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It is still fighting—it survived Operation Bagration, the Battle of Kursk, and perhaps even the bitter winter of 1941. Age has not stopped it from fighting; it has only delayed the journey to heaven for every enemy it can still destroy.
The last KMF attempted to climb to a higher position to penetrate its top armor, but Zilinkov preemptively emerged from the turret and destroyed it with his iron fist.
……
At that moment, Ekaterina and Ilya were rescuing the last Soviet soldier who had fallen into the water and bringing him aboard the boat, as they wandered along the main street of the resort, listening to the distant roar of gunfire. When the smoke cleared, they only saw the lieutenant return to the tank.
"Lieutenant! What are you doing!" Ilya panicked, frantically grabbing the walkie-talkie while desperately trying to stop his comrades from untying the ropes. "Your diary is with me, I have to return it to you!"
However, instead of receiving a reply from the lieutenant, the machine gun at the rear of the KV-1 turret reacted first, snapping the wooden stake to which the rope was attached. A wave then pushed the small boat out to sea.
"This?" Ilya was about to jump back into the sea when Ekaterina stopped him. Then, Zilinkov's hoarse voice came through the radio.
"It doesn't matter to me anymore, my dear comrade! You must take it back, take it to every comrade who is still fighting, and tell our story to the world! Tell it to every descendant who defends our motherland!"
"but……"
……
While Colonel Kodelevsky was still on the bridge of the Kirov, Vice Admiral Golovko brought him a message.
"Is your evacuation complete, Colonel? The Royal Navy just called." He pointed to the depths of the Baltic Sea, to the two battleships flying the St. George flag. "HMS King George V and HMS Howe have been waiting for us for two minutes. If we don't hurry, they won't make it to Stockholm."
Just as the colonel was about to answer, the two men noticed a pair of bright eyes coming from the shore.
The KV-1 tank, facing the sea and with its back to the already inferno resort and the increasing number of Britannian troops, gave the Kirov a final signal with its flashing headlights.
"Fire at me... Please respond upon receipt?"
……
In the small boat drifting out to sea, only the indifferent oars of the water and Ilya's low, resentful sobs remained. Catherine's eyes, also brimming with tears, reflected the Kirov's reply to the island's lights: "Received. Farewell, comrade."
"Remember!" The comrades on the small boat listened silently to Lieutenant Zilinkov's last words, which were filled with static, over the walkie-talkie: "The great Soviet people have already proven that a temporary retreat is not a concession to the invaders. You left with an unwavering determination and strong will. Don't let anger and disappointment blind you. Motherland is watching you!"
After the small boat left its wake, the KV-1 slowly turned back towards the enemy and fired its last shot.
"My legs are too old, like this tank, to run to the shore in time. The task of defending the fruits of the Soviet victory is now in your hands!"
"The red flag of Rügen Island will never be lowered! It lives in your hearts and flies high on the steel guns in your hands! Remember to tell me on the day you return here that we have won! Victory belongs to everyone who fought for peace—"
The roar of naval guns echoed from the coast and sky. Tons of shells streaked across the Baltic Sea and fell to the earth. The aged armor of the KV-1 and Lieutenant Zilinkov's hoarse voice, along with the KMF and black tanks that were besieging it, were buried in the billowing flames and thick smoke, turning into the snow that had drifted from Moscow five years ago.
Section 379, Chapter 296: No misunderstandings, no difficulties, no problems.
Amid his busy schedule with the war in Germany, Eisenhower managed to find time to travel to Stockholm and meet with King Gustav V of Sweden.
Finally, as the supreme commander of the joint forces, he received the long-awaited news: the Swedish army, navy and air force agreed to formally join the North Atlantic Strategic Defense Alliance and accept the command of the Blue Star.
As a neutral country, we could have stayed out of the total war, but unfortunately, these extraterrestrial visitors had already kidnapped our fishermen, stolen the nautical charts, and fled. Can you really deal with such an opponent the same way as before? Perhaps we should find a suitable patron and declare war on them.
