Survive as a World War II Soldier - Chapter 91



Only Noblemtl

#091

When World War I devastated Europe, one country that was spared the fire was Spain.

The Netherlands, which previously hosted the Olympics, was also a neutral country, but suffered all kinds of hardships because of its geopolitical location right next to Germany.

However, Spain, located on the remote Iberian Peninsula, should not have suffered much damage, but the reality was somewhat different.

From the infamous Spanish flu, to the Rif War, to the incompetence of the Bourbon dynasty, to the economic depression that followed.

The fact that there were as many as 40 coups d’état in Spain between the Restoration of the monarchy in 1874 and the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 is enough to show the chaos in Spain.

And it was the Spanish Civil War that put an end to such chaos.

In the 1936 general election, the left and the Popular Front united and achieved victory.

The difference in votes with the right-wing National Front was only 100,000 votes, or less than 1%. However, according to the electoral district system, the Popular Front won a whopping 285 seats, 154 more than the National Front.

The first thing the left-wing government, the so-called Republicans, did after winning the election was to expel right-wing generals from mainland Spain in preparation for a coup.

But the right-wing generals, the so-called nationalists, had a plan.

They had already arranged for flights home via Britain, as well as German ships to transport the soldiers from Morocco to mainland Spain.

In the early days of the civil war, France and Britain supported the Nationalists more than the Republicans.

The reason is,

“I trust the fascists more than the communists.”

It’s absurd to think that Nazi Germany would cause World War II a few years later, but that’s what happened.

Britain refused to sell weapons or fuel to the Republican government, but allowed German transport planes to carry supplies and fuel to Morocco.

The situation in France was similar.

Initially, they actively supported the Republicans and sent supplies because they had the same left-wing government, but they soon faced opposition from Britain.

There was also a severe conflict between the left and right within France. Above all, they changed their stance to neutrality due to the anxiety that ‘the Spanish Civil War could spread to France.’

Given these circumstances, it was only a matter of time before the Republican government found itself on the defensive.

Fortunately, in this unfortunate situation,

“Neither of them are good at fighting dirty.”

“When was the last time they fought? Wasn’t it back in the old days when they fought us?”

“Right. Let’s see, it’s been about 40 years.”

“It was 38 years ago.”

Given the circumstances, only a very small number of Spanish troops with combat experience were on the African side.

And they were all right wing.

“So, this is about the best I can do.”

At the beginning of the war, the combat situation was very backward.

Because of this, the reports from the early days of the civil war contained nothing meaningful.

But things started to change after both sides got sponsors.

Nazi Germany and Italy began to support the Nationalists, while Russia joined in to support the Republicans.

As military aid began to arrive from both sides, the nature of the war changed in an instant.

“Both sides are using their air power very effectively.”

“The number of aircraft supported, especially from Italy, is enormous.”

“Aircraft are aircraft, but the support from the submarine force is also significant.”

Contrary to concerns, Elliot did not lose control of his boiling temper and cause an accident.

“You’re not such a fool.”

“Yes. The Air Corps guys are really into the report that Captain Roosevelt sent.”

“okay?”

This was because he had sent very systematic observation reports on the fighters and tactics of the Italian and German air forces.

While Elliott’s report was specific to the Air Force, the report by Stephen O’Fukua, the US adjutant general in Spain, was about armor and operations.

“Look at that. After all, wasn’t that what you said about the core of future battles!”

Over time, both sides grew to the point where they could mimic a blitzkrieg, using armored units to push through the front lines under the cover of firepower and aircraft.

And when this information was relayed to the Army, the Army leadership became noisy again.

It was because the tank unit guys like Patton and Chaffee were very arrogant.

However, that did not mean that the tank unit’s budget was cut or its size increased.

As I said before, the United States is a liberal democracy, and the budget is prepared by Congress.

And the congressmen were still sick. It would take time for the disease of isolationism to be cured.

What is particularly problematic is that

“Why can’t we just deploy more aircraft?”

“They say that even ships can be captured by aircraft.”

For those who had no intention of interfering in another country’s war, tanks for land warfare were not particularly necessary.

“If they’re going to invade our country, they’re going to come by air or sea anyway, so don’t we need tanks to defend against that?”

Even until recently, people’s minds were filled with Elliott’s activities thanks to the Army Air Corps and the Naval Air Corps’ diss battle.

“aircraft.”

“Excellent aircraft.”

“If you have money, go on an airplane.”

There was only an airplane.

It was Elliot who had a hand in it.

As soon as Elliott realized that the Spanish Civil War was a testing ground for new weapons by Germany, Italy, and the Soviet Union, he sent an SOS to Joseph Kennedy.

“My brother-in-law said that seeing is believing. You saw it last time. How one video can sway people.”

“Yes. I will send a camera crew right away.”

It may seem strange to film a battlefield where you could die, but thrill seekers abounded in the macho era of the 20th century.

The filming crew that arrived that way traveled to every corner of the Spanish Civil War under Elliot’s guidance.

“Did you film that scene?”

“Yes, but it’s really great.”

“Right?”

Elliot smiled at the camera crew and stepped back, biting his lip as he looked at his shaking hands.

