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Chapter 25 25 Ruhr Area

Four legal officials died bizarrely in Germany. There are rumors that such an incredible traffic accident as three cars collided in a series of accidents, which made everyone worry about Germany.

At the beginning of 1922, cars were not as popular as they are now, and there was no traffic in the streets and alleys, especially at around 8 o'clock in the evening, where there were even fewer cars on the street. In this context, a three-car continuous high-speed collision case caused many people to doubt, especially the accident that happened when these four legal officials rushed to inspect a German military camp, which made the case even more suspicious.

However, Germany did not cooperate with France to investigate the case and completed the investigation in a traffic accident. German representative Sickett complained in front of the coalition military arms control committee, believing that the legal officials going out late at night was suspicious. This statement at least won the sympathy of some coalition military officials.

This incident made the relationship between the National Defense Force and the French side cold to freezing point. Both sides accuse each other of their opponents at international conferences, and another sudden crisis made France unable to tolerate the hostile attitude of the German government.

At the end of 1922, the German Mark began to depreciate wildly. German leader Ebert called the French Prime Minister and the British Prime Minister and notified the French British Ambassador to Germany. The purpose was to request the Allied government to temporarily terminate the heavy war reparations required by the Treaty of Versailles.

However, this seemingly helpless but reasonable request was rejected by French Prime Minister Raymond Pengarle. The French side was fueling the fire and frequently mobilized border troops, which made the Prime Minister a little difficult to get on the ground. For a time, the sky was covered with clouds over Europe, and the war seemed to break out at any time.

At this moment, in a conference room in Paris, France, French senior executives were holding an extraordinary meeting for this matter. Most generals at the meeting believed that they should send troops to Germany to completely destroy Germany and dominate the entire European continent, but those who know a little bit of politics were not optimistic about this plan at all. The United States, Britain and even the Soviet Union could not tolerate a powerful France dominating the European continent, so once the action was launched, France would be attacked several times and fall into crisis.

"Mr. Prime Minister, we must make the Germans pay the price! The French people's blood cannot be in vain!" A general sat in his seat and attacked French Prime Minister Raymond Pengal.

French Prime Minister Pengal shook his head helplessly: "God General! We cannot declare war on a country because of an accident that looks like a murder! The state budget has been cut three times because of the end of the war. What should I support a huge war?"

"Hmph." Another general sneered: "Germany now has only one hundred thousand people. We can completely destroy all their troops by dispatching the power of two armies. Then we can fight to Berlin, and let the German Ebert and the abominable Sicket kneel in front of us!"

"What about Britain? Have you ever thought that if we try to dominate Germany, Britain will stand on Germany's side, and the United States will also take advantage of the situation. At that time, the Treaty of Versailles will be a dog chain tied to us!" French Prime Minister Peng Gale was a little helpless for a group of generals who did not understand politics. He had to translate the problems he faced into what these generals could understand.

He pointed to the map and poked the border between France and Germany with his fingers, where there was a long thin line on the territory of France: "The Parliament has just passed the bill to build the Maginot Line, and most of the military expenditure will be used to establish this super defense line that ensures that France will never be invaded. The attack plan you envisioned will not be allowed at all."

"So, sir, what if we make a little modification to this plan?" In the corner, a colonel raised his hand: "We only send one division to occupy the Ruhr area, an important industrial base of Germany, using the war reparations owed by Germany as a reason?"

He stepped forward and said, "We can achieve two goals by using this: First, recently the coalition Armed Forces Commission received news that Germany is secretly expanding its army. Obviously, they are unwilling to give up the last failure. We can completely destroy their re-arming foundation! That is the Ruhr Industrial Zone; Second, if Germany resists, then their military strength will be exposed, so that they will immediately arouse Britain's vigilance, so that our actions will not be hostile to Britain, right?"

"What makes sense is Colonel Charles de Gaulle, so our plan will be much more secure and we will send less troops, so we will not arouse hostility and disgust from the British government. As long as our diplomatic departments persist for a week, Germany will surrender." A general stood up and said.

Colonel de Gaulle frowned: "General, I think we cannot estimate the situation so optimistically. I expect that this action will take at least a month to achieve the expected results. We must be prepared to not resist."

