In fact, according to normal reasoning, the large-scale mobilization of one country's armed forces basically cannot be concealed from other countries.

Mobilizing troops is not as easy as it seems, and it is even more impossible to completely conceal information. Even if there is no satellite spying intelligence, such large-scale troop movements can still be quickly detected by other countries.

For example, in World War I, the movement of German and French troops was basically clear to both sides. Although it is not clear where exactly the other side's troops have been mobilized, it is still possible to make certain guesses based on the existing situation.

Logically speaking, the movement of German troops could not be concealed from the French, and the French would naturally understand the real intentions behind the Germans.

But one factor that is also important is that the Germans have just peacefully obtained the Polish corridor that they had ceded through peace talks.

Sending troops to regain control of their territory also looks very normal. That's exactly what the French felt, and they didn't pay much attention to the movement of German troops, because the troops on the German-French border didn't move much.

In order to make their own attack worry-free, the Germans decided to solve the two problems of Spain and Australasia before launching an attack.

After a meeting of the Triple Alliance of Germany and Italy, Germany and Italy strengthened their support for the Spanish National Army and launched a final general assault on Madrid, which remained under Spanish control.

Since the outbreak of the war, the Spanish Civil War has turned into a large-scale war in the true sense of the word.

The total number of government and national armies in Spain alone is infinitely close to one million.

The impact on Spain, which has a population of only 25 million, is significant. In other words, 1 in 25 Spaniards experienced the Civil War as a soldier.

Considering that there were still a large number of enterprises and factories in the service of this civil war, it can be said that this civil war was already the largest army that Spain could come up with.

In addition to the Spanish army, which was close to one million, there were also more than 80,000 German and Italian volunteers on the battlefield in Spain.

Although it may seem like only 80,000 troops, Germany and Italy rotated at least 300,000 troops during this period of the Spanish Civil War.

This also meant that more than 300,000 German and Italian troops had been trained on the Spanish battlefield. Compared with the French army, which had not experienced war, the German and Italian armies were at least more experienced in war.

In order to completely take Madrid, Germany and Italy prepared tens of thousands of artillery pieces, and more than 300 planes bombed Madrid for more than a week.

The Spanish National Army and the armies of Germany and Italy together invested more than 400,000 men.

After a siege that lasted for more than a month, on September 11, 1935, the most important city for Spain, the capital Madrid, was finally fully captured.

After the conquest of Madrid, the Spanish Republic basically only had a small area left on the eastern seaboard.

Although the eastern seaboard was the most developed and populous region of Spain, the Spanish Republic at this time was clearly no match for the National Army.

At this time, even without the assistance of Germany and Italy, the Spanish National Army could gradually encroach on the territory of the Republic, and finally achieve the goal of occupying the magpie's nest and rebuilding Spain.

Moreover, not only did the aid from Germany and Italy not stop, but it was even greatly increased because the time for the German government to attack Poland was approaching.

In order to completely turn the Spanish Republic into an isolated island, the Spanish National Army, at the suggestion of Franco, formulated the Battle of Catalonia, which was crucial to the civil war.

Spain and France are neighboring countries, as we all know. Because of the Pyrenees, only the eastern and western ends of the Pyrenees can actually be connected to France.

The western part of the Pyrenees is now under the control of the National Army, leaving only Catalonia to communicate with the French.

Franco's plan was to occupy Catalonia and completely sever the ties between the Spanish republican government and the French.

Without the help of the French, the Spanish republican government would have been a little less helpful. Although there was support from Russia, it was too far away to be of much use to the Spanish Republican government, which was already at a disadvantage.

Moreover, as long as Catalonia is conquered, the Spanish National Army can achieve a total encirclement of the republic.

In this way, the Spanish Republic became a turtle in an urn, and it was only a matter of time before it was destroyed.

While the Spanish National Army was nervously preparing for an offensive against Catalonia, on the other side of the world, the island nations, allies of Germany and Italy, were also preparing their own actions with the help of Germany and Italy.

Of course, Germany and Italy were not so mad as to allow the island nations to go to war directly against Australasia.

After all, this would lead to a direct end to Australasia, and even make the originally neutral British take action.

From the very beginning, therefore, the aim of Germany and Italy was simple: to contain the island nation and bring the two countries into an endless arms race.

Because it is clear that the island nation cannot be an industrial and economic rival to Australasia. As a result, Germany and Italy have also provided a series of assistance to the island nations.

