Iron Cross

Ps: Guderian has the rank of Army General. The previous article has been changed. Thanks to oukami readers for pointing it out.

"Spread out in two groups, use an outflank formation to advance in depth, and eliminate all enemy forces, especially armor and artillery targets." Heinz, who assessed the situation, immediately issued the second order. The rumbling German tanks continued to advance while switching to high-explosive bombs to attack all fortifications, equipment and personnel within visual range. There were constant sounds of ammunition or gasoline barrels exploding after being hit, as well as a large number of artillery, Armored cars and trucks were blown aside. Occasionally a few extremely brave British soldiers tried to resist, but they were all mercilessly destroyed.

The German tanks kept advancing, and nothing seemed to be able to stop them. Behind the armored squadron's defense line was a hastily assembled British infantry battalion. It was originally assigned to the armored forces to occupy enemy positions and expand the breakthrough area, but they were obviously frightened by the sudden appearance of German tanks. Because they found that they were not fighting with their own tanks but had to face the black holes of the German tank muzzles. The soldiers either lying down or standing instinctively picked up the weapons in their hands to resist. Rifles, light machine guns, mortars, and anti-tank guns all tried to attack, but the armored forces of the Third Reich had long seen this. Such a futile resistance, dozens of rounds of artillery shells beat this group of infantry to howling like ghosts. Without barbed wire, no anti-tank firepower, and no solid fortifications, the infantry could only be like a trembling kitten in front of the armor.

All the soldiers who resisted were victims of tank machine guns and high-explosive bombs. The rest of the soldiers saw that the situation was not going well and ran away. Bodies knocked down by machine gun fire were everywhere in the tank's lookout mirror, as well as about 2 platoons of soldiers. The soldiers were probably frightened by this brutal killing, and dropped their weapons tremblingly, preparing to raise their hands in surrender. Heinz opened the hatch of the tank, stuck his head out and shouted to them in half-baked English: "Put down your weapons and squat aside. The infantry units we are following will come to capture you. Don't run away or resist. We treat prisoners preferentially, officer." He can enjoy the same treatment as his military rank.”

This bluffing shouting frightened the soldiers on the opposite side. They obediently dropped their guns and hid aside. When other soldiers and officers saw that the Germans really kept their promise and would not attack the soldiers who put down their weapons, they also raised their hands and surrendered spontaneously. They gathered on the ground and waited for the German infantry to come and "contain" them. In their horrified eyes, 67 tanks from two armored battalions turned an arc and continued to advance in depth.

"It's so enjoyable! It's so enjoyable! I haven't had this much fun in a long time." Looking at the pile of tank wreckage behind him with thick smoke and flames, and then looking at the groups of dejected British officers and soldiers next to him, Heinz, who was sitting in the command tank, simply couldn't. He was so happy that he had never expected to achieve such a result without even damaging one of his own tanks. This also marked that the feint attack on the southern front had achieved an unimaginable start.

Before the attack was launched, Heinz and Dessau had discussions with Guderian about the offensive route. If analyzed solely from the map originally captured, the southern offensive would start from the area between the Qattara Basin and Derm Hafed Ridge. It is ideal to pass through the Rajil Sands, because this land is not only wide but also marked with hard ground attributes, and the minefield does not seem to be tight. Rommel's original attack route started from here. But Guderian insisted that this was the place where the British arranged for the African Army to die. Once the geological conditions changed, the African Army tanks would be trapped and unable to extricate themselves. By then, the slow-moving and open German tanks would definitely become the British People are waiting for targets. Not only the anti-tank positions on the mountains will directly name the tanks, but also the armored forces that may be ambushing in the basin will attack from the flanks. If coupled with the British bombers that may appear overhead at any time, the African Army will be The rhythm of armored forces being annihilated.

No one knows that it was this area in history that destroyed Rommel's last hope of commanding the Afrika Korps to win: not only did his tank troops suffer heavy losses in the attack, Major General Bismarck, the commander of the 21st Armored Division who commanded the attack, was hit by British artillery shells. Nilin, the former commander of the African Army who had returned to the country, was also injured by the bomber. Fortunately, after Guderian's early manipulation, everyone knew that there was something wrong with this map, and Rommel's plan must be decisively abandoned and a new offensive route chosen.

