Chapter 972 Nimitz's Counterattack (5, Updated)

ps: This is to make up for the fact that there was only one update on a certain day. Thanks for your support. Today, three updates are completed...

In the evening of that day, Krank, who was staying in Rio Port, received intelligence from the submarine. The reinforcement fleet he led and the Hintz fleet had been merged into one, and they had just completed the task of transporting personnel and materials. Since his rank was higher than Hintz and his position was higher than Hintz, Krank was the supreme commander of the merged fleet. Hintz originally volunteered to command the bombardment fleet, but Krank believed that there was no need to separate the bombardment fleet and the aircraft carrier formation at present. They could act together, especially the powerful anti-aircraft defense firepower of the Richelieu would be a waste if it was used for the bombardment fleet.

Of course, Hintz would also prefer to command the aircraft carrier force: although none of the German naval generals came from aircraft carriers, this could not stop their yearning to command the aircraft carrier formation - looking at the aircraft carriers (regardless of regular aircraft carriers and escort aircraft carriers) and the empty battleships on the slipway, even a fool would know which trend of the future war would be.

The Führer has already made a very insightful summary: "The future of the navy lies in air, submarine, and fast". Of course, Hoffman said that "fast" does not actually refer to S-boats, but to new warships such as missile cruisers, missile destroyers, and missile frigates. It's just that other people think that fast refers to fast forces like S-boats. At best, this is just a mid-level officer. If you want to become a senior officer or even a naval marshal, you can only have hope in air and submarine.

Now Krank asked Hinz to stay and command together and let the battleship accompany him, which means that he will have the opportunity to be independent in the future-there are so many aircraft carriers in the shipyard that it is impossible for there to be only one or two commanders.

Crank asked, "Do you think this fleet is coming for our fleet or the American Republic?"

"It's hard to say." Hinz pondered for a moment, "Both are possible. The most urgent task is to find out the enemy's strength. In fact, the enemy knows roughly how much strength our army has. If they really intend to deal with the fleet, they will not only draw a small number of troops. Before there is enough strong evidence to the contrary, I personally think that this fleet is coming for us - because the Americans will never launch a counterattack in Brazil without taking down our fleet."

Crank nodded, and Hinz's judgment coincided with his: Now that the Eastern Front and the British battlefield have ended, the war in Europe has come to an end, and South America will be the main battlefield in the next stage, and it is also the last link in the final victory of this war. Although there is also the factor of South Africa, both Hinz and he believe that this is not a difficult task for Germany: Stalin's 10 million troops on the Eastern Front have been wiped out, and the mere 300,000 enemy troops in South Africa can't be dealt with?

"General Marshal and Field Marshal Keitel sent me telegrams one after another: The Fuehrer has agreed to continue to send troops to South America, but it will take some time: on the one hand, our army has just received two British armored aircraft carriers, and we need to familiarize ourselves with the ship conditions and conduct sea trials. On the other hand, the army is being repaired and refitted, which also takes time." Crank thought for a while, "I want to talk to General Schocken and hear what he thinks about the next stage of the war."

Schocken didn't know that the country would continue to send reinforcements, so he hurriedly asked for details.

The South American reinforcement plan drafted by Jodl was code-named "Watch": it planned to increase the South American force to more than 400,000 through 2-3 large-scale reinforcement operations. The entire operation involved a large scale, including at least two marshals: Hoth and Rommel, and Paulus was also involved.

Rommel's appointment was easy to understand, as he was responsible for the American Republic, but Jodl couldn't figure out why the Fuehrer wanted to include Hoth and Paulus.

Keitel, however, revealed the secret: "Hoth will be the Minister of Defense of the future American Republic, and Paulus will be the Chief of Staff! This country is the bridgehead of the German people in South America. Without capable people and troops to guard it, can the Führer sit in peace? As for Schauken and Manteuffel, they will be the commanders of the two army groups in this country in the future."

"Why not Rommel as Minister of Defense?"

Keitel smiled and shook his head: "The Führer thinks he is not suitable."

"I understand!"

Jodl immediately came to his senses: Hoth has outstanding diplomatic skills, is a peaceful person, and is good at handling complex situations. Rommel is certainly good at fighting, but he is not qualified to be the Minister of Defense. As for Paulus, he has always been the Führer's confidant and beloved general. He served as Deputy Chief of Staff in the past, and it is considered a good use of his talents to serve as the Chief of Staff of the American Republic.

Hoffman's feelings towards Paulus had undergone a very complicated change: initially he hated him for ruining the Sixth Army in history, then he easily became a tainted witness, and decisively removed him from the position of commander of the Sixth Army and exiled him to the Western Front. But when he really arrived at the Western Front, he found that Paulus was not depressed, but figured out more tricks. On the one hand, he kept a close eye on Rundstedt for Hoffman, and on the other hand, he organized the headquarters of the imaginary enemy. He did a great job in all aspects, which made Hoffman nod his head in praise.

