Shadow Spy

Chapter 463: Failure to prevent withdrawal of troops

At the Joint Chiefs of Staff meeting on August 8, an important topic was the review of the Allied Expeditionary Force's "Operation Market Garden" operational plan. This operational plan was proposed by General Montgomery, commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force Army. The operation aimed to use large-scale airborne operations. , after seizing a series of important bridges across the Rhine, Waal and other rivers, they penetrated directly into the hinterland of Germany from the Netherlands, striving to end the European battlefield operations before Christmas this year.

In fact, this plan has been approved by the U.S.-British Joint Chiefs of Staff Conference, but it was noticed by Li Junhao not long ago. He immediately expressed his dissent. At his strong request, the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff held this special meeting to discuss this plan. Do another review.

After the meeting began, Li Junhao spoke first: "Operation Market Garden must be stopped because the Allied Expeditionary Force Command decided to use a large number of airborne troops to airdrop into the interior of the Netherlands without even understanding the most basic battlefield situation. It is completely unreasonable. Let the elite airborne troops die!"

Marshall couldn't help but asked: "General Ogg, I have studied this combat plan and think it is very feasible. The German defense forces in the Netherlands are not many. This is a good opportunity!"

"Alas!" Li Junhao sighed, "General Marshall, as early as ten days ago, I asked the CIA to inform the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Chiefs of Staff meeting about the changes in the strength of the German troops stationed in the Netherlands. Why didn't anyone read it? What about a glance? Generals, there is a copy in the folder in front of you."

oh? Several generals were a little embarrassed when they heard this. They hurriedly picked up the documents on the table and rummaged around for a while and saw an official notice from the CIA: It is reported that the German army, outside the Waltz Division originally stationed in the Netherlands, launched an attack on August 8. -On the 17th, two armored divisions of the 20nd SS Armored Corps and some units of the 2st Airborne Army were transferred from the mainland. The total strength increased to about 1, with more than 6.5 tanks, armored vehicles and more than 500 battalions of air defense. force……

Sigh... After reading this information, the generals were a little shocked that such important information had not been noticed. If "Operation Market Garden" was started according to the original plan, the 3.5 airborne troops who entered the battlefield would really die. !

"Ogg, you are right!" Marshall said immediately, "This operation must be stopped!"

Of course the others nodded in agreement.

So the Joint Chiefs of Staff immediately called London and notified the British General Staff and the Allied Expeditionary Force Command respectively...

But what happened next made the generals of the Joint Chiefs of Staff angry!

First, the British General Staff believed that the intelligence provided by the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff was inaccurate. The British intelligence department had already determined that the regular German troops in the Netherlands only had one Waltz division and a small number of second-line troops. They had neither armored units nor that much. Multiple air defense units... Therefore, operations should not be stopped.

The same is true for the Allied Expeditionary Force. It is particularly emphasized that General Montgomery, the commander of the army responsible for commanding the operation, has the support of all British generals and insists that if the "Operation Market Garden" is successfully implemented, the Allied forces can liberate them all at once. The Netherlands, and penetrated directly into the Ruhr Industrial Zone in Germany, destroyed the German weapons and equipment manufacturing base, forced Germany to surrender, and ended the war before Christmas!

In this case, the generals who were forced to continue the meeting the next day were so angry that their lungs exploded!

As soon as the meeting began, Admiral Leahy said very displeasedly: "What's going on with Eisenhower? Was he dazzled by the early victory? He didn't even stop this impossible-to-win battle plan!"

Marshall had a good relationship with Eisenhower and spoke for him at this time: "Although Dwight is the commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force, more than half of his troops and generals are British troops. He must consider the feelings of the British and worry about alliance relations, so He is in a difficult situation..."    But for the first time, Arnold rebelled against his superiors early and said: "Even so, Eisenhower should not agree to launch a battle with no hope of victory, especially when most of the airborne troops will be lost. It’s from our US military!”

Although he was a naval general, Stark also unequivocally supported Arnold's point of view on this matter, saying: "That's right. The airborne troops deployed on the battlefield in this plan include three divisions and one brigade, and the U.S. military accounts for most of them. We cannot watch their loss go in vain!”

Marshall was a little embarrassed. This was the first time he was unanimously opposed by other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He looked at Li Junhao, who was the first to expose this matter, and said, "Ogg, what do you think should be done about this matter?"

Since learning about the development of this matter, Li Junhao has considered it. When he heard the question, he immediately said: "Our 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions are the most elite among the airborne troops, and they are also the only two. A division with actual combat experience, the other 11th, 13th, and 17th divisions are all new units and have not yet formed combat effectiveness; therefore, we cannot afford to lose the 82nd and 101st divisions! I suggest that they be withdrawn this time action!"

"Yes, withdraw from this operation!" Leahy immediately agreed, "Since the British are determined to carry out this operation, let them go on their own!"

Although he felt that this should be done, as the Army Chief of Staff, Marshall thought more about it and felt that he needed an excuse, so he said: "But we can't force the 82nd and 101st Divisions to withdraw, can we?"

Li Junhao, who had long thought about it, said: "The Pacific Theater is preparing for the Ryukyu Islands Battle and the Bay Island Battle, and it is even more necessary to join the airborne troops. We should transfer the 82nd and 101st Divisions there!"

"Not bad!" Arnold said immediately, and several others also thought this was a good idea!
-

On the evening of September 9st, Eisenhower, who had just moved the headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Force to Reims in northeastern France, was handing over to Montgomery in the headquarters - taking over the command of the ground forces, who had been taken over by the British this morning. The General Staff was promoted to field marshal. He will then personally command "Operation Market Garden" and temporarily leave the job of the General Headquarters.

At this moment, Eisenhower received an order from the Joint Chiefs of Staff from China: to mobilize the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions of the US Army to perform emergency missions in the Pacific and set off immediately.

The commander-in-chief frowned immediately. He knew why this order was issued and he had to execute it, but... he looked at the newly promoted British Marshal Montgomery sitting at the conference table and sighed, Pass this order over!

After receiving the order and reading it, Montgomery's face turned livid. He walked away and threw the telegram on the table, saying: "Our British army will independently carry out the 'Operation Market Garden'! Farewell."

(End of this chapter)