"Imperial Marshal, on January 23-25, a large American fleet passed through the Panama Canal. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 info The fleet has at least 4 battleships and 20 aircraft carriers! ”

Berlin time, on January 26, Hersmann, who had just arrived at the general staff of Tsosen, received an urgent report from the head of military intelligence, Major General Geiger.

"4 battleships, 20 aircraft carriers......" Hersman shook his head slightly, "this is enough for the Japanese." ”

"But this is good news for Marshal Kesselring," First Quartermaster Guderian was also in Hersmann's office, he had come to discuss the latest war plan with Hersmann, and after hearing the news of the transfer of a large number of American ships to the Pacific, he interjected: "In the Atlantic theater, we can finally make a difference." ”

After the loss of 4 battleships and 20 aircraft carriers, the US Atlantic Fleet (Allied Atlantic Combined Fleet) lost the strength to fight a decisive battle with the European Combined Fleet, that is, the control of the Atlantic Sea from now on returned to Europe.

"By the way, Heinz, I really remember something when you say that," Hersman laughed, "It was Stockhausen [the head of the Central Security Bureau] who called me last night. Perón will soon be appointed vice president and secretary of the army. ”

"Juan. Peron? Who is he? "Guderian didn't care much about South America, so he didn't know much about Juan. The Peron thing.

"He was a big player in the Argentine military coup last May and was the soul of the joint group of officers." The chief of military intelligence, Major General Geiger, was well acquainted with Peron's situation, "Before that, he had served as a military attache in Italy for a long time, and he greatly admired the Italian leader and Chancellor Hitler. ”

"All the politicians of South America adore Mr. Mussolini and Mr. Hitler." Hersman added, "To say that someone is Mussolini or Hitler of a country is definitely a compliment." ”

"It's a pity that they can't compare to Mr. Mussolini and Chancellor Hitler." Guderian commented.

"No," Hirschmann shook his head, "it's the people of South America who can't compare to the German people!" In terms of charisma and ability alone, Colonel Perón was outstanding even in Europe. ”

"He's one of ours?" Guderian asked.

"No," Hersman said, "he was always an Argentine, although he was financed by the General Directorate of Central Security...... I think he was an Argentine politician with ideals. Such figures are rare in South America, and Perón is perhaps the only hero of our time who belongs to South America. For us, he is also an opportunity to change the political landscape in South America. ”

Hersmann held Peron in high spirits, because he knew that Peron was actually a Nazi leader! Unlike the "Caudiro" dictators who like to call themselves "Mussolini of a certain country" or "Hitler of a certain country", but in fact only know that they are desperately trying to make money on the thighs of the United States, the Perons are real Nazis!

His Peronism was in fact the Argentine version of Nazism, and apart from the fact that there was no very obvious anti-Jewish line (and there were few Jews in Argentina), the other paths were similar to those of the Nazis.

Although Perón came to power by military coup, he followed the line of the working people at the bottom. He won the hearts of the people at the bottom by redistributing social assets by constantly giving the "shirtless" (a general term for the ordinary Argentines at the time) raises, housing and welfare. It also supported the development of state-run industries and private industries in the country through state intervention in an attempt to modernize the national economy. Basically, it was the same line that Hitler pursued in Germany.

Therefore, although Perón was considered an "undemocratic dictator" by the Americans, he was widely supported in Argentina. Later, the Americans could only support a "democratic military coup" to overthrow Peron, and after the military government returned to power, the undemocratic Peronist party won the election by a landslide, making Perón president of Argentina for the third time.

But what really made Hersmann feel good about Peron, whom he had never met, was not what he did for the Argentine people, but that he had hosted a large number of Nazi exiles in history - if Hersmann's career in Germany failed, the other places to flee would be Spain, Argentina and Chile in South America.

According to some legends, Hitler himself went into hiding in Argentina after the fall of Berlin...... How can such a true friend of the German people not be nurtured?

So at a meeting of the High Command on January 26, Hersmann proposed to invite Perón to visit Europe after he was officially inaugurated as Argentina's vice president.

"Argentina...... The country has always been pro-German, and it is also a predominantly white country, with a more promising future than Brazil. Hitler had a very good impression of Argentina, "Is it possible for it to become the leading country in South America?" ”

"In terms of national strength, Argentina is not as good as Brazil, which after all has a larger population, a larger land, and abundant resources." The answer to the question was Schleicher, who was in charge of Germany's dealings with South America during the war, so he knew better than Hersmann.

