Chapter 26: Autumn of Turmoil

"At 20 knots, turn right 10 degrees!"

Whenever Lorn spoke, his wrinkled jaw would rhythmically tremble like a puppet's, and after issuing the command, he habitually raised his binoculars to look at the angle at which the warship was about to turn. Now there was nothing there except the fish-scale-like waves.

At this moment, the 35-year-old First Officer, Jirette, would always relay his orders to the respective departments through the microphone: "Turn right 5 degrees, speed 20 knots!"

As Lorn observed a certain direction through the binoculars, "Gentleman" always stayed in sync with him—perhaps he was worried that the nearly sixty-year-old old captain might miss some important targets due to poor eyesight, or perhaps he wanted to learn how to be a captain from him.

Not only Zhang Hainuo, but the crew also liked to privately call their First Officer, Luke Calleg, "Gentleman." Even in the hottest season, he always maintained military neatness, his hair was always meticulously groomed, and he was always polite, which sometimes made people feel a bit irritated.

After a dozen seconds, the "Deutschland" began to turn its bow. Zhang Hainuo had praised its elegance countless times in his heart, and it was indeed a handsome fellow: there was not a single superfluous ornament on the hull and deck, and it was much quieter than other ships of the same level when sailing at low speed. Most of the time, its three majestic main guns pointed straight ahead, and when they turned with the large and solid, comfortable-looking turrets, it would stir up a surge of blood before the battle.

In the midst of winter, Zhang Hainuo wore a deep blue woolen military coat, with a white collar shirt under his throat tied with a black tie. Whether influenced by the "Gentleman" or because there was less personal leisure time on board, he found that his attire had become more and more like Redel's—there were said to be only military uniforms in the wardrobe of the Navy Commander-in-Chief, and Zhang Hainuo had known him for so long, and indeed rarely saw him wear civilian clothes.

Unconsciously, the "Deutschland" swiftly completed its turn and sped away from the surrounding ships towards the open sea. This was the southern part of Spain, known for its pleasant climate and beautiful scenery. Under the warm sun, the sea was far less chilly than the North Sea. If it weren't for the combat mission, the crew could completely relax on the deck and sunbathe in a hammock, which would definitely be the most pleasant thing to do during sea voyage!

About half an hour later, Lorn once again ordered the entire ship to turn right 10 degrees to expand the "Deutschland" 's reconnaissance range in this area. If they could use the improved F-class shipborne radar on board, the work would be much easier, but the orders from the Naval Staff were very clear: radar could only be used at night and in poor lighting conditions during the voyage in Spain. Otherwise, the radar antenna and related equipment exposed on the deck would be removed.

In Zhang Hainuo's view, such orders seemed overly cautious. If history had not deviated significantly, the British radar should now be undergoing testing and improvement somewhere in the British Isles—perhaps it had already been secretly put into practical use, and the Americans and Japanese were not far behind in research on this matter. It's just that their military's attention to this new equipment was not as great as that of Britain and Germany.

Shortly after, the internal communication phone in the command tower rang. In the presence of the captain, first officer, and staff officer, it was usually Zhang Hainuo who picked up the phone, and this time, the voice from the other end of the line was urgent. When he conveyed the message about the unidentified ships discovered to Lorn, the old captain seemed to have already noticed it through his binoculars, and the tremble of his puppet-like jaw slightly increased in frequency:

"Sound the battle alarm! Without my command, no one is allowed to fire! Immediately convey this situation to the Nationalist fleet!"

The wailing of the battle alarm and the flashing wall lights urged the crew to quickly take their positions. In fact, since departing from the port in Morocco, the "Deutschland" had been on high alert, so transitioning into a combat state did not take much time. Soon, reports of readiness came from various departments.

After a busy period, Zhang Hainuo also turned his attention to the direction where the ships were spotted. At this point, black smoke on the sea surface could already be seen through the binoculars—experienced old sailors could roughly judge the situation, including the number, type, and size of the ships.

