The Third Reich in Desperation

"Then what benefits does Mr. Prime Minister want?" Franco's special envoy forced himself to ask calmly.

"Let's say it earlier, I've actually thought it out for you." Reinhardt said with a faceless face and said with a hearty smile: "In fact, Germany's request is not much, we only need two Atlantic ships. Ports, two ports in the direction of the Mediterranean Sea. After 2 years of use, the better ports will be returned to you.”

That's not much? !The envoy sent by Franco was taken aback by Reinhardt's appetite.However, Reinhardt's request is obviously not finished yet.

Then, the special envoy saw Reinhardt wave his hand: "I originally wanted to take 100 tons of iron ore for nothing, but for the sake of the traditional friendship between Germany and Spain, I will buy them at the market price. Otherwise In addition, resources such as zinc, lead, and tungsten ore can only be exported to Germany by the Spanish government.”

Hearing this, Franco's envoy was already sweating profusely.He regretted a little, how could he agree to come to Germany to negotiate instead of being a special envoy to Portugal or Italy.

Seeing the nervousness of the special envoy, Reinhard patted the special envoy's shoulder intimately, and said with a smile: "Don't worry, we will also pay for the food import cooperation. How about signing a 3-year food cooperation plan first? "

Hearing that Reinhardt wanted more food, the special envoy almost cried: "President...Mr. Prime Minister, these requests are a bit...difficult. But...we You can grit your teeth and accept it."

Seeing the Spanish special envoy accepting those requests alone, Reinhardt also seemed to be very generous and said: "It's good to accept it, let me just say, the friendship between Spain and Germany is strong and long-lasting, this request counts What. Don't worry, we will equip the National Army with 10 elite infantry divisions. In addition, Germany will provide General Franco with 60 tank destroyers produced by Krupp and 30 military trucks produced by BMW. Type A, to help the Spanish National Army form an armored division."

The tank destroyer No. 60 mentioned by Reinhardt was modified from the experimental tank (Tank No. 47) previously developed by Krupp.With Reinhardt's intervention, only [-] of the experimental tanks were produced before being discontinued.After that, Krupp removed the turret of the experimental tank, installed a [-]mm anti-tank gun on the tank chassis, and converted it into a more practical No. [-] tank destroyer.

As for the military A-type truck produced by BMW, it uses a large number of wooden structures instead of steel parts, and replaces it with a rainproof canvas carport. It is an experimental vehicle developed by Germany to save steel.Reinhardt provided it to Franco to test how well this simplified version of the truck works.

Hearing that Reinhardt has prepared so many weapons and equipment for the National Army, he will also form the first armored division for the Wehrmacht.Franco's special envoy finally showed a hint of joy: "I think the Spanish people will thank the generous Mr. Prime Minister."

Reinhardt said to the special envoy with a hearty face: "There is nothing worthy of your gratitude. We are all friends. Besides, we in Germany still expect to mobilize these troops to help in the future."

"Wait!" At this time, the special envoy couldn't care less about etiquette, he said nervously: "Does Germany want the right to mobilize the Spanish army in the future? I dare not agree to that. Once the country knows that I have signed this kind of treaty , I will be set on the pillar of shame in Spanish history!"

"Don't be nervous, all we want is the right to mobilize these 11 divisions. The rest of the troops are up to you. And this treaty will be signed in secret, and we will keep it a secret for you and General Franco." Reinhardt seemed comforted Beat to the Spanish envoy.

In the end, Reinhard thought for the sake of the special envoy: "I heard that the National Army has lost Granada, and Cordoba's defense line is also crumbling. If General Franco cannot get assistance in time, then he will set up a Don't even think about holding the frontline command in Seville."

Text Chapter 91 Spain's international confrontation

The envoy sent by Franco was very clever. His master needed the equipment provided by the Germans too much, so it was impossible for him to refuse Reinhardt's request anyway.

Once the war is won, he and all those behind him can ascend to the throne of power.If you lose, there is no need to worry about those illusory chips.

However, the special envoy still wanted to struggle, and said in an almost begging tone: "Mr. Prime Minister, the price we paid is too high. I hope you can think about it for us, can you..."

Reinhard laughed and interrupted the special envoy: "Did I not think of this? I know, you can't be too greedy. Besides, these aids will not be effective immediately, and you have to wait until your troops are deployed." to make a difference.”

Listening to Reinhardt's words is still considered polite, it seems that he will provide himself with something else, the envoy comforted himself.

I saw Reinhard heartyly rushing to the special envoy and said: "Well, I will borrow 50 more of your most advanced planes, which will be driven by German pilots. In addition, I will send a German armored division to Spain to help you win this war There is no rush to ask for the rent, just pay it back slowly after you win the battle.”

