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Post by Diarist on Dec 27, 2016 9:47:00 GMT 1
There were now a dozen of us in a small dining room at the MoD. Prince Edward had joined us as well as Duff Cooper and Admiral Royle. We informed King Leopold that non-SOE people were present so we don't mention our Rhineland response plans. Winston discussed the Chequers Summit and the proposal to form a study group to decide how to react to a German remilitarization of the Rhineland. He discussed Article 4 of the Locarno Treaties and that a violation of these Treaties would result in us being at war with Germany if we so decide to respond. But what happens next? "Bob has always supported a firm response from us and he believes that if there is another failure by Hitler the Wehrmacht will remove him from power. His recent discussions in Germany have convinced him of that. He is suggesting that we should befriend Germany if this happens. Your turn, Bob."
"Thank you for the introduction, Winston. Let me make this quite clear. I'm suggesting that if Hitler orders the remilitarization and the Wehrmacht refuses to execute the order, instead they depose Hitler and his cronies, we now have a different Germany. Isn't our problem Nazi Germany not a Germany without Hitler? Having said that this new Germany would still want the Rhineland, Danzig and Sudetenland. An even bigger problem would materialize if they were to dispose of Hitler after violating the Locarno Treaties, after a response from us but no shots are fired. They back down. What then? I'm still suggesting we bind Germany in our defences but under our terms because we are at war with them and they started it. You don't reward an aggressor."
Duff responded first. "So Winston, what exactly are you asking? Should we befriend Germany in either of these two situations?"
"I'm throwing it open to discussion. What are your arguments in favour, Bob?"
"My contact, and friend, in Germany is Admiral Wilhelm Canaris. When I was in Berlin just over a week ago his wife Auguste expressed her surprise that Wilhelm and I are friends. He supports Hitler's measures for a strong Germany and my government doesn't. I confirmed that we have our differences but what we have in common is our desire to avoid another war in Europe. Canaris is not alone. Instead of harping on our differences we should concentrate on what we have in common. We have a huge common problem, the Soviet Union and in my opinion a war against Germany would only benefit the Soviets."
"I agree with your assessment but how do we convince Germany let alone other nations including our own government?"
"What do others here think? Is anybody strictly against it? We are talking about a Germany without Hitler & Co."
"I'm not strictly against it," Admiral Royle said, "but it is somewhat unrealistic. How could we justify befriending a Germany that has just violated the Locarno Treaties not to mention the Versailles Treaties?"
"I have problems there too, Bob."
"I never said it would be easy, Edward. This is of course a hypothetical situation. King Leopold, yesterday evening I said that smaller nations, like Belgium, must trust that France and Britain look after their interest. You accepted that. Has that changed?"
"No it hasn't. Belgium could only benefit from a lasting peace between Britain, France and Germany."
"Good. It's time for one of my crazy ideas."
"Duck!" Winston said.
"Thank you. Winston secretly dreams of a United States of Europe and I have even mentioned a League of European Nations to replace the current League. They are not practical though because Europe thrives on its differences. What I am suggesting is that Britain, France and Germany be the founding members of a European CONfederation. We agree on a few federal rules which will be binding for all other nations who voluntarily join later. Is that crazy enough?"
"Not at all, Bob. That's an interesting thought. Which few rules are you thinking of?" Winston asked.
"An attack against one is an attack against all of us. Whether the attacker is a member state or a non-member state. All member states are automatically at war with the aggressor."
"So if Britain attacks France then both France and Germany are automatically at war with Britain?"
"Correct. Also any other nation that joined later would be at war with Britain. Would any member nation start that kind of war? Would a non-member nation like Russia or even Japan start a war against us? There is another point I'd like to make. If Britain, France and Germany are on the brink of a war then this is the perfect time to grasp such an agreement. To prevent this conflict and deter future conflicts. If we three can agree upon this then all the smaller neighbours would benefit too because another rule would be that current borders are inviolate but border changes can still be negotiated. I would like to forward this or something similar if we are confronted with a Germany without Hitler and the Nazis."
"That would solve the Rhineland issue but how would it solve the Danzig problem?" Winston asked.
"Poland wouldn't be a member and couldn't become one without the problem being resolved beforehand. East Prussia becomes an independent member nation. Let's call it Masuria, and Danzig becomes a Freeport. Both nations have made sacrifices in order to gain something."
"And what exactly does Poland gain?"
"Security. They are more worried about Russia at the moment than Germany."
"I know that it's a different situation but what happens if there is a hot war with Germany? With or without Hitler?" Admiral Royle again.
"If I had my way Germany would cease to exist as a nation. Dismantle it and the problem is solved."
"Bob, refine the idea about a confederation and we'll submit it to the PM and Anthony Eden prior to Versailles."
"I'll do that, Winston. We need to swap notes with the French a week before the meeting in Versailles. What do you think?"
"I'll arrange that with Anthony. When is your meeting with Duff?"
Duff answered, "this afternoon. We didn't set a time."
"Let's use my office," Winston suggested.
I said my farewells then went to my MoD office first to clean up the desk."
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Post by Diarist on Dec 27, 2016 20:13:35 GMT 1
In my office Duff didn't waste any time. "Bob, even after Hitler is gone the new Germany wouldn't qualify for an alliance with Britain and France."
