**Chapter 827: The Era of Global Ebullition (5)**

The decree for the United States to conscript Black Americans into the military was public knowledge, and Hitler in East Prussia received this news on the 18th as well. Now that Germany and the United States were both members of the Allied camp, German intelligence was exceptionally precise.

Upon reading this news, Hitler's first impression was: the war has only been going on for six months, and the US is already conscripting Black people? Could America really be that weak!

On second thought, Hitler decided not to dwell on it. Germany's mobilization system had been a model for the world since the Franco-Prussian War. After seventy years of refinement, especially the tempering of the First World War, the plan initiated in mid-April to complete the conscription of 3.3 million frontline troops by May 15th had already been accomplished.

Since the end of the Western European campaign, the Soviet Union had been stationing massive forces on the border, and Germany had done the same. Hitler had arrived in East Prussia specifically to be with the troops when they launched the offensive against the Soviets. As for why America was conscripting Black people, that was for the relevant departments to handle. Once this busy period passed, someone would naturally provide Hitler with an analytical report.

With clear priorities, Hitler focused on inspecting the Wehrmacht units. Guderian, the acknowledged tank expert of the German military at this stage, was responsible for introducing the armored equipment to Hitler. By now, the Panzer I, II, and III had all been retired from active service; the core of the German panzer force consisted of the Panzer IV and the Tiger tank, both perfected using British and American technologies.

With his sharp intellect, Hitler could hear from Guderian's words that the expert actually hoped to continue using the more agile Panzer III in large numbers. Hitler did not take the bait but instead inquired about the new Anglo-American technologies adopted for the Panzer IV and the Tiger.

Though disappointed, Guderian pulled himself together to brief Hitler on the upgrades to the German tanks. While the details were numerous, the general direction fell into two categories, the most important being the power system. Hearing Guderian describe the raw power of the latest diesel engines, Hitler nodded. "Colonel General Guderian, you have done well."

At these words, Guderian felt several less-than-friendly gazes from behind him. It might have been an illusion, but Guderian still felt a pang of fear. He quickly replied, "This was the Führer's brilliant decision."

As soon as this phrase—which could easily be seen as sycophancy—was uttered, several German generals around Guderian actually looked at him with surprise in their eyes.

Guderian, however, didn't think there was anything wrong with it. Unlike the Soviet model of tank development, Germany had initially chosen gasoline engines. After the Western European campaign ended, elements within the German Army still hoped to continue using gasoline. However, at that time, the Chinese European Volunteer Corps fighting in France had left a deep impression on the Luftwaffe. Göring was the supreme leader of the Air Force, and his good relationship with Hitler had indeed overturned the Führer's impression that Chinese technology was backward. Consequently, after hearing reports from tank experts including Guderian, Hitler had ordered the rapid development of diesel engines and appointed Guderian as Inspector General of Armored Troops.

At that time, Guderian was promoted to Colonel General (Generaloberst) for his achievements in tank development and his combat record in France. But Guderian himself didn't mind serving in the technical post of Inspector General. Subsequently, with the Anglo-German peace and the restoration of trade with Britain and America, Germany didn't need to mass-produce equipment immediately during this period of peace, giving them time for planning and upgrades. By trading German armored technology for a vast array of technologies from Britain and the US, the diesel engine for tanks was finally realized.

Despite the strange looks from his comrades, Guderian still believed his praise for Hitler was not flattery. Without Hitler, the development of German tanks could not have been so rapid. Regarding the implementation of diesel engines in German tanks, Guderian, as a specialist, could certainly distinguish between the pros and cons of diesel versus gasoline.

"My Führer, the new tank tracks are wider, and their off-road capability has been greatly enhanced," Guderian said, introducing the armored units to Hitler.

Hitler listened intently. The western Soviet Union was similar to northern Germany: flat land with many marshes. For German armored units to play a greater role here, they needed more powerful engines and better off-road capability. Although Hitler hadn't attended university, he was at least a secondary school graduate. That wider tracks mean a larger contact area and lower ground pressure, reducing the soil requirements for passage, was a basic physics principle Hitler understood well.

Guderian, of course, didn't dwell on such basic points but spoke of the combat fields the new German tanks were suited for. After the briefing, Guderian summarized: "My Führer, if the current German armored force were to face itself of two years ago, it would win a crushing victory."

This was exactly the judgment Hitler hoped for. He praised the development of the German military and then went to visit the Air Force.

Given Hitler's relationship with Göring, the latter would have liked to show off any progress to Hitler immediately. But since he was there, Hitler had to visit the Air Force. Under the Luftwaffe's arrangements, Hitler visited the unit where the German jet fighters were being tested.

The unit equipped with jet fighters was the 1st Group of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52). The Luftwaffe did not use "Division" to name its units; instead, above the Groups (Gruppen) were the Wings (Geschwader), which were equivalent to a flight division. A fighter Group possessed 100 aircraft.

The Wehrmacht was now convinced that jet fighters were the future direction, but as the German jets were still in development, it was impossible to equip an entire Wing with them.

