Montgomery did not stay too long in Cannes. The longer he stayed, the more he felt the gap between the British army and the southern African army.
If the gap is just in terms of weapons and equipment, forget it. The British Empire still has some wealth, and it can make up for it with hard work. If the quality is not good, it can be made up of quantity.
What really made Montgomery sad was the gap in soft power such as troop training, logistics management, and combat will.
Although they are all human beings, why are all the soldiers in southern Africa well-trained, full of energy, and high in fighting spirit, while the British army is disorganized, lax in discipline, and looks like it could fall to the ground and die at any time?
They are also military bases. The southern African camps are heavily guarded, orderly, and clean. The British camps are in tatters, with sewage flowing across them. The air is filled with all kinds of unbearable smells, as if they haven't been cleaned in three months.
bathroom.
The problems in logistics management are even greater. Not only are there no illegal buildings around the southern African military camp, but even the larger trees have been cleared away. The British military camp is surrounded by various black marketeers, special industry practitioners, German spies, etc.
wait wait wait.
Compared with weapons and equipment, the gap in soft power frustrated Montgomery even more. These aspects can be solved through training and management, but Montgomery didn't know where to start.
Even if you know, it's useless. If the system collapses, you can only tear it down and rebuild it. Just like in Russia, the troops were rebuilt on the spot and replaced from top to bottom. Naturally, all the bad habits before were gone.
Montgomery did not return to Caen, but went to Cherbourg.
Cherbourg is another story.
The First Army led by Patton was besieging Cherbourg. This was the first tough battle for the US military in Europe. Eisenhower attached great importance to it and sent the powerful Third Armored Army to support it and went all out.
The Third Armored Army had just arrived in Europe, with four armored divisions and more than 1,000 tanks alone.
Based on the experience of fighting in East Asia and North Africa, the United States reorganized its armored forces last year. Each armored division is assigned three armored battalions. Each battalion is equipped with 53 medium tanks, 17 light tanks, and nearly 1,500 other various vehicles.
This organization is stronger than the British army, but there is still a gap compared with Southern Africa. The main tanks in the Southern African army are heavy tanks, and the light tanks responsible for auxiliary reconnaissance tasks have all been replaced by medium tanks and light and flexible armored vehicles.
replace.
The number of artillery is almost the same. An American armored division is equipped with 54 large-caliber self-propelled howitzers and 94 mortars. Patton concentrated all the artillery and used them day and night as if they were free of charge. With the addition of fleet support firepower, Se
Most of the fort has been destroyed.
After learning about the situation in Cherbourg, Montgomery was heartbroken. The Germans were too cautious. They did not need to destroy the port at all. The American bombardment had already blown Cherbourg to pieces.
Patton had good reasons. He knew that the American tank crews were inexperienced and the tanks were not suitable for urban combat, so he simply kept a distance and tortured the Germans with superior firepower. Except for the waste of shells, the effect was good.
"Waste? No, no, no, not wasteful at all. Lord Nyasaland said that if the problem can be solved with artillery shells, then don't send soldiers to charge." Patton has the qualifications to waste. The steel output of the United States is not comparable to that of southern Africa.
Up and down, tanks cannot be built well, and there are only as many artillery shells as are needed.
"The Germans in Cherbourg are probably all dead. It only takes one charge to end the battle." Montgomery felt very sad, and his mood was even more complicated than when he was in Cannes.
The lead in southern Africa was so big that it almost made people despair. Montgomery didn't even think about catching up.
When in North Africa, the performance of the US military was similar to that of the British army. They were all lagging behind in various ways. They were indistinguishable from Italy on the Axis side.
In just a few months, the US military had found the correct way to fight the German army, while the British army was still struggling.
Montgomery thought hard, trying to find the advantage of the British army, but he couldn't remember where the advantage of the British army was.
It's not impossible. For example, the British army's afternoon tea is delicious, which has been certified by Italian prisoners.
Italians are known as the gourmets of Europe, and Britain is also known as a food desert, but Montgomery would rather not have this certification.
This is not an honor at all, more like an insult.
