0p0 Third Reich Episode 332
Third Reich Episode 332
Today, Hans, who has been qualified as a lieutenant general of the infantry and won the Iron Cross of the Oak Leaf, was once again tasked with being sent to Africa by Reinhardt to command the infantry army of the German African Army.
Coincidentally, Berente, who had fled from Poland back to France because of the deadly battle of the 30th Division under Hans, got involved with Hans again this time.However, this time they are no longer hostile camps, but a cooperative relationship.
And the troops commanded by Hans are no longer just a division.
That's right, Hans is also the commander of the lieutenant general. What he has to do now is to command the troops of the two countries, a total of one army.
According to the agreement reached by Reinhardt and Mussolini, Italy needs to form an African Army with Germany, and the "strong" Italy should bear more troops and provide all the logistical supplies of the African Army.
In fact, it was an opportunity Germany had been craving, and it was Reinhardt's favorite tactic.
Sending a small number of German troops, pulling large troops from other countries, and using the national power of other countries to fight a war that is beneficial to Germany, Reinhardt is already familiar with such things.
As early as during the Spanish Civil War, Reinhardt asked Rommel to lead a German armored division as a team, and formed a German-Spanish United Corps that could command 10 other Spanish German armored divisions at the same time. In the name of helping Franco, Eliminated the Spanish Republican Army, turning the Kingdom of Spain into a member of the Confederate States.
Later, Reinhardt asked Hans to lead a German infantry division as a team to form the German-Norwegian Combined Corps. At the same time, he commanded a division of the German army and other Norwegian defense forces. In the name of protecting Norway's independence, the British and French expeditions were eliminated. Army, turning Norway into a member of the Allies.
Well now, Rommel and Hans, these two German generals with rich experience in commanding troops from other countries, were sent to North Africa together to do their old jobs again.
People, Italy paid more than half for them.
Rommel, the German armored general, will get an Italian armored division, which will be merged with the German 15th Armored Division to form the First Armored Army of the African Army.
German Infantry Lieutenant General Hans will get two Italian infantry divisions, which will be merged with the German 30th Infantry Division to form the Second Infantry Army of the African Army.
As for the supply of oil, ammunition and food for the entire African Army, it will be borne by Italy. The Italian Navy will escort the transport fleet in the Mediterranean to ensure that the materials reach the African Army Group safely.
For many years, Italy's attitude in North Africa has been very firm, which has led Germany to acquire military bases here and intervene in local interests.
But this time, under the huge threat of being driven out of Africa by the British army, Mussolini not only allowed Germany to enter Africa, but also agreed to take part of Libya's land in return after the war. As helpers and subordinates, the troops provided material support for Rommel's African Army Group.
As long as they can win, Italy can recover most of the benefits before the war, and Germany can also obtain benefits that it did not have before the war. This is a win-win situation for Reinhardt and Mussolini.
But now, even the transportation tasks of the German African troops are shared by the Italians.
Prior to this, Rommel had already taken most of the 15th Armored Division, assigned to take the Italian transport fleet, and under the escort of the Italian Navy, he went to French Morocco first.
And now, Hans' 30th Infantry Division has also embarked on a journey to Africa.
"Captain Hoffman," Leon, who heard someone greet him, looked back and immediately recognized the old acquaintance: "I didn't expect to meet you here."
Leon walked forward with a smile, fist bumped with Hoffman and said: "Long time no see, now the division commander told me that the whole division is going to Africa, I guessed that there might be friends from other units in the division on the way, really no Thought it would be you."
"Hey, you haven't answered my question yet." Hoffman poked Leon's shoulder and reminded: "Mr. Hans is also with us on this batch of transport fleet?"
"Of course." Leon laughed, patted Hoffman on the shoulder and said, "Isn't the guard battalion I lead always responsible for the security of the division headquarters? We are here, and the division commander will definitely be here."
If someone carefully identifies them, it is not difficult to find that the two people who are talking are both famous grassroots commanders who have appeared on the propaganda page of the German Social Worker.
Lyon, who fought less and more in the Polish campaign, and Hoffman, who played as a striker in the Norwegian campaign, are all stars whose photos have been published in newspapers.
In addition to their Commander Hans and Admiral Rommel who has already arrived in Africa, the military officers sent by Germany to Africa this time can be described as an extremely luxurious star lineup!
