Battle of the Third Reich

The rain was getting bigger and bigger, and the German army in Dover was still busy. After midnight, two large transport ships arrived at the port, and one of them brought rain gear and equipment that was urgently needed to land in the cluster.

German soldiers carry their respective marching backpacks with them during the battle, and there are only laundry changes and an emergency food. In fact, many people are even reluctant to carry these. Many soldiers left their backpacks on the company's wing car, and only took the necessary ammunition and equipment to carry them lightly. There is no sign of the weather change at all, the sun is shining in the first moment, and the clouds start to cover up the next moment.

At that time, the various troops were still in charge of combat operations. The urban area had not been completely cleared. Some stubborn British soldiers still had sporadic exchanges with the Germans, which led to the surrounding German troops competing to support, some areas have been Covered by the fire, the troops in front could not be withdrawn at all, and the army in the rear also did not know the current location of their combat troops.

By the end of the battle, raindrops were already floating in the sky. Many soldiers did not carry rain gear and began to look for houses nearby to avoid rain, which caused even more confusion in management. The commander is out of touch with his own forces, and no one can find anyone between the combat forces and the armies. Although there is a radio connection, how can these Germans know how to go to the Custer restaurant, and where is the Wilson butcher.

Accurate military maps are completely useless at this time, because many streets have been blocked by collapsed buildings, and there are some newly dug trenches and traps. It is not convenient for soldiers to walk, not to mention bulky heavy trucks. German soldiers marching hurriedly in sleeveless raincoats were everywhere in the streets, as well as a large number of British captives and civilians. Both the combat department and the logistics department have become a mess.

In the end, the angry Guderian issued an order to regroup the troops and began to arrange the living area according to the formation of each unit, which restored the order again, but it also took a lot of time. Subsequent reinforcements arrived to add to these problems, and the landing cluster was already overwhelmed. Where there is still energy to solve their accommodation. Long Dested can only express his understanding. After consulting with Bock, he circled an area on the map to let the troops solve the camping problem on their own.

The officer responsible for resettlement has been escaping from madness. Who would have thought that the troops of several divisions to be placed in such an area, and the materials and equipment of several times the number of people need to find a safe place to store. This is Dover. The barracks that had been able to accommodate a large number of troops and the fortress on the other side of the fortress were mostly smashed. Now both soldiers and officers can only live in ordinary houses.

Dover also concentrated a large number of armored forces. Although these tanks and armored vehicles are not afraid of rain, they need to have dry space for repairs and maintenance. Although the German armored forces in the previous battles had brilliant results. However, it is not unscathed. Many equipments and machinery have been overloaded. At this time, repairs and maintenance must be carried out. Otherwise, it is difficult to ensure that the chain will not be lost in subsequent operations. Some farms on the outskirts of Dover have become storage places for various tank battalions, mainly because there are generally spacious barns and cargo bins that can be used by repair companies, and even so, until these troops are settled. The sky is already dark.

According to the original plan of the headquarters, this should not happen, the problem is that Dover will only leave a part of the defenders that night. All the big troops will advance inland. Now not only have all the big troops stayed, but they have also brought their respective logistical armies with the continuous delivery of personnel and equipment to the other side. As a result, they were overcrowded for a while.

The headquarters transferred some troops to villages and towns on the outskirts of the city, where most of the vacant houses remained intact. The British had limited capacity when they evacuated, so they only took away some valuables and easy-to-carry furniture. Most of the stupid family members were left in the house.

Lieutenant Zeissler’s armored grenadier company did not participate in the follow-up operations. They remained as the backbone of the outer blockade at the Royal Duke’s Military School on the Dover Highway. Instead, the second company participated in the battle against Dover. However, I heard that I was only cruising around the battlefield, and did not directly participate in the attack. Because the terrain of this place is not suitable for half-track vehicles, although these vehicles have good off-road capabilities, the hills are too steep for them.

The headquarters has a very clear understanding of grenadiers. They prohibit the commander from using these troop carriers as combat armored vehicles. These semi-tracked vehicles have certain bulletproof capabilities, but only for rifles and pistols. In heavy machine guns and larger In front of a caliber anti-tank weapon, this vehicle is still extremely fragile and cannot be fooled by its sturdy appearance. In fact, it is just a troop transport truck with a thicker shell.

Zeissler’s armored grenadier company had good luck and did not suffer as much as his colleagues. The college had enough rooms for them to live in. There was also a huge indoor court where vehicles could be parked. The German crawler hit the wall. A gap made two rows of vehicles parked in this indoor court.

