The British continental balance policy determines the British capriciousness in European affairs.
Once you understand this, many of the British government's actions can be understood.
History is always strikingly similar. After the end of the last world war, in order to balance the European continent, the British were inseparable from France during the Paris Peace Conference. After the war, in order to support Germany, a large amount of British capital poured into Germany, which finally made Germany in a short period of time.
Re-emerge within twenty years.
After this war ends, will Britain repeat the last reincarnation?
Emotionally speaking, probably not.
Based on the actual interests of the United Kingdom, the United Kingdom will definitely do this, because this time it not only has to balance France and Germany, but also adds the unbeatable Russia.
Compared with Germany, the Russian model is a serious problem. Under this premise, the British government's bottom line can be even lower.
"Operation Dragoon" indeed put great pressure on the Allied Forces in Normandy. If there had been no "Operation Dragoon", Montgomery and Patton Jr. could still stick to the beachhead position, continue to accumulate strength, and wait for the storm to subside.
We can't wait now. If we wait any longer, if the Toulon Allied forces move north quickly, they will go straight to Paris, and then Operation Overlord will become a complete joke.
Roosevelt, who was far away in the United States, also realized this. 1944 was an election year in the United States, and the victory of Operation Overlord had special significance for Roosevelt and the Democratic Party he led, which could not be lost.
On the second day after the Allied forces captured Toulon, the Normandy Allied forces finally began to go all out to attack the intended target.
The attack did not go smoothly. On the way to Villebeuge, southwest of Caen, the British 7th Armored Division encountered the German 2nd SS Armored Division coming from Amiens. A fierce battle broke out between the two sides.
They suffered heavy losses and were forced to retreat.
Although the 2nd Armored Division won the victory, it was unable to continue the offensive. Allied bombers taking off from Cannes bombed the 2nd Armored Division indiscriminately, and the 2nd Armored Division also suffered heavy losses.
After emergency repairs, Cannes Airport is still unable to take off and land large aircraft. Small and medium-sized bombers have already entered the airport. Although strategic bombing of inland targets cannot be carried out, it can still be done to support the front line.
Now bombers have become the most powerful weapons of the Allies on the battlefield, not only the 2nd Armored Division, but also the 17th SS Armored Division deployed on the Brittany Peninsula, as well as those transferred from Hungary, which have just been withdrawn from the Russian battlefield.
The reorganized 9th and 10th SS Armored Divisions also suffered heavy losses due to air force bombing, and the entire German army in southern France was shrouded in the shadow of the Allied wings.
On the 19th, the US military broke through the German defense line in the Saint-Sauveur area and approached Cherbourg.
Mustache demanded that the four divisions around Cherbourg must use all their strength to prevent the US attack and not retreat under any circumstances.
However, Rommel knew clearly that even if these four divisions retreated to Cherbourg and relied on the fortifications of Cherbourg, they would not be able to hold on for long, and they would only be able to hold on for a few more days at most.
Therefore, it is better to abandon Cherbourg and retreat to the front line of the Seine to set up defenses. For the current German army, these 50,000 people around Cherbourg are extremely precious.
Hitler once again rejected Rommel's suggestion and even asked Rommel to send the defenders along the Seine River to the Normandy area to drive nearly 300,000 Allied troops into the sea in the Normandy area.
How is this possible? Even Rommel in his heyday couldn't do it.
What's more, the Allied forces in the direction of Toulon have also posed a huge threat to the German flanks. If they do not retreat now, when the Allied forces in Toulon and Normandy converge, the entire German army in southern France will be completely surrounded.
Just as the U.S. military broke through the Saint-Sauveur Line, Rommel ordered all German troops who could be contacted to quickly withdraw to the Seine River line to avoid being surrounded by the Allies.
The whole decision was correct, but it violated Mustache's orders. Therefore, Mustache dismissed Rommel from his post and ordered Rommel to return to Germany to recuperate.
While in North Africa, Rommel once returned to Germany to recuperate, causing the entire North African Army to collapse.
It's still the same recipe now.
Not to mention how disappointed Rommel was, Patton Jr. was extremely disappointed. He once again lost the chance to face Rommel. As the German army's losses increased, even if Mustache used Rommel again in the future, Patton Jr. would not be able to defeat him.
