Big Beard actually doesn’t have much hope for Greece. He knows how much southern Africa and Britain attach great importance to Greece. It would be an unexpected surprise if the National Liberation Front could seize power in Greece. If not, it would not be too disappointing. After all, this matter itself is
If there are jujubes or no jujubes, hug a pole.
Roark didn't dwell too much on the Greek issue. Arthur could handle it. Roark was used to being a hands-off shopkeeper, so he wouldn't waste energy on such trivial matters.
Winston still attaches great importance to Greece. Cunningham, who once served as Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Navy's Mediterranean Fleet, is also a member of the British delegation.
Cunningham was promoted to Admiral in 1943, and his current position is First Sea Lord. This position can only be held by military personnel. Unlike the Lord of the Admiralty who is a civilian official, Cunningham is specifically responsible for the British military's intervention in Greece.
of.
Winston was essentially a hands-off boss. Although he had served as Lord of the Admiralty, he was obviously not proficient in naval affairs and did not know enough about Greece. The biggest difficulty Cunningham faced was to find a port that could be used by the British army.
nothing.
There are many ports in Greece, but there are not many ports where large warships can dock.
Before the outbreak of the World War, all Greek ports were open to the British army unconditionally and could be used by the British army at any time.
This situation completely changed after the Southern African Expeditionary Force defeated the Italian invasion force, and the British army's position in Greece was completely replaced by the Southern African Expeditionary Force.
"The current situation is like this. The ports in mainland Greece are not safe enough. If we must go to Greece, we can only land on Crete." The current commander of the Mediterranean Fleet, Vice Admiral John Henry Cunningham, has no choice but to do so.
, Britain is paying the price for its arrogance in the early stages of the war.
Henry Cunningham and Andrew Cunningham only have the same surname and are not related by blood. After Andrew Cunningham left the Mediterranean Fleet and returned to China to serve as Lord of the Admiralty in 1943, Henry succeeded Andrew as Commander of the Mediterranean Fleet and the Allied Mediterranean Theater.
Commander-in-Chief of the Navy.
As members of the Allied Forces, the Cyprus Squadron also had to accept the control of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy in the Mediterranean Theater. However, Mike Tolan obviously did not have this awareness. His reply to Henry already indicated the attitude of the Southern African Expeditionary Force.
Mike Tolan's meaning is obvious. If the Mediterranean Fleet wants to use the Greek mainland ports, then the Southern African Expeditionary Force will not be responsible for the security of the Mediterranean Fleet.
This threat is very deadly. Since Alexandria was raided by Italian Navy frogmen, the Royal Navy has been cautious in choosing ports.
The Southern African Expeditionary Force has far greater strength than the Italians. Even if the ethnic guerrillas cannot threaten the Royal Navy, the Southern African Expeditionary Force creates facts and then puts the blame on the ethnic guerrillas. Neither Cunningham can bear this responsibility.
.
"What does Athens say?" Andrew has one last glimmer of hope for the Greek coalition government.
"Athens believes that the situation in Greece has stabilized and does not need the help of the Royal Navy -" Henry looked ugly. Athens' attitude fully proved the weakening of British influence in the Mediterranean.
Greece has always been Britain's most important ally in the Mediterranean.
Egypt is not, not even a normal country.
France and Italy are Britain's competitors, and only Greece can provide Britain with a certain degree of help.
Now that Greece has completely turned to southern Africa, Britain is left alone in the Mediterranean, and the future of the Mediterranean fleet is also worrying.
"——!" Andrew couldn't help but explode. He didn't expect that Britain's international environment would collapse to such an extent in just a few years.
But who can blame this!
Winston had no responsibility, he had done all he could, and no one - no other Englishman - could have done it better.
Andrew also had a clear conscience. Whether he was the commander of the Mediterranean Fleet, or the Lord of the Admiralty, or the First Sea Lord, he worked conscientiously, tried his best, and never slacked off for a moment.
Henry's responsibility was not big either. When he succeeded Andrew as commander of the Mediterranean Fleet, many things had become irreversible. If Andrew were replaced, he would not be able to restore the decline of the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean.
This is what makes Andrew confused.
