0p0 Third Reich Episode 328
Third Reich Episode 328
Wavell was a little startled when he thought of this. He clearly felt that since he led the troops to fight against the Italian army, he had achieved good results, so he began to underestimate the enemy.
This is not a good phenomenon.After all, Berente's French army is still very different from Mussolini's Italian army.
And as the battle in the southern section gradually reached a stalemate, Johnson, who was in charge here, became more and more anxious.
He kept walking up and down the headquarters of his British 24th Division, trying to think of some countermeasures.
We must find a way to change this situation, otherwise it is very likely that all previous efforts will be wasted!
Wavell, who also knew the situation, discussed his thoughts with Johnson over the phone: "This is not going to work, we have no spare reserves. Look, if I transfer you to the 974th and 775th regiments of the Australian Army , Let them go up and join the battle now, are you sure you can take Ejlai?"
Indeed, Johnson knew it in his heart.This may be the only way.On the three-way front, the British army has been fully engaged in the battle against the French army. Only the two Australian regiments guarding against the remnants of Italy have not yet joined the battle.
If the 24th Division still wants to get reinforcements, only the Australian soldiers of these two regiments can be distributed to them.
But Johnson is still hopeful that the 131st and 768th regiments under his command can complete the task of dividing the French army in the city without relying on reinforcements.
Therefore, he shook his head while holding the phone, and rejected Wavell's suggestion: "Just wait and see, I just reinforced my own guard battalion to the front line, maybe the situation will change."
Wavell felt that Johnson was lucky this time, and he didn't think that the strength of a guard battalion could change the situation of the battle.
Just when Wavell was about to speak and continue to persuade Johnson, Johnson was interrupted.
A dusty British officer ran into his command post from the outside, saluted Johnson and reported: "Master! Frank, the communications staff officer of the 131st Regiment, is reporting to you! The telephone lines of our regiment headquarters and the headquarters have been blocked. It was blown up, so the head of the regiment personally sent me to report the battle to you."
"Tell me." Johnson, whose train of thought was suddenly interrupted, temporarily held the phone, put the phone to his ear, and looked at Frank.
"With the reinforcements of the guard battalion, our regiment finally made an assault to the city center." Frank first reported the good news to Johnson. For Johnson, who was determined to take Ejerai, there was no news more exciting than this.
"Good job!" Hearing that the troops had rushed into the city center, Johnson waved his fist excitedly and said, "Let your commander continue to attack at all costs and take the city center for me."
However, what responded to Johnson was not the answer he had imagined.
I just listened to Frank's helpless report: "Master, the number of infantry in our regiment is further declining. In some areas, due to the heavy casualties of the infantry combat team, we have to stop advancing. And in some areas, the tanks we followed are also due to the loss of We lost the cover of the infantry combat group and were destroyed by the enemy. The regiment commander asked me to ask the general to at least give our regiment another full-staffed infantry battalion, so that our regiment can continue to perform combat missions.”
Text 5 Chapter [-] An Order
Johnson knew this communication staff officer named Frank, and what he reported back really made Johnson feel tight.
The 131st regiment actually stopped moving after receiving reinforcements from two companies of the guard battalion, and was even forced to retreat.
This is not a good sign!Once the 131st regiment retreats, the situation of the 768th regiment will be even worse. After all, the two regiments have been advancing in parallel almost all the time.
At this time, Wavell on the other end of the phone also anxiously urged: "Johnson, you can't hesitate any longer, or your attack may be in danger of failure! You must take immediate and decisive measures to reinforce the front line. We Order now to send the 974th and 775th Australian Regiment up to reinforce you."
Johnson didn't write any ink. After learning that Wavell decided to assign the two Australian regiments to himself, he quickly made corresponding arrangements: "Pass me an order. After the 974th regiment arrives, immediately follow Frank's staff into the city. Reinforcements will be implemented for operations in the city center. The 775th regiment will not move when it arrives, but it must be ready to fight and be ready to join the battle at the front. Also, send a report to the Australians to ask where they are now? How long will it take to get there? rush here?"
"Execute immediately." Johnson waved his hands and ordered to his subordinates.
"Yes, General Johnson, I will execute it immediately!" After Frank replied, he immediately walked out of the hidden headquarters where the headquarters was located, to execute the latest order Johnson gave him.
In fact, Frank was also a little bit guilty. He wondered why Johnson only sent one regiment of the 974th regiment to reinforce instead of both regiments.
In fact, it is hard to say how long this force can maintain the offensive on the front line. Maybe Johnson just wants to stabilize the front line and stop retreating.
After all, it is correct to still have a regiment in hand. Now that the strength of the entire 24th Division has been exhausted, it is always beneficial to have a reserve team in hand in case of any unexpected situation.
In fact, Major General Johnson, the commander of the 24th Division of the British Army, did not have much confidence in relying on his own division to conquer the city of Ejerai at this time.
The current situation of the 24th Division is very bad, and only after the arrival of the Australian army, can they have enough strength to launch a continued attack on Ejele, an important city on the Algerian border.
Otherwise, with the 24th Division's forced attack, it is very likely that they will face failure, and they may even be driven out of the city by the French army in the city.
