Chapter 333 Defensive Tactics

Colonel Slain returned to the headquarters and immediately reported the whole matter to Rommel in detail, especially the cooperation proposal about Darlan.

Rommel was also very interested in Darlan's proposal, so he sent a telegram to Hitler for instructions as soon as possible.

"Dear Führer!" Rommel suggested: "Establishing a government centered on Darlan in Algiers can appease all the French in Algeria and make them believe that they are safe. On the other hand, it will also enable us to get more help from the French. We can even form an army with the French... This model may even be extended to France."

Hitler hesitated when he saw this telegram, and then asked: "Are you sure you can control this French army?"

Hitler was worried that after training such a French army, they would one day turn against the German army.

"Their families are in Algeria!" Rommel replied: "This is the best guarantee!"

Hitler didn't think much about it and quickly agreed. After all, Germany now lacks everything.

So Qin Chuan didn't need to deal with this matter at all. In order to show his respect for Darlan, Hitler personally called Darlan to congratulate him on becoming the supreme commander of Algeria's civil and military affairs.

This is ironic, because Darlan was appointed as the supreme commander of Algeria's civil and military affairs at about this time, but it was Churchill and Roosevelt who appointed him.

For this reason, Darlan also hosted a banquet for German officers in Algeria... Darlan did the superficial work, but the expenses were actually paid by the German army, and Darlan didn't feel sorry at all.

Colonel Slaine and Qin Chuan were of course among them.

When Raeder saw Colonel Slaine, he smiled bitterly and said, "Colonel, I think... you and Darlan reached an agreement on the warship!"

Marshal Raeder regretted why he didn't seize this opportunity... If it wasn't Rommel but he controlled the Darlan government, then he wouldn't be able to turn the tide in North Africa, but at least he could show off in front of Hitler and put some pressure on Rommel.

But now...

In fact, this can't be blamed on others. Marshal Raeder didn't see the value of Darlan. The moment he invited Darlan to the warship as a joke, he was destined to lose this opportunity.

"Marshal, General, Colonel!" Darlan raised his glass to toast the officers, and the officers also congratulated Darlan.

"You know?" Darlan smiled bitterly: "I don't think it's worth congratulating, because when I became the supreme commander, I became the target of public criticism. Now there are at least four forces plotting to assassinate me!"

Qin Chuan understood what Darlan said.

The British would not want to see the establishment of the Algiers government, because it would become a competitor to the de Gaulle regime supported by Britain...The reputation of the de Gaulle regime at this time was actually not much better than that of the Algiers government, because Britain was actually an enemy of France after the "Catapult Plan", and even compared with Germany, France hated Britain more.

Because Germany was originally an enemy of Britain, and Germany could still reach some kind of agreement with France in the case of victory, which was already considered merciful to the French, at least on the surface.

But Britain is France's ally. This ally not only did not lend a helping hand to France when France needed help the most, but also added insult to injury... This is unacceptable to most French people, so the de Gaulle government is also a puppet government that betrayed the country in the eyes of many French people.

The United States also does not want Germany to continue to grow in Algeria.

In addition, there are the de Gaulle government and the Vichy government... It is not enough to say that there are four forces, and this does not include civil groups.

Colonel Slain whispered to Qin Chuan: "It seems that we have to strengthen the vigilance measures here!"

After thinking about it, Qin Chuan said: "Especially the French!"

"What?" Colonel Slain was stunned: "Why the French?"

"If I want to assassinate Darlan!" Qin Chuan whispered: "Or the assassination force of other forces, I will never let others know that it was done by me! And they are very conspicuous!"

Colonel Slain couldn't help but say "Oh", and then nodded slightly.

Being conspicuous is one thing, but more importantly, it may further intensify the contradictions between countries and set off a new round of anti-British and anti-American fever among the French people.

In fact, Darlan did die at the hands of a Frenchman, a 20-year-old royalist.

What is suspicious is that the assassin was hastily sentenced and executed within two days amid controversy, so who was behind the scenes became an unsolved case.

Qin Chuan didn't know whether his reminder would work. He only knew that "man proposes, God disposes", and whether he could escape this disaster depended on Darlan himself.

Dinner was only halfway through when a staff officer hurried in and whispered to Colonel Slaine: "Colonel, General Rommel called, he wants to talk to you and the lieutenant!"

Colonel Slaine and Qin Chuan gestured to other officers and Darlan, then got up and went to the communication room to answer the phone.

"Colonel, Lieutenant!" Rommel said on the other end of the phone, "I just received a call from Major General Neumann. He praised the lieutenant's defensive tactics and conducted a preliminary exercise to verify the tactics. The conclusion is that it is completely feasible. I have also read the plan, and I also think it is a good tactic."

"Yes, General!" Colonel Slaine glanced at Qin Chuan.

"The problem is that we don't have much time!" General Rommel said: "In about a month, we will retreat to Tunisia. Major General Neumann believes that with their manpower, they simply can't complete so many tunnel fortifications within a month, and the construction of fortifications also requires further guidance from the lieutenant, so I decided to transfer the 1st Infantry Regiment to Tunisia to cooperate with the work and defense of the 200th Infantry Division. What do you think?"

"Yes, General!" Colonel Slaine replied.

"Get ready and set off tomorrow!"

After hanging up the phone, Colonel Slain looked at Qin Chuan painfully: "Lieutenant, did you think of this when you mentioned that defensive tactic? We could have been in Algiers enjoying the sea breeze and delicious food, but now we have to go to Tunisia to dig caves and live like savages!"

"Sorry, Colonel!" Qin Chuan replied: "If I knew this would happen, I would have kept this tactic to myself until I died of old age!"

"Too late!" Colonel Slain said: "You should write a review for this!"