He continued: "Although Argentina is rich in resources, it has two major shortcomings: lack of coal and lack of iron, which is not suitable for the development of heavy industry. ”

Hitler nodded, "So what does Argentina need now?" And what kind of assistance can we provide to Argentina? ”

"Argentina is generally a rich country," Schleicher replied, "with a per capita income similar to ours, an abundance of agricultural products and oil (Argentina was an oil producer during World War II), and no shortage of means of payment, so there is no need for aid." So whatever Argentina needs, I think we can provide it. ”

"Very well," Hitler smiled, "I will let Ribbentrop go to Argentina first and exchange views with the Colonel Peron in person." ”

After talking about South America, Hitler turned the topic to the Pacific theater again, "Ludwig, the main forces of the Americans' Atlantic Fleet have entered the Pacific Ocean?" ”

"Yes." Hersman replied, "Until they conquer the Hawaiian Islands, we can move freely in the Atlantic." This is our chance, and it's Colonel Perón and Argentina's. ”

……

The news that the main force of the US Atlantic Fleet has been transferred west to the Pacific Ocean means that Germany has an opportunity to stir up trouble in South America, and as far as Japan is concerned, it undoubtedly means that the ultimate decisive battle in the Pacific Ocean is about to begin.

On January 27, 1943 (Tokyo time), when the news reached Japan, it was the day that Admiral Nagumo Tadaichi took over as commander of the Combined Fleet.

"Nangumo-kun, from now on, the United Fleet will ask you!"

Inside the Yamato, the flagship of the Combined Fleet, Isoroku Yamamoto handed the letter of appointment of the commander of the Combined Fleet, signed by Emperor Hirohito himself, to Nagumo Tadaichi with both hands.

"If you have this important responsibility, you will serve the country with seven lives, and you will not be disappointed by the grace of God."

Nagumo Tadashi respectfully accepted the appointment with both hands, and then bowed to Marshal Yamamoto 56, and in a round of applause, he officially became the 29th commander of the Combined Fleet.

After the succession ceremony was completed, Nagumo Tadaichi began to give a routine lecture to a group of generals of the Combined Fleet who had gathered in the conference room of the commander of the "Yamato" to observe the ceremony.

He said: "The former commander of the Combined Fleet, Admiral Koga Mineichi, was transferred to the post of military senator on January 26, Showa 19, and now, thanks to the great grace of His Majesty the Emperor, this official has personally replaced the post of commander of the Combined Fleet, and I ask you to cooperate in repaying your kindness." ”

Koga Mineichi was originally a transitional figure, and if it weren't for a bunch of conventions for naval promotion, Yamamoto Fifty-six would have promoted Nagumo Tadaichi to succeed him as commander. Although Koga's commander did not make any big mistakes during his tenure, and he did not lose any big ships except for the sinking of the dragon and the flying dragon, the generals in the conference room knew that the situation in the Pacific theater had been reversed, so everyone looked at Nagumo's face and felt a trace of tragedy.

Nagumo cleared his throat and continued: "Now this officer will explain the observation and countermeasures of the Combined Fleet Command and the Military Command Department on the current war situation. ”

Hearing this, the generals who appeared in the succession room were stunned - how did the succession ceremony become a combat meeting? However, Nagumo Zhongyi's next words made everyone nervous.

"The ratio of the Japanese Navy's strength to the United States is significantly lower than fifty!"

Nagumo first pointed out the harsh reality that although the Japanese Combined Fleet has been invincible in the past two years, it still cannot prevent the United States from gaining strategic superiority.

"Moreover, the results of the air battle on Christmas Island and a series of subsequent air operations have led to a large loss of air forces, and now even if the decisive battle of the Hawaiian Islands that we expect can be carried out, the odds of victory are obviously low, it should be said that it is only about fifty percent!"

This judgment is not only that of Nagumo Tadaichi, but also that of the two great gods of Yamamoto Fifty-six and Nagano Shuse.

Nanyun continued: "Although the odds of winning fifty percent are not high, if we don't fight the decisive battle of the Hawaiian Islands now, I am afraid that we will not even have a fifty percent chance of winning in the future." Therefore, an immediate decisive battle is still the best plan, and this is also the reason why the military department withstood the pressure and carried out bacteriological warfare against the United States. This time, we will fight a decisive battle between the Hawaiian Islands, which are strategically and geographically advantageous to us, and the US forces, which are not well prepared, and even if the fleet is shattered, we will achieve the final victory, and it will be our goal to kill and injure a large number of US landing troops. This is also the only chance we have to win the war. ”

Nagumo Tadaichi's words are tantamount to setting the tone for the next fate of the Combined Fleet: the idea of protecting the ship must be lost, and now it is time to prepare to join the ship!