Armored forces

　　Three months later, Polschet successfully merged several car manufacturing companies owned by Lyon, and Porsche was born eight years ahead of schedule thanks to Lyon's efforts.

　　Two months later, Polsher wrote to Lyon informing him that the "tracked tractor" had been designed and that a prototype had been built, in which Polsher again reminded Lyon that if there was no market for the "tracked tractor", the nascent Porsche would face bankruptcy.

　　After receiving the letter, Lyon privately transferred 500,000 marks from his superiors for the purchase of rifles and rifle ammunition and ordered 20 "tracked tractors" from Porsche at a sky-high price of 25,000 marks.

　　When Lieutenant General Strauss learned the news, he immediately ran to Lyon's office angrily and asked, "Andres! I'll do everything possible to put you in the equipment department, but look what you've done?! A whole 500,000 Reichsmarks you bought me 20 tractors?! We are military men! Not a farmer! "

　　Leon smiled and said to Lieutenant General Strauss: "General, I wonder how you image the tanks in the last big war?" "

　　Lieutenant General Strauss replied suspiciously: "Tanks? The tanks of the British in the last war were so powerful that we suffered to the fullest. But we are now talking about this damn tractor, not tanks! Besides, the contract also says that we can no longer equip tanks! "

　　"Of course I understand the terms of the contract, so I bought 20 tractors, do you see that this tracked tractor is not exactly the same as a tank except that it has no turret?"

　　Lieutenant General Strauss was stunned and asked back: "That's right, but it's not a tank after all, it has no weapons, and it can't bring us actual combat effectiveness!" "

　　"No, it may not be able to form combat effectiveness in our hands, but it can in his hands!" Leon answered Lieutenant General Strauss's question unhurriedly.

　　"Who?"

　　Leon solemnly said: "A company commander of the 6th Infantry Regiment of the Wehrmacht. His name is Fritz Erich von Manstein! "

　　Lieutenant General Strauss clearly did not believe: "Infantry commander? Are you sure he can? "

　　Leon looked at Lieutenant General Strauss steadily: "It's better like this, wait two months later for the tracked vehicles to be produced, I will give them to Manstein, you build a defensive line with infantry ten times the strength of the attacking side, if Manstein can break through your defenses, then you have to promise me to equip more tracked vehicles!" "

　　Lieutenant General Strauss looked directly at Leon and said, "What if you fail?" "

　　Leon said seriously: "Then I will find a way to return this 500,000 imperial marks to you!" "

　　Lieutenant General Strauss smiled: "I promise you conditions, I will watch how you come up with 500,000 marks!" "

　　Resident of the 6th Infantry Regiment of the Wehrmacht.

　　Manstein was watching the troops training when his battalion commander ran over to Manstein and said, "Manstein, do you know anyone in the war department?" You are told to rush to Berlin as soon as possible. "

　　Manstein froze for a moment and replied, "War Department? How would I know those idiots? "

　　The battalion commander frowned: "Captain, pay attention to your words!" "

　　Manstein smiled indifferently, he always believed that it was the strategic mistakes of the predecessor of the War Department, that is, the General Staff, that led to the defeat of Germany. He always believed that Germany should vigorously develop its armored forces in the last war, rather than waiting until late in the war to hastily equip tanks.

　　However, although Manstein had prejudices against the people in the war department, he was a superior after all, and he left for Berlin the next day.

　　After half a day of bumps, Manstein saw the officer who wanted to see him, but he did not expect that the major was so young, so young that he subconsciously thought that he was in and mixed up, which made Manstein's prejudice against the war department a little deeper.

　　"Hello, Captain Manstein, my name is Leon Andrés." The major greeted Manstein with a smile.

　　"Hello, Mr. Major, I wonder what you have to do with me?" Manstein frowned and said that as a professional soldier, he did not want to have too much intersection with such mixed seniority.

　　Ignoring Manstein's indifference, Leon asked Manstein the same question as Lieutenant General Strauss: "Mr. Manstein, I wonder what you think of such a new weapon as a tank?" "

　　Manstein gradually became serious: "Mr. Major, I think tanks will completely change the appearance of war. In the past, when we attacked and occupied a position, it was always accompanied by huge casualties among troops, and with tanks, we could greatly reduce the casualties of troops. Manstein paused and continued: "In the past, the army always moved slowly, and the mobility of roads and railways was very demanding, maybe we can build a unit composed entirely of tanks, so that the mobility of the troops can be greatly improved!" "

　　"Yes, what you said makes sense, so what would you do if I told you that I was going to put an armored unit in your hands?" Leon put away his smile and looked straight at Manstein.

　　Manstein was a little startled by this sudden appointment: "Sir, this... I'm afraid I can't do it well. "

　　Leon walked up to Manstein and patted him on the shoulder and said, "I believe you can do well!" I made a bet with Lieutenant General Strauss, I bet you can tear a gap in the line of pure infantry 10 times your troops! "

　　When Manstein heard that Leon believed in himself so much, he couldn't help but be moved: "Mr. Andrés, since you believe in me so much, then I accept this task, and I will let you win this bet!" "

　　Leon replied with a smile: "Of course, I will win, let's go, I'll take you to see your comrades." After that, he took Manstein to the German training base on the outskirts by car.

　　Crouch, this thing is a tank? This was Manstein's first thought when he saw his "armored" troops, and Leon saw him open his mouth, guessed his thoughts, and said helplessly: "No way, the Treaty of Versailles stipulates that we can't have tank troops, this is the best way I can come up with." "

　　"But this thing doesn't even have a turret, how can it fight?" Manstein pointed to a row of tractors with a look on his face that youTM was teasing me.

　　"Don't worry, when the time comes, the exercise will simulate that it has an artillery battery." Leon reassured.

　　Phew, Manstein breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that if you really let me drive a tractor on the field, I would definitely find a tree and crash it to death.

　　Manstein didn't realize that he was slowly becoming convinced of Leon.

　　In any case, Germany finally had its first armoured unit after the war, although it did not even have a turret. Even when Manstein and Leon are old, they will laugh happily when they discuss this alternative armored force. Of course, that's all for later.