The decisive battle against the Third Reich

The officers couldn't help but look at each other after hearing this. This combat plan was a bit overwhelming, because if the Allies occupied Gafsa, they would definitely use their main armored forces to penetrate along the highway in order to divide and encircle Tunisia, but Qinchuan planned to counter-encircle them. in Tunisia.

"That is to say, we have to remove all the gasoline from this road!" Rommel said: "And we also have to defend the port and Tunisia!"

"Yes!" Qin Chuan nodded.

The port of Saima and Tunisia are naval bases and air force bases respectively, where fuel is stored.

"This is almost impossible, Lieutenant!" Major General Voigt said: "If the enemy captures Gafsa, they will garrison Gafsa, and you will be attacked from both sides by the enemy!"

"At the same time, they will also be attacked by us from several sides!" Qin Chuan said, "Because there will be our ambush on every high ground!"

Hearing this, Rommel couldn't help but fell silent. This can be said to be a risk, but the risk seems to be worth it, because it is very likely to defeat the main force of the enemy's armored division. Before that, the German army even wanted to destroy several enemy "Xie" vehicles. Mann" tanks are difficult to do.

After thinking for a while, Rommel asked: "Are the tunnel fortifications ready?"

"Ready, general!" Qin Chuan replied.

"How long can we survive in there with enough supplies?" Rommel asked.

"A week, maybe even longer!" Qin Chuan said, "If a rationing system is implemented!"

"Yes!" Rommel nodded, and then asked: "Are the soldiers ready? I mean... living in the tunnels for a week!"

Qin Chuan replied helplessly: "This may be a problem, General, because no one has tried to stay in there for a week!"

After a moment of silence, Rommel ordered to his staff: "Get General Neumann here immediately!"

"Yes, General!"

For about twenty minutes, Major General Neumann stood in Rommel's command car.

"Are your people ready?" Rommel asked as soon as he met him.

"Of course, General!" Neumann replied without thinking.

"You seem to have answered too quickly!" Rommel said: "When I say preparation, I mean whether your soldiers can stay in the tunnel for a week!"

Major General Neumann couldn't help being stunned when he heard this, and asked with a somewhat incredulous expression: "A week?"

"Yes!" Rommel said: "A week, maybe even longer!"

Major General Neumann was silent for a while, then gritted his teeth as if he had made up his mind, stood up and replied: "No problem, General!"

"Very good!" Rommel nodded, then turned his attention to Colonel Slain and said: "Although I don't want to put the First Infantry Regiment in this position, but... whether this plan can be successful or not is directly related to The survival of the Afrika Korps!"

"I understand, General!" Colonel Slaine really understood, and so did Qin Chuan.

The First Infantry Regiment is actually not suitable for participating in this kind of defensive battle, because they are elite, a mechanical infantry regiment of the armored division, and they are also an infantry regiment that has received parachute training and can be used as airborne troops.

Arranging this force to conduct conventional operations on high ground and even hide in tunnels... That would undoubtedly be a waste.

However, as Rommel said, this plan is too important, especially in the highlands around Gafsa, which requires an elite force to be stationed.

"Very good!" Rommel patted Colonel Slain on the shoulder and said, "Now, it's time to discuss the detailed combat plan!"

The detailed plan is actually very simple.

Rommel placed one armored division on the left flank of Gafsa, which is the western section of the Gabes defense line, and one armored division on the eastern section of the Gabes defense line.

This is the standard defense method of the German army... Just like the defense of the Alexander Line before, the infantry defends on the first line, and the armored divisions are on standby on the second or third line. Once the enemy breaks through somewhere, the armored division launches a counterattack against the enemy pouring in from the breach.

This seems to be no problem on the surface, but in fact it intentionally exposes the important town of Gafsa in the middle.

The remaining armored division was stationed in Tunisia.

Tunisia has two airports, one military and one civilian.

And the airport is the top priority of defense... This is somewhat similar to island defense, and is also determined by the strong air power of the United Kingdom and the United States. Once the Allies occupy the airport, they will use transport aircraft to unload soldiers and supplies from the airport in large numbers. Come on, that would be an absolute nightmare for the Germans.

What's more important is that once Tunisia is lost, the nearby port of competition cannot be saved. As a result, the Tunisian Strait is actually opened by the Allies, so the entire battle loses its meaning.

An infantry regiment was transferred from the armored division to garrison the Gafsa Highway.

Finally, Rommel also transferred the 36th Infantry Division located in Algiers to the border of Algeria and Tunisia as a reserve force.

The 36th Infantry Division is a motorized infantry division that can quickly reinforce the battlefield. At the same time, they are outside the Matre defense line on the Afghan-Turkish border, so there is no need to worry about being attacked by the Allied Armored Divisions... Matre The defense line was built on mountains and was not suitable for mechanized troops.

At this time, Montgomery had moved his headquarters to Tripoli.

This is undoubtedly a brilliant victory for the Allies... Tripoli is the capital of Libya. The Italian army once launched the North African War from here, and the German troops also set out from here to fight the British army back to Egypt.

Now, it is the first time that the British army has captured this city, which symbolizes Libya's politics and military. All soldiers are cheering, and this victory is being reported in large sections in the UK and even internationally.

But only Montgomery and Eisenhower knew that this was not actually a commendable victory. The reason was that the German strength not only did not weaken but strengthened.

"We originally only had to deal with three armored divisions, but now we have three more infantry divisions!" Montgomery said: "What's even more terrifying is that there is a fleet, and this fleet also inexplicably has powerful air defense capabilities!"

Montgomery was, of course, talking about the German army, and he tended to automatically ignore the Italian troops when discussing the enemy's strength.

Of course, except for the "Lightning Division"...but strictly speaking, the "Lightning Division" is not Italian.

"We are afraid that it will be difficult for us to raid Tunisia (name of city)!" Eisenhower said with a telegram: "We have just received intelligence that they have transferred the 90th Light Division to Tunisia!"

(Note: The capital of the Republic of Tunisia has the same name as the country. Please make up your own mind if there has been confusion before)

"Then!" Montgomery looked at the map and said, "We only have to raid Gafsa!"