"Then tell me, what do the French want to do?" the Australian division commander said to Johnson impatiently.
"What do the French want to do..." Johnson said to himself, finding it difficult to answer for a while.
Perhaps this has something to do with the appearance of the German army.
"Germans!" Johnson seemed to suddenly have a flash of inspiration and understand something.
Yes, why did you forget about the German army?
Judging from the situation, the German troops that broke through the British blockade from the outside should also be on Highland 3. Then, there will be an additional German army on this highland.
Judging from the status of Germany and Vichy France, the status of the German army should be much higher than that of the French army. In this way, perhaps the abnormal troop mobilization of the French army can be explained.
It is very likely that the German commander wanted to place his troops on the second line of defense on Highland 3, which was originally stationed by the French army. The entry of the German army would inevitably free up the French troops originally stationed there.
Therefore, these French troops who were driven out of their positions by the Germans were mobilized as the first line of defense to block the British forward for the Germans.
What a calculation! Even in the same encirclement, since the German army could still think of a way to keep the French army in front, Johnson suddenly looked down on these clever German soldiers based on his default guess.
According to the French army's original deployment of troops, although they would lose their positions sooner or later, at least they could still earn a more appropriate casualty exchange ratio.
However, it seems that the German army felt that it would be better for them to guard a more complete second line of defense. As for the French army, they could just leave it to the first line of defense and fight the British army casually.
"I think that the French army was able to mobilize a large number of troops to the first line of defense. It should be the German army that supplemented the strength of their second line of defense..." Johnson slowly gave his analysis to the Australian division commander.
.
"Report! The French army launched an artillery bombardment on Highland No. 4. In addition, our troops stationed on Highland No. 4 sent a message saying that they found that some French troops were gathering to their south." Suddenly, a man
The hurried report from the staff interrupted Johnson's reasoning and analysis.
These French people, what do they want to do?
Even if the German army freed up some garrison troops for them, with the few troops the French army had freed up, it would be impossible to launch a counterattack against the British army that had occupied Highland 4 and take back this high ground?
According to the reports sent back by the repulsed German troops, the total number of German troops that rushed into the encirclement would not exceed one regiment. In other words, the French army would not have more than one regiment freed up.
So, this freed-up French regiment does not need to take advantage of the geographical advantage to defend the line of defense, but is used to attack the British garrison on Highland 4, which has the geographical advantage. Isn't this accelerating their death?
Not to mention how much offensive power the French army has left after experiencing the joint oppression offensive of the British 24th Division and the Australian 26th Division for several days. After all, a unit should lose its power after the casualty rate exceeds 10%.
offensive capabilities, not to mention the recruitment and training of these black colonial troops.
Even if the offensive troops used by the French army were vacated from the second line of defense, had not suffered heavy casualties before, and still had offensive capabilities, they should not be used in this way.
When the battle is in a favorable location, the French army, which is struggling to defend itself, wants to attack the British army, which is in an advantageous location. Wouldn't this be self-destruction?
"What do you see?" the Australian major general urged Johnson anxiously.
After all, just as they were thinking, the defenders on Highland 4 were already strangled with the French attacking troops. However, it was said to be strangled only because the French attacking troops adopted an indiscriminate, that is, unfocused attack.
, the reason why wars broke out everywhere, in terms of the situation of the war, the British army naturally had the advantage.
If after long-term training, the British and Australian officers and soldiers, who are regular professional soldiers, cannot stop even the temporary African levy force led by a small number of French officers, then they can really die.
The strangled battle was chaotic. Because the French army launched a multi-point attack, the entire troops on Highland 4 were pulled to fight at multiple battle points, making it extremely difficult to command.
However, the battle is clear. Although the French army attacked at many points, they did not gain an advantage anywhere. These black soldiers may be able to defend with the help of fortifications. However, without any support,
, in an attack that relies on physical combat, their attacks can simply be described as disorganized.
Considering that these black soldiers have only received 2 months of military training, it seems to be remarkable that they can do this. However, this is a vertical comparison. Once compared with their counterparts in the Commonwealth, these soldiers are top-notch.
They are just better militiamen, nothing more!
Glancing at the anxious Australian major general, Johnson smiled slightly and said: "Is it difficult to see?"
Obviously, he came to a conclusion, so he started to show off.
Without letting the Australian division commander wait too long, Johnson said unhurriedly: "The French army's combat mode this time reminds me of a German general."
"Who?" the Australian major general asked in confusion. He couldn't understand what the French army's battle had to do with the German generals.
Shaking his head, Johnson snorted, and then told the ignorant Australian division commander: "The famous German general, Rommel!"
He didn't know much about this division commander who was far away in Australia and had only recently been transferred to Africa. Johnson was too lazy to explain in detail the glorious combat history of Rommel's promotion to a famous general.
Because he was a British general, he had a deeper understanding of his war rival Germany. In Chinese words, "The person who knows you best is often your enemy."
Given Johnson's understanding of Rommel, who was already famous throughout Europe, if he had to tell the major general from Australia about Rommel's war history, it would take him only one day and one night. In this case, would there be a war?
To choose his focus, Johnson quoted some famous war quotes that he had seen mentioned in Rommel's book "Tank Offensive" published after the Spanish Civil War:
"Whether it is offense or defense, firepower must be deployed forward."
The French army launched an artillery attack on Highland 4, exposing their front-line artillery configuration that was suddenly stronger than before. This initially corroborated Rommel's famous saying.
"No matter how small the caliber of the weapon is, or how few the number of weapons, we must always use firepower to support the attack as much as possible."
This is also confirmed by the French army's concentration of artillery firepower to support the attack on Highland 4. Before this, the French army, accustomed to trench warfare, usually hid their artillery positions and only used them for defense.
The above two points alone are enough to reflect that the French army's tactics have undergone earth-shaking changes compared to before.
"This is definitely not the French commanding!" Johnson said firmly through the huge changes shown in the French army's tactics: "There must be a different person commanding, and judging from this person's commanding style, it is very possible.
This person is a certain German military officer under Rommel! Only German commanders can be so aggressive. The French army was once our ally, and I understand that this is not how they fight!"