Since no one is responsible, why does the British Empire no longer have the advantage?
Andrew did not want to land on Crete, which would do nothing to restore British influence in Greece.
However, Andrew was unable to force the Southern African Expeditionary Force to ensure the safety of the British troops through other channels.
This issue still needs to be coordinated by Winston.
That's right, it's coordination. Even though Henry served as the naval commander-in-chief of the Allied Mediterranean Theater, he had no power to issue orders to the Southern African Expeditionary Force, and he couldn't even coordinate.
The position of theater commander has more of a symbolic meaning and can only coordinate with the allied navies.
The Cyprus Squadron only obeyed Arthur's orders. The Southern African Expeditionary Force in Greece was an army and accepted the dual jurisdiction of Arthur and Patton.
After learning the specific situation, Winston also had a headache. He finally understood that being a hands-off shopkeeper requires talent.
"Sending the Mediterranean Fleet to Greece now is unnecessary. The key is to deal with the Russians. Otherwise, what else can the Mediterranean Fleet do by going to Greece? How about going into the mountains to fight guerrillas with the guerrillas?" Roark is not afraid of exposing scars. Winston is very fond of guerrilla tactics.
I have personal experience. Winston was captured by Boer guerrillas in southern Africa.
"The key to Greece lies in Athens. As long as the problems in Athens are solved, 90% of the problems in Greece will be solved." Winston spoke arrogantly. To put it bluntly, his understanding of war was still in the last century.
.
In the last century, countries did not have much potential for war. The main economic belts were all around the capital. Basically, once the capital was captured, the end of the war could be declared.
But isn’t the core of guerrilla warfare lies in encircling the cities from the countryside? It’s a bankrupt version of fighting to support war.
"What about the remaining ten percent?" Rock didn't want to explain the power of guerrilla warfare to Winston. He, a playboy from a noble family, couldn't understand it.
"The remaining ten percent is the problem of the Greeks themselves!" Winston said confidently. This is indeed the truth, but doing so will definitely waste all the previous efforts.
"Let's wait until we go to Crimea to discuss this issue -" Rock didn't think Winston's method was effective. The intervention of the British army would only make the situation in Greece more complicated.
Crimea is not easy to get to either.
Winston met with Roark and Roosevelt in Cyprus, with the purpose of reaching an agreement to jointly fight against Russian expansion before meeting the bearded man.
Now this goal has not been achieved at all. There is no consensus, and internal differences seem to be increasing.
Winston's idea is good, but Roark and Roosevelt both have their own considerations. Although the threat from Russia is great, the United Kingdom must continue to dig corners. Even compared with the threat from Russia, the corner of the United Kingdom is more important.
.
Even if Russia's influence expands, it is unlikely to expand to the Americas and Africa, and it poses no direct threat to the United States and southern Africa.
The precarious international status of the British Empire is even more coveted for the United States and southern Africa.
Compared with the UK, Russia is actually a rising star.
So in a sense, Southern Africa should join forces with the United States and Russia to cut off the British Empire first.
"Russia's expansion in Eastern and Northern Europe has become unstoppable. The only thing we can do now is to ensure democracy and freedom in Western Europe." At the last meeting of the trio, Roque never mentioned the East Asian battlefield.
In order to receive the allies, Big Beard mobilized tens of thousands of people to build a large-scale construction project in Yalta, Crimea. In just two months, he was ready to receive them.
The Russian system is indeed very advantageous in this matter.
The conditions of Yalta itself are also very good. It has been the most desirable vacation spot for Russian nobles for hundreds of years. There is even a summer palace dedicated to the tsar on the island. The main venue of this meeting was placed in the summer palace.
Roark, Roosevelt, and Winston all had a large entourage. It was impossible to hide the meeting from the Russians in Cyprus. The bearded man, who had arrived in Yalta in advance in the past few days, had been urging the three of them to arrive in Yalta as soon as possible, leaving no room for the three of them.
Spending too much time trading.
"What about Germany? If Russia possesses German technology, then Russia will become extremely terrifying!" Winston's fear of Russia is probably greater than that of Germany and France combined.
This is what Rock has always been worried about.
