Dunkirk, for whom did you cry (four)?

  When Joseph's men approached the vicinity of the headquarters of the British 3rd Infantry Division.

  In front of the British positions, the 25th Armoured Regiment of the 7th Armoured Division was ready to make a deep thrust, with troops from the SS 'Totenkopf' division on its left flank and the 6th Motorised Infantry Regiment on its right. In front of them were the troops of the 38th Armoured Reconnaissance Battalion of the 7th Armoured Division. The tank company that had been sent to support Josef's assault team had already departed.

  The engines of the tanks and cars have been started, the sound is deafening, and the blue exhaust gas emitted from the exhaust pipe envelops the troops in the air.

  Romel, as usual, stood in a III-number tank, wearing an M35 helmet and a German Army Major General uniform. He looked back and forth, then to the massive fleet, he chopped his hand down: "Glorious German armored soldiers, follow me in the charge."

  The troops of the 38th Armored Reconnaissance Battalion's rapid armored cars spewed thick smoke from their rear, charging up the marked impact road of the 7th Armored Division. Immediately afterwards, the engines of the 25th Armored Regiment let out a thunderous roar, and 217 tanks also followed the 7th Armored Division's 38th Armored Reconnaissance Battalion in charging up to the British positions, rushing towards Dunkirk. The armed party guards and the 6th Mechanized Infantry Regiment were also able to keep pace with the 25th Armored Regiment due to being equipped with a considerable number of half-tracks, thereby protecting its flanks from pincer attacks.

  The news of the 7th Panzer Division's breakthrough quickly reached the headquarters of the Kleist Armored Group. Kleist was thrilled when he received the report, as the German army had been struggling to break through the Allied lines due to the unique terrain of the canal area. The British Expeditionary Force and the French First Army Group knew that this was their last guarantee for a safe retreat to Britain. On every battlefield, they were fighting with their lives against the Germans, such as on the southern front where the British 6th Division was stationed. Captain Andrew led his company in resisting the German army's ten-hour artillery bombardment and repelled wave after wave of German charges, holding their ground until a gap appeared in the neighboring friendly forces' lines. He then took the initiative to lead 36 soldiers to support them, beating back at least 500 Germans. When his unit's ammunition was depleted and the core strongpoint of the position they were defending was destroyed by German artillery fire, he led the remaining eight officers and men on a difficult journey through water up to their chins for 16,000 meters, returning to the rear lines without rest and continuing to fight on the battlefield. There were many similar heroes like Captain Andrew on many Allied battlefields, who fought to the death against the German offensive with the help of the terrain.

  The German Army Group HQ was extremely frustrated with the desperate resistance of the Anglo-French forces. They knew that they could not afford to pay a huge price for victory, or else they believed that the marshals at the High Command would have them hanged and their families sent to labor camps until they died. However, facing the defense of the British Expeditionary Force and the French First Army Group, it seemed impossible to find a good solution without paying a huge price. When they learned that the 7th Panzer Division and the SS 'Totenkopf' Division had broken through the positions of the British 3rd Infantry Division and began to infiltrate deep into their rear, the entire staff of Army Group A couldn't help but cheer.

  The army group headquarters quickly issued orders, requiring the German troops in other positions to hurry up and attack, to keep the British opposite them firmly on the ground. They cannot be allowed to withdraw reinforcements to encircle the 7th Armored Division and the Waffen-SS "Skull" Division and close the breakthrough. At the same time, mobilize all forces that can be mobilized near the 7th Armored Division and the Waffen-SS "Skull" Division to quickly enter the breakthrough and expand it, as a second echelon for the 7th Armored Division and the Waffen-SS "Skull" Division.

  The tank battalion, which had long since set out, arrived at the rendezvous point designated for them in the orders given to Joseph's assault troops after crushing several small groups of British residual forces on the road.

  After they stopped, they began to put the tanks in a circular defense. After a while, the tank company commander found that someone on the mountain head on the right was waving a flashlight at them with a predetermined signal. He ordered the opening of the taillights to respond, and soon two soldiers wearing German army uniforms came out of the bushes and asked: "Are you the tanks sent by the 25th Tank Regiment of the 7th Armored Division to support our tank company?"

  After receiving a positive response, two soldiers climbed onto the tank and told Commander Frank Beck: "About 2 kilometers southwest from here is the headquarters of the British Army's Third Division."

  The tank company commander quickly ordered the tanks to turn around and led the tank company in that direction, as the German soldiers said.

  When the German tank column arrived at the outer perimeter of the headquarters of the British Army's 3rd Division, Commander Frank Beck ordered the tank troops to shut down and stand guard on the spot. He and two German soldiers who led the way came to the assault team.