"It's the 'Isabel I,' damn it!" The wrinkles on Lorn's face twitched suddenly. Now there were only two ships of this level in all of Spain, one belonging to the Republic and one under the control of the Francoist Nationalist government. Both were Spanish-class battleships, with a displacement of 15,000 tons, a top speed of 19.5 knots, and equipped with four twin 305mm guns, belonging to the heavy firepower but light armor type. Among them, the Republic's "Isabel I" was newer and better equipped, while the Nationalist's "España" was only halfway through modernization when the Civil War broke out and was hastily re-armed after being taken over by the Nationalists. In a direct confrontation, it was not a match for its sister ship.

Shortly after, the reports from the observation post confirmed Lorn's guess, and he immediately ordered, "Increase to full speed ahead, turn the entire ship right 15 degrees! No firing unless under my direct order! Communications officer, report to Berlin that we have encountered the Nationalist battleship 'Isabel I' east of Gibraltar. Inquire if we can open fire to drive them off!"

Zhang Hainuo knew that while this inquiry was necessary, the result was foreseeable—Hitler would never risk his latest battleships against the old battleships of the Spanish Navy for a Francoist convoy. However, on the other hand, even though the "Deutschland" was 3,000 tons smaller than the Spanish-class and had 6 280mm guns compared to 8 305mm guns, if it came to a fight, with its superior speed, excellent defense, and world-class Zeiss optical rangefinders and high-quality crew, the "Deutschland" actually had the advantage.

Before the reply from Berlin arrived, the Spanish warship in sight was getting closer and closer. Compared to the graceful appearance of the "Deutschland," it was simply an unattractive old ship, but its guns were real. When the two ships were still over 10,000 meters apart, several loud booms rang out, causing the officers in the command tower of the "Deutschland" to feel uneasy, and their eyes immediately focused on old Lorn.

At this moment, the calm and stern expression on Lorn's face left a deep impression on Zhang Hainuo. Ten seconds later, when the shells from the Spanish warship fell near the sea surface and caused deafening waves, he didn't flinch at all. After the ear-piercing noise subsided, he decisively ordered, "Send a signal to them that we are the German military observation ship 'Deutschland' and have no intention of fighting with the Spanish Republic!"

However, Zhang Hainuo still noticed that after the main gun turret of the "Deutschland" was adjusted, three main guns were aimed at the distant Spanish warship, within the effective range of the 280mm 52-caliber guns made by Krupp!

The order was transmitted without any hesitation, but the other side showed no intention of ceasing fire. Round after round of artillery fire continued, although the shells were temporarily hundreds of meters away from the "Deutschland," the situation of "being hit without hitting back" still made everyone sweat—If this continued, even if the Seydlitz was reincarnated, it would probably only have the option to flee!

This was the first dramatic confrontation between large surface ships that Zhang Hainuo had ever participated in, which inevitably reminded him of the events of the past dozen months. This could be said to be the autumn of turmoil before the outbreak of the war:

Hitler was indeed fortunate. Due to Benito Mussolini's folly, the world's attention suddenly shifted from Hitler's recent attacks on Jews and his illegal rearmament. In the autumn of 1935, Italy invaded Ethiopia, arousing global outrage—a civilized country, how could it force primitive tribes to fight against fighter planes and tanks? The British and the Americans, in particular, were vehement in their condemnation. Britain even led the League of Nations in imposing limited economic sanctions on Italy. Despite the outcry within Germany, with many sympathizing with Ethiopia and opposing Italy, Hitler openly refused to support Emperor Haile Selassie, while covertly providing military aid. Meanwhile, Hitler also provided raw materials to Mussolini, attempting to embroil Italy and Britain, thus giving Germany more room for maneuver—his assistance to Mussolini was also a test of how Britain would react to Germany's disregard for the League of Nations. It quickly became apparent that Britain would not take retaliatory action. This undoubtedly strengthened Hitler's belief: the British were inherently weak.

