19 April 1940, Madrid, Palazzo Moncloa.

Leader of Spain, leader of the Falangist Party, Supreme Marshal of Spain Francisco. Franco was in a very private meeting room with Henry, who was about to leave for France. Philip. Marshal Petain talks.

The dictator of Spain had a good relationship with Marshal Petain, so he was reluctant to see the respectable old man return home to jump into the fire pit. So at the beginning of today's talks, he advised Petain not to return home, but to stay in Spain.

"Marshal, it is impossible to save the situation by going back now," said the Spanish leader, frowning, "I have just received a report that the armored forces of the Germans have reached Amiens. ”

Amiens is more than 110 kilometers north of Paris and more than 120 kilometers from Calais and Dunkirk, and is an important town in northeastern France. With the pace of advance of the German armored forces, the capture of Calais and Dunkirk was only a matter of days.

"And Verdun was also occupied by the Germans this morning, and the Panzers did it." Franco shook his head repeatedly, "This time France has really been defeated, and even if you take over as prime minister now, there is nothing you can do." It's better to stay in Spain, if you want to go to the UK and the US, I can send you a plane. ”

Marshal Pétain looked very old and tired, with a dejected face, and apparently had a very complete understanding of the present predicament of France. The old marshal gently turned the coffee cup in his hand, and then squeezed out a wry smile: "Leader, I'm not old and confused, of course I know that the war has been defeated." But France still has to survive, and it has to face the most difficult years. Am I going to abandon France before these difficult times come? ”

"You are a truly great soldier and patriot," Franco nodded, admiringly, "and if I were in your position, I would never return home." We will choose the easier path and be a patriot abroad. ”

"It is no easy to lead the Resistance abroad," Pétain smiled wryly, "and the hard days are far away." If I were 20 years younger, I might be a patriot abroad, but I'm too old. Once you leave, you will never be able to return to your homeland. ”

Franco was silent for a moment, then pondered and said: "Marshal, German Foreign Minister Ribbentrop is now in Madrid, and I have just met with him. He wanted me to intervene and put forward two peace proposals. ”

"A peace plan?" Petain sighed, "It must be that he wants to take back Alsace-Lorraine, and that he wants to dismantle France's machinery, take away France's fleet and colonies, and maybe want France to lose a lot of money, right?" ”

"You're only half right," Franco smiled, "and that's exactly what one of the two peace plans demands." ”

"Oh?" Pétain was stunned, "What about the other one?" Could it be that the Germans also gave a more generous plan? ”

"It can't be said to be generous," Franco shrugged, "European integration, the Customs Union, the common currency, Alsace-Lorraine as the future capital of the Community...... Marshal, I think you must know what the Germans wanted, right? ”

"A European Community......, led by Germany," Petain smiled wryly, "what the Napoleonic Emperor did not finish, is now going to be done by the Prussians!" ”

"Can they really make it?" Franco asked uncertainly.

Hitler also tried to invite Spain into the war, but Franco was careful that he would never let Spain join unless Germany was sure to win.

"Perhaps," said Petain, taking a sip of bitter coffee, "the Germans have done what Emperor Napoleon once did." Now they just have to defeat Britain and the European Community will emerge. ”

"Defeat the British?" Franco asked, "How do you defeat me?" ”

"Occupy LinkedIn!" "As long as this is done, the French people will be convinced." ”

"Isn't it okay to win a diplomatic victory?" Franco asked, "For example, Britain recognized Germany's power on the European continent and ceded the Middle East oil-producing regions to Germany. ”

He was not only a bridge of peace between France and Germany, but also a dove of peace between Britain and Germany.

"Impossible," said Pétain, shaking his head, "it is impossible!" The British Empire would never agree to such peace terms...... His Majesty the Emperor (Napoleon) had already tried, it was simply impossible. The Germans will either defeat the British and land on their homeland, or they will end up in the same fate as His Majesty the Kaiser. ”

……

"President Roosevelt agreed to lend 50 destroyers, and we would get them as long as the U.S. Congress agreed, and he agreed to arrange another unofficial escort (which was done only occasionally). In addition, he will push for the Lend-Lease Act after his successful re-election, so that we can continue to get supplies from the United States after we run out of gold dollars. ”

London, 10 Downing Street, Cabinet Room. Winston. Prime Minister Churchill smoked a custom-made extra-long cigar and informed the cabinet members of the contents of Roosevelt's telegram that he had just received.