What a sense of accomplishment it brings.
Patton in North Africa was not disappointed. After taking Toulon, Patton ordered the Allied forces to attack Marseille as quickly as possible. The next target was Lyon.
When Mike Tolan received the order, he had just entered the port of Toulon.
Since the mines laid by the Germans had not yet been cleared, Mike Tolan took a minesweeper. Unexpectedly, this caused Sir Wilson's dissatisfaction.
Many British minesweepers are modified from trawlers. They are not efficient and their performance is not good enough. There is a huge gap between them and the minesweepers in southern Africa.
The Southern African Navy is a professional minesweeper equipped with the latest sonar, which is highly efficient and has good performance. The facilities on the boat are also good, and the crew has a better working environment.
The cost is definitely much higher. Therefore, the British government cannot afford it and is unwilling to owe more money, so it can only make do with trawlers.
"It's just to clear mines. Is it necessary to produce professional minesweepers at high prices? After the war is over, will these minesweepers have to be retired directly?" Wilson himself did not notice that he became like a complainer during this period.
Women are disgusted by everyone.
"It doesn't matter. After the war is over, we can convert the minesweepers into patrol boats, fishing boats, or even yachts. You don't have to worry about this problem." Mike Tolan laughed. The money spent by Britain to build a battleship is enough for the South.
If Africa builds a hundred minesweepers, it will be enough to clear all the mines in the world.
"There is a new mission, our next target is Marseille." Oscar sent the latest order.
"We have to let our boys take a break. They just went through a tough battle." Lieutenant General Patch was not satisfied. He had not yet finished enjoying the joy of victory.
In fact, it's really not that painful.
There were not many German defenders at the port. The commandos and guerrillas cooperated with the outside and controlled the port without paying much cost. The battle losses of the fort were only about 500 people. This level of losses is acceptable.
Now that the morale of the attacking troops is high, they can continue to launch the attack. Many officers and soldiers are still unsatisfied. In the 36 hours after the operation began, the combined casualties of all troops were less than 2,000.
"It doesn't matter, they can wait until daybreak before setting off." Mike Tolan was tolerant. Button said as soon as possible and there was no time limit.
On the dock, Shen Ming led a dozen commandos to line up to greet him.
Mike Tolan took the initiative to shake hands with Shen Ming and congratulated Shen Ming.
Shen Ming's performance in the battle definitely deserves a medal.
"What we have done is insignificant, and we should be more grateful to those guerrillas who fought bloody battles." Shen Ming is not greedy for merit, but he hesitates to speak.
"Of course they will also be commended -" Mike Tolan looked at Leclerc as he spoke.
Leclerc nodded slightly and said nothing.
This reaction is a bit strange.
Soon Mike Tolan found out why.
"The composition of the resistance forces in France is complex. Some people have served in the Vichy French army, some are deserters, illegal immigrants, and even criminals -" Leclerc was in a complicated mood and did not know how to treat the resistance in France.
Guerrillas.
"Isn't France actively promoting immigration? Why is it still illegal?" Mike Tolan's focus is a little strange.
"Some immigrants just want to come and live in France and don't want to take responsibility." Leclerc admitted that a similar situation exists in southern Africa.
No matter how perfect the policy is, there will be some deviations during implementation.
Unlike France, Southern Africa is a complete immigration country. Every year, many new immigrants are punished for violating Southern African laws and are later deported. This is opposed by many European immigrants.
Old Europeans, even if they immigrated to southern Africa, still have the pride of belonging to a "civilized society" deep in their hearts. In the eyes of many old Europeans, southern Africa has been deeply marked as a colony. When Europeans come to southern Africa, they should
Special treatment.
At least you should enjoy some special rights.
In fact, there are definitely no special rights. Once the reality does not meet expectations, many people's mentality will be unbalanced.
The same is true for French immigrants. Many North Africans have listened to the French government's propaganda, hoping that after coming to France they can enjoy the happy life that French people deserve.
After I came here, I realized that this was not the case at all. If you want to become a French citizen, you must first serve in the army. After becoming a French citizen, the benefits you can enjoy are different from those of real French people. You will always be a second-class citizen.
