What is hidden behind the French army's strange offensive?
Even many frontline commanders of the French 5th Colonial Division could not give an answer to this question.
To the south of Highland No. 4, Colonel Brisse of the French army, who led a regiment to launch an unfocused attack, was angrily following the order and launching the offensive.
Bliss didn't understand why General Stephen would follow the German general's request and let him launch a unnecessary attack on Hill 4, which was impossible to win.
What's more, what Bliss didn't understand was that even the German staff had the time to plan out the attack method in detail and gave them special guidance.
With the same strength, the French army, which was still inferior in weapons and equipment, wanted to attack the British troops garrisoned in the highlands, which had superior weapons, superior geography, and superior training. This in itself was a whimsical order.
Moreover, the Germans also asked the French army to adopt an unfocused multi-point attack, which made it even more impossible to achieve a breakthrough!
I heard that this detailed combat plan was the work of Rommel, the famous German general. Bliss really doubted how much suffering Rommel, the famous German general, suffered to get the title he has today.
Perhaps, the so-called famous German general was simply exaggerated and was used as propaganda material by the Germans themselves to boost morale. Otherwise, how could he issue such a series of orders that lacked military common sense?
They actually asked Bliss and his regiment to launch an attack area to the south of Highland No. 4 and even to the southeast, and launch a larger offensive at the same time. Why didn't that so-called famous German general take the time to pour out the water in his head?
Maybe his paranoia can be cured!
Before the order to further expand the attack surface arrived, the Brice Regiment had already attacked the British troops on Highland 4, followed by artillery support, and fought continuously for more than 30 minutes. After several attacks, they only managed to capture the British troops' preset positions.
There were several blocking points on the peripheral defense line. Two all-out attacks that rushed underground to the British main position failed, and they finally had to withdraw from the British army's peripheral defense line.
Even the outer defense line is so difficult to fight, why should we penetrate their main position and capture the No. 4 high ground?
"Colonel, the third battalion we separated has launched an attack in the southeast of Highland 4 as required, but the effect is not ideal."
"The Second Battalion broke through the central part of the outer position of No. 4 Heights, but the British troops on both wings have not yet been captured, and they are unable to launch a further attack on the British main position!"
"What kind of bullshit tactics is this!" Brees, who was unhappy at the beginning, finally couldn't help but cursed as he looked at the bottom of Hill 4 where artillery fire was coming from outside the headquarters.
The attack from the very beginning was not smooth, and the messy style of attacking with multiple points was a taboo for military strategists.
Now, it is actually necessary to further divide the troops and continue to expand the area of attack? If we want to capture this high ground, we must organize our troops and concentrate on a key attack. As for the attacks at other locations, it is almost a feint, casting the net everywhere, and then attacking everywhere.
What's the point of insufficient offensive power?
Now, the British army's outer positions have finally been captured with great difficulty. However, due to the division of troops, the Bliss Regiment has no follow-up troops to support the subsequent expansion of the results. It only relies on the huge loss of the Second Battalion and the last remaining members of the regiment.
If a company-level reserve team wants to continue to challenge the British army's main position, it is simply seeking death!
And the most critical thing is that due to the lack of judicial officers, Brice's reserve company and guard company are still commanded by his adjutant as part-time company commander. In other words, to mobilize this reserve guard company, Bliss must also
Only when your own lieutenants are separated can you have law officers to lead them in battle.
"Commander, we can't go on like this!" A staff officer who was also transferred from the French Territorial Army said urgently: "We must shrink our troops, otherwise, we will not be able to successfully attack at any engagement point!"
Bliss stared at Highland 4 in the distance, gritted his teeth, clenched his fists, and finally made up his mind: "Send a telegram to the commander of the third battalion assigned to the southeast and ask him to lead the troops immediately.
Go back..."
"Wait, Captain!"
The telegraph operator of the Bliss Regiment suddenly strode into his headquarters and shouted excitedly: "The battle plan was successful! The division commander personally sent the telegram and helped us from the first line of defense on Highland 3.
Additional troops have been mobilized nearby to allow us to continue implementing the next phase of the mission."
"Captain, the British are finished this time!" The telegraph operator said to the regimental commander with joy while handing Bliss a telegram from the division headquarters.
Picking up the telegram, Brees quickly digested the contents of the telegram.
Just as their team seemed to be launching an attack on Hill 3, the armored reconnaissance battalion and infantry battalion led by German General Rommel were already under the nose of the British army, attacking to the southeast of Hill 4 and annihilating Hill 4.
The garrison, the 24th Division and the 26th Division of the British Army attacked the two Australian battalions at the junction of the positions, and quickly launched a further in-depth advance.
At the same time, Major General Stephen also personally led the remaining two battalions of troops to leave No. 3 Hill and launch a counterattack.
As for the French troops left on Highland 3, they were only four infantry battalions that had suffered heavy losses in defensive operations, and a small number of artillery directly under the division.
These 4 battalions of French troops left behind may be equivalent to the strength of an integrated battalion together. The reason why they stayed is to continue to hold the front line position on Highland 3 and prevent the British army from jumping over the wall to launch a breakthrough here.
, easily captured No. 3 Heights. At the same time, it was also to protect the 5th Colonial Division's low-mobility, but important and sparse artillery unit.
"Commander, do you want us to have the 3rd Battalion..." the staff officer who had previously suggested shrinking the troops reminded him in a low voice.
"Report, the battalion commander of the 8th Battalion has been ordered to bring the rest of the troops to come for support." At this time, a French military officer with the rank of major also came to Bliss's frontline headquarters.
Because he was stationed just north of the first line of defense in the direction of the Breese Regiment on Highland 3, the major who was closest to Libris took less than 20 minutes to lead his troops on a rapid march to the south of Highland 4, deploying
Reese's attack position.
What he brought with him was about one 8th Battalion left to strengthen the company's strength. Although it was not much, it was not too little for the current Bruce Regiment.
"3rd Battalion?" After only being stunned for about two seconds and looking at the major in front of him, Bliss jumped up and shouted: "Quickly, go find the radio operator and ask him not to send recall 3
Battalion's telegram, tell me the 3rd Battalion to act as planned! Quick, quick!"
Holding the telegram that had just received the second half of the battle plan, Brees's face had lost all the previous dissatisfaction and depression, and his eyes began to glow.