The Rise Of Australasia

Northwest Africa was the key to whether Spain could once again become one of the major powers. Unable to expand in Europe, Spain could only place its hopes on Northwest Africa, separated from it only by the Strait of Gibraltar.

If Spain could manage Northwest Africa to become similar to the native land, Spain's potential would greatly increase. It could match or even surpass a power like Italy.

Of course, Spain would not openly declare war on France but would secretly support Germany by producing industrial equipment and supplying some materials.

Only when Germany's defense on the Western Front was at a disadvantage would Spain join the war and help Germany to defend it.

Germany had also promised that as long as Spain helped to stabilize the defense line on the Western Front, all the conditions Germany promised would be fulfilled.

Moreover, post-war Europe would be controlled by the German-Italian-Spanish alliance. The four great nations of Germany, Italy, Spain, and the Island would jointly divide the entire world after this war.

As time passed, March 17, 1937, soon arrived.

At this time, the German General Staff was bustling under heavy guard. A large number of German staff officers gathered, all strategizing for the attack on the Russian Nation.

In the most central meeting room of the General Staff, the German Chancellor was also holding a meeting with senior officials of the General Staff.

"This plan is unworkable. I need to develop a completely new plan," the German Chancellor said, shaking his head as he threw the document codenamed Operation Plan 11 onto the office desk, addressing the somewhat disappointed General Staff: "Attacking the Russian Nation is not child's play.

We need to think carefully about what we want to achieve in this war and the price we are willing to pay for victory.

Our primary goal is not to occupy vast territories of the Russian Nation nor to capture the Capital City of Moscow quickly.

Our main objective is to destroy as much of the Russian Nation's living force as possible so that this vast country no longer has the manpower to join the Military and resist us.

If we cannot destroy the Russian Nation's living force, even if we occupy Moscow, even if we take over the whole of Eastern Europe, the numerous dissidents of Russia will resist our rule, and our Military will be busy suppressing various uprisings, still not meeting our expectations.

I believe that to effectively destroy the living force of the Russian Nation, we must launch two offensives first.

The first is to advance towards Kiev and the Dnieper River in the Southern Region. Ukraine is an important grain-producing area for the Russian Nation. If we can take Ukraine, it will have a profound impact on them.

The second is to advance directly towards Moscow through the Baltic Sea nations. If our attack goes well, the armies from both directions will successfully meet in Moscow and engage in a decisive battle with the Russian army there."

"After capturing Moscow, if necessary, we will need to undertake a special operation to secure Moscow's Baku oil fields.

Our preliminary battle plan is to annex Ukraine and occupy Moscow. Surrounding this military stronghold, we will continuously destroy the Russian armies that come to support, achieving the goal of effectively eliminating their living force.

Occupying Moscow is not essential; destroying the Russian army that comes to support Moscow is what's most important. That is my train of thought. The new battle plan will be developed based on these ideas, and I hope to see a workable proposal," said the German Chancellor.

Hearing the German Chancellor's words, the senior officers of the General Staff nodded, suppressing their fatigue as they responded.

Since the German Chancellor decided to attack the Russian Nation, the German General Staff became the busiest institution within the military.

In order to develop a plan that would satisfy the Chancellor, the General Staff worked day and night over one week, coming up with plan after plan.

Unfortunately, up until the 11th plan rejected by the German Chancellor, the General Staff still had not produced an attack plan that satisfied him.

Leaving aside the attack plans for the moment, the latest serious issue being discussed by the General Staff was how many troops to pull from the Western Front and the Balkan Front.

After all, whether on the Western Front or the Balkan Front, neither the Army Group nor the Army Group Commanders wanted to see their soldiers being transferred away.

Such a move not only reduced the strength they had at hand but also their position on the entire front and their influence within the domestic Military.

Fewer soldiers also meant less hope of earning distinction in the war, which for some ambitious generals and marshals was undoubtedly a torture.

"Prime Minister, Your Excellency, we currently have 135 divisions on the Western Front, amounting to roughly 2.1 million troops. I believe we can transfer 80 divisions, about 1.3 million soldiers, to engage in operations against Russia Nation."

The Army Group invading Norway and Sweden can also be withdrawn. These cases roughly amount to 15 divisions that can be redirected to Finland, to take back the land that rightfully belongs to us.

In addition, the newly mobilized domestically and the forces that have regained combat effectiveness after replenishment with new recruits, amounting to about 30 divisions and 500,000 soldiers, can also be deployed in the war against Russia Nation.

With this, our total operations against Russia Nation could involve 125 divisions, with approximately 2 million troops following us into battle against Russia Nation."

The words of Army Commander-in-Chief Brauchitsch made some faces in the General Staff turn pale.

The original Western Front had two large Army Groups, with a total force already exceeding 2 million.

But if 80 divisions were to be transferred, the remaining force of the Western Front would be less than that of an Army Group, with only about 800,000 troops left.

A sudden reduction of half the force naturally would only necessitate a defensive stance, but such a massive decrease had a tremendous impact on the Western Front.

If they managed to hold the line, it would be fine, but if they were to be carelessly counterattacked by the Frenchmen and even lose Paris, then whose responsibility would it be to bear?

Furthermore, defense meant hunkering down in the trenches, making it significantly more difficult to earn distinction compared to the offensive on the Eastern Front.

If unfortunate enough to remain on the Western Front, one would not only bear the pressure of a potential counterattack by the French Army but would also have little chance to gain commendation, truly a thankless task.

Moreover, the German Air Force had also lost the air war against the United Kingdom, which was undoubtedly adding insult to injury for the Western Front.

But the German Chancellor paid no heed to the change in many people's expressions in the General Staff, nodded calmly, and turned his gaze toward Marshal Brauchitsch to inquire, "Do you have a detailed plan for which troops to transfer?"

"Not at the moment, Prime Minister." Marshal Brauchitsch shook his head, replying very honestly: "However, the terrain of Russia Nation is relatively flat, with fewer mountainous areas, which is more suitable for our Armored troops to conduct assaults."

"Given the need for more infantry in a defensive battle, I think it's sensible to transfer more tanks and Armored troops. That way, we can maximize the effect of blitzkrieg."

The German Chancellor nodded once more.

What Marshal Brauchitsch said was not wrong. The vast plains of Russia Nation in Eastern Europe were suitable for the rapid advancement of Armored troops.

If a large number of infantry were used, it would slow down the German Army's pace instead.

If a large-scale blitzkrieg were implemented on the territory of Russia Nation, it could likely be quite effective. After all, the Russian army did not have a large number of Armored troops and even compared to the Polish Army, which was swiftly defeated by Germany, the Russian army's weapons and equipment were slightly inferior.

"Additionally, before launching the war, we should move the Army Group on the Balkan Front to Southeastern Poland to protect our oil fields in Romania.

Only with the security of the oil fields ensured can our Armored troops have enough energy supply to charge unreservedly across the plains of Russia Nation."