Surrender – or death.

Marshal Goris had no third way to go.

July 13, 1942, 12:00 p.m.

The commander-in-chief of Istanbul, Turkey, Marshal Goris, made a decision:

Surrender!

He sent Major General Tarvas as his negotiator to negotiate surrender with the Germans, and after a short period of negotiations, Guo Yunfeng accepted the three-point request put forward by Marshal Goris.

Marshal Goris then walked out of the Istanbul Arena and announced his surrender, and at the same time ordered all Turkish troops in Istanbul to stop resisting and surrender to the Germans on the opposite side.

The Battle of Istanbul is over!

It was a terrible, unforgettable battle for the Turks.

Only six and a half hours have passed since the start of the offensive, and Istanbul, a famous city that has suffered countless wars in its history but has always stood, has suffered its most terrible defeat.

Two corps, totaling 60,000 Turkish troops, suffered a crushing defeat, most of them killed, captured, and surrendered.

Although this was not particularly remarkable in all the battles of the German army, it was undoubtedly a very significant battle!

"Ragnarok" has taken a crucial step, and Wang Weiyi's entire Armageddon plan has also taken a crucial step.

Now the attention of the enemy will be completely drawn to Turkey

German troops in Ernst. Under the command of Field Marshal Bream, he readjusted his strategic deployment and began to move the German army frequently in a more flexible way. And finally take control of the situation on the entire battlefield.

What Wang Weiyi needs is victory!

Restore the Germans to the most glorious stage of their previous glory with continuous victories!

And now, this grand strategy has begun!

"Field Marshal Ernst. I have the honour to report to you that Istanbul has been completely controlled by the army of the Celestial Army, as you have commanded! ”

When the high-spirited George. When General Kepler stood in front of Wang Weiyi, Wang Weiyi smiled and said:

"Congratulations, my general, Istanbul is now ours!"

Congratulations, General. Istanbul is ours now!

When Ernst. When General Brem said this, the whole of Istanbul was quickly thrown into a huge cheer.

The German soldiers who shouted loudly, the tanks that patrolled the city mightily. Those battle flags fluttering everywhere

Everything is proclaiming:

The invincible German army - back!

From now on, they will forget all the shadows of failure, and they will be in Ernst. Under the command of General Bream, climb to the pinnacle of new glory!

This. This is exactly what Wang Weiyi wants to see: confidence!

German troops can be seen everywhere in Istanbul. Everywhere you can see the surrendered Turkish army, and everywhere you can see immigrants from various countries.

Istanbul is a very special city.

The first 25 years of the 20th century, marked by the death of the Ottoman Empire and the birth of the Turkish Republic, were occupied by the Young Turks in 1908, who deposed the hated dictatorial tyrant Abdul. Hamid II. In the Balkan War of 1912-1913, Istanbul was almost occupied by the Bulgarians, in the First World War. The Battle of Gallipoli, which was launched by the British to capture the city, suffered a crushing defeat with 200,000 soldiers. After the armistice. The city is jointly administered by France, Britain and Italy. After the Greco-Turkish War and the Russian Revolution in Asia Minor, thousands of refugees came to Istanbul.

Therefore, it is a very complex city that is difficult to govern, which is one of the important reasons why Turkey subsequently decided to move the capital to Ankara.

However, this is what Wang Weiyi wants to see.

The more complex the city, the more advantageous it is for the new occupier, who does not have to worry about resistance, attacks, and assassinations in the occupied cities

Immigrants from other countries are obviously not doing well in Istanbul, and it is difficult for them to integrate into the more specific living customs of the locals, so they seem to be out of step with the city.

On the day of the occupation of Istanbul, Ernst. Field Marshal Bream gave the first order to the Germans:

"Respect the locals, no atrocities, and strict military discipline."

The discipline of the German army was known throughout the world, and now with Ernst. Marshal Bream's orders also made the German officers and soldiers more self-disciplined.

Then, in the name of the commander of the occupation forces, Wang Weiyi issued a proclamation:

The family property of all the people of Istanbul will be guaranteed, the safety of all people's lives will be guaranteed, and the living customs of all will be treated with the utmost respect.

Not only that, but he also ordered that families who had suffered losses in the fighting could report their losses to the Provisional Government in Istanbul, and that if confirmed, they would be compensated by the German side.