I wanted to be up in the sky, not here. Not here, watching the airplanes decorating the sky like that, but up in the sky…

“I want to fly.”

But Elliot was no fool.

It wasn’t difficult to resist the momentary desire and get involved there.

The United States declared neutrality, saying it would not side with either the Republicans or the Nationalists.

But there were many Americans there. They had come here as volunteers, and instead of watching from afar like he had, they were fighting in that fierce battlefield.

However, Elliot knew that it was not yet time.

‘Alcohol needs to be aged appropriately to achieve its proper taste.’

Brother-in-law, Elliot suppressed his surging desire as he recalled what MacArthur had said.

And once again, I made up my mind firmly.

‘When that time comes, as my brother said, I will never miss it.’

For him, it was time to focus on the task at hand.

The Great Depression is scary, but is it only war?

If we did not prepare in advance, it was clear that we would have to pay the price not in money but in the blood of countless young people.

Like those Spanish guys over there.

In this way, Elliott traveled all over the battlefield, meticulously recording the exploits of the Italian Air Force and the Luftwaffe.

And such records were screened in movie theaters across the country with Carnegie’s active support.

During World War I, both the Allied forces and the Germans made every effort to keep the horrors of the battlefield from the public’s attention.

They advertised it so hard that there were even people who believed the lie that a trench was more comfortable than a house.

At that time, photography was the trend, and most of the photos taken on actual battlefields were actually edited.

But the Spanish war that Elliot sent was different.

Fighter planes that filled the sky with blackness.

A bomber that dives and drops bombs.

And the huge flames that rise up every time it explodes.

The vivid images of the battlefield were more stimulating than any movie, and naturally, the movie theaters were packed with people every day.

“oh my god.”

“What would happen if those guys invaded our country?”

In particular, the Stuka and Ju 87 were etched into people’s minds.

“I’m talking about that guy who was sticking straight down like this.”

“Dive bomber?”

“Uh, I don’t know the name, but when it goes down like that, the sound it makes is···.”

“That siren sound?”

The man shuddered and muttered at his friend’s words.

“Oh. I heard a really creepy sound. Is that where it came from?”

“uh.”

The man’s friend also shook his head, saying that he felt goosebumps when he heard the man’s words.

The eerie sound from the pressure-driven siren, also known as the Trumpet of Jericho, left a very strong impression on people.

As a result, the Air Force is left with a budget that is so generous that it can’t even cheer.

But not everyone was able to laugh.

While the air force guys were jumping for joy, there were also guys who were seething with anger, saying that this couldn’t be happening, and that was none other than the tank unit.

So this was a butterfly effect that I never expected.

During his tenure as Chief of Staff, he focused on increasing the size of the main gun and developing engines instead of developing bizarre things like multi-turrets.

However, easy problems such as increasing the size of the main gun were somewhat solvable with my help. However, engine development was different.

I know the correct answer is that the main gun is a large wing and the armor is a thick wing, but what do I know about the engine?

All it needed was an engine strong enough to withstand a large main gun and thick armor.

“We appreciate your generous support of our capabilities, but it is impossible.”

This was the developers’ response at the time.

An engine isn’t something that suddenly pops out.

Not only the engine, but also the main gun size was the same.

It wasn’t something that was completed just by making the view bigger. This wasn’t the Middle Ages when cannonballs were fired.

In the end, the product was barely born by making a moderate compromise between my lofty ideals and feasibility.

‘It’s Sherman.’

It was an incredibly quick appearance considering that it was developed in the 1940s and production began in 1941.

“What is that name?”

Unlike the original history, the official designation was M3 instead of M4, but the name was the same.

“Sherman, it’s Sherman.”

“That’s a good name.”

So, when this Sherman tank appeared so quickly, I thought that it wouldn’t fall behind the Germans in armored power.

It wasn’t because this guy was great. The current US military tank development was moving up the tech tree much faster than the original history.

So, it was thought that a situation where, like in the original history, we had no choice but to suppress them with quantity due to inferior performance would not occur.

But that was my mistake.

Fast tech tree, I never thought it would hold me back.

“Surely our technology is better than Jerry’s.”

“Yes. I heard that those bastards’ tank guns are only 37mm in size?”

“That’s it···.”

It’s the early days now. And T1 is a light tank.

I know very well that after a little while, when it is time for our American soldiers to fight in the battlefield, they will be retired from active duty and still have some left.

‘Oh my. There’s no way to say this.’

Just because the tanks we’ve developed now are stronger than those used in the Spanish War doesn’t mean we’ll have tanks that are superior to those the Germans will use later.

Right now, the Germans are developing new weapons every day and increasing their tech tree, and you’re saying here and there that ‘we’re stronger’?

So what’s the difference between this and those Soviet bastards?

and,

“Jerry, those guys’ tanks have 37mm main guns?”

“Yes. According to the report, it’s only 37mm···.”

It’s not just ’37mm’.

If I remember correctly, the T1 used by the Germans in the Spanish Civil War was a light tank, and it didn’t have a main gun, but a machine gun…

I felt like I had been splashed with cold water after experiencing the unexpected butterfly effect.

What about you?