876. Chapter 843 Final preparations

Chapter 843 Final preparations

In fact, according to normal principles, a country's large-scale military mobilization basically cannot be hidden from other countries.

Mobilizing the army is not as easy as imagined, and it is even more impossible to completely conceal the news. Even if there is no satellite spying intelligence yet, this large-scale military mobilization can still be quickly noticed by other countries.

For example, in World War I, the mobilization of German and French armies was basically clear to both sides. Although it is unclear where the opponent's troops have been mobilized, it is still possible to make certain guesses based on the existing situation.

Logically speaking, the mobilization of German troops cannot be hidden from the French, and the French will naturally understand the real intentions behind the Germans.

But one factor is also very important, and that is that the Germans have just peacefully obtained the Polish corridor they once ceded through peace talks.

Sending troops to regain control of their own territory seems to be a very normal trend. This is exactly how the French feel. They do not pay much attention to the mobilization of German troops, because there are not many movements of troops on the German-French border.

In order to have no worries about their attack, the Germans decided to solve the two problems of Spain and Australasia before launching the attack.

After a meeting of the German-Italian Triple Alliance, Germany and Italy strengthened their support for the Spanish National Army and launched a final general attack on Madrid, which was still under the control of the Spanish government.

Since the outbreak of the war, the Spanish Civil War has turned into a truly large-scale war.

The total number of government troops and national troops in Spain alone is close to one million.

This has a huge impact on Spain, which has a population of only 25 million. In other words, 1 in 25 Spaniards personally experienced this civil war as a soldier.

Considering that there are still a large number of companies and factories serving this civil war, it can be said that this civil war is already the largest army size that Spain can produce.

In addition to the nearly one million Spanish troops, there are also more than 80,000 German and Italian volunteers on the Spanish battlefield.

Although it seems that there are only 80,000 troops, during the Spanish Civil War, Germany and Italy rotated at least 300,000 troops.

This also means that more than 300,000 German and Italian troops have received some training on the Spanish battlefield. Compared with the French army, which has not experienced war, the German and Italian armies are at least more experienced in war.

In order to completely capture Madrid, Germany and Italy prepared tens of thousands of artillery pieces, and more than 300 aircraft bombed Madrid for more than a week.

The Spanish National Army and the German and Italian armies invested a total of more than 400,000 people.

After more than a month of siege, finally on September 11, 1935, the most important city in Spain, the capital Madrid, was fully occupied.

After Madrid was captured, the territory controlled by the Spanish Republic was basically limited to only a few areas along the eastern coast.

Although the eastern coast is the most developed and populous area in Spain, the Spanish Republic at this time is obviously no match for the National Army.

Even without the assistance of Germany and Italy at this time, the Spanish National Army could gradually encroach on the territory of the Republic, and eventually achieve the goal of occupying the magpie's nest and rebuilding Spain.

What's more, the aid from Germany and Italy not only did not stop, but also was greatly increased because the German government's planned attack on Poland was approaching.

In order to make the Spanish Republic completely isolated and isolated, the Spanish National Army, on Franco's advice, formulated the Catalan Campaign that was crucial to the Civil War.

As we all know, Spain and France are neighboring countries. Because of the barrier of the Pyrenees Mountains, only the east and west ends of the Pyrenees Mountains can actually be connected to France.

Currently, the western part of the Pyrenees is controlled by the National Army, leaving only Catalonia to communicate with the French.

Franco's plan was to occupy Catalonia and completely cut off the connection between the Spanish Republican government and the French.

Without the assistance of the French, the Spanish Republican government will lose a major support. Although there is still support from Russia, because the distance is too far, such assistance does not have much effect on the Spanish Republican government, which is already at a disadvantage.

Moreover, as long as Catalonia is captured, the Spanish National Army can achieve a comprehensive encirclement of the Republic.

In this way, the Spanish Republic has become a turtle in the urn, and it will only be a matter of time before it is eliminated.

While the Spanish National Army is nervously preparing for its offensive against Catalonia, on the other side of the world, the island countries that are allies of Germany and Italy are also preparing for their own actions with the help of Germany and Italy.

Of course, Germany and Italy are not so crazy as to let the island countries directly launch a war against Australasia.

After all, doing so would bring Australasia to an immediate end, and even cause the originally neutral British to take action.

Therefore, from the very beginning, the purpose of Germany and Italy was simple, that is, to let the island countries contain Australasia and let the two countries enter an endless arms race.

