บท 191: Chapter 269 Rescue
"On the evening of July 11th, acting under the orders of His Majesty, I have formed a new government. In accordance with the will of the Parliament and the people, the new government should evidently strive for the broadest possible foundation and be inclusive of all political parties. I have completed the most crucial part of this task. The wartime cabinet is composed of five individuals, representing the Labour Party, the Opposition, and the Liberal Party, reflecting the unity of our nation..."
"I declare to the Parliament, as I have declared to the ministers who have joined the cabinet, that all I can offer is blood, toil, tears, and sweat. We are facing an extremely severe test, a protracted struggle, and hardship."
"If you ask what our policy is, my answer is: to wage war on land, at sea, and in the air. To exert our full strength, to utilize all the power bestowed upon us by God, to combat the unprecedented and brutal tyranny in the dark and lamentable history of human wrongdoing. This is our policy."
"If you ask what our aim is, I can answer in one word: victory. To seize victory at all costs—without fear of any terror, to seize victory—regardless of how long and arduous the road ahead may be, to seize victory. Because without victory, there is no survival."
"We must realize that without victory, there will be no British Empire, without victory, all that the British Empire symbolizes will be lost, without victory, the strong demands and impulses of centuries past will be no more: humanity should advance towards its goals."
"I undertake my task with uplifted spirits and full confidence. I believe that united, our cause will not be defeated."
"At this critical moment, I feel entitled to request support from all quarters. I say: 'Come, let us unite and advance together!'"
In the conference room of the Berlin Palace, Wilhelm and a group of German military leaders listened cheerfully to Churchill's impassioned speech broadcast on the radio.
Wilhelm chuckled. "Is he exaggerating a bit with the 'unprecedented and brutal tyranny' phrase?" Damn, I'm not the original Hitler, I didn't commit atrocities. Why the hell is he using such language to smear me? If I catch him in the future, he's in for a rough time!
Joseph Goebbels, the "Voice of the Empire", Minister of Propaganda, immediately joined in. "More than exaggeration, it's practically spewing venom."
"He must be frantic like a rabid dog right now, spewing nonsense without restraint." While German high-ranking officials vehemently denounced Churchill, his voice continued over the radio.
This surprised Wilhelm a bit. In the original timeline, Churchill's speech ended with "Advance together!" Now, what else did he have to say?
"Now, at this moment of crisis for the British Empire, our expeditionary forces are surrounded by the wicked German forces in Dunkirk, in imminent danger. The Royal Navy of the British Empire will spare no effort to rescue them and bring them back home. However, the number of people needing evacuation reaches several hundred thousand, and relying solely on the navy is insufficient for this task. To save the British Empire, to bring back our children, I command, and also request all loyal and just citizens of the British Empire to participate in this rescue operation. Anyone with boats, whether barges, tugboats, cargo ships, passenger liners, fishing boats, speedboats, or even private yachts, please gather at the six ports of Sheerness, Margate, Dover, Newhaven, Folkestone, and Ramsgate. Let us go together to Dunkirk and bring our children home. The loyal Royal Navy will swear to protect everyone's safety."
"Oh, this chubby guy is really desperate. If he wants to fight on land, at sea, and in the air, we'll thoroughly defeat them on land, at sea, and in the air! Reinhard, has Britain developed its radar?" In the original timeline, one of the reasons Britain won the Battle of Britain, besides the iconic Spitfire and Hurricane aircraft, was the existence of an unsung hero—airborne radar for detecting enemy aircraft.
Through continuous improvement, the effective detection range of radar has become increasingly extensive. In 1938, the United Kingdom established an anti-air radar warning network on the east coast, known as the "Coastal Warning Radar". Each radar's antenna reached a height of a hundred meters, allowing operators in underground basements in the southern part of England to capture German aircraft formations assembling over French airfields, obtaining information on their numbers, headings, speeds, and expected arrival times in British airspace, and promptly issuing warnings to the Royal Air Force Fighter Command.
The application of radar allowed the British aircraft to avoid patrolling the skies and instead send targeted interceptors during German air raids, thereby enhancing the efficiency of aircraft usage.
Reinhard shook his head. "Report to His Highness, according to reliable intelligence, Britain's radar is still in the development stage and is unlikely to enter practical use until early next year."
Wilhelm nodded, his sabotage operations had indeed played a role. In this alternate timeline, Britain's radar development progress was several years behind the original timeline, and they had not yet developed practical radar technology. Most of Britain's homeland air defenses still relied on tactics and equipment from World War I, using sound locators and visual observation to monitor the skies.
In contrast, Germany, by this time, had already deployed radar protection over major cities, and given time, not only the entire German airspace but even the occupied territories would be equipped with radar. It could be said that Germany's radar technology was the most advanced in the world at this point.
"Just now, Churchill said they should report to Sheerness, Margate, Dover, Newhaven, Folkestone, and Ramsgate. General von Richthofen, can we launch a surprise attack on these six ports when the ships gather? I think with so many ships concentrated, the effect should be excellent if we use special bombs." Dispatching Mosquito bombers wouldn't even require fighter escorts. If the Mosquito bombers took off early in the morning and arrived at these ports at daybreak, dropping their heavy bombs, even the Hurricane fighters would not be able to catch up with these high-speed bombers.
"Your Highness, we will immediately devise a raid plan."
While the Germans were contemplating how to raid British ports, chaos was unfolding in Britain.
What did the Prime Minister just say on the radio? The expeditionary forces are trapped in Dunkirk, in imminent danger? Thinking about his son, who had no news, Old Man Hamilton couldn't sit still. He casually picked up a coat, draped it over himself, and rushed outside. However, he wasn't agile, years of seafaring had given him severe arthritis, and coincidentally, these days his old ailment was acting up again, causing piercing pain. Nevertheless, he recklessly headed towards the docks, where an old fishing boat that had accompanied him for decades was anchored.
Not long after he left, the rumbling sound of a motorcycle engine came from behind. "Old Man Hamilton, Old Man Hamilton!"
Old Man Hamilton turned to look, realizing it was Henry, who worked on his fishing boat. "Henry lad, what are you doing here?"
"I just heard the broadcast and figured you'd definitely be heading to sea, so I came to pick you up. I'm coming with you."
"Well done, Henry lad." Without further ado, Old Man Hamilton mounted the motorcycle, and they headed towards the dock.
The entire dock was bustling but not chaotic; those who arrived first set sail first, as everyone's destination was Dunkirk. Old Man Hamilton boarded his fishing boat, and after a brief check of the boat's condition, they immediately started the engine, joining a fleet of boats stretching as far as the eye could see.
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