Let’s not talk about whether the Germans are rigorous or not. Their technical strength is indeed obvious to all, and even Rock is envious of it.
Southern African industry essentially took off after World War I, when German industry was almost emptied out.
Under such circumstances, it was incredible to Rock that Germany could actually rebuild its industrial system and create a German army that could almost sweep across Europe.
"A Russia that pursues technology is better than a Russia that is crazy about military expansion -" Roosevelt also had plans. A country like Russia was almost impossible to defeat through war, so he had to find another way.
Before the outbreak of the Russo-German War, many people still had doubts about this point, thinking that Russia was just showing up and that the war process might be more difficult, but it could be defeated in the end.
No one should have any illusions about defeating Russia now, so both Rock and Roosevelt's opinions are to encircle Russia, trap Russia in Eurasia, and then leave this problem to time to solve.
The bearded man is so ambitious that he wants to build a "Great Russia" covering Eurasia and dominate the world.
Just think about it. It is basically impossible to realize it. With such a large area and so many ethnic groups, God cannot satisfy everyone’s requirements.
Russia's current strength is indeed terrifying, and even Roark and Roosevelt feel a huge threat.
There is no need to go head-to-head with Russia at this time. If we don’t want to fight three wars, we have to find other ways.
Roosevelt had not yet thought of a countermeasure.
Rock is confident. Rock will do exactly how the United States dealt with Russia in another time and space.
It doesn't mean that there are no other ways, but there is clearly a correct way that can be copied, so there is no need to take risks.
As for those abandoned Eastern and Northern European countries——
This cannot be blamed on Rock, after all, it was their own choice.
"So you are ready to let Russia expand?" Winston does not want to fight three wars, but hopes that southern Africa and the United States will fight three wars instead of Britain.
After all, southern Africa and the United States now have tens of millions of troops, and their military strength is at an unprecedented peak.
Although Russia also has tens of millions of troops, it has just fought a bloody battle with the Germans and its war potential has been basically exhausted. If you want to use war to solve the Russian threat, now is the best opportunity.
"If there were to be three wars, how many troops could the United Kingdom send out?" Rock was not a scapegoat. Britain was the most populous country in the world.
This has the largest population, definitely including India.
Although the British and Indian troops have performed poorly in all previous wars, they have never been absent. Therefore, nominally, Britain's war potential is the greatest.
It's a pity that the mobilization ability is too poor.
Many people don't believe it. As soon as the World War broke out, the British War Department claimed to form a British army with a strength of 8 million men.
The World War has been going on for five full years, and it's coming to an end, with 8 million British troops still missing.
"In order to contain Russia, the United Kingdom can do everything it can." Winston said impassionedly, and Tingjun said it all.
Rock and Roosevelt glanced at each other subconsciously, both of them smiling helplessly.
A little bit exciting.
The less confident Winston is, the greater the chances will be for Southern Africa and the United States.
"Winston, have you ever thought about a question, why did the sun never set in the past and became the United Kingdom now?" Rock's words directly made Winston blush, which was much more serious than opening a scar.
Winston could not utter a word.
This cannot be discussed in detail as space is limited.
"If the Russian alliance includes Slavs, Germans, Poles, Norwegians, Mongols, and even Romans and French, what a spectacular disaster it will be!" Roosevelt added quietly, he still had a bottom line,
The Anglo-Saxons were not included.
Winston frowned, he understood this situation very well.
As the largest country in the world, the situation in the United Kingdom is outstandingly complex. Not to mention the British Isles, the problems are full of contradictions. Even its own chief of general staff was hacked to death by the rebels on the doorstep of his home. This should be replaced by
In Russia, the conflict is expected to be even more acute.
Britain is already the best colonial country in the world, but it is still so difficult to appease the internal affairs.
If replaced by Russia, which has a more violent approach to solving problems, it will not be able to survive for many years. Russia may be the country with the least experience in colonization in the world.
As the old saying goes, fortresses are breached from within.
Roosevelt's words opened up new ideas for Winston. Until he got on the plane, Winston's mood was very complicated.
Obviously, southern Africans and Americans are no longer fooled. If Winston wants to maintain the status of the British Empire, he can only rely on the Russians.