"We must not only defeat the enemy physically, but also defeat them psychologically, so that they will be frightened when they see our flag in the next battle." Patton was not in a hurry to end the battle, his troops needed to run in.
After the North African campaign, Patton learned from the painful experience and imitated the training and management methods of the armored forces in southern Africa, imposing strict requirements on the armored forces under his command.
Not to mention Patton's ability, he also has strong execution ability. He was responsible for the training of armored forces in the United States before, and he has great experience.
Patton combined southern African methods and his own experience to figure out a combat method suitable for the US military. His troops had just arrived in Europe and it would take some time to adapt to the real battlefield.
"The Free French Army is advancing rapidly towards Paris. If we do not speed up, then we will fall behind in the competition." Montgomery is a competition maniac and never misses any opportunity.
"You are wrong. We are allies and there is no competition between us." Patton did not accept the kidnapping. The grudges between the British and the French were resolved by themselves. The Americans had the same aloof status as the southern Africans.
Patton in Algiers was also not in a hurry. On June 29, the main force of the Third Army, which invaded France from the Spanish direction, occupied Marseille, linking the Allied theaters. The Allied forces in the Normandy direction finally gained a stable rear area, and the Communists in Marseille
Sending supplies to Normandy now seems easier than Portsmouth.
In order to prepare for the "Dragoon" plan, Patton stockpiled a large amount of supplies in Algiers, including more than 50,000 tons of various oils alone. These oils could meet the combat needs of ten armored divisions for three months.
The Allied forces participating in Operation Dragoon only had five armored divisions, and the fuel supply was very sufficient. On the contrary, after the arrival of the Third Armored Group Army in Normandy, the fuel supply began to be tight. The US military still lacked experience in large-scale corps operations, and logistical support was always short.
plate.
"It is not easy to send supplies from Marseille to Cherbourg. The railways in France were bombarded by us and systematically destroyed by the German army. It will take time to repair them." Oscar didn't dare to look when he spoke.
De Gaulle eyes.
When the Allies and the Germans fought in France, the French were definitely the most injured.
In France, not only transportation facilities were damaged, but also various infrastructures were seriously damaged. Often, Allied planes had just bombed them, and the Germans used explosives to blow them up again. After the war was over, it was still unknown how much money would be spent on repairs.
.
In order to form the Free French Army, de Gaulle already owed a lot of debt, and it took him who knows how many years to pay it off.
Needless to say, the Vichy French government will lose all its money to the Germans, and the only thing Free France will inherit is debt.
Under normal circumstances, to make up for the losses, one must seek compensation from the Germans.
However, considering the situation of Germany's compensation payment after the end of the last world war, it is estimated that not much profit can be squeezed out.
Anyway, no matter what the British and Germans think in the future, De Gaulle definitely doesn't want to fight, and it would be nice to live an honest life.
"Now is not the time to consider these issues. The most critical issue before us is to recapture Paris as quickly as possible." De Gaulle clearly distinguishes the priorities. The more difficult it is to transport supplies to Normandy, the better. It is best not to connect a bullet.
Don't give them away.
This must not be said out loud, as long as everyone understands it. Why should the Americans pay for the supplies hoarded by Southern Africa and Free France?
During the last world war, Americans came to Europe empty-handed to join the war, and their weapons and equipment were paid for by the British and French governments.
This time it was not that Winston and de Gaulle were smarter, but that the Americans looked down on the British and French equipment and had to use their own.
Take the most basic rifles as an example. Both the Southern African army and the US military have installed semi-automatic and fully automatic rifles. The British army still uses Enfield.
De Gaulle was even more straightforward. Free France had no military production capacity, and weapons and equipment were all borrowed from southern Africa. Even if the US military liked it, De Gaulle would not give it. Anyway, without you Americans, there is still southern Africa to support.
"Your Excellency, you can design the city entry ceremony now. This honor is destined to belong to you, and it can only belong to you." Patton is confident that it is so difficult for the British to attack Caen, and the Americans are still studying artillery salvos at Cherbourg.
, by the time they all figured it out, the day lily was already cold.
Not bad, the experience accumulated by Montgomery and Patton can still be used when attacking the German mainland.
