The decisive battle against the Third Reich

Worse was yet to come.

Just as Brigadier General William was leading the paratroopers to escape with difficulty in the water, searchlights suddenly lit up in several directions, and then intensive gunshots rang out, and bullets "swish" poured down along the light of the searchlights. , knocking the paratroopers to the ground one by one.

Then there were flares, mortar shells, etc., illuminating groups of panicked American soldiers and then blasting them into the sky in pieces... The water columns rising into the sky could no longer be distinguished as white. The water was still red blood and there was chaos everywhere.

At this time, the U.S. military was in an embarrassing situation.

Because they were in the water, they moved slowly, and they could not lie down to avoid the shrapnel and bullets flying everywhere. What was even worse was that their heavy equipment instantly lost its effect in this situation... For paratroopers, mortars and heavy equipment Machine guns are heavy equipment, but the water is already up to the waist, so these cannot be set up unless their mortars and heavy machine guns can be fired normally in the water.

All U.S. soldiers can do is to shoot blindly in the direction of the enemy with rifles and submachine guns, but this obviously doesn't have much effect.

"Continue the attack!" Brigadier General William ordered loudly: "We have no retreat!"

Brigadier General William is right, because the sea water is constantly rising. If you don't attack and occupy a high ground, the result will be to stay where you are and drown.

"God!" Brigadier General William said: "The Germans were prepared, and we fell into their trap!"

Brigadier General William guessed correctly. The Germans had foreseen this a long time ago. They even made careful mapping and calculations to know exactly how long it would take to reach the height of the flood after the gates were opened and the water released. So they built fortifications at suitable locations. Good preparation for dealing with American paratroopers.

But the American paratroopers still have a chance.

The reason is that the paratroopers are scattered and can be blown to various places by the wind. It is impossible for all the paratroopers to accurately land at the predetermined location and get into trouble.

In addition, the paratroopers were elites selected from various units and well-trained, so these paratroopers scattered everywhere surrounded the high ground occupied by the German army without anyone's command and launched an attack... This was very important to other troops. It may be unimaginable for the troops, but it is normal for paratroopers. Their mission is to drop into enemy lines and conduct special operations.

With the heroic fighting of these paratroopers, they even captured several highlands, opened a breakthrough in the encirclement, and rescued the trapped American troops.

But their suffering did not end there, because the "French guerrillas" appeared next.

As agreed with the Allies in advance, the "French guerrillas" used one long whistle and two short whistles to communicate with the American paratroopers. The American paratroopers did not know where they were, and responded with whistles while moving closer to the Germans. Then suddenly... there were sounds all around. There was gunfire.

What's more, the American paratroopers met the "French guerrillas" wearing civilian clothes in the dark, but when they turned around, they found that the guerrillas had raised their guns and pointed them at them.

This chaos lasted until dawn.

Those who drowned in water, those who entered minefields were blown up, those who were impaled to death with sharpened stakes, those who died under German gunfire, and countless others who died under the gunfire of their own people in the chaos.

Only some American paratroopers gathered in the woods and orchards in the countryside, and they were lucky enough to last until dawn.

However, the airborne operation obviously failed. They could not even guarantee their own safety, let alone occupy bridges and destroy roads to intercept German reinforcements.

"What's going on?" Eisenhower walked around anxiously in the headquarters: "The Germans seem to have been prepared. Does this mean that our strategic deception has been seen through by them?"

"This is impossible, General!" Halker replied while reading the telegram with his glasses on: "The failure of our parachute landing was mainly due to the fact that we did not realize that the Germans had already prepared to flood the low-lying areas. This is obviously Rommel's method did play some role... But as we said before, Rommel always believed that we would land on the Brittany Peninsula and actively made various defensive preparations there. "

Eisenhower nodded in agreement.

It has long been no secret that there were great differences between Rommel and the Commander-in-Chief on the Western Front. This was not only a difference in views, but also a struggle between different classes in Germany.

Therefore, it is normal to encounter losses and resistance in the Brittany Peninsula. After all, that was Rommel, the one who terrified the Allied forces in Africa.

After thinking about it, Eisenhower ordered: "Start landing!"

"General!" the staff officer said to Eisenhower: "Before that, I think you'd better say a few words to the entire landing force!"

Eisenhower nodded, then walked to the microphone and said in a low voice: "All the warriors of the Allies on land, sea and air! You are about to set off to participate in the 'Great Cross' that has been prepared for many months. The whole world is watching you. Freedom-loving people all over the world are always looking forward to you and praying for you. Together with the heroic Allies and comrades on other fronts, you will definitely destroy the German war machine. End Germany’s brutal rule over the oppressed people of Europe and ensure the security of our free world!”

"Your mission is not an easy one. Your enemies are well-trained, well-equipped, and tenacious. They will fight you to the death!"

"But I believe that with the support of people all over the world who yearn for freedom and peace, you will rush forward to the enemy and win!"

"Peace to you, warriors! Let us together implore Almighty God to bless this great and glorious cause! Go forward and win!"

The Allied soldiers on the transport ship cheered loudly.

Then, when the eastern sky gradually turned white, the US soldiers climbed down like piles of ants by touching the net ropes on the transport ship, then boarded the landing craft below with difficulty in the wind and waves, and assembled offshore to prepare the final preparations. preparation.

At 5:30 in the morning, the naval guns prepared for the final wave of firepower.

The overwhelming shells roared over the heads of the American soldiers on the landing craft and flew towards the German coastal defense positions, then exploded into clouds of flames on the seaside.

Then all the soldiers knew that the bombed places were where they would land and fight the Germans.

"Let's go!" With the order, the landing craft rode the wind in the rolling waves. The bow of the ship was thrown up by the waves from time to time, as if it was about to turn over.

But the attention of the US soldiers is not here. They are thinking about what will greet them on the other side of the sea!