Redemption of WWII

Chapter 32 Breakthrough

Chiefs of Staff of the Eighth Army Freddie, De, and Major General Nye of Guingamp held the casualty report, feeling very sad, but at this critical moment, they must not be lenient. 【】So Major General Guingamp said to his staff officers, "From now on, I will no longer report casualties, I will send reports to all armies and divisions on the front line, I don't want casualties, I just want to break through the German defense line. From now on No longer give them orders, no matter what method is used, let them solve any difficulties by themselves."

"Yes, sir." All the staff officers under Major General Guingamp agreed and rushed to send the report.

Major-General Guingamp got up and poured himself a glass of Scotch, then sat down in his marching chair, holding a crystal wide-footed glass.In fact, even Major General Guingamp himself did not understand.As a person who likes to eat, drink and have fun, how could he become a friend and partner with a 'Galpaite' like Meng Ge.It is also difficult to understand how so many young and passionate officers are willing to serve Meng Ge, even if they sacrifice their precious lives.

Guingamp had known Meng Ge very early. As early as 1923, Meng Ge had guided his studies as an instructor of Guingamp.Later, under Mengge's guidance, he entered the military academy to teach. It can be said that Mengge is both a teacher and a friend to Gangan, and the relationship between the two has always been good.Even the position of Chief of Staff of the Eighth Army this time belongs to Meng Ge.

It was very late at night, and Guingamp had no intention of going to sleep.And the entire headquarters is still very busy, and the explosion-proof lights on the light stand still emit bright light.Looking at the wall clock on the wall, it was already 12:10, Guingamp reached out and turned the desk calendar to the last day of October.

"Breakthrough, breakthrough" a voice called out.Gan Gang was startled suddenly, and looked up, only to see a school-level staff officer rushing in with a piece of paper in his hand.

Everyone who was still working overnight at the headquarters couldn't help but stop what they were doing and looked at the staff officer.The prestigious school hurried to the front of Guingamp, forgetting to salute the chief of staff even with military salute, and said directly

“澳大利亚步兵第9师已经凿穿了北部德军防线的地雷带，现在第9装甲旅已经顺利穿过雷区，向德意联军的防线攻击前进。第9步兵师和第1第7还有第10装甲师也正在通过雷区的路上，估计天亮之前就能到达攻击指定位置。”

"Okay, okay, great. I didn't expect to pass the minefield in 7 hours. The 9th Division of the Australian Division is really good. Immediately order the 9th Division of Australia and the [-]th Armored Brigade. Give me an immediate report to the German army at Rahman The railway line is attacking, there is the German artillery line, as long as the Germans break through there, it will be over." Guingamp said.

"Yes, Your Excellency, General." The staff officers hurriedly recorded Guingamp's orders, and went to work one after another.

At this time, almost everyone in the headquarters knew the news that the enemy's defense line had been broken through.The unhappiness caused by the previous unsuccessful battle was swept away, and even the personnel who had changed shifts to rest also hurriedly got up, regardless of physical fatigue, and joined the work.For a while, the morale of the British command staff broke out to a climax.

"Go, report to the commander. They say that they have broken through the enemy's minefield, and are now attacking the deep enemy artillery position. Ask the commander if he has any other orders." Guingamp said to a staff officer.

The officer returned to the command post not long after, and said to Guingamp, "Sir, General Mungo said he knew. He asked you to take full charge of command now. He believes that you will be able to complete the set mission."

"Oh, did the commander have any other orders?" said Guingamp.

"He also asked you to send a telegram to the War Office and the War Cabinet informing them that the German lines had been breached."

"Anything else?" said Guingamp again.

"No, the commander closed his eyes and went back to sleep after saying this."

"Oh, send the report according to the commanding officer," Guingamp said.

"This guy who sleeps when the sky is falling, how can there be such a person in the world." Gugan said underestimated in a low voice.But Gan Gang knew that it was a rule that Meng Ge had cultivated for many years not to be disturbed while sleeping.This has a lot to do with Meng Ge's previous marriage.Mungo met the widow (who already had two sons) of an officer killed in the Gallipoli campaign in 1925.After two years of acquaintance, we married her in 1927. Her name was Betty Carver.Betty died later, too, in October 1937 from a bug bite.

The ten years of this marriage with Betty were the happiest ten years for Meng Ge.Meng Ge and his wife lived in such a harmonious way.She's an artist, someone with relatives in Chelsea.She rebels against most of what her husband admires, even understands.However, there was every indication that they happily retained their differences, and that despite their differences they were content.Mungo manages the house while his wife manages her own life.In doing so she tolerated his eccentricities sympathetically, some of which were peculiar, and softened his temper.

