The Third Reich in Desperation

It is certainly unrealistic to use only two German battalions to wipe out the British troops who besieged No. 3 Heights face-to-face.However, if these two German battalions are only used as forwards and lead the French 5th colony to break out, the probability of success is still very high.

After all, they can break in with their own strength, and after adding the strength of the French army, it is easy to break out again.

But Stephen shook his head and sighed to Rommel: "General Rommel, I am very grateful that you can bring people to rescue. However, we cannot break out with your people. Behind our division, we must defend The Algerian oil fields are the reason why we cannot evacuate under any circumstances!"

To retreat, Stephen had the opportunity to lead his troops to retreat from the very beginning, before the British army captured Height 3.

But he didn't retreat, because Berente gave the death order, and because he himself understood what the oil field meant to France today behind the 5th Division.

"Mr. Major General, I think you seem to have made a mistake..." After understanding Stephen's meaning from the accompanying interpreter, Rommel put on a smile conceitedly: "I'm here , not to help you lose the Algerian oil fields."

Indeed, Algeria's oil fields are not only France's money bag, but also Germany's oil mines.If it is lost here, the oil that Germany can import will inevitably be much less.

However, for Germany, the importance of Algeria's oil fields is much less important than for France.

First of all, the German army used blitzkrieg to defeat Poland, Denmark, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France successively, and seized a full 810 million tons of oil reserves from these countries, which was also very rewarding.

With this huge increase in oil reserves, plus the oil reserves that Reinhardt had prepared before the war, the Third Reich now has more than 1200 million tons of oil reserves, and its war capital can even support countries like Germany and the Soviet Union. Combat with super geographical powers!

Furthermore, today’s Third Reich not only has historical Romanian oil fields that can import a large amount of oil, but also the Algerian oil fields developed by Reinhardt that led Vichy France to import a large amount of oil, and even the North Sea excavated by Germany itself. Oilfields can produce large amounts of oil on their own.

It can be said that Reinhardt's Third Reich now has too many choices and capital.

The oil fields thrown into Algeria were a devastating disaster for the French, but for Germany, it was nothing more than the loss of an additional oil import route.

Fortunately, Rommel is not prepared to lose this additional oil field import route.

"In fact, I have a way here that can break the desperate situation your army is facing now." Rommel instructed the staff to translate this sentence to Stephen.

"As long as you have a way, I can do whatever you want!" Stephen had just heard from the interpreter, and immediately slapped Rommel on the chest and promised: "I can promise anything to keep the oil fields in eastern Algeria!"

Stephen's attitude immediately won Rommel's favor.To be honest, although he hoped to take command of the French army for the time being, he was not sure of getting it.

After all, Rommel's African Army, it stands to reason, only includes the right to mobilize the Italian Allies.The Vichy French army is essentially under the command of Vichy France itself, and they are not obliged to accept Rommel's dispatch.

It can be said that Stephen's cooperative attitude saved Rommel a lot of effort.

Therefore, Rommel directly took out another battle plan, quickly handed it over to the staff, and asked him to pass it to Major General Stephen.

This time, Stephen spent a full 10 minutes, concentrating on reading every detail of the second document that Rommel handed over.

"This is a genius and bold plan!" Stephen couldn't help but sigh after reading the end.

Turning around, Stephen stretched out his right hand to Rommel, who was patiently waiting for him to read the battle plan, and said solemnly: "General, I now believe that you may really be able to solve the situation that I can't solve. Our 5th All the officers and soldiers of the division will do everything possible to cooperate with your battle plan!"

Rommel stretched out his hand to shake hands with Stephen, and listened to the translation of the other party's words by the translator next to his ear. After a while, Rommel, who learned of the other party's wishes, showed a satisfied smile.

"This is a correct decision." Rommel praised the other party: "You saved yourself, your subordinates, and your oil fields."

The two talked very harmoniously, but Major General Stephen's adjutant, who had been standing aside and watching their exchange, stepped forward anxiously, and whispered to Stephen: "Commander, do you really want to... ..."

Body 5 Chapter Eighteen Changes

Stephen's adjutant, three months ago, was nothing more than a major staff officer in the French army. Like Stephen, who was the deputy head of the lieutenant colonel at that time, he was a member of the common people.

However, with Berante's massive military expansion in Algeria, a large number of middle-level French officers such as Stephen and his adjutants were promoted to high-level commanders of the colonial army who stood alone.

And Stephen's adjutant, Baptiste, has been the deputy commander of the 5th Colonial Division for nearly two months.

