previous history, the Guards Cabinet considered that they must tie a rein to them this time. The issue of international relations will definitely attract the attention of a bunch of European countries, especially the attitude of the United States. Japan is still a little unclear so far, so Fumio Kanoe asked the Secretary of the Army to make an assurance that the combat scope and process must be in the War Department. Under strict surveillance and control of the Army, if there is a change that requires the Army to stop operations, the Army must immediately implement it without hesitation.

As for these concerns of the cabinet, Hideki Tojo is actually very impressed. The atmosphere in the army was instigated by their generation of young officers. As a result, when it was their turn to sit in the seat of a high-level commander, they discovered how **** they were in despising authority and disobeying the orders of their superiors. Razor Tojo patted his chest to guarantee. He will supervise the entire battle throughout the whole process, and if there is any violation of the order, he will personally send the responsible officer to the military court. Now that the Army has shown their determination so firmly, the Guards Cabinet also nodded and agreed to this plan.

At that time, once the Japanese war machine started to operate in a planned way, the mobilization speed was extremely astonishing, within just one week. The Japanese Army mobilized a large amount of materials and funds. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians have been mobilized, and the preliminary war preparations were finally made within the time specified in the plan. This invasion of French Indochina was the first time Japan had fought against white troops after the Russo-Japanese War. It was of great significance, and the Japanese military had also paid a lot for this.

A large amount of strategic reserve materials were drawn out from various military warehouses in the south, and concentrated on Hainan Island, the scheduled departure base through various means of transportation. These materials were not only for the supply of the Second Guards Infantry Wing for landing tasks. . The rest is mainly prepared for the next step. Once the attack goes smoothly, the Japanese army is ready to strike while the iron is hot and simply pack the entire northern part of French Indochina into its arms. In that case, there must be a lot of supply and support, or it will be too late if you don’t prepare in advance, when the time comes.

At this time, the high-level Japanese commanders have let go of their anxiety. Now that they are ready to go to war, they must forget about the fear of the enemy. All their minds must be placed on how to defeat the enemy. The officer must set an example to his subordinates. Let the soldiers have the confidence that they will win.

By the early morning of August 22, everything was ready, and all the troops began to move toward the pre-determined attacking position, just waiting for the command of the general attack. The second task force of the Imperial Japanese Navy is responsible for the transportation and fire protection of the landing forces. It is mainly responsible for combat and patrol tasks along the southern coast of China. Haikou Port on Hainan Island is a forward base for this fleet.

At this moment, the commander of the fleet is the Japanese Vice Admiral Takasu Shiro. This lieutenant has served as the Japanese Military Museum and the principal of the Japanese Naval University. In the navy, he should be regarded as a highly experienced and capable group. . He once commanded the First Air Force to join the Japanese attack on Shanghai. Under his order, the bombers on the Japanese aircraft carrier carried out inhumane bombing of the residential areas of Shanghai. The hands of this lieutenant admiral were already covered with the Chinese people’s hands. Blood. Later, he was sent to Northeast China to serve as the commander of the Japanese Navy's squadron stationed in the "Manchukuo". At the same time, Takasu Shiro also assumed the command of the "Manchukuo Naval Fleet". What kind of stuff is this so-called "Manchukuo"?

Now the Lieutenant General Takasu Shiro, standing majestic and majestic on the command bridge of the fleet's flagship Toriumi heavy cruiser, holding a telescope to observe the sea ahead. Starting from Haikou, the straight-line distance to the destination Haiphong Port is three hundred kilometers. Therefore, the fleet departed before dawn and was expected to arrive at Haiphong at noon. After the order arrived, it began to attack Haiphong at full speed.

The Navy is also very serious about this operation. It not only assigned the entire second fleet to dispatch, but also specially mobilized the aircraft carrier Kaga of the First Air Force to join this operation. Because the army hopes that the navy’s aviation unit can participate in sea defense and even the entire northern French Indochina’s air supremacy and ground support missions, the leaders of the naval command department believe that this is a good performance of the army to the navy. Intelligence shows that the French air force is very weak, which is simply giving the navy military exploits in vain.

Takasu Shiro had previously served as the commander of this aircraft carrier and was very familiar with aviation operations, so the superiors were very relieved that he would serve as the commander-in-chief of the entire formation, responsible for the command and movement of all naval forces in this operation.

The Army created a temporary organization of the Indochina Dispatch Army for this landing force. It was constructed entirely for this operation. After the operation is over, it will be abolished. The main force is the Japanese Army Guards Infantry Second Unit. The team consists of three brigade, because it is the emperor's guards, it is necessary to leave a brigade on the home defense. The army also provided the temporary formation of the so-called Indochina dispatch army, equipped with attached chariots, antiaircraft artillery, communications, sanitation, and heavy-duty units. The total number of all troops totaled more than 4,000 troops, and they were boarded on ten transport ships. Indochina task force escorted by the navy.

The strength of this fleet may not be enough in Europe. The battleship has only one heavy cruiser and one large aircraft carrier, and the rest are ten destroyers. However, in the face of the existing naval forces of French Indochina, this fleet can completely crush in all aspects. The Far East Fleet of French Indochina has not been replenished for a long time, and currently only one Diguet Ruan-class light cruiser and six or seven inland gunboats on the Mekong can still be used. Originally, the French Far East Fleet also had a heavy cruiser, the Sufferan, which might still cause a little damage to the Japanese navy, but this warship was transferred to the Mediterranean by the Renault government as early as April.

The guiding ideology of the high-level Japanese navy during this period is to put safety as the top priority, only when encountering such battles that pose little threat to themselves. The generals will be enthusiastic. Historically, it was against French Indochina. Nagano, the then chief of the navy’s military order, was more active than the army. It was said that at the time, he said in the tripartite meeting that whoever dared to block the offensive would be defeated. The arrogant arrogance even the chief of staff of the army Yama Sugimoto was present. They were all dumbfounded.

The reason is well understood. French Indochina has no maritime power and poses little threat to the Japanese navy. How could the navy give up such easily obtained military exploits? There are a large number of navy waiting for promotion. Officer, every day looking forward to go to the battlefield to learn some experience. Especially playing soft persimmons like French Indochina, it is both beautiful and safe. Of course, Nagano's words and deeds of self-cultivation have something to do with him as a radical, who has been pushing the navy southward and going to war with the United States throughout history. It is also for this reason that in the future this man has not been well received in the Japanese navy.

Now turn my gaze back to noon on August 22, just after eleven o’clock, half an hour before the scheduled departure time of eleven thirty, everyone is doing the last Preparations. The maintenance personnel on the Kaga are adjusting the sequence of parking aircraft on the flight deck, and many aircraft have begun engine test runs. The first wave was a formation of six ninety-six warships and twelve ninety-four warships. The former was the main fighter jet of the Japanese naval aviation at this time. Compared with the old-fashioned models of the Chinese Air Force, it is much more advanced. After entering the Chinese battlefield, there has been a buzz, but when the Chinese Air Force is equipped with a batch of Soviet-made fighters, the life of such fighters will be a bit difficult. The Type 94 carrier-borne bomber is a biplane type. It looks like a British navy swordfish from a distance. In terms of performance, it can only be regarded as the level of the 1920s, but the maneuverability in the air is good. Japanese pilots After the bomb was dropped, she even used her to fight air combat with Chinese Air Force fighters, and she was able to fight with some old models. However, the performance of this carrier-based bomber is completely out of date, and the Japanese Navy is intensively developing alternative models.

In the command room on the tall bridge of the heavy cruiser Torumi, Takasu Shiro is working with the commander of the Indochina Dispatch Army Major General Tominaga Kyoji who is cooperating in this operation for the final discussions before the attack. There have been several quarrels. With his status as the first head of the Army Staff, this major general has become so arrogant that people can’t look directly at him. From the navy’s point of view, the Army sent this major general to the army without knowing the so-called. , This guy is full of the Army's stupid radical thinking.

"The army has a set of methods for the army, so the navy does not need the navy to guide us how to do it. The navy only needs to tell us when to start doing it." Major Admiral Tominaga Kyouji wears a brand new army uniform and wears his chest With a full set of medals and logos, as well as the staff decoration thread he has always been proud of, a golden stick dangling, according to the major general, this was carefully prepared to accept the surrender of the French. Senior army officers must maintain the dignity of the imperial state on diplomatic occasions.

Takasu Shiro had long been indifferent to this strange thought at this time, anyway, when the landing operation started, this guy had to get off the ship, and now he just toss about the other party. Takasu had already made up his mind. After completing this battle, he would never cooperate with any army horse **** the next time he was killed.

"The Navy understands what the Army thinks, so in accordance with your request, after reaching the target area, the Navy will only be responsible for fire cover, and the Army will take care of the rest." Takasu Shiro sat on the sofa with a calm face. Answered the request of the other party.

"Very well, Takasu-san is a sensible person. I hope I will have a chance to cooperate next time." After receiving the promise from the navy, Kyoji Tominaga, who wanted to take credit, finally smiled.

"Then I'll leave first, I'm going to explain to my subordinates about the landing." After receiving a satisfactory answer, Major General Tominaga was impatient to share the good news with his subordinates.

"The time for the total offensive is approaching. Your Excellency, please be sure to ask for any other requirements. The Navy will try its best to meet the needs of the Army." Takasu felt that the Navy should maintain basic etiquette anyway, and this battle is for both sides They are all important, at least not because of the navy's attitude issues to give the other party an argument.

"The Navy has done a very good job. Thank you very much for your help to the Army. I will report the truth to the Army Staff Headquarters."

"Well so, I wish you a long martial luck."

"Thank you, your Excellency, let the Army do it next."

Just when the two sides were preparing to end this seemingly friendly and harmonious meeting. A navy staff officer took a telegram and knocked on the iron door of the command room.

"Sir! This is an emergency order issued by the Joint Fleet Command." The Navy Shao Zuo saluted the two generals in the room with a nervous expression, then bowed his hands respectfully to the fleet commander and handed them to his hands. Telegram.

Takasu's telegram, he read only the first two lines, and stood up immediately in surprise.

"Nani? Have you confirmed it?"

"It has been confirmed repeatedly, sir."

"Order the fleet to stop immediately~IndoMTL.com~All ships stop all operations and wait for further orders from the flagship." Takasu gave instructions to Shaozuo.

"Yes, sir." The Navy Shaozu made a naval salute to Takasu, then turned to Tominaga Kyoji, then lowered his arm and opened the door and walked out of the command room.

"What happened!" Tominaga Kyoji was a little surprised by Takasu's order. The problem must lie in the telegram.

"The Military Command received accurate information. Just four hours ago, a French fleet sailed into the Saigon Naval Port. What can now be confirmed is that there are two Dunkirk-class battlecruisers. The Ulk and Strasbourg arrived at the same time with a large transport fleet, which may carry a large number of French army soldiers. The cabinet has issued a decision to stop the operation immediately, and all participating troops immediately return to the place of departure and terminate All military operations against northern Indochina." Takasu put the telegram in front of Tominaga Kyoji.

It’s really not encouraging to keep looking at the results. Don’t you like to watch Southeast Asian stories? Whether it’s clicking or subscribing, it’s a bit bleak. (To be continued.) () "The Battle of Resurrection in the Third Reich" only represents the author Feng Rui's point of view. If it is found that its content violates national laws and conflicts, please delete it. The position is only dedicated to providing health Green reading platform. 【】,thank you all!