In the eastern part of the port of Danzig, on the airfield of the 1st Wing of the 1st Air Division of the German Naval Aviation, 10 Opel Lightning heavy trucks rumbled onto the airstrip and stopped next to the 10 JU-88 medium bombers in an orderly manner.

The back door of the carriages was wide open, and two ground staff members jumped out of each compartment.

With the cooperation of the bomber crew, the ground crew stuffed bundles of leaflets into the engine room.

A VW82 barrel truck rushed into the airfield, sped past the two JU-88 bombers, and then braked sharply and stopped next to the third bomber.

The adjutant of Major General Garand, who was a melon-faced man, jumped out of the bucket car, walked quickly to the bomber, and after a few brief exchanges with the crew, he casually pulled out a dozen leaflets and returned to the bucket truck.

Garland took a bite of his cigar cigarette, which seemed to never go out, and looked carefully at the contents of the leaflet.

"The Iron Cross Act, what is this thing? Is there a new medal on the horizon? ”

The title of the flyer aroused great interest in Garand.

Reading line by line, Garland's entire attention was so absorbed in the contents of the flyer that he completely forgot about the cigar smoke in his mouth.

In accordance with the contents of the Iron Cross Act, the German Order of Merit was reclassified into eight ranks.

The lowest rank is the Iron Cross of the Second Degree, followed by the Iron Cross of the First Class, the German Cross, the Knight's Iron Cross, the Knight's Iron Cross of the Silver Oak Leaf, the Iron Cross of the Silver Oak Leaf of the Knight's Iron Cross, the Knight's Iron Cross of the Silver Oak Leaf with Diamond Double Swords, and the Iron Cross of the Order of the Knights with Silver Oak Leaves with Two Swords and Two Swords with Gold and Diamond.

The Iron Cross of the 2nd degree was awarded on the condition that he showed an extraordinary act of bravery in battle and fulfilled his mission.

The Iron Cross of the First Class is awarded on the condition that a soldier has performed three to five heroic combat operations on the battlefield. And once received the Iron Cross of the Second Degree.

The German Cross is awarded on the condition that one has been awarded the Iron Cross of the First Degree. And continues to show extraordinary acts of bravery in battle. Completed his battlefield mission.

These third-class medals belong to the reserve level and have long been awarded in the German army, and Garland is very familiar with these three medals.

Garland's real focus was on the latter five ranks, the Knight's Iron Cross, known in the Iron Cross Act as the Order of Nobility.

The Knight's Iron Cross, also known as the Order of the Baron, was awarded on the condition that he had previously received the German Cross and that he had continued to show extraordinary bravery in battle and had fulfilled his mission.

German servicemen who were awarded the Order of the Order. During the period of service in the army, they can receive 20 percent more allowance than those of the same rank.

If a military member who has been awarded the Knight's Iron Cross retires from the military, he or she is exempt from paying 20% personal income tax regardless of the work he does, and if he or she starts a business after retirement, the business he owns is also exempt from paying 20% tax.

The next rank of the Knight's Iron Cross, the Knight's Iron Cross with silver oak leaves, also known as the Viscount's Order, is earned on the condition that he has previously received the Knight's Iron Cross and continues to show extraordinary bravery in battle. Accomplished its mission.

Soldiers who have been awarded the Order of Marquis receive an allowance of 40 percent more than that of their peers. After retirement, no matter what industry you work in, you can be exempted from paying 40% tax.

And so on, the highest rank, the Knight's Iron Cross with Gold Diamond Double Swords and Silver Oak Leaves, also known as the Duke of Duke, receives a 100 percent more allowance than a soldier of the same rank, and is exempt from all taxes after retirement.

"Without a fief, but given economic benefits・・・・・・ I will be called Baron Adolf Garand in the future, and I will also be a nobleman."

The newly baked Baron Garland subconsciously touched the knight's iron cross hanging from his neck, and a winter melon face was full of "winter melon flowers" with a smile.

"General," said the adjutant with difficulty, pulling his gaze out of the leaflet, and said excitedly to Garand, "this is a real knighthood, which can be passed on to our children, and not just a symbol of honor." ”

Garland happened to see the end of the leaflet, the explanatory part about the succession to the medal.