Roosevelt's telegrams were full of good news, and the United States was clearly on the side of Britain. As the day of France's defeat drew nearer, America's pro-British attitude became increasingly apparent.

But there's more bad news today! The news from France and Belgium was terrible. The Germans are all supermen, and the French are like children who have been beaten and cried, completely overwhelmed.

In Belgium, King Leopold III hinted to the government that he would share the fate of the Belgian army and people.

This meant that the King of Belgium would not go into exile in England, and he would choose to cooperate with Germany after the defeat of Belgium!

Worse news came from Spain and the Netherlands. The Spanish leader Franco and the Dutch queen Wilhelmina came out to be peacemakers at the request of the German emperor (in fact, Hitler's government). They summoned the ambassadors of England, France, and Belgium and informed them of the terms of the German peace - Kaiser Wilhelm gave the French two choices, or to bear a huge reparation; Either European integration with Germany!

And there is only one way out for Belgium, which is to honestly be a little brother to Germany!

"Prime Minister, did President Roosevelt mention how he could help France?" War Secretary Aiden asked with a frown.

Churchill spat out his cigarette, shook his head and said: "God only saves those who save themselves, and if the French can't fight with all their might, I'm afraid God won't save them." He paused and said, "Marshal Pétain and Admiral Weygand will return home on the 20th, and I will go to Paris again on the 20th." ”

For the trip to Paris on the 20th, to be honest, Churchill did not have much hope. It is unlikely that the French will be determined to resist to the end, and they do not have the strength to fight it out.

And the "integration plan" proposed by Germany is likely to confuse some of the French...... It packaged the imperial ambitions of the Germans as a "common market" and "European solidarity".

With "integration", the useless French no longer have to worry about being beaten by the superman-like German army, and they can live with peace of mind. And the French can enjoy all the economic dividends of a common market and a strong Europe. There can even be a decent explanation for such an embarrassing thing as the cession of Alsace-Lorraine - it will be the common capital of Europe in the future!

"There is a good chance that the French will choose to compromise!" The Foreign Secretary, Viscount Halifax, said what everyone feared most. "The conditions on which the Germans lured France to surrender look pretty good, don't they?"

"It's all deception!" Churchill said, "It is impossible for the Germans to bring prosperity to Europe." ”

His words were only half said, and the other half was "unless Britain is defeated." Because if Britain fails, grain from India, gold from South Africa, oil from the Middle East, wool from Australia, tea and silk from China, rubber from Southeast Asia, beef, cocoa and coffee from South America will be shipped to Europe under German rule.

These are the foundations of European integration! Without these cheap raw materials, without markets outside Europe, Europe would be in poverty and shortages. Integration becomes poverty and hardship together!

"Mr. Chancellor, it is still possible for the Germans to win!" Alexander the Lord of the Admiralty, said in a worried tone, "If the Germans get the French naval fleet, and Italy joins the German side, it will be difficult for the Royal Navy to defend the homeland......"

This is obvious, the Germans now have at least 2 "Bismarck" class built, the French have 2 "Richelieu" class to be built, and the Italian have 2 "Veneto" class. The tonnage and firepower of these 6 battleships surpassed the British "King George V" class and "Hood". If they all become enemies of the British Royal Navy, the British Empire will really be finished.

"Prime Minister," said War Secretary Eden, "our army in Belgium is also extremely dangerous...... The 200,000 people there are very important to us! If both Belgium and France surrender to Germany, we will lose them. ”

It's possible! The ministers in the room all looked at Churchill. If 200,000 men in Belgium were lost, there would be a big hole in the defenses of the British homeland.

"We can't afford to lose these troops!" Churchill quickly decided, "Besides, we can't let the Germans get the French fleet!" ”

"Prime Minister, what are we going to do?"

"Yes, how can the French not hand over the fleet to Germany?"

War Secretary Aiden, and Navy Secretary Alexander asked Churchill together.

"It's all too well to withdraw the troops in Belgium," Churchill said after a moment's thought, "and I'll arrange for Admiral Verrick to take command of the coalition forces in Belgium." As for the French fleet...... It's a bit of a hassle! (To be continued.) )