Chapter 36 Volume 1, Chapter 32, Before the Storm

March 1940 The fleet returns to Scapa Flow Our voyage through the Minch Strait Mines are found on the way Report of an air raid alert Scapa Flow improves situation now understood Hitler's plan Finland is in limbo Mr. Daladier's vain efforts Soviet Union and Finland Armistice Conditions New Crisis in Scandinavia Royal Navy Operational Plans Floating Mines Ready Mr. Daladier's Opposition The Downfall of the Daladier Government My Letter to the New Prime Minister Mr. Reynolds Supreme Military Council Chamberlain March 28 OBSERVATION OF THE SITUATION CONCLUSION CONCLUSION OF THE DECISION ON MINING THE NORWAY CHANNELS SEVEN MONTHS OF DELAYS AN OFFENSIVE OPERATIONAL PROPOSAL AND PLANNING Mister Chamberlain's Speech April 5, 1940 All signs of imminent German action.

March 12 was the long-awaited date when the Home Fleet would return to Scapa Flow and use it as its main base.I thought I should take a pleasant part in this great event in our naval affairs, and went aboard Admiral Forbes' flagship in the Firth of Clyde. This fleet includes five capital ships, a cruiser squadron, and about twenty destroyers.The voyage through the Minch Strait takes twenty-four hours. We will cross the North Channel at dawn and arrive at Scapa Flow around noon.The Hood and other ships, going up the east coast from Rosyth, would arrive hours before us.Navigation in the Minch Strait is extremely complicated; its northern outlet, only a mile wide, is full of rocky shores and reefs, and it is said that three submarines are hidden in the surrounding sea.We have to travel at high speeds and in twists and turns.All lights used in normal times of peace are extinguished.So, this is a sailing mission that the Navy is particularly interested in.However, just as we were about to set off after lunch, the captain of the fleet, who had the main direct responsibility, that is, the officer in command of the flagship, suddenly fell ill with influenza.So the captain's assistant, a young-looking lieutenant, came up on the bridge and took charge of the fleet's operations.This officer struck me as unannounced for such a serious job requiring so much expertise, accuracy, and judgment.Although he maintained a calm attitude, he still couldn't help showing a look of complacency.

I had many matters to discuss with the Admiral of the Fleet, so I did not go to the bridge until after midnight.At this time, the surrounding area was like velvet, and it was pitch black.The sky is clear, but not a single star can be seen, and there is no moon.This gigantic ship broke through the waves at a speed of sixteen knots.People can only see a black shadow of the following battleship.There are nearly thirty ships here, marching in groups in an orderly manner, without any lighting except for the small light at the stern;They had seen neither land nor light for five hours now.Soon Admiral Forbes came to me, and I said to him: Such a voyage is something I would rather not be responsible for.How sure are you that you'll reach the narrow mouth of the Minch Strait by daylight?He said: Minister, if at this time, you are the only one who can give orders, what should you do?I replied at once: I will drop anchor and wait till morning.As Nelson said: Hardy, break down! [1] But the Admiral replied: Now, the depth of the sea is about six hundred feet under our feet.Of course, in the Navy, I have the total confidence accumulated over the years.

I tell this story only to give the general reader an insight into that marvelous skill and accuracy; feats which seem impossible to men on land, but which can be relied on when necessary. Sex, done as a matter of course. [1] Horatio Nelson (Horatio Nelson, 17581805) is one of the famous admirals in British history.In the famous Trafalgar naval battle in 1805, he personally supervised the battle on the flagship HMS Victory.After a fierce battle, the British navy defeated the combined fleet of France and Spain and won a complete victory.But Nelson was seriously injured and was dying.The above quote is from Nelson on his deathbed to Captain Thomas Hardy of the Victory.translator

I didn't wake up until eight o'clock the next morning.We had reached the wide sea north of the Minch Sound, round the western tip of Scotland, and sailed towards Scapa Flow.When we were about half an hour away from the entrance to Scapa Flow, we received a signal that several German planes had dropped mines on the main entrance through which we were going to pass.Admiral Forbes then decided that the fleet must be sailed westward for twenty-four hours until the channel was clear.Therefore, the entire fleet began to change course.He said: If you want to change ships, I can easily send a destroyer to take you ashore.The Hood is already in port and can take care of you.I accepted the offer, as it was with great difficulty that I could leave London for three days.

