Reinhard now confirmed one thing, Mussolini did not hear his tone clearly at all!
What he just said clearly was "I agree to everything?" and he used a rhetorical question.
But Mussolini seemed to understand that "I agree to everything!" and took it as an affirmative tone.
In fact, just based on Mussolini's spirit, which I think I want, he can be considered a good politician.
It can be said that as a politician, Mussolini's ambitions and methods were still qualified.
However, after he began to intervene in the military, Italy's already weak military foundation made Mussolini's military incompetence even more prominent.
Speaking of which, Mussolini was able to bring out the Black Shirts, which was already very good.
As a direct descendant of Mussolini, the Black Shirts were even established earlier than Reinhardt’s SS!
It is a pity that even the resurrection of the real Caesar cannot revive the fighting capacity of contemporary Italians.
Let’s take a closer look at the most powerful military strategists in Italy’s military history from 1914 to 1940. Even if they were them, they would not be able to save the combat effectiveness of today’s Italian army.
But Mussolini, a standard military layman, now collapsed in front of Reinhardt, promising to wipe out the British troops in Africa.
Reinhard suddenly felt a little conflicted. Should he agree to Mussolini's offer, or should he not agree?
...........
Standing on the deck of the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, Sir Forbes had an extremely complicated expression.
He stared at the four Hurricane fighter jets newly added to the aircraft carrier and felt very uncomfortable.
He watched the Prince of Wales sink with his own eyes, watched the Hood sink, and watched the main battleships one after another turn into a ball of brilliant fireworks on the sea.
Facing the Royal Navy, which suffered defeat after defeat, Sir Forbes had almost lost the confidence to continue fighting. He had become numb to the fact that the Royal Navy was being teased by his opponents like a lost dog.
Even the aircraft carrier Ark Royal under his feet lost almost all of its Swordfish attack aircraft and most of its Dapeng fighter jets in the Battle of the North Sea, and then managed to escape back to the UK with its remaining defeated troops.
.
They came back in despair and disappointed too many people.
It is impossible to make up for the losses of battleships in recent years. But the losses of hundreds of naval fighter pilots on aircraft carriers cannot be replaced in time.
On the one hand, the production of new fighter jets cannot keep up with the pace of consumption.
On the other hand, the pressure on the Air Force has been getting heavier and heavier recently. Not only is it eager to replenish fighter planes, it is also unable to free up precious pilots for the Navy.
You know, the Germans have now begun to launch bombings against the British coastal areas. Although the scale is small, they have succeeded repeatedly and destroyed many bases where secret equipment is being installed.
In this way, the navy will still have to face the next round of German attacks and the current German High Seas Fleet, which already has morale and strength.
Sir Forbes could only pray to God now, hoping that they would have good luck in the next war, and that the weather in the British Navy would not be suitable for German aircraft carriers to sail.
The British Royal Navy, which was better than nothing, supplemented 4 aircraft, but at the same time it could only barely supplement 3 pilots from the Air Force.
Even if all the remaining fighters from the other three surviving aircraft carriers are gathered together, the combat capability of the Ark Royal aircraft carrier is now only about half of what it was in its heyday.
The destruction of large main battleships, the heavy losses of destroyer and cruiser battleships, coupled with the inability of aircraft carrier-based aircraft to replenish them in time...
Sir Forbes really wanted to cry. What should he do in response to the German navy's next attack?
Not only was Sir Forbes disheartened, but even his naval officers were gradually becoming timid.
In the past, officers and soldiers of the British Royal Navy would go to great lengths to apply to be transferred to serve on battleships, because this was the best way to be promoted or to save their lives. Compared with destroyers and cruisers, battleships at that time were stronger and less likely to sink.
But things are different now. Now the officers and soldiers under Forbes are trying their best to upgrade their ships to destroyers or cruisers... because the Germans in naval battles often concentrate all their efforts on bombing the British battleships and aircraft carriers first.
Before destroying aircraft carriers and destroying battleships, German carrier-based aircraft rarely attacked destroyers or even cruisers. After each war, a fleet often only had destroyers and a small number of cruisers to return.
As a result, many officers and soldiers who responded quickly began to rely on connections and went to serve on the destroyer.
As for those poor souls who had no choice but to be transferred, they stayed on the battleships and aircraft carriers cautiously, bought themselves a good quality life jacket, and checked the maintenance status of the lifeboats whenever they had something to do.
However, it won't be long before these courageous soldiers will have to go to the battlefield again to perform their duties and responsibilities.
Fortunately, this time, their opponent was not the terrifying German High Seas Fleet, but France's former Republic Fleet.
Two days later, Sir Forbes will lead his fleet and quietly leave the port under the cover of darkness, heading towards the Port of Oran at the western end of the Mediterranean Sea.
There, France's most powerful main fleet is anchored.
The mission given to Sir Forbes was to seize the French fleet at all costs, disarm them, and seize them for his own use. If the French navy refused to comply, they would have no choice but to resort to force, even if they were completely destroyed.
Yes, the only person who can make this decision is the Prime Minister of the British Empire, Mr. Churchill.
It has to be said that Churchill's decision was cruel. After all, he was attacking a fleet that was an ally a month ago. It was more or less inevitable to add insult to injury.
What's more, Churchill's decision to deliberately send a telegram stating his understanding of the French navy and guaranteeing that they would not be behind enemy lines was simply too reckless.
They are obviously brothers, but secretly they have prepared a knife. It is hypocritical and shameful!
But from the perspective of British national interests, what does this mean?
War is like this. Yesterday we were close friends, but today we will treat them as enemies, or even destroy them. In the face of national interests, loyalty is worthless.
Churchill had no confidence in Reinhardt's promise that he would not use French warships. He would not believe Reinhardt's promise to Pétain.
In his eyes, this is just another deception, just like his deception to Darlan, it cannot be sincere.
There are no permanent friends, only eternal interests! Churchill always thought so.