Because it is clear that the island countries cannot be the opponent of Australasia in terms of industry and economy. Therefore, Germany and Italy also provided a series of assistance to the island countries.

These include but are not limited to a large number of interest-free or low-interest loans, the export of oil and other mineral materials that the island countries need most, and the science and technology related to military equipment from Germany and Italy.

Because the war has not yet broken out in Europe, Germany and Italy can still buy enough oil at this time.

This also greatly facilitates the island countries. The island countries bought enough oil from Germany and Italy, and they can barely meet their domestic demand for oil without passing through Australasia. But the problem of lack of oil still exists. This also created the biggest difference between the island countries' army and the Australasia army, which is the degree of completion of the army's mechanization.

In the Australasia army, a large number of military vehicles can be seen. And those tanks and aircraft are all big consumers of oil resources.

Although the island countries also have military vehicles, tanks and aircraft, the number is not as arrogant as Australasia, a major oil-producing country.

However, with Germany and Italy as the most extreme and military-focused countries at present, the number of aircraft in the island country is actually ahead of many European countries.

According to rough intelligence statistics, the number of aircraft in the island country before the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War was about 870, which has exceeded the British Empire at that time.

After the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, the island country further increased the production of aircraft.

So far, the number of their military aircraft should have exceeded 1,200, making it the country with the largest number of aircraft except Australasia.

Of course, the second place of the island country is actually a bit tricky.

Although there are many aircraft with relatively strong combat effectiveness among these 1,200 aircraft, nearly half of them are outdated products, and their real combat effectiveness is not that strong.

Moreover, the number of aircraft of European powers has also begun to surge, which can be regarded as an air force arms race worldwide.

Although the United Kingdom has remained neutral in the situation, the number of their air forces has always maintained a high level of growth.

The reason is also very simple. The United Kingdom is still constantly building aircraft carriers, and aircraft carriers naturally require a large number of aircraft.

According to the intelligence Arthur has about Britain, the number of British aircraft has exceeded 1,000, and is growing steadily at a rate of about 300 per year.

In fact, according to the British industrial level, if they want to produce aircraft at all costs, the annual output is definitely an exaggerated number.

But before entering a state of war, the financial burden caused by mass production of aircraft is also a huge trouble for the British.

Although the current mainstream aircraft is still made of wood, the cost is not that expensive.

Yes, wooden aircraft.

Although it looks a bit incredible from the perspective of future generations, for countries around the world today, wooden aircraft are not that special.

The first is the high manufacturing cost of all-metal aircraft. The current construction cost of a single aircraft in Australasia is about 15,000 to 25,000 Australian dollars, which is the most expensive military aircraft in the world.

Such a cost is not exaggerated, it is the normal cost of all-metal aircraft at present.

This is also the reason why Australasia does not manufacture a large number of aircraft. If thousands of aircraft are manufactured, the financial cost will be enough to give the financial department a headache.

Compared with the expensive all-metal aircraft, the cheaper wooden aircraft is the mainstream of the current world aircraft development.

According to the data of aircraft costs in various countries, the manufacturing cost of a relatively ordinary wooden aircraft is only about 5,000 Australian dollars, and the most expensive will not exceed 10,000 Australian dollars.

According to the comprehensive cost of the two aircraft, the funds required for an all-metal aircraft can completely manufacture 2 to 3 wooden aircraft.

If Arthur did not know that the advantages of all-metal aircraft in combat far exceeded those of wooden aircraft, I am afraid that the current aircraft design in Australasia is also dominated by wooden aircraft.

This is also the reason why Arthur was still not panicked when he heard that European countries were building a large number of aircraft. In addition to the huge advantages of jet engines, the advantages of all-metal aircraft over wooden aircraft are also the reason why Arthur was not surprised.

Of course, wooden aircraft are not without advantages. In addition to the relatively low cost, wooden aircraft are relatively flexible in the sky because of their light weight.

But in front of all-metal aircraft using jet engines, the advantage of flexibility is also offset by half.

Although lighter in weight, the speed of jet aircraft must exceed that of wooden aircraft. Moreover, wooden planes can hardly withstand the speed of jet planes, which also determines that the upper limit of wooden planes is far behind that of all-metal planes.

This also means that the mainstream wooden planes of various countries have no other advantages for Australasia except the advantage of low cost.

Under the premise of no external factors, wooden planes can indeed withstand faster flight.

But if they are hit by large-caliber bullets or weapons with greater power, it is normal for the fragile wooden planes to fall into pieces.

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