Chapter 333 France Don’t Cry 18

On the night of April 15, 1940, when Guderian was commanding his armored group to move north overnight, as the battle raged all night on the Monte-Dieu Heights, the Prime Minister of the British Empire, Winston Churchill, locked himself in his office and drafted a draft by himself. A letter to President Roosevelt asking for help. He and Roosevelt had maintained "private correspondence" for several months. Although today's correspondence was approved by the cabinet meeting, Churchill also used the signature "former naval man" instead of "British Prime Minister Churchill" Number. Because the content of the letter is really detrimental to the face of the British Empire.

In the letter, Churchill first requested that the correspondence between the two be kept private. He then reported the situation of the European war to the President of the United States. He said in the letter: "The situation has deteriorated rapidly. The enemy clearly has the advantage in the air, and their new technology is making a deep impression on the minds of the French."

Churchill also told Roosevelt: "Although it is not yet certain, we must expect that Mussolini will also hastily intervene to participate in the plunder of civilized countries."

The British and French efforts to win over Mussolini lasted for several months and provided a lot of loans, oil and steel. However, Mussolini was still unwilling to join the "World Anti-National Socialist Alliance" (the anti-fascist alliance cannot be used because Mussolini himself was a fascist). But on April 14, British intelligence personnel sent back top-secret news from Rome: the Italian army was urgently mobilizing, and the combat readiness level had been raised to the highest level!

This is obviously a precursor to Italy joining the war! But Churchill knew that when France was about to be defeated by Germany, Mussolini would never be stupid enough to go to war with Germany.

Italy certainly entered the world war as an enemy of Britain rather than an ally, but this was not too bad news for the British Empire. What really worried Churchill was France. At this time, he had already anticipated the fall of France.

So he said to Roosevelt in his letter: "We expect that in the near future we will be attacked by air and paratroopers and airlift troops and even sea landing troops. We are prepared for this. If necessary, We will continue to fight alone, and we are not afraid of fighting alone.”

Although he wrote "not afraid to fight alone", Churchill still warned Roosevelt: "But, Mr. President, I believe you will realize that if the voice and power of the United States are suppressed for too long, it may not have much effect. You A completely conquered and Nazified Europe will soon be seen..."

Then the British Prime Minister began to ask for help from the United States. He wrote in the letter: "What I ask now is: you declare a state of non-belligerence, which means that you will do everything in your power to help us except actually sending armed forces to the war. ." He then proposed that the United States borrow "forty or fifty older destroyers to make up for the gap between our existing ships and the large number of new ships we have begun building since the beginning of the war." In addition, Churchill also hoped that the United States would provide hundreds of the latest combat aircraft and a batch of much-needed air defense equipment, ammunition and steel.

Finally, the most embarrassing words came. The Prime Minister of the British Empire wrote in a begging tone: "As long as we can still pay in dollars, we will continue to use dollars to buy; but I have reason to believe: even if we can't pay, you will Provide us with supplies as usual.”

The majestic Prime Minister of the Empire on which the sun never sets is actually begging for money from the President of the United States in a low voice. You must know that the world war has only been going on for more than 8 months. After eight months of fighting, the British Empire began to "beg for food." If the fighting lasted for another year and a half, without the need for German troops to land, Britain would be bankrupt!

Early the next morning after writing the "letter begging", Churchill took a plane and arrived in Paris, France. As soon as he arrived in Paris, he heard terrible news from the British ambassador - French government ministries were burning documents and files!

Soon, Churchill met the "gloomy" French Prime Minister Reno and the commander-in-chief of the coalition forces Gamelin at the Matignon Palace. The three people talked in silence for a long time in a lifeless conference room. Then Churchill asked two French people who looked like they were about to cry: "How serious is the matter?"

"Mr. Prime Minister, now the Germans have stabbed France in the defenseless belly!" Gamelin looked very depressed, completely unable to compare with Marshal Joffre in 1914 - he briefly cheered up yesterday morning , followed Xiafei's example and issued the order for a decisive battle. But this morning, more bad news arrived, making his spirits slump again.