According to the Iron Cross Act, a knight of the Iron Cross can pass on the title to his first child, whether the child is a boy or a girl, by way of descended succession.

In accordance with the principle of "subordinate succession", the first child of a recipient of the Knight's Iron Cross (Duke's Order) with gold and diamond swords and silver oak leaves can inherit the knight's Iron Cross (Marquis of the Order of Merit) of the lower rank, and enjoy the same treatment as the order of the rank.

When the heir dies, his first in line can only receive the knight's Iron Cross (Earl's Order) with two swords and silver oak leaves, which is reduced one level to the next level.

By analogy, each time the medal is inherited, it is lowered by one rank until it falls below the rank of the Knight's Iron Cross (Baron's Order), which is then withdrawn by the German Iron Cross Committee.

Seeing the principle of subordinate succession to the medal, Major General Garland's enthusiastic mind regained its senses.

According to this principle of succession, one's knight's Iron Cross, the title of baron that he had just received, was limited to his own wearing and use during his lifetime.

In order to pass on the medal and title to his descendants, he must also obtain at least a higher level of the Knight's Iron Cross with Silver Oak Leaves.

Thinking of his daughter, who was not yet a year old not long after he was born, Major General Garland felt an inexplicable emotion in his heart, a sense of responsibility as a father.

Turning his gaze back to the middle of the flyer, Garland reads the flyer again about the conditions for obtaining the Iron Cross of the Knight of Silver Oak, only to find a harsh reality.

"General," came the voice of the adjutant, Lieutenant Lehr.

"What's the matter?" Garland asked.

"Why is it that the leaflets only indicate the conditions for the army to receive medals, and not our aviation?" Lieutenant Lehr's words revealed deep displeasure.

"U-turn, let's go to the airport headquarters, I'm going to call the commander." Garland said.

Five minutes later, in the headquarters of the 1st Wing of the airfield. Each of the HNA officers has a leaflet. There has been a lot of talk about the newly released "Iron Cross Act".

Garland shouted into the phone microphone, "Commander." Why is there only a standard for the army to receive medals in this new bill, and are our air force and navy second-class citizens in the German army unworthy of the rights and interests of this bill? ”

Chen Dao's voice came from the microphone.

"This bill was urgently drawn up to motivate the fighting spirit of the soldiers in the Pustoshka encirclement, and the time was short, and there was no time to work out the naval and air force parts. You don't have to rush, the standards for the Navy and Air Force will be issued soon. ”

Garland asked, "Last question, what is the standard of merit for winning the Order of the Viscount?" ”

"Such a simple question is worth asking me to answer to you? Of course, the more the merrier. Remember, the Air Force is awarded medals in units of victory points. Shooting down a single-engine aircraft gives you one victory point, shooting down a twin-engine aircraft gives you two victory points, and shooting down a four-engine aircraft gives you three victory points, and if you shoot down at night, you get double the victory points. ”

"Is more the merrier? I understand. Garland said as he hung up the phone, snuffed out his cigar in the ashtray, and grabbed the flight cap on the table and snapped it to his head.

"Lieutenant Lehr, what are you waiting for? To prepare the car, we went to the airport. ”

When Garland's car stormed the airport again, all the pilots for the mission were already in place.

They either have their backs to the plane. Or sit on the wing of an airplane with a flyer in hand. The contents of the flyer are being carefully studied.

Garland's barrel truck came to an abrupt halt next to his plane, an HE-100E1 fighter jet.

Underneath the cockpit of the plane, a Mickey Mouse with a cigar in his mouth is spray-painted, Garland's favorite cartoon character.

With Garland's call, all the pilots reluctantly put away the flyers and lined up in front of Garand.

Garland, holding a leaflet between the index and middle fingers of his right hand, shook it at the pilots.

"I know what you're thinking, and I think the same way as you. I just want to tell you that in order to get a knighthood, you have to get victory points, and the more victory points you have, the better. Remember, a single-engine aircraft has one victory point, a twin-engine aircraft has two victory points, a four-engine aircraft has three victory points, and if you shoot down an enemy aircraft at night, you get double the victory points. That's all I know, don't ask me any more questions about the Iron Cross Act. Disband, go. ”

The figures of the pilots disappeared into the cabin, and as the propellers spun rapidly, the roar of the engines instantly covered the airfield.

