"It's not the same thing, is it?" Montgomery responded: "The environment, geography and enemy are completely different, and I don't think there's any comparison between them!" ”

Eisenhower and Zhang Chi couldn't help but glance at each other and shook their heads slightly. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

This is often the case with operational planning...... Sometimes no one can argue with anyone.

It's not like doing something else, you can do it a second time if you don't succeed once, or you can even do it a few more times in different ways to verify whether the theory is correct.

The battle plan can only be used once, and it does not verify who says it is more reasonable.

After thinking about it, Zhang Chi said to Montgomery: "Then, general...... If you don't agree with this plan, how do you think this battle should be fought? ”

"First of all!" "Again, I emphasize the most important principle of this operation, which is to maintain the concentration of forces," Montgomery said. I will never 'disperse my forces' in this battle, as long as I disperse my forces, there is only one way to lose. Then Sicily will not only not be a place for us to build our achievements, but will also become a trap for the Allies. ”

After a pause, Montgomery continued: "On this basis, I think that the British should have all the conditions we need to land on this coast between Syracuse and Pachino. The American and French armies landed in the area of Jera's Bay, so that the British, American, and French armies could form a fist and swing a heavy blow at the Germans, so that in case any army was attacked, the other troops could quickly rush to reinforcements! ”

Hearing this, Eisenhower couldn't help frowning: "General Montgomery, if we do this, how can we ensure that the enemy does not flee back to Italy?" ”

Eisenhower's words were obviously justified, and Montgomery's plan, although it would allow the three armies to support each other, was pushed from south to north...... Montgomery was a conservative officer, and his battle plan was both cautious and cautious.

"General!" Montgomery replied: "From my experience with the Germans, I don't think they're in a hurry to escape, so I've never been worried about that." On the contrary, I would also like to see that, because as soon as they start to run away, it means that we will take Sicily without much effort......"

"But the question is......," Eisenhower retorted, "our aim is not only to take Sicily, but more importantly to destroy the living forces of the enemy so that they do not cause us too much trouble on the battlefield in the future!" ”

"Our primary purpose at the moment is Sicily!" Montgomery replied: "Because it has the potential to force Italy to surrender, and if so, we do not need to destroy these living forces at all!" ”

The two sides are "the public says that the public is reasonable, and the mother-in-law says that the mother-in-law is reasonable" and does not give in to each other.

However, Montgomery's words were more of an excuse, because "Italian surrender" was just a piece of cake hanging on the wall, not to mention that it was not only the Italian army that fled, but also 40,000 elite German troops.

Montgomery's plan proved to be extremely wrong, because this is how the historical Battle of Sicily was conducted, and although the Allies occupied Sicily, the German and Italian armies were almost completely defeated...... After that, Germany also relied on the retreating troops from Sicily as the main force to resist the Allied attack on the Italian mainland, which created great difficulties for the future progress of the Allied forces.

Zhang Chi didn't say anything, because he knew Montgomery's true intentions when he said his plan.

All the "concentration of troops" and "prevention of tragedy" are actually nonsense.

Having spent some time with Montgomery on the African battlefield, Zhang Chi knew that Montgomery was arrogant, conceited, narrow-minded, and always spared no effort to chase fame and fortune.

If, in this context, it is understandable that Montgomery opposed the unanimous plan and proposed a plan that was clearly contrary to military common sense.

Ever since the U.S. military, including the Chinese Expeditionary Force, entered the war, there has been a kind of covert competition between the United States, Britain, and China, with the British being the most ...... You must know that Britain was once the hegemon of the world, an empire on which the sun never sets, and it always wants to restore its original glory, which is not only related to Montgomery's personal reputation, but also related to the self-esteem of several peoples.

If the original plan had been carried out, that is, the British attacked the port of Syracusa and the American army attacked the port of Palermo, then it was clear that the British could not "stand out" in this battle...... The importance of both sides is equal, the conditions are the same, and even the port of Palermo, which was attacked by the American army, will shine even brighter.

The reason is that Palermo is the place where the ancient Sicilian kings stayed, and it is also the capital of Sicily, which makes Montgomery feel that he is being taken advantage of by the US military, so he is desperate to oppose it, and does not hesitate to overturn the original plan under the pretext of "violating military common sense", but proposes a plan that is really "against military common sense".

One only has to look at the topographic map to know that in Montgomery's plan, all the risks were borne by the American and French armies, but all the benefits were taken by the British.

Montgomery's approach is obvious, he wants the media to make a big deal of exposure to this battle, until the British army will take one city after another without much loss, while the American army and the French army will lose some seemingly insignificant places...... This highlights the tallness of the British army.

Eisenhower apparently didn't see this, so he kept arguing with Montgomery.

During the break, Eisenhower asked Zhang Chi with some indignation: "Why don't you give some opinions?" Do you agree with that guy (referring to Montgomery)? ”

"No, of course I don't agree!" Zhang Chi replied.

"Then why ......"

"Because I know it's useless to argue!" Zhang Chi said: "You don't know Montgomery's true intentions! ”

"True intentions?" Eisenhower looked at Zhang Chi suspiciously.

Zhang Chi casually took the topographic map, drew two offensive routes on it with a pen, and then asked Eisenhower: "Don't you understand?" ”

Eisenhower couldn't help but be stunned, then let out an "oh", and then scolded fiercely: "Fuck the British!" ”

The offensive route is clear at a glance, the British offensive route has a large port to provide supplies, while the American army only has a small port to rely on, and it is very difficult to supply. Moreover, the British attacked weakly defended and famous cities, while the American army could only capture nameless towns such as Jera and Licata, and these towns were even heavily defended by the Germans.

In particular, the US landing beachhead is still very exposed, and there are sandbanks and reefs, so there is a great risk in landing operations.

Of course, the French army was no better.