"Now France's wounds are getting bigger and bigger, and the losses of the troops are also increasing." Gamelin said, "Since yesterday afternoon, the German armored units began to move northward. The troops of the 9th Group Army were unable to resist and were falling behind one after another. Withdraw. The 2nd Army's counterattack on Sedan also failed. The 3rd Reserve Armored Division and the 3rd Motorized Infantry Division fought hard on the Monte-Diou Heights for more than ten hours, and every attack was repelled by the Germans... Mr. Prime Minister, it seems that there is no way we can close the huge gap in Mans-Sedan, which is now even bigger.”

Is this the end? Churchill was stunned. The Germans only started their onslaught on April 10th, and today is only the 16th! Lost after playing for a week? Isn't this too fast? Although he had anticipated France's defeat, Churchill still could not imagine that France, the "world's largest army power", could persist in days under the German offensive.

"So where are the strategic reserves?" Churchill asked again after being silent for a while.

Gan Molin shook his head, shrugged, and replied: "No...it's useless."

Gamelin means that even if the troops being trained and formed are invested, they will not be able to save the fate of failure... Now may be the time to consider seeking peace!

Churchill was stunned by Gamelin's answer. He did not fully understand Gamelin's words. He thought France had no reserves.

Seeing Churchill's silence, Gamelin made another suggestion: "Prime Minister, you must now consider giving up Belgium... Belgian troops must be withdrawn to Normandy and Paris. The land route is likely to be cut off by the German army, and the Germans The goal can be reached by advancing 200 kilometers north. We do not have the power to stop the German armored group in this direction, so we must consider the possibility of withdrawing troops by sea. "

"Withdraw troops from the sea?" Churchill looked at Gamelin and said to himself, that is an army of hundreds of thousands! There is still so much heavy equipment. Do you mean to withdraw the troops immediately? All the personnel, equipment, baggage, and vehicles of an infantry division (motorized infantry) of the British Expeditionary Force cannot be transported without a ship of 200,000 to 300,000 tons! The nine divisions of the British Expeditionary Force alone require ships with a total tonnage of two million and several hundred thousand tons to transport them. Add in the French troops, and 10 million tons is not necessarily enough. Although the transportation distance is not far and ships can be used back and forth, a ship of 3 million tons is indispensable. Of course there are ships, but does the British Empire have air supremacy over the English Channel? If we want to retreat by sea, will the German aircraft and submarines destroy millions of tons?

"Okay, as soon as I return to London, I will immediately start studying the issue of retreat from Belgium." Churchill thought for a long time and agreed to Gamelin's request.

"In addition, we need the UK to send more fighter jets to cover our operations in the Sedan area." Gamelin then made a request. "This is related to whether the dozens of divisions on the 'Maginot' defense line will be surrounded by the German army."

Gamelin had no hope of winning the war, but he still had to work hard to obtain the conditions for peace. If France lost these dozens of truly combat-effective divisions, it would have no choice but to let Germany slaughter it.

Therefore, Gamelin is now thinking about how to strive for a "decent peace", and his thoughts cannot be hidden from Churchill.

"Okay, we can provide 10 more squadrons of fighters!"

Churchill knew what he had to say to encourage Reynaud. He thought for a moment, "Now I know the dilemma France is facing. The situation may be worse than it was in 1914, but the heroic French people will never be like this." Even if we are the only ones left, we in the UK will fight alone until we win! Because the final victory must belong to the just side!

Germany is not without its weaknesses. It is a country that cannot support itself. Not only do most industrial resources depend on imports, but even the most basic food production cannot meet needs. So as long as the British Empire controlled the seas, it could suffocate the German economy through continued blockade. And the United States of America will still stand with us this time. When necessary, the United States will definitely join the war.

This is how we win wars. I hope France can join us and win the crown again! "

Churchill's words seemed to inspire Reno, and the French Prime Minister's gloomy face gained a little more color. He nodded and said: "Okay, France will definitely stand with Britain. No matter how difficult it is, we will never be alone." Make peace with Germany."

Renault turned to Gamelin, who was still frowning and said: "General, I ask the French army to launch a counterattack in the Sedan area with the greatest determination, and cover the transfer of the troops stationed on the 'Maginot' line to Paris... We To defeat the Germans again outside Paris, just like in 1914!”