Eisenhower had achieved his first objective, and then came the second task—he needed to wait for Rokossovsky's plane to arrive at Stockholm Airport so that he could sign an agreement with him.
Indeed, some people may wonder why Marshal Zhukov was not appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern European United Armed Forces. Well, Stalin currently has his gold star medal, which was temporarily withheld, in his drawer. He couldn't very well appoint a "defeated commander" to that position—in the short term.
This agreement, signed by the Northern Alliance and ASEAN, is called the "European Strategic Intelligence Sharing Agreement." From now on, these two military forces, which are fighting against the invasion of the Britannian Empire from the east and west respectively, will fill each other's gaps in information about the enemy.
The signing of the agreement took place in a calm meeting room and ended with enthusiastic applause. However, as some generals thought: since the US and the Soviet Union could reach a consensus to fight the enemy together, why not just unite into a military organization instead of splitting into two factions like a separatist regime?
……
First, Germany no longer has any Soviet-occupied territory, and the United States, Britain, and other countries are struggling to hold out in the German lands west of the Elbe River. Objectively, geographical factors have already separated the two factions' armies by vast distances.
The distance between the two front lines has reached nearly 200 kilometers, making large-scale coordinated air operations a problem. How can we talk about coordinated ground offensives in the short term? As for the sea? The Baltic Fleet is already willing but unable to do so.
It's hard to predict what will happen in the future, but it's certain that there will never be a situation like "Eik wants the Hungarian army to support Poland" or "Rokossowski wants the Dutch army to come to Denmark's aid." So why can't we each mind our own business for now?
As for the German soldiers who were willing to take up arms again, since Britannia was already divided into eastern and western parts, why not just go with the flow?
The second point, and also a very important one, begins with the tragic Warsaw Uprising.
Yes, later generations may admire the Polish people for their heroic resistance against the German invaders, but that's about it. Beneath that veil lies an absurd truth behind the failure of the uprising.
On the one hand, the nationalist Polish government-in-exile and the Polish Home Army were unwilling to let their country become a vassal state of the Soviet Union as a final compromise in the Polish-Soviet war; on the other hand, they repeatedly hoped that their Western allies would help them return to Poland as soon as possible, and even requested the British army to airdrop large quantities of supplies and send paratroopers to support the uprising on the eve of it.
Finally, this uprising, which took place less than two months after the Normandy landings, was utterly defeated by the inability of the British and Americans to intervene, the repeated setbacks of the Soviet ground offensive, and the bloody suppression by the German forces. By the time the Soviet-backed Polish People's Army entered the streets of Warsaw, their capital had already been reduced to ashes.
Let's return to the current issue. Actually, when the NATO was first established, the intelligence the Soviet Union received that "Britain and the United States took the initiative to hold talks with the Polish government-in-exile" was somewhat inaccurate. In reality, it was the government-in-exile that first approached the two leading figures, whose purpose was to protest against "the armed forces that planned to repatriate former Polish soldiers in the British and American combat order to Poland."
Some argue that the Warsaw Uprising was a conflict that arose when Germany's defeat was inevitable and should not be confused with other issues. However, from another perspective, it is fortunate that it happened before Germany's defeat. If it had happened in 1941 or 42, how embarrassing would that have been?
To avoid jeopardizing relations with the Soviet Union, Ecke and Montgomery decided that NATO members "must not contact the Soviet Union without permission." After all, if such a matter caused the core of the member states' resolve to resist the enemy to waver, it would be disastrous. The establishment of ASEAN has now proven the feasibility of this approach, as the Soviet Union has successfully mobilized Poland and Czechoslovakia, the two core powers of Central and Eastern Europe, to resist.
Who knew that what was originally a positive matter would backfire and be misinterpreted by the Soviet Union as bad news, who mistakenly believed that both sides were trying to sabotage each other. It wasn't until today, when Rokossovsky was brought to his senses, that the grudges were finally resolved.
……
Of course, it was also because of the rule of "no private contact without permission" that Sweden was reluctant to join the NATO and accept aid from the United States and Britain, precisely because it was worried that its coastal defense capabilities would be affected.