Body 5 Chapter [-] Italy Returns to the Game
The Battle of Ejelle reached the later stage, and the all-out British army finally occupied the city of Ejelle shortly after receiving Australian reinforcements, opening up the gateway city to the oil fields in eastern Algeria.
For the British, they can already claim that they are about to control half of Algeria's oil fields.
After all, on the way to this rich land full of oil fields, the defensive positions of the French army are only a few high grounds and a short section of simple fortifications built at zero time.
Twelve miles west of Ejele, on a hilltop marked as Highland No. 12 by the British Army's Operational Research Department and its surrounding area, Major General Stephen, commander of the French Algerian 3th Colonial Division, was ordered to stop the British army here.
What Stephen received was a death order, and the British army must not be allowed to pass through this area. This was what Governor Belante told him on the phone in person.
Major General Stephen, who was still in the rear a few days ago and had not suffered a battle, was now finally given his turn to consider his current situation.
Judging from the situation of the enemy and the enemy, it is obvious that he must stick to his position, because about 20 miles further back is the area where the oil fields in eastern Algeria are located.Once the British army is allowed to pass, the oil field will change its ownership.
After all, the oil field is dead, and there is no question of belief.It belongs to whoever occupies it.
Judging from the current situation, Stephen's position around the No. 3 highland was not in vain.
He believes that although the combat effectiveness of his 5th Colonial Division is not as good as that of Berente's 3 French native divisions, at least he can rely on fortifications to persist for a period of time.
What really disturbed him was the No. 3 Heights opposite the No. 4 Heights. The fortifications there were really worrying.
The two colonial regiments on this highland and its surrounding areas did not make any effort to build fortifications at all.
After all, the quality of troops recruited by the colonies varies greatly.Some units, like Stephen's, are a little more reliable.And some troops can only gather heads.
If the British army launched a fierce attack around the No. 4 highland, they would probably only need one charge to break through the highland.
The No. 4 Heights and the No. 5 Heights currently stationed by the 3th Colonial Division of the French Army happened to be very close. Once the No. 4 Heights fell, the British army could condescend and suppress the No. 3 Heights currently in charge of Stephen.
At that time, due to the insecurity of the flanks, no matter how strong the fortifications were, they could not stop the British army from capturing Height 3.
Thinking of this, Stephen felt that it was necessary for him to immediately ask the commander guarding the No. 4 Heights to urgently strengthen the fortifications.
This is like the principle of wooden barrels. It is not the longest plank but the shortest plank that often determines the amount of water in a barrel.
The fortifications on the No. 4 Heights are the "shortest board of the barrel" of the defense chain of the French colonial forces in this area.
Therefore, the chief of staff of the 5th Colonial Division immediately sent someone to relay Stephen's request to a white colonel named Jefferson on Height 4, asking the other party to pay attention to strengthening the fortifications.
Like Steve, Jefferson was a white French officer.In fact, all the officers above the battalion of the colonial conscripts were white officers appointed by Berante himself, so as to ensure that the colonial troops had basic tactical execution capabilities and could carry out Berrante's orders and commands.
Since Colonel Jefferson is also a Frenchman, after Major General Stephen, who is also a fellow villager, sent someone to pass the message, he also started to let a group of black soldiers start to strengthen the fortifications on the No. 4 Heights.
At this time, the French headquarters in Algeria received very bad news-the vanguard of the British army's offensive force from Ejelle had arrived in the last group of French colonial troops at the southern end Outside the station, less than 5 miles away.
"What the hell! Why are the British guys so fast?" Colonel Jefferson, the commander of the French army defending the No. 4 Heights, said to himself: "With the advancing speed of the British army, we have no time to finish it." Not a reinforcement of fortifications."
Sighing, Jefferson helplessly instructed his subordinates: "Order the troops to prepare for battle, speed up the reinforcement of the fortifications, and strive to complete the construction before the enemy arrives."
The speed of the British is really too fast, far faster than the expectations of Jefferson, Stephen and others.
After occupying Ejerai, the British army continued to advance without even taking a break.
Of course, this was the decision made by the British commander, Admiral Wavell, under the pressure of Churchill.
In this way, the British rushed to the oil field in eastern Algeria, in front of the last small French defense section, but Berente's French army was oppressed by the British army on other fronts, and could not draw reinforcements. Help here.
It can be said that the French army has fallen into a very passive situation across the board, and the final result of all this seems to have become a foregone conclusion.
But at the southern tip of Algeria, a large-scale plan that could change the situation of the war is brewing.
Yes, there are more than [-] Italian troops at the southern end!