Chapter 815: Surprise Attack (2)

"This is to make sure we can land smoothly!" Alexander explained: "According to intelligence, there are not many defenders at the landing site we are planning, and their defenses are still very weak, and the fortifications have been largely destroyed in the bombardment, so we can land before they can react." Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info”

"General!" Zhang Chi retorted: "If I'm not mistaken, according to intelligence, there are two German divisions on the island, and these two German divisions are still mechanized divisions and armored divisions...... Moreover, these two divisions were also deployed in the west and southwest of Sicily, respectively, and they could quickly reach our landing site. What if we do not prepare for artillery fire and aviation fire, even if we can land smoothly? Our landing force will also be threatened by enemy tank clusters and may even be driven into the sea with a crushing defeat! ”

This is again wishful thinking on the part of the British, who have always stressed the importance of not thinking too much about the enemy, but they have repeatedly thought too much about the enemy when formulating battle plans.

However, it seems that it is not that the British think of the enemy simply, but that the British have once again dug a hole for the American and French armies.

The reason for this was that both German divisions were deployed in the west, which was precisely the landing point of the American and French armies.

"Our goal is to land first!" Alexander insisted: "If at the beginning the battleship shelled ashore...... In fact, they have no goal, and if they are telling the enemy where we are going to land while shelling, then the suddenness of the landing will be lost, and the enemy will have time to mobilize forces in advance to prevent us from landing. It is a well-known fact that the capture of the beachhead is the most difficult, and if we can capture the beachhead by surprise, then we can transport heavy equipment to the beachhead and erect it, and when the German tank and mechanized units arrive, we can give them a good look! ”

Montgomery added: "Major General, our bombardment has destroyed the railways and roads on the island, and will cover us all the way, it will be difficult for the Germans to reach the beachhead in a short time, you have plenty of time to prepare!" ”

Alexander and Montgomery said lightly that it was difficult to capture the beachhead, but it was even more difficult and dangerous to hold the beachhead...... When seizing the beachhead, it is at least possible to advance or retreat, but the beachhead is garrisoned because of the excessive number of landing troops, the navy is powerless, and there is no time to withdraw the troops, once the defense line is torn apart by the enemy's armored forces, it will be the end of the total annihilation.

Zhang Chi wanted to say something, and Eisenhower glanced at Zhang Chi.

Seeing this, Zhang Chi didn't argue, just like I said before...... This is a farce led by the British, and it is useless to oppose it.

After the meeting, Eisenhower said to Zhang Chi: "There is no need for us to argue with them, they say that the surprise attack is one thing, and how we should surprise attack at that time is another matter...... Do you understand? ”

Zhang Chi couldn't help but let out an "oh".

There can be many kinds of surprise attacks, such as artillery fire surprise attacks, aerial fire surprise attacks.

It can also be seen from this that in this battle, the British and American armies were actually at odds with each other.

In fact, it was not only the discord between the face and the heart, but on the other end, Eisenhower almost quarreled with Alexander...... The focus of their quarrel was Montgomery's desire to directly command the US Seventh Army.

Montgomery is a bit of a lion's mouth, the strategic and tactical plans are up to the British, it's no problem, the U.S. military will fight according to your strategy and tactics and cooperate with the British army's actions as much as possible, but Montgomery still wants the direct command of the U.S. military!

The pretext, of course, is also high-sounding, which is to bring the two armies under a unified command system.

Eisenhower, of course, disagreed.

In the past, Eisenhower might have agreed, but now that he knew that the British army had already pushed the American army into the fire pit when drawing up the battle plan, how could it be possible to hand over the direct command to those "cunning Britons".

So he flatly refused, and even threatened to withdraw from this battle.

Eventually, Alexander made a compromise on this point.

This may seem ridiculous, how can the British press on them like this...... But in fact, this is exactly the style of European and American countries, and they even regard this approach as a kind of "art", that is, to make demands step by step, and use this method to constantly test the bottom line of the other party, and finally reach a "compromise" acceptable to both sides.

This may be a habit of the business people.

So Zhang Chi knew a little bit, dealing with them, don't go to wishful thinking that "I am for everyone, everyone is for me", that is something that is only applicable in a humane society like China, today you help me, I owe you a favor, tomorrow I will help you, return the favor.

European and American countries do not like this, especially between countries, and they only consider the interests of both sides.

Pre-war preparations soon began.

The British Eighth Army, commanded by Montgomery, was assembled in Egypt with the task of landing southeast of Sicily and advancing north.

The U.S. Seventh Army, commanded by Patton, was tasked with landing in the area around Jerawan on the island's west side, advancing north through the center of the island to cut the enemy in half and clearing the northwest corner of the enemy.

The French Zoaf Corps, commanded by General Juan, was tasked with landing at Licata, with the task of protecting the left flank of the U.S. Army and assisting the U.S. Army in clearing the northwest corner of the enemy.

Judging from these tasks, it can also be seen that Montgomery did not have the French army in mind.

Protecting the left flank of the US military? The left flank of the American army still needs the French army to protect it? Will the US military rest assured that the left flank will be handed over to the French?

No, the US army has long decided to arrange an armored unit on the left flank to protect the left flank.

Clearing the northwest corner of the enemy?

What is purging...... A small fight, just grab a few prisoners, and you can also call it a purge.

To put it more clearly, that is, the American army is fighting in front, and after they push the defensive line forward, the French army will follow behind and pull out the German and Italian troops who are hiding in the shadows or among the civilians, which is called purge.

However, Zhang Chi liked this task.

For no other reason, it was because the task gave the French a lot of freedom.

It did not specify which route the French had to follow or capture a certain height...... Montgomery simply did not believe that the French were capable of capturing or holding a place.

The British arranged for the French army to go into battle, on the one hand, they wanted the French army to show their faces, and more importantly, they wanted the French army to drag down the American army.

But it is precisely because of this that Zhang Chi can formulate his own offensive line and offensive plan as he likes.

And this plan is a plan that can make Montgomery "dumb and unspeakable".