Chapter 304 Retreat

"God, they are giving up the Alexander Line!" Montgomery couldn't help but exclaimed.

"You are right, General!" Eisenhower said: "They realized the gap with us in strength, so they had to give up, and not just Alexander, but also Matruh, Gazala, Benghazi, and even It’s Tripoli, they want to retreat all the way to Algeria!”

"It seems like a good thing, but it's not a good thing!" Montgomery said.

Eisenhower knew what Montgomery meant. At this time, Montgomery hoped that the German army could fight the British army to the death in the desert... The reason was that the air power and mechanized forces of the British and American troops were much stronger than the German army, especially It's a tank. The German army basically has no equipment that can compete with the American "Sherman" tank. The only threat that seems to be posed is the rocket launcher, but the rocket launcher is also ineffective at long distances.

However, if the battlefield is moved to the mountains in Tunisia and Algeria, that is another matter.

"We can't let them run away like this!" Montgomery said: "We now have two options. One is to attack from the sea... As long as their navy is defeated, they will not be able to block the Tunisian Strait! The other is to attack from the land. Hit Tunisia before they are ready!"

Eisenhower thought for a moment and said: "I choose the first one!"

"Tell me why!"

"The Germans have just captured warships from the French. They are not familiar with the performance of French warships!" Eisenhower said: "I even doubt whether they have a sufficient navy!"

"They do!" Montgomery replied: "They transferred the German navy there, and these navies even have considerable combat experience!"

Montgomery had more intelligence channels, so he always knew more than Eisenhower.

"But this does not change the fact that they are unfamiliar with French warships!" Eisenhower said.

Montgomery nodded in agreement, but then he shook his head and said: "The problem is air superiority. General, German and Italian planes can take off from Tunisia and Sicily, and if we want to attack Tunisia Otherwise, we can only take off from Malta Island, which is not only far away, but we don’t have enough fighter planes and supplies on Malta Island!”

"Then we should transport fighters and supplies to Malta now!" Eisenhower said: "In addition, we also have aircraft carriers. Although the performance of carrier-based aircraft is lagging behind, the Germans do not have many fighter planes!"

Montgomery nodded again.

Although Montgomery was more conservative, this time he thought it was worth taking the risk. This was not only because the German air power was very weak, but also because Montgomery knew that the warships currently being used by Germany... were implementing the "Ballista Plan." At that time, the British captured several French warships anchored in the port.

Although this was not glorious, because Britain and France were still allies at the time, and French warships were unsuspectingly anchored in the port of Alexandria to take refuge, but Britain suddenly sent troops to control these warships... These warships soon formed a puppet regime. Naval warships of de Gaulle's "Fighting France".

Of course, the British had boarded these warships before and learned about their data in detail.

So Montgomery knew that... the air defense capabilities of French warships were very weak, and even the "Sea Fighter" and "Film-nosed Swallow" with backward performance could effectively attack them.

On the other hand, attacking from the sea will become more and more difficult as time goes by... The Germans will be more familiar with French warships, and may even make up for the air defense shortcomings of French warships.

Thinking of this, Montgomery nodded and said: "I will contact the Mediterranean Fleet immediately!"

Montgomery and Eisenhower were right. The Germans were indeed considering retreating.

Just kidding, the German army at this time was not at the same level as the British and American Allied Forces... Before the US military entered the war, the German army could still use quality to make up for this gap, but with the addition of the US military and a large number of "Sherman" tanks With the investment, the situation in the North African battlefield has become very clear: unless Berlin can deliver the "Plank IV" tanks that can compete with the Allies in a short time, the German army will have no choice but to die.

But Hitler put almost all his energy on the Eastern Front and was unable to provide more "Plank IV" tanks for the Afrika Korps. Under such circumstances, wanting to hold the Alexandria Line of Defense in this desert wilderness... that was simply a fool's errand. .

"The head of state will not approve of our doing this!" Major General Strike was a little worried: "He will think that we are all cowards!"

Major General Strike is a pun. Rommel had called Major General Strike a "coward" before.

"Major General!" Rommel said with a smile: "If it weren't for your victory time and time again, I would really want to kick you out of my army!"

"I see, General!" Major General Strike replied, "That's why I have to win the battle!"

The officers couldn't help but laugh.

"Let me explain it to the Führer!" Rommel said: "Although this is very difficult, it is nothing compared to the Afrika Korps. I will try to let him know that we have to do this, and I am very unhappy with it." Willing to do this..."

As he spoke, Rommel looked at Alexander outside the window, with some reluctance in his eyes.

The officers all knew what Rommel was thinking.

This has always been Rommel's wish. He hopes that he can conquer the whole of Egypt like Alexander and go down in history... If there is no hope at all, it is not a pity, but he has already reached Alexandria, and is only one step away from the goal. It can almost be said that as long as Hitler has not transferred the 24th Air Wing, Egypt may have belonged to Germany at this time.

However, in the end, it still failed.

"This choice is correct, General!" General Strike comforted: "We can only do this!"

Rommel nodded and said: "Yes, and one day, we will fight back again!"

So the German army immediately began to retreat in an orderly manner.

The first to be evacuated was Crete.

Of course, the German army would not use the word "withdrawal", but would return it unconditionally to the Greeks.

Of course, this Greek would not be the Greek government army, but the Greek National Liberation Front.

Of course, the German army kept their promise and left a part of the factory on the island so that the Greek National Liberation Army could produce ammunition and grow rapidly.

It was not until then that Colonel Denis was convinced that what the Germans said was true.

Otherwise, why did the Germans evacuate Crete? !