This time, President Karl Yuho Starberg went to Germany to discuss military issues, but unfortunately, the president himself did not understand military affairs, so he had to go out with a military person, and his military adviser also left a strong mark in history. This is the only marshal in Finland in history! Karl Gustav Mannheim, known as Finnish marshal! In the later Soviet-Finnish War, he was responsible for commanding the entire Finnish army!

Mannahem is definitely a professional soldier. This guy once served in the Russian Tsarist cavalry regiment, participated in the Russo-Japanese War and was promoted to colonel for his outstanding performance. Then he was promoted to lieutenant general in this war. After Russia collapsed, the lieutenant general returned to Finland because of his dissatisfaction. After returning to Finland, he was still in charge of military work. Now, in the entire Finland, no one can be found as a military adviser than him!

Before heading to Germany, Starberg decided to have a long talk with his defense minister and military adviser Lieutenant General Mannheim, who had to figure out what they needed and what the Germans could give.

"Based on our previous exchanges with Germany, Germany is relatively friendly to us. They regard us as an ally that can curb Russia and expressed their willingness to provide us with various equipment. Many of the equipment can be described as free delivery. We can obtain German army equipment that can arm at least 4 divisions by paying appropriate maintenance and freight." President Starberg said.

"His Excellency President, I am not as optimistic as you think. I have seen the first list of equipment given to us by the Germans. Most of them are light weapons and some outdated artillery. The number of machine guns and new artillery is completely insufficient. Although these things are much stronger than the Russian goods we have in hand, the long-range cannons, tanks and aircraft we need most are provided by very few. Especially for aircraft, the Germans are not willing to provide us with more than 400 horsepower aircraft engines." Mannahem said.

Logically speaking, after the war, a large number of remaining weapons were not wealth but a burden for a country. After the war ended in history, a considerable number of countries had thrown weapons wildly. For example, after the war ended in history, the French government provided hundreds of 75mm rapid-fire cannons to the newly born Poland.

But the situation in this plane is different, because the war in Europe is over, and the war in the Pacific is about to ignite! A large amount of German surplus supplies are very useful. Go back and put some oil, apply some paint, and then package it and sell it directly to the Americans! It is nothing strange. In history, Americans used French weapons to fight in Europe. The American industry in this era is not as terrifying as in World War II. Without national mobilization, it is really difficult for Americans to gather so many equipment and weapons in a short period of time!

For example, tanks, the Germans have produced relatively mature wolf-type tanks. However, before Sherman came out, the tank design was a tragedy. After comparing its own drawing tanks with the German finished tanks, the US military decisively rejected almost all tank bids and decided to buy German tanks directly, and only buy Bavarian wolf-type tanks, not Prussian tanks...

As for aircraft engines? Well, although the Pratt & Wheaters in later generations overwhelmingly overwhelming the world, American aircraft engines during this period are really not good. Therefore, Americans who are eager to expand their troops have also purchased a large number of German aircraft and engines! Many German aircraft have even been painted in the US at the airport and then shipped directly to the United States!

In this way, deducting the tanks and aircraft purchased and reserved by the Americans, as well as the German army themselves, the remaining margin was not much. As for some of the remaining weapons, the Germans were preparing to seal them or sell them to other countries. Naturally, it was impossible to give them to Finland directly for free.

"Although these equipment is very old, it is more advanced than our enemies. You can make do with it first. After all, we are facing Russians with not very strong combat power, rather than German troops armed to the teeth. Moreover, the Russian civil war has not ended yet. Even if one side wins, they can't even ease up without ten years. We don't have to worry that the war will come soon." Starberg said.

"Of course the war will not come soon. Within ten years, or even fifteen years, both sides will be peaceful. But what about the future? Twenty years later, or even further? I personally feel that after you politely rejected forming a military alliance with Germany, the help the Germans gave us can be described as coping. They symbolically leaked a little from the gaps of their teeth. They were unwilling to share military technology and new equipment with us." Mannheim said.

"We cannot easily join any military alliance. We are different from Germany and Russia. They can gain benefits through war, but we cannot. You have been on the battlefield in person and know how terrifying the war between great powers is! A big battle will cost hundreds of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of troops! And how many people in Finland are? There are less than 4 million in total. We really can't withstand such huge casualties. Once we are tied to a chariot of a certain country, no matter what the final war is, these losses are unbearable." Starberg said.

"So, you want to get German military help and even security guarantees, but you don't want to fulfill your obligations?" said Mannheim.

"Yes, I am the President of Finland and I must consider these issues from the perspective of Finland. For us, the best result is to avoid any war. If we rely on Germany and can use the friendly relations with Germany to intimidate the Russians and prevent them from acting rashly, then it is naturally the best result. But if Germany takes the initiative to fight Russia, we will choose at most a tendency neutrality. We can provide some help to Germany, but it definitely does not include being directly involved in the war!" Starberg said.

"It's difficult to do this. If I were German, then I could sell some advanced weapons to Finland at most, but it would never provide them for free, and would not make military guarantees. The Germans believed in pragmatism. They rejected any nominal alliance and would help allies, but they would never pretend to be slutty for those who intend to take advantage of the situation. For example, Italy, after Italy chose to take action against Turkey, Germany and Austria had actually excluded Italy from the alliance system. In the second half of the war, Italy once proposed to join the Allies to fight with Britain and France, but was flatly rejected by the German government." Mannheim said.
Chapter completed!