Chapter 285: The Return

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Seagulls swooped through the naval port. The early morning harbor was intoxicating. However, since the war with Britain had begun, Wilhelmsh

Seagulls swooped through the naval port. The early morning harbor was intoxicating. However, since the war with Britain had begun, Wilhelmshaven had become a heavily guarded fortress.

After countless expansions and constructions by Akado, this had become one of Germany’s most important ports. Now, it could accommodate all kinds of large ships and could also repair and build the newest ocean-going submarines.

On the tranquil sea surface, the most powerful warships of the German Navy were moored. In the early morning sunlight, they lay in their berths like giant beasts. However, among these warships, the most conspicuous were the four aircraft carriers, which looked immensely powerful.

The Graf Zeppelin, the Imperator, the Bismarck, and the Tirpitz—these warships that held up the sky for the German Navy’s surface fleet were moored in their respective berths in sequence. Around them were sixteen brand new German cruisers, all with a service life of five to six years. And on the outer perimeter were thirty-two German Z-class destroyers. The newest of these warships had been launched less than half a year ago, and the oldest had been launched in 1929, having only been in service for nine years.

Such a young fleet of warships gave this newly established German High Seas Fleet a terrifying fleet speed. If necessary, the entire carrier fleet could rush to a combat location at a speed of over 23 knots, something that no other country’s fleet could currently do.

On the decks of the aircraft carriers, carrier-based aircraft were densely packed. These Fw-190 fighters and Stuka bombers with folding wings could be said to be the most advanced carrier-based aircraft of this era. They were the pride of the German Navy and the heroes who had sunk the British warships.

The soldiers were carefully inspecting these planes, wiping them down diligently. They gently stroked the metal fuselages with their hands, applying anti-rust maintenance oil to each plane. These were their treasures and had to be cared for with the utmost caution, because they had to make these planes work perfectly under the devastation of the cold winds and waves of the North Atlantic.

On the docks of the port, tall 88mm anti-aircraft guns pointed to the sky. Sentries with Mauser 98K rifles on their shoulders walked back and forth. They watched the distance, not missing any suspicious targets. Under the familiar rain guard of their steel helmets, the deep-set eyes of the Germanic Germans looked very solemn and charming.

To defend this important port, four destroyers patrolled the sea outside the port 24 hours a day. More than twenty minesweepers and anti-submarine patrol ships cruised the vicinity day and night. There were two permanent naval air stations nearby. If necessary, including the surrounding air force bases, over a hundred fighter planes could take off from here to ensure the security of the entire port’s airspace.

Three high-power radar systems for searching the airspace were also equipped here. This new type of equipment could be said to be the most advanced electronic product in the world in 1938. Under the supervision of the Führer and the efforts of German scientists, this device could now completely distinguish the number and altitude of incoming enemy aircraft.

Of course, there were also a large number of coastal artillery batteries. After the Bismarck-class battleship plan was canceled, the Scharnhorst-class battlecruisers were also canceled, and their nine 283mm giant cannons were also piled up at the Wilhelmshaven naval port to prevent the British Navy from breaking in. Of course, the hundreds of 88mm anti-aircraft guns and Bofors 40mm anti-aircraft guns in the port, guided by radar, were even more formidable.

Germany, which lacked good ports, attached great importance to Wilhelmshaven. In general, this place had been made impregnable by Führer Akado and Navy Commander Raeder. This was the main base of the German Navy, the most important supply base for the entire navy—bar none.

On a straight road, at an entrance to the Wilhelmshaven naval port. A brand-new Mercedes-Benz luxury car slowly stopped in front of the checkpoint roadblock, followed by a second, and a third. All the guards at the gate came out of the checkpoint’s sentry box. They stood in a row in front of the intersection with their rifles slung over their backs.

“Heil Führer!” a second lieutenant said, walking to the side of the middle car and saluting. He then extended his right hand. “Sir, please show me your identification.”

The car window was slowly rolled down, and a hand wearing a leather glove extended, handing out a black identification booklet. The second lieutenant took the document at attention, glanced at it, and then stood at attention again. “Colonel, welcome to Wilhelmshaven!”

“The people coming later are all big shots. You had better be more polite when you inspect them,” the colonel in the car said, a smile on his lips as he reminded his subordinate.

The second lieutenant nodded, and the three cars passed through the checkpoint. A little while later, another five Mercedes-Benz cars drove up to the checkpoint roadblock. This time, the officer walked to the side of the last car and saw that the front of the car actually had the insignia of a Vice Admiral, as well as a deputy commander’s flag. He hurriedly stood at attention and saluted. “Heil Führer Akado Rudolph!” The heels of his leather boots clicked together with a crisp sound.

