On the afternoon of June 14, 1940, at the German Naval Ministry, Emperor Qin Tian of the Empire arrived together with Field Marshal Manstein, Minister of War and Chief of Staff, and Field Marshal Albert Kesselring, Air Force Minister.
Marshal Raeder, Imperial Navy Minister; Marshal Dönitz, commander of the Navy's submarine forces; Marshal Lütjens, commander of the Navy's Home Fleet; Admiral Rolf Kars, Commander of the Atlantic Fleet; and Admiral Hermann Böhm, commander of the Mediterranean Fleet, welcomed Qin Tian at the entrance to the Naval Ministry. After winning the Battle of the Azores, all three fleets had returned to their respective home ports for rest and reorganization. The commanders of the three fleets had taken seaplanes back to Germany ahead of time, awaiting the Emperor of the Empire's summons.
Although the German Navy had emerged victorious in the Battle of the Azores, its own losses were not small. A large number of damaged warships needed repairs, while the lost carrier-based aircraft and pilots needed to be replenished. Even the ammunition and fuel that had been nearly exhausted during the war needed resupplying. That was why the German military had not pursued the American fleet.
In truth, the German fleet no longer had the strength to continue fighting. Only after rest and reorganization would it have the spare capacity to resume combat.
"Your Majesty!" The gathered generals and marshals respectfully saluted Qin Tian.
With the Imperial Navy's victory in the Battle of the Azores, Germany's triumph in this World War had undoubtedly been secured. It could be said that Germany's ultimate victory in this war was already as certain as a nail driven into an iron plate.
"Gentlemen, you have worked hard." Qin Tian wore a smile. He was immensely pleased that the Navy's generals and marshals had won victory