With the German armored forces and air force, Franco's special envoy was naturally desirable.It's just that the "rent" is probably not too low according to the routine of the German Chancellor in front of him.

Franco's special envoy only heard Reinhardt continue: "Well, the rent is cheaper for you. The payment is based on the value of 50 tons of gold, and tungsten ore and other resources can be used to replace the repayment."

The special envoy only felt dizzy for a while, but Reinhard continued to chatter: "This is much cheaper than the price we sold to the Republican Army. Don't be embarrassed, who told us that we are ideological friends. This price is not worth it." Low, you must never decline again, if you still decline, I will be really embarrassed."

The special envoy at this moment couldn't laugh or cry, he had seen shameless people before, but he had never seen such shameless people!The special envoy wanted to beg again, but Reinhardt grabbed both hands, shook hands enthusiastically and said, "There's no need to argue, it's settled like this. If you refuse me again, I'll lose my face, and it's not a great favor." , not to be moved like this."

Franco's special envoy had the urge to slap Reinhardt a few times, and if he didn't slap him elsewhere, he would slap him in the face!Just because this cheeky and shameless person deserves a beating.

Reinhardt, who didn't have the slightest bit of self-knowledge, was still chattering: "When you win and seize the power, I will definitely pay a visit to your General Franco. Maybe we will be allies in the future. If you need help Open up. Although our German labor expedition is very troublesome, we are all willing to help the Spanish people in suffering out of the sea of ​​suffering. Germans are generous by nature, and I like to help others. What I can't get used to in my life is that The kind of person who fights and fights endlessly for petty gains, that kind of person... I'm yuck!"

In the end, the envoy from Spain no longer remembered how he entered the secret chamber to sign a secret treaty with the Germans.He only remembered that when he left with a copy of the secret covenant, Reinhardt ran to the airport to see him off, waved his hands and shouted: "Go back and tell General Franco for me, please accept it with peace of mind." Germany's aid. If you refuse any of them, you will look down on me and disrespect the goodwill of the German people..."

On August 1936, 8, Spain signed a secret alliance and aid treaty with Germany.Since then, Franco's envoys have accomplished their respective goals of uniting Germany, Italy, and Portugal.

With the cooperation of the Italian Navy, the German transport fleet and the Italian transport fleet transported a large amount of personnel and equipment to Portugal.A large amount of equipment promised by the Germans was transported to the port of Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, and then transported by road to Badajoz, the rear area under the control of Franco's army.The first phase of transportation equipment alone allowed Franco's National Army to replace five German infantry divisions.

The armored division promised by Reinhardt was the Fifth Armored Division of the Wehrmacht led by Rommel.This division is equipped with the newly improved No. 10 tank type B, a light tank weighing only 20 tons, equipped with 2mm artillery and 33 MG[-] machine guns.

When Reinhardt ordered the development of this light tank, the purpose was originally to make it an airdrop-type light tank, but due to its heavy weight, it has not been able to meet the airdrop standard.However, as an infantry support light tank, the No. 62 b straight and inclined car body is equipped with a reduction gear at the front and replaced with a Bamacher HL140 [-] horsepower gasoline engine, which has the advantage of being able to flexibly cooperate with infantry combat .Used in backward Spain, it was enough to defeat their Republican Army.

At the same time, because Germany's real armored main tank T3 was not used, it could also hide the true strength of the German armored forces in combat.

In addition, the No. [-] B tank is also sufficient to test the combat theory of armored forces proposed by Reinhardt.The operations of the German [-]th Armored Division in Spain can further improve the details of the combat theory of the armored forces, which can be said to serve multiple purposes.

As a secret German aid to Franco, the [-]th Panzer Division assembled in Porto, Portugal, but did not enter the battlefield immediately.

Contrary to the German Expeditionary Force, the 5 Italian infantry sent by Mussolini rushed to attack Oviedo on the third day after arriving in Ferrer in northern Spain, trying to calm down the main force of the Republican Army in northern Spain in one fell swoop.

In response to this, Franco, supported by 8000 Portuguese volunteers, launched a counterattack in the area of ​​Cordoba that was about to fall.Although no breakthrough was achieved, it also stabilized Cordoba's defenses and relieved the crisis of his frontline headquarters in Seville.

At the end of 1936, the German Fifth Armored Division was assembled in the Toledo area, but it still did not fight.As the commander of the German-Spanish United Corps, Rommel now has a total of 7 main divisions, including: 1 German light armored division, 1 Spanish quasi-armored division, and 5 German and Spanish infantry divisions. (Another 5 German and Spanish infantry divisions were used to stabilize the northern front.)

