"Encirclement?" Juan said: "But Tunisia is a place that can be attacked and defended, how can it be our encirclement? ”

There is some truth in what Zhu An said. Pen % fun % Pavilion www.biquge.info

Attacking means that Tunisia is a major communication route between Algeria and Libya, and will not only become a barrier to the Libyan rear, but also a counteroffensive against Algeria by German armored forces at any time.

The reason for the retreat was that the Germans had air supremacy over the Mediterranean Sea and the port of Tunisia was also close to Italy, which made it convenient for Tunisia to supply and withdraw the German army at any time.

But......

"The air supremacy of the German army was only temporary!" Zhang Chi said: "The danger of the German plan is that once the air superiority is lost, the British airfield on the island of Malta will soon be able to play a role again and blockade the Mediterranean." At that time, all the German troops in North Africa would have no way to go to the sky and no way to enter the earth! ”

"So!" Darlang nodded and said: "The key is air supremacy!" But are those British idiots still capable of increasing the air power of North Africa? ”

When he said this, Darlan's expression was a little unnatural, and he was clearly still reluctant to cooperate with the British.

"I'm not talking about Britain!" Zhang Chi said: "The British mainland is suffering from a German blockade, but I am afraid that there will be no more air power to reinforce North Africa." ”

"That's ...... United States? Darlang said, and the expression on his face relaxed.

"Yes, America!" Zhang Chi replied.

It is not difficult to guess that, apart from Britain, only the United States has the ability to compete with Germany for air supremacy in the Mediterranean.

"Will they be willing to commit to the Air Force here?" "I mean," said Darlan, "that's at least a couple of hundred fighters!" ”

Zhang Chi believes that if it were the British, Darlan would not have said that at all.

"Of course!" Zhang Chi said: "And it must be!" If not, then the president of the United States is too stupid, because this has a greater benefit than encircling hundreds of thousands of German and Italian troops! ”

I don't know when, Zhang Chi often puts the word "stupid" on his lips like Darlang.

"What interest?" Darlang asked.

"One of the things you've been worried about!" Zhang Chi replied.

Darlang's eyes couldn't help but light up, and then he nodded slightly, and said in admiration: "Major General, what else can't you think of?" ”

Zhu An was confused, he looked at Zhang Chi and then at Dar Lang, and asked, "Why can't I understand what you're saying?" ”

"My fleet!" Darlan replied: "French Navy! ”

Zhu An couldn't help but sigh.

"It's obvious!" Darlan went on to say: "The Germans have already made a move on Tunisia, so ...... They will soon occupy all of France. And in France there was something that Hitler coveted for a long time, and that was the French Toulon fleet. ”

"If it were just the British who had air supremacy, you wouldn't want to let the Toulon fleet out of port, would you?" Zhang Chi asked.

"Yes!" Darlan replied: "It's not that I'm unwilling, it's that the Toulon fleet isn't willing!" ”

Zhang Chi knew what Darlan meant, although he was an admiral, although he had previously commanded the Toulon fleet, but when he declared that he was on the side of the Allies, his command was also stripped by the Vichy government.

However, Zhang Chi knew that this deprivation was actually only nominal.

The Vichy government of France was in fact on the sidelines, because they knew that Germany would probably not allow France to be left in a safe corner of the country in such a situation, so why should they bother to deprive Darlan of command as the Germans would and wanted?

To put it simply, if Hitler had not occupied France, the Vichy government would have been pressured to dissociate itself from Darlan.

If Hitler occupies France, France will have to fall to the Allies in the same way as Darlan, so wouldn't it be a head in the water if Darlan was deprived of his command?

This is also the main reason why Zhang Chi allowed Darlang, a "prisoner under the ranks", to continue to command the Zoaf Corps.

Zhu Anduo asked: "If you don't leave the port, will you let the Germans capture those warships?" God, that's about seventy warships...... If these warships fall into the hands of the Germans, they will definitely cause us a lot of trouble! ”

Zhu An was right, these 70 warships included three battleships, seven cruisers, dozens of destroyers, and 16 submarines.

What's more, the port of Toulon is separated from Algeria by a Mediterranean Sea, which means that if it falls into German hands, the Germans will first use it to cooperate with the German army in Tunisia to flank Algeria from the sea.

"No!" Darlan replied: "Of course they will not fall into the hands of the Germans!" ”

"What else can I do?"

"We will choose to sink ourselves!" "We have been prepared for this for a long time! ”

Zhu An couldn't help but be speechless.

Zhang Chi was not surprised at all, because the historical Toulon fleet ended their careers with the tragic act of self-sinking.

It's just that now Zhang Chi wants to rescue them.

"What if it's the United States?" Zhang Chi asked: "Assuming that the United States has air supremacy in the Mediterranean, what will the Toulon fleet do?" ”

The Toulon fleet actually had a choice all along, because at that time the British were willing to "rescue" them, but the French navy refused.

Needless to say, why it refused, it was because of the previous British extermination of the French navy.

In this respect, French politicians are somewhat different from those of Britain and the United States...... They value "dignity" more, while Britain and the United States see more "interests", just like Marx said, "For the sake of profit, the capitalists will even sell the noose that hangs them".

From the point of view of interests, the Toulon fleet would of course choose to cooperate with the British and escape first, but the French did not do so.

After thinking about it, Darlan replied: "If it were the United States, perhaps, the Toulon fleet would be willing to leave the port...... I mean, 'maybe'! ”

"Good!" Zhang Chi replied: "It's enough to have your words, and I will contact the US side immediately!" ”

After all, he knew that Hitler was about to make a move against France, and if he didn't start to prepare, he was afraid that it would be too late, so he immediately sent a telegram to Halsey.

As soon as Halsey received the telegram, he felt that the stakes were high...... After all, this can almost be said to be the matter that will determine the fate of the North African battlefield, and more importantly, it is a fleet, a French fleet of more than 70 warships.

So he immediately forwarded the telegram to Roosevelt.

After thinking about it, Halsey felt that time was pressing, so before Roosevelt could respond, he urgently mobilized all the fighters and resources that could reinforce North Africa.