Capítulo 356: Chapter 433 Scotland
Dowding frowned as he read the reports coming into the command center.
The Germans were carrying out extensive bombing raids over southern Scotland, and he couldn't fathom their intent. What targets in that area could possibly be worth such an effort by the Germans?
An hour later, the shocking news came through: the Germans had dropped a large number of paratroopers in the southern Scottish mountains!
Dowding urgently reported this to Prime Minister Churchill.
"What?!" Churchill was equally astonished. "Are the Germans launching an invasion?!" He had been spending his days in the basement, his sparse hair clinging greasily to his scalp, his face pale, and his frown deep. Under the cold light from the ceiling, his drooping eye bags looked even larger and darker.
Despite his alarm, he felt a secret relief. After all, the British Empire still had the strength to fight. If they could thwart the German invasion, it might become the turning point of the war. "Immediately issue a notice to the entire army in my name: 'Wellesley.'"
"Wellesley" was a prearranged code word meaning "the invasion has begun." It referred to Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington, a renowned British military leader and politician who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815, ending the First French Empire. The British held high hopes embodied in this code word.
Upon receiving the order, the various military units quickly distributed ammunition supplies to the front-line soldiers, who took up their combat positions, ready for battle.
"Where will they land?" Churchill muttered as he stood before a large map of Europe. Judging by distance, the most likely departure point was Calais, as the Strait of Dover was the narrowest part of the English Channel, only 35 kilometers from the French coast.
It was also possible they could depart from Norway, Denmark, or Iceland and land in Scotland; the German paratroopers' drop in southern Scotland seemed to support this theory. However, due to their air force's disadvantage, the British were completely unaware of the German troop deployments in Iceland.
Soon, Dowding sent in the exact location of the German paratrooper drop.
It was Bumare, Scotland.
Churchill frowned, thinking. "Bumare? Isn't there a new recruit training base there?"
The Imperial Chief of Staff, who had come for the meeting, nodded. "Yes, there's a battalion of new recruits in training there."
"Why haven't they reported the German paratroopers landing at Bumare?" Churchill felt a growing unease. Unless everyone in Bumare was dead, there should have been a report. He picked up the phone to contact Dowding. "Was Bumare bombed earlier?"
"Please hold on." Dowding searched through a pile of reports and replied, "Prime Minister, Bumare was not bombed."
Churchill called for his secretary and sharply instructed, "Contact Bumare immediately and find out what's going on!" His unease grew stronger. Normally, night jumps were safer because daylight jumps made easy targets. For the Germans to drop paratroopers without any prior bombing to clear ground threats seemed reckless. Weren't they afraid of heavy casualties from ground fire?
Or were the Germans confident there would be no ground fire? Why were they so sure?
Shortly, the secretary returned hurriedly. "Prime Minister, we can't reach Bumare by phone or radio!"
Churchill's heart sank, his face growing even grimmer. "Gentlemen, we have a serious problem. It seems we have traitors among us. Our immediate priority is to eliminate those paratroopers." Before he could finish, a panicked staff officer rushed in. "Prime Minister, the Germans… the Germans' broadcast!" He hurried to the radio in the corner of the room, switched it on.
"The brave Scottish people have taken the first step. Our paratroopers have successfully landed in Bumare and joined forces with the local anti-British resistance."
"What?!" Everyone was stunned. Churchill's eyes blazed as he glared at the radio, his sharp gaze seeming to tear it apart. His face twisted with furious muscle spasms, making his expression terrifyingly contorted.
The area of the British Isles is not large, only 244,000 square kilometers, but it is divided into four parts: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. England, Scotland, and Wales together form Great Britain, hence the full name of the UK: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
In 1603, after the death of Queen Elizabeth I of England without an heir, her grandnephew, James VI of Scotland, ascended to the English throne as James I, achieving a "dynastic union" where the two countries shared a monarch but were governed separately. Although Scotland and England were ruled by the same monarch, underlying conflicts gradually accumulated.
In 1692, a rebellion broke out in Scotland.
King William III of England demanded all Scottish nobles swear allegiance to him. Due to an accidental delay, the MacDonald clan failed to swear allegiance by the deadline, leading William III to orchestrate a massacre that nearly wiped out the MacDonald clan, sparking intense Scottish resentment.
After establishing a capitalist regime, England began rapid overseas expansion. However, the Navigation Acts issued during William III's reign prohibited Scots from trading with English colonies.
By the late 17th century, Scotland faced a severe economic crisis.
To overcome this crisis, in 1695, Scotland established the Company of Scotland Trading to Africa and the Indies, similar to the East India Company. When this company attempted to establish a colony in the Darién Isthmus (near Panama), it faced attacks from Spanish colonial forces while England stood by. The company suffered heavy losses, bankrupting many Scottish nobles. Anti-English sentiment in Scotland peaked, and a break seemed imminent.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, the English took the initiative. As Scotland and England drifted apart, pro-French factions in Scotland began to stir, reviving the nightmare of facing attacks from both France and Scotland. Additionally, the Scots, known for their bravery, formed the backbone of the British Army. If Scotland severed ties with England, the UK would lose a vital military resource. Consequently, the English began using both coercion and incentives to persuade the Scots to agree to union talks.
First, they enacted the Alien Act, stipulating that if Scotland refused union talks, Scots in England would be treated as foreigners, and certain Scottish exports to England would be banned. This made Scotland aware of the severe economic consequences of breaking away from England.
England even resorted to bribery, paying off some Scottish nobles. The Duke of Queensberry, previously a supporter of the pro-French faction, played a significant role in the Scottish Parliament, actively advocating for union with England. Many Scots accused him of betraying his country, while the English hailed him as a hero.
The reality was that Scotland had long failed to benefit from England's economic boom, fostering deep anti-English sentiment. Now, with England suddenly appearing generous, many issues naturally found resolution. Thus, in 1706, negotiations for the union began. England made substantial concessions, eventually securing Scotland's agreement. The final treaty allowed Scotland to trade and navigate freely, imposed lighter tax burdens compared to England, and provided a £400,000 fund, mainly to compensate those affected by the Darién disaster. Scotland would no longer have its parliament but would send representatives to the new British Parliament, and its church and legal system would remain unchanged.
On May 1, 1707, the parliaments of Scotland and England united to form the Parliament of Great Britain, marking the formal completion of the union. The economic benefits of the union led to Scotland's economic takeoff in the mid-18th century. With its rear secure, England confidently competed for European and global dominance, eventually becoming the "Empire on which the sun never sets."
Despite being part of the UK, Scotland still retains considerable autonomy. Particularly in internal legislation and administration, Scotland maintains a high degree of independence. Even Scotland's legal system is distinct and separate from that of England.
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