Our luggage was carried quickly on deck; the flagship slowed down to three or four knots, and from the ship's davit lowered a runabout with twelve seamen strapped on life-belts.While our little party was in the boat and I was saying good-bye to the admiral, the air-raid siren was sounded and the whole flagship was suddenly busy with all the anti-aircraft gun positions manned and other measures taken. . The flagship had to slow down, and we knew that there were submarines lurking in these waters, which made me anxious; but the admiral said there was nothing to worry about, pointing to the five destroyers speeding around the flagship, and the Awaiting our sixth destroyer.There was a distance of about a mile between our speedboat and the destroyer, and it took us a quarter of an hour to reach it.This situation is very similar to that in the past, but now the sailors are not so skilled in rowing.The flagship had regained her speed by this time, and had left us to pursue the rest of the fleet before we had climbed onto the destroyer.The officers on the destroyer were all at their combat posts, and only the surgeon came to welcome us and lead us to the officer's room, where all his medical equipment was placed on the table, ready to deal with accidents.

But the air attack did not happen, and we immediately drove into Scapa Flow at high speed.We crossed the Swisher Strait, a small secondary seaway that was not mined.My lieutenant colonel staff officer Thompson said: This is a merchant's import and export.In fact, this is the import and export designated for naval supply ships.The captain of the destroyer said unnaturally: This is the only entrance and exit that the small fleet is allowed to pass through.To make things run smoothly, I asked him if he remembered Kipling's lines: Reports of mines found on the route came, Warn all passing ships to stand still:

order to When I recited this far, I asked him to continue, and he continued to recite verbatim: Consolidation, Claribell, Assyria, Woodpecker, and Encore. 【１】 [1] Quoted from Psalm Minesweeper in Naval Warfare with the permission of Mrs Bainbridge and Macmillan Ltd. We soon reached the Hood, and Admiral Whitworth assembled most of his captains to meet us, and I spent a pleasant evening on board, and spent the whole of the next day for prolonged inspection tours.This was the last time I was aboard the Hood, although she served for nearly two years before being sunk by the Bismarck in 1941.

More than six months of continuous efforts, and various top priorities, have made up for the neglect of Scapa Flow in peacetime.The three main import and export channels have been protected by water fences and mines; three more obstacle ships have been added in Kirk Strait, through which Prien's submarine had previously sneaked in and sunk the Royal Oak .Also, there are many obstacle boats to come.A large garrison guards this base and the fort which is being added.We have planned to control the skies over the fleet moorings with one hundred and twenty anti-aircraft guns, together with numerous searchlights and a net of anti-aircraft balloons.All these measures, although not yet complete, made the defense in the air very strong.Many small ships were patrolling the entrance area with frequent and non-stop activities; and at Caithness Airfield there were two or three squadrons of Tornado fighters, which could be operated by the best fighters available at the time, day or night. Navigate with one of its radar devices to intercept incoming attacking enemy aircraft.The local fleet finally has a base to settle down.In the last war, it was from this famous base that the Royal Navy set out to dominate the oceans of the world.

