Chapter 1236 Operation Rose (Second update, please subscribe)
A four-engine Boeing 407 of Hamburg Airlines was flying in the sky.
There is a man sitting by the window. He seems to be taciturn and not easy to approach.
A German businessman next to him wanted to talk to him several times. Seeing that he was not very interested, he started reading "Travel" magazine alone. The businessman's seatmate stared out the window: the plane was flying over India, heading towards Europe.
Sitting by the window, Stilitz would occasionally look out the window. At this time, all he was thinking about was the next task.
He also carried other necessities for this mission: his passport in the breast pocket of his coat, letters, business cards and a complete set of documents required for a citizen of a Western European country, as well as underwear, shoes, a coat and a German journalist carry-on luggage.
From now on, he is a reporter.
As the plane entered the skies over Europe, he thought about his mission again.
"In other words, to detonate public opinion!"
Stilitz repeatedly thought about the task he was about to perform - launching a public opinion offensive in Germany.
"Although the Germans chose the F104 fighter jet, we have every reason to believe that Lockheed provided Germany with a large amount of bribes during the procurement process, and that Defense Minister Franz Joseph Strauss purchased the F-104 He played a key role at that time, and we thought he must have accepted a bribe."
Looking at the clouds outside the window, Stilitz thought of the "Procurement of the Century" of the Luftwaffe - the West German Air Force was looking for a man. A multi-role fighter aircraft designed to provide air defense. To this end, it issued tender instructions to countries around the world.
The F2 fighter jet of Nanyang Aviation Industry Corporation also participated in the bidding at the end of 1959. However, one and a half months ago, the West German Air Force announced the winning result-the F104G fighter jet won the bid, which was generally favored by the outside world. The F2 fighter jet was tragically eliminated.
What is the biggest impact of this incident?
“Yugoslavia.”
In a hotel in Bonn, Li Fenglun said in a rather helpless tone.
“Although the German order is very large, almost 1,000 aircraft, which can be said to be the largest military aircraft purchase after the war, we know very well that the probability of them choosing American aircraft is far higher than ours—— After all, these countries, including Germany, have received their aircraft under the military assistance program funded by the US government, that is, MAP.
This also means that we are destined to accompany the prince. ”
In fact, after the German Air Force’s public call for tenders, fighter manufacturers from many Western countries responded. Lockheed redesigned the Star fighter from a day fighter to an all-weather ground attack, reconnaissance and Intercept the aircraft and present it as an F-104G. The redesigned aircraft beat out competition from British Electric's Lightning, Grumman F11F-1F Super Tiger, Convet F-8U Crusader and Republic F-105 Thunder Chieftain. Ten other aircraft, including the F-102, F-106, Sanders-Rowe SR.177 and Saab 35 Dragon, were also considered, but were eliminated early in the flight testing process.
“Although the F2 fighter we provided was the latest to participate in the test, except for the high-speed performance, which is slightly behind, the other performance of the F2 fighter far exceeds that of the F104 fighter. That thing is basically a flying rocket. What is there? The maneuverability is remarkable.”
In addition to being sarcastic, Li Fenglun added:
“Considering political reasons, we were not determined to win this order. We originally just hoped to enter other markets, such as South America, by participating in the German Air Force’s tender. market, Yugoslavia, Israel and other countries. According to our estimates, Yugoslavia alone will purchase more than 100 aircraft. But..."
Although everyone knows that they are here to accompany the prince, they all hope to do this. Public demonstrations to showcase themselves and ultimately win orders from other countries. This is also the reason why F2 fighter jets have frequently appeared at aviation exhibitions in various European countries since 1959, just for promotion.
“During the German bidding process, the F2 fighter jet that accompanied the prince was not only treated unfairly, but also deliberately distorted the test results, and this result was deliberately leaked, which directly affected When it comes to the negotiations between us and Yugoslavia..."
Looking at Stilitz, Li Fenglun said:
"Originally, we signed an intention contract with Yugoslavia to purchase 66 F2 fighter jets three months ago. However, due to the actions of the German Air Force, Yugoslavia doubted whether our fighter jets could compete with the MiG-21 or F104. Therefore, They temporarily suspended the contract. According to the intelligence we have, the Soviet Union is now lobbying them and trying to export MiG-21 to it, so..."
The words paused for a moment, and Li Fenglun said in an extremely serious tone Tone said:
“We conducted a targeted investigation and found that during the procurement period, not only did its Secretary of Defense and other officials accept a large amount of bribes, but Lockheed also provided its Christian Democratic Union with More than 10 million US dollars in political donations, so we need to publish this scandal now!"
