The Japanese army advanced extremely fast, and in just a few days they had reached the Bataan Peninsula, an important line of defense for the US military. Due to the failure of a series of defensive battles, the Philippine troops had lost the ability to coordinate operations.

The U.S. military itself also suffered heavy losses, and MacArthur tried to organize a counterattack. However, the vulnerability of the Philippine troops made this counterattack look more like a joke. The so-called counterattack ultimately resulted in failure.

The Philippine division responsible for the offensive was forced to retreat to the defense area of ​​​​Mtema, Boracay Island. Although the Japanese army suspended the attack due to fuel and loss problems, the situation of the US military in the Philippines was still not optimistic.

"Chirp, chirp, chirp...boom, boom, boom..." When the Japanese army stopped attacking, they still did not forget to use artillery to harass the US military. However, a series of failures and Japanese shelling made the entire remaining troops panic.

No one can see a way out, and no one thinks they can be lucky enough to evacuate from here. News of the huge losses of the Pacific Fleet has spread, and everyone knows that they have temporarily lost their strongest support.

The Japanese fighter planes flew over their heads unscrupulously, and from time to time they arrogantly fired at them with their onboard machine guns. However, the troops who did not have much air defense power could only endure this humiliation helplessly.

"The White House issued an order requiring us to evacuate confidential personnel and then go to Australia to prepare for war again." MacArthur took out the latest White House photos and secret cables in his headquarters.

This is the result of the discussion of the entire staff. It is no longer possible for the Philippines to hold on. So the most important thing now is to retain those officers and senior commanders with war experience.

The current President of the Philippines, Manuel Quezon, looked at the telegram and said with a wry smile: "Your Excellency, General, have we just given up on the Philippines?! There are still tens of thousands of American soldiers here. They are still fighting.

…”

Quezon's words made MacArthur's eyes twitch a few times. MacArthur, who had always been extremely arrogant, didn't want to retreat from the bottom of his heart. But the reason he had been in the army for many years told him that if he didn't withdraw now, the consequences would be for the entire Philippine high-ranking officials to take him, the highest ranking member of the Philippine U.S. military, with him.

Commanders will all become prisoners of war.

This is unacceptable to the United States.

"Your Excellency, of course we will not stop fighting." MacArthur put down his corncob pipe and said to Quezon: "Major General Wainwright will take over my position and continue to lead our troops in combat. And we have

There are more important things to do..."

MacArthur's ability to speak so softly was the limit of his endurance. He secretly swore in his heart that if the idiot president said a few more words, he wouldn't mind throwing him to the front line to let him feel the Japanese artillery fire.

Quezon really wanted to say something else, but an official beside him quickly tugged at the corner of his clothes and said to MacArthur: "Yes, we trust the judgment of Washington and His Excellency the General. You will inform us when you are ready.

.We will follow you to Australia."

MacArthur then nodded gloomily. To be honest, he looked down on Quezon. In MacArthur's eyes, Quezon was a fool supported by Washington. This fool still dared to question himself! It was really treasonous.

!

Quezon seemed to have come to his senses at this time. Looking at MacArthur's slightly ferocious expression, Quezon turned pale and did not dare to say a word. With the support of his staff, he nodded to MacArthur and walked out of the headquarters tremblingly.

"This idiot! Letting the Philippines invade at that time was the biggest mistake!" After Quezon walked out of the headquarters, MacArthur cursed in a low voice.

The Philippines was originally a Spanish colony. After the fall of Spain, the Spanish-American War broke out. In the end, Spain was defeated. The United States purchased the sovereignty of the Philippines from Spain for US$20 million.

After that, the Philippines became a colony of the United States. The independence of the Philippines only happened in 1935. At that time, many people in the United States held objections to this and believed that the Philippines was not yet independent.

when.

As a compromise, the U.S. government allowed the Philippines to establish the "American Dominion of the Philippines" and appointed Manuel Quezon as president and Osmina as vice president.

The entire Philippines, from military to politics, diplomacy, etc., still belongs to the United States. But in name, they have become an autonomous state.

