Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 613 The Polish Blitzkrieg and Air Evacuation: London Invites Fang Wen for Military Exchange

9 month 5 day.

Fang Wen returned from Lianzhou and boarded a plane to prepare for his return flight.

At the port dock, Battalion Commander Chao and the local gentry and commoners of Beihai Port saw him off.

The airplane engines started, and it accelerated into the sky as everyone watched.

This return voyage will cross the Gulf of Tonkin, pass through Vietnam and Laos, and enter Myanmar, covering a distance of 1600 kilometers and taking more than 4 hours.

As the plane flew over the Gulf of Tonkin, Fang Wen said, "Gong Xiuneng, call Commander Cai and ask about the situation."

Gong Xiuneng sent the telegram as instructed, and after a while, he received a reply.

"Commander, Commander Cai said that the engineering company will arrive within two days. He also said, 'Don't worry, that route is also their marching route, and they will take care of you along the way.'"

"That's good."

Gong Xiuneng couldn't help but ask, "Commander, are you really at ease? Those are 10 tanks and 2 rocket launchers, which is all the heavy firepower assets of our regiment."

"Don't worry, those tanks and rocket launchers are produced by ourselves. No one but our people can operate them. Unless, of course, they can poach my people."

Fang Wen replied confidently that Liu Yubao, who stayed in the area to oversee things, had been with him for many years, and his brothers also worked in the company. Not to mention, the soldiers driving the tanks were all veterans of the Independent Regiment. The benefits and sense of belonging they provided were things that warlords could not offer.

Moreover, these heavy military equipment were specially designed to prevent them from being captured by the Japanese army and used against us during the war.

Without Taishan's spare parts and matching ammunition, it simply cannot function.

Gong Xiuneng naturally trusted the regimental commander and stopped worrying about it.

Three hours later, the plane arrived at Yangon Sea Airport.

After the plane landed, Fang Wen immediately disembarked, let the crew complete the follow-up work, and then took Gong Xiuneng to the headquarters in a car parked at the airport.

Upon arriving at the headquarters building, Fang Wen took the elevator directly to the top floor and gave instructions to his assistant, Zhao Junping.

"Bring me the intelligence from Europe that we've gathered recently."

"Yes, General Manager." Zhao Junping stood up and took out several intelligence reports from the filing cabinet behind him, handing them to Fang Wen.

After receiving the intelligence report, Fang Wen went into his office and sat down at his desk to examine it carefully.

This intelligence was collected and compiled by the Paris branch.

The situation on the first day was exactly what Fang Wen was most concerned about: the German air raids.

At 4:9 AM on September 1st, German bomber groups launched an intensive bombing raid on 21 Polish airfields, transportation hubs, and military bases, destroying approximately half of the Polish Air Force's aircraft within just a few hours and gaining air superiority.

Fang Wen sighed inwardly.

As expected of a military operation called Blitzkrieg, it eliminated the opponent's air counterattack force in one fell swoop through a large number of concentrated air operations.

Does Poland not have any air countermeasure capabilities at all?

On the same day, the German Luftwaffe also launched air raids on Warsaw. The Warsaw Air Force scrambled to retaliate, resulting in the first aerial battle over Warsaw. Polish P.11 fighters took off to intercept German bomber formations, engaging in fierce combat with German Messerschmitt Bf 109s, but were repelled due to insufficient preparation and a significant numerical disadvantage.

Upon seeing this, Fang Wen analyzed that the disparity in strength was indeed enormous. The German army had deployed 2000 warplanes on the Eastern Front, while the Polish army only had 400 warplanes in total, only a quarter of the Germans' number, but only 150 of them were actually capable of taking off and fighting.

Not to mention, as soon as the war started, some of their military aircraft were destroyed by large-scale air attacks.

That was the situation in the air, and Fang Wen continued to observe.

On the army front, Army Group North advanced south from East Prussia, quickly breaking through Poland's Modlin Line and capturing the border city of Suwałki; Army Group South advanced in three columns, with the central force heading straight for Katowice, a major Polish industrial city, the right wing penetrating towards Lublin, and the left wing approaching Krakow.

At 10:00 AM that day, Germany declared a state of war; Britain and France issued ultimatums to Germany demanding its immediate withdrawal, but took no actual military action.

That's how it was on the first day.

The German army launched a blitzkrieg against Poland with lightning speed.

A large-scale air and ground offensive was launched against several key areas along the Polish border.

Although he was only reading the text, Fang Wen could still feel the fierce offensive of the German army.

He didn't think about it anymore and continued watching.

[September 2: German armored forces advanced rapidly using their superior mobility. Army Group North's 3rd Panzer Division broke through the Narew River defenses and encircled the Polish 18th Infantry Division; Army Group South's 10th Panzer Division captured Katowice, and Poland's southern industrial region fell.]

[Information obtained from Paris revealed that the Polish army attempted to establish a "Vistula River defense line," but due to communication disruptions and command failures, it was unable to mount an effective resistance.]

[September 3: Britain and France formally declared war on Germany.]

Upon seeing this, Fang Wen stopped.

