In order to ensure the implementation of the "Sea Lion" plan, Hitler ordered Air Marshal Göring to first sweep away the British Air Force blocking the English Channel, letting the stubborn British know that the powerful German Air Force was invincible.
Hitler believed that as long as the Royal Air Force was eliminated, Britain would have no choice but to surrender. Without the protection of the Air Force, the Royal Navy would only be a target for the German Air Force. The farmer who only drank brandy would beg for his forgiveness.
Goering severely damaged the Royal Air Force at Dunkirk, which made Hitler appreciate him even more. According to reliable information from the Gestapo, the British lost at least two-thirds of their fighter jets during Dunkirk. The Royal Air Force's outstanding pilots The casualties were even more severe. The aircraft could be built in a short time, but the pilots could not. It would take at least two years for the Royal Air Force to return to the level and scale before the Battle of Dunkirk.
This is also the reason why after Dunkirk, Hitler stopped Goering from trying to take over Britain in one fell swoop.
In Hitler's view, the Royal Air Force's vitality was severely damaged and would not recover in the short term. If the brandy-loving farmers were not willing to kneel down and negotiate with him, the German Air Force could conquer the English Channel at any time.
In the eyes of many people, Goering's air force had an unshirkable responsibility for allowing more than 300,000 British and French troops to escape from the Dunkirk battlefield.
Hitler did not think so, because in the Battle of Dunkirk, the joint resistance of Britain, France, Belgium and other countries made the German ground troops advance slowly. The most important reason was that the terrain of Dunkirk was very complicated and the Allies had many hands. The place is easy to defend but difficult to attack, and there are ravines everywhere, which makes it difficult for the tank troops to launch blitzkrieg. The most powerful thing of the German Army is blitzkrieg. Once blitzkrieg cannot be formed and the Allies enter positional warfare, the consumption of the war will increase exponentially. , which is also the main reason why the ground troops advanced slowly near Dunkirk.
Hitler was no fool.
Moreover, the front line from the blitzkrieg in Poland to Dunkirk was too long, and the supply of troops could not keep up. After long-term fighting, the army was very tired, and the supply of artillery shells and ammunition was often not in place. If it were not for the strong dominance of the German Air Force, , more British and French forces will escape.
During Dunkirk, Göring's tactics were used properly, drawing out the main force of the Royal Air Force and inflicting heavy losses, laying a solid foundation for the subsequent invasion of Britain.
In order to seize air superiority and ensure the implementation of the "Sea Lion" plan, Goering and his generals and advisors divided the Air Force's attack on England into three stages:
The first stage was mainly carried out over the English Channel. The first was to sink all British merchant ships and force the Royal Air Force to come out to fight.
All of Britain's sources rely on ocean transportation. Blocking the ocean is equivalent to strangling the lifeblood of Britain. In this case, the Royal Air Force will definitely send fighter jets to escort merchant ships. The air forces of both sides will start a battle above the English Channel. Let the British people see the British Royal Air Force. How to lose miserably can gradually disintegrate the determination of the British people to resist.
Therefore, Goering gave the task of using fighter jets to fight alone in the first stage to defeat the confidence of the British Air Force and at the same time dampen the British people's enthusiasm for resistance to the Condor Legion, which was experienced and had the best air combat capabilities in the German Air Force.
Goering and his strategists believe that the easiest thing to succeed in the first stage is to block the 30-kilometer-wide Dover Strait. All British fleets coming from the Atlantic must pass through here to enter the Port of London and block the Dover Strait. It is tantamount to cutting off the lifeline of Britain and forcing the British to send fighter jets to escort over the Strait of Dover.
The narrowest part of the Strait of Dover is less than 20 kilometers away. Fighters from both sides are fighting fiercely over the strait. German soldiers can watch from the cliffs between Calais and Boulogne, while British people can see some on the shore of the English Channel. People can even see the fierce battle over the strait from home.
This is definitely a good way to defeat the British enthusiasm and determination to resist.
In order to force the British to send out single planes to confront Germany's ace every day, Goering had many ways.
Göring's ability to achieve the position of Marshal of the Reich Air Force is not because many people think that he will flatter and please Hitler. On the contrary, he is a strategist with ambitious goals, great talent and strategy, and employs people on their merits. For example, he hired Werner Mauer Major Deers, Major Adolf Garland and other outstanding talents, and many other outstanding talents were reused by him. The German Air Force also stood out among the others under his management.
The second stage involves a large-scale onslaught on the British Air Force. Through huge bombers and fighter jets and a comprehensive blitzkrieg, the Royal Air Force's airports, fortifications and aircraft manufacturing plants are destroyed, and the British Air Force is paralyzed. This step is also the most critical step. As long as Defeat the RAF and the rest will fall into place.
