It didn't take long for Raeder to recover from his great ecstasy, shock, excitement, and nostalgia. He stretched out his hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of his eyes, took a deep breath and said, "I really didn't expect that our carrier-based aviation could have such a powerful power. In just a few hours, all 250,000 tons of British warships were destroyed, and the total tonnage sunk was even comparable to that of the Russian Pacific Fleet, which was almost completely annihilated in the Battle of Tsushima! After Bismarck's return, we must make a detailed analysis of the whole battle through Lindemann, a witness. If carrier-based aviation is truly powerful, then we will have to change the focus of development. ”

Schwinnigg nodded, fully agreeing with Raeder's second half of the words. The situation reported by this telegram also subverted his three perceptions: such a powerful surface force was crushed to pieces like a gangster in front of the iron cavalry without seeing any trace of the enemy ship! You must know that the high seas fleet, which had such a strong lineup back then, relied on the dedication and wisdom of the two elite generals, Scheer and Hipper, to sink 110,000 tons of British warships in a wave of battles dispatched by the whole army. In the face of today's unprecedented victory, how can the German Navy not learn enough from it?

"Your Excellency Marshal, should we replan the next movement of the fleet?" Schwinnigg reined in his thoughts and said to Raeder, "Although we have achieved a historic victory today, the battleship Bismarck has also returned wounded, and now Bermay's fleet has no capital ships to rely on, only 3 K-class heavy cruisers and 10 destroyers as carrier escorts. Although the British home fleet was heavily damaged, 3 of the sunken capital warships were old R-class. Hood and Prestige, the two most combat-effective battle cruisers, have not been annihilated, and the number of cruisers and destroyers in the British Navy is still three times that of our army. ”

Halfway through Schwinniger's words, Raeder, who was well versed in naval warfare, had already heard the song and knew what it meant. frowned and said, "Winnie, are you planning to suspend the 'Elbe Exercise' and call back Bomay's fleet?" ”

Schwinnigg nodded: "Although the plan of the Elbe River exercise is divided into three theaters of operations, including the Baltic Sea, the most important goal is to carry out a surprise attack on Scarpa Bay. Now that our campaign intent has been achieved, the return of the fleet at this time will undoubtedly be a triumphant return. In addition to this, there are also tactical considerations for recalling the fleet. ”

"The North Atlantic is not an ideal hunting ground for aircraft carriers. Wind and wave weather over level 7 is very frequent; In many cases, carrier-based aircraft cannot be lifted into the air, and there is no way to provide the fleet with a broad field of reconnaissance and early warning. If our fleet is entangled in the British fast fleet with 2 battle cruisers as the core, it will be quite disadvantageous to us. Originally, we had the Bismarck, which could not be afraid of the approach of any British battleship, but now this battleship was injured by accident and could not accompany the aircraft carrier, so we had to think about the vulnerable aircraft carrier. Schwinniger added.

Seeing that Raeder was still frowning, Schwinnigg said again: "Marshal." We are recalling the fleet this time not to avoid war and cowardice the enemy, but to carry out more powerful sorties in the future. The battleship Tirpitz will be ready for combat effectiveness by Christmas, and our minelaying operations on the west coast will end at that time, which means that Vice Admiral Meisel's support fleet will also be able to join the expeditionary fleet. By New Year's Day 1940, we would be able to gather all the ocean-going ships, including 2 super battleships, and devote ourselves to the strangulation of the British North Atlantic route. At that time, Britain will not have any strength to stop the attack of our fleet! ”

Raeder was silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head and said, "Winnie." I don't think this is the most suitable strategy for the German Navy at the moment. Four months is enough time for us to assemble a fleet of the highest size. But the British Navy was also able to draw forces from the Far East and the Mediterranean during this time to augment their home defenses. Now that the war has begun, we should not hesitate any longer, but should do our best to deal a hard blow to the opponent! Do not forget that only Britain was beaten to the bone marrow. They will give up their enemies of Germany. This is the most valuable lesson we have learned at the cost of the High Seas Fleet and the fall of the Hohenzollern dynasty. ”

"In addition, our three pocket battle cruisers, as well as the submarine force, have also arrived at the predetermined combat zone at this time. If we order the Berme fleet to return. Then they will be alone in the ocean, which is especially disadvantageous for our pocket war patrols. If the whole operation were to be reversed just because one warship was injured, I think the cost would far outweigh the benefits. Raeder's eyes twinkled, without the slightest dazed or hesitant, "Also, I trust my commanders and sailors. Even if they encountered the British War Cruiser at close range, they would surely be able to get out of a disadvantageous situation through their courage and wisdom. ”

Schwinnigg pondered for a long time, but in the end he did not insist on his conservative considerations. A very direct situation is that in the past, the German Navy did not have real battleships, but the various war plans drawn up by the War Department revolved around taking the initiative. Schwinnigg suddenly felt ashamed, he had worked in the navy for decades, but at the critical moment, he still lacked that tenacious firmness and decisiveness.

