Montgomery was well aware that once the Germans entered Catania, the British would find themselves in a very awkward position.

This embarrassment comes from two sides.

On the one hand, there is the ...... of public opinion After the liberation of Catania, the British actively carried out various assistance for Catania, such as medical treatment and ambulance for the injured people, and food relief for the people, and also brought administrative officials into Catania to administer it.

In order to enhance its international image and also to gain more support from the local people, the United States has recruited industrial, economic, and transportation management personnel in the army, so that after they have captured a certain city, they can use these talents to carry out reasonable management of the city so that the city can return to normal order as soon as possible.

This is one of the reasons why Montgomery deliberately allowed the American army to capture the nameless town...... As far as Britain's interests are concerned, of course, the United States cannot be allowed to greatly improve its image and surpass Britain.

As a result, Montgomery followed the example of the United States and recruited some management talent to govern Catania.

Of course, propaganda work also had to keep up, and there were even war correspondents from various countries following up in Catania.

If Catania was occupied by the Germans and even the journalists fell into the hands of the Germans, how could it be explained in public opinion?

On the other hand, there is the military aspect.

If the Germans occupy Catania, to fight or not to fight?

Bombing is indispensable, and the target of the bombing must be civilian houses.

If you don't fight, you have to let the Germans choke the transport line!

At that time, the British army may have only one choice, and that is to drive their troops into the city and engage the enemy in street fighting.

But Montgomery certainly knew what that meant.

"Order the Australian 6th Infantry Division to reinforce Catania immediately!" Montgomery ordered.

Australia's 6th Infantry Division had experience in street fighting in North Africa, so it was a perfect fit for them.

"Yes, General!" Degan answered and passed on the order.

But things did not go well, and twenty minutes later De Guangon sent a telegram to Montgomery and reported: "General, Major General Joshua has sent a telegram that the Australian 6th Infantry Division has been blocked and cannot be withdrawn for a while!" ”

"What block?" Montgomery asked, "We've captured all the important places along the way!" ”

"But we didn't occupy every tunnel, General!" De Guengang replied: "And the jungle, in which many Germans are hiding!" Only now have they come out to lay mines, blow up bridges, sneak attack our troops on the heights, and even several of the heights have been recaptured by the Germans! ”

"It's a pit again!" Montgomery gritted his teeth.

He had already suffered a loss on the Gabez Line, thinking that because of the success of the "minced meat plan", the Germans in Sicily were not prepared for this, but they did not expect this thing to give Montgomery a headache again.

Of course, because the German army was insufficient on the front line of Mount Etna, the British army was not unable to get down, but the speed would be delayed.

However, this was what the Germans were aiming for...... Slow down the British reinforcements of Catania, and then the German forces can take Catania first.

"Paratrooper Brigade!" Then Montgomery ordered: "Send the paratrooper brigade at once!" ”

Only one of the two brigades of the British 1st Airborne Division was deployed, and one brigade was on standby in Malta as a reserve.

"But, General!" Degan said, "It's night! ”

De Guengang would say this because the previous airborne landing on Sicily did not go well...... In fact, it should be said that it was a complete failure.

"Catania is a plain!" Montgomery said: "There will be no problem with parachuting and landing there!" ”

"Yes, General!"

As a result, a parachute regiment and an airborne regiment took off from Malta airports one after the other.

This time, Montgomery greeted both the British and American fleets, saying that a group of transport planes would fly by at about 11:10...... Montgomery had already been frightened by the last warship's accidental damage to the fleet, or perhaps it could be said that he had learned his lesson.

On the other hand, Montgomery also made contact with the defenders of Catania, telling them not to injure their allies.

However, what Montgomery didn't expect was that his move did the Germans a small favor.

Coincidentally, the Italian "Lightning Division" that took off from Tunisia also flew over the US fleet at this time...... The American fleet took it for granted that it was the British airborne troops that Montgomery had said were going to reinforce somewhere, so they didn't shoot.

Then the transport planes of the "Lightning Division" flew over Catania, and the Catania garrison also thought that it was the British 1st Airborne Division, and not only did not counterattack with anti-aircraft guns, but also did not make any precautions against the Italian troops who parachuted directly into the city of Catanis.

Colonel Weir, commander of the 2nd Brigade of the British 70th Infantry Division stationed in Catania, only grumbled when he saw parachutes in the sky: "Didn't they say that they were airborne outside the city? Why did you parachute in the city instead? Don't they know it's dangerous?! ”

Colonel Will was right, there are many buildings in the city that can be fatal to paratroopers, such as pointed roofs, ropes for drying clothes, bamboo towering upwards, etc., and even a tall house can be dangerous, because parachutes will crash directly into the wall.

In addition, it is inconvenient to assemble troops by airborne in the city, especially since it is still night.

Therefore, the correct way to parachute reinforcements should be to parachute in an open area outside the city, and then march to the city after the assembly is completed.

Parachuting directly inside the city is generally only used when attacking the enemy, because it will catch the enemy off guard, and if there are troops outside the city to cooperate, you can also attack inside and outside.

At this time, the staff officer replied to Colonel Will: "Colonel, you must know that it is night, and we have not turned on the lights, and it is difficult for them in the air to distinguish where is inside the city and where is outside!" ”

Colonel Will nodded with an "oh", and then ordered: "Prepare the car, let the auto soldier pick them up, it seems that they will be in a bit of trouble!" ”

Colonel Will was thinking about the "British paratroopers" who might be wounded, and Colonel Will even had the paramedics called to get ready.

Soon, however, Colonel Will realized that something was wrong, for gunfire rang out in Catania shortly after the paratroopers landed.

"What's going on?" Colonel Will asked, "Why did you shoot?" ”

"Colonel!" A communications soldier ran up to Colonel Weir out of breath and reported: "Italians...... They are Italian paratroopers! ”