In the third and final stage, the Luftwaffe will cover and assist in the implementation of maritime operations, and the empire's mixed armed forces will occupy the British Isles.
July 10th was the first day of the Battle of London. The two sides fought in light rain. This time, the Royal Air Force took the advantage and shot down 3 enemy planes, defeating the Germans 3-0.
This victory greatly comforted the British people watching the battle on the shore. They believed that the Royal Air Force was absolutely capable of defeating the incoming Germans.
As there was heavy rain over the English Channel in the afternoon, the fighter jets from both sides were forced to return, and today's air battle ended.
That night, major British media and newspapers overwhelmingly praised the heroic Royal Air Force, and the people's enthusiasm for resistance surged unprecedentedly.
In this regard, the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Air Force, General Hugh Dowding, was very worried. He knew that an occasional small victory did not mean much. As the commander, he knew that the Royal Air Force could only rely on the number of fighter jets and the strength of its pilots. There was no way to defeat the Luftwaffe.
He still needs time now. He needs time to regain the losses in Dunkirk and northern France. In these two places, he lost too many fighter jets from the end of the Dunkirk evacuation to July 10. , his fighter force has not yet returned to its previous size, and what he wants now is time.
In the afternoon, all air force commanders from all theaters gathered for a meeting in the large war room at Bentley Abbey.
Lieutenant General Charles did not see Zhou Zhihan, the commander-in-chief of the Allied Regiment, during the meeting. Today, Lieutenant Fias Christelle attended the meeting on behalf of the Allied Regiment.
After the Battle of Dunkirk, Fias Christelle was promoted to lieutenant. Although her military rank was very low, she was the highest logistics officer in the Allied Regiment except Zhou Zhihan. Therefore, today’s meeting Phias Christelle has the right to participate.
Regarding Zhou Zhihan's failure to attend the meeting, Lieutenant General Charles talked to General Hugh Dowding alone during the break and expressed his confusion. Is it appropriate for the Royal Air Force Headquarters to do this at this critical moment?
The Chinese helped the Royal Air Force pilots crack Messerschmitt's invincible dive attack, brought the most advanced four-finger formation tactics to the Royal Air Force, freed the pilots from old and rigid tactics, and improved the Royal Air Force's combat capabilities. It increased significantly and made great contributions to the Royal Air Force during the Dunkirk War. But now that the war is imminent, no matter what the purpose of the Royal Air Force is, it should not do this at this time. This is suspected of burning bridges. This makes What do those foreigners who want to help the British people think?
Regarding the opinions and dissatisfaction raised by his old friends, General Hugh Dowding expressed his helplessness. To be honest, with Zhou Zhihan here, he had an extra trump card in his hand, which he could play at any time to frighten the Germans.
But this was a decision that the royal family and the interim cabinet were forced to make. The reason was that many air force and navy generals believed that in the Battle of Dunkirk, the Royal Air Force relied too much on Colonel Zhou Zhihan from China. Every critical moment The battles were all initiated or ended by the Chinese, which made people feel that no one in the Royal Air Force could take on the big responsibility.
Many generals think it is very bad to rely on the Chinese Zhou Zhihan in this way. If one day this Chinese returns to China, or he is injured, sick, or unable to fight, what will the Royal Air Force do at a critical moment of crisis? Will there be no leader?
Therefore, now we can only regard China Zhou Zhihan as one of us, we cannot rely too much on him, and we must gradually get rid of our dependence on him, and find out in the talented Royal Air Force who can make a blow at the critical moment. Excellent person who sets the tone.
However, General Hugh Dowding told Lieutenant General Charles that doing so was not about burning bridges, but for the long-term development of the Royal Air Force. At the same time, the relationship between China and Britain continued to heat up, and this decision did not change.
Britain will remember the Chinese's strong support for the Royal Air Force during the Battle of Dunkirk.
Lieutenant General Charles nodded to General Hugh Dowding's explanation. This was understandable. Even if Zhou Zhihan himself was in front of him and told him directly, I believe he would understand.
After the meeting in the afternoon, General Hugh Dowding specifically told Fias Christelle that when he returned, he would tell Colonel Zhou that the Royal Air Force was currently short of outstanding pilots and that his main task now was to train more outstanding pilots. pilot, in view of his far-reaching reputation, many German ace pilots are proud of defeating him, so the cabinet members and the Royal Air Force headquarters unanimously decided not to send him to fight in the future. This is also a kind of protection for him. I hope he can understand.
In the evening, Fias Christelle returned to Brighton Airport and conveyed the main content of today's meeting and the words of General Hugh Dowding to Zhou Zhihan.
Zhou Zhihan said nothing.
After Karen heard this, he curled his lips...
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