Chapter 859 Defensive Strategy
This was indeed not something Rommel could decide, mainly because there were serious strategic differences between Rommel and Commander-in-Chief of the Western Front Rundstedt.
"This is one of the reasons why I moved my headquarters out of Paris!" Rommel said: "Marshal Rundstedt and his men believed that the Allies were most likely to be at the narrowest point of the English Channel, which is Le Havre. Landing somewhere between Dunkirk."
Rommel pointed to the map and said: "They believe that although the coastal defenses in this area are stronger than anywhere else, after landing here, it will be easier for the Allied forces to spread their troops on the northern plains, and then quickly attack eastward to liberate Belgium and the Netherlands. Then use them as a springboard to attack the Ruhr area in Germany."
Objectively speaking, this plan is indeed feasible.
As the saying goes, "hit the snake seven inches", this is a plan to hit Germany "seven inches"... Although the Ruhr area only accounts for 3.6% of Germany's area, it produces 80% of Germany's hard coal, 90% of coke, 60% of steel and 35% of the oil refining capacity, as well as electricity, sulfuric acid and synthetic rubber, military industry, heavy machinery, etc.
Therefore, the Ruhr Industrial Area is also known as the "Heart of German Industry".
And its location is right between the angle formed by Belgium and the Netherlands... It is obviously much easier for the Allied forces to occupy Belgium and the Netherlands than to directly attack Germany, because the Allied forces will get the support and support of the local people, and even the locals There are underground organizations cultivated in Britain and the United States.
Once the Ruhr Industrial Area is occupied, the war can basically be said to be over, because this means that Germany has lost 40% of its industrial capacity, and the outcome of the war will be no doubt.
"In addition!" Rommel continued: "Another reason why Marshal Rundstedt believes that the Allies will attack Caleb is that we have deployed a large number of V1 launch sites there and continue to bomb the United Kingdom. As long as Caleb is occupied, Lai, Britain can be freed from the threat of V1 immediately!”
Qin Chuan once participated in the research and development of V1, and even many of the improvements were proposed by Qin Chuan, so of course he knew the threat V1 posed to Britain... Even because of Qin Chuan's improvements, this threat would be much greater than in history.
Therefore, the British did have reason to attack Calais.
"But these are your troops, Marshal!" said Colonel Slain. "They are under your command!"
Rommel spread his hands and replied: "The problem is that the head of state supports Marshal Rundstedt's idea, so he does not allow me to transfer troops from Calais to the Brittany Peninsula. As you know, moving any troops now requires The Führer’s order!”
Of course Qin Chuan knew, because it was already like this when fighting on the Eastern Front.
On the other hand, this battle is right under Hitler's nose, and it is not offensive but defensive. Rommel cannot deploy troops according to his own ideas like he did in Africa... The sky is high in Africa and the emperor is far away, and it is difficult for Hitler to timely Remote control, no matter what Rommel did, by the time Hitler knew about it it was already too late, or he might have heard that Rommel had won the battle and acquiesced.
But France's defense is different.
Even if Rommel took the risk and transferred his troops to the west... it would not make any sense. Hitler would have time to control the situation and even have time to transfer the troops back.
"My differences with Marshal Rundstedt are not limited to this aspect!" Rommel took a cup of coffee handed to him by his staff, took a sip and said: "I think the main front is on the beach, that is, It is to eliminate the enemy in shallow waters and beaches near the coast, or in other words, to eliminate the enemy before he obtains a consolidated bridgehead and the follow-up troops arrive. I believe that the first 24 hours of the enemy's invasion are the decisive 24 hours. This day is extremely important for both our allies and us!”
Qin Chuan understood Rommel's thinking.
First of all, the Allied forces were too large, with millions of people.
Secondly, the Allied naval and air force dominance is completely disproportionate.
Thirdly, there is the powerful industrial machinery of the United States behind the scenes, which is constantly producing and transporting weapons and equipment in batches.
In this case, once the Allied forces landed and fought a war of attrition with the German army on land, it would be almost impossible for Germany to win.
Therefore, Rommel believed that Germany's only chance was to use the Atlantic Barrier to shoot down Allied soldiers on the beach one after another.
Only in this way can Germany win this completely disproportionate war.
"Marshal Rundstedt doesn't think so!" Rommel shrugged and said: "He is not even interested in the Atlantic Wall. He thinks that 'that thing' can only have a spiritual effect and just scare the enemy. 'Gadgets'!"
Qinchuan could understand why Lundstedt thought so. He was not actually talking about this battle, but was recalling the glory of his victory... Because a few years ago, he was the one who commanded the tank armored group to bypass the horse. The Chino Line then easily forced France to surrender.
Therefore, as a mockery of the Maginot Line and an affirmation of his own tactical theory, he certainly despised the "Atlantic Wall" that was exactly the same as the Maginot Line.
Rundstedt even secretly told his staff...that it was just another "Maginot Line."
Of course, this cannot be said publicly, because it was Hitler who ordered the construction of the "Atlantic Wall".
However, Rundstedt's words do make sense, because history has proven that this expensive "Atlantic Wall" did not play much of a role... If it did play any role, it was the Normandy section that played a certain role.
All the huge projects in other sections were just for show. After the Allied troops landed in Normandy, they poured in from this gap like a flood and then went around to the back of the "Atlantic Wall".
If the manpower and material resources spent on the "Atlantic Wall" could be converted into fighter planes and tanks, although they might not be able to stop the Allied troops, they would still have the strength to fight.
"Then..." Colonel Slain said with a hint of ridicule: "Our respected Field Marshal Rundstedt, as the commander-in-chief of the Western Front, what good methods does he have to stop the Allied attack?"
"His idea is very simple..." Rommel said: "Just like what we did in Africa, deploy a large number of infantry and reserves on the second line, and launch a counterattack after the enemy breaks through the outer layer of the coastal fortifications and before the enemy's follow-up troops arrive at the landing site. So he believes that elite infantry and armored troops should be deployed in the rear away from the coastline. And I ask to deploy them on the front line!"
As he said, he looked up and glanced at the two people, and asked: "What do you think?"