The remaining platoon was placed on the side of the Dover Highway. The Germans put up a huge canopy beside the bushes. The soldiers built a shooting shelter under the canopy, and built mortars and heavy machine guns inside. . The perimeter and top of the canopy are covered with a camouflage net, which is difficult to identify in the dark weather, and it is impossible to distinguish it from the surrounding bushes at night.

The three half-tracked vehicles were also equipped with canvas canopies. A row of soldiers were stationed here, and the personnel rotation was carried out every two hours. The soldiers were always vigilant and tightly locked the road from Dover to Canterbury.

The original kitchen and warehouse of the college also contained a lot of food and supplies stored by the school, many of which were specially allocated by the local garrison to these military school students. The grenadier company’s squadron arrived at the academy before dark and brought supplementary supplies and ammunition. When night fell, all the soldiers ate a hot, fragrant meal, and even the student captives each received a bowl of German-style broth.

These students gave Zeissler some headaches. He didn't know how to classify them. If the soldiers were just children who had not graduated. If they are civilians, they are military trained and fully armed. In the end, Zeissler is planning to classify them as militia. After all, they are all wearing uniforms and carrying clear signs. Zeissler is going to give these children prisoner of war treatment, so that they can at least keep them. Their little life.

"Company commander. The regiment has a new order." The signalling soldier protruded from the armored car and shouted at him.

"Wait a minute." Zeissler drank the broth from the lunch box and then put down the lunch box and walked to the command car.

"Well, we have work to do. Order the second and third rows to gather here in twenty minutes. Have the soldiers fully armed and hand over unnecessary luggage items to the rearrangement. Each class carries three cardinals. Ammunition, each car group must prepare two barrels of spare fuel." Zeissler said aloud to the company chief.

"Observe. Sir." The master chief saluted Zeissler and then turned and ran out of the indoor court.

"What about the captives, we have no time to hand them over to the gendarmerie." The medical officer of the company asked.

"A row will stay here, and the gendarmerie will come to take over these captives tomorrow morning." Zeissler walked to the command vehicle, grabbed the handle by the tailgate, and climbed up the carriage with his pedals.

"Connect me to a row of radios." Zeissler walked to the signal soldier. He said, holding his shoulder.

"Wait, sir." The signal soldier picked up the microphone of the 300 walkie-talkie and began to call out loudly.

"Bread calls bacon, bread calls bacon, do you hear bacon?"

"Which code is this guy from?" The medical officer standing under the car asked the messenger beside him.

"Upper." The commander pointed his finger at the top of his head and shrugged his shoulders.

"Bacon received it and heard it clearly." A row of signal soldiers heard from the microphone hanging beside the carriage.

"I'm Zeissler. Let Vail talk to me." Zeissler took the microphone from the communications soldier.

"This is Vail." A row of liners replied on the radio.

"Vail. I'm Zeissler. Now that I have a new mission, you are now coming with a class."

"Understood." Weir was a decisive officer. His answer, as always, is concise and clear.

Twenty minutes later, two rows of armored grenadiers lined up on the open ground in front of the stadium. The soldiers stood tall in the rain. The dense rain clicked on the gray m35 helmet, and the water flowed along the helmet eaves. Sleeveless poncho, and then ran down to the concrete floor under the soldier's feet along the folds of the tarpaulin.

"I know that some of you must not like rain. I hate the weather as well. But we are glorious German soldiers, and nothing can stop us from fulfilling our mission. Now we have a new mission. In the regiment Let’s mobilize two platoons of soldiers together to form a reconnaissance team. We’re going to march to Canterbury tonight. I feel very glorious now, and we have once again become the vanguard of the entire division, walking in front of all comrades, this Will always be recorded in the company's history.

Now the captains of each car listened, and arranged in a column according to the team. The command platoon and I led the team. The second-row platoon leader followed me, and the re-arrangement was still the old rules at the end. Now the action begins, and the teams immediately board the car. "Zesler gave orders to the soldiers, and the neatly arranged squares dispersed at once, and the soldiers began to lead their respective equipment under the leadership of the squadron, and rushed towards the already launched troop transporters parked by the arena. .

Zeiss nodded with satisfaction, then turned and walked towards the long rows waiting aside.

"The defense here is up to you. Tomorrow morning, a regiment will be sent to take over the captives. If I guess right, your platoon may act with the battalion."

"Observe, sir, I hope to meet you on the front line soon. Good luck." Lieutenant Weir paid a military salute to Zeissler.

"I also look forward to you catching up as soon as possible. We all need good luck, Vail." Zeissler returned a military salute to his subordinates, turned around and hurried to his command car.

Supporting the front cover, Zeissler waved his arms in the rain.

"Armored Grenadier! Go forward!" In the halo of bright headlights, the gray 251 half-tracked vehicle slammed forward, and then roared toward the road outside the college. (To be continued)