Capítulo 136: Chapter 214 Breakfast
Gamelin did receive the news of the fall of the Eben-Emael Fortress, but he showed no signs of panic. He continued calmly sipping his aperitif, embodying the French character of taking things slowly, cherishing a carefree and romantic lifestyle.
After the last sip of the aperitif, he instructed, "Go and invite Viscount Gort; I want to have breakfast with him."
His composure stemmed from the fact that, upon intercepting the German "Yellow Plan", the Allies, namely Britain and France, had already devised a series of contingency plans.
This operational plan, codenamed "Plan D", stipulated that if the Germans executed a major assault on Belgium, the Allies would mobilize with the forces of two French army groups and one British army group moving dynamically into Belgium. Under the cover of the Belgian army group, they would halt the German forces along the Dyle River line. If the Germans attacked the Maginot Line frontally, one army group would defend staunchly, with another serving as a second echelon for reinforcement. Meanwhile, the British would be responsible for blockading Germany at sea.
The combined forces of the French, Belgian, and British Expeditionary Armies consisted of 125 divisions, over 3000 tanks, and more than 1300 aircraft. Additionally, they could utilize over 1000 aircraft on the British Isles to support the combat. Belgium deployed 22 divisions along its eastern border. The French and British forces, numbering 103 divisions, were organized into three army groups: the first group consisted of 51 divisions deployed along the French-Belgian border and northern provinces of France; the second group had 25 divisions positioned along the Maginot Line from Switzerland to Luxembourg; the third group, with 18 divisions, was stationed behind the Maginot Line along the Swiss border, serving as the strategic reserve with nine divisions.
Before long, Viscount Gort hurriedly arrived. "Your Excellency, did you receive the news? Eben-Emael Fortress has been captured!"
Gamelin chuckled, "Viscount Gort, I heard that every Englishman is an elegant gentleman, always calm. You don't seem like a typical Englishman in such a hurry. You are aware of the countermeasures we planned. Is there anything to worry about? Try this exquisite cheese, just brought over from Paris."
"Your Excellency is as composed as ever." Viscount Gort smiled bitterly as he took a seat at the dining table. After sipping some pre-meal wine, he remembered another matter. "I received the latest news from home just before coming here. Prime Minister Chamberlain is preparing to resign, and Winston Churchill will succeed him."
"Hmm?" Gamelin paused with knife and fork in hand. "That naval minister, Churchill? I heard he is an unwavering anti-German and a staunch advocate for war. What fuels his intense hostility toward the Germans? Is it some personal animosity or perhaps disdain for the royal family since, disrespectful as it may sound, your nation's royalty also has German ancestry?"
Initially, the British royal family consisted of pure-blooded Britons. However, during the final days of the Stuart dynasty, when Queen Anne had no heirs, the British Parliament began considering the issue of succession. Anne was a Protestant, and her Stuart relatives were all Catholics. For Protestant England, it was inconceivable to accept a Catholic heir. Thus, they settled on the Hanover family from northern Germany as the successor.
As the private estate of the British royal family, the Hanover family naturally arranged for their blood relatives to rule over this territory, forming alliances with the local nobility to better govern Hanover. This eventually led to the Hanover family acquiring German blood ties.
In the end, due to Queen Anne's lack of an heir and the distant relations of the Stuart dynasty, the Hanover family, adhering to the Protestant faith, established the House of Hanover as the ruling monarchy in Britain, initiating the German bloodline within the British royal family.
It continued until the reign of George V when the surname of the British royal family was still Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.
This surname has its origins in a prominent European family, originating from the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in Germany. This duchy held significant influence, actively participating in the affairs of the German upper echelon and, more notably, forming alliances with several European countries. Even during World War I, a German bomber was named "Gotha", indicating its power and influence.
As the war intensified, anti-German sentiments among the British population grew stronger. The British royal family sharing the same surname as the enemy's bombing planes sparked intense anger and dissatisfaction among the British people. Moreover, at that time, the German emperor was none other than George V's cousin. Consequently, rumors spread among the British that George V was sympathetic to Germany.
To avoid suspicion and appease public sentiments, George V decided to relinquish the German surname "Saxe-Coburg" and adopt a new surname with distinct British characteristics. The final choice was "Windsor", derived from the name of Windsor Castle, the oldest and continuously inhabited royal residence in England. In 1917, George V selected Windsor as the family's new surname, reflecting the royal family's emotional connection to the castle.
Viscount Gort expressed with utmost seriousness, "Sir Churchill's loyalty to the royal family is unquestionable. As for his animosity towards Germany, it may stem from his excessive patriotism, resulting in a deep-seated hatred for the Germans and their repeated threats to the authority of the British Empire."
Gamelin shrugged noncommittally. "Since Sir Churchill harbors such animosity toward the Germans, what should we do when the war reaches a stalemate? We don't want to drag on for years like the last time. If the Germans are sensible, we are more than willing to negotiate with them."
Based on the experience of the previous world war, Gamelin naturally assumed that this war would also reach a stalemate.
Viscount Gort raised an eyebrow slightly. "Oh? Your Excellency is so confident that the Germans will be blocked in Belgium?"
Gamelin couldn't help but roll his eyes inwardly. What kind of question is that? If the Germans aren't blocked in Belgium, do they have to charge into France? These damn Brits, do they still hope for Germany and France to inflict mutual damage at this point? "Of course. Admittedly, they performed somewhat impressively in Poland, but so what? Our Allied forces, consisting of 52 divisions (30 from the Anglo-French alliance and 22 from the Belgian army), can defend effectively on the narrow battlefield in Belgium. We can certainly withstand the German offensive." The length of defense needed in Poland was over 650 kilometers, while Belgium's defense spanned just over 300 kilometers.
Perhaps sensing Gamelin's dissatisfaction in his tone, Viscount Gort hurriedly explained, "I mean, Germany's reserve fuel should be difficult to sustain for a prolonged war."
"I hope so. Viscount, how is this cheese?"
"It's excellent."
As the two enjoyed their breakfast, a faint prayer echoed from the depths of the Eben-Emael Fortress. "Oh, Lord Jesus Christ, your power is immense, your mercy boundless. I implore you to forgive my sins and protect me from the harm of the wicked enemy..."
One voice after another gradually joined in, and soon, everyone began reciting sacred verses. The prayers continued for a long time, switching between four or five different liturgies. The voices gradually became sparse, ultimately returning to a serene silence.
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