Britain and France eventually joined the war, and World War II officially broke out in Europe.

But this is just talk.

Britain and France were not prepared at all.

The French army only conducted small-scale artillery bombardments along the Franco-German border as a show of force, without actually restraining the German forces.

On the 3rd, the German Army Group North captured Toruń, Army Group South approached Krakow, and the Polish Army Group Pomeranian was surrounded and isolated by the Germans in the Danzig Corridor.

[September 4: The German Army Group North's 1st Panzer Division and Army Group South's 14th Panzer Corps met at Płock, northwest of Warsaw, initially forming an encirclement of the main Polish forces. The Polish Army Group Łódź attempted a breakout, engaging in street fighting with German forces in Łódź, but was forced to retreat due to a lack of air support.]

[September 5: German forces captured Krakow, and the German 2nd Panzer Division crossed the Vistula River, cutting off the Polish army's retreat route to the east; Army Group North continued its southward advance, approaching the outer defenses of Warsaw.]

It is reported that approximately 15 Polish army soldiers have been killed, wounded, or captured, with the remaining troops scattered throughout the country engaging in guerrilla resistance.

This is the situation in Poland over the course of five days.

It can be said that the current war has demonstrated the enormous military disparity between the two sides, and the situation is probably beyond repair.

How is the air evacuation operation progressing?

He saw the details of the air evacuation operation on the last page of the intelligence report.

[Our pilots sent a telegram: Warsaw is in complete chaos; orders have been received to prepare for evacuation.]

Warsaw's reply was only a short sentence, and the specific details were unknown. Fang Wen couldn't help but worry about the five pilots sent to Warsaw.

He instructed the Paris branch to monitor the situation closely and report any developments immediately.

On September 5th, Warsaw was completely shrouded in the shadow of the German army.

The city was in complete chaos. The streets were crowded with refugees with their families, horse-drawn carriages and cars blocked the roads, and a large number of abandoned items were scattered on the ground.

Occasionally, Polish soldiers would rush by carrying rifles, their faces showing exhaustion and anxiety.

They were all heading east, trying to escape before the Germans attacked.

After all, everyone knew that the German army would definitely consider Warsaw a key target.

In the north of the city, on the east bank of the Vistula River, five novel seaplanes are moored.

The refugees passing by all turned their heads to look at them.

Some people tried to approach, but were driven away by the guards.

This temporary airport was originally a calm river surface, which was urgently set up a few days ago specifically for the Taishan seaplane to dock.

Inside the airport, five pilots from Taishan Airlines—Chen Moyi, Li Rui, Zhou Yingwu, Wu Youfang, and Zheng Tiankai—were negotiating with the Polish side.

“We’re sorry, but if we cannot meet the requirements of the agreement, we refuse to conduct the evacuation operation.” Chen Moyi, representing the pilots, communicated with the Polish liaison officer.

He insisted on the secret agreement between Taishan Airlines and Polish Airlines, which required that a group of aviation engineering and technical personnel be taken along during the air and sea evacuation operation.

The Polish liaison officer was sweating profusely.

At this time, German aircraft occasionally flew overhead, black smoke billowed from the explosions in the western part of the city, and German troops were not far from Warsaw.

He jogged to a nearby room and reported the situation.

After a while, the liaison officer returned: "The aircraft manufacturing plant's technicians and their families are on their way, a total of 20 people, in one plane. I will arrange the other planes." "Okay, but we need to verify," Chen Mo replied.

Both sides reached a consensus, and the plane began preparations for takeoff.

Half an hour later, several military vehicles arrived and drove into the temporary airport. Many people got out of the vehicles, dressed in decent clothes, and even though they were fleeing, they still talked to each other politely.

Only one car got out, and the group consisted of 20 people, including men and women, young and old. They were dressed in ordinary clothes.

Those were the technicians and their families from the aircraft manufacturing plant.

Li Mo walked over and talked to these people.

"To ensure that you are indeed skilled workers at the aircraft manufacturing plant, I would like to ask you some questions."

Immediately, 10 technicians followed Li Moyi to the side to undergo inspection.

Their questions were different, but they were all related to aircraft manufacturing knowledge points. Fang Wen prepared them in anticipation of impersonation.

The 10 people quickly picked up their pens to answer.

After a short while, they finished answering the questions and handed the paper to Li Moyi.

Looking at the English on the question, Li Moyi compared it with the standard answer.

Although they are not exactly the same, the general meaning is similar.

Therefore, he confirmed that the 10 people were not impersonators and then registered them.

Ten technicians, along with ten family members who could accompany them, boarded a seaplane after registering.

The other passengers did not need much intervention from Taishan Airlines pilots; the Polish side arranged for them to board the remaining four aircraft.

"Attention all crews, check engine status and prepare for takeoff!" Chen Moyi issued the order to the other four seaplanes via walkie-talkie.

At this moment, the roar of German bombers could be heard over the temporary airfield on the east bank of the Vistula River. Although no bombs were dropped, it still caused panic among the people in the area.

"When can we leave?" Polish passengers asked anxiously in the cabin.