This is a great rarity.

How should the occupying forces compensate the population of the occupied territories for their losses?

Wang Weiyi confirmed that what they heard was not wrong, and that day, the loudspeakers and the radio broadcast Ernst . Marshal Bream's speech:

"We are here for the slaughtered German expatriates in Turkey, we are here in search of justice and morality, we are protectors, not invaders, we are fighters for freedom and fairness, we are not demons who despise all life, our goal is not ordinary Turks, but in Ankara, the perpetrator of all the massacres and bloodsheds, our goal is not to enslave Turkey, but to give Turkey real democracy and freedom"

The speech was a clear message to the Turks:

Germany came to overthrow the "tyrant of Inonu, the dictatorship in the name of democracy and freedom"!

Even more curious, and even somewhat affectionate, to the Turks, Ernst. Marshal Bram respoke first in German, and then in Turkish himself.

Marshal Ernst actually knew Turkish? It's a novelty.

In addition to controlling Turkey in the shortest possible time, there is also a very important reason for Wang Weiyi's purpose:

He wants to use Istanbul as a template to tell all Turkey that the German army is not terrible, and that the German army is here to liberate Turkey, not to conquer Turkey!

The Turkish army is not terrible, and the constant resistance that may follow is the most troublesome, as if it is easy to conquer a nation, but it is too difficult to completely conquer it.

Conveying friendly messages and allowing the Turks to eliminate their hostility to the Germans to the greatest extent is the direction of Wang Weiyi's constant efforts.

Turkey's strategic location is so important that Wang Weiyi doesn't want to have to deploy a large number of troops to deal with the endless resistance in the future.

If you want to get it, you have to pay first

"Are you satisfied with what I've done, Marshal Goris?" Facing his captive Marshal Goris, Wang Weiyi asked in a calm voice.

"Thank you for your efforts, Marshal Ernst." Despite being defeated, Marshal Goris had to answer so matter-of-factly.

"To say that we are liberators may be an exaggeration" Wang Weiyi did not seem to want to hide anything: "But Turkey's political position has always wavered, trying to obtain the maximum benefit between Germany and Britain, and it seems to me that even if Germany does not attack, Britain will sooner or later use military force against you." Marshal Goris, do you agree with me? ”

Marshal Goris nodded silently

Indeed, Turkey's vacillating policy has been met with much criticism and pressure from abroad and from home.

Marshal Goris has also repeatedly suggested to his close comrade-in-arms, President Inonu, that Turkey must make its own decision:

Either Germany or England!

Otherwise, maybe they will be completely offended on both sides

But President Inonu stubbornly rejected Marshal Goris's suggestion, and he was fully happy to maintain the current situation.

Now, when Baron Alexon brought this point again, Marshal Goris did not know how to answer.

"In our announcement, the term "Interim Government of Turkey" was proposed, but at the moment we do not have it." Wang Weiyi suddenly said: "I think the provisional government should be established immediately to maintain the normal operation of all areas and ensure that the local people's livelihood is restored as soon as possible, but who do you think I should choose to be the consul of this provisional government?" ”

Marshal Goris's heart skipped a beat, and he guessed what the Germans wanted to do for themselves

"And you, Marshal Goris." Sure enough, Wang Weiyi's words immediately confirmed Marshal Goris's guess: "We need you to come out and take up the position of consul." ”

"No, it can't be." Field Marshal Goris rejected this suggestion in one fell swoop: "Although I was defeated, I was personally appointed by President Inonu, and I am a close comrade-in-arms with the President himself, and our friendship has been since the time of President Kemal. ”

"So what does it matter?" Wang Weiyi smiled lightly: "Marshal Pétain, the president of the French government, used to be our enemy, but now he has become friends with us. We are kind to our friends, and we will be kind to France or Turkey, of course, depending on the attitude of our friends, Marshal Goris, and I think that at the moment of Turkey's survival, you should not hesitate, this country needs a stronger, more politically minded, more able to lead Turkey to a truly strong leader. ”

Ernst. Marshal Bream's words pierced Marshal Gorys's heart.

A leader who can lead Turkey to a truly strong country!

The glory of the once mighty Ottoman Empire! (To be continued......)