Chapter 29: Desert Fox Rommel

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  In a secluded corner deep in the jungle, there were dozens of simple tents made of canvas, surrounded by a circle of barbed wire with many empty tin cans hanging from it. These were likely simple alarm devices. However, upon closer inspection, German soldiers came and went along fixed routes, indicating that the surrounding area was either trapped or mined. If one didn't observe carefully, on a large tree trunk as thick as a waist in the base's surroundings, a German soldier stood hidden among the dense branches, with an MG42 machine gun constantly scanning below. If there were any intruders, he would ruthlessly tear them apart.

  Many of the key points in this base-like place were guarded by German soldiers wearing a unique deep gray military uniform, with two high points, each equipped with an MG42 machine gun, forming a comprehensive crossfire network with the machine gunners on the big trees. Behind the camp, the clever Germans also placed a PAK38-50mm anti-tank cannon facing the main entrance of the base, and on the other side, four German GR34-80mm mortars were hidden in a pit more than half a person deep.

  "It seems that this place is a German base!" K'reen crouched in the bushes, watching from afar as the German soldiers kept running out, with some delight.

  David nodded and suddenly his face tightened, he said urgently: "Get your head down!"

  Just then a German officer emerged from one of the tents, holding binoculars and looking around. David was afraid of being discovered by the Germans and quickly reminded Krien.

  "What are we going to do now? Are we going to call in artillery fire on this place?" Krien huddled back, making sure the Germans wouldn't spot him, before speaking to David.

  "Don't be rash! It seems that this is just a temporary command post of the German devils! Look at how simple their defenses are around them! If there's even a slight disturbance, they'll definitely withdraw immediately!" David judged after taking a look at the defensive deployment of the German base.

  "How did you know this was just a temporary German command post?" Krien asked skeptically.

  "Listen, you've never gone up against the Germans before, and they're not as soft as those damn fools in propaganda make them out to be! Do you know Field Marshal Erwin Rommel's 15 tactical maxims?"

  "Got it!" Krayen nodded, "The instructor mentioned this in our domestic tactical training course!"

  "It's enough that you know, the Germans have made Rommel's fifteen tactical principles their own to a divine degree, compared to most European armies, of course including ours, they are far superior! I believe if it weren't for the Germans' overly long and narrow front lines and severe shortage of troops, we wouldn't be chasing after the Germans now!"

  Krein nodded and stopped talking, carefully observing the movements of the Germans opposite him.

  The German Desert Fox Field Marshal Rommel once created a miracle in the war history by defeating the British with fewer troops in Africa, which must be attributed to his 15 tactical maxims. The tactical maxims he established were recognized and accepted by the German army and even the entire world's land forces until the end of the war. Military officers from various countries studied them systematically, and it can be said that Rommel was a military genius in the history of warfare. Unfortunately, he was killed by Hitler in October 1944.

  Lomier on tactics summary said:

  Attack, attack and attack again!

  2. Regardless of the caliber of weapons or the number of weapons, firepower must always be used to support infantry attacks.

  An army inferior in numbers may overcome one superior in numbers by using the weapons of the enemy against him, or by employing a more rapid movement to outflank and surround him.

  4. Whether attacking or defending, try to configure weapons as far forward as possible.

  Whoever opens fire first and can deliver the most intense concentrated fire will win.

  6. Deception should be used whenever possible.

  7. In all offensive battles, psychological factors should be utilized to create panic among the enemy.

  8. All branches of the armed forces must coordinate their attacks closely and conduct them in the simplest way possible.

  9. Whenever possible, use smoke screens to cover daytime movements.

  10. Reconnaissance should be carried out whenever troops are halted.

  11. Whether in attack or defense, always send out a reconnaissance party.

  12. Units must learn to move stealthily and silently.

  13. Units should repair works whenever they stay in one place for more than a short time.

  The stronger the firepower, the deeper the fortifications, the smaller the casualties.

  15. The commander of a combat detachment must be both enterprising and resolute.

  The war has made the excellent Germans, whether officers or soldiers, extremely outstanding. Any slight mistake in my judgment will allow them to seize the opportunity and bring unimaginable losses to myself. However, being able to fight against such an opponent is a very commendable thing for a soldier, regardless of winning or losing. Now that David has discovered the temporary command post of the Germans, I stared at the battle situation distribution map marked on the map, and my mind began to move again.

  "Why did the German commander dare to set up a command post so close to the front line? Is he that confident, or is there another motive?" I thought for a moment and then said to Müller: "Get me in touch with Colonel Herb!"

  "Sir, according to my scout's unexpected discovery, at a distance of three kilometers in front of me, coordinate X angle, a German command post has been found!"

  "What? You've found the German command post?" Colonel Herb asked incredulously.

  "Yes, although they are hiding in the woods, but the German command post is too close to us! I feel a bit abnormal, and besides, there's no need for the Germans to set up a command post at this time, unless... they want to engage in a positional battle with us, or have some other bigger plot..."

  Colonel Heber listened carefully to my argument on the other end of the phone and said thoughtfully, "Captain Konti, what you said is not wrong. If the Germans adopt a mobile warfare strategy with me, there is no need to set up the command center so far forward! Captain Konti, what do you plan to do?"

  "Report to the superior officer, I suggest that Charlotte Company of the clearing troops temporarily stop advancing and keep a distance of no more than 1 kilometer behind me. And change the howitzer company into a containment reinforcement reserve unit. My unit will continue to advance under my leadership as bait to lure the Germans! Superior officer, in case of any unexpected situation, I request that Charlotte Company dispatch an reinforced platoon to reinforce my unit's strength!"

  My suggestion is actually just a precaution, Charlotte and I searched simultