News of France's cessation of resistance quickly shocked the world.
Is this still the France that once dominated the world and forced most of Europe to unite to fight against it?
From 1793 to 1815, European countries, led by Britain and Russia, formed a total of seven anti-French alliances. It was not until Napoleon defeated Russia that the anti-French alliance succeeded. France has since become a nightmare for Europeans.
Now you know why Britain is so wary of France.
In the last world war, France persisted for four full years and finally succeeded in consuming Germany.
This time, it took 38 days from the beginning of Operation Sickle to the end of French resistance. Everyone was caught off guard.
Even Roque, who had long expected France's surrender, was shocked when he learned the news.
Objectively speaking, the situation that Pétain faced at this time was indeed worse than the last world war.
After Pétain announced that he would stop resisting, Winston immediately spoke to Pétain on the phone.
During the phone call, Winston did not accuse Pétain, but mentioned the words of "Tiger" Clemenceau, the then French Prime Minister during the last world war.
Clemenceau said this when he was Prime Minister: I decided to fight in front of Paris, fight in Paris, and fight in the rear of Paris to express my determination to fight.
Pétain's tone was calm: In the last world war, when Pétain was the commander-in-chief of the French army, he could mobilize 60 divisions, and there were also 60 British divisions to cooperate in the battle.
Now Pétain didn't even have a division in his hands.
Winston could only look up to the sky and sigh.
He is now unable to provide assistance to France.
Needless to say about the Army, if someone has no weapons, they cannot go to France empty-handed, and France is not able to provide so many weapons.
There are only 25 aviation squadrons left in the Air Force, which is the last remaining aviation force in the UK.
The Royal Navy was powerful, but the Germans did not go to sea, so the Royal Navy's battleships were just decorations.
After Winston ended the call with Pétain, he immediately called Roque again.
This time Winston finally realized the urgency of the situation and agreed unconditionally to all Rock's requests, in order to obtain advanced fighter jets from Southern Africa as quickly as possible.
Roque did not take the opportunity to add insult to injury, and offered a cheaper price than before. A "Crown Eagle" only cost 50,000 rand, and agreed to provide a guarantee for the United Kingdom in the name of the Southern African Federal Government.
Winston was very grateful and placed the first order for 2,500 aircraft.
At this time, Winston no longer had to worry about whether to produce in southern Africa or in the UK, as long as there was an airplane.
Winston hoped on the phone that southern Africa would join the war as soon as possible.
Rock did not give a specific time for participating in the war, but promised that southern Africa would definitely participate in the war, which doubled Winston's confidence.
It's not that Rock doesn't want to join the war.
But the preparations have not yet been completed, and southern Africa also needs time.
Cyprus.
Since the outbreak of the European War, Lieutenant General Mike Tolan, commander of the Cyprus Squadron, hoped that Arthur would leave Cyprus and return to southern Africa.
Arthur did not accept Mike Tolan's suggestion. Cyprus was Arthur's territory and Arthur would never leave at this time.
"The war between us and the Germans is about to break out. Once we declare war on Germany, there will also be a state of war between us and Italy. Cyprus will be under threat from Italy at any time. Lord Rhodesia hopes that you can do it as quickly as possible
Returning to southern Africa is by no means a desertion, but a hope that you will play a greater role in this protracted war." Mike Tolan came to Arthur immediately after Pétain announced that France would stop resisting.
Arthur's expression was calm, and next to him was Roya, who had an equally calm expression.
As soon as the European War broke out, Luo Ya returned to Arthur and expressed her support for her husband with practical actions.
The children all stayed in southern Africa. This was Stoudemire's decision.
In Xiao Si's words: You two can take risks, but my grandson and granddaughter cannot take risks. If anything happens to them, it will cost me my life.
"I don't need to worry about my homeland. I am the Viscount of Cyprus and I am responsible for my territory." Arthur's attitude was firm. Neither Roque nor Ada had sent a telegram yet, so Arthur was not in a hurry.
In fact, the situation was not as tense as Mike Tolan described.
Roque and Ada have not received a single telegram yet, but they have done a lot of work.
After the outbreak of the European War, Cyprus entered a state of war readiness, civilians were evacuated when it was time to evacuate, and the number of troops increased.
Before the war broke out, Cyprus had only 5 aviation groups, but now it has increased to 15, with nearly 400 fighter aircraft of various types.
The army stationed in Cyprus before the war consisted of only one army division and one brigade of marines.
Cyprus now has three army divisions including an armored regiment.
There are also two airborne divisions in Marlborough across the sea, which can reinforce Cyprus at any time.
The League of Nations peacekeeping forces in the Dardanelles can also reinforce Cyprus at any time. Arthur really has nothing to fear.
Speaking of the Dardanelles Strait, Greece has to be mentioned.