Due to the geographical limitations of the Scandinavian Peninsula, the Northern Alliance's naval and air forces could hardly operate effectively along Sweden's 1500-kilometer-long eastern coastline. Furthermore, regulations prohibited them from coordinating operations with the Red Navy in the Baltic Sea. Without joining, Sweden, isolated and vulnerable, could only watch helplessly as the Northern Alliance fleet displayed its might, while it was powerless against an enemy advancing on its own soil.
Special circumstances call for special treatment. Sweden was given a break, allowed to receive Allied equipment while also being permitted to conduct joint operations with the Soviet Union, such as mine laying, reconnaissance, and submarine operations. They were also allowed to strengthen ties with their old allies. Meanwhile, Finland, the young Nordic nation sidelined by both the NATO and ASEAN,...
……
Thus began the cooperation between the Northern Alliance and ASEAN amidst what later generations considered a highly controversial consensus. The Northern Alliance's military flag flew over Stockholm, and a new "Branch of the European Strategic Intelligence Exchange Bureau" was established in the city.
Yes, the headquarters was actually in Austria, where most of the European war was taking place. Stockholm was mainly responsible for the Baltic theater, and Eisenhower and Rokossovsky were present at this branch venue to preside over a special ceremony.
The Baltic Fleet and the Royal Navy, which had supported Rügen Island, had already reached the mouth of Lake Mälaren. From the shore, one could see two Royal Navy battleships followed by a rather strange-looking vessel.
Yes, that was the German Navy's light cruiser Nuremberg. It was originally intended for the Soviet Union according to the allocation plan before the outbreak of this war, and now she has finally successfully carried out this order that was delayed for several months.
Meanwhile, the Soviet Union had prepared a gift for the British – two small boats were launched from the cruiser Maxim Gorky, and Red Navy sailors and several Royal Air Force pilots in jackets rowed together to the side of the battleship HMS King George V.
These pilots were the Lancaster crew that crashed into the sea when the US and Britain supported Rügen Island and bombed Rostock Harbor. As for one of the Red Navy officers, he was the same comrade who saved their lives and said he would treat them to vodka.
"How would you like to compliment vodka to your friends in the British Isles?"
"Hala Shao!"
In front of the King George V's 14-inch main gun, the photographers who had been waiting for a long time took this photo of two groups of soldiers in different uniforms, witnessing their friendship and cooperation—the Red Navy officer who rescued them was named Vladimir, and the bomber's captain was named Henderson.
The pilots were about to return home aboard battleships, while Vladimir received a glorious mission: to board the Nuremberg and raise the Red Navy's ensign on the mast—from that moment on, she would continue to sail the seas under the name of Admiral Makarov.
……
What do you hope for now, my dear friend?
"That imposter named Elizabeth must be furious right now because she didn't order the bombing of Stockholm, hahaha."
Eisenhower and Montgomery laughed merrily on the streets of Sweden—yes, despite Britannia's current aggressive stance, everything was moving in a positive direction.
“General Eisenhower.” At this moment, Grand Admiral Cunningham, who was accompanying the two, received a telegram from the officer next to him. “The aircraft carrier USS Formidable has received a letter from the USS Midway. It seems that Mr. Nimitz and his U.S. Navy have something to ask me to deliver to you.”
"How?"
He said that if you cannot hold Britannia back on the Elbe River in a short time, then the outcome of the U.S. Army's victory or defeat will depend on the U.S. Navy.
Chapter 297, Section 380: The Stars and Stripes, The Final Mobilization Order
[022 Warm Reminder: This chapter is best enjoyed in conjunction with the soundtrack "First Transmission" from the movie Battleship.]
"Sent from the Pentagon, U.S. Navy Fleet Command, highest level of readiness order."
"The war on the European continent has reached a fever pitch, and countries have suffered multiple strategic crises on various fronts. The North Atlantic Joint Ground Force defending Western Europe is gradually facing a shortage of manpower. The end of the war is still far away. In order to prevent more people of the world from falling into a state of national and freedom loss again after the end of World War II, this notice is hereby issued to all naval personnel."
