In the spring of 1950, an old man with nearly bald head, completely white hair and could only rely on one eye to see the complex world was reading the newspaper with a serious expression. The headlines of the newspaper were reported about the signing of a loan agreement between the United States and France. In name, the loan totaling up to US$450 million was a "interest-free installment loan" with preferential conditions. However, the newspaper also mentioned that the agreement clearly limited the purpose of the loan, repaying the debt, supporting industries, and helping the poor, and from the United States.

The government-designated arms dealer to purchase military supplies. As the first president of France, Van Chan Oriol knew more detailed and in-depth details than the content of the newspapers - the proportion of military purchases to as high as 60% of the total loans, which means that the French government, which is still in a difficult recovery in the economy and finance, will purchase at least US$270 million worth of American weapons and equipment to enhance the combat capabilities of the French team. Not long ago, the ambitious French team launched the entire Indochina Peninsula.

In the face of the offensive, it reoccupied the major cities and strategic strongholds of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, and claimed that the offensive had achieved a huge victory, but in fact it only forced the rebels to switch to guerrilla warfare. During the nearly two weeks of combat operation, the French team suffered more than 30,000 casualties, far higher than expected numbers. The large consumption of ammunition and drug resources, the setback of military morale, and the serious losses of elite troops cast a shadow on the far-end Indochina War. It was precisely because of the Indochina War against Indochina

In a rational judgment of the struggle, the French government sent additional combat troops while seeking military aid from the Americans. The current French industry is not enough to provide sufficient new weapons to the army. The United States hoarded a large amount of redundant equipment after the armistice with the Soviet Union. The two sides hit it off and soon signed an agreement in Washington. During the negotiations, the US government's interest in the French Indochina colony worried the French top leaders, which also prompted them to make up their minds to completely defeat Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia to resist the rebels.

Didi...

The phone rang on the table. President Oriol put down the newspaper in his hand, picked up the microphone with one hand, and took off the black round glasses with the other hand and closed his eyes for a while. After listening to the secretary's report, he said in a low voice, "Let them come in", then put down the microphone with his hands to rub his face...

A moment later, the office door opened, and Prime Minister Robert Schumann, wearing a black tuxedo, and Secretary of Defense Alphons Juan, who was wearing multiple medals, walked in steadily.

Oriol stood up and said, "Please sit down, gentlemen! Andy, please give us a pot of hot tea!"

After the secretary closed the door, Schumann said, "Mr. President, we are here today to report to you about French-German military cooperation."

"I was just about to hear your opinions on this matter," said Oriol. The three of them occupied a sofa next to the coffee table and chose a correct sitting position at the same time.

Schumann took the lead in getting to the topic: "After returning from the United States, we have conducted profound reflections and felt that relying on the Americans is very unfavorable to the revival of France. We should get rid of this dependence as much as possible and strive to achieve self-sufficiency in all aspects of industry, economy and military. Although cooperation with the Germans is not 100% domestic, considering the current situation in Germany, we can completely dominate the cooperation between the two countries, thus making this cooperation a beneficial and harmless 'borrowing'."

Oriol nodded slightly. Although he was calm and gentle, he was a persistent, firm, radical and idealistic socialist. His long-term experience as an internal official made him pay more attention to national internal affairs than Charles de Gaulle instead of simply how to restore France's status as a great power internationally.

"The coal-steel joint venture agreement has set a good start for the military cooperation between France and Germany. With the emergence of the joint operation effect, the public's resistance to Germany will naturally gradually weaken. Before that, we can only carry out military cooperation with the Germans in a more secret way. Please ask our Minister of Defense to explain the specific plan to you!" Schuman immediately gave Zhu An a gesture of "please start".

The French Admiral did not explain the written materials such as manuscripts for this time. He introduced the advantages and complementary situations of France and Germany in fluent language, and listed a series of numbers as evidence to make it sound clear and detailed. During his speech, the two highest-level political leaders in France listened attentively. Until he finished speaking, President Oriol slowly asked two questions: "We cannot provide the reconstruction funds that the Germans urgently need, and we do not have time to wait for the two cooperation projects to play a practical role."

These two issues are not uncommon. Schumann, Juan and their staff members have obviously considered it fully. Schumann responded: "This is a cooperation plan for medium- and long-term development. Of course, in response to the current situation of the Indochina War, we can add some short-term projects to it, such as using German armed forces to combat the colonial rebellion."