At the beginning of the New Year in 1936, King George V of Britain passed away. This monarch's death fueled his ambition further. Upon George's death, Prince Edward VIII ascended the throne. He was a personality, inclined towards independence, and sympathetic to many of Germany's demands. In his inaugural broadcast as king, he explicitly declared his intentions to remain unchanged. The following day, news from Washington confirmed this stance. In a "frank" conversation with the new king, the head of the Western European Affairs department at the US State Department learned that the king "did not agree with France's efforts to revive friendly relations and yoke England to the French chariot…" He also opposed France's attempt to force Germany onto its knees and announced his sympathy for Germany's difficult situation.

With encouragement from Britain, coupled with the League of Nations' half-hearted and feeble measures against Italy's aggressive actions, this strengthened the Fuhrer's resolve to occupy the Rhineland. Since Britain did not actively prevent Mussolini, then, if he followed Mussolini's example and acted afterward, Britain would likely only lodge a public protest at most.

In February, Hitler prepared for the next step—occupying the Rhineland demilitarized zone. This area included German territory west of the Rhine River and a longer stretch of land, about 30 miles east of the Rhine, including the three cities of Cologne, Dusseldorf, and Bonn. At the same time, he emphatically assured the French of his peaceful intentions: "Friendship between our two countries is obviously beneficial to both! I hope to ease tensions with France... Some still believe that Germany may invade, which is absurd."

In the face of the smokescreen, the French quieted down. Having secured assurances from the Italians not to intervene, the Fuhrer ordered the commencement of "winter training exercises." On March 2nd, Blomberg issued a preparatory order to the army commanders to move into the Rhineland demilitarized zone on "D-Day." Three days later, Blomberg set "D-Day" for March 7th, a Saturday.

At around 11:30 a.m. that day, journalists and thousands of German patriots, unaware of the action's details, stood on the Hohenzollern Bridge spanning the Rhine. Eighteen years earlier, the disarmed German army had marched dejectedly through here on its retreat from France. Suddenly, the crowd heard footsteps, the rumble of wheels, and the clatter of hooves. As the first German troops crossed the bridge, the crowd erupted in cheers. With air cover from several planes, other units also crossed the Rhine from at least five bridges.

The "winter training exercise" involved the strength of 19 battalions, but only three crossed the Rhine. Even so, the enthusiasm they brought to the Germans and the fear they instilled in the French were immense.

At the Kroll Opera House, Hitler was addressing the Reichstag. He was warmly applauded. As he spoke, the hall fell silent. After expounding at length on the injustice of the Treaty of Versailles, his speech slowed. He looked tense, nervously wringing his handkerchief behind the podium. His face was pale and unnatural, as if he were ill at ease. Then, in a slow, subdued tone, he said, "At this moment, German troops are advancing."

The theater instantly turned into a madhouse.

In fact, the three battalions had already crossed the Rhine— but they had orders that if challenged by French troops, they were to fight while withdrawing.

Hitler cunningly used the Rhineland incident to further consolidate his power at home. He dissolved the Reichstag and entrusted this policy to a referendum. This referendum was not an election but a victory parade that shuttled through various cities under the guise of the "Hindenburg" airship.

By the end of March, without firing a single shot, 98.8% of German voters cast their ballots for Hitler.

No head of state in the world was as popular. In just over three years, he had turned a country that had to beg others into a challenger.

That summer, the Olympic Games were held in Berlin. Due to Germany's anti-Semitic policies, efforts by Britain, the United States, and France to boycott were vigorous but ineffective. Hitler was eager to turn the Games into a showcase of Nazi achievements and made several concessions, allowing Jewish fencer Helene Mayer and hockey star Ludy Ball to represent the Reich at the Games, while another Jew, Captain Wolfgang Fürstner, was responsible for building and organizing the Olympic Village. More importantly, anti-Jewish signs along the roads and notices prohibiting Jews from entering resort areas were removed. In Berlin, Streicher's Der Stürmer newspaper also disappeared from newsstands. In fact, the entire anti-Semitic movement came to a halt. They publicized this sign of reconciliation internationally, leading to a surge of foreign visitors to Berlin, who were warmly received.