At Mussolini's request, Italy added a total of 100 heavy machine guns, 50 artillery pieces, 68 old-fashioned biplanes, and about 30 light tanks to Franco's National Army.Unlike the stingy Reinhardt, the magnanimous Mussolini provided these supplementary equipment for free.

On the other hand, the Spanish Republican Army also received $1936 million in aid from Mexico and some war materials at the end of 200, including 20000 rifles, 28 bullets, 8 cannons and a small number of American-made aircraft.These equipment further armed the 30 People's Guard temporarily established by the Republicans.Coupled with the 10 Gew.98 Mauser rifles that Germany bought to the Republican Army before, the People's Guard in the hands of the Republicans has become a quasi-army with considerable combat effectiveness.

Since the 500 tons of gold in history were not mortgaged (all went into the pockets of the German government), the Communist International under the control of the Soviet government provided only limited assistance to Spain: a Comintern column with 3000 high-spirited fighters .

By January 1937, the Spanish National Army was surrounded on three sides.

To the north is the Italian Expeditionary Corps, which has just received more than 2 supplementary soldiers and has a strength of more than 5.This Italian expeditionary force had just confronted the Santander garrison with less than 4000 people, defeated the main force of the Republican Army in northern Spain, and its morale was high.The originally scattered five German Armor National Army also gathered in the area around the Italian Expeditionary Force.

In the center, the 10 troops of the German-Spanish United Corps, which has not been engaged in combat under Rommel's command, are waiting in full swing, threatening Madrid, the capital where the republican government is located, at all times.

On the southern front, Franco, who just got a Romanian volunteer regiment, is stepping up his offensive and is about to encircle the 10 People's Guard deployed by the Republican Army in Poso Blanco.

Today's Spanish Republican Army has reached the point of its last stand.

Text Chapter 92 Three-way march

"One week, just one week, we can wipe out the 30 main force of the Republican Army in Madrid." After a Spanish staff officer translated Rommel's opening remarks, the atmosphere of the pre-war meeting reached its peak in an instant.

This pre-war meeting was suggested by Franco.The purpose of the meeting is to unify the action plan for the next decisive battle.

Rommel, who had been standing still, suddenly proposed to take up the main attack task, and even gave the participants a shot of stimulant.That is the most powerful corps on the entire Spanish battlefield, and it has been fully equipped and fully organized since the beginning of the war.Everyone present couldn't help being excited when they thought that the German-Western United Corps would be dispatched soon.

However, Rommel's goal of annihilating the main force of 30 Republicans within a week is too far away. …

Although everyone understands that once the main force of the 30 Republican Army in Madrid is wiped out.The National Army can form an overwhelming advantage over the Republican Army in terms of strength, and can straighten the front from Madrid to Gradara, eradicate the huge protrusion of the Republican Army deep behind the National Army's front, and enable the National Army to go further. Concentrate your forces.However, it is not easy to wipe out the 30 main force of the Republican Army?

After a senior Spanish staff officer under Franco marked the battle situation on the map, everyone's eyes fell on the German and Italian military officers sitting on the left and right sides of the conference room.

The national army, which is fighting at home in Spain, actually has to rely on the German and Italian expeditionary forces.Therefore, the real right to speak at this meeting is still with the officer corps of Germany and Italy.

General Gambara, the commander of the Italian Expeditionary Force, took the lead in speaking: "I personally have reservations about General Rommel's strategic goal of wiping out the main force of the 30 Republican Army in Madrid within a week."

Admiral Gambara pointed at the military map with a telescoping pole and said: "As we can see, the Republican Army has three defensive lines around Madrid. More than [-] National Guards equipped with German weapons have been deployed." When it comes to equipping German weapons, Gambala's articulation is particularly heavy.

However, after listening to the translation, Rommel did not show embarrassment, but instead made a gesture to signal Gambala to continue.

Gambara was also unceremonious, and continued: "Even if the Italian troops go south from Burgos and the Spanish National Army goes north to Brunette. It will be difficult for us to wipe out this large army of 30 people. Even if we can finally It can't be done in a week."

"On the contrary, we can adopt a more robust strategy." Gambala changed the subject, moved the telescopic pole upwards, pointed to a red circle and said: "Here, the important industrial areas along the Bay of Biscay, Basque Country and Aspen Turias. Once the Italian army under my command can jointly launch a northern front campaign with the five German armorers in the north, it will be able to take this place completely, thereby cutting off the connection between the Spanish Republican Army and France, and further isolating the Republican Army."