When General Randolph, the commander of the 13th Army of the British Army, who was fighting on the middle front, was also very surprised when he saw the urgent telegram sent by the 24th Division.
There is a reason why the 24th Division has been placed on the front line for assault by him. This division has always had a good record in the past. Generally speaking, it is the division with the strongest combat effectiveness among the three divisions in the army.
Moreover, although General Johnson, the commander of this division, is very young, as far as he knows, since the beginning of the war with Italy, this young general has been giving him constant surprises.
But now, in front of the humble African city of Ejele, the young teacher sent an urgent telegram.
What does this mean?It means that he really needs reinforcements.
Randolph knew Johnson very well, and it was impossible for Johnson to ask him for help unless he had to.
In this telegram, Johnson described the battle situation at Ejele as serious, and even mentioned the possibility of failure of the attack.General Randolph believes that this is by no means alarmist talk, and it is likely to become a reality.
Randolph frowned looking at the telegram. The chief of staff on the side hadn't read the telegram yet, so he asked, "General, what's wrong?"
Handing the telegram in his hand to the chief of staff, Randolph said anxiously: "This is a telegram from the 24th Division, please take a look. The situation there is very bad."
The chief of staff memorized the telegram suspiciously, feeling the same anxiety in his heart.
He also knew Johnson, a young division commander, very well. He had known Johnson since the beginning of the war.
It is impossible for Johnson to lie about the military situation. The current situation can only show that the combat effectiveness of Ejleri's French army is indeed very strong, and the strength of the 24th Division has also been reduced to a very dangerous situation.
After thinking for a while, the chief of staff said: "It seems that the situation of the 24th division is very bad. It seems that their tasks are a bit too heavy. With the current status of this division, it is impossible to complete the task. I think they have tried their best. .”
After a pause, the chief of staff continued: "I suggest that Commander Wavell be consulted immediately, and try to issue a new order to the 24th Division, ordering them to stop attacking the city, as long as the existing front is maintained."
The chief of staff is the former commander of the 24th Division and Johnson's old superior. He has very affection for this division.Now this division is about to be wiped out, and he finds it hard to accept this situation.
Even if the 24th Division has a famous young division commander, even if this division is the main force of the 13th Army.However, this kind of continuous use has always kept the division at the front of the southern front, and the division is almost reduced to a bare shelf. This is what the chief of staff does not want to see.
Of course, Randolph is also a responsible person.
The order to let the 24th Division first occupy the city of Ejele, and then go west to occupy the Algerian oil fields, was issued by General Wavell himself.To change this order, generally speaking, only Admiral Wavell or Prime Minister Churchill can change it in person.
But the current situation is that the 24th Division has been unable to complete this task, so he, the commander, wants to stand up and take this responsibility, and change the order by himself, so as to avoid General Wavell and the headquarters from holding Johnson accountable.
If the higher-ups want to be held accountable, then the army commander himself should bear the responsibility for changing the order.
"Well, your suggestion is correct. Let's go and draft a report to the headquarters, report the actual situation of the 24th Division, and propose that the 13th Army Command has issued an order to suspend the 24th Division's attack on Ejele City At the same time, a message was drafted to the command of the Australian army, asking why they were moving so slowly? This is an act of delaying the fighter plane! Ordering them to take a rapid march and rush to the city of Ejerai within two hours. After arriving, the The Australians are responsible for attacking and occupying the city of Ejele, and the 24th Division is only used as an auxiliary offensive force." General Randolph ordered solemnly.
"Stop! Communications Soldiers, immediately hand over these two telegrams to the Communications Section, and ask them to convey General Randolph's order immediately!" The chief of staff hastily drafted the telegram, and after Randolph signed it, he immediately asked Dolan The driver of the armored car that the husband was sitting in stopped, and called a communication soldier of the three-wheeled army on a motorcycle to give the order to the other party to send the message to the car where the radio station of the communication department was located.
Text Chapter 5 and Six
The commander of the 26th Division of Australia was about to reach the border between Algeria and Libya when he received the stern telegram from the Army Command.
Judging from this telegram, the situation of the 24th Division in front is very bad, and it is possible that the attack on Ejele City will fail.This also brought an opportunity, a rare criminal opportunity, to the Australian teacher.
Johnson, the commander of the 24th Division, has a good reputation for outstanding ability in the entire 8th Army and even the entire British Army in North Africa. General Wavell and other generals have habitually reserved the opportunity for meritorious service to the 24th Division.This also once made the commander of the 25th Indian Division and himself feel a little slanderous. Just before departure the day before yesterday, he met Mr. Brian of the 25th Division and chatted for a while. The military division is the darling of the British army, and the remaining two Commonwealth divisions are all soy sauce.
Brian felt dissatisfied in his heart, and the commander of the 26th Australian Division knew about it.The cause was in the previous battle to conquer Benghazi. Originally, Brian thought that he would win the battle of Benghazi, but he did not expect that in the end, Johnson of the 24th Division would take the credit that he was about to master.
But the situation is different now. According to the latest order of the Army Command, the Australian 26th Division will immediately take over the combat power to attack the city after arriving in Ejlei, while the 24th Division will only be responsible for assisting the offensive at most. .