"Our first goal is to deal with the British armored divisions in the basin." Guderian found this road for the troops to cut in along the edge of the basin and face the British defense forces. On the surface, this line seemed to be heading towards the British defense line, but because he chose a time to launch the attack that surprised everyone, and because he did not use the conventional blitzkrieg mode, that is, first using artillery and aircraft, The routine of opening a road and then attacking with tanks - this kind of suppressive firepower preparation can be effective, but it also indirectly reminds the enemy, which is detrimental to the suddenness of the sudden attack. Now, this atypical blitzkrieg of quietly using armored troops to open the way has achieved miraculous results. The British cannot organize a decent defense at all, and the defense line where the 9th Armored Brigade is located is in a mess.

The second wave of offensive route Guderian chose for the armored battalion was also incredible. He gave up taking advantage of the favorable time when the 9th Armored Brigade was shaken and the entire line collapsed to break through deep into the basin. Instead, he asked them to circle around and go north. Preparing to sweep away the British forces along the Derm Hafed Ridge in a counterclockwise direction, Heinz and others expressed confusion about this.

Guderian patiently explained to them: "After breaking through the defense line at the edge of the basin, we have a high chance of defeating or annihilating the British troops in the basin, but don't forget that we only have two armored battalions that are not full. Even if we achieve a surprise attack for a while, , it is impossible to occupy or consolidate the battlefield without the accompanying infantry. Moreover, the terrain of the basin is too special. If we advance in depth, we may be blocked by the British who react and cannot get out. We are not qualified to make a line and use our strength to entangle them. As a python of prey, we should be like a cobra with its head raised high and its fangs exposed. We should wait for the opportunity to strike for Montgomery while walking around. The British anti-tank firepower and tanks on Dermhafed Ridge should be Facing the Rajil area, we can do wonders by outflanking them from behind - kicking their butts hard."

Dessau asked: "Once the battle in the basin begins, the British troops on Derm Hafed Ridge will immediately know the situation. Can't they judge this possibility?"

"Gentlemen, trust my judgment. We Germans have always been called a rigid and inflexible nation, but I think the British are less clever than us. Maybe the remaining British troops in the basin will report to the back, but Passing information back and forth on the battlefield is inherently difficult, not to mention that they have so many colonial troops in their hands. Reporting the situation and adjusting deployment is not an easy task but will cause greater chaos. If you surprise him, Son, custody can hurt Montgomery. The only thing I ask of you is to fight quickly, don't be too lazy to fight, and you must retreat before Montgomery can react."

The German armored assault force now followed Guderian's request and advanced in a circuitous way along the tangent to the edge of the basin towards the Derm Hafed Ridge. It happened to bypass the Rajil area from the rear. Along the way, Heinz and others watched more and more They were frightened because they encountered dozens of hidden anti-tank positions and tank concentrations. If they followed Rommel's plan to attack from the Rajil area, the British troops would be defeated by the well-prepared British troops. sieve. The British troops deployed here were also shocked that German tanks actually drove from behind them. Many anti-tank positions had no time to turn the muzzle and had to be abandoned. They even had no time to escape before they were blown into a pile of parts by the Panzer III tanks whizzing by. , and a dozen obviously confused British Crusaders and Cromwell tanks rushed over in twos and threes in an attempt to block the torrent of steel. As a result, they were killed one by one by No. 4 before they even started to stand up.

According to Dessau's observation, the numbers of troops deployed by the British here were very mixed. He at least saw the British 8th Armored Brigade, the Indian 5th Division, the Greek 1st Infantry Brigade, the 2nd Free French Brigade, and the New Zealand 6th Infantry Brigade. There are seven or eight divisions and brigade-level numbers. If they fight head-on, every enemy unit is capable of killing itself. But they were obviously frightened by the defeat of the 9th Armored Brigade and the unexpected attack direction of the German tanks, and became chaotic and disorganized. Heinz did not dare to be reluctant to fight. In addition to clearing out the anti-tank firepower that posed the greatest threat to him, Heinz focused on targeting the British tanks that appeared from time to time. The division of labor in the armored battalion was very clear. Guys with fragile bodies like Stewart and Crusaders were handed over to him. The No. 3s dealt with it, while Generals Sherman and Grant let the long-barreled No. 4 G-type fight.