"Please remain calm and quiet, the plane is about to take off."

The pilot's words gradually quieted the passengers down.

The engine roared, the fuselage began to spin, and then it accelerated on the water.

One seaplane after another took off from the river and flew directly north.

As the plane gradually moved away from Warsaw, the passengers' tension eased, and many made the sign of the cross on their chests, praying to their Lord and thanking God for His salvation.

Everything went smoothly, and the plane arrived at the Free City of Danzig in northern Poland. During a brief stop there, the pilots telegraphed the Paris branch, indicating that they would be departing from the Baltic Sea for Paris.

It was 12 o'clock in Polish time.

In Yangon, Asia, it was already evening.

The telegram from Fang Wen and others to Europe finally arrived.

Upon seeing the telegram from the Paris branch, Fang Wen learned that the seaplane evacuation operation had begun.

The seaplane route from the Baltic Point to the North Sea and then to Paris is currently the safest option.

After all, Britain and France are now at war with Germany, and German warships in the North Sea cannot currently estimate the availability of civilian seaplanes because they are engaged in combat with British and French warships.

However, to fly safely to Paris, effective communication with the British and French governments is still required.

The Polish government has already explained this to Britain and France through diplomatic channels.

Therefore, this voyage is actually safe.

The aircraft evacuation operation proceeded smoothly.

The German offensive in Poland continued to advance.

September 6: The German Army Group South's 11th Panzer Division arrived in the southern suburbs of Warsaw and engaged in fierce fighting with the Polish Army Group Modlin, officially beginning the Battle of Warsaw.

On the same day, the Polish government evacuated Warsaw and went to Romania.

September 7: The German army completed the encirclement of the Pomeranian Army Group, capturing approximately 100,000 Polish troops in the Danzig Corridor and seizing a large amount of weapons and equipment.

Army Group North captured Minsk-Mazovitsky, northeast of Warsaw, completely severing Warsaw's land connection with the outside world.

By this point, the German army had advanced approximately 300 kilometers in seven days, occupying nearly one-third of Poland's territory, and Poland's organized resistance had essentially collapsed.

This war, with astonishing speed, demonstrated Germany's formidable military strength to the rest of Europe.

This made it impossible for Britain and France to stand idly by any longer.

However, the two countries, lacking military preparation, suddenly discovered that even after declaring war, they were still far behind the German army in terms of strength.

Meanwhile, a few people suddenly discovered from war reports from other places that similar tactics had been used in Asia as the Germans had used in Poland.

That is Fang Wen's "air-ground coordinated combat" tactic.

"General Manager, someone from the Governor's Office has arrived."

Zhao Junping entered the office and reported to Fang Wen.

"Oh. What is it?" Fang Wen put down the documents and asked.

He said the governor wanted to see you.

The governor of Burma was a good man; Fang Wen had worked with him twice, and both collaborations went smoothly.

Fang Wen was eager to maintain his relationship with the governor, so he naturally agreed to the invitation.

Immediately, Fang Wen changed into his outdoor clothes and took Gong Xiuneng with him.

The Governor's Mansion isn't far; it only takes a few minutes to drive there.

The guards at the main gate let Fang Wen through this time.

After parking the car, Fang Wen and his companion went straight to the Governor's Mansion. At this time, there was no one outside the Governor's office, which should have been crowded with people.

Even the governor took the initiative to come out and greet him.

"Fang, you've arrived. Please come in."

Fang Wen found it strange to see the governor's smiling face.

He didn't show it and silently followed the governor into the office.

In his office, the governor explained the reason.

"I invited you here to discuss the German army's combat methods. Do you know how much has changed in Europe these past few days?"

"Until the German army invaded Poland."

"In our intelligence, the Germans call it Operation White. My people in London asked me to ask you what your views are on this war?"

Fang Wen was very familiar with this.

He then analyzed:
"The German army achieved its strategic goals of rapid breakthrough, deep penetration, and encirclement and annihilation of the enemy by using a coordinated tactic of 'air strikes + armored assaults + infantry follow-up.' The air force first destroyed the enemy's command and transportation system, while the armored forces took advantage of the gaps in the Polish defenses to advance rapidly and avoid a direct confrontation with the enemy."

"Poland, on the other hand, had a significant gap in military equipment: its tanks lacked heavy armor and powerful firepower, making them unable to counter the German Panzer III and Panzer IV tanks; the performance of its air force fighters was far inferior, making it difficult to seize air superiority. There were also strategic misjudgments. The Polish military still used the traditional tactic of 'cavalry charge' in an attempt to block armored formations with flesh and blood, and dispersed its forces along the long border, resulting in weak points in the defense line."

Fang Wen stopped there, leaving out one more point: if Britain and France hadn't been pursuing appeasement diplomacy, Poland wouldn't be in such a passive position.

The governor was very satisfied with Fang Wen's analysis and then revealed his purpose.

“Our military analysts have discovered that you have been using the same tactics to command operations for more than a year now, although on a much smaller scale than the German operations. We would like to invite you to London to provide us with some experience in this type of operation.”

(End of this chapter)