These include, but are not limited to, large amounts of interest-free or low-interest loans, the export of oil and other minerals that are most needed by island countries, and the technology and technology related to military equipment from Germany and Italy.

Because war had not yet broken out in Europe, Germany and Italy were still able to buy enough oil at this time.

This is also a great convenience for the island nation. The island nation buys enough oil from Germany and Italy to meet its domestic demand for oil without passing through Australasia.

But the lack of oil still exists. This also creates the biggest difference between the island army and the Australasian army, that is, the completion of the mechanization of the army.

In the Australasian army, a large number of military vehicles can be seen. There are also those tanks and planes, all of which are big consumers of oil resources.

Although the island nation also has military vehicles, tanks and airplanes, it is not as large in number as Australasia, a major oil-producing country.

However, with Germany and Italy, which are currently the most extreme and military-oriented countries, the island countries are actually ahead of many European countries in terms of the number of aircraft.

According to rough intelligence statistics, the number of aircraft in the island nation before the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War was about 870, which was already more than the British Empire at that time.

And after the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, the island nation further increased the production of aircraft.

By now, the number of their military aircraft should have exceeded 1,200, which is the largest number of aircraft in any country outside of Australasia.

Of course, this second place of the island nation is actually a bit tricky.

Although there are many aircraft with relatively strong combat effectiveness among these 1,200, nearly half of them are outdated products, and the real combat effectiveness is not so strong.

Moreover, the number of aircraft of the European powers has also begun to skyrocket, which can be regarded as a worldwide air force arms race.

Although Britain remained neutral in the situation, their air force numbers remained at a high level of growth.

The reason is also very simple. Britain is still building aircraft carriers, which naturally require a large number of aircraft.

According to the information that Arthur has about the British, the number of British planes has exceeded 1,000, and the number of aircraft is steadily increasing at a rate of about 300 per year.

In fact, judging by the industrial level of the British, if they want to produce aircraft at all costs, the annual production is definitely an exaggerated figure.

But before the state of war, the financial burden caused by the mass production of aircraft was also a huge trouble for the British.

Although the current mainstream aircraft are still wooden, they are not that expensive to build.

Yes, wooden planes.

Although it may seem strange to the eyes of future generations, for the countries of the world today, the plane made of wood is actually not so special.

The first is the high manufacturing cost of all-metal aircraft. Australasia currently costs around $1.5 to $25,000 to build a single aircraft, making it the most expensive military aircraft in the world.

Such a cost is not an exaggeration, and it is the normal cost of an all-metal aircraft at present.

This is also the reason why Australasia did not manufacture aircraft in large quantities. If thousands of aircraft are manufactured, the financial cost will be enough to give the financial department a headache.

Compared with the high-cost all-metal aircraft, the wooden aircraft with a lower price is the mainstream of the world's aircraft development.

According to the data on the cost of aircraft in various countries, the manufacturing cost of a relatively ordinary wooden aircraft is only about 5,000 Australian dollars, and the most expensive will not exceed 10,000 Australian dollars.

According to the combined cost of the two aircraft, the cost of an all-metal aircraft can make 2 or 3 wooden aircraft.

If Arthur hadn't known that the all-metal aircraft had far more advantages in combat than wooden aircraft, I am afraid that the current aircraft design in Australasia would also be based on wooden aircraft.

This is also the reason why Arthur still did not panic when he heard that European countries were building a large number of aircraft. In addition to the huge advantage from the jet engine, the advantage of the all-metal aircraft over the wooden aircraft was also the reason why Arthur was not surprised.

Of course, wooden aircraft are not without merit. In addition to the relatively low cost, wooden airplanes themselves are relatively flexible in the sky because of their relatively light weight.

But in the face of all-metal aircraft with jet engines, the advantages of agility are also largely neutralized.

Although lighter in weight, jets are certainly faster than wooden planes. Moreover, wooden aircraft can hardly withstand the speed of jets, which also determines that the ceiling of wooden aircraft is far behind that of all-metal aircraft.

This also means that the mainstream wooden aircraft in various countries have no other benefits for Australasia except for the advantage that the cost is indeed relatively low.

Under the premise of not being affected by external factors, wooden airplanes can indeed withstand faster flight speeds.

But if you are hit by a large-caliber bullet or a more powerful weapon, it is normal for a more fragile wooden aircraft to fall apart.

3200 words for the second update, ask for a monthly pass, ask for support!

(End of chapter)