On August 1st, the sky was clear during the opening ceremony. In the afternoon of that day, Hitler led a procession through the Triumphal Street towards the stadium. His convoy, escorted by 40,000 stormtroopers and other guards, slowly advanced along the ten-mile street. Upon reaching the stadium, Hitler, dressed in the simplest uniform, walked forward with two Olympic officials. Following behind were King Boris of Bulgaria, the Prince of Sweden, the Prince of Greece, the Prince of Italy, and Mussolini's son. They walked into the world's largest stadium to the welcome of 30 brass bands. Conducted by Richard Strauss, the orchestra, along with a 3,000-member chorus, performed "Deutschland Über Alles," "Waldteufel's Skaters' Waltz," and Strauss's Olympic Hymn composed for the Games. When Hitler officially took his seat, 110,000 spectators cheered in unison. Some delegations performed the Olympic salute—extending the right arm straight out to the side—much to the delight of many. However, the Austrian delegation modified it to the Nazi salute. The Bulgarians went even further, performing the goose step. The French delegation, consisting of 250 people, received the loudest applause when they entered, performing a Roman salute rather than the Olympic one. The British, wearing straw hats, merely nodded upon entering, displeasing many spectators. The American team received the least applause, with some audience members even rudely stomping their feet. As they passed the grandstand, they only nodded and did not raise their flags again.

The next day, due to Hans Woelke of Germany breaking the Olympic shot put record, Hitler came to congratulate him, also congratulating the three Finns who broke the 10,000-meter run record and the German female athlete who won the javelin gold and silver medals. When all German athletes were eliminated from the high jump event, it was already late in the day. Hitler left the stadium without shaking hands with the three American athletes—two of whom were black.

The President of the International Olympic Committee informed Hitler that as the chief guest, he should congratulate all the winners. Hitler chose the latter option, so he did not meet Jesse Owens, who won four gold medals. This led to speculation that the leader intentionally snubbed the great black athlete, but Owens himself denied this. He said that Hitler did congratulate him, "When I passed the Chancellor, he arose, waved his hand at me, and I waved back at him. I think the writers showed bad taste in criticizing the man of the hour in Germany."

The leader almost watched every track and field event, astonishing those around him. Whenever German athletes competed, he watched with childlike enthusiasm, his face twitching. During the hockey match, he was too nervous to watch and only found out about the outcome afterward. The Games ended on August 16th, with Hitler attending the closing ceremony. As the band played "The Games Are Over," the athletes danced joyously to the music's beat, while the audience bid them farewell with enthusiasm. Someone in the crowd cheered "Victory" to Hitler—who had no program at the closing ceremony—and then the cheers erupted, with the whole stadium chanting "Victory! Our Leader, Adolf Hitler! Victory!"

The Games were a Nazi triumph—though not entirely legitimate. Germans won most of the medals and defeated the Americans by a margin of 57 points. Most importantly, many spectators left Germany pleased with the warm reception they received and left with a profound impression of Hitler's empire.

Outside the Olympics, the world's attention was focused on the ancient kingdom on the Iberian Peninsula.

Every country has had its moments of glory in history, and Spain is no exception. The year 1492 marked the beginning of this glorious period when the Catholic Monarchs of Spain conquered Granada, completing the Reconquista. Also in that year, supported by the Queen, the Genoese Christopher Columbus set sail with his fleet of three ships across the Atlantic. Based on these two events, an unprecedented Spanish Empire emerged, encompassing the Iberian Peninsula, almost the entire American continent, the Philippines, the Netherlands, Milan, Sicily, Sardinia, and other territories—a "sun never sets" empire. It was then the world's first superpower, largest country, and empire.

However, when Philip II's Invincible Armada was destroyed by the English navy and storms, the sun began to set on this empire. In 1648, the Netherlands became independent; in 1714, it ceded Flanders, Milan, Sardinia, and even Gibraltar; in the early 19th century, Bolívar and San Martín drove the empire out of the American continent; in 1899, when the Americans nearly pushed the Spanish Kingdom's territory entirely to the Iberian Peninsula, this once mighty entity had completely declined into a second-rate European power.