Under the guidance of ground crews and navigation towers, ten JU-88 bombers and twelve HE-100E1 fighters responsible for escorting took off one after another, converged into a huge air formation in the sky, and flew mightily to the east.

Sitting in the cabin, Garand suppressed his excitement and turned his attention to his brand new car.

The HE-100E1 fighter is an improved version of the HE-100D1 fighter, equipped with a more powerful DB-605A engine, and the top speed has been increased from 668 km/h to 715 km/h (6,300 m altitude), which is 45 km/h faster than the ME-109F-4 fighter equipped with the same engine.

Compared with the original HE-100D1 fighter, the HE-100E1 fighter has an ETC250 pylons under the fuselage, which can carry a 250-kilogram aerial bomb, but at this time it carries a 300-liter capacity auxiliary fuel tank, and the maximum range of the aircraft is nearly doubled to 1,700 kilometers.

Equipped with a new engine, this feeling is like an angel pushing itself to fly in the back, which is really comfortable.

In an instant, I remembered the promise of my boss that after the more powerful DB603 engine was officially put into production, I would give priority to reequipping my troops with a batch, and at that time, what would it be like to fly?

It would probably be the wonderful feeling of two angels pushing themselves to fly, Garland thought silently.

Less than thirty minutes after the group departed, Garand heard a report on the radio.

"At two o'clock, the organic group is approaching, it should be the brother of the Fourth Air Force of the Air Force."

Garand pulled the joystick, and the plane deftly lifted about a hundred meters in the air.

Looking in the direction of two o'clock, Garland saw a group of black dots approaching.

Picking up the binoculars, Garland looked at the approaching group in the distance, and instantly saw the anomaly in the opposite group.

Behind the fuselage of two Stuka dive bombers and one ME-109 fighter jet, dragging a faint column of black smoke, apparently wounded.

As one of the most prominent cross-circles in the Luftwaffe, Air Force and Navy, Galland was extremely familiar with the means of communication within the Luftwaffe fleet, and quickly connected the radio to a common channel to get in touch with the opposite group.

About a minute later, the two groups passed by, and Garland re-adjusted the radio frequency back to his own group.

"Brothers, I just got good news, which my brothers from the Fourth Air Force just told me. They have just returned from the Pustoshka region, and over Pustoshka there are at least twenty Ivan fighters and bombers waiting for us. ”

"Too little." Wingman Erhard's voice was the first to be heard.

"Luckily, each of us can get one."

"Remember to leave me the Ivan plane with many engines, I urgently need victory points to attack the German Cross."

Hearing the strange screams on the radio, the corners of Garland's mouth first showed a slight arc, and then he straightened his face and shouted into the radio: "Don't just think about that damn victory point, remember our job, and prioritize the safety of the bombers." ”

Garland roared, and the radio was instantly clear, but it was quickly broken by another voice.

"Boss Adolf, on behalf of all the crew members of the bomber, thank you for not getting carried away by that damn victory point, thank you for remembering us."

Hearing the heartfelt thank you from the bomber pilot, Garand smiled and touched his chest, but felt empty.

Smacking his lips helplessly, Garland suddenly realized that it was necessary for him to have a cigar box in the cabin and a cigar igniter.

On the radio, the voice of the bomber pilot did not stop.

"Boss Adolf, you are such a good person, of course, it would be more perfect if you could beat those Ivan planes half to death first, and then our bombers would shoot them down, I hope you will seriously consider my suggestion."

"Paul, you talk nonsense, believe it or not, I'll cut a row of bullet holes in your plane's ass first." Garland snorted coldly.

"Boss Adolf, I believe in your strength, but please consider my suggestion seriously."

While chatting and farting along the way, the group of planes quickly approached the destination Pustoshka.

When the pilot bomber claimed to have spotted enemy aircraft in front of him, Garand gave the last order before the battle.

"Brothers, this is the first time we've played against Ivan, remember to play to our speed advantage, don't fight them, let it go." (To be continued.) )