Last summer, Italy once threatened Greece with war after occupying Albania.
After all, Greece is not Albania, and the fat bald man dare not act rashly. After a year of preparations, the fat bald man finally waited for the opportunity to invade Greece.
Greece has an alliance with Britain and France. If Italy launches a war against Greece, France will definitely declare war on Italy, and Italy will be in a two-front war.
After France announced that it would stop resisting, the fat bald man finally couldn't control his ambition and issued an ultimatum to Greece.
"Cyprus is about to become a war zone." Mike Tolan tried hard to persuade him. If Arthur leaves Cyprus, Mike Tolan can go on a big fight without any worries.
"General Tolan, are you confident that you can defeat the Italians?" Arthur countered by general.
"Of course, as long as the Italians dare to invade Cyprus, I will make it impossible for them to come back!" Mike Tolan is full of confidence. Cyprus is not actually alone. In addition to the Greeks, the British Mediterranean Fleet is also a force that cannot be ignored.
.
Although the strength of the British Mediterranean Fleet is inferior to that of the Home Fleet, compared with the Italian Navy, the Mediterranean Fleet is not weak at all.
After Italy entered the war, the British Mediterranean Fleet frequently launched attacks on Italy's North African colonies. However, due to the lack of cooperation from ground forces, the results were not good.
Alexandria, the home port of the Mediterranean Fleet, lacked the protection of ground troops after the British deployed Egyptian troops, and faced a serious threat from the Italians.
This is also an important reason why Winston hopes that Southern Africa will join the war as soon as possible. As long as Southern Africa joins the war, Alexandria can be protected by the Southern African army.
"Then what are we worried about?" Arthur is actually the most like Rock.
Then don't leave.
It still makes sense for Arthur to stay in Cyprus.
As the lord of Cyprus, Arthur is the spiritual symbol of the Cypriots. As long as Arthur does not leave, the Cypriots can muster the courage to unite as one.
On June 20, the third day after Pétain announced the end of French resistance, Arthur came to the 35th Division station to express condolences to the officers and soldiers from southern Africa who had come all the way.
The 35th Division is a motorized infantry division expanded from the Nyasaland National Guard. The division has 16,000 officers and soldiers. It is well-equipped and well-trained. The only armored regiment in Cyprus is in the 35th Division, equipped with "Leopard"
45 tanks.
In 1940, the establishment of each country was different. Taking ordinary infantry divisions as an example, an infantry division in the United States may have as many as 28,000 troops, while an infantry division in India may only have a few thousand troops.
The organization of armored forces is more chaotic. The armored forces in Southern Africa are based on companies, each company has 12 tanks, and a battalion is composed of two to three companies. The organization of a tank regiment is two battalions, with a standard of 45 tanks.
It's almost like an armored brigade in Germany.
This has not even mentioned the difference in tank performance.
The overall performance of the "Leopard" tank is only better than that of the German Panzer IV tank. The Panzer II and III tanks are scum in front of the "Leopard" tank, and are simply not good enough to hit with one shot.
Considering that Cyprus is an island and does not require many armored troops, it is only equipped with one armored regiment.
The two ace armies in Southern Africa each have more than 600 tanks, plus the total number of armored vehicles is more than 1,000, plus almost the same number of cars, which means that Southern Africa can be so wealthy.
The key is that southern Africa has no shortage of oil.
If Germany behaves like this, even if Germany can afford it, it won't have that much oil supply.
The commander of the 35th Division, Anthony Jones, is a native of Nyasaland. He graduated from the Nyasaland Army Academy and has been serving in the Southern African Army.
This is very rare.
You must know that after the last world war, southern Africa also disarmed many times. Only the real elite can remain in the southern African army.
"We are ready for battle. Whether it is the Italians or the Germans, we are confident that we will win. Of course, the premise is that the Germans or Italians can land in Cyprus." Anthony Jones is very confident about his troops.
Confidence, the 35th Division is a soldier from Nyasaland and has a special feeling for Arthur.
"The Germans and Italians want to land, but I guess General Toland won't agree." Arthur is also confident. Look at the performance of the British and French forces in France. What are they fighting? If it is replaced by the Southern African National Defense Force, Paris is now
Or horses running and dancing.
In the last world war, although the process had twists and turns, overall the performance of the French was respectable.
Now France has lost whatever prestige it gained through the last world war.
Of course, the French did not completely admit defeat.
After Pétain announced the end of French resistance, De Gaulle, who served as Deputy Secretary of State for the Ministry of Defense and War, went to London to form the Free France and continue the war against Germany.
Does it look familiar?
King Leopold III surrendered, but the Belgian government did not recognize it.
Now Pétain has surrendered again, but de Gaulle does not recognize it.
