Seven Hundred Burning Harbor

About two hours later, Montgomery, as the supreme commander of the British army in North Africa, personally delivered a speech: "As the supreme commander of the British army besieged in Alexandria, I have to do something for the future of my men. Making a painful decision, I announce that the Ninth Army will stop resisting and hand over its weapons to the German-Italian forces on the opposite side."

He was supported by his assistant and almost fell to the ground, but he still insisted on finishing what he wanted to say: "You are all the most heroic fighters, it was my poor command that made you fall into the siege, in order to avoid more A large-scale tragedy has occurred, and I decided to sacrifice my personal honor to issue this humiliating and tragic order. I hope my decision will not bring shame to my country, and I hope my decision is correct."

Then the various British troops stopped resisting, and then there were pictures of German soldiers guarding a group of British soldiers walking out of the position with their hands raised. Most of the Indian soldiers surrendered very simply. After all, it is very rare for them to be able to curl up in the trenches these days to give the British a personal tribute. Now that they have a chance to survive, they are naturally very enthusiastic.

Then German tanks and armored vehicles, surrounded by reporters, drove into the burning port of Alexandria. Dust-covered German grenadiers, holding their weapons, staggered into this important port that symbolized British rule in North Africa in cars with mixed brands.

The grand parade ceremony for entering the city began immediately, and the German infantry formed into a phalanx began to carry their rifles and walk towards the fruits of their victory. On both sides of the road they walked, there were listless British soldiers. These people were carried by German soldiers. Escorted with guns, they walked to the temporary prisoner-of-war camp.

According to the previously negotiated agreement, British military officers are allowed to carry their own luggage, and can also be detained with their adjutants, and all are allowed to wear ceremonial swords to calm the psychological effects of surrender. trauma. According to the conditions of both parties, soldiers in the British mainland can return to their hometowns to participate in labor reforms nearby, instead of being sent to Poland as slaves.

As for those Indian troops who left their hometowns for the British, a small part will be sent back to Europe to enrich the racial composition in the concentration camps, and most of them will stay in North Africa to build a new one on the spot, running through Tunis to the Suez Canal. Hard labor on the railways lasted for a long, full decade.

Rommel's convertible car rumbled through the army, followed by armored vehicles and tanks in front and behind, and then the captured radio communication command vehicle nicknamed "Mammoth" by the German nickname "Mammoth" of the captured British, and many guard vehicles of the headquarters, trucks The ground was full of German grenadiers, looking at the middle and lower rank British officers on both sides with cold expressions.

Most of the losers looked depressed, but the victors were not too strong. Their bodies were covered with dust, the paint on the cars was a little dry and peeled off, and there were soldiers sitting on top of some tanks, as if Everyone is exhausted.

"I think those of us are more like decent winners by comparison,

At least we know to shave our beards every few days. When a British division commander saw German soldiers walking past him, he said sarcastically: "These Germans don't seem to care about anything except fighting." "

As a result, the German Grenadier division commander who stood beside him to accept his surrender sneered after hearing the interpreter, and then responded: "We won because we knew that fighting with a beard will not affect combat effectiveness, but you shave your beard Then I have enough time to shoot all the bullets in your hands."

Despite everyone's sarcasm, the overall work of accepting the surrender was completed very smoothly. Compared with the cruelty of the battle, the bloody bombing, and the tragic fight, the scene has a kind of medieval chivalry. Shake hands, then chat about the weather, and then drink tea together decently to discuss the problems that have arisen in the battle just now.

Rommel's convoy passed many square formations of British prisoners, and then stopped in front of the administrative building in the city center of Alexandria, which was almost in ruins. He looked at Montgomery, who was standing there waiting to be surrendered, motionless.

This is the first time the two have seen each other face to face. Although they have seen their opponents in newspapers and intelligence agencies countless times, this is really the first time they have met in a real sense. For some reason, Rommel felt that this person was once a high wall on his way forward, which made it impossible for him to climb over.