Hitler enthusiastically finished his visit to the Air Force, shaking hands and talking with the men one by one. The officers and soldiers were very excited. When they heard Hitler ask about the fighters' reliability, the men of JG 52 all stated that the newly equipped Me 420 was truly world apart from the Me 262 prototype.

The Me 262 had a turbine engine installed on each wing, while the Me 420 had the engines integrated into the fuselage, greatly improving safety and maneuverability. For experienced pilots, safety and maneuverability were the top requirements. If the flight speed wasn't fast enough, it could be compensated for through various tactical maneuvers. After all, speed had its advantages, and so did slowness.

Hitler listened seriously to the pilots' answers, then shook their hands and offered encouragement before moving on to inspect other units. On the way, he felt some regret. German industrial strength was insufficient to complete this round of technical upgrades alone; the German military faced many problems exposed in actual combat that they couldn't fully resolve. Although the Anglo-German peace and joining the Allied camp had allowed Germany to solve these problems through technology obtained from Britain and the US, this undoubtedly meant German military R&D could not be fully independent. Hitler was not without thoughts of Germany becoming world hegemon; this incompleteness in military research not only frustrated that expectation but also allowed him to clearly feel the gap between Germany and the Anglo-Americans.

Although the British and Americans lacked war experience and couldn't reach Germany's level at this stage, they had the technology but didn't know how to use it most effectively. However, as the war progressed, the gap between them and Germany in land and air forces would rapidly close and might even be reversed. Hitler had to consider another possibility: that the British and Americans might become Germany's enemies.

While Hitler was conducting his final inspections before the war against the Soviets, in Moscow, Stalin was highly dissatisfied with the development report provided by the Red Army. Stalin wanted a clear, concise report, but what lay before him was one filled with nitpicking criticism of past shortcomings and various visions for the future.

While Stalin wasn't about to shoot anyone over such a report, the urge to give the Red Army a good thrashing truly made his head buzz.

As the war progressed, the military strength shown by the Chinese army was astonishing. The cycle for naval construction is much longer than for the army; China had never been a naval power, much less had a naval tradition. Yet in less than twenty years, the Chinese Navy had gone from nothing to being able to soundly beat both Britain and America in the Pacific and Indian Oceans simultaneously. As for the Chinese Army, it had simply steamrolled its way forward, currently having seized India, the "testicles" of the British Empire.

In contrast, the Soviet Red Army not only had powerful equipment but also German and Chinese war experience to absorb and learn from. Yet they couldn't even finalize a complete military system. Stalin strongly wondered what on earth they were doing!

However, Stalin ultimately didn't explode but decided to give the Red Army leadership a bit more time. He had already lost his temper with Kirov recently, and Kirov had listened calmly before saying, "General Secretary, the Red Army's goals are different now. If our opponent were the Germany or China of five years ago, we would have the confidence to win. but the targets we are chasing now are the most powerful armies in the world. The more the comrades want to finish the work in a short time, the more confused their perceptions become."

Though these words made Stalin even angrier, he admitted Kirov was right. The Red Army was no longer targeting second-rate or even first-rate forces, but the most advanced militaries in the world. The world's top militaries didn't just have the best equipment; what gave them the strength to terrify other nations was their ability to *use* that equipment. This is something that can only be found through one's own exploration; it cannot be copied.

So, anger aside, Stalin didn't explode. He simply issued a stern instruction, requiring the Red Army to produce a system as soon as possible and stop making do with such unreliable material. At the same time, Stalin required the Red Army to be ready for a German offensive at any moment. They must not be careless!

Lately, rumors of a German invasion had been increasing, and the Kremlin had long since lost the sense of shock from such strange reports. Since June 1940, pro-Soviet sources in Britain and Germany had repeatedly said Germany was about to invade. Each time, it hadn't come to pass. Especially in June 1941, the Soviets had found German movements very peculiar. Pro-Soviet elements within Germany had even given the Soviets what was said to be the German plan for invasion. Still, nothing happened. So Stalin could only tell the Red Army "not to be careless," because the Kremlin truly couldn't judge from these messages which one truly demanded attention.

Forty-eight hours passed in a flash, and soon it was the morning of May 20, 1942. It was near the summer break, and students were desperately preparing for final exams. Students at various universities and professional schools had begun choosing the units they would join after graduation. In the current Soviet Union, industrial enterprises were undoubtedly the best choice. Many students also hoped to work in the agricultural sector. With the rapid development of Soviet agriculture, the living standards of collective farms were rising very quickly. Furthermore, the agricultural sector was one of the few departments in the Soviet Union with room for individual initiative; working there, one might get their own small car earlier than in industry, and those cars were likely to be Chinese-made.

At 4:00 AM on May 20, the morning sun appeared on the Soviet horizon. In the sky east of the Soviet-occupied Curzon Line, a large number of fighters suddenly appeared. Early-rising peasants watching the swarms of black dots overhead had no idea what was happening.

At this moment, Hitler was in his bunker, the "Wolf's Lair" in East Prussia, quietly waiting for the first battle reports. The invasion of the Soviet Union had consumed too much of his mental energy. The Soviet Union was, after all, the only powerful state in Europe capable of competing with Germany. It was also a country against which Hitler had to consider military action.