"Let's tell the Führer, then, the good news of this victory, shall we?" Schwinnigg gathered his mind and spoke again. There was no doubt that this victory would greatly enhance the status of the Navy in Hitler's heart; Even if the manpower and material resources in wartime are still inevitably tilted towards the army, the navy can at least maintain a relatively acceptable ratio. At that time, the German Navy would no longer have any worries in the war against Britain.

The night sky is clear and the moon is bright. Just as Schwinnigg was uttering the thought, the phone on Raeder's desk rang suddenly. Raeder picked up the phone, only to learn from the adjutant on the other end of the line that the Führer was about to summon him. Obviously, during the delay in the exchange between the two of them, Hitler had already learned of the success of the surprise attack on Scapa Flow. Raeder and Schwinnigg looked at each other and smiled, and the former then took out the gilded Marshal's Scepter he had contained in a brocade box and walked briskly downstairs. Cars hummed and the night breeze blew, and just five minutes later, Raeder was walking through the promenade of the Chancellery and in front of Hitler's office.

"Honorable Marshal, allow me to extend my most sincere congratulations and respect to you and all the officers and men of the Navy!"

In the large main chamber of the Chancellery, which was based on brown and purple, Hitler, who had a clean and tidy corporal's military uniform, smiled and held Raeder's hand tightly, his eyes full of joy and excitement. Hitler suddenly felt that the naval commander with an upright face in front of him was so lovely; If it weren't for the fear of being misunderstood as homosexuality, which he hated, Hitler would have even had the urge to kiss Raeder on the face!

"The pursuit of victory is the faith and honor of all officers and men." Raeder raised his scepter and smiled back, without any hint of arrogance in his expression of Hitler's praise. At this time, he had adjusted his mind to a complete calm, showing the steadiness and composure of an old professional soldier. Hitler invited Raeder to sit down on the golden sofa in front of him, and said in ecstasy: "Today, the British Royal Navy, which has dominated the ocean for 350 years, has suffered an unprecedented crushing defeat in front of the nascent German Navy!" Really, I never expected the Navy to achieve such a brilliant victory, and this victory came so quickly! ”

"When I heard the news, I was as shocked and surprised as you were, my Führer." Raeder said with emotion. Even he, who was in charge of the navy himself, could not have imagined that happiness would come so quickly, let alone Hitler. Today, the British home fleet had suffered heavy losses and could no longer afford a long-range blockade of the German navy. A door to the halls of final victory has been opened to the German Navy, and Britain's maritime supremacy, which has been maintained for centuries, is already showing signs of collapse!

Hitler rubbed his hands together with a rare excitement, and his gray-blue eyes shone with the brightest brilliance: "In the morning, Britain had just declared war on Germany, and only a few hours later our brave and fearless naval officers and men had destroyed the greatest reliance of the robber nation on the war and broken the spine of their home fleet. This was not only a military success, but also an unprecedented political victory. ”

"The London warmongers, who clamored for a great war with us, have now been punished by justice from Germany; Their pathos and stupidity will soon be completely exposed to the world as news of the surprise attack on Scapa Bay spreads. No one will ever believe and support them anymore. The more Hitler spoke, the more happy he became, and he could not help but wave his fist violently in his chair, "Wait until the decisive victory of the Army on the Polish battlefield creates an unchangeable established fact; Britain, which had already suffered heavy losses, would surely put away its hostility to Germany and choose to make peace with us again because of this painful pain. ”

"Is it still possible for Britain to make peace with us?" Raeder listened with a pounding heartbeat. For no other reason, if the war can end soon, then the plan to build the navy will also be resumed, which is undoubtedly the situation that Raeder longs for the most. Hitler nodded, his eyes shining sharply: "Now that the army is progressing extremely well on the Polish battlefield, what your navy needs to do is to continue to strike hard at Britain in the next month." We want all Britons to feel that this is the punishment for talking about war! Raeder complied. (To be continued.) )