The decisive battle against the Third Reich

This was indeed not something Rommel could decide, mainly because there were serious strategic differences between Rommel and Commander-in-Chief of the Western Front Rundstedt.

"This is one of the reasons why I moved my headquarters out of Paris!" Rommel said: "Marshal Rundstedt and his men believed that the Allies were most likely to be at the narrowest point of the English Channel, which is Le Havre. Landing somewhere between Dunkirk."

Rommel pointed to the map and said: "They believe that although the coastal defenses in this area are stronger than anywhere else, after landing here, it will be easier for the Allied forces to spread their troops on the northern plains, and then quickly attack eastward to liberate Belgium and the Netherlands. Then use them as a springboard to attack the Ruhr area in Germany."

Objectively speaking, this plan is indeed feasible.

As the saying goes, "hit the snake seven inches", this is a plan to hit Germany "seven inches"... Although the Ruhr area only accounts for 3.6% of Germany's area, it produces 80% of Germany's hard coal, 90% of coke, 60% of steel and 35% of the oil refining capacity, as well as electricity, sulfuric acid and synthetic rubber, military industry, heavy machinery, etc.

Therefore, the Ruhr Industrial Area is also known as the "Heart of German Industry".

And its location is right between the angle formed by Belgium and the Netherlands... It is obviously much easier for the Allied forces to occupy Belgium and the Netherlands than to directly attack Germany, because the Allied forces will get the support and support of the local people, and even the locals There are underground organizations cultivated in Britain and the United States.

Once the Ruhr Industrial Zone is occupied, the war can basically be said to be over, because this means that Germany has lost 40% of its industrial capacity, and the outcome of the war will be no doubt in doubt.

"In addition!" Rommel continued: "Another reason why Marshal Rundstedt believes that the Allies will attack Caleb is that we have deployed a large number of V1 launch sites there and continue to bomb the United Kingdom. As long as Caleb is occupied, Lai, Britain can be freed from the threat of V1 immediately!”

Qin Chuan once participated in the research and development of V1, and even many of the improvements were proposed by Qin Chuan, so of course he knew the threat V1 posed to Britain... Even because of Qin Chuan's improvements, this threat would be much greater than in history.

Therefore, the British did have reason to attack Calais.

"But these are your troops, Marshal!" said Colonel Slain. "They are under your command!"

Rommel spread his hands and replied: "The problem is that the head of state supports Marshal Rundstedt's idea, so he does not allow me to transfer troops from Calais to the Brittany Peninsula. As you know, moving any troops now requires The Führer’s order!”

Of course Qin Chuan knew, because it was already like this when fighting on the Eastern Front.

On the other hand, this battle is right under Hitler's nose, and it is not offensive but defensive. Rommel cannot deploy troops according to his own ideas like he did in Africa... The sky is high in Africa and the emperor is far away, and it is difficult for Hitler to timely Remote control, no matter what Rommel did, by the time Hitler knew about it it was already too late, or he might have heard that Rommel had won the battle and acquiesced.

But France's defense is different.

Even if Rommel took the risk and transferred his troops to the west... it would not make any sense. Hitler would have time to control the situation and even have time to transfer the troops back.

"My disagreement with Marshal Rundstedt is not limited to this aspect!" Rommel took a cup of coffee handed to him by his staff, took a sip and said: "I think the main front is on the beach, that is, It is to eliminate the enemy in shallow waters and beaches near the coast, or in other words, to eliminate the enemy before he obtains a consolidated bridgehead and the follow-up troops arrive. I believe that the first 24 hours of the enemy's invasion are the decisive 24 hours. This day is extremely important for both our allies and us!”

Qin Chuan understood Rommel's thinking.

First of all, the Allied forces were too large, with millions of people.

Secondly, the Allied naval and air force dominance is completely disproportionate.

Thirdly, there is the powerful industrial machinery of the United States behind the scenes, which is constantly producing and transporting weapons and equipment in batches.

In this case, once the Allied forces landed and fought a war of attrition with the German army on land, it would be almost impossible for Germany to win.

Therefore, Rommel believed that Germany's only chance was to use the Atlantic Barrier to shoot down Allied soldiers on the beach one after another.

Only in this way can Germany win this completely disproportionate war.

"Marshal Rundstedt doesn't think so!" Rommel shrugged and said: "He is not even interested in the Atlantic Wall. He thinks that 'that thing' can only have a spiritual effect and just scare the enemy. 'Gadgets'!"

Qinchuan could understand why Lundstedt thought so. He was not actually referring to this battle, but was recalling the glory of his victory... Because a few years ago, he was the one who commanded the tank armored group to bypass the horse. The Chino Line then easily forced France to surrender.

Therefore, as a mockery of the Maginot Line and an affirmation of his own tactical theory, he certainly despised the "Atlantic Wall" that was exactly the same as the Maginot Line.

Rundstedt even secretly told his staff...that it was just another "Maginot Line."

Of course, this cannot be said publicly, because it was Hitler who ordered the construction of the "Atlantic Wall".

But Rundstedt really has a point in what he said, because history has proven that this expensive "Atlantic Barrier" did not play much role... If it does play any role, it is the Normandy section. played a certain role.

All the huge projects on other sections of the road were turned into decorations. After the Normandy landing, the Allied troops poured in through this gap like a flood, and then went around to the back of the "Atlantic Wall".

If the manpower and material resources spent on the "Atlantic Barrier" can be converted into fighter planes and tanks, although it may not be able to stop the Allies, it will still be able to fight.

"Then..." Colonel Slain said mockingly: "Our respected Marshal Rundstedt, as the commander-in-chief of the Western Front, what good way can he block the Allied attack?"

"His idea was very simple..." Rommel said: "To deploy large numbers of infantry and reserves on a second line, as we did in Africa, after the enemy had broken through the outer layer of coastal defenses and after the enemy's follow-up troops arrived Launch a counterattack before the landing site, so he believes that elite infantry and armor should be deployed at the rear, away from the coastline, while I request that they be deployed at the front!"

After saying that, he raised his head, glanced at the two of them, and asked, "What do you think?"