The decisive battle against the Third Reich

When Eisenhower and Patton left the office, Patton whispered to Eisenhower: "Look, the British just want to stay in the Mediterranean at all costs!"

Eisenhower smiled and replied: "He will compromise because he has to compromise!"

In the office, Churchill handed Montgomery a cigar and then asked: "Is this all we have to do, I mean prepare to land in northern France?"

"I'm afraid so, Your Excellency Prime Minister!" Montgomery replied.

"Why can't we choose to continue fighting the Germans here?" Churchill asked.

"You don't understand, Your Excellency Prime Minister!" Montgomery explained: "You don't understand the subtleties of tunnel fortifications. We also dismissed this kind of fortifications at first, thinking that they were just civil fortifications from the First World War, but It's not. It's built on high ground, and we can't blast it like we can with underground fortifications, and it's also cleverly combined with ground fortifications to guard every section of the road that passes through the highlands, making it difficult for our troops to move..."

"I mean, we are right here!" Churchill said cryptically: "And then occasionally launch a few large-scale attacks!"

Montgomery understood what Churchill meant, which was to show off in the Mediterranean and find some political excuses for Churchill to delay as long as he could.

"I'm afraid not, Your Excellency Prime Minister!" Montgomery sighed: "Do you know how many casualties we suffered on the battlefield this time? We suffered more than 20,000 casualties and more than 10,000 prisoners, most of whom were British troops, and We have also lost many fighter planes and warships... If we continue to fight like this, I think our final losses may be greater than the landing in northern France!"

Churchill couldn't help but nodded. He understood the meaning of Montgomery's words. Perhaps Britain could continue to shamelessly drag on in the Mediterranean, but dragging on would make no sense, because Britain would have to pay a heavy price, and the cost would even exceed the potential benefits gained. .

"Okay!" Churchill replied: "I will discuss this matter with the United States!"

On the other side, after Rommel informed his staff about the defense situation in northern France, he frowned and said: "We are not ready yet. The defense is only one-tenth complete, and a large number of troops have been transferred to the Eastern Front and North Africa. , if the Allied forces land in northern France... the consequences will be disastrous!"

Qinchuan knew this, especially when the German army was attacking Moscow.

"But what can we do?" Neumann said: "Report to the Führer?"

Rommel shook his head feebly and replied: "I have already reported it to the head of state, but he believes in the judgment of the Military Intelligence Agency!"

Military Intelligence, the intelligence unit led by Canaris.

Although Canaris made a lot of contributions in the early stage, such as establishing the entire intelligence network and the Brandenburg detachment.

However, in the middle and late stages, its intelligence became increasingly inaccurate. Modern military historians believe that this was the reason why Canaris' mentality began to favor the Allies, so he deliberately made wrong judgments.

However, Qin Chuan didn't think so.

The reason is that Canaris's motive for betraying Hitler was for Germany, at least that's what he said. He hoped to assassinate Hitler and then negotiate with the Allies or surrender as soon as possible, so that Germany would not suffer a catastrophe.

This motive is fundamentally contradictory to his misjudgment in military intelligence. Misjudgment in military intelligence will not reduce or alleviate Germany's suffering at all, because the casualties are all German soldiers and will not shake Hitler's rule, especially If Germany lost the war militarily, Canaris would have no bargaining chips with the Allies.

Therefore, it is more likely that Canaris was powerless in the middle and late stages, and made mistakes in intelligence judgment again and again. These mistakes made him ignored by Hitler and his position was probably not guaranteed... This was also his determination to assassinate Hitler. One of the reasons.

At this time, Hitler still trusted Canaris very much, even after the last "Martin Message" incident.

There was silence in the conference room. If this was the case, it was beyond the capabilities of the generals of the African Corps.

Rommel looked at Qin Chuan and asked, "Can you convince the Führer, Captain?"

Everyone turned their attention to Qin Chuan, and there was no hidden envy and fanaticism in Neumann's eyes.

Qin Chuan thought for a while and replied: "General, you know, it is difficult to convince the head of state. Unless we can produce some evidence, just like last time. But... there is no evidence for this!"

Rommel nodded slightly disappointed.

Qin Chuan is right. The flaw in the "Martin Secrets" was clearly seen last time. This time the Allied strategic transfer is just a guess, and any guess can be easily replaced by another possibility and reason. Easily overturned.

After thinking about it, Qin Chuan said: "But I think we can try another way..."

"In what way?" Rommel asked.

"I think the British still want to stay in North Africa instead of going to France to open a second battlefield!"

"Of course!" Rommel said: "We said this before, they have no choice!"

"They really have no choice!" Qin Chuan said: "If the situation does not change, they can only do this!"

"you mean……"

"The British need an excuse to stay here, General!" Qin Chuan said, "And we can give him an excuse!"

"How to do it?" Major General Graf asked doubtfully, "Do you intend to give up Sicily?"

"No!" Qin Chuan stood up and pointed to the Malta Island on the map, and said: "I don't need to explain the importance of the Malta Island. Our offensive in North Africa has always been restricted by the Malta Island. Our previous offensive in North Africa was repeatedly frustrated because the island of Malta blocked our transportation lines. Now the island of Malta has become an advance base for the attack on Sicily and an air base for the Allied forces to block the Tunisian Strait. "

"I don't understand what you mean, Captain!" Rommel said, "Do you mean we attack the island of Malta?"

"Yes!" Qin Chuan said: "Attack the island of Malta and make a gesture of counterattacking Libya and Egypt, giving the British an excuse to keep their troops here!"

"But we have no air supremacy, and we have no sea supremacy!" Rommel said: "Unless our fleet can defeat them, how can we attack the island of Malta under such circumstances!"

"Maybe we can!" Qin Chuan replied in a non-surprising tone.