Oriol shook his head and said, "This involves a series of complex issues - Germany's attitude and intentions, the reactions of the international community, especially the ally countries, and the thoughts of the people..."

"This move is conducive to reducing the casualties of the French. On the Indochina Peninsula, they faced a barbaric, fierce opponent with Sovietism. Today, Germany is a country with influence limited to parts of Europe. The corps formed by veterans are equivalent to ancient Germanic mercenaries, and their combat effectiveness is not inferior to our foreign corps and colonial armies. The cost is much smaller."

General Zhu An "speaks for the Germans" with a positive attitude, but it is very wrong to understand that he is a pro-German. This Frenchman who had participated in two world wars was an absolute warrior on the battlefield. He was injured twice in the war with the German army in World War I. After the outbreak of World War II, Zhu An first served as the commander of the 15th Motorized Infantry Division of the 1st French Army. At the beginning of the Western Front, he led his troops to Belgium to fight against the German attack. When the German army broke through the Sedang defense line, he He led his troops to the area near Valencienna in France to serve as a combat mission to cover the withdrawal of the British and French coalition forces to Dunkirk, and retreated to the southern suburbs of Lille, where they were surrounded by the German army and became prisoners. Despite being defeated by the German army, Juan and his soldiers won dignity and honor with their heroic combat operations and became one of the few troops to be awarded the honor of "Combat Meritorious Officials". In addition, Juan, who was trapped in the German prisoner-of-war camp, was promoted to major general by the French government in February 1941 and was released a few months later.

In November 1941, Zhu An was promoted to Lieutenant General and was ordered to replace Wei Gang as commander-in-chief of the French Army in North Africa. After taking over this position, Zhu An expanded his troops, hid his equipment, and "trained the African army to participate in future operations against the Axis powers." With Zhu An's efforts, as of November 1942, France's troops in Africa had five mobile divisions and one light mechanized brigade, totaling 200,000 people. These troops were fully equipped and had a secret logistics base in the Tunisian mountainous area, and combat training was also in full swing.

From November 1942 to May 1943, Juan led French task forces to participate in the Battle of Tunisia with the Allies and won the victory; in December 1942, Juan was promoted to general of the army; in August 1943, he was ordered to form the French Expeditionary Force and prepare to land in Italy with the Allies; in September, Juan, as the commander-in-chief of the French landing forces, led his troops to Sorrento and was incorporated into the 5th Army of the United States; in November, Juan led his troops to attack Naples, and participated in January to May 1944

Added the famous battle to attack the "Gustav Line". During this period, the Allied forces tried to break through the German defense line many times, but were all defeated by German Marshal Albert Kesselin. The entire Italian battlefield was once stalemate before the "Gustav Line". As the commander-in-chief of the French Expeditionary Force, Juan proposed his combat plan to the Allied Command several times, but none of them were adopted. Juan was not discouraged. He finally successfully convinced the commander of the 5th Army of the United States, Mark Wayne Clark, to accept his mountain mobile combat master.

Zhang, and led his troops to implement mountain interludes according to his own plan, thus achieving tactical suddenness and making important contributions to the Allies' final breaking of the "Gustav Line of Defense". After the Normandy landed, Juan became the Chief of Staff of the French Ministry of Defense, responsible for the French army in full and achieved good results in this position, and was awarded the medal of honor many times. In the first government cabinet of the French Republic, Juan, who served as Minister of Defense, was also highly expected by the people of the country.

President Auriore's eyes stayed on Juan's face for a long time, probably feeling that this French general knew his former opponent better than ordinary people, and France and Germany are now facing military pressure from the East. It should be a more rational approach to abandon past grudges and mutual benefit. However, the North's free empire has always been an elusive mystery. Before it was solved, Democratic Germany was not as reliable as it seemed on the surface. After expressing its concerns, Auriore told Juan: "After three major wars that are comparable to disasters, the French nation's ability to bear losses is indeed much worse than before. But if we rely on our own army to win the final victory on the Indochina battlefield, even if the casualties are greater and the time is longer, we would rather not have soldiers from other countries. This concerns France's dignity and confidence, and France's international political status."

After exchanging glances with Schumann, Zhu An responded: "I understand what you mean. Mr. President, the French will defend the dignity of the country and nation with actions. You can rest assured. When the advanced military supplies from the United States are in place, we will go deep into the mountains and forests to strangle the remaining resisters. With the blessing of God, we believe that we will be able to completely control the situation there soon."
Chapter completed!