As we now know, although Germany had chosen May 10 as the date for the invasion of France and the Low Countries, Hitler had not yet decided on the actual date for the first invasion of Norway.There are many things that have to be done in advance.On March 14, Jodl wrote in his diary: Britain, with fifteen or sixteen submarines, stood guard in the North Sea; it was not clear whether it was to defend her own operations or to prevent German ones.The Führer has not yet decided on what grounds to execute the planned Wessel maneuvers. There was a flurry of activity in the planning departments of the German war organization.Preparations for the invasion of Norway and the invasion of France are effectively continuing on both sides.On March 20, Falkenhorst reported that his part of Wiesel's battle plan was ready.The Fuehrer had held a military council on the afternoon of March 16 and tentatively fixed a date for the offensive, apparently April 9.Admiral Raeder had asked the meeting to report that:

In my opinion, the danger of the British landing in Norway is not serious at present. As to what actions the British will take in the north in the near future, it can be answered as follows: They will further try to obstruct German trade in neutral seas and cause trouble. So that it may be used as an excuse for military operations against Norway.One of its objects was, and still is, to cut off German imports from Narvik.However, even if the Wessel plan of operations were to be carried out, this trade would have to be cut off, at least temporarily. Sooner or later Germany would be faced with the necessity of carrying out the Wessel battle plan.Therefore, it is best to do it as soon as possible, no later than April 15, because after that day, the night is too short; and there is a new moon on April 7.If the Wessel combat plan is further delayed, the possibility of naval operations will be greatly restricted.The submarine can only stay at the station for another two or three weeks.In carrying out the Weesel plan, there is no need to wait for the weather that is favorable to the yellow plan; for the Weesel plan is more conducive to dark and foggy weather.The general condition of the navy and warships in readiness for battle is now very good. Since the beginning of this year, the Soviet Union has put the main force on the Finns.The Soviets redoubled their efforts to break through the Mannerheim Line before the snow melted.The Finns, who are under tremendous pressure, once pinned their hopes on the coming of spring and the melting of snow, but unfortunately, this year's spring and snow melting season were nearly six weeks late.On February 1, the Soviet Union launched a powerful offensive on the Isthmus, which lasted for forty-two days. At the same time, it bombed the base warehouses behind the Finnish defense line and the connection stations of the railway line.Ten days of heavy bombardment by closely spaced Soviet artillery was followed by a vigorous infantry attack.After fourteen days of fighting, this line of defense was breached.Air raids on Viipuri's main fortress and base were intensified.By the end of February, the Mannerheim Line had completely collapsed, and the Russians could now concentrate their forces on the Viipuri Bay.The Finns were short of ammunition, and the army was exhausted. Our routine, in order to preserve our honor, not only prevents us from taking any strategic initiative, but also prevents all effective measures concerning the transfer of arms to Finland.At best, we can only mobilize some donations that are not of importance to Finland from our own insufficient stocks.But in France, there is more enthusiasm and deep feelings, and Daladier's strong sponsorship.On March 2, without consulting the British government, he agreed to send 50,000 volunteers and 100 bombers to Finland.We cannot, of course, proceed in this way, and, in view of the documents found on the German majors captured in Belgium, and the successive reports from the intelligence services concerning the concentration of German troops on the Western Front, it is more than prudent to do so. limit.Even so, Britain agreed to send fifty bombers.On March 12, the Cabinet re-decided to resume the plan for the military landings at Narvik and Trondheim, followed by plans to continue the landings at Stavanger and Bergen, as French relations obliged