It was not until the end of World War II that the Philippines achieved real independence. Of course, in fact, their politics and diplomacy are still controlled overtly and covertly by the United States, so it is natural for them to retain their troops.

The US military did not withdraw from the Subic Bay Naval Base and Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines until 1991. At that time, the Soviet Union had disintegrated. The huge consumption of troops stationed in the Philippines was one reason. Another reason was that it was not far from Subic Bay at that time.

The eruption of Mount Pinatubo caused a large number of casualties and property losses.

Therefore, the United States abandoned these two military garrisons when it was not necessary.

"Does this idiot think that because the president has given him the power, he can act unscrupulously in front of me?! This idiot!" MacArthur roared in a low voice. It was very difficult for him to withdraw the American soldiers who had originally asked him to abandon the garrison.

Something difficult to accept.

But the current situation is that he has to accept such conditions, because the war situation leaves him with no more choices.

MacArthur was angry, and the Allied forces in the Philippines and throughout Southeast Asia were overwhelmed and panicked. In Britain, the situation was not much better.

The Germans' devastating attacks in countries such as France and Belgium have frightened the British in the English Channel. Although the Germans have not launched an attack yet, everyone knows that once the Germans do, it will definitely be an extremely cruel war.

The British had no choice but to endure and wait silently. Prime Minister Churchill's special envoy had already left for the United States to discuss issues of war cooperation between the two countries.

But no news has come back yet. The United States itself suffered heavy losses from a sneak attack by the Japanese in the Pacific. At the same time, their west coast was also seriously threatened, which destined that the U.S. military would not be able to provide excessive support to the United Kingdom for the time being.

But the British also know that they only need to support the United States until the United States completely enters a state of war, and then the danger alarm can be lifted. The United States' huge industrial capacity and war potential will ensure that Britain has the last laugh in this war.

"How many personnel have arrived now?! How many fighter jets and pilots can we have to defend England?!" Churchill asked the generals in the conference room in the house in Downing Street.

This is the issue he is most concerned about now. No one knows when the Germans will launch an attack. Time at any point is precious now, and Britain must use this time to do its best to prepare to withstand the coming storm.

.

"Ninety percent of the air crews from New Zealand, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Ireland, Jamaica, Sri Lanka, Southern Rhodesia... and other countries have arrived and are gradually entering the status quo." Member of the Air Force Committee, Air Force General, Commander of the Royal Air Force Fighter Air Force

Hugh Dowding said to Churchill.

"In terms of pilots, the air forces of Poland, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, France and others that have withdrawn to the UK have been integrated into the fleet. For the time being, our personnel are sufficient."

After a pause, Hugh Dowding continued: "The biggest problem now is that our aircraft production must be strengthened. At the same time, the training of fighter pilots must also keep up. Otherwise, we may not be able to withstand the long-term consumption...

…”

"The Germans are indeed stronger than us in fields such as flying combat and bombing, because they have rich practical experience. But in terms of reconnaissance, we have an advantage over the Germans. At least. Our radars along the coastline can detect any German *

*Team action.”

Churchill nodded with satisfaction and said in a deep voice to Hugh Dowding: "General, I hope you will not relax because of this. I have already issued the appropriation for your air force. Now your task is to continuously manufacture aircraft and train pilots.

!Teach those arrogant Germans a lesson!"

Churchill was ready to teach the Germans a lesson, and the mustachioed Führer was also ready to punish the disobedient British.

"The English Channel is too long for the BF109. But our Asian allies have provided us with a better plan!" In the conference room in Berlin, Mustache was very excited.

Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor made him feel that the person who implemented this plan was definitely a genius! He secretly submerged for three thousand nautical miles and then launched an attack, which ultimately caused heavy damage to the Pacific Fleet.

Hitler admired this very much, and from this, he began to pay attention to the aircraft carrier that was the focus of this attack!

"We must have an aircraft carrier. I can totally imagine our fighter jets taking off there! Then shoot down all the British planes and tell them it's time for them to bow to Germany!" Mustache became accustomed to getting excited.

There was dancing in the conference room.

"The Graf Zeppelin must speed up its production schedule. All materials are in limited supply!" The Graf Zeppelin was the first aircraft carrier built by Germany in 1935.