It wasn't that Hitler hadn't considered a defensive posture against the Soviets; he had considered it seriously. But doing so meant Germany had to be prepared to passively suffer a Soviet attack. The best strategists in the General Staff had explained the simulations to him: the Soviet Union would never stand with Germany. If they had intended to, they would have joined the Allied camp long ago.

Through simulation after simulation, the relationship between Germany and the USSR had acquired a clear direction. The Soviet aim was to seize the maximum benefit by temporarily maintaining a peaceful posture. Whether China won or the Allies won, the Soviet Union would attack the soon-to-be-defeated opponent.

Under such circumstances, there was no need for Germany to consider greater cooperation with the USSR. Rather than waiting for the Soviet Union to grow stronger, it was better for Germany to act now and defeat this great rival first.

After all, the most favorable situation for Germany was for Germany and China to divide the World Island. If China refused to ally with Germany, Germany's attack on the USSR would mean seizing the Soviet western regions and helping the Allies eliminate a potential great rival. If China decided to ally with Germany halfway through, then China could attack the eastern Soviet Union and join Germany in eliminating them.

At this stage, the more severely Germany beat the Soviet Union, the higher the probability of China joining Germany!

By 8:00 AM, the first battle reports finally reached Hitler. Through a surprise attack, the Luftwaffe had dealt a major blow to the Soviet frontline airfields. There wasn't much news from the German Army; Hitler, having been through life and death in the First World War, knew that frontline units needed full decentralization to choose their own most effective combat methods. Directing frontline combat from the top offered no benefit.

By 10:00 AM, Göring hurried into Hitler's office in the Wolf's Lair. Hitler's eyes lit up, but he said nothing. Sure enough, a beaming Göring said loudly to Hitler: "My Führer! Our jet fighters have engaged the Soviet Air Force! The 3rd Squadron of the 1st Group, JG 52, shot down 27 Soviet fighters in a short time without a single loss of our own!"

Hitler broke into a smile for his old friend and comrade. "Göring, please commend these Luftwaffe pilots!"

Göring was already overjoyed, and hearing Hitler's reply, he quickly said, "My Führer, I have already prepared the commendations. The day after tomorrow, I will decide whether to go to the front personally to award the medals based on the combat situation!"

From late October 1914 to late June 1915, Göring served in the 25th Field Aviation Battalion under the 5th Army as an observer for the reconnaissance plane piloted by Loerzer. During his time as an aerial observer, Göring, with his extensive mountaineering experience, was exceptionally skilled at such tasks and became an excellent observer who took many high-definition photographs. He was soon nicknamed "The Flying Trapeze."

Loerzer and Göring partnered and, after several failures, successfully took clear photographs of the Verdun fortress.

For this achievement, in March 1915, both were awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class by Crown Prince Wilhelm, commander of the 5th Army. Because they had to explain the photographs, the two were often invited to high-level military meetings.

However, Göring was not satisfied with just being an observer. From July to September 1915, he continued with pilot training in Freiburg, and in September 1915, he finally became a fighter pilot with the 25th Field Aviation Battalion.

Thereafter, Göring showed his talent as a pilot, his tally of kills constantly rising. By June 2, 1918, Kaiser Wilhelm II personally awarded Göring the highest honor for an ordinary soldier—the Pour le Mérite (Blue Max)—for his merit in shooting down 18 enemy aircraft. Generally, the Blue Max was awarded to pilots with at least 25 kills, but Göring was seen as an exceptionally outstanding soldier at the time, so the award was approved as a special case.

On July 7, 1918, Göring was appointed commander of the 1st Fighter Wing, famously known as the "Richthofen Wing." It was generally expected that Ernst Udet (62 kills) or Erich Löwenhardt would succeed to the command, but to everyone's surprise, Göring was appointed.

The Richthofen Wing included many aces like Udet, Löwenhardt, and Lothar von Richthofen, who were initially not very accepting of Göring's appointment. However, Göring exercised his leadership, focusing on cooperating with other aces to shoot down enemy aircraft rather than pursuing his own personal tally.

Within the Wehrmacht, Guderian was the acknowledged panzer expert. While the German elite had various views on Göring, they all agreed he was indeed an expert within the Luftwaffe. Furthermore, Göring was not dictatorial in the construction of the Air Force; he did his best to promote people with real talent and didn't directly interfere in the specific construction of the force. Thus, the development of the Luftwaffe was very rapid.

The reason Göring now placed extreme importance on jet engines was that he saw the immense potential of these fighters, which were still unstable and had very short ranges at the time. No technology is perfected overnight; various technical problems can be solved through continuous investment. But directions with true potential must be carefully nurtured; if these future stars were allowed to suffer setbacks without support, those at the top who knew nothing about the air force would utterly destroy the saplings!

So even though he was very confident in the jet fighters now, Göring was in no hurry to issue public commendations. The waters in the military are deep; if Göring showed unusual attention, it would inevitably attract unnecessary negative resistance for the jet pilots. Göring believed that the jet fighters had to earn their rightful place through their own efforts.