"Currently, a large number of army personnel are stranded in the country due to Operation Magic Carpet and post-World War II demobilization work. The North Sea is also facing a shortage of combat ships. Meanwhile, after repeated negotiations with the British side, Australia has decided to send some combat personnel to the European theater."
"Naval Command Order Number One: Halt all decommissioning, mothballing, and dismantling work that has not yet begun on any ships in U.S. territorial waters, and suspend the sale of some large surface ships. All mothballed ships must be restarted for maintenance and commissioning, and every effort must be made to transport three million Allied troops from the Pacific Ocean and the Americas to Europe within six months."
……
"The following is the mission schedule for some large surface warships. All warships undertaking troop transport missions should remove their weapons as much as possible to free up space for troop transport:"
"The battleships USS Colorado, USS Maryland, and USS West Virginia, after completing maintenance at Bremerton Naval Base, are en route to Australia to assist with the transport of Australian troops."
"The battleships USS New Mexico, USS Mississippi, and USS Idaho are to proceed to the waters off Boston to assist the transport convoy in sending Army personnel to the port of Le Havre, France."
"Battleships USS Tennessee, USS California, and USS Texas, proceed to the waters off New York to join a convoy of transport ships bound for Wilhelmshaven, Germany."
"The battleships USS Arkansas, USS Nevada, and USS Pennsylvania canceled their plans for the Bikini Atoll nuclear test and sailed to the Western Pacific with the battleship USS New York to participate in the recall of U.S. Marines stationed in Asia."
"The aircraft carrier USS Saratoga has cancelled its nuclear test program, but because the ship cannot pass through the Panama Canal, it will remain in the waters off the Hawaiian Islands for naval aviation training missions."
"The Japanese Navy battleship Nagato is tentatively scheduled to anchor in the waters near Captain Cook Village on the island of Hawaii, while ensuring that it can participate in emergency transport missions at any time."
……
"Order No. 2: Expedite the construction of all unfinished ships, including four Worcester-class light cruisers, three Oregon-class and four Des Moines-class heavy cruisers, and the USS Coral Sea aircraft carrier."
"Order No. 3: All high-speed combat ships in the Atlantic Ocean shall be immediately incorporated into the North Atlantic Fleet and proceed to the European waters to prepare for naval combat. The details are as follows."
"The aircraft carriers USS Midway and USS Franklin Roosevelt are assigned to Task Force 2 of Task Force 45 of the Combined Fleet and are to proceed immediately to the northern part of the Kattegat Channel to assist the three Royal Navy aircraft carriers of Task Force 45.1."
“CV13富兰克林号与CV39张伯伦湖号，编入第45.9特遣队。CV33基萨奇山号等待CV20本宁顿号与CV32莱特湾号分别完成大修和入役后编入第45.8特遣队，前往不列颠群岛北部海域待命。”
“CV37普林斯顿号加入CV15伦道夫号与CV18黄蜂号，组成联合舰队第45.4特遣队，于4月19日启程，特遣队核心防空任务将由17日赶到的大型巡洋领舰阿拉斯加号与关岛号负责。”
"The battleships USS Missouri and USS Wisconsin were relieved of their escort mission for the USS Princeton and proceeded to the Bermuda Triangle on April 15 to join the battleships USS North Carolina and USS Washington, and the light cruisers USS Columbia, USS Montpellier, and USS Denver, forming the First Squadron of the North Atlantic Fleet, which then sailed to the English Channel."
"After completing their major overhauls, the battleships South Dakota and Massachusetts headed to the western part of the British Isles to await the arrival of the soon-to-be-commissioned battleship Vanguard to form the Second Squadron of the North Atlantic Combined Fleet."