  In the assault group, he met Joseph, the commander of the assault group. Joseph briefly introduced Frank Beck to the situation observed by the command post of the British Third Army beforehand. The two held binoculars together to observe the command post of the British Third Army, hoping to find something that had not been noticed before.

  The two men observed carefully, in order to avoid the British discovering any unusual situation on this side. They took out raincoats and covered themselves with them, turned on their flashlights, and marked out the British firepower support points on a roughly drawn map of the command post of the Third Division of the British Army. After finishing marking, the two men discussed in low voices how to surround the command post of the Third Division of the British Army.

  Joseph asked Frank Beck: "Where is your tank regiment now?" Frank Beck looked at the military map, pointed to a place on the map with his hand, and Joseph took a closer look, saying: "You are still so far away from the command post of the Third Division of the British Army, can you really get there?"

  Frank Baker sighed and said, "No way, I'm afraid the British will hear the sound of my tank engine. You know how loud those guys are when they start up together. If I don't let them shut down, we'll scare off the British long before that. By then, all we can do is smell the fart of the British. How can we complete the task given by General Rommel?"

  "Joseph said: 'Your tanks cannot attack from the front, you must send a few to where the British retreat and where I sent my troops to meet. I am worried that as soon as we charge at the British, they will run away, and the people in ambush will not be able to stop them.'"

  Franklyn said doubtfully: "Then my troops must make a big detour, during which the British can escape at any time. How are we to intercept them then?"

  Joseph said: "The car will have a road when it reaches the mountain, and our battle is a gamble. The winner will be the king. If you and I don't act quickly, we won't need to drive the British away, they will escape on their own. I have people with radios ambushing on the British retreat route. Your tanks will contact me after merging with them. Pay attention to the movement here, if I fire a green signal flare, you will command the tank to launch a planned attack, and if I fire a red signal flare, it will be a strong attack." He pointed out the position of the ambush troops on the map.

  Frank Beck took off his military cap, touched his head and smiled: "You're right, if we don't take action soon the British will really run away. Let's do it this way, if we find out that the command of the 3rd Infantry Division of the British Army is escaping ahead of time, I'll order a pincer movement to attack them directly. I have to hurry down and command my tank troops, or else the British will escape because of me delaying and I won't be able to bear this responsibility. Let's act according to plan." He put on his armored helmet. The two men shook hands and bid farewell.

  Frank Beck returned to his tank regiment under the leadership of the preceding vanguard soldiers. When he came back, the impatient tank commanders who had been waiting for him surrounded him.

  "Sir, what task have we been assigned? Our superiors have abandoned us in this godforsaken place, with no village ahead and no shops behind. We're not even moving with the main force to encircle the British. Why have they sent us here?" a disgruntled armored lieutenant said.

  "Zhaft, don't be impatient, this time we've caught a big fish." Frank Becker said with a self-satisfied smile.

  "What big fish? Could it be the British Expeditionary Force headquarters?" another armored lieutenant asked in puzzlement.

  "It's not the British Expeditionary Force headquarters, it's the HQ of the British 3rd Infantry Division that is defending right in front of us. We're going to destroy it. Alright, time is short, everyone come over and listen as I assign tasks." Frank Beck said.

  The tank commanders crowded around excitedly, surrounding Frank Beck as he assigned tasks.

  Frank Baker unfolded the map, pointing to it with his finger and said: "You see, this is the headquarters of the British 3rd Infantry Division in front of us. Now he has made preparations for withdrawal at any time. The terrain here is higher than the surrounding area, and there are firepower support points around, so infantry can't attack without exposure. And if they retreat, it's also relatively easy. The assault team has sent people to cut off the retreat route of the British 3rd Infantry Division headquarters, but their commander is worried that the personnel responsible for blocking are not enough to intercept the retreating personnel of the British 3rd Infantry Division headquarters, and will suffer heavy casualties due to the firepower support points during the attack. That's why they requested our support." Frank Baker saw the vehicle commanders nodding in understanding.

  "Zafth, lead your squad here. There are already stormtroopers holding this position. The recognition signal is five long flashes of your headlamp, followed by three short ones. The response will be three long and two short. You'll move around the flank of the British 3rd Infantry Division's headquarters, remember to try not to alert the British. Also, maintain contact, if you hear my order for a strong assault, unless you've already made contact with the stormtroopers, you're to launch a flanking attack on the British 3rd Infantry Division's headquarters. Got it? Any unclear points?"

  "It's nothing, I understand, sir," Zaf replied.