If the Germans haven't surrendered by then.
"I don't need an entry ceremony, I want a surrender ceremony." De Gaulle was playing a big game of chess.
"What about the surrender ceremony—should it be held on a train?" Patton suggested actively. Many famous historical events had occurred on the train he was talking about.
After the First World War, the old Marshal Foch smashed his own train and forced the Germans to sign the surrender document.
After Vichy France stopped resisting, the Germans were in the same carriage and forced Pétain to complete the surrender ceremony.
If de Gaulle also drags out that train in the future, then this train can enter the museum in the future.
"This is a good idea. I want to personally wash away the shame imposed on France by the Germans." De Gaulle would not refuse anyone who came, and he would try to resolve his hatred.
The situation on the front line is indeed very good for the Free French Army.
After the battle of Lyon, the German defense in southern France had completely collapsed. Kruger ignored Mustache's order to defend on the spot. Like Rommel, he gave orders to all German troops who could be contacted to assemble in Paris.
Countless German soldiers rode horse-drawn carriages or ox-carts, walking slowly on roads full of craters.
Cars couldn't drive due to lack of fuel, and brand-new tanks were simply abandoned. The Germans didn't even destroy them, because it took a lot of explosives to blow up the tanks.
Now the German army is starting to have problems with the supply of explosives.
In the fields of southern France, the scene when the war broke out four years ago was repeated again. At that time, the French army retreated in frustration and completely lost its will to fight.
Now it is finally the turn of the German army. Even if the horses and oxen are exhausted, they cannot outrun the armored vehicles, not to mention the elusive guerrillas along the way. The only thing many German troops can pray for is to be overtaken by the southern African army instead of falling into the hands of the guerrillas.
inside.
Various documents from another time and space also lack records of the French guerrillas, as if they did not exist at all.
In fact, the total number of guerrillas in France exceeds 300,000. They played a huge role in the Allied offensive. In many cases, the guerrillas helped the Allies complete their tasks before the Allied forces reached their attack targets.
His achievements are definitely worthy of special mention.
The Germans have ruled France for several years, and it is true that they are angry and resentful. The French hate them to the core. The guerrillas' fighting will is much stronger than that of the original French army.
The 11th Division of the Free French Army was at the forefront of the Allied attack line.
Most of the soldiers of the 11th Division are from French Indochina. Although they are short in stature, their combat effectiveness is not weak, especially their marching speed, which is comparable to that of the southern African army.
"This is normal. There are many mountains in French Indochina. The original intention of this unit was to be used as a mountain unit. They are best at rapid marches and can advance 50 kilometers in a day and night." Major Mars from Algiers was proud, 50 kilometers
It was indeed a good result. The southern African army marched in a hurry, covering only 50 kilometers in a day and night.
No matter how fast it is, it is not impossible, but it is not necessary. The record of the Southern African Army is 120 kilometers in one day and night. That was set by the First Cavalry Division led by Roque during the period of Southern African Autonomy.
During the period of autonomy in southern Africa, the popularity of automobiles was far lower than it is now, and troops mainly relied on horse-drawn carriages to transport supplies.
Nowadays, if you march in a hurry, you can easily cover a thousand kilometers in a day and night.
Unlike the Free French soldiers who walked on two legs, Mars sat in an armored command vehicle, which made his pride less impressive and less convincing.
"We are now less than ten kilometers away from the town of Roma. The troops need to stop and rest to prepare for the next battle." Major Carlisle from the Transvaal was complacent. This was already the fourth arrival of the coalition forces after their departure.
small town.
The reason why we say arrival, not battle, is that before the coalition forces arrived, either the German troops had already withdrawn, or the guerrillas had settled the battle, making the journey very easy.
Of course, the scenes fought by the guerrillas were quite bloody and the photos could not be published in newspapers. The 11th Division traveled so far without capturing a single prisoner.
"Don't worry, the guerrillas will help us solve the problem." Mars likes this kind of fighting method. He doesn't have to do anything and gets no credit at all. The only role of the coalition is to clean up the battlefield. In this regard, the Southern African army is better than the Free Law.
