The decisive battle against the Third Reich

Washington.

Churchill hurried into Roosevelt's office with his assistant. After shaking hands with Roosevelt, he took the folder from the assistant and placed it in front of Roosevelt.

"I think you should take a look at this, Mr. President!"

"What is this?" Roosevelt said as he opened the folder. He was stunned as soon as he opened it.

After turning a few more pages, Roosevelt looked up at Churchill and asked hesitantly: "Poison gas? Where did it happen?"

"Two weeks ago, we photographed a strange German device in Algeria!" Churchill handed Roosevelt a few more photos: "Then we discovered this... an aircraft! It was located in Salat, Algeria."

Roosevelt's eyes couldn't help showing shock. If it was in Algeria, it meant that American soldiers would also be threatened.

"To this end, we dispatched the 'Airborne Gomande', an elite force of 56 people!" Churchill continued: "This force shot down the aircraft. They originally wanted to get further information from the aircraft... However, Only thirteen of them survived, and you saw the situation!"

Roosevelt leaned back in his chair, still seemingly unable to believe this.

"Our intelligence unit believes..." Churchill continued: "The Germans have been beaten by us in North Africa and are unable to fight back. At the same time, they are unable to reinforce due to the war on the Eastern Front. In order to reverse the war situation, they are likely to use chemical weapons. No, it shouldn’t be said as ‘maybe’, but as ‘certainly’!”

"We're not sure, Prime Minister!" Roosevelt objected.

"Why?" Churchill asked doubtfully: "Aren't these powerful evidences? These photos!"

"I have a question!" Roosevelt said: "Let's review this clearly... The Germans were conducting test flights on this aircraft, and then you sneak attacked and shot down this aircraft!"

"Yes!" Churchill nodded.

"Then have you thought about it?" Roosevelt asked: "If it was just a test flight experiment, why would they put poison gas on the aircraft?"

Churchill was left speechless by the question.

Because as we all know, aircraft are used for experiments, and experimental aircraft will inevitably have problems of one kind or another. More importantly, no one will put real poison gas bombs in the experimental machine for experiments, because this will cause problems for themselves. Cause great danger.

"They could have avoided these dangers by simply using dummy bombs of equal weight!" Roosevelt asked, "Why didn't they do that?"

"I don't know!" Churchill spread his hands: "So it is a new weapon, isn't it? We know nothing about it, but we are sure that it can cause such casualties..."

Roosevelt couldn't help but fell silent.

To a certain extent, Churchill was right. Although he could not explain Roosevelt's doubts, for things like poison gas bombs, one should "rather believe that they exist than that they do not exist." Otherwise, if the Germans really use it on the battlefield, it will be too late to regret it.

"But what are we going to do?" Roosevelt asked, "Give the soldiers gas masks?"

Judging from the degree of corrosion in the photos, it's clear that gas masks can only have a limited effect.

"First of all!" Churchill said: "We should not shift the strategic focus, otherwise, the Germans are likely to use this weapon to launch a counterattack all the way until they occupy the entire North Africa and even the Suez Canal!"

Roosevelt nodded reluctantly. Although he suspected that Churchill had exaggerated the facts with ulterior motives, as he said before, "I would rather believe it."

"Secondly!" Churchill continued: "We should be prepared to counterattack!"

"You mean...poison gas?" Roosevelt frowned.

Poison gas warfare was very common in World War I, and was used by both warring parties... Many people think that the ban on the use of poison gas happened after World War I. In fact, the use of poison gas was already prohibited by the Hague Convention before World War I.

But it is just a "convention". It is not actually binding in war. Just like other contracts or agreements, it is meant to be torn up.

The fundamental reason why it was rarely used during World War II was not because of any "convention", but because both sides of the war had poison gas, and it was easy to release, and could be airborne or artillery fired... This would eventually create a lose-lose situation. situation.

Then there will be what Churchill called "countermeasures."

This is also what Qin Chuan is worried about. If Churchill mistakenly thinks that the new weapon of the German army is a poison gas bomb and uses poison gas bombs to counterattack, then the two sides will soon fight a more cruel war.

Therefore, Qinchuan needs to use this weapon to prove that it is not what the enemy imagined.

Of course, this is just one of them.

Another reason is that the test flight of the "target drone" has exceeded 150 kilometers, which is enough range for the African Corps to carry out countermeasures against the island of Malta, which is 90 kilometers away from Sicily. (Originally it was planned to use Tunisia and Algeria as launch bases, but the incident suddenly had to make some changes)

So the two launchers were set up overnight.

The launcher was set up more carefully this time. The whole process was carried out at night. While setting up, it was covered with tarpaulin for camouflage... It is not difficult to install a launcher in complex terrain like Sicily. The slope of the launcher You can disguise it as a high ground, then cover it with a layer of canvas and pile some branches. Even low-altitude reconnaissance will be difficult to detect.

"What's it called?" Rommel asked, looking at a "target drone" that had been assembled.

"Vengeance Weapon No. 1, General!" Conrad replied: "Or V1."

"Hmm, interesting name!" Rommel nodded, and when he saw Qin Chuan with a bandage on his arm and hanging around his neck, he said: "Captain, the revenge weapon... it is for your revenge!"

The people around him couldn't help laughing.

Rommel continued: "Considering your injuries, we will not send you on this sneak attack on the enemy's airport!"

The crowd burst into laughter again.

"Well done, Captain!" Rommel patted Qin Chuan's left shoulder: "I have read your performance report in Salat, and more than once. It was a wonderful battle. You saved Major Hannah regardless of safety. This spirit is particularly commendable, and I think it is enough for us to apply for the medal again!”

As he spoke, Rommel turned his eyes to Hannah and joked: "Of course, if you were the major who was rescued for personal reasons, that would be a different matter!"

The officers couldn't help but booed, and some even said to Qin Chuan with a pun: "Captain, be brave, just like you are on the battlefield!"

"No, no, this is not the time!" Rommel said: "Now, it is time for us to see how it performs!"

As he spoke, he turned his attention to the V1 missile.