History shapes a nation's character, and the rise and fall forge this generation of Spaniards: their blood still carries the heritage of Romans, Visigoths, Christians, and Moors, but they crave the nourishment of modern civilization; they desire prosperity for their homeland, yet they lack confidence. The driving force behind their division lies deep within Spain: economically, politically, socially.

At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, Franco's army had a huge numerical advantage over the regular forces, but the Republican government, supported by all workers, courageously and resolutely fought back, thwarting the rebels' plans to occupy cities in Malaga, Valencia, Bilbao, Santander, and many other cities and provinces, where people armed themselves and prevented the rebels from occupying the cities.

The outcome of the first few days of fighting left Franco's rebels in a predicament—the main industrial centers of the country remained in the hands of the people, and the Republic gained the support of the entire population. The rebels could only gain a foothold in the southern provinces of Cadiz, Huelva, and Seville, as well as in the northern provinces of Galicia, Navarre, Old Castile, and Aragon. The rebels were separated into two parts by the province of Badajoz; General Mola's northern troops and Franco's southern troops.

Unlike the army, the Spanish Air Force and almost the entire navy remained on the side of the Republic, with sailors and junior officers bringing most of the warships and submarines into Republican ports.

During the Spanish Civil War, despite international opposition to foreign intervention, the fascist governments of Italy and Germany provided soldiers, tanks, planes, and artillery to support Franco's troops, while France and Russia supported the Republicans. Volunteers from many countries around the world formed the famous "International Brigades" to support the Republicans and join the fight.

When the thunderous roar of artillery brought Zhang Hainuo back to reality, the "Deutschland" and its opponent were already within ten thousand meters of each other, with one number after another coming from the upper rangefinder, reminding the commanders of this warship: the enemy was approaching.

During this time, Löwen continuously issued turning orders to minimize the chances of the "Deutschland" being hit by incoming shells, also delaying time for the following fleet. Although there was a Republican escort gunboat in the area, Zhang Hainuo did not believe that its few hundred tons and weak firepower could delay the advance of "Yahya I" even slightly—it didn't even have torpedo tubes.

After the final turn was completed, the "Deutschland" finally turned its stern towards the Spanish Republican battleship "Yahya I" and headed towards the Strait of Gibraltar at a speed 6 knots faster than the opponent—meaning, it was running away.

The glorious German navy had conducted such actions more than once between the two World Wars, but this time was undoubtedly the most embarrassing—the "Deutschland" never fired a shot from start to finish, and in the process of leaving the battlefield, it even took a hit from the enemy.

Although this shot did not cause much damage to the main body of the "Deutschland," it brought great shame to the crew: four German sailors were killed in action on the deck, and seven were injured. Hitler, who usually manipulated opponents on the international political stage, also suffered a loss this time. Although he instructed the diplomatic agencies to condemn the actions of the Spanish Republic government, he could not distort the fact that the battle took place in Spanish territorial waters. The final result could only be to return the fallen heroes to be buried at home—naval casualties were usually placed in sleeping bags and dropped into the sea with a shell, but this time it was used by the Nazis for propaganda, which caused dissatisfaction among the navy.

A few months later, a unit of the German navy's submarine force, under the guise of Italians—already openly supporting Franco's regime—sailed into the waters near Gibraltar and, without revealing their identity, attacked ships of the Spanish Republic government, finally salvaging some face for the German navy, but only a few senior officers in Germany knew about this incident. In the years to come, people would talk more about the two unfortunate experiences of the "Deutschland" in the Spanish Civil War—the following autumn, the "Deutschland," anchored in a southern Spanish port, was bombed by the Republican Air Force. The "Deutschland" was unscathed, but it suffered losses again and was subsequently ordered to return to Germany. For Zhang Hainuo, the trip of the "Deutschland" to Spain was not entirely fruitless. At least after returning to Germany, the senior navy finally decided to strengthen the anti-aircraft firepower of this class of armored ships—this so-called destruction of aesthetics was completed before 1938. The two new ships of the Schanhorst class also benefited, and their anti-aircraft firepower was correspondingly strengthened. However, in Zhang Hainuo's opinion, this was far from enough!