However, due to the huge cost and the dispute over aircraft ownership between the German Navy and the Air Force, the progress was slow. However, this time the Japanese use of aircraft carriers made Mustache's eyes light up! He was prepared to use this tactic to deal with the British and Americans.

.

"Raeder. I thought your 'Plan Z' was very good before! But now we need aircraft carriers even more to maintain our 'Operation Sea Lion'!" Hitler faced the commander of the combat navy in the conference room, the German Navy Marshal Einstein.

Rich Redel said in a deep voice.

"I will give you all my support, but I need to see the results of the Navy! In other words, you need to show me your achievements!"

"Hi! Hitler!" Erich Raeder shouted excitedly. Because the navy and air force were competing for the ownership of the aircraft carrier, the progress of the aircraft carrier was slow, which made Erich Raeder very sad.

But now the head of state actually agreed to give him strong support and let him build the navy. This made Erich Raeder very excited.

"Goering, don't argue about the ownership of the plane." Hitler waved his hand to Goering, who wanted to say something, and said: "At least for now, the Japanese have proved that their approach is correct. They are therefore

It severely damaged the U.S. Pacific Fleet, and that alone is worth thinking about."

"The German army belongs to Germany. Regardless of any branch of the military, no soldier belongs to an individual or a military branch! I hope you can know this!"

"Hi! Hitler!" his head of state said so. Göring had no choice but to stand up and express his attitude. He knew Hitler better than anyone here. As long as it was decided by the head of state.

He didn't want anyone to refute the matter. Otherwise, he would regard it as disrespectful.

"Okay! My generals, I think we need to make some repairs. I will give you two more months. In two months we will launch the 'Sea Lion Project'! I hope that next time, we can see the British coming

Come to Berlin and surrender to us!”

"Hi! Hitler!!"

The British did not know that the Germans on the other side of the strait had suddenly changed their combat strategy, and the Americans in the Americas did not know either. Germany was silently preparing, and so was the United States.

After the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Japan also focused its main efforts on Southeast Asia. However, due to problems with fuel and losses, the Japanese army temporarily stopped attacking.

The entire world has fallen into a strange calm, and no one knows when this calm will be broken. But everyone knows that once the war starts again, it will be an endless ending.

Soviet Union. Moscow.

In the Kremlin, the top leaders of the Soviet Union were all smoking. They originally thought that Germany would be trapped in the war in Europe. However, they did not expect that the French and Belgians were so impatient, and were quickly defeated by the Germans.

The Maginot Line, which seemed like a natural barrier, turned into a burden. The German blitzkrieg was an eye-opener for the Soviets. Similarly, the surprise attacks launched by the Japanese on the Pacific battlefield also gave the Soviets a chill down their spines.

The Soviet Union, which originally planned to gather strength and take back Vladivostok, once again saw the strike capabilities of the Wehrmacht. The Japanese army's hundreds of thousands of troops on one front were wiped out in just over half a month under the powerful attack of the Wehrmacht.

This made the Soviets, who were initially ready to take action, retract their claws. They did not want the coalition government to choose to form an alliance with Germany in anger. Facing a two-front war would not be good news for the Soviet Union.

Both the British and Americans have deliberately ignored or avoided mentioning one thing: China and Germany have not declared war so far.

In other words, even now the two countries still have an unclear relationship. As soon as Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, Germany declared war on the United States.

However, Japan and China have been fighting for so long. China has already declared war on Japan, but Germany has maintained a strange silence. This made the Soviet Union more uneasy.

"Although I'm not sure about the time, I'm sure that Germany will eventually choose to go to war with us." Tukhachevsky said calmly to Trotsky, who was in the first place.

"This may be after they capture Britain, or it may be during their attack on Britain. But there is no doubt that Germany will attack us."

Trotsky remained sullen and silent. Germany's powerful strength made him a little frightened. Even the regional powers in Europe united together to support it for less than a month.

Trotsky did not think that the Soviet Union could now be as powerful as the whole of Europe. Trotsky also understood that it was only a matter of time before Germany launched a war against the Soviet Union. Who knew that the Soviet Union had so many resources and was so attractive?!
To be continued...