For both Germany, Britain and France, launching a transoceanic expedition to Norway was a crucial operation that required a great deal of preparation to lay the foundation. From the formulation www.biquge.info of plans, the assembly of troops, to the dispatch of materials and the blockade of intelligence, every task requires a huge amount of energy, and it is obviously impossible to open the curtain of the final battle in a hurry. Historically, Germany made up its mind to invade Norway on February 16, 1940, and the first fleet sailed out of port at midnight on April 6, with nearly 50 days to prepare. Britain and France, on the other hand, were even more slow to act: they had decided to send troops to Norway in mid-December of the previous year, but they did not do so until April 8.

It was precisely this astonishing delay that made the German high command, which had been timid and hesitant to consider invading Norway, pick up a big advantage, and actually came first in the struggle to seize Norway, bringing Germany's maritime pattern back to life. If the British had done it three days earlier, Germany would have had to face the wide North Sea: because with the weak strength of the German navy in that plane, the only chance to occupy Norway was to hide from the sky and put its own army ashore before the British navy could react!

Although the interest of both Britain and Germany in Norway had increased greatly due to the butterfly effect caused by Fang Yan during this time and space, since the time when both countries made their military decisions about military action was already in mid-December, after Finland had firmly resisted the Soviet invasion, no matter how quickly the preparations were made, the operation would not be carried out until next year. In a quiet tone, Europe gradually ushered in the first Christmas after the outbreak of war. Although the world has long since become peaceful, there is also a festive atmosphere in this supreme Christian festival.

As the moon rises in the early morning, the northwestern German city of Hamburg is shrouded in a quiet night, looking peaceful and beautiful. The ongoing war with Britain did not plunge Germany's largest cargo port into depression and recession, as many had imagined. As the German economy gradually shifted to wartime track, the labor force that had been left idle by the shrinking shipping industry was soon carved up by the fierce demand from other industries. The Brom-Foss shipyard, on the banks of the Elbe, has recruited more than 4,000 new dock workers in one go: the German Ministry of Economics has placed a large number of production orders for the shipyards, which has necessitated a massive expansion of the shipbuilding giant's workforce.

However, although the entire shipyard is filled with almost no space for the next year, tens of thousands of workers have also received the benefits of leaving work early today, Christmas Eve, which is adjacent to Christmas. Accompanied by the familiar and magnificent music from the factory radio, the six iron gates began to slowly open to both sides, and countless workers in blue uniforms walked densely from their respective workshops to both sides of the road outside like ant colonies out of their holes.

Walker, a gas cutter, walked out of the factory with the crowd and joined the workers into the supermarket belonging to the "Labor Front" not far away, and ten minutes later, he walked out with two huge cloth bags on his face and a smile. Although they weigh more than 20 kilograms, they are as easy to hold in Walker's hands as a girl in her forties. Thinking of the surprise of the little ones when they saw these gifts, the corners of Walker's mouth couldn't help but hook up a smile of pleasure.

As the long trams run through the streets of Hamburg, the Germans are known to get passengers to their destinations on time, and when Walker stands under a familiar apartment building, he sees a bright yellow glow in the windows of his house. When he saw his wife Vera and her four children who were laughing and decorating the Christmas tree in the living room, a strong sense of warmth and happiness filled his heart.

"Honey, why are you back so early today?" Seeing her husband appear, Vera, the wife wearing an apron, said with surprise on her face. Walker closed the door and said with a smile: "Today, Mr. Brom has removed everyone from the night shift, and I don't have to work 12 hours as usual." It just so happened that I also took this opportunity to buy Christmas gifts in advance, hoping that today we can have a wonderful Christmas Eve. ”

Listening to Walker's last sentence, the innocent eyes of several children bloomed with strong anticipation and joy. They gathered around their father in a cheer-cheering manner, and the look of anticipation almost melted Walker's heart. Walker stroked the children's heads one by one, and gently told them that there was no need to worry, and everyone had a share; He took out a hard-shell bound book from his cloth bag and handed it to his eldest son, Will.