us. Engaged as part of the Aid to Finland program.The plans provide for action on March 20, although the necessary consent from Norway and Sweden has not yet been obtained.On the other hand, on March 7, Mr. Pasikivi had gone to Moscow again; this time to discuss the terms of the armistice.On the twelfth Finland accepted Russia's terms.All our plans to send troops to land were put on the shelf again, and some of the forces that were being concentrated were also demobilized.The two divisions which were on standby in England are now ordered to move to France, reducing our offensive against Norway to eleven battalions. Meanwhile, the Royal Navy's operational plans had matured.Five months of intense work, backed up by the priorities of the Admiralty, allowed the program to be completed on time.Admiral Fitzgerald and his well-trained detachments of British naval officers and marines were already stationed on the upper Rhine, ready to attack when permission was granted.Everyone is very excited about this novel combat operation.For my detailed explanation of this plan, please refer to Appendix (17).In March, all preparations were completed, and finally I asked my colleagues and the French for their consent.The War Cabinet was keen to let me begin this carefully prepared plan of attack, and it was up to me to negotiate with France in every possible way, with the support of the Foreign Office.All my life I have been at one with the French in all their wars and difficulties, and I am sure that if the French would do anything for any other foreigner in the world today, they would do the same for me.But at this stage of this obscure war, I cannot move them.When I was pushing hard, they used a method of rejection that I have never encountered in the past or since.M. Daladier informed me, with great courtesy, that the President of France had personally intervened to refrain from any act of aggression which would only invite reprisals against France.I cannot appreciate this idea of ​​not provoking the enemy.Hitler indiscriminately mines our seaports and does everything in his power to strangle our trade.We used to hit him only defensively.Good, decent, and civilized peoples seem to have nothing to do but wait for death, and never attack others.In these days the dreaded German Volcano, with all its subterranean flames, is approaching the point of eruption.But the false war will continue for several months.On our side, the situation is that we continue to discuss irrelevant issues without resolution, and even if a resolution is overturned, we must abide by the rule of not offending the enemy, and if you offend him, it will only arouse his wrath in vain. Clear rules and precepts.On the other hand, the enemy is preparing for a catastrophe. A huge military machine is advancing, and it is about to run over us at any moment! Finland's military collapse has more repercussions.On March 18, Hitler and Mussolini met at the Brenner Pass.Hitler deliberately gave the impression to his Italian masters that Germany would never launch a land offensive on the Western Front.On the nineteenth, Mr. Chamberlain addressed the House of Commons.In view of the growing criticism, he reviews the history of British aid to Finland in some detail.He quite rightly emphasized that our main consideration was the desire to respect the neutrality of Norway and Sweden, while defending the government's failure to quickly engage in the difficult and fruitful rescue of Finland.The defeat of Finland was a fatal wound to the Daladier government.Daladier has taken very marked, if belated, actions, and he has personally exaggerated our apprehensions in this regard.On March 21st a new cabinet was formed headed by M. Renault.It pledged to pursue the war effort with greater effort. My relationship with Renault is based on a fundamentally different foundation than my relationship with Daladier.Renault, Mandel, and I all had the same sentiments about the Munich incident, but Daladier had another.So I welcome the change in the French government and hope that the chances of my floating mine program being accepted by France are now greater. Mr. Churchill to Mr. Renault March 22, 1940 I am indescribably glad to hear that everything has been done so smoothly and quickly, and that Daladier in particular has rejoined your cabinet.Appreciation is here for this and for Bloom's