Especially in the process of capturing the Gibraltar Fortress, Paulus performed well and successfully achieved the goal, which made Hoffman feel that this person could be used - he might not be able to fight on the front line, but he should be good at comprehensive planning as the chief of the general staff. After repeated consideration, he decided to put him in the position of chief of the general staff of the American Republic. He believed that Paulus could complete this task. If Paulus can do a good job, he will definitely get the rank of marshal - of course, it will be the rank of marshal of the American Republic.

"400,000?" Upon hearing such a huge number, Shao Ken couldn't help but gasp and asked in surprise, "Is the Führer planning to occupy the entire Brazil?"

"No, the Führer didn't say that when he told me." Krank smiled, "These 400,000 troops are not only for the present, but also for the defense of the American Republic in the next few years."

Before departure, Hoffman's instructions to Krank were very clear: the navy must work with Schocken to maintain the situation in South America before the arrival of a new batch of reinforcements.

The best option is to consolidate the defense of the American Republic and expand the influence on Montero. Now that Montero has succeeded in the coup, it is necessary to expand the control of the Montero Brazilian government;

The second best option is to help Montero keep the two densely populated and psychologically significant areas of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro;

If necessary, the Brazilian government can be abandoned, but the American Republic must be preserved.

But after arriving in South America, Crank found that the war situation was more optimistic than he had imagined, and he could not help but raise his demands for the situation in South America. He explained: "From the attitude of the head of state, after the South American and South African campaigns, the United States and Germany should be able to achieve a ceasefire. I guess the head of state's psychological demands are nothing more than the following five points:

First, Germany actually controls South Africa - this has nothing to do with us, that is the job of Marshal Guderian;

Second, actually control the Brazilian government, at least to form two Brazils, Germany and the United States each control a Brazilian government;

Third, let the three European countries take over British, Dutch, and French Guiana, and Germany share Venezuelan oil;

Fourth, the La Plata Group, including Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Peru, and Bolivia, is close to my country, and Ecuador and Colombia can be close America;

Fifth, guarantee the survival space of the American Republic. "

Shoken laughed: "If we follow your conditions, there is still a war in South America, and we really need 400,000 troops. Now the Americans don't even want to recognize the American Republic, let alone the two Brazils."

Krank shrugged: "It's not up to them. If the Americans still refuse to admit defeat after we achieve this goal, the head of state may continue to join Japan to march towards the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Panama. In short, except for the United States, other American spheres of influence can be attacked."

He waved his arms and imitated Hoffman's voice and said: "Americans are unwilling to surrender? I will fight until Truman or Dewey surrenders!"

Shoken nodded, indicating that he understood, and then asked when the next batch of reinforcements would arrive.

"The next batch of troops may depart from Europe on August 15 and arrive here before the end of the month. The number of troops should not be less than 3 divisions, and it is estimated to be 4."

The date of August 15 was chosen after careful consideration by Hoffman. On the one hand, the newly acquired aircraft carriers of the Navy will form combat effectiveness, and on the other hand, the replacement and emergency replenishment of the Wehrmacht will also achieve results.

At present, except for the two armored divisions of the Training Division and the Flying Fortress, the rest of the German 1944-type organization is all arranged by the SS. Therefore, the second wave of 1944 troops is mainly for the Wehrmacht. The second wave of replacement is the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 16th armored divisions, and then 3 armored grenadier divisions are arranged.

According to the plan of the High Command, due to the need to cut 1.5 million army troops and the fact that the war in Europe has basically ended, it is impossible for all 1944-type armored divisions to be replaced universally - there is no need, and the economy and logistics cannot afford all the replacement. Speer initially considered completing the formation of 20 1944-type armored divisions and 16 armored grenadier divisions by the end of 1944.

At present, the SS has 7 1944-type armored divisions, and the Wehrmacht has 2, which means that 11 more armored divisions need to be completed this year. In order to complete the task of reducing the number of infantry divisions by 1.5 million, the Supreme Command has decided to reduce the number of 6 armored divisions in addition to drastically reducing the number of infantry divisions.

Although it is said that 6 divisions will be reduced, in fact, none will be reduced. Because 4 armored divisions are planned to be dismantled and reorganized into marine brigades, the army will have 4 fewer armored divisions on its books, and the navy will have 8 more marine brigades. The other 2 armored divisions will serve as reserves - the gaps left by the remaining divisions and the retirement of some veterans will be directly filled by the personnel of these two armored divisions.

The infantrymen were not so lucky. The newly formed divisions mobilized in 1942 and 1943 were basically to be disbanded. Keitel included all infantry divisions with more than 300 and 400 numbers in the scope of elimination at one go - first kill 50 infantry divisions in one go.

After listening to these introductions, Schauken readily accepted the combat plan proposed by Krank...