He pushed open his car door, jumped out of his car, surrounded by staff officers and guards, and walked in front of his old opponent Montgomery. Meticulously raised his arm, and performed a German salute: "Long live the head of state, it is a pleasure to meet you, General Montgomery. If I remember correctly, this is the first time the two of us have met. It is a great honor."

"I am also very honored to meet you, General Rommel! But this is not the first time the two of us have fought, at least in France, our troops have fought once." Montgomery trembled slightly from left to right Rommel also saw that the physical condition of the British general who supported the war in North Africa seemed to be very bad. The burden of Rommel is heavier than what Rommel carried.

He took a deep breath and signaled his assistant to hand over the flag of the Ninth Army to the German military officer on Rommel's side, and then continued: "On behalf of the Ninth Army, I would like to express to you... the German Wehrmacht 1 The army group surrendered, and now hand over the battle flag that symbolizes the honor of our troops, and hope that General Rommel can treat this spoil that belongs to you well."

Rommel stopped his assistant who was about to go forward with his hands, and then stood at attention and said to General Montgomery: "Your Excellency! Your troops have fought from the vicinity of Tunis and my army to Alexandria. As your opponent, I fully affirm This has not only confirmed your excellent ability in combat command, but also fully affirmed the combat effectiveness of the British Ninth Army."

He pointed to the flag that was still pinched in the palm of Montgomery's assistant, then stared into Montgomery's eyes and continued: "So, Your Excellency General Montgomery, I, Erwin Rommel, General of the Wehrmacht of the Third Reich, I implore you, hand over this flag representing the honor of everyone here to me, and everyone stand at attention!"

As he shouted, all the Germans stood at attention. Although their clothes were not very decent, some wore scarves, and some had sand on their shoes, they all stood at attention. Yes, the momentum is compelling. And the British prisoners of war also straightened their backs. At that moment, they seemed to have recovered their souls. If they had recovered their state earlier, maybe they could have fought against Rommel's troops in the ruins. a month's time.

Hearing Rommel's words, Montgomery's eyes finally became more radiant. He has almost nothing now, and the motherland that has fought all his life now wants to hang him to death, but to be able to get the affirmation of the former enemy, for a For a defeated general, it is still a very precious consolation.

So Montgomery tidied up his military uniform, took the flag of the 9th Army that he had taken a fancy to from his assistant, fiddled with the yellow fringe on the edge of the flag with his hand, and walked in front of Rommel very solemnly , standing at attention and handing the flag to the opponent in the uniform of the German general.

The surrounding reporters accurately recorded this rare moment. This was the first army formed unit to surrender to the German army since the start of the war, and it was also the first time a general with the rank of general surrendered. So the spotlights kept flickering, Accompanied by the sound of bang bang, these interviewers kept pressing the shutter in their hands.

"You are better than me at encouraging soldiers and arousing their courage. You are a natural general and a natural star. When you stand there, many admirers are willing to die for you." Montgomery sighed , It can be regarded as a true admission of his failure, the cards in his hand are too few, so few that he is powerless to change everything he faces.

If he could get to know Rommel in another time and space, he would definitely become a close friend, because they all had the same tragic ending: they did not have enough strength to realize their strategic intentions, and they all failed in the process of hard work in the end. One of them is good at attacking, and the other is good at defending, so Rommel in another time and space was defeated on the road of attack, while Montgomery in this life lost in the defensive position.

Rommel stood by his side, watching the troops in the distance rumbling towards the outside of the city, and the swastika flags of the Third Reich were hung on the surrounding buildings that did not collapse. While posing handsomely to the reporter, he said to Montgomery beside him: "That's because you have never seen our great head of state. Compared with him, you know that my tricks are just superficial. By the Führer's side, I even have a feeling that I have achieved what I have never been able to achieve in my life. Standing by his side, I am truly invincible."

When he said this, behind Rommel, the whole city was still emitting thick black smoke, and some places were still beating raging fires. All of this told people one thing, as if the man who was far away in Berlin The head of state will really make people invincible! The proof is this burning harbor.