Although Baptiste doesn't know 2% about Stephen, the chief, but the contact in the past two months, just from Stephen's insistence on building fortifications early in the absence of war, Baptiste can also see How thoughtful the officer who revealed himself is.

How could such a prudent and foresighted officer make such a hasty decision today?

The French army fought according to the German plan, which Baptiste would not have imagined three months ago.

Although the current German army is no longer the enemy of the French army, it will inevitably make people feel a little uneasy if the French army is handed over to the command of the German generals.

"What, do you think I'm too hasty?" Steve turned his head and looked at Baptiste with an anxious face and said indifferently.

"Master..." Baptiste glanced at the interpreter brought by Rommel beside him, and whispered to Stephen with scruples: "We can stand firm and wait for the Italian reinforcements to arrive. It is necessary to act according to the battle plan of the German army."

Shaking his head, Stephen smiled lightly and said, "I did this for three reasons. First, you have seen the combat effectiveness and equipment of the German army. That is not something our colonial division can match. With our What can't be done by strength, others may have the ability to do it."

"Secondly, you should know more about the situation of our army than the general in Germany. Even if we do our best, do you think we can survive for 48 hours?" Stephen asked back.

"...Impossible!" Baptiste shook his head, and sighed heavily: "All ministries suffered heavy losses, and some battalions' casualties have already reached 30% of the faction's collapse line. Judging from this After one day, every hour our army lasts is a miracle!"

30% casualty rate, this is already the upper limit that the colonial conscripts can insist on.If it weren't for Stephen's urgent formation of a supervisory team, perhaps the troops on the front line would have long since lost their interest in fighting.

However, this does not change the fact that the 5th Colonial Division is about to collapse.The existence of the supervisory team only slightly delayed the collapse.

"Italians, if they could arrive, they should have arrived long ago." Speaking of the Italian army rescued by the losers, Stephen was contemptuous: "Even if our army checks for two more days, they probably won't be able to arrive."

Then, Stephen changed into a relieved tone and said: "Since this is the case, we might as well trust the German army who rushed here, believe in their combat plan, and fully cooperate with them. If the German army's plan fails, we will naturally not last long. But if the German army's plan is successful, the current deadlock, which must be lost, may be resolved!"

Hearing this, Baptiste has been persuaded a lot.

However, even if their division does not cooperate with the German army and sticks to their positions, they will not escape the fate of failure in the end.Instead of this, it is better to give it a go and fight for a chance of victory!

"Master, what about the third one?" Baptiste nodded and asked curiously.

"Take it and have a look." Stephen didn't answer directly, but gave Baptiste the battle plan that Rommel gave him: "The third reason is this plan."

Baptiste looked a little slower than Stephen, and it took him about 15 minutes to read and roughly understand the plan.

"How do you feel?" Stephen asked lightly.

"This is a crazy and genius battle plan..." Baptiste swallowed, and said in shock: "That German general is simply crazy!"

"But this battle plan is really amazing, and people are willing to give it a try." Baptiste added in an embarrassing speech.

.................

"The French army changed their retreat tactics and began to concentrate their forces on the front line?"

Major General Johnson of the 24th Division of the British Army, after receiving the report from the staff, repeated the news to the commander of the 26th Division of Australia beside him in doubt.

Because of the heavy losses in the battle with the French 3rd Native Division, Johnson's British 24th Division has been greatly reduced in combat effectiveness and lost the ability to attack alone.At this time, his troops were serving as an auxiliary, working with the 26th Australian Division to destroy the French colonial army on Height 3.

Therefore, although Johnson is at the same level as the Australian division commander, he can only influence the thinking of the Australian major general who is in charge of the main attack by discussing and making suggestions.

"It's just strengthening the first line of defense. What's the fuss?" The Australian division commander said indifferently: "If they don't strengthen the first line of defense, then this position should be broken by us. But it doesn't matter, even if they With more troops, we can break through in less than 5 hours."

"No, Major General!" Johnson quickly shook his head, walked to the sand table model of No. 3 Heights, pointed to the raised sand table model for the Australian division commander: "Look, according to the terrain of No. 3 Heights, the French army actually There should be two lines of defense established above, and their headquarters should be in a certain area behind the two lines of defense."

"What's wrong with this?" the Australian teacher wondered.

In his opinion, the generals from the British mainland just like to make a fuss. Compared with their Australian officers, the British generals seem to be a group of timid cowards.Seeing that his 26th Division had already gained the upper hand, the opponent actually said that there was a problem just because the French army increased troops to the front line.