"Of course is doesn't. The Confederation wouldn't happen overnight. This new Germany would first have to concede defeat if we are at war. It would have to repeal all the anti-Semitic laws and the compensate the victims and then we need a denazification process. Execute all members of the SS and Nazis with blood on their hands."
"Execute them?"
"Do you wish to protect them so that they can organize a putsch some time down the road? I say do to them what they did to the SA. Poetic Justice. I'm sure there will be no shortage of volunteer executioners in Germany."
"Yes but it would be bad publicity."
"Then we don't publicize it. What do you think is happening in Italy? It's just not being publicized." I called Louis to tell him about the change of venue. "So I'm finished here. Let's go visit Winston." I asked Edward to join us because he is now doing my old job. Winston hadn't arrived so I sat at his desk. Louis arrived and gave me the updated dossier. Winston finally entered. "Thank you offering your office, Winston. I must admit that I do like this comfortable chair."
"Don't get too comfortable, Bob."
"Don't worry, I have no desire for your job. I want to wear my uniform again. Remember? To business. At one of our Friday meetings here Duff stated that projects move slower in the Navy than in the Army and RAF. So I thought that it means they have plenty of time to consider how to utilize all the new toys when they finally arrive. I believe all are informed about the FAA aircraft being designed at Gloster Aircraft Company. Three aircraft with the same engine and as many common components as possible. I'd like to see Fairey designers also get involved there so two naval aircraft companies can build the aircraft. Any problems there?" There were no objections.
"Our new doctrine for the army aims to destroy enemy formations. At the FTX last month we didn't just defeat the 2nd Infantry Division, it was annihilated! Our air doctrine too. We aim to not only attack their aircraft but also to destroy their infrastructure - airfields and logistic centres. What does Royal Navy have planned? Hopefully to destroy the enemy fleets like we did against Italy in September. True that they made it easy for us but in a couple of years we shall have new technologies giving us new capabilities. Has the Admiralty come up with a few ideas? Because we have. Admiral I can imagine that aircraft-carriers with about 80 aircraft each will drastically change multi-carrier tactics. Is that so?"
"Indeed it would. Just controlling 80 aircraft on a carrier would be quite a task."
"Have you been practicing at an airfield?"
"I'm sorry."
"It was a simple question with a yes or no answer."
"No we haven't."
"Duff, may I suggest you name one of your airfields HMS Ark Royal, station seven squadrons there, i.e. a pretend Carrier Air Wing. Use the parallel runway as the hangar with the taxi-ways between them acting as elevators then start practicing air operations. You'll need a control centre where the only communication with the tower will be by telephone. In real life it will be protected somewhere inside the carrier."
"An excellent idea. We'll also need to created two more carriers to practice multi-carrier operations. We shall be ready when the real carriers arrive."
"Then choose the personnel correctly. Good commanders who will hopefully be Captains in a few years. Select the future carrier crews for these pretend carriers. I believe that you have a good idea who those people are, Admiral."
"I do know of promising younger officers."
"Excellent. Do you have any questions, Winston?"
"None at all. Please continue."
"Louis.."
Louis discussed the projects underway. Bouncing bombs which can literally bounce over torpedo nets. Delayed fuses which mean that these bombs and torpedoes explode under water instead of at or near the surface. Forward firing 'mortar-batteries' on a destroyer instead of depth charges.
Winston stopped Louis there. "Explain that please, Louis."
"We have two 6x6 arrays on a frigate, one forward and one rear. The tubes are arranged so that when electrically fired they cover a square of ocean with the target submarine hopefully in the middle. They then explode if one of them hits the target with the resulting explosion detonating the other 35 rounds. We are still working on the ideal warhead."
"That will definitely change ASW tactics," Duff commented. "Anything else?"
"We have heard of the IJN building light cruisers with 40 torpedo tubes with quick reloading too. They are also working on long-range torpedoes called 'Long Lances'. I like that idea and it started me thinking."
"Another crazy idea, Bob?"
"No, a winning idea for a major naval engagement. Three destroyer squadrons each providing a smoke screen for an accompanying torpedo-cruiser approaching the enemy fleet from three different directions. Each cruiser fires a barrage of torpedoes at about 10 km from the enemy. At the same time the fighters and dive-bombers from each carrier wing attack the fleet. The enemy has limited evasive action and should be easy prey. The torpedo bombers, destroyers and submarines as well as the capital ships then give the coup de grace to damaged ships which have been left behind. I'm not a naval officer but I hope you get the general idea. We annihilate the enemy fleet. No ship survives unless it capitulates."
"There is a lot of out-manoeuvring involved there, Bob."
"The three cruiser squadrons are not part of the main fleet. They are already out there and steam to the enemy fleet from different directions once it has been located. Make it work or refine it as necessary. We need to destroy the enemy fleets and ensure their repair dockyards are idle. The 'fleet in being' days are over."
"I want to see decisive battles too. The Royal Navy outnumbers any other potential adversary and in the near future it will be more powerful than ever. Do you have more?" Winston asked.
"I believe that's enough food for thought for one day. Where are you hiding the Champagne?"
"Not here but if anyone is thirsty we can meet in the Guard's officer club not far from here."
"Can I take Sally there?"
"Of course you can."
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