The decisive battle against the Third Reich

The quarrels between Britain and the United States actually exist not only in meetings of senior generals, but also between soldiers of the two armies, the media, and even among ordinary people.

Contradiction is such a strange thing. It has always existed. If the Battle of Sicily had been victorious, it would not have intensified. But now that the Battle of Sicily has failed, everyone wants to find out the reasons and responsibilities for the failure. Some people even think that It was impossible for the British and American armies to unite and defeat the Germans.

This view came from a senior military commentator named Nims in the American media at the time. He analyzed this on TV: "Everyone is thinking about this issue: why are the Allied forces so much stronger than the enemy? Our equipment It is much better and much better than the enemy, for example, we have air supremacy and air superiority, and even worse... the Italian soldiers and people in Sicily still couldn't wait to fall into the arms of the Allies, but..."

Nims paused and changed the topic: "Why would we lose this war even though we have absolute advantages in all aspects? Is it because the landing operation is too difficult? No, we know that the Allied forces are landing We didn’t encounter any difficulties. Are the Germans smart? Maybe, but that doesn’t mean we can defeat the enemy if they are smart!”

There was a little laughter in between.

"I think!" Nimes continued: "The fundamental reason for the failure is the disunity of the American and British armies. Oh, yes... everyone knows this. But no one considers why the American and British armies are not united! Gentlemen , Remember Thucydides Trap? The British always think that they are the world’s most powerful country, at least that’s what they think, and the United States is challenging his position..."

The host asked in surprise: "Mr. Nims, do you think we are walking into Thucydides' Trap with the UK?"

"Yes!" Nimes replied: "I do think so, so some people think that as long as they do a good job in the ideological work of the commanders of the American and British armies and let them reach a unified opinion, then they can unite together and finally defeat Germany. People. I don’t think so, because the United States and Britain have conflicts in national interests. The conflict I am talking about is not a dispute between officers or soldiers or even civilians and the media. Do you understand? Therefore, it is very likely that the United States and Britain will appear to be inseparable and unable to truly unite..."

Not many people hold this view, but it is enough to make everyone feel "thumped" in their hearts.

In order to end this endless quarrel, Churchill personally flew to North Africa a few days later to conduct an inspection of the Fifteenth Army Group (Note: It includes the British Eighth Army and the US Seventh Army).

The results of the inspection surprised Churchill. The contradiction between Britain and the United States was deeper than he imagined, and it had even developed to the point where British and American soldiers fought in groups every day.

A worried Churchill organized a meeting.

Perhaps because it was the British Prime Minister who convened the meeting, the officers of the British and American armies did not quarrel as usual.

"I know that everyone here is dissatisfied!" Churchill said: "Yes, I am also very dissatisfied, with you, with this war, with everything. If you are dissatisfied or vent to your own people, it will be useful. If so, I should send you all home right now. But you all know it won't help, while we argue about who is more responsible for this failure, while our soldiers use beer bottles on each other! When we were smashing each other's heads with stones, and when we were trying every means to find evidence to attack the other party...do you know what the Germans were doing? "

As he spoke, Churchill slammed a thick stack of documents on the table and said: "They are building trench fortifications, they are laying mines, and they are training with rifles equipped with bayonets!"

There was silence in the conference room.

"If you plan to continue to quarrel like this!" Churchill finally said: "Believe me, I can let you go home and quarrel!"

No one doubted whether Churchill had this ability. Although he was the British Prime Minister and had no authority to mobilize American generals, he could propose to Roosevelt a change of commander.

At the same time, if the quarrel continues, I am afraid that Roosevelt will also be on Churchill's side.

So finally the British and American generals turned the page.

And not just doing this, the lower-level officers are also required to comply from the top down, and then the grass-roots officers affect the entire army.

Churchill called Eisenhower, Montgomery and other major generals to his office for a short meeting.

"I want to know the time of the next attack!" Churchill, holding a cigar, asked, "How long will it take?"

"I was just about to make a suggestion to you, Prime Minister!" Eisenhower said: "I think it is time for us to open up the second battlefield..."

"No, no, I'm talking about the Mediterranean!" Churchill interrupted Eisenhower: "We cannot give up the entire strategy of the Mediterranean just because of one failure!"

Churchill would never give up the opportunity to sit on the mountain and watch the fight between tigers and tigers.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister!" Eisenhower said: "The point is... we do not have suitable tactics to deal with the enemy's tunnel defense tactics, at least not yet."

"Does this matter?" Churchill asked irritably.

"Of course it does matter!" Eisenhower spread out a map in front of Churchill and said: "The Gabes Defense Line is a mountainous area, and the Germans have built tunnel fortifications here. Sicily is mainly mountainous, and we found that the tunnel fortifications there are larger than we imagined. Similarly, three-quarters of Greece is mountainous, and then there is Italy... The Germans have surrounded the Mediterranean with tunnels and fortifications. We have to face difficulties if we attack any point in the Mediterranean. They are all the enemy’s tunnels and fortifications in the mountains.”

"Then find a way to deal with them!" Churchill said.

"We have no choice!" Eisenhower retorted: "During this period, I have had people simulate their tunnel fortifications in the hope of finding suitable tactics, but all the corresponding tactics proposed have been rejected!"

After a pause, Eisenhower continued: "And we don't even need to face such complicated tunnel fortifications here, because 80% of France is plains, and the mountains are mainly concentrated in the southeast, especially now that the Germans We have already attacked Moscow on the Eastern Front, and this is the best time for us to land in northern France and attack Germany..."

"That's enough, General Eisenhower!" Churchill interrupted Eisenhower loudly. After a pause, he realized that he had lost his composure. He lowered his voice and said, "I want to talk to General Montgomery alone!"