The decisive battle against the Third Reich

The United States also considers that the battlefield in North Africa is of great importance, because the terrain of North Africa is very special. To the west is the Strait of Gibraltar and to the east is the Suez Canal. The narrowest point is only 13 kilometers. It can be said that it can be blocked with artillery.

Once North Africa falls into German hands, the Mediterranean will be controlled by Germany, so almost all of Europe will be in Germany's hands... They are isolated from the outside world and have no other choice but to surrender, which is obviously not in the interests of the United States.

So after thinking about it, Roosevelt asked, "What can we do to help you?"

"Tanks!" said Churchill. "We need more tanks, and artillery, if possible!"

Of course the United States had it. It had not yet entered the war and had weapons and equipment. However, Roosevelt did not want to let "Stuart" embarrass the United States anymore, so Roosevelt discussed it with Marshall and decided to agree to Churchill's proposal. Ask for more, stronger support and start preparing now.

General Auchinleck was also busy here.

In response to the massive offensive by the German and Italian troops, Major General Rich formulated two plans:

The first plan is to use the defense fortifications along the border with mechanized troops and air power to deal with the German army, so as to consume the effective strength of the German army and finally block the German offensive.

This plan may be feasible, because the shortcoming of the German army is its small number of troops. If the British army can use the favorable terrain to fight flexibly and consume the effective strength of the German army, then the offensives of the German and Italian armies will be easily resolved.

But this plan was rejected by General Auchinleck as soon as it was proposed.

"God, this is simply suicide!" General Auchinleck said: "Don't you know that mobile warfare is what the Germans are good at? In addition to the more than two hundred Stuarts that have just been transported to the front line, our armored forces 'Except for the tanks, the others are crawling on the ground like turtles! They will be divided and surrounded by the Germans and then annihilated!"

"Then we only have the second option!" Major General Rich said: "We can form a high-speed mobile force. This force is mainly equipped with 'Stuart' tanks. This tank is faster than the German tanks, so It can fight and move to delay the Germans and buy us time. The main force of the Eighth Army will withdraw to Matruh to build defensive positions and buy time to reorganize the team, and launch a counterattack against the enemy when there is an opportunity! "

General Auchinleck couldn't help but frowned when he heard this: "Matruh? No, it is too close to the border, only more than two hundred kilometers away. The Germans will probably arrive within three days, and three days is simply not enough time." It’s too late to build a position and reorganize the troops!”

General Rich's expression couldn't help but change: "The general means..."

"We have to continue to retreat!" General Auchinleck replied: "Give up Matruh!"

"But General!" Major General Rich said anxiously: "There are large oasis areas in and around Matruh. If we leave it to the Germans..."

Although Major General Ritchie had not finished speaking, General Auchinleck already understood why Ritchie wanted to use Matruh as his line of defense.

Major General Rich is right. Matruh has more than 2,000 springs and a large amount of fresh water resources. In addition, local residents have also planted wheat, beans, olive trees, date palms, etc., making it a desert. A rare treasure.

If it is left to the Germans, it almost means that the German army does not have to transport fresh water and food, which will undoubtedly reduce the pressure on the German army's logistical supplies to a great extent.

Thinking of this, General Auchinleck could only sigh, nodded and said: "Just build a defense line in Matruh, and order the 13th Army to seize the time to reorganize. As for the counterattack... I think it's better to forget about it!"

Obviously, General Auchinleck had lost confidence in the combat effectiveness of the British Eighth Army after a series of defeats.

"Yes!" Major General Rich responded and passed on the order.

General Auchinleck was misled on this point. His original idea was correct. Three days was not enough for the British army to build fortifications and not enough for reorganization.

This is mainly because the tanks equipped by the British 13th Army are mostly "Matilda" and "Valentine". Their speed is too slow. Many troops were even rushing to Matruh when General Auchinleck issued the order. on the way.

On the other hand, the Afrika Korps was advancing much faster than General Auchinleck had imagined... A journey of more than two hundred kilometers would indeed take three days at normal marching speed, but Rommel ordered the troops to march forcefully every day. It took more than one hundred kilometers and two days to reach Matruh City.

So the British army actually only had one day to prepare in Matruh.

What's worse is that General Auchinleck gave an order for three of them to build fortifications and prepare for battle, so everyone thought they had three days... but the German army suddenly appeared in front of them and caught them off guard. .

Both plans proposed by Major General Ritchie have shortcomings, but if the two plans are combined...that is, using "Stuart" tanks to form a fast mobile force to harass and block the German armored forces, the British 13th Army If Matruh has time to form a line of defense, it is not impossible to defend Matrouh... Matrouh has abundant fresh water resources, which can also reduce the supply pressure on the British army.

However, as mentioned before, General Auchinleck had been psychologically damaged by the German armored divisions, so he did not dare to send out "Stuart" tanks to do anything anymore. He took it for granted that it was Go and die.

Of course, this is a good thing for the German army.

The German 15th Armored Division arrived at Matruh the next night, and then launched an attack without stopping.

The British 13th Army, which did not expect the Germans to arrive so quickly, was unprepared and was beaten back. Fortunately, the 13th Army had a unit similar to the Australian 6th Infantry Division, which was the New Zealand 2nd Division.

The 2nd New Zealand Division was also a unit that participated in World War I. Similar to Australia, New Zealand also has a high degree of identification with the United Kingdom... New Zealanders only have a small number of indigenous Maoris, and the rest Most are immigrants from Europe, especially the British.

This force used fortifications to block the offensive of the German 15th Armored Division, allowing the British 13th Army to reorganize and reorganize a line of defense.

General Auchinleck breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the news. He secretly thought that the British army finally looked like soldiers. Otherwise, no matter how many advantages they had in any battle, they would lose... General Auchinleck really didn't know how to command. Such an army fights.

However, what General Auchinleck didn't know was that the 21st Armored Division had already left Sidioma and penetrated into the rear of Matruh as quickly as possible...