In Meng Ge's ten-year marriage, the habit of going to bed on time every day has also become Meng Ge's top priority.And Betty never allowed others to disturb Meng Ge's sleep at night.This kind of rule was also implemented by Meng Ge in the barracks.

Major General Guingamp did not have the habit of going to bed on time every day. Major General Guingamp, who was ten years younger than Meng Ge, was at the age when his life was full of vigor.The wealthy family since he was a child also made Major General Guingamp even more extravagant in his adult life.The high income of colonial officers also made Guingamp's life quite comfortable.Good wine, delicious food, beautiful women, for Guingamp, the more the better.So the nightlife in Guingamp is very rich, so sleeping is far from the most important thing in Guingamp.

The staff officers of the headquarters continued to send battle reports from the front line, and also continuously marked on the map the positions of the various British troops to attack.Every hour on the battlefield, there will be news of the advance of the troops, and the results of the battle are constantly expanding.More and more troops braved the artillery fire of the German and Italian coalition forces and passed through the minefield, and they were all actively rushing to their intended targets.

到10月31日凌晨4点40分为止，甘冈少将接到5个师已经成功的穿过了雷区的消息。但问题是突破的主要都是装甲部队，能作战的步兵部队只有澳大利亚第9师。没有步兵协同的坦克部队面对德国人的大炮时是很奈的，损失很大。而这时突破方向的后方实际已经没有步兵的预备队了。

"Send a telegram to the frontline commanders. I don't care how much their losses are, as long as they break through the enemy's defense line. In addition, the tanks in the rear will give them priority immediately." Guingamp said.

Orders were quickly passed on, and a fierce tank attack began.

Guingamp wrote in a telegram to Freiberg, the deputy chief of staff at the front: "We all understand that the use of tanks to attack a wall made of artillery sounds like a fantasy. It should be infantry, but we don't have any more infantry to deploy, so we have to let the armor do it."

The deputy chief of staff, Freiberger, who was at the forefront of the army, fully told the frontline commanders what he meant.

John Curry, commander of the 9th Armored Brigade, said "my brigade could suffer 50% losses in this way".

Freiberg replied: "The losses could be much greater than that. Army command said he was prepared to accept 100 percent losses."

The military order fell like a mountain, and the movement attack and contact movement carried out by the 9th Brigade made people discouraged.The newly replenished tanks were ineffective, and the billowing dust kicked up as they weaved in made visibility extremely poor.The shelling caused losses and casualties of tanks and soldiers.One detachment lost its way and had to turn around and move on.As a result, only 94 tanks of the brigade's three regiments were available for attack.

The 94 tanks were struggling to move forward under the artillery fire of the German-Italian coalition forces, and the tanks that were hit kept emitting thick smoke.Some of the tankers who were hit were lucky enough to climb out, but most of the tankers whose upper armor was penetrated died directly inside the tank.This is a completely suicidal attack. 70 tanks were damaged and destroyed.Casualties reached 230.You must know that a complete armored regiment only has 200 people.

But on the other hand, the brigade destroyed 10 cannons on the enemy's line of defense by 31:9 a.m. on October 35, and successfully covered the 1nd and 2th Armored Brigades of the 8st Armored Division, launching follow-up attacks on open ground. attack.The most encouraging thing is that the remaining 9 tanks of the 20th Armored Brigade have broken through the enemy's defenses and penetrated the enemy's interior like a dagger.

Major General Guingamp couldn't believe the news in front of him at all, and the German defense line was broken through like this.In the past, the attack on the positions defended by the enemy did not last for several days and nights.But this time, within 11 hours, even the defense line of the minefield was breached.Guingamp couldn't believe his eyes.

However, the battle reports of each frontline commander were sent to the headquarters immediately afterward.The telegrams said that after paying a great price, several defensive positions of the German-Italian coalition forces had been occupied.The German-Italian coalition forces have retreated to the rear.The German positions are full of bombed artillery and tanks.However, a few prisoners of the German-Italian coalition forces were not captured.

Guingamp was almost fainted by the news, but he turned around and saw Mengge walk into the headquarters.He quickly said to Meng Ge, "We did it, we did it, the German defense line has been breached, and Rommel's army has begun to retreat."

"Yes, I know all about it. The German and Italian armies, as I expected, can't stop the attack of our armored forces except for artillery and mines. As long as we break through the minefield, they are finished. My Chief of Staff, please give orders to the frontline commanders to start the pursuit immediately. Use our speed advantage to catch up with Rommel's army, and I will wipe out Rommel's North African Army." Meng Ge said with pride.