Chapter 638： "Fair and reasonable" advice

Dunkirk is a new generation battleship designed by the French Navy in 1926 within the tonnage stipulated by the Washington Naval Treaty. This battleship has a full displacement of more than 35,000 tons, but it has only a 330mm main gun, almost Put a lot of weight on the defense.

At the same time, its maximum speed has almost reached 30 knots.

The imaginary enemy targeted by this high-speed, heavy-defense design is the German "German-class armored ship" and the cruiser being developed and built by the navy of the great powers at that time. It can be said that this kind of battleship is in line with the combat characteristics of battlecruisers, but the French Navy is still called battleships.

This battleship, which was completed only in 37 years, was the absolute main battleship of France. At this time, it was anchored in the port of Millskbild and was the flagship of the French garrison in North Africa.

Ordinarily, it was late at night, when people were sleeping soundly, but on this flagship, General Marcel Bruno Jean-Sour, commander of the French navy's squadron, was not sleepy.

He listened to the report from his men that the British navy colonel Holland wanted to board the warship and have a meeting with General Sor.

Of course he knew what his old friend meant, but he couldn't respond for a long time, and he held another command in his hand.

General Darren ordered that all commanders at all levels of the French naval fleet should not have any contact with the British.

After a long thought, he said, "Let Colonel Holland go back. I don't have time to see him."

At this time, the destroyer that Colonel Holland was riding was almost docked next to his battleship.

"Let General Sur, don't want to see me?" On the destroyer here, Colonel Holland had planned to disembark and step on the opponent's ship, but he heard such an answer.

Don't want to see yourself! In this case, Colonel Holland did not expect that he had a lot of admonitions, hoping that General Sur could lead the fleet and join the British navy. Unfortunately, now, he could not see General Jean Sur at all. There is nothing more to say.

How to do?

After thinking about it, Colonel Holland took out a document from his briefcase: "Please forward this document to General Jean Sur and tell him that our meeting is very important and has a bearing on France. The fate of the navy."

This is a carefully worded letter issued by the Admiralty of London, issued by His Majesty the King himself.

"A few days ago, Prime Minister Renault had promised to move all the warships to the British port. Now, at the Cabinet meeting, a decision has been made: the French fleet should join the British navy, otherwise it will sink by itself."

When he saw this, General Jean Sur felt a spark in his eyes. Why should the fate of the French navy be decided by the British cabinet meeting? What do British people think of themselves? Seen as their own?

These **** British people!

In later generations, after an analysis of the incident at the port of Millskbild, some military observers believed that the British were too anxious and had too much appetite.

If the British navy did not annex the French navy, but cooperated with the French navy, then the French might still accept it.

However, the British have always regarded the French navy as their flesh in the subconscious mind. This is the reason why the tragedy finally broke out. After all, the French are also proud.

Rubbing his eyes, General Suer continued to look.

"Although the current French government can believe that they are in harmony with the conditions of the armistice between Germany and Italy and these commitments, based on our past experience, the British government believes that Germany and Italy will seize the French fleet when it considers them appropriate. And used to fight against Britain and its allies."

"So far, we have been your comrades-in-arms. We cannot just watch your superior ship fall into the control of the enemy Germany or Italy. We are determined to fight to the end. If we win—we think we can win—we will never Forget that France was our ally, our interests are the interests of France, and our common enemy is Germany. If we prevail, we solemnly declare that we must restore the glory and territory of France."

Seeing this, General Sul’s hands are already tightly held together, the British are still talking these nonsense!

Although the ordinary people at the lower levels don't know yet, it is clear to General Sur that the British even let the French army be the bait in order to withdraw their expeditionary force! Let the French army go to Dunkirk, while the British are preparing to break through the port of Calais!

Friends are used for betrayal. At the critical moment, they just stepped on the body of a friend to climb out of the trap. This is the usual practice of the British!

Will they help restore the glory and territory of France? If there is such a day, then France, I am afraid, will become a vassal of Britain!

He resisted the urge to tear up the letter and continued to look down.

"For this purpose, we must ensure that the most elite ships of the French Navy will not be used by the enemy to attack us. Therefore, the French fleet in Millskbild must act according to one of the following methods:"

1. Sail with us and continue to fight for victory in the wars against Germany and Italy.

2. Reduce the crew and sail to the British port under our supervision. The retrenched crew should be repatriated as soon as possible.

3. Then reduce the crew and accompany us to open a French port in the West Indies, such as Martinique, where the ship will be fully disarmed according to our requirements or handed over to the United States for safekeeping until the end of the war. The crew can be repatriated first.

Almost every method here is formulated with a superior attitude. Your French fleet must do this!

Moreover, seeing the following makes General Sur even more angry.

"If you reject these fair and reasonable suggestions, then, with the deepest apologies, I ask you to scuttle your ship within six hours. Finally, if you fail to follow the above method, then I have to follow the King The order of your majesty's government, use all necessary forces to prevent your ships from falling into the hands of Germany or Italy."

"Fair and reasonable, these British guys still feel that such conditions are fair and reasonable?" General Suer said to himself: "Now, even if I don't see my old friend, I know what his attitude is. "

Is it necessary to meet?

"General, how do we reply to the British?" The captain of Dunkirk asked by the side of General Jean Sur.

How does one respond? Let General Sur’s eyes look at the sea in the distance, and say: “Telegraph back to France and ask Marshal Petain and General Darlan for instructions.”