self-effacement. I am delighted that you are now in charge of the state and that Mandel is working with you.Looking to the future, our two governments are bound to have the closest and most active cooperation.You know, I sympathized with all the apprehensions you spoke to me the night before about the general state of affairs of the war, and the need for strong and severe measures; will have a decisive effect on you so quickly.Our thoughts have been so much the same for the past three or four years, that I very much hope that in the future this closest understanding will be maintained, and that, on my part, I will contribute. I have written to Gamelin on a business which I was in Paris last week, and I am sending you this letter, begging you to give this plan your immediate and sympathetic consideration.The Prime Minister and Lord Halifax have great enthusiasm for this Royal Naval Operations Plan, and the three of us are prepared to press firmly on your predecessors to accept it.It seems a great pity that this precious opportunity should be lost.I have already prepared 6,000 sea mines, and they are coming in a steady stream. Unfortunately, they are only on land. Of course, if the implementation is delayed, there will inevitably be a danger of leaking secrets. I look forward to the early holding of the Supreme Military Conference, and I believe that the colleagues of Britain and France may take concerted actions in the conference.Now we are true colleagues. Please give Mandel my regards, and please believe that I wish you success with all my heart.Our common security is deeply dependent on your success On March 28, French ministers went to London to attend the Supreme Military Council.In his opening speech, Mr. Chamberlain gave a full and clear explanation of what he saw.He said that his first suggestion was that a certain plan of operations, commonly called the Royal Naval Plan of Operations, must be carried out at once, which pleased me very much.He also explained how this plan will be implemented, and said that a certain amount of floating mines has been stockpiled for effective and continuous use.This plan will be completely unexpected to the enemy, and the location will be that part of the Rhine almost exclusively used by the military.In the past, no similar operational plan had ever been carried out, and no such special device had ever been devised to take advantage of the conditions of the channel and successfully blow up the dikes and the various ships encountered in the channel.Finally, because the weapons are well designed so as not to affect neutral waters.The British expected such an attack to cause great panic and confusion among the enemy.It is well known that no nation is more thoroughly prepared and planned than the Germans; but likewise, no nation is more discomfited if the execution of the plan fails.They cannot improvise.Second, the war had put Germany's railways in a difficult situation, thus increasing their dependence on inland waterways.In addition to floating mines, we have also designed other weapons that will be dropped by aircraft into canals without rapids inside Germany. He urged the French side to say that surprise success depends on quick action.If there is a delay, there is a danger of revealing the secret, and the current conditions of the river channel are approaching a very favorable time.As for the section on German revenge, if Germany thought the British and French cities worth bombing, she would not wait for an excuse.Now everything is ready, just waiting for the French High Command to issue an order. Then, he said that Germany has two weaknesses: the supply of iron ore and oil.The main source of supply for these materials is at the north and south ends of Europe.Iron ore comes from the north.He pinpointed the problem of cutting off Germany's supply of iron ore from Sweden.He spoke again of the oil fields in Romania and Baku; if possible, use diplomacy to keep Germany out of use.The more I listen to this powerful argument the more delighted I am.I really didn't think of it.Mr. Chamberlain and I are in complete agreement. Monsieur Renault spoke of the effect of German propaganda on the morale of France.The German radio broadcasts shouted every night that the German Reich had no quarrel with France; long struggle.Goebbels' policy towards France seemed to be to continue