"Will, you will be joining the Hitler Youth next year at the age of 14, and I hope that you will be able to realize your dream of becoming a member of the glorious war navy in your training. This book "Apocalypse of the Rise and Fall of the High Seas Fleet of the German Empire" is written by your most admired naval hero, Admiral Brom. Although the general was just an ordinary cadet when he wrote this book, he had already exhausted the true meaning of sea power and national power from the historical, economic, and strategic levels, and has become a must-read for all naval officers and men. I hope that Will will learn this essence from the book, and follow the example of the general to keep moving towards his dream. Walker said solemnly.

Will, the tallest, took the book from his father's hand and nodded firmly. As he flipped through the soft paper beneath the thick shell, he couldn't help but feel a strong drive and a burning desire for the future. High school teenagers are in high spirits, convinced that they will be the pillars of the world to come: General Brom can be admitted to the Milvik Military Academy at the age of 16 and become a brigadier general at the age of 31, and he can do the same!

Walker turned his gaze to his second daughter, and his originally serious face softened: "Cruze, Dad bought you two colorful posters of General Brom. You always keep the newspaper with the general's portrait and don't want to throw it away, don't these two posters look better than the black and white pictures in the newspaper? I hope that General Brom's appearance in your room will bring you good dreams every day, and I also wish you to meet a prince like a general in the future. Of course, you don't have any more illusions about him, the 20-year-old age gap is irreversible......" Before the words fell, the little Lori who was originally holding the poster in her hand and her eyes were full of peach eyes stepped on Walker's kick, and finally under the serious gaze of her mother Vera, she twisted and expressed her gratitude to her father.

The other two children were younger, and Walker used a model of a Bobcat tank and a puppy pillow as Christmas presents. In the four children's smiling and loving play, his wife Vera was secretly surprised in her heart. These things are not high-end, but their prices are definitely not cheap. The book for Will costs 15 marks, which is enough to pay for a week's hard work as a nanny.

Character posters and tank models are part of the army's peripherals. With the glow bonus of their respective archetypes themselves, they are also sold for far more than they are worth. The last plush pillows, although they were street goods, are scarce on the market today: according to the wartime production decree issued by His Excellency the Minister of Economy, light industrial goods such as toys, which can neither be eaten nor used, are the first to be cut. The husband even brought this rare thing home, and the family's livelihood can be guaranteed next month?

Worried to herself, Vera suddenly saw her husband take out a thick box from the cloth bag; When I opened the cover, it turned out to be a plain style women's down coat. In Vera's stunned eyes, Walker said, "Honey, you've been wearing this winter coat for almost ten years now, and it's long overdue to get a new one." It's been so cold this year, I've picked one that's thick enough for you to keep you from getting cold outside. Don't worry, the kids have new clothes too, and as for me, the winter overalls issued by the shipyard are hardy enough. ”

"Honey, how many marks did you buy today? It never seems to be enough for our family to get to this point, and let's not forget that after the New Year, several children have to pay for new books and lunches from the school......" Vera couldn't hold back her doubts anymore and said directly. Walker was stunned for a moment, then his face showed a warm and proud look, and said, "Have you forgotten?" Since the beginning of last month, I have been working 12 hours a day. And all of us are paid by the quantity and quality of the work, which means that in a few days I will be paid almost half as much as last month! Even after deducting the winter grant, insurance, and membership dues from the Labor Front, my salary for the month would not be less than DM 110. ”

Walker seemed to enjoy the joy and admiration that his wife had shown in front of him, and continued to say with great interest: "Besides, we need not worry about food in the future. The Labour Front supermarket has opened a new section today that allows workers to buy food at three times their standard ration at a flat price every month, which means that I can buy my family's food at the lowest price and leave more money for other things. For example, buy the best gifts and clothes for the kids like today! It is said that this batch of agricultural products came from Romania, and the amount was very large, enough to ensure that we would not go hungry during the war. ”

Vera's brain was a little dizzy, as if she still couldn't imagine that happiness would come to her ordinary working family so quickly. If what the husband said is true, then his family will be able to eat and clothe himself immediately and start saving his own wealth. And now it is not in peacetime, but in wartime! Such a situation has simply subverted the basic perception of war in people's hearts, the demon that represents death and destruction! (To be continued.) )