Chapter 1617 Prelude to Overlord (Part 2)

Recalling this incident that had just happened not long ago, Eisenhower actually did not mean to blame Churchill much.

Everyone knows and understands the current situation in the United Kingdom. The little naval wealth they have is basically saved before the war. Most of the British Royal Navy's proud main battleship fleet came from World War I. Standard old antique. The same goes for destroyers and cruisers, and the entire navy is filled with a strong sense of age.

Compared with the powerful navy of its own country, which is new and still has new blood injected into it, the British Royal Navy is indeed somewhat in decline, and its heroes are dying. It is indeed unrealistic for the British to gather so many landing ships at once. What I thought at the time was a little too natural.

But fortunately, there is a way after all, and the support that should be provided is indeed provided, and it is in my hands at this moment.

The Overlord plan, which has received strong support, will be launched as scheduled, and Eisenhower does not have to worry about unexpected changes that may occur during Operation Overlord, which is delayed until June.

As the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces, Eisenhower now has strict demands on himself as a soldier and a commander.

It was his duty to win the largest landing battle in history. Eisenhower was only thinking about how to win this battle. He could temporarily forget about everything else.

Although the way to meet their own needs has changed, it is not through Churchill, but from President Roosevelt.

But since the orders and requirements were clearly written in black and white in the telegram sent to him from Washington, then this process, which was not what he had thought in advance, was no longer important.

Similar to Zhukov in this regard, Eisenhower was also a commander who valued results more than the process. As long as Operation Overlord can be carried out as scheduled and does not delay your own actions, then there is no need to care about other things.

"Max, I've been having doubts since the beginning. You have to know that this is not what the President personally told me before I left for London. Not all plans must go according to the Prime Minister's instructions. If I wanted to, I was even authorized to argue with Churchill on certain issues.”

"But I don't understand this telegram. It is inconsistent with our country's grand strategy on European issues, at least it should be inconsistent. A Europe as Churchill thought is not the best interest for our country. What is Mr. President planning? What? I'm not questioning it, it's just that I haven't yet understood Mr. President's brilliance and strategy. I'm sure that's the case.

Although Max was only a colonel in the U.S. Army, Eisenhower was willing to share his doubts with him, reveal the truth, and even tell Max some "ambiguous" low-level secrets. It can well reflect one person's trust and respect for another person.

In fact, how could a colonel who could stay beside the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces and serve on all kinds of busy tasks be an unknown and small role?

Before being transferred to Eisenhower as a full assistant, Max was already a member of the White House staff.

Eisenhower had never heard of this hidden figure hidden behind the scenes in the White House, but he knew something about his deeds through Roosevelt's mouth.

It is said that before the Japanese took action, Max was one of the few White House staff members who saw through Japan's real plan, and he was still a military attache rather than a civilian official. This aroused considerable interest in Roosevelt at the time.

"He understood the truth of the war, David. Before the Japanese fleet left the port, he personally reported to me that the Japanese would definitely use force against us, and he accurately predicted that the location would be Pearl Harbor. He swore to me that if he were the head of the Japanese navy, he would definitely attack here. This is the only chance for Japan to gain a slim chance of victory."

"He also wrote such a large document to me. If you are interested, you can read it. Of course, I also recommend you to do so. Max is a very outstanding young man. He has a vision that transcends the military service and ordinary mid-level officers. The ability to control strategy and macro strategy. To cultivate future talents for our American army, David, he will follow you from now on."

Eisenhower didn't care about the family background and origin of this young man named Max, but he did have to admit that Roosevelt's analysis was good after actual contact.

Having this young mind named Max by his side can indeed play a role in a lot of divergent thinking. Eisenhower had to admit that this young mind did help him a lot when he was troubled by his thinking and also solved some thorny practical problems.

So when Eisenhower was in trouble again, he was willing to tell Max the actual problems and thoughts in his heart to see what unique insights this young man who had been ordered by the president to come to his side to help him had. .

After getting Eisenhower's look of approval, Colonel Max, knowing what he should do, immediately picked up the telegram on the table and quickly read it.

It didn't take too long to sort out his thoughts and words in his mind. The clear-cut Colonel Max quickly answered Eisenhower.

"There is something missing from the telegram that perhaps neither of us is qualified to know, General."

"The President did not tell us what he got from Churchill. The essence of politics is the same as shopping mall games. It is nothing more than a transaction, especially between allies. Since Churchill made the President willing to help him, It’s impossible for him not to pay a certain price.”

"As for what the price is, I guess it may be Britain's post-war interests in Southeast Asia? It is most likely related to India? These are the only things worth being exchanged for. I can't think of anything left for this impoverished and declining empire. Attract us. In exchange for their broken battleships? Hehe, I am not a navy, but I also know that those old antiques have already faded. Who would want these old girls? "

Max, who was already among the White House staff and dealt directly with politicians and even Roosevelt all day long, pointed out the key points of the problem to the point.

Since Roosevelt promised to send ships to Churchill, what was the price?

A Europe that is relatively chaotic but not completely dead is more in line with the post-war interests of the United States, so it would be a good idea to let Stalin occupy more territory. It was Churchill, not Roosevelt, who was a neighbor across the strait from those idiots. As soon as he got up and went out in the morning, he could piss with the idiots across the sea in the wind. It was Churchill, not Roosevelt.

The United States does not want either Europe or the Soviet Union to become too big. Finding the most critical strategic balance between the two will best serve the interests of the United States after the war.

To say that Roosevelt did not take the opportunity to rip off Churchill and gain some benefits on this issue, Colonel Max, who had been soaked in the big dye vat of the White House for several years, would never believe it.