While the Chinese National Defense Force was busy attacking North Korea, Germany launched the "Lightning" Offensive in April 1940. On April 9, 1940, it captured Denmark and Norway, and on May 10, it captured the Netherlands and Belgium.
, Luxembourg, and then attacked France. After Germany attacked France, the British, who had just watched the fun, finally joined the war. On May 13, the German army dispatched nearly 400 bombers to bomb the south bank of the Maas River in batches. The fierce
The Germans relied on sharp armored forces to cross the Maas River in just one day.
Once the Maas River defense line was lost, the road to Paris and the English Channel was open. The British and French troops fighting in Belgium were in danger of being outflanked, and the French army on the Maginot Line would also be attacked from both sides. Only then did Britain and France feel
The situation was serious. Britain quickly dispatched ten additional fighter squadrons to launch a counterattack together with the British Air Force and the French Air Force stationed in France. On the afternoon of the 14th, the most intense air battle since the beginning of the war broke out over the Meuse River. British Blenheim bombers and French troops
The latest Breguet bombers, under the cover of fighter jets, headed straight for the Meuse River. About five wings of German fighter jets took off to intercept them. Both sides invested more than 500 aircraft. From noon to dark, the landing site
There was a continuous sound of gunfire, and fighter jets from both sides flew up and down, chasing each other. From time to time, planes were hit by bullets and caught fire, dragging black smoke down. Bombs dropped randomly by British and French planes exploded columns of water on the river.
In this battle, the German army shot down hundreds of British and French aircraft, and 60% of the aircraft sent by the British army were lost. The British said: "There is no more heartbreaking loss than this kind of suicidal battle."
After that, the British and French air forces only dared to take off at night, and air supremacy in the theater was firmly controlled by the Germans.
The German armored group equipped with Chinese Siberian Tiger tanks bypassed the Maginot Line and drove straight in. Its power and speed were unheard of in the history of war. France fell into panic. In the early morning of May 15th, French Prime Minister Paul Reno said in frustration
I called Winston Churchill, who had just succeeded Neville Chamberlain as the British Prime Minister five days ago, and said: "We are probably going to lose this battle." Churchill was stunned: "I simply don't understand the use of a large number of fast armors.
An attack by troops would cause such drastic changes."
At this point, the British and French forces were retreating steadily on the battlefield. By mid-May, most of the British and French forces had been driven to the coastal area. They were surrounded on three sides and were about to be annihilated.
May 26, Chancellery in Berlin, Germany: "Mr. Ambassador, please wait a moment. The Head of State is handling official business. He will receive you as soon as he is free." A young and handsome German captain said politely to Wang Ting'en.
"Okay, please tell the head of your country that I have an important matter to interview with him on the order of the president of our country."
"Of course, I will report to the head of state immediately." Knowing that the ambassador from China was a person that the head of state valued very much, the captain asked Wang Ting'en to sit down and immediately went in to report to the head of state.
Wang Ting'en, who had become China's ambassador to Germany, took off his hat and put it on a shelf nearby. He sat down and waited for about ten minutes before Hitler appeared at the door.
"Hello, Mr. Ambassador, I heard that you have been ordered by the president of your country to see me for something." The smooth war situation made Hitler's face full of joy at this time.
"Yes, Your Excellency the Head of State, this time I have been ordered by the President of our country to give you a letter. This letter is about some of the President's views and suggestions on the current war situation in France. I hope it will be of some use to you.
." Wang Ting'en took out a letter he translated from his arms and handed it to Hitler.
Hitler took the letter and asked with interest without reading it: "Is your president also concerned about the situation in Europe?"
Wang Ting'en said seriously, "Of course, our president is very concerned about the war in Europe, and he is very puzzled by your country's practice of letting powerful armored groups linger outside the canal area after defeating the British and French coalition forces. There is an old saying in our country:
"If you let the tiger return to the mountains, there will be endless troubles." This means that it would be a very stupid thing to be soft-hearted and let the ferocious tigers return to the mountains. He doesn't want you to regret it in the future."
Hitler's expression became serious after hearing this, "Are these the original words of your president?"
"Yes, these are the exact words of the president of our country. The president of our country has repeatedly asked me to make it clear to you the powerful relationship here. He asked me to tell you that no country can achieve victory in combat by relying solely on its air force.
of."