"Order No. 4, through Pacific Fleet Command:"
"CV10 Yorktown and CV19 Hancock, along with their escort ships, are to pass through the Panama Canal as soon as possible and proceed to the British coast to await formation with the Royal Navy. The remaining main Pacific battle group awaits deployment. At the same time, Bremerton Naval Base is urgently ordered to complete the restart of all carriers mothballed in port, including CV9 Essex, CV11 Dreadnought, and CV16 Lexington."
……
Today is April 19, 1946. 171 years ago, the roar of muskets echoed in the small town of Lexington, Massachusetts, and from that day on, the belief in freedom and peace took root and sprouted on this American continent.
Today, the Hudson River, both inside and outside the metropolis of New York City, is bustling with activity.
New Yorkers and people from afar gathered on the riverbank and the bridge, waving their arms and hats as they watched as squads of American soldiers, now back in uniform, boarded troop transport ships.
They are husbands, fathers, sons, brothers, and soldiers who had just returned to their homeland a few months earlier—role models of peace defenders.
Some people ask, if you were just enjoying a peaceful and comfortable life, why would you actively return to hell?
Hell can never be escaped; the blood and tears of Pearl Harbor have proven that blindly seeking stability can only delay the arrival of greater disasters.
Keeping the enemy at bay a thousand miles away will be the new war motto of the Stars and Stripes.
……
At this moment, people on both sides of the Hudson River began to cheer towards the sky.
A Sikorsky R-4 helicopter, trailing a long star-striped tail, drifted through the sky between hot air balloons and airships, skimming over the Manhattan Bridge like a dragonfly skimming the water, and slowly departed towards the Statue of Liberty.
Such things were indeed quite novel to the public at the time, not to mention that there was a hero on board the helicopter who was the focus of everyone's attention—even with his eyes closed, he could learn the name Audie Murphy from the "omnipresent" news reporters next to him.
As a special guest and a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, he no longer needed to go to the battlefield. The captain sat in the co-pilot's seat of the helicopter, pointing a strange machine at the city of New York below.
Before boarding the plane, he received this camera, captured from the Britannian army across the ocean. Today, his high-resolution color lens will record this day—the torch in the Statue of Liberty's hand, never before has it ignited the passionate enthusiasm of the entire nation of America with such a colorful and clear close-up.
One troop transport ship after another sailed into the sea, and Captain Murphy's helicopter, having completed its mission, slowly landed on the flight deck of the USS Ricardo in Laritan Bay. This decorated warship no longer needed to shoulder the critical mission of crippling the U.S. Navy's carrier strike force, as it had three years prior.
Today, her deck is piled high with helicopters—due to the presence of a notable counterpart in the Britannian military, both the army and navy have taken an interest in their own helicopters, and the Cabot has inadvertently become the world's first helicopter carrier.
Currently, there are six Independence-class light aircraft carriers and the USS Ranger anchored off the coast of New York. Apart from her carrying helicopters, the decks of the other six are piled high with P-51 and P-47 fighter jets destined for Europe.
Only on a more distant horizon, there stands an even larger aircraft carrier, moored there to avoid obstructing the troop transport ships coming and going—she is the only warship in this area filled with its own combat aircraft, and the only fleet carrier responsible for the safety of the transport convoy.
Seven months earlier, on the same river in this city, she was a special guest invited to the 170th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Navy, carrying hundreds of American soldiers rescued from the Pacific theater into New York Harbor.
That day, everyone cheered for her safe return. That day, everyone remembered that at the very front of the procession was the band from the USS Enterprise, the "Invincible Big E." 25 people, including President Truman and actor Charlie Chaplin, came to pay their respects to this battle-hardened hero.
……
Today, the Stars and Stripes still fly above the kill count plaques painted on the bridge, and the fully-equipped F8F Panda fighter jets roar with new battle anthems, sweeping away the last drop of water left on the deck.
Facing the sea breeze blowing from the Atlantic, the white wakes, which had been turned away from the Statue of Liberty, turned into a farewell whistle and sailed eastward to join the task force that had set off earlier.
The Stars and Stripes anchor has been lowered, and the deep blue oceans of two worlds will bear witness to its power.
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