Chapter 390 Operation Starvation (14)

Hearing that these Americans were going to travel to the UK, Johann chuckled coldly. "Since it's a trip, let them stay here and slowly enjoy the seascape. Maybe they'll even have a chance to experience the beauty of the seabed." Are these guys stupid or do they think others are?

Hans translated this to the Americans, and seeing Johann turn to go back inside the cabin, the Americans suddenly became anxious. The lifeboat was bobbing with the waves, rising and falling, and the sea breeze seemed to be getting stronger. If this continued, there was no telling when the boat might capsize.

The North Atlantic is notoriously rough among the world's major sea areas.

According to future atmospheric statistics, the highest waves usually occur in the North Atlantic. The circulation pattern of the North Atlantic winter winds and atmospheric pressure can lead to strong temperate storms, often referred to as "weather bombs." This means that from the Grand Banks near Newfoundland, Canada, to the south of Iceland, and to the west coast of the UK, including the Rockall Trough, are all potential areas for record wave heights.

That is to say, once the submarine leaves, they are very likely to be buried here.

"Hey, hey, don't go!" one of the young white men shouted anxiously. "We are American Army Air Forces fighter pilots (during World War II, the US did not have an independent air force, but the Army Air Forces and Naval Aviation), we are going to help the UK resist you."

"Tom, shut up!" an older middle-aged man in the same lifeboat shouted.

"Why!" the young man named Tom shouted even louder. "You have a wife and kids, I don't even have a girlfriend, I don't want to die in this godforsaken place!"

As the two argued, Hans on the submarine quickly translated their words to Johann.

Upon hearing this, Johann felt that the matter was not simple. America was actually sending fighter pilots to support the UK? He did not dare delay and immediately went back inside the cabin to have the radio operator send a message to headquarters, asking how to deal with these people.

The message was reported all the way to Dönitz, who urgently called the palace, reporting to Wilhelm.

"Oh? They are American fighter pilots? Interesting." Wilhelm pondered upon hearing Dönitz's report.

Since America was supporting fighter pilots, were they also supporting fighters? According to the original timeline, American fighter technology before 1942 did not catch up with the UK, especially in terms of aircraft engine manufacturing. A typical example is the well-known P-40.

Even if America supported fighters, at this time, the most likely would be the P-38 "Lightning" fighter. However, the performance of the P-38 was average, and the active German fighters could easily outperform it, so it was not a concern.

After thinking for a while, Wilhelm instructed, "Bring those Americans over. This matter is a priority. As for the remaining transport ships, sink as many as you can, but don't force it." After hanging up the phone, Wilhelm couldn't help but curse Roosevelt, that crippled thief, for not giving up. It seems that the "New Jersey" attack incident was not big enough, was it?

Wilhelm picked up the phone again. "Connect me to Dr. Goebbels."

Before long, Goebbels' respectful voice came through the phone. "Long live Germany! Your Highness, what are your orders?"

"Dr. Goebbels, tonight our wolf pack attacked the British transport fleet and captured some American fighter pilots; they were sent to support the UK."

"What?!" Goebbels seemed extremely angry. "The Americans are clearly violating the duties of a neutral nation."

The duties of a neutral nation are generally divided into three categories:

First, a neutral nation must not provide direct or indirect assistance related to conducting war to a belligerent nation. The various duties paid for this are called avoidance duties.

Second, a neutral nation must prevent a belligerent nation from using its territory to conduct war. These duties are called prevention duties (there is also a term that combines avoidance duties and prevention duties as fairness duties).

Third, when the nationals of a neutral nation carry out actions that are beneficial to a certain belligerent nation and suffer damage, the neutral nation must permit it within a certain range (although the content of the damage is varied, no matter which type, the neutral nation cannot exercise diplomatic protection rights). These duties are called permission duties.

Now, the actions of the Americans clearly violate the first category; and according to the third category, Germany can throw these pilots directly into a POW camp and detain them until the end of the war.

"I've already had them bring those pilots over, and once they arrive, publish every person's photo, identity information, and statements without missing a single one, so their families back home won't worry."

"Understood, Your Highness, I know what to do."

After hanging up the phone, Wilhelm contacted Ribbentrop. "Minister Ribbentrop, tomorrow you find the American ambassador, and have the United States assist in investigating the attack on Dr. Albert."

Ribbentrop was somewhat puzzled. "Uh, Your Highness, is this matter also involving the United States?"

Wilhelm chuckled to himself, of course, it didn't matter. "Of course, Dr. Albert had informed his American friends of his itinerary before he set off. How did the British come to know of it? Isn't that worth investigating?"

Ribbentrop suddenly realized. "I understand, Your Highness. I will summon the American ambassador tomorrow to notify him of this matter."

"Also, send an envoy to Vichy France to ask Prime Minister Pétain to demand that batch of gold from the United States." During the Battle of France, the French government had devised a plan to evacuate all gold reserves in an emergency, codenamed "Fish"; 2,226 tons of gold stored at the Bank of France in Paris were transported to the United States, to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Although under Wilhelm's arrangement, the German navy intercepted the "Jeanne d'Arc" and the "Émile Bertin," capturing more than 400 tons of gold, the remaining 1,700 tons of gold were still safely transported to the United States.

Wilhelm was asking Pétain to demand this gold back from the United States, whether the US would return it or not was another matter.

At this time, Johann, who had received the command from headquarters, returned to the deck. "Tell them, they will be treated as prisoners of war, sent to a POW camp until the end of the war. If they can accept that, we'll rescue them."

The pilots, hearing Hans translate these words, nodded hurriedly. "Okay, okay, pull us up quickly, we're freezing to death." After all, squatting in a POW camp was much better than dying in such a godforsaken place.

However, one submarine couldn't fit so many people, so Johann contacted nearby submarines, called three more, and had these American pilots locked in the cabins of several submarines, guarded, and headed for the homeland.

Meanwhile, the other submarines continued to chase the transport fleet, pursuing them until midnight. Some fired all their shells, some lost track of the fleet, and the hunt finally calmed down.