Battle of the Third Reich

How long does it take to completely wipe out an infantry battalion with 700 soldiers? The answer given by the fourth armored company is two hours and forty minutes, which is consumed from the first shot until the last Italian soldier is captured If you deduct the time wasted by infantry units in combat, this record can actually become shorter. [Please go to >>>Cotton_._.花_._.糖_._.小_._.说_._.网]

There is no invincible Superman in this world. Of course, the Italian soldiers will not be invincible King Kong. The **** impulse for a time made the soldiers temporarily forget the fear, but soon the Germans awakened their memories with fierce firepower. .

Infantry are inherently at a disadvantage in front of armored vehicles. Before the two sides approach the dangerous distance, the infantry can only be regarded as a target for armored forces. As for this distance, it depends on what kind of anti-armor weapons the infantry holds, but unfortunately in the hands of these Italians, there are only some glass wine bottles with a small amount of gasoline at the moment.

At this point, gasoline was still available before the war. After losing Germany’s assistance, Italy’s fuel reserves were nearly exhausted. At this time, most of the strategic reserves were sent to the Greek frontline and North African colonies to maintain frontline operations. And the normal operation of colonial forces.

It should be pointed out here that at least 200,000 tons of fuel have been lost in the Mediterranean due to the Royal Navy’s interception, accounting for almost two-thirds of the total traffic. But the problem is that even if the loss is large, the Italians can only swallow it with blood. They must guarantee the fuel supply of Libya. There is now the largest armored corps in Italy. Once the supply is cut off, these tanks and trucks will become one. Pile of scrap iron.

The British and French African forces are now watching at both ends of Libya, not to mention that now it seems that a new African legion of Germany will be added to the enemy.

The remaining strategic fuel reserves are in the hands of the Air Force and the Navy, but these two are also large fuel oil consumers, so they have almost reached the point where the oil is dry, and the Navy’s main ships have not been connected for half a month. Going out to patrol the sea is to save precious fuel in case.

Colonel Bernafini was an old-school stubborn Italian aristocracy. He was supposed to be an arrogant and solitary figure. Surprisingly, the old man was very popular in the army. The leader was usually very enthusiastic and generous. When he was in a good mood, he was often Will pay privately to pay the debts for his men.

So when the head of the regiment was killed, most of the Italian officers and soldiers who witnessed the scene were impressed. They filled their arms with grief and anger and charged the Germans. At this time, their mind was only thinking of revenge for the baron.

But this impulse caused by indignation is destined to be unsustainable. Humans are born to be a creature that seeks to avoid harm, and the Italians who love to enjoy are even more outstanding. The German counterattack was extremely violent, and the battlefield losses quickly passed the tipping point of the Italian officers and soldiers.

There were more than two hundred soldiers rushing out of the woods. They were faced with the firepower of two 20mm cannons and seven machine guns on the right side of the German army. The third tank in the German main force also joined the battle. Many of these tanks are still the initial models equipped with 37 mm guns. This kind of firepower may be a little weak against British and French tanks, but the slaughter of light infantry is effortless.

Less than a minute after the war, more than 70 Italian soldiers were killed on the spot, and there were almost as many casualties. Immediately the Italian First Army Battalion collapsed, and the brave and violent behavior of the Italian soldiers just a few seconds ago almost gave the Germans the illusion that the Italians would fight in the end. The Italian infantry on the battlefield began to turn around and retreat, some of them fled east along the edge of the woods, and some of the others rushed back into the woods.

The most enthusiastic pursuit of the Germans began. The armored forces maintained an advantage in this area. In this open plain, infantry relying on two legs could not escape under the pursuit of armored vehicles. The Germans were divided into three groups in units of platoons, two groups from the right towards the back of the woods, and one group was responsible for chasing infantry who fled along the edge of the woods.

The fourth company carried out feint attacks this time, so it was impossible to wipe out the infantry in the woods without relying on the motorized infantry company with which it cooperated, so the task of entering the woods to destroy the enemy was handed over to the two An infantry company digging trenches on the other side of the road.

The firepower of the Germans fighting back from the woods is estimated. At least two to three hundred Italian infantry soldiers are hiding inside. In fact, there are more than 500 Italian troops hiding in the woods at this time, but they lack machine guns and mortars. , The result caused the Germans to misjudge in quantity.

Taking advantage of the time when the German infantry formulated the search plan, the three tank platoons surrounded the small woods from three sides, and the commander planned to catch the turtle in a waiting urn.

An armored platoon on the south side repelled the impact of the three ranks of Italian infantry. The tactics of the Italian infantry were similar to the Germans. They also relied on machine guns to cover each other and alternately advance. The problem is that these infantry lacked heavy firepower. Support, their medium-sized mortars and heavy machine guns were all left in the barracks.

At the moment, the Italians had only some 45mm mortars known for their high rate of fire and precision, which could not pose any real threat to the German tanks, not to mention that they did not carry much ammunition, mainly because of some anti The infantry's iron shell grenades, and the fine shrapnel that made the infantry a demon, can only scrape the shiny paint on the body in vain at this moment, and jingle the tank's armor.

The German armored platoon leader pointed out in the post-war report that in this case the Italians more need a smoke bomb that can cover the battlefield, but obviously the Italians do not have such ammunition at all.

At this time, the Italian soldiers were not completely stubborn. They then launched several tentative attacks on the other side of the woods. The Italian infantry launched a series of assaults in a row and row. It seemed that they did not care about their own losses. This performance is full of energy.

The top Italian shooters in the bushes caused some trouble to the Germans. These hunters carried Carcano short-barreled carbines, and the 6.5mm round head bullets showed an amazing distance of less than 200 meters. Power, once hit by the bullet in the head or torso, basically no need to consider rescue.

