The Third Reich in Desperation

On the other hand, Reinhardt also obtained the Gestapo, and Mussolini planned to use the materials for the northern Italian defense line, and secretly sold them to the Finnish government to help them strengthen the Mannerheim defense line.

Steve even knew that in Reinhardt's mind, Finland's strategic significance was extremely important, and its value was greater than a hundred thousand troops!

Unexpectedly, Reinhardt quickly shook his head, denying the plan of armed aid to Finland that Steve had considered for a long time.

"Steve, our SS is different from Norway and Sweden." Reinhardt smiled, patted Steve on the shoulder and explained: "15 years ago, maybe our SS could be used by the outside world." Treat it as a militia, and even send troops to the Ruhr for the Wehrmacht."

Speaking of this, Reinhardt paused, and then continued meaningfully: "But it can't do it now! The SS has long been regarded as the imperial weapon of the Third Reich. In the eyes of the outside world, the SS has already to the national forces of Germany!"

"So, we can't engage in such small tricks like Norway and Sweden." Reinhardt patiently explained to Steve, who wanted to share his worries: "Besides, we still have cooperation with the Soviet Union after all. In order to create a better environment to deal with Britain and France, we can't offend the Soviet Union. Even if we don't want to, we can only watch them attack Finland."

Walking aside, Ross, who had long wanted to say something, hurriedly seized the opportunity to speak: "Furthermore, we have no leisure to manage the war between Finland and the Soviet Union. According to intelligence, all 10 British expeditionary forces have arrived in France. Their target was clearly Germany."

After thinking about it for about two seconds, Ross immediately added: "In addition, our spies have detected the high-level British occupation plan for Norway. This plan is also aimed at dealing with us. It intends to seize the Norwegian port and block us from An important route for importing iron ore from Sweden."

The few words between Reinhardt and Ross immediately made Steve, who was in the army and didn't know much about this information, understand the seemingly calm undercurrent.

The north has already been missed by Britain and France, and sooner or later there will be problems.The Soviet Union, which is next to the east, cannot be messed with, otherwise it would be a big trouble.In the west, the Allied Forces of Britain, France and Belgium are fully in place, and they may invade the western front of the empire at any time.Italy is an unreliable ally in the south, but in Steve's eyes, this ally is equivalent to no.

"Then we should now..." Steve was a little anxious.Since the situation is so urgent, why does Reinhardt still have the mind to engage in a small-scale confrontation exercise between the SS and the Wehrmacht with great fanfare.

From this point of view, the Fuehrer should have summoned the generals of the three armed forces to discuss the situation in the mansion today, instead of just calling a large number of army generals to give an informal opening speech for the exercise in a tavern in Munich?

Looking at Steve, who was a little anxious, Ross smiled instead of Reinhardt and explained to me: "Steve, you have been busy with military expansion recently, and you are not with the Führer, so you have no chance to understand the deep plan of the Führer. Wait. After finishing today's work, I will come down and explain to you slowly."

"Just a few of us know, don't spread the word, this matter can't let too many people know." Reinhardt reminded kindly.

This reminder warmed Steve's heart, because he knew that he was one of the few people who could know what Reinhardt said.This is Reinhardt's trust in himself!

On the other side, Ross immediately went on to tell Steve: "Don't we two understand the character of the head of state? When will he do meaningless things?!"

Indeed, since Steve knew Reinhardt, what impressed him the most was Reinhardt's skillful and clumsy handling of things.

Although his behavior is often unconstrained and bizarre, it is ultimately for a secret and important core purpose.And the more important this goal is, the more Reinhardt's means to achieve it will look like he's insane...

Soon, the three of them walked all the way to the Munich tavern under the escort of a group of majestic SS officers and soldiers.

"Get your people ready to do it, and be smart." Reinhardt showed a sly smile, and gave Steve a brief final explanation: "You know, now is not the time to relax. I’m not here to give a speech for that little exercise.” Raising his wrist, Reinhardt looked at his watch, turned around and said to Steve: “I’ll find Ross to explain today’s arrangement to you in detail. Time It's almost here, I'm going to prepare my speech."

Text Chapter 258 Succession

Timoshenko, who had just arrived at the front headquarters, gave a solemn military salute to Meretskov, who was leaving dejectedly.

"Why, are you mocking me?" Mistaking Timoshenko for Meretskov who was pretending, he squinted his eyes and squinted at Timoshenko who kept saluting.

As the commander of the Leningrad Military District and the former front-line commander of Timoshenko, the commander of the Kiev Military District, Meretskov will inevitably feel repulsive when facing Timoshenko himself.

It's not that Meretskov hated Timoshenko, but that Timoshenko's temporary replacement really made him feel extremely insulted.Changing generals before the battle has always been the practice of denying the previous commander.

As the master of the Soviet Red Army who was best at attacking and defending fortified areas, Meretskov's prudent command and predictability of the battle situation have always been well-known.The task of conquering the Mannerheim line of defense was originally the area of ​​expertise of this famous Soviet general.

Replace him, an expert in offense and defense in fortified areas, with a general like Timoshenko who is good at plain warfare, and continue to command the tough battle of the Mannerheim defense line.Doesn't this mean that Meretskov, an expert, is not even as good as Timoshenko, who made a temporary guest appearance in his field of expertise!

"Comrade Meretskov, you have misunderstood me." Timoshenko immediately shook his head and explained: "My trip is entirely for payment and arrangement, and there is no other meaning. On the contrary, if there is no one I brought from the Kiev Military District I may even refuse to accept the mission due to the new cutting-edge troops and the large number of reinforcements mobilized from the rear.”