The car’s glass window slowly descended, revealing Dönitz’s slightly thin but energetic face. The aide in the passenger seat handed the identification to the second lieutenant. The second lieutenant hurriedly saluted again and signaled for the barrier to be raised.

The car drove slowly, and the guards on both sides raised their arms in a German salute as it passed. They could still see the convoy that had just entered, and another convoy had stopped outside the roadblock. And this time, the rank was even greater. The middle car actually had the flag of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy.

Raeder sat in the car with an expressionless face. One of his secretaries got out of the car and began to explain the task for the next while to the duty second lieutenant.

This secretary pointed to the barrier and said to the second lieutenant about the more people who would be coming later, “There is an important welcome ceremony today, so the high command of the navy will be arriving one after another. Then there will be some reporters, both foreign and domestic. They will be riding in a truck and will arrive with the Reich Propaganda Minister, Miss Fanny. You are to let them pass immediately after checking their documents.”

“Miss Fanny is the Führer’s… friend. So you had better keep your eyes peeled. If anything goes wrong, not even God can save you,” the secretary whispered in the lieutenant’s ear, then got back into his car.

Of course, a little while later, this second lieutenant knew why it was said that not even God could save him, because several black trucks had stopped in front of the guard post. An SS officer got out of the lead convertible and handed a command document signed by the Waffen-SS High Command to the second lieutenant.

“We have been ordered to strengthen the security here. Any incident that occurs here today must be reported to the Führer. The Reich High Command has ordered that the absolute security of this port must be ensured,” he said, and then handed another document to the second lieutenant. “This is a protection order signed by General Heydrich. I will personally protect Miss Fanny’s personal safety.”

“Heil Führer!” the second lieutenant hurriedly saluted and waved them through.

On the trucks, row after row of Waffen-SS soldiers were all holding MP-44 assault rifles. In terms of equipment, they were more than a notch better than the Mauser 98K rifles used by the Wilhelmshaven garrison.

It seems they are the legendary most elite units of the SS. Who are the big shots they are welcoming today? the second lieutenant thought to himself.

“There’s no need to keep it a secret. In half an hour, the hero of the German Navy, the pride of the submarine force, the Reich U-boat U-211, will return to Wilhelmshaven,” an assistant to the Reich Propaganda Minister, Fanny, said with a smile as she handed over the pass and the specially issued permit. “Do you think this matter is not important?”

“They’re back? Oh, God! Long live Germany, Heil Führer!” the second lieutenant was captivated by this beautiful female assistant, a fawning smile on his face. He handed the documents back to the beautiful woman, waved the entire convoy through with a lecherous look, and the SS convertible that had been parked on the side also drove away. This busy checkpoint had finally sent off the last batch of gods.

In the car, the female assistant turned her head and finally couldn’t help but ask, “Minister, although this is an important interview, there’s no need for such a big fuss, is there? For you to personally make a trip is a bit of an overreaction.”

“Hehe,” Fanny laughed from the back seat. “This matter is very important. I must personally control every detail to be at ease. This is an important task given to me by the Führer. I don’t want to screw it up.”

She looked out the car window and saw the warships moored in the port. “Besides, he can’t come here to welcome these heroes personally, so I must come in his place.”

“Is it worth it, Minister… the Führer, he…” the female assistant asked with a slight regret.

“When you fall in love with a man, you will understand my current feelings,” Fanny shrugged. “You will give everything for him, even be willing to betray the whole world for him…”

The car stopped at the designated spot. The sentries around watched the stopped car, their professional habits not letting them miss any suspicious place. The SS’s convertible also stopped to the side. The SS officer jumped out of the car, walked to the side of Fanny’s car, and opened the door for her.

“Heil Führer! I am under orders to await your command here, ma’am,” the officer said politely, touching the brim of the cap on his head.

“Long live Akado! I am very happy that Heydrich could send you over to help me,” Fanny said, getting out of the car. She saw Raeder and Dönitz walking over together in the distance.

She greeted these military leaders with a smile and then instructed her staff to arrange the designated interview positions for the accompanying reporters from various countries. They were not allowed to take photos here. They had to go to a warehouse that was shielded on all four sides to get their camera equipment.

“Who is that beautiful woman? How can so many generals attach such importance to her?” a port garrison soldier with a rifle on his shoulder asked an SS soldier standing to the side.

“The Reich Propaganda Minister. A woman who has dedicated everything to the Führer,” the SS soldier replied as he watched. “In many cases, she represents the Führer of the Reich…”