“My Fuhrer, with all due respect, aircraft cannot sink a capital ship.”
Even Donitz couldn’t remain silent after hearing Göring’s claim.
As a naval officer, he clearly found the idea impossible to accept.
Well…
that’s exactly how most naval officers of this era think.
“Tell me, Donitz,” I said.
“Can a battleship withstand a direct hit from a 250-kilogram bomb?”
“Certainly.”
He answered without hesitation, as though the question were self-evident.
“The armored sections are more than capable of resisting a bomb of that size.”
“And what about a 500-kilogram bomb?”
“I believe the vital armored areas could withstand that as well.”
I nodded.
“Then one last question.”
“If a battleship were struck by multiple 500-kilogram bombs…”
“…could it still fight effectively?”
“That…”
Donitz hesitated.
“But, my Fuhrer, even if that were possible, hitting a battleship with such a bomb is practically impossible.
A 500-kilogram bomb would require at least a twin-engine aircraft.
Those heavy bombers are far too slow.
A battleship’s anti-aircraft guns would shoot them down long before they could score a hit.”
His reasoning was perfectly sound.
For this point in history, it was the accepted wisdom.
In fact…
Had the coming war never occurred, aviation technology might have advanced more slowly, and that belief could easily have survived another decade.
“Goring.”
I turned toward him.
“When will the new Stuka be capable of carrying a 500-kilogram bomb?”
“The engine is still under development,” Goring replied proudly, “but I believe we’ll have that capability within two years.”
He looked positively pleased with himself.
Enjoy that smile while it lasts.
It’ll probably disappear two weeks from now.
The aviation conference I’d ordered—bringing together virtually the entire German aircraft industry—had already been pushed back three weeks.
The delay would allow manufacturers to display their latest prototypes.
I would have to announce yet another major shift in policy there as well.
One problem at a time.
I turned back toward the two admirals, who had fallen silent.
“Raeder.
Donitz.”
“The navy of the future will be unlike the navy of today.”
“And not just ours.”
“Every major power will face the same transformation.”
“The pace of progress is simply too different.”
“A battleship remains in service for nearly twenty years.”
“Aircraft evolve every two.”
“The age of the battleship is almost over.”
“…Which is why you’re emphasizing aircraft carriers.”
Raeder spoke quietly.
Good.
He figured it out.
“Exactly.”
“The aircraft carrier will soon become the capital ship of every navy.”
“Let Britain and France keep building battleships if they wish.”
“While they’re doing that…”
“…Germany will build carriers.”
“And with them, a new ocean-going fleet.”
Though realistically…
That dream probably won’t become reality until after the war.
Still…
If I didn’t leave the navy with some vision of a future fleet, morale would collapse overnight.
For the time being, the Graf Zeppelin, which had yet to be laid down, would undergo a complete redesign and become a smaller experimental carrier.
I’d explain that later.
Honestly, I wished I could cancel the Scharnhorst-class as well.
Unfortunately, construction was already too far along.
At most, I could order revisions to strengthen their anti-aircraft armament.
Anything more drastic was no longer realistic.
“As expected of the Fuhrer!”
Himmler suddenly exclaimed.
“What a revelation!
It is as though Heaven itself has guided your thoughts!”
For some reason…
His eyes were positively sparkling.
…That’s unsettling.
Himmler’s obsession with the occult really is terrifying.
Both the part of me that was Nakajima Masaru…
…and the memories I’d inherited from Hitler…
…were equally creeped out.
Judging by the silence in the room, everyone else felt much the same.
“R-Right.”
I cleared my throat awkwardly.
“Naturally, Himmler.”
Even my response came out sounding uncertain.
“Ahem.”
I decided it was best to move on immediately.
“Donitz.”
“Until our carrier fleet is ready, submarines will be the backbone of the Reich’s navy.”
“How many boats would you require to blockade Great Britain?”
Donitz thought for a long moment before answering.
“One hundred on operational patrol.”
“One hundred traveling to and from the patrol areas.”
“And one hundred undergoing maintenance.”
He looked directly at me.
“Three hundred submarines, my Fuhrer.”
“I see.”
I nodded.
“Then discuss the shipbuilding program with Schacht.”
“And Donitz…”
“I won’t accept excuses later that you lack trained crews.”
“M-My Fuhrer?!”
This time it was Schacht who cried out in disbelief.
“Three hundred submarines?”
“Even if German U-boats are relatively small, building three hundred of them would be outrageous!”
“It would cost far more than constructing a new battleship!”
“Schacht.”
I smiled faintly.
“You’re misunderstanding me.”
“Oh…”
Relief spread across his face.
“My apologies.”
“The first hundred will be small submarines.”
I continued calmly.
“The other two hundred…”
“…will be medium-sized boats.”
“W-What…?”
Schacht slowly rose from his chair.
Then, as the full meaning of my words sank in…
He collapsed right back into it, utterly speechless.