Chapter 1,454: Face to Face 1
Chapter 1454 Face to Face 1
"General Petain, first of all, I welcome you on behalf of myself and my men. Please come here because we have a very important matter to discuss with you, which is directly related to the war situation in the entire Eastern Mediterranean region, and The fate of our Russian allies." Looking at the fatigue and impatience on the face of Admiral Pétain, the French commander in the Eastern Mediterranean who arrived in Greece from Crete yesterday, Lord Hamilton, after expressing his apology, went straight to the point and started Got to the point.
"What we were most worried about has happened. The most terrifying legion in the entire Allied Powers has decided to intervene in the Balkan war. This has completely disrupted our plans and put the idea of solving this problem in a short time into naught. Regardless of whether we I am willing to admit that with the addition of the Bavarian Army, the entire Balkans will become a war zone second only to the Eastern and Western Fronts!”
"This front will extend from Greece to the south to Jerusalem and even the Sinai Peninsula! Our plan to capture Constantinople through a quick assault on the Dardanelles in a short period of time is no longer possible, so we have to Think long term." Lord Hamilton said while looking at Pétain opposite. Observe his expression and reaction.
"As an ally, the French Legion has done its best. For a long time, we may not be able to deploy more troops here. Our population is only a little more than half of the Germans, and our industrial output is less than Germany's. However, on the Western Front, we resisted most of Germany's forces. The age range of our soldiers was the largest among all participating countries. The war has lasted for more than a year, but our manpower, material resources and financial resources are close to Limit, if we continue to share the pressure, we may be the second country to collapse, even if the Germans do not capture Paris." General Pétain kept shaking his head, saying that he could not ask for more reinforcements from the mainland. .
This is not because Pétain or the French government shirks its responsibilities. In fact, it is indeed the case. If the war has the greatest impact on the Allied Powers, it must be France. France is the weakest among the four countries of Germany, the United States, Britain and France. Moreover, as soon as the war started, the fertile northeastern region was occupied by Germany, and France lost almost one-third of its weak industrial power among the four countries! The battlefield was fought on French soil again, and the French had to resist most of the main German forces on the Western Front...
The huge pressure has made France unable to bear it. Some people in France have even put forward the view that if Russia fails, then after the Bavarian Army arrives on the Western Front, the best result for France is to withstand Germany's full attack. After the wave, find ways to cease the war! The criteria for an armistice are simple, as long as the territorial integrity of mainland France and Belgium can be guaranteed.
Maybe someone, this condition is very good! Your own interests are almost not harmed. Haha, how could it not be damaged? Just ensuring that the native territory remains unchanged does not mean that there will be no transfer of interests in the colonies, and this time, the French have made it clear that they want to trick Belgium! Because if we simply talk about the richness and importance of the colonies, the Belgian Congo is obviously the best.
Whether it is rich mineral resources or an important geographical location, Germany is the best choice for expansion!
Of course, this also meant that the British were also in trouble. The British colonial system spanning the entire Africa from Egypt to South Africa was broken, and the crossroads located in the center of the entire Africa was occupied. This was very important for the British colonial system in Africa. A heavy blow, but in the eyes of the French, they really can't care so much. In addition to the top brass, a considerable number of generals are also very pessimistic about the war situation in France under the full attack of Germany. Generally speaking, That is, even if it can withstand the first wave, there is a more than 70% chance that it will not be able to withstand the second wave. Even if it can withstand the second wave, France will be completely ruined!
Therefore, the French have spent a lot of money in the Eastern Mediterranean Campaign. France really wants to save Russia, but now, if it wants to mobilize its troops immediately, then I'm sorry, the French really have no choice. So, Bei The look in Hamilton's eyes was, "Go ahead!"
"I can't do it! If I can, I'll do it to you!" Lord Hamilton's resentment lingered in his head like substance. "Please, it's not okay if the Bavarian Army's first wave of attacks in the Balkans is for the British to take over!" Of course, Lord Hamilton would not say it directly.
"I don't mean that the French Republic should bear the burden alone, but that we should bear it together! After some research, I think it would be better for both of us to land troops in Asia Minor at the same time and basically destroy the country of Turkey. Better!" said Lord Hamilton.
"Huh?! Damn, they are helping us fight! When did the British become so good? Don't you mean that the British are businessmen when they put on formal clothes, and they are pirates when they pick up a sword? Neither businessmen nor pirates have anything to do with charity. !" General Petain was a little stunned for a short time... But after being confused for less than a few dozen seconds, Pétain figured out the problem. Nonsense, no one who can climb to this position is stupid!
"This is obviously a move by the British to shift the blame. The British cannot open up the situation in the north, so they plan to shrink the front and switch to defense, and then attack Asia Minor with France in the name of friendly forces. The north is easy to defend but difficult to attack. If the British If we give up part of the Greek area, then the defensive pressure will still be small. Then what? The Bavarian Army, which will also be unable to open up the situation for a while, may go south into Asia Minor. This is to bring me a BOSS!" Thinking of this, Pétain's opinion of Hamilton immediately dropped by 2 notches!
"Well, I know what you are thinking. We must first make sure that the Bavarian Army will not tolerate Turkey's defeat no matter what. When the French army's attack in Asia Minor reaches a certain level, the Bavarian Army will inevitably Will participate in the war, so encounter is absolute. In this case, why don't we concentrate our efforts to obtain a better situation as much as possible before the Bavarian Army enters Asia Minor?" Hamilton is also an experienced man. Of course he knew what Petain wanted to say.
"But your country has just been severely damaged. At least five divisions still need to rest and recuperate. Before a new round of reinforcements arrive, your country has no ability to cooperate with our actions." Petain rolled his eyes and said.
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