Chapter 2: A Victory Worth Savoring

Being able to have an elite direct subordinate force was like a dream come true for Logan! So much so that when the Fuhrer patted his shoulder and said, "Go ahead, Captain, both the Fuhrer and I will fully support you," he almost burst into tears!

Although the battle on the Western Front was far from over, from Studebaker, Logan learned that the German 7th Airborne Division and the 22nd Infantry Parachute Division, which had performed well in the operation to occupy the Low Countries, had suffered significant casualties in the previous phase and were weary. After transferring control of their defense zones to the Army, they had begun to withdraw to assembly areas in northern Germany for some rest.

Becoming a young commander under the attention of the High Command was naturally a great thing, but what made Logan very regretful was that Kurt Studebaker, the Director of German Paratroopers and Acting Commander of the Paratrooper Army, had to undergo further surgery for his wounds (in Rotterdam, a bullet mistakenly fired by the SS pierced his forehead just above the right eyebrow, lodging itself in the frontal lobe. After emergency treatment by Dutch doctors and initial surgery at a German field hospital, his condition was brought under control).

During this time, the 7th Parachute Division was being led by Major General Puschel (not that super unlucky guy William Sussmann, who crashed during the Battle of Crete), and the establishment of the model paratrooper battalion was left to Logan himself. Perhaps in Studebaker's view, as one of the earliest paratrooper officers, the newly promoted Air Force Captain Hans Logan had the experience and ability in this regard.

The Fuhrer was soon sent to the operating table, and over the next two days, Logan, who had returned to the field hospital due to head injuries, enthusiastically planned the establishment of the "model paratrooper battalion" with Steffenberg. Due to his outstanding performance in the Potassium Chlorate Operation, especially with the strong recommendation from Logan, 27-year-old Steffenberg was also gloriously promoted and awarded the coveted Iron Cross First Class. In Logan's model paratrooper battalion, the young Air Force Lieutenant would serve as the chief of staff, equivalent to the staff of a higher-level unit.

"Half veterans and half rookies? I don't think that's appropriate! It's not about underestimating the capabilities of reserve officers and soldiers, but most of them have not been in the defense forces for long, and some haven't even made their first parachute jump until late spring, lacking any parachuting combat experience! If we want to quickly develop the combat effectiveness of a elite force like the model paratrooper battalion, I think at least two-thirds of the personnel should come from the front line, preferably drawn entirely from existing airborne units!" Steffenberg, who had not yet formally taken up the position of chief of staff, already treated it as his own child and was somewhat frustrated!

As an unmistakable rookie, Logan certainly didn't want his subordinates to be a bunch of rookies too. He put down his pencil and said, "I know this too, but the general is considering that in the previous stage of the battle, both airborne divisions suffered heavy casualties, with some companies losing more than half their personnel. They need to replenish their reserve personnel to restore their strength. If too many personnel are drawn out, their own combat effectiveness may be greatly affected! Half active-duty personnel, half reserves, is probably the maximum limit for now! Besides, many of the reserve personnel have participated in the attack on Poland and have some combat experience!"

Steffenberg sighed, "Is there no other way?"

"Not necessarily!" Logan thought for a moment and said, "Considering that this battalion will still adopt a half-parachute, half-airborne mode in the initial stage, we can try to draw experienced personnel who are proficient in various combat equipment from other units to achieve the goal of forming combat effectiveness in a short period!"

"You're not suggesting the Waffen-SS, are you?" Steffenberg widened his eyes.

"Yep? Are you a mind reader?" Logan used a Chinese metaphor, laughing, "Since the Army and the Air Force can collaborate, why can't the Air Force and the Waffen-SS?"

This so-called "collaboration" refers to the formation experience of the 7th Parachute Division and the 22nd Infantry Parachute Division. Before 1939, the 7th Parachute Division had only two parachute companies. With Studebaker's efforts, it "borrowed" the 16th Infantry Regiment from the Army's 22nd Division. By 1940, the entire 22nd Infantry Division began parachute training, becoming the second division-level unit of the German airborne forces! (The initial cornerstone of the 7th Parachute Division came from the "Goering Regiment" and a reconnaissance company, both of which were irregular units similar to the Waffen-SS. Later, Studebaker established the airborne forces, and this regiment separated from the Goering Regiment.)

"General Dietrich is a very good commander, and Colonel Peet is also excellent, but..." Steffenberg whispered, "The Waffen-SS is ultimately a group of civilians, hoodlums, and thugs. They can handle general ground combat, but they lack discipline and act recklessly. If it weren't for the random shooting in Rotterdam, General Studebaker wouldn't have been injured!"

Logan nodded and said in the same low voice, "Lentz, what you just said is also my biggest concern! Because of this, I plan to go to General Puschel's office this afternoon to hear his opinion! I've been thinking for a long time, the Army has its advantages, and the Waffen-SS has its advantages too!"

"I'm just offering my advice, Captain. Ultimately, it's up to you!" Steffenberg said.

As the two were chatting, it was almost time for dinner, and a careless voice suddenly came from the corridor, "Hey guys! Good news, great news! Dunkirk has been captured! The besieged Allies have surrendered! "

"What did you say? The Allies surrendered?" asked a loud voice from afar.

"Yeah, French General Gaston Billotte surrendered on behalf of the 200,000 Allied troops. Dunkirk raised the German flag an hour ago! The Frenchies are finished, and so are the British! Ah-ha! The war is about to end!"

Logan and Steffenberg looked at each other, and the result was both expected and within reason!

The news was soon confirmed: after fierce fighting, the German Army entered Dunkirk, defended to the death by Allied troops, on the morning of June 1st, and when German tanks aimed their guns at the beach, weary, hungry, fearful, and desperate British and French soldiers raised their hands—ironically, Harold Alexander, the acting commander of the British Expeditionary Force, and his generals and staff had left aboard a British destroyer twelve hours earlier, leaving behind French General Gaston Billotte, the commander of the First Army Group.

Since the outcome was already decided, what Logan was most concerned about naturally was the number of surrenders from the Anglo-French Allies. In the afternoon, he received a preliminary estimate of 210,000 from General Puschel, and a day later, the figure rose to 225,000. By the third day after the capture of Dunkirk, which was June 3rd, the German Army issued an official announcement: 226,000 Allied soldiers had fallen into German captivity, with approximately 133,000 being French, 35,000 Belgian, and the remaining over 50,000 being British—primarily rear-guard units whose retreat routes had been cut off. This means that in the short span of five days from May 26th to the early morning of June 1st, the Allied forces evacuated to Britain by sea still numbered as many as 150,000, the vast majority of whom were British Expeditionary Force personnel!

Indeed, it was a victory. But could such a victory be considered a great one? And what kind of impact would it have on the course of history?

Although Logan didn't have a precise answer, he was clear in his mind: if he held a higher position and had more authority, the results of the Dunkirk operation would undoubtedly have been far greater. Did the seemingly unattainable pinnacle of power belong only to historical figures?