  "The rest of the tanks follow me. Upon seeing the assault team's signal flare, begin action. Start combat preparations, all personnel enter combat positions according to plan."

  "Yes, sir." The tank commanders all growled in unison. They rushed to their tanks together. Zaft led his tank platoon to start the engine and headed northwest, disappearing from everyone's sight in a moment.

  After a while, Joseph observed that the cars of the headquarters of the British 3rd Infantry Division had started up and some British soldiers began to load things onto them. Knowing that the British were about to retreat, he hastily contacted his men responsible for blocking their way, knowing that they still hadn't seen the tanks that went to reinforce them. He suddenly stood up, pulled out a signal pistol, and fired a red signal flare into the sky.

  Frank Beck saw a red signal flare go up and knew it was the order to attack. He shouted loudly: "Start the assault, fire at will once targets are spotted." At the same time, the radio operator in his tank also transmitted the order to assault to Zafar's platoon.

  Frank Bekanntank revved up all engines and shot out of the small hill that had been covering them, speeding towards the headquarters of the British 3rd Infantry Division.

  At this time, the headquarters of the British 3rd Infantry Division heard the sound of high-pitched engines coming from afar, and at first, they couldn't tell which direction it was coming from. But when they distinguished that the sound was coming from the front line, their faces turned pale one by one, knowing that the German mechanized troops had arrived. The operations staff could no longer destroy confidential documents and move radio equipment. The defending soldiers also rushed out of their fortifications in a panic, scrambling for the limited seats on the cars. The chief of staff jumped into a small car, shouting at the driver to start the engine, speeding away and leaving the entire division headquarters to the Germans, whether they could escape or not depended on their own luck.

  Frank Bake stood on the commander's tower, thinking that using armored forces to deal with a command post was like shooting mosquitoes with anti-aircraft guns. Therefore, there is no need to hide in the tank at all, and he thinks it would be detrimental to the face of Germany's elite armored forces. And his squad leaders and vehicle commanders were all thinking this way, standing on the commander's tower to command.

  Frank Baker observed the target, shouting loudly: "Target found, fortification, 1500 meters away. 10 o'clock direction, high-explosive shell, fire!" The driver made an emergency stop, and the loader quickly loaded a high-explosive shell into the breech. The gunner aimed the sight at the target Frank Baker had indicated, pressing the crosshairs of the sight firmly onto the target image. He stepped on the firing pedal. The Czech-made 38t tank's cannon let out a deafening roar, and a shell shot out of the barrel, flying towards the target with a green glow. In an instant, the target was engulfed in flames.

  Other tanks also fired intensively. Shell after shell accurately hit the target, and the headquarters of the British 3rd Infantry Division was instantly engulfed in a sea of flames.

  Frank Becker observed with satisfaction: "Not bad, continue forward, machine guns ready."

  Joseph saw Frank Bekanntank's successful opening and picked up the MP38, shouting "Brave warriors follow me!" as he charged forward with his gun.

  At this time, the British 3rd Infantry Division headquarters was already engulfed in flames. Some soldiers who had failed to escape were on fire, rolling around on the ground and screaming in agony, while others would never be able to scream again, having been killed outright by the first burst of German tank fire.

  After Joseph's assault team and Frank's tank platoon merged, the assault team climbed onto the tanks and charged into the headquarters of the British 3rd Infantry Division together with the tanks. Some British soldiers and staff who still wanted to resist were swaying in the hail of bullets fired from the MP38 and ZB26 in Joseph's hands and the front machine guns and anti-aircraft machine guns on the tanks, their bodies riddled with bullet holes. Even their parents could no longer recognize who they were. The remaining British soldiers hastily raised their weapons and surrendered to the Germans.

  Joseph began interrogating the prisoners of war, only to learn that Colonel Montgomery had already left with his deputy for the reserve battalion of the 3rd Infantry Regiment before the Germans arrived. The highest-ranking officer present was the regimental adjutant, but he abandoned these men and fled as soon as the German attack began.

  At that time, Zaftev's tank returned from the west with Joseph's assault team, and they reported to their superiors that they had discovered a car carrying British high-ranking officers rushing towards them. Zaftev fired a shot to stop it, but the car tried to turn around to avoid them. The tank in which Zaftev was riding fired a cannon and blew up the car. When German soldiers tried to pull out the people inside, the car exploded and burned. The people inside were burnt beyond recognition, and they thought it was Montgomery, the commander of the British 3rd Infantry Division, so they came to report their achievement.

  But when his companions told him that the British senior officer they had shot down might only be the chief of staff of the 3rd Infantry Division, Zafar's eyes widened and he was speechless for a long time.