While Bulgaria was still struggling with whether to agree to Ribbentrop's request and provide Germany with three divisions to participate in the future occupation of the Soviet Union, Ribbentrop himself had already arrived in Finland on a special plane.
Airport in the capital Helsinki.
Compared to the Bulgarian army, which is prone to letting off steam, has low combat effectiveness and is always half-hearted, Germany is actually more willing to spend its energy on the capable Finnish army.
Not only Reinhard himself was optimistic about the Finnish army, most of the German generals also saw a tenacious army from the Soviet-Finnish War.
In addition, the military observation mission sent by Germany to Finland also learned a lot of experience in fighting in cold winter from the Soviet-Finnish War.
As small as in the ice and snow, soldiers are equipped with boots of one size larger, and then put a layer of cloth inside. If that doesn't work, put a layer of thick newspaper on the shoes before wearing them, so as to reduce the degree of frost on the feet and prevent frostbite.
Moreover, in terms of the design of winter clothing, the German observation group also learned from the Finnish Army that in ice and snow, soldiers need clothing such as protective belts, ear protection, vests, blankets, and gloves with movable thumb and index fingers.
Complete clothing. If winter clothing is not in place, it will be difficult for soldiers to fight in such extremely cold conditions.
Various small experiences in these details will provide great help to the German army in future operations deep inside the Soviet Union.
Compared with the Finns' combat experience in the ice and snow, Reinhardt valued the Finnish army's strong fighting will and combat effectiveness more.
Fortunately, Germany hopes to win over Finland to participate in the war, and Finland also hopes to find a powerful and powerful partner like Germany. The cooperation between the two parties is almost a tailor-made mutually beneficial cooperation.
Initially, after the Soviet-Finnish War, the Finnish government deeply realized that it could not remain isolated and must win allies.
The Finnish government originally planned to negotiate a defense alliance with Norway and Sweden. However, this intention immediately aroused Soviet doubts and was stopped by the Soviet Union's arbitrary demands.
However, at the same time, since the end of the Soviet-Finnish War, the Finnish government has been making every effort to strengthen its country's equipment construction by raising funds and foreign aid.
After witnessing Germany helping Norway, a fellow Nordic country, to defeat the British invaders, a new and beautiful prospect has opened up for Finland: Since Germany can become an ally to help Norway resist the British, it will also be possible for Finland to become an ally next time.
Comrades in the war against the Soviet Union.
Just when the Finns' indignation and disappointment towards Sweden, which originally had high hopes for the largest Nordic country and was regarded as the closest ally by the Nordic countries, but has never taken any action, reached its peak. Many Finnish politicians began to believe that Germany
He is Finland's best partner in regaining its lost territory in the future.
Finland's foreign minister immediately tried his best to improve relations with Germany. In doing so, he received huge public support in Finland beyond expectations.
After Germany's victory on the Western Front, as the majestic British Empire was still unable to defend its capital in the face of the German army, Finnish domestic public opinion almost overwhelmingly claimed that only Germany would become Finland's reliable comrade-in-arms, and Finland's great move to regain its lost territory was also necessary.
Get help from Germany to succeed!
Therefore, as soon as Ribbentrop and the German delegation arrived in the Finnish capital, Marshal Mannerheim, Commander-in-Chief of the Finnish Defense Forces, personally went to the airport to greet him.
Also coming to greet Mannerheim was Mannerheim's most powerful Finnish general, Silasvo, and more than a dozen other senior generals who had participated in the Soviet-Finnish war.
In this life, the Finnish government, as well as its German allies, joined the Allied Powers group and was ready to fight alongside the German army. It accepted Ribbentrop's demands more simply than it had in history.
"Mr. Marshal, I have brought you good news!"
After getting off the plane, Ribbentrop couldn't wait to mention it before shaking hands with Mannerheim.
What this good news is is not a hard-to-guess secret.
Just like when it invaded Finland, this time the Soviet Union targeted Germany.
Although it was not another invasion of Finland, this also made the Finnish government equally nervous.
Invasion of Finland, invasion of Romania, invasion of the three Baltic countries, and even invasion of today's German Third Reich!
The Soviet people's appetite is getting bigger and bigger, and they are becoming more and more unscrupulous in invading other countries.
The Finns knew very well that when the day came when Germany was occupied by the Soviet Union and fell into Finland surrounded by the Soviet Union, the next Soviet invasion would begin.
We can't just sit back and wait for death!
"Mr. Ribbentrop, just in time, I have some good news for you." Mannerheim smiled and shook hands with Ribbentrop.
"So, who of us will say it first?" Although he is 74 years old, Mannerheim joked very humorously.
"I'll go first." Ribbentrop also saw that Mannerheim was joking, so he answered: "After all, I came with a mission, and the head of state wants me to tell our Finnish allies our wishes."
As he spoke, Ribbentrop and Mannerheim released their hands. Then Ribbentrop turned around and took the document from a secretary and handed it to Marshal Mannerheim: "This is
The counterattack plan we have formulated on the northern front will be carried out simultaneously with our counterattacks in the center and south."
Silas Wo, who came with Mannerheim, took a step forward, took the file for Mannerheim, and then handed it to Mannerheim to open and watch.
While Mannerheim watched, Ribbentrop also briefly introduced from a diplomatic perspective: "Romania, Bulgaria, Italy, Norway, Spain, and our German army all agree with this counterattack plan and are willing to
Take action. As for the French government, it has already been under too much pressure due to military operations in Africa and Western Europe, so it will not participate in the first phase of the counterattack for the time being..."
Although Bulgaria has not yet made it clear that it will send troops, in order to exaggerate the effect, Ribbentrop also included this small ally in advance and told the Finnish marshal to encourage the Finnish army to also participate in the large-scale operations of the Allies and become a
One of the many countries that participated in the war.
"This is a good opportunity for Finland to regain its lost territory." Ribbentrop smiled at Mannerheim with a congratulatory expression: "Our German army and the Norwegian army will have everything to do with the Finnish army.
, launch an attack from the north, regain the lost land occupied by the Soviet Union, and then let the Soviet Union spit out more land and return it to Finland!"
What Ribbentrop wanted to express was very clear: This was an opportunity for Finland to find the Soviet Union and escape back to its lost territory with all the profits, and there would also be German and Norwegian Allied forces fighting side by side!