the war at its existing slow pace, as he counted on the growing discouragement of the five million Frenchmen now conscripted and on the appearance of a French leader willing to compromise with Germany at the expense of Britain. new government. M. Reynaud added: The question is generally raised in France, how can the Allies win the war?The number of divisions on both sides, even if the British efforts are taken into account, increased more rapidly on the German side than on ours.When, therefore, can we hope to attain the manpower superiority necessary for combat success on the Western Front?We do not know what continued German activity in terms of material equipment.The general feeling in France was that the war had reached a stalemate and that Germany was simply biding its time.Unless we take some action to cut off the supply of oil and other raw materials upon which the enemy depends, there may be a growing feeling that the blockade is not a powerful enough weapon to secure the victory of the Allied cause.Concerning the Royal Navy's plan of operations, he said that the plan, though good in itself, could not be decisive, and that any enemy reprisals would fall on France.However, if other issues are resolved, he will make a special effort to win France's approval.He responded positively to cutting off the supply of Swedish iron ore, saying that the supply of Swedish iron ore is closely related to the production of the German steel industry. He concluded that the Allies should mine territorial waters off the coast of Norway and then do the same to prevent the iron ore being shipped from the port of Luleå from reaching Germany.He also stressed the importance of blocking Germany's access to Romania's oil supplies. It was finally decided that, after sending general ultimatums to Norway and Sweden, we should lay minefields in Norwegian territorial waters on April 5th and, with the consent of the French Military Council, begin to implement the Royal Naval Operations Plan: Floating mines began to be dropped on the Rhine on April 5, and on April 15, mines were dropped into German canals by air.It was also agreed that if Germany invaded Belgium, the Allies should immediately send troops into Belgium without waiting for a formal invitation; Finally, as evident by unanimous agreement, the Communique of the Conference states that the Governments of England and France have agreed to the following solemn declaration: During the present war, Britain and France will never negotiate alone or conclude an armistice agreement or a peace treaty unless they have reached an agreement with each other. This agreement later played a very important role. On April 3, the British Cabinet implemented the resolution of the Supreme Military Council, and the Admiralty was ordered to lay mines on the Norwegian waterway on April 8.I call this actual mine-laying operation Wilfred because it is minimal and not prohibited in itself.In view of the danger of German retaliation by our mines in Norwegian waters, it was also agreed that a British brigade should be sent, and a French detachment should be sent to Narvik to clear the port and advance to the Swedish frontier.In addition, troops should be sent to occupy Stavanger, Bergen and Trondheim, so that the enemy cannot use these bases. It is now worth recalling the stages that have passed before the final resolution on the mining of Norwegian waterways. [1] I made this request on September 29, 1939.At the same time, there has been no change in matters related to the plan.All moral and technical grounds for objection: such as the perceived violation of neutrality, or the fear of possible German reprisals against Norway, or the importance of cutting off the iron ore flow from Narvik to Germany, or the fear of affecting neutral countries In the final analysis, it is exactly the same as the public opinion of the whole world.But at last the Supreme War Council was convinced of the plan, and the War Cabinet finally gave its assent, and it was practically decided to carry it out.They had once in the past endorsed the plan and then withdrew it.The complications of the Finnish War occupied their full attention at that time.A program of assistance to Finland remained on the cabinet agenda for about sixty days, and in the end all came to nothing.Finland was crushed by Russia and finally bowed its