During the next period of time, the battle of the Germans was not smooth. The stubborn Italian army showed a very strong will to fight. The Germans had to admit that these rookie infantry performed as good as the enemy outside the forest. .

The Italian infantry battalion did not carry radio equipment and could not seek help from its comrades in the city. They also knew that even if they called for help, it would not be possible for reinforcements to arrive. However, these soldiers are still fighting hard, and no one put forward their views on surrendering to the Germans.

Italian officers played a key role in this battle, because of their perseverance, the troops could be reorganized from the collapse in a very short time, and because of their calm attitude, the soldiers forgot the tension Despite being in a disadvantageous situation, fear and fear still aim courageously and shoot at the enemy.

Soon the fourth company and the infantry were consumed with patience by this group of stubborn Italians. They had lost 30 soldiers here. If they delay this way, even if they win, they will become the laughing stock of their colleagues. .

The division has already asked whether it is necessary to mobilize artillery to support it, and apparently began to doubt whether the fourth company could end this battle alone.

After consulting with the commander of the infantry company, the fourth armored company mobilized two No. 2 tanks to try to launch a round of impact on the forest. This small armored vehicle can barely move in the jungle, but it must be coordinated by the infantry. With the cover, otherwise it is easy to be ambushed by enemy soldiers, causing serious losses.

The result was as much as the commander was concerned. The attack ended in failure. The Italians dug a lot of foxholes in the woods in the previous hour. They hid in these pits and looked into the field of vision. All the targets saw bombs and shots.

The No. 2 tank only advanced 20 meters, and was hit by five or six glass bottles. The Germans did not think that the Italians would dare to use this thing in the woods they hid. Could it be that they wanted to die with themselves? The two No. 2 tanks went straight into reverse gear without saying a word, and escaped from the woods with a petrol tank full of panic.

The fourth company finally gave up the plan to attack and obediently waited for the support from the superior. But what they did not expect was that the above-mentioned transfer was not a division artillery, but a team of Stuka bombers.

"All units are ready." Captain Mangels, the commander of the four-armored company, shouted loudly with a microphone in hand: "We have transferred a squadron of Stuka to us!".

On the side of the company’s commanding tank, the ground guide’s sergeants were sitting in their radio communication cars, nervously talking with the incoming Stuka formation.

German troops outside the woods began to spread the **** carried on the ground, revealing their identities to the friendly forces in the air. In fact, it is not difficult to identify the targets of this battle. The bomber only needs to attack the woods. As for the targets that escaped from the woods, the fourth armor company, which had already suffocated, could clean up itself.

"See it." Captain Cowell, the deputy company commander, climbed up to the commander's command tank, leaned on the spare box behind the turret, and handed a cigarette to the armoured company commander with a serious expression.

"What?" The company commander took the cigarette in confusion.

"They are wearing army uniforms." Cowell pulled out a lighter and lighted the cigarette for Mangels.

"It's the Army Air Force. I just heard that I didn't expect the formation to be completed so quickly." Mangels sniffed a cigarette and touched the stubble on his chin.

"Red smoke bomb!" a sergeant of the ground guide turned and shouted at Mangels.

"Red, did you hear it? Light the red smoke bomb immediately." Mangels picked up the microphone and ordered it out loud.

"Look, they are on the top." Cowell shouted, pointing to the top of his head.

"The cars are ready, the Italians will be kicked out soon." Mangels squinted and looked up at the sky, then issued a command to prepare for the battle.

The voice hadn't fallen yet, and the sharp howling of Stuka sounded in the sky. The armored company commander looked up again, and saw three Stukas lined up in a neat triangle, diving almost vertically towards the woods.

The dive bomber shouted vertically and dived closer and closer to the ground, witnessing the German officers and soldiers at this moment involuntarily holding their breath.

Stuka was still diving. It seemed that these pilots were not prepared to pull up. At a height of less than 300 meters from the ground, the ventral frame suddenly unfolded, and heavy bombs were thrown away from the body by centrifugal force. The autopilot forcibly pulled up the fuselage, and the engine roared wildly, dragging these eagle birds painted with gray-green camouflage back to the sky.

The German tank drivers opened their eyes wide, and their eyes followed the bombs into the green forest. After a second, several huge fireballs rose into the air, even if they were two or three hundred meters away from the forest. Feel the terrible shock wave.

"The Italians are done, and the next two waves use incendiary bombs." The sergeant of the lead group said to Mangels with a smile.

"Good job, thank you to these pilots for me." Mangels nodded.

"Understood, sir." The sergeant returned a beautiful military salute, and then turned around neatly.

These German armored soldiers verified the power of heavy solidification for the first time with their own eyes. At the time, Mangels felt that those Stukas were simply calling the abyss of fire to the world, and a series of incendiary bombs were in the Germans. A fire wall up to 50 meters high was erected in front of him, and the armored soldiers had to drive the tank backwards to avoid the hot heat coming from the face.

Soon there were Italian soldiers rushing out of the woods, and many people's military uniforms were lit, but no matter how these poor soldiers rolled on the ground, they could not extinguish this flame from hell.

Some Italian soldiers were terrified. They wailed and cried, and ran towards the German defense line with their hands raised. They thought they could be saved there, but they were greeted by the German ruthless bullets.

"They asked for it." Mangels turned his face, his eyes fixed on his deputy company commander.

"Yes, this is what they asked for." Cowell finished and looked up at the sky, and a plume of smoke erected over the woods.

The German captain breathed out and flicked the cigarette butts in his hand.

ps: I'm sorry to be late, but I finally caught up.

thanks for your support. (To be continued.)

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