The gap is even greater.
"They fought bravely against the Germans when the French government stopped resisting, and many people were killed. Don't they deserve a normal French identity?" Lieutenant General Patch sneered. The Americans inherited the mentality of the British and treated them as such.
France is not very friendly either.
Although France gave the United States a lot of help during the American Revolutionary War, even the Statue of Liberty in the United States was donated by France.
But at the same time, the "No Americans Allowed" signs posted in Paris restaurants also deeply hurt the hearts of Americans.
The French are so contradictory.
"Things are not as simple as you think. A real warrior will definitely be commended by the Free France." Leclerc's attitude was indifferent. When he said guerrillas, he just meant guerrillas. Why should he stop resisting?
Mike Tolan is not too entangled in this issue. Countries such as Britain, France, and the United States have varying degrees of problems with their attitudes toward military personnel. Don't listen to what Patch says nicely. The U.S. government is even more cruel in its treatment of veterans.
France at least did not send troops to burn the tents built by veterans.
No tanks were sent to hunt down veterans.
"If that's the case, what about the officers and soldiers who once served in the Vichy French Navy?" Oscar was also dissatisfied. He was purely complaining about the guerrillas.
Without the cooperation of the guerrillas, the battle would not have gone so smoothly. Oscar still does not know the exact number of losses suffered by the guerrillas in the battle. Just in the process of attacking the port to contain the Germans, hundreds of guerrillas were killed.
Arriving in Toulon with Mike Tolan were also medical personnel from the Cyprus fleet. They began to work intensely after arriving. There were hundreds of wounded soldiers in urgent need of treatment, and they were still being sent in a steady stream.
"This is different, completely different." Leclerc's double standard is also obvious. He also served in the Vichy French Army. Just because the navy surrendered with two battleships, can he be treated differently?
"Okay gentlemen, now is not the time to dwell on this issue. Get a good sleep tonight. We will continue to work after dawn." Mike Tolan ended the discussion. He didn't want to sleep tonight.
There are many things going on. Although the fighting in the city has generally ended, there are still German troops left, and the search for the German troops will continue all night.
During the German occupation of Tullon, those officials or public figures who cooperated with the German army were also arrested one by one, and what awaited them was severe punishment by law.
After the fighting broke out, some people took to the streets to loot, burn, kill and rob under the banner of guerrillas. These people must be severely punished. If discovered by guerrillas or allied forces, they will basically be killed on the spot.
German prisoners also had to be resettled, and some injured German soldiers also needed treatment.
However, those wounded German soldiers had to wait, at least until all the wounded on the Allied side had been dealt with before it was the turn of the wounded German soldiers.
In addition, there is a lot of other work to be done. In short, it will take some time for Toulon to return to normal. Mike Tolan estimates that by then he will have returned to Cyprus.
As Oscar is concerned, the French's attitude towards the guerrillas is really different from their attitude towards the Allies.
At the end of the Toulon battle, Captain Jack finally reunited with the main force of the 401st Parachute Infantry Regiment and arrived at their destination, the town of Oumang.
The expected battle did not happen. Due to lack of fuel and the full force of the Air Force, the 11th Armored Division was unable to complete its mission of reinforcing Toulon. Thirty-six hours after the operation was launched, only two unlucky men of the 401st Regiment were injured while parachuting.
.
When Captain Jack and the paratroopers he led entered the town of Umang, they were cheered by the residents of Umang Town.
"Dolly, come up, don't fall behind -" Jack called Dolly to join him, thinking that Dolly was also qualified to enjoy the glory at this moment.
Dolly stopped, with a hint of fear on his face.
In fact, the clothes Dolly wears now are not much different from those of other paratroopers, except that he does not have a military rank.
The paratroopers all carried spare clothing when they set off. Dolly's robe and slippers had been replaced by a field trench coat and military boots early on. Jack also gave Dolly a pair of sunglasses. Dolly was reluctant to wear them, and he hung them on his chest.
On the pocket.
"Come together, what are you waiting for?" Other paratroopers were also greeting Dolly. They didn't know how ordinary French people viewed French Foreign Legion soldiers.
Especially African American soldiers.
Dolly tried his best to put on a flattering smile and followed the team into Umang Town.