knees.Now, after all this vain flinching, indecision, policy changes, and incessant going on among good and respectable men, on November 27, 1939, the Secretary of the Admiralty said to First Sea Lord proposes an abridgement requesting a review of proposals to mine Norwegian waterways. [1] On September 29, 1939, the Admiralty called the Cabinet's attention to the value of Swedish iron ore to the German economy. On December 15, 1939, the Secretary of the Navy raised the question of iron ore shipments to Germany in the Cabinet. On December 16, 1939, a detailed memorandum on this question was circulated to the Cabinet. On December 22, 1939, the Cabinet considered the memorandum. On February 5, 1940, the issue of aid to Finland was discussed in detail at the Supreme Military Council in Paris (Churchill attended the meeting). On February 19, 1940, the British cabinet discussed the case of waterway mines again, and the Admiralty was ordered to make preparations. On February 29, 1940, the Bray order was revoked. On March 28, 1940, the Supreme Military Council decided that minefields should be laid. On April 3, 1940, the British cabinet finally decided to lay mine. On April 8, 1940, the minefield was laid. Arguing, etc., we finally reached a point where it was easy.And on this point, seven months ago, I called for action.But seven months is a long time in war.Now Hitler was ready, and his plan was stronger and more complete than before.One would hardly find a more perfect example of the impotence and folly of conducting war by committees, or even by committees.During the next few weeks I was destined to bear the chief responsibility, and to endure some of the blame for the inauspicious Norwegian campaign.The events of the Norwegian campaign will be described shortly.If, at the time of my first request, I had been allowed to make my own plans and act cheaply, then perhaps this very important battlefield would have had a very happy ending, and would have had happy consequences in every respect.And now, everything is going to be a disaster.It's really called: When he can do it, he doesn't do it, When he has to do it, it's hard to do. Here, perhaps, I should give an account of the various proposals and plans of attack which I made as a member of the staff during the obscurity of the war.The first is to occupy and control the Baltic Sea; if possible, this is the main plan.This plan was rejected because people gradually realized the power of the air force.The second is to transform the Royal Sovereign-class battleships to build a dense combat fleet composed of heavily armored ships, so that they are less afraid of aerial bombs or torpedoes. This plan must be prioritized due to changes in the war. In the case of aircraft carriers, etc., they were also abandoned midway.The third was a simple tactical move to lay mines in Norwegian waterways to cut off the main supply of iron ore on which Germany depended.The fourth is Cultivator No. 6 (Appendix 15), which is to use a long-term method to break the stalemate on the French front and avoid repeating the situation of mass destruction in the last war. This plan, however, was negated by a German armored car assault, which used tanks of our own invention to destroy us and proved that in this new war the offensive had the upper hand.The fifth is the Royal Navy's combat plan, which is to use the method of dropping floating mines to paralyze the traffic on the Rhine River.The plan, from the moment it was approved for execution, played its limited role and proved its effectiveness.However, it was canceled in the total collapse of French resistance.In any case, this plan must be carried out over a long period of time before the enemy can be seriously injured. In general, as regards the combat of armies on land, I am obsessed with the power of defensive artillery; as regards combat at sea, it is within my competence to endeavor persistently to maintain the active attack of the enemy, thereby mitigating the effects of our naval forces. Terrible misery caused by trade being a vast target for enemy raids.But in this long slumber of obscurity, or as the United States often called a sham war, neither France nor Britain was equipped to meet a German retaliatory onslaught.It was only after the defeat of France that England, on the strength of her insular position, emerged from the pain of defeat