Perhaps moved by Timoshenko's sincere expression, Meretskov finally accepted the successor in his heart, and kindly reminded: "Don't underestimate the enemy. I heard that you played very well in Poland, but This is Finland, not Poland. What you have to face is a group of terrible enemies."

"Are they difficult?" As soon as Timoshenko asked this question, he immediately regretted it.Asking this in front of Meretskov is equivalent to asking in disguise, "Are you unable to deal with them?"

Sure enough, as soon as Timoshenko asked, Meretskov fell into a deep silence.

From the expression on his face, Timoshenko probably guessed the mental activities of his former frontline commander.

Just when Timoshenko was hesitating to find another topic to divert the embarrassing atmosphere, Meretskov suddenly said: "Yes, they are difficult to deal with."

Meretskov smiled wryly, and raised a seemingly innocuous topic to Timoshenko: "Have you heard of the German unit facing a siege by a Polish army alone?"

"You mean the 30th Infantry Division of the German Army?" Timoshenko nodded and replied seriously: "I have experienced the Polish campaign, so I know a lot about it. I heard that this infantry division of the German Army did not have any reinforcements. Under such circumstances, they fought to the death without surrendering, and faced the siege of more than ten times the Polish army alone, they just gritted their teeth and survived!"

"Yes," Meretskov continued: "The only advice I want to leave you is to treat the entire Finnish army as a staunch enemy like the German 30th Infantry Division."

Timoshenko could see that what he said was very serious, not alarmist!

Before the war, no one would have believed that the Finns would be so tenacious and unyielding.

At that time, looking at the whole of Europe, everything related to the military, the Nordic countries like Finland, were just objects of ridicule and ridicule.Their soldiers are not like soldiers, and their training methods are more like staying in the last century.In addition to Sweden, the weapons and equipment of Finland and other Nordic countries are also dismissive.

People even wonder if there is anyone in such a country who can muster up the courage to shoot at the enemy once a war breaks out.

But people quickly got the answer.In more than a month of fighting with disparity in strength, the army of a small country like Finland literally blocked the Soviet Union's 35 troops to the east of the Mannerheim Line of Defense.

Finland, a standard military small country with a total population of just over 440 million and a standing army of only 3.2.However, the Soviet Union, which has always claimed to be a military power, stumbled one after another.

Once, Poland, which had an army of one million and was known as the fifth most powerful country in Europe, failed to stop the Soviet army for two months with an army of 20, allowing Timoshenko to break through the line of defense.

Now, after the mobilization of the whole people, Finland, which has only expanded to 12 troops, has almost wiped out the four reorganized divisions of the Soviet Union and caused varying degrees of losses to other Soviet divisions.

The slogan of the Soviet government also changed from before the war, "As long as the door is raised a little, the Finns will obey. If it doesn't work, you can fire a shot, and the Finns will raise their hands to surrender." to later "As long as the artillery unit is ready Twelve days of ammunition is enough, and the entire battle will inevitably end in 16 days at most." And now "the Polish conqueror Admiral Timoshenko was ordered in danger, and the conquest of Finland is just around the corner."

Thinking of this, Timoshenko suddenly felt a little ironic.Facing a weak country that lacks aircraft and artillery, has almost no tanks, and has a standing army of less than 4, it has always claimed to be tenacious and good at fighting. Make up hundreds of thousands of troops? !

Meretskov looked at the heavy-faced Timoshenko, nodded, and then reached out and patted him on the shoulder: "This is the end of the matter, there is no use thinking about anything else. Concentrate on directing and take down as soon as possible." Finnish position."

"I will let the division commanders in the remaining troops cooperate with you as much as possible and try their best to carry out the order." This time, Meretskov encouraged Timoshenko with a sincere face: "But don't hold back against them." Too much hope. To tell you the truth, the troops I brought out from the Leningrad Military District are basically disabled now. The only thing I can really count on now is the young army you brought from the Kiev Military District.”

"Meretskov, you..."

Stopping Timoshenko from expressing gratitude, Meretskov smiled a little disappointed: "That's all I can do for you, and the rest can only be relied on you."

When he said this, Meretskov's heart was actually aching like a knife.Handing over the goal that made him fight day and night into the hands of a newcomer, this kind of loss is like a nanny leaving a child whom he has cared for for many years.

Looking at the back of Meretskov when he left, Timoshenko was suddenly a little confused. Even if he brought such a powerful new army, could he really easily take Finland?Or maybe, he might spend more time than Meretskov!

As this war, which should have ended easily, is still going on, the Soviet Union's international influence has plummeted.What is even more frightening is that Timoshenko is not sure how long this rapid decline in influence will last? !

Text Chapter 259 Assassination of Reinhardt

Above the city of Munich, the sky was as clear as ever.The bright sunshine scattered on the roof of the Munich tavern, adding vitality to this famous local tavern.

Unlike Finland, which is covered by clouds, Germany, which is under the sun, now seems to be far from the war.In other words, the Third Reich has the strength to actively choose wars, instead of passively responding like Finland.

While people are lamenting that life is booming, there are also a small number of people who selectively forget the credit for Reinhardt leading Germany out of desperation and blame him for his current behavior.

For example, General Weitzleben, the former commander of the 3rd Military District in Berlin.

The Wehrmacht group headed by him has always been full of grudges against Reinhardt, who founded the SS, an independent force outside the Wehrmacht.

Witzleben even publicly accused Reinhardt of forming a party for personal gain in 1923 or even earlier, using his power to promote a large group of cronies and generals with low qualifications, and intervening in the country many times at his own will decision making.