Chapter 390: Operation Hunger (14)

Hearing that these Americans were going to travel to the UK, Johannes sneered twice. "Since they are traveling, let them stay here and enjoy the sea view slowly. Maybe they will have a chance to see the beautiful scenery under the sea." Are these guys stupid or do they think others are stupid?

Hans translated this to the Americans. Seeing Johannes turn around and go back to the cabin, the Americans suddenly became anxious. The lifeboat was surging with the waves, sometimes high and sometimes low, and the sea breeze was faintly getting stronger. If it continues like this, I don't know when it will capsize.

Among the major sea areas in the world, the sea conditions in the North Atlantic are notoriously bad.

According to later gas phase statistics, the highest wave heights usually occur in the North Atlantic. The circulation pattern and atmospheric pressure of the North Atlantic winter monsoon can cause strong temperate storms, commonly known as "weather bombs." This means that the sea area from the submarine plateau "Grand Banks" near Newfoundland, Canada to the south of Iceland and to the west coast of the UK, including the Rockall Trough, is the main potential area for wave height records.

In other words, once this submarine leaves, they are likely to be buried here.

"Hey, hey, don't go!" One of the white youths shouted anxiously. "We are American Army Air Force fighter pilots (the United States did not have an independent air force during World War II, but had Army Air Force and Navy Air Force), and we are going to help Britain resist you."

"Tom, shut up!" An older middle-aged man in the same lifeboat shouted loudly.

"What are you doing!" The young man named Tom shouted even louder. "You have a wife and children, and I don't even have a girlfriend. I don't want to die in this kind of ghost place!"

Just as the two were arguing, Hans on the submarine quickly translated these words to Johannes.

Johannes felt that this matter was not simple when he heard it. The United States actually sent fighter pilots to support Britain? He did not dare to delay and immediately returned to the cabin to ask the communicator to send a message to the headquarters to ask how to deal with these people.

The news was reported to Dönitz all the way, and he hurriedly called the palace to report to Yannick.

"Oh? They are American fighter pilots? That's interesting." Yannick couldn't help but think about it after hearing Dönitz's report.

Since the United States supports fighter pilots, does it support fighters? According to the original time and space, the United States' fighter technology before 1942 could not catch up with Britain, especially the manufacturing level of aircraft engines. A typical example is the P40 that military fans are familiar with.

Even if the United States supports fighters, the most likely one at this time is the P-38 "Lightning" fighter. However, the performance of the P-38 is average, and the German fighters in service can crush it in performance, so there is no need to be afraid.

After thinking for a while, Yannick ordered. "Bring all the Americans here. This matter is a priority. As for the remaining transport ships, sink as many as you can, don't force it." After hanging up the phone, Yannick couldn't help but curse Roosevelt, the dead cripple, for being so persistent. It seems that the last "New Jersey" attack was not big enough, right?

Yannick picked up the phone again. "Put me in Dr. Goebbels."

After a while, Goebbels' respectful voice came from the other end of the phone. "Long live Germany! Your Highness, what do you want?"

"Dr. Goebbels, our wolf pack captured some American fighter pilots when they attacked the British transport fleet tonight. They were sent to Britain to support them."

"What?!" Goebbels seemed very angry. "The Americans have clearly violated the obligations of neutral countries."

The obligations of neutral countries are generally divided into the following three categories:

First, neutral countries shall not provide direct or indirect assistance to belligerent countries related to the conduct of war. The various obligations paid for this are called avoidance obligations;

Second, neutral countries must prevent belligerent countries from using their territory for the purpose of conducting war. This type of obligation is called prevention obligation (some people also call avoidance obligations and prevention obligations together as fair obligations);

Third, when a neutral country's nationals suffer damage due to their actions that are beneficial to a belligerent country, they must acquiesce to a certain extent (although the content of the damage is diverse, no matter which one, the neutral country cannot exercise the right of diplomatic protection), this type of obligation is called acquiescence obligation.

Now the Americans' behavior has clearly violated the first article; and according to the third article, Germany can throw these pilots directly into prisoner-of-war camps and detain them until the end of the war.

"I have asked them to escort the pilots here. When they arrive, publish everyone's photo, identity information, and confession without missing a single one, so that their families back home won't worry."

"I understand, Your Highness, I know what to do."

After hanging up the phone, Yannick contacted Ribbentrop again. "Minister Ribbentrop, tomorrow you will find the American ambassador and ask the United States to assist in investigating the attack on Dr. Albert."

Ribbentrop was a little puzzled. "Uh, Your Highness, does this matter involve the United States?"

Yannick smiled in his heart, of course it doesn't matter. "Of course, Dr. Albert informed his American friends of his itinerary before leaving. How did the British know about it? Isn't this worth investigating?"

Ribbentrop suddenly realized. "I understand, Your Highness. I will summon the American ambassador to inform him of this matter tomorrow."

"Also, send a special envoy to Vichy France and ask Prime Minister Pétain to ask the United States for the gold." During the Battle of France, the French government formulated a plan to evacuate all gold reserves in an emergency, code-named "Fish"; 2,226 tons of gold stored in the Bank of France in Paris were shipped to the United States and sent to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Although the German Navy intercepted the "Joan of Arc" and "Emile Belden" under Yannick's arrangement and seized more than 400 tons of gold, the remaining more than 1,700 tons of gold were safely transported to the United States.

Yannick just wanted Pétain to ask the United States for the gold back. As for whether the United States would return it or not, that was another matter.

At this time, Johannes, who received the order from the headquarters, returned to the deck. "Tell them that they will be treated as prisoners of war and sent to prisoner-of-war camps until the end of the war. If they can accept it, we will rescue them."

The pilots nodded hurriedly when they heard what Hans translated. "Okay, okay, hurry up and pull us up, we're freezing to death." After all, it's better to stay in a prisoner-of-war camp than to die in such a hellish place.

However, one submarine couldn't hold so many people. Johannes contacted the nearby submarines and called three of them. He locked the American pilots in the cabins of several submarines, sent people to guard them, and headed for the mainland.

The rest of the submarines continued to chase the transport fleet until midnight. Some of them had used up all their shells, and some lost the trace of the fleet. The hunt was over.