After hearing Wang Ting'en's words, Hitler's heart skipped a beat. At the regular military meeting of the headquarters held a few days ago, the commander of the German Air Force, Marshal Göring, vowed to annihilate the British and French allied forces on land with his air force alone.
This made Hitler, who was worried that the loss of his beloved armored forces would be too great, which would affect subsequent combat plans, make up his mind to ask Guderian to stop his advance. But now they were very dissatisfied with what the Chinese ambassador to Germany said.
Be optimistic about the German Air Force.
As if seeing Hitler's hesitation, Wang Ting'en continued: "The terrain in the canal area is complex and the enemy troops are numerous. They not only have a large number of anti-aircraft guns, but also built many camouflage positions. Your country's aerial reconnaissance has been difficult to identify their camouflage."
Without the cooperation and guidance of the army, there is no way to find the camouflaged enemy camp. Moreover, the enemy will also receive support and cover from their air force. If it is harassed by the enemy's air force, how can your bomber fly within three days?
Just wipe out the enemies in such a large area.”
Having said this, Wang Ting'en added fuel to Hitler's fire, "Besides, don't think that having surrounded them on three sides means everything is foolproof. Although the enemy has been surrounded by you now, the British and French allied forces are not without a way out. They are still
You can escape."
"How is it possible to escape?" Hitler didn't believe it.
"How is it impossible? They can escape from here." Wang Ting'en took out another map from his pocket and placed it on the coffee table next to him, pointing to a place with his finger.
"Dunkirk"
"Yes, it's Dunkirk. If I were Churchill, I wouldn't say anything to let the British Expeditionary Force be wasted here. Now there is the entire British Expeditionary Force in the encirclement, which is all made up of the most elite British troops.
The British will never allow all their elite troops to be lost here, because if this army is destroyed, the British mainland will not be able to find any army with the strength to stop your country's powerful army. The British Government will
They have lost the capital to continue fighting. Therefore, their political ax will definitely rescue their elites at all costs.
There are only two ways in front of them. One is to break through to the south of France and join the main force of France's south. Then they must tear apart the defense line built by your armored group. According to their current strength,
It is completely impossible to do this, and the British naturally know this very well. Then they have only one way left, which is to withdraw their troops to Britain by sea."
Listening to Wang Ting'en's talk, Hitler was astonished. The Chinese president, who was thousands of miles away, not only knew the French battlefield so clearly, but also the thoughts of the German high command and his own hesitations.
The estimation is so accurate, are there really people in this world who can predict the future?
"Mr. Ambassador, your country may have its own purpose in sending you to inform me of this matter so solemnly." Hitler never believed that there would be love for no reason in this world. Since the Chinese government even sent an ambassador,
Then they must seek some benefits from it.
"Of course, distinguished head of state, we naturally have our own goals." Wang Ting'en's expression became serious, "We hope that after your country occupies Paris, it can return to us our cultural relics and antiques in the Louvre and museums in Paris.
, after all, those things were forcibly taken away from our country by the French when our country was weak, and now it’s time for them to be returned to their original owners.”
After listening to Wang Ting'en's words, Hitler said nothing, "Mr. Ambassador, please go back first. I will consider your words carefully." After a while, Hitler, who returned to his usual expression, sent Wang Ting'en out of the door and walked towards his office.
, he needs to digest the information he just received.
The next day, at the regular meeting of the headquarters that continued, Hitler read the President of China to his generals. The German generals were divided into two groups. The army headed by General Schneider believed that the President of China had superhuman powers.
First-class strategic vision and courage, he was right, but the air force faction headed by Goering believed that it was just a trick of the Chinese president to impress people. The German air force had firmly occupied the French skies, and the British could not escape from their eyes.
The two sides quarreled fiercely, and finally Hitler decided to send a reconnaissance plane to Dunkirk to see if the British would really escape by sea.
In the afternoon, the reconnaissance plane came with the news: "God, I can't believe it. The British are crazy. They sent all their ships to Dunkirk. Now the sea outside Dunkirk is full of British people."
The number of people's ships is so densely packed that it is impossible to count them, and now they are desperately trying to withdraw their troops back to Britain."
On the afternoon of May 29th, after receiving an order from the high command, Guderian and his 19th Armored Corps, who were already waiting impatiently, were sitting on the line of the canal. They finally waited for Hitler's order to "continue to attack the coastal area."