"Don't resist? Then we will occupy the Ruhr area and use the products there to make up for the cost of our troops and the compensation for the war." The general sneered.

De Gaulle wanted to say something else, but he had been interrupted by the Prime Minister because Prime Minister Penalle couldn't wait to agree to this smaller plan of action. After all, this was much more comfortable than the original plan to send dozens of divisions: "No problem at all, General, I will convince the parliament to agree to the military's action."

"I hope the Germans are as stupid as our generals." At the end of the meeting, De Gaulle exclaimed to his deputy: "Once this plan fails, no one can stop Germany from re-arming its own footsteps."

The action plan for invading the Ruhr industrial zone in Germany was passed by the parliament. The French team immediately began to mobilize, and the logistics department began to distribute reserve ammunition and oil to the front-line troops participating in the operation.

"Ring! Ring! Ring!" Major Gascoll picked up the phone in the intelligence department of the General Command of the German Wehrmacht. After a few seconds, his eyebrows were twisted into a ball. Then he ordered with his strong Prussian emphasis: "If there is information in this area, directly report the content to Colonel Acardo."

Then he hurriedly hung up the phone, picked up his hat and put it on his head, walked out of his office, went upstairs, and came to a room with the door closed. There was a small wooden sign hanging on it with the words "Special Affairs Office".

Gascole tidied up his outfit, then knocked on the door solemnly. Hearing the inside, he pushed open the door, then looked eagerly at the man sitting in front of him who did not look up, and knocked a click with his heel, and stood attentively saluting: "Col. The Intelligence Department has important information to report to you! The French are taking action!"

In fact, Akado is only two levels older than him in terms of military rank, and he is not Gascoll's direct superior. After all, the Intelligence Department is directly responsible to General Sickett in name, and Gascoll should not treat Akado like this.

However, Akado created the current intelligence department in Germany and worked hard to build the almost omnipresent German Shadow Force, giving the German intelligence department a famous Daming Gestapo in later generations.

Major Gascoll was a sincere subordinate who was trained by Akado and secretly promoted, and respected Akado as a god.

Therefore, the Gestapo, the German Defense Forces Intelligence Division, which Sickett has always been very satisfied with, has actually been an important force under the control of Acardo.

"The French are taking action?" Akado looked up at his excited subordinates and smiled: "They finally couldn't help but take action! Our opportunity is here!"

"Mr. Colonel, it is exactly the same as you expected. The French are preparing to invade the Ruhr area. We had deployed the 4th and 6th Divisions near the Ruhr area half a month ago. This time we can easily eat the French invading troops." Gascor felt that Acardo's foresight was unmatched. He actually successfully predicted the French's actions at the beginning of the crisis.

"No need! Plan a is put on hold and order to execute Plan B. I will report this matter to General Sickett immediately. This time, I will use this trap to bury many people." Akado smiled and waved his hand and said, "Go back! Don't come to me casually next time. If General Sickett finds anything, you may lose your position!"

After Gascole left, Akado took out the prepared plan and put it in his armpit to Sicket's office.

"Look at the good things you did, the French did take action! Do you know that once the war breaks out, we will be completely wiped out?" Sicket frowned and looked at Akado with a relaxed face, pretending to be angry and blamed: "Tell me, what are your plans!"

"The war will not break out! Because the National Defense Force will not carry out any resistance!" Akado smiled and said, "Resistance is spontaneous, it was launched by the people of the Ruhr Industrial Zone! It is not our National Defense Force."

With his eyebrows raised, Sikte immediately understood Akado's intention: "A trick to kill two birds with one stone! It's worthy of being Colonel Akado."

"Didn't the general think so long ago? Otherwise, he wouldn't have held the 1st Division with the strongest combat capability and the 17th Division in place, and there was no sign of any mobilization." Akado was very relaxed, and he could not see that he had already shot at several enemies within France and Germany at the same time.

"First, the National Wehrmacht is unable to counterattack, which proves that the military expenditure will increase. The German government is in crisis and needs military support, which is what we have made a profit; second, there are cracks in the French government and the British government, and the Arms Control Commission has been hit hard, and it is easier for us to take advantage of the troubled waters." Sickett looked at Acardo: "I feel more and more that it is correct to choose you as my adjutant!"
Chapter completed!
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