The decisive battle against the Third Reich

"General!" Major Clayman couldn't help but be stunned: "Maybe... this is not something we can decide, is it?"

Major Clayman felt a little ashamed of himself.

This is not surprising. It seems inappropriate to discuss the fate of Crete Island with the rank of major. This is the business of the general.

However, Rommel was a grassroots general, and he was sometimes more willing to listen to the opinions of junior officers.

"But you are the main force that won Crete!" Rommel said, "You have the power!"

As he spoke, Rommel raised his head towards Qin Chuan and said, "Look, I often listen to the second lieutenant's advice, and even the victory of this battle was entirely based on the second lieutenant's advice. Facts have proved that he was right! We achieved this brilliant victory!”

The officers became excited after hearing this, and they all made various suggestions to Rommel, such as strengthening the garrison at the "eight o'clock" heights, strengthening air defense, etc. Rommel would make suggestions from time to time. I will also reply with one or two sentences.

Qin Chuan just listened to these. Rommel did this because he really wanted to know some difficulties and suggestions from the grassroots, but more importantly, Rommel was mobilizing the enthusiasm of the officers and soldiers to make the German officers and soldiers think that each of them was involved in this. The management of a war... Rommel was very good at this kind of thing. This was his advantage. Therefore, on the North African battlefield, the German army was always able to exert extraordinary combat effectiveness and defeat the British army with more troops.

Montgomery's command style was just the opposite, so the British army always needed more troops and better equipment.

The real discussion of this issue was when Colonel Slain and General Strike arrived at the Iraqi airport... Some issues cannot be known to ordinary soldiers because they are military secrets and cannot be discussed openly.

Colonel Slain brought several bottles of wine with him. As soon as he entered the headquarters, he showed off to Rommel and others: "I have been curious about where the British wine comes from. I looked at it in the airport warehouse. I found out after I packed boxes of wine ready to be shipped to Africa!”

"You should ask me!" Rommel laughed: "Don't you know that Crete is a famous wine island?"

Crete has hundreds of local grape varieties, some of which have been cultivated since ancient times. Many wine critics agree that unique local grape varieties create distinctive flavors.

"Oh, really?" Colonel Slaine looked confused: "But why didn't anyone tell me?"

General Strike replied: "That's because they are worried that after you parachute here, you will only focus on grabbing wine, and you will not be able to fight when you are drunk, right?!"

There was laughter in the headquarters.

After his assistant poured a glass of wine for everyone, Rommel raised his glass and said: "For victory!"

"For victory!"

…

After taking a sip, Rommel shook the wine glass habitually and said, "Gentlemen, do you know what problems we are facing now? We have captured too much territory!"

The officers couldn't help but burst into laughter again.

"This is no joke!" Rommel said seriously: "We have the Alexander Line to defend, and now we have captured Crete... Yes, this is indeed a victory to be proud of, and it is also very important. But it is also true That's why we have to defend it, but we don't have any extra troops. As you know, including the 90th Light Division, we only have three armored divisions. If the 90th Light Division is stationed on Crete, we will have no more troops. There are only two armored divisions. On the other hand... Germany is attacking the Soviet Union again, and the Führer has no more troops to invest in North Africa!"

"Maybe we can let the Italians garrison Crete!" General Strike said.

"Perhaps we can only do this!" Rommel said: "But this is obviously not a safe way, because you know the fighting power of the Italians... This will only put Crete in danger, The British may even re-enact our attack plan on Crete!”

Rommel was right, the Germans could land on Crete and win, and so could the British.

The British even have many advantages in parachuting. For example, the British have aircraft carriers, and the British transport aircraft are more advanced... At this time, the transport aircraft used by the British paratroopers was the "Dakota" transport aircraft (actually the American C47 transport aircraft ), this transport aircraft has a range of 2,600 kilometers, a top speed of 360 kilometers per hour, and a transport aircraft can carry 28 people. These are not comparable to Italian transport aircraft.

"What do you think, second lieutenant?" Rommel asked Qin Chuan.

Qin Chuan thought for a while and replied: "General, I think we should give up our plan to attack temporarily!"

Rommel was stunned when he heard this.

Qin Chuan obviously guessed what Rommel was thinking... At this time, the African Army did not actually have enough troops to defend, but did not have enough troops to attack.

If it was just defense, the two German armored divisions plus the cooperation of the Italian army could hold the Alexander Line. Why can't it be held now that there are more reinforcements and the supply lines are clear?

As for Crete, it can be completely left to the defense of the 90th Light Division and several Italian infantry divisions that landed.

But what Rommel was thinking about was not defense, but offense.

He wanted to capture Port Said and even Cairo as quickly as possible, so he had to transfer the 90th Light Division to North Africa, so he did not have enough troops to defend Crete.

"Uh-huh!" Rommel responded. Qin Chuan's words were obviously not to his liking, but today's Qin Chuan is no longer Wu Xia Amon. Although Qin Chuan is still a second lieutenant, he is famous and proposed. The advice is always right.

So Rommel asked patiently: "Tell me what you think, Second Lieutenant, why should we give up the attack!"

"Because the British defense line has been stabilized!" Qin Chuan said: "It is difficult for us to let the British be fooled or make mistakes. In addition, the British have advantages in equipment and troops... rushing to attack will only further weaken us. We need to replenish our strength now!”

General Strike and others nodded in agreement. The current situation was actually very clear.

But Rommel didn't think so.

"Second Lieutenant!" Rommel said: "Do you think I don't know this? But we have no other choice, do you understand? There is no other choice... You know the reason. Behind the British is the United States, and the United States is an industrial power. , is a war machine, and their equipment will be continuously transported to the British through the Suez Canal! So, do you think the situation between the enemy and us will change if we wait like this?”

As he spoke, Rommel glanced at the officers in the headquarters and said: "No, it will not change, and the disparity will be even greater! So we must attack!"