"You don't just want to publish it!"
Stilitz said:< br>
"It is a scandal that shakes the German political arena. If possible, even if possible, it can be used to force Germany to tear up the fighter jet procurement contract, right?"
This is what they need him to do. If the purpose is just to publish, the company itself can disclose the information and pay for it. Then what?
Then there is no more, it is just a few unlucky guys taking responsibility. Such a result is definitely not what the company wants to see. What the company wants is not just revenge, but also the business. Keep doing it.
“That’s an order for thousands of aircraft!”
Li Fenglun said without denying:
"According to our estimates, the international market demand for F2 fighter jets is only about 1,000 at most. If we can get 1,000 orders in Europe, it will be of great help to the company."
Everything is like this. , when it comes to interests, everyone never gives in. Taking the file bag from Li Fenglun, looking at the documents in the file, Stilitz asked:
"Are these real? "This depends on the reader's perspective on the issue, but we believe that all this is closely related to the Air Force's procurement."
Nodding, Stilitz said:
<. br>
"Okay, just the past few days."
After saying that, he stood up and left. Everything that followed could not be simpler - just use several newspapers and TV stations controlled by the Secret Intelligence Service, Leaking out this scandal and blowing up the storm is what the Secret Intelligence Service has always been best at doing.
In the past ten years, the Secret Intelligence Service has not only established its own "public opinion network" in the United States and the United Kingdom, but also established "public opinion networks" in Western countries including France, West Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium. ”, although it is said to control “public opinion”, it can actually influence the direction of public opinion.
Just like that, as August entered, a storm quietly struck.
When this controversy started, it was caused by a news report from a newspaper. The content couldn't be simpler - it was a revelation that the Ministry of National Defense had received bribes in the procurement of fighter jets.
One stone hits a thousand waves!
Such news naturally caused a sensation in Germany. In the next few days, as more and more content was revealed, everyone began to pay attention to this matter. At first it was just the military, but soon it was revealed that Lockheed had sent another US$10 million in bribes to the German CSU!
It was also with the direct intervention of senior military and political officials that an extremely "backward" aircraft was purchased by the German Air Force.
In Bonn, the administrative capital of West Germany, both the political and military circles were unable to deal with such explosive news and questions from all sides.
For Defense Minister Franz Joseph Strauss, he became a street rat, and everyone shouted for him to be beaten.
And what's the more fatal blow?
It was because some pilots pointed out that the F104 fighter jet was not worthy of its mission and was forced to retire!
Faced with such brutal retaliation, the anger of the people can be imagined. For a time, Bonn in August was like a frying pan, completely exploding.
The important figures in the military and political circles all want to put aside their connection with the aircraft procurement case.
Folding the newspaper and putting it on the chair, Liu Haodong often said:
"They can't tell the difference! What a farce. How can a national defense matter be such a trivial matter?"
While sneering, Liu Haodong took out a cigarette from the cigarette case. The cigarette was a Bactrian camel from Nanyang. , in Germany, both American camels and South Sea camels are very popular, but they are no longer the "hard currency" in the early post-war period, they are just ordinary cigarettes, but in East Germany, Camel cigarettes can still play some unexpected roles.
So, whenever he meets his downlines, he will bring two Camel cigarettes as a gift to his downlines.
At this moment, a man wearing a floral dress The woman came over and sat next to him, then she just looked into the distance.
"There is one thing you need to promise me."
The woman suddenly said:
"I need to go to Nanyang immediately. My family and I need passports right now."
Faced with the woman's request, Liu Haodong felt a little strange , but he still nodded and said:
"No problem, but I need two days to prepare, but you and your family can go to West Berlin today, and then I will arrange for you to leave by plane , two days later, you can get your passport in Bonn and take a flight to Chang'an from there."
The woman breathed a sigh of relief, and she looked around carefully before saying.
"Yesterday, the Soviets issued an action order, which will be executed in two days."
"What kind of order?"
Liu Haodong asked.
The woman next to me may look inconspicuous, but she is actually a very valuable downline. She is a typist for the East German Ministry of Defense. Her position is not high, but she has access to many secrets. affairs.
""Operation Rose", they will implement unified operations in the border areas between East Germany and West Germany."
"What are the specific contents?"
Faced with Liu Haodong's inquiry, the woman shook her head and said:
"I have no access to this action plan, but now the action plan has been issued. I don’t know what they are going to do, but... I have to get out of here before the war breaks out!”
(End of this chapter)