and the threat of annihilation a national determination to rival Germany. At this time, all kinds of ominous news with different degrees of credibility began to come.At the meeting of the War Cabinet on April 3, the War Minister informed us that the War Office had received information that the Germans had concentrated a strong force in Rostock with the intention of occupying Scandinavia if necessary.The foreign minister said that news from Stockholm could confirm this intelligence.According to the Swedish Legation in Berlin, 200,000 tons of German ships are now concentrated at Szczecin and Swinamünde with troops on board, rumored to be 400,000.These armies are said to be preparing to counter-attack us should we attack Narvik or other Norwegian seaports, for the Germans are said to be still apprehensive about our attacking those points. We soon learned that the French Military Council did not agree to launch the Royal Navy's operational plan.They were in favor of mining the Norwegian waterways, but opposed anything that would provoke reprisals against France.French Prime Minister Renault, through the French ambassador, apologized to us.Mr. Chamberlain, at this stage, was very inclined to take some positive actions, so he was troubled by the French refusal. In his conversation with Corbin[1], he linked the two operational plans. On the one hand, Britain could follow the France will wish to cut off the iron ore supply to Germany, but at the same time France will allow us to carry out the Royal Navy's operational plan in order to retaliate if we have suffered or are suffering all the damage caused by magnetic mines.As much as I am a fan of the Royal Navy's operational planning, I did not expect the Prime Minister to be so proactive.Both plans of operations are means by which to launch the offensive against the enemy and bring to an end the uncertain phase of the war.Because at that moment I believed that it was Germany that would take advantage of the prolongation of the murky war.However, if within a few days we can get France to agree to carry out both plans on time, I am willing to delay the implementation of Wilfred's plan for a few more days. [1] At that time, the French ambassador to Britain.translator At this critical moment, the Prime Minister agreed with me so much, it was as if our two minds were almost as one.He sent me to Paris, and asked me to try to persuade M. Daladier, who was obviously in the way. I met M. Renault and several other French ministers at a banquet at the British embassy on the evening of the 4th, and we seemed very speculative.我們曾邀請達拉第參加，但他推托已先有約會，不能前來。於是約定第二天早晨我去看他。因為我要竭力把達拉第說服，曾請求內閣允許我，向達拉第說明，即使皇家海軍計劃遭到否決，我們也要進行威爾弗雷德計劃。 我在五日中午，在聖多米尼克街和達拉第會見，並且和他作了一次嚴肅的談話。我對他頭天晚上不參加我們的宴會予以批評。他向我辯白，說他確實事先已有約會。在我看來，在新舊兩個總理之間，顯然存在著很大的裂痕。達拉第說，三個月以後，法國的空軍可以獲得充分的改進，足以採取必要的措施，來應付德國對於我們執行皇家海軍作戰計劃所產生的反應。關於這一點，他準備用書面提出一個確定的日期。他對法國的工廠毫無防禦一節，竭力加以強調。最後，他向我保證，法國的政治危機已經過去，而他將和雷諾先生融洽地一同進行工作。談到這裡，我們就分別了。 我用電話向戰時內閣作了報告，它同意：儘管法國拒絕皇家海軍作戰計劃，威爾弗雷德計劃仍應當進行，但希望就這個問題，雙方進行一次正式的換文。在四月五日的內閣會議上，外交大臣奉命通知法國政府，說明我們雖然自始至終極端重視盡早地執行皇家海軍作戰計劃，而與此同時，也執行在挪威領海佈雷的計劃，但我們準備讓步，按照法國的希望，只實行後一個計劃。執行的日期，便最後確定為四月八日。 一九四○年四月四日，星期四，首相以異常樂觀的精神，向保守黨和統一黨協會全國聯合會的中央委員會發表了演說： 經過了七個月的戰爭，我覺得我對勝利的信心，要比戰爭開始時增加了十倍我覺得在這七個月中，我們與敵人的相對地位，已比先前大大地增強了。 請大家考慮像德國那樣一個國家和我們國家在方針上的區別。早在戰爭爆發以前，德國已經在備戰了。它以狂熱的速度，增加它的陸地上和空中的武裝力量；它集中了它的一切資源來生產武器和裝備，並建立龐大的物資儲備；事實上，它把本身變成了一個完全武裝的軍營。另一方面，我們這個愛好和平的國家，卻在從事我們的和平事業。不錯，我們由於德國所進行的活動，而被迫開始重新建立那些被我們擱置了很久的防禦措施，但是，在和平尚未絕望時，我們延遲實行而且繼續延遲實行那些為了把國家納入戰時編製而必需的激烈的措施。 結果是，到了戰事實際爆發的時候，德國的種種準備遠遠超過了我們；因此，我們當然可以料到，敵人必然會利用它初期的優勢，在我們來不及彌補我們的種種缺陷以前，企圖壓倒我們和法國。但敵人卻沒有這種企圖，這難道不是一件非常奇怪的事嗎？姑且不論由於什麼原因也許希特勒認為他可以不經過戰爭而逍遙自在地佔有他所攫取的一切； 也許他的各種準備畢竟還不是十分充分但有一點是確實無疑的，即希特勒錯過了時機。 因此，在我們度過的這七個月中，我們能夠糾正並消除我們的弱點，增強並充分發揮各種進攻的和防守的武裝力量，大大地增加了我們然戰鬥力，所以現在我們能夠以冷靜沉著的心情來對付將來發生的任何局勢了。 你們也許會說：是的，難道敵人不是也同樣忙於準備嗎？敵人當然也是如此，關於這點，我毫不懷疑。對於敵人的實力，以及敵人在它認為它的打擊不會遭到加倍報復的情況下毫無顧忌地、毫不容情地使用這種實力的決心，我也絕不加以低估。我承認這一切。但是我也要說：正因為它的準備已經非常完備，所以他要繼續挖掘的力量已經是非常有限的了。 這種說法證明是很欠考慮的。它主要假定我們和法國人都比在戰爭開始時期相對地要強大一些，但這種假定卻是不合情理的。我在前面已經說明過，德國人現在已經進入了狂熱地從事軍火生產的第四年，而我們則處在初期階段，就我們的成果和敵人相比，恐怕相當於它的第二年。不但如此，隨著時光一個月一個月地消逝，到如今已有四年之久的德國陸軍，逐漸變成了一個成熟而完善的武器了，而法國陸軍先前在訓練和團結方面所有的優點，卻在不斷地消失。首相沒有表示預感到我們正處在重大事變的前夜，而在我看來，幾乎可以斷言陸地戰爭即將開始，總而言之，首相所謂的希特勒錯過時機的說法，是一句不幸的話。 一切都懸而未決，我能提出的各種次要策略，都已獲得採納；但英法雙方都沒有採取過任何重要性質的行動。就我們現有的計劃而言，它有賴於實行封鎖，其辦法是在北部挪威走廊敷設水雷，並在東南方阻斷德國的石油供應。在德國前線的後方，則毫無動靜，一片沉寂。哪知突然間，盟國這種消極的小規模的政策，竟被出乎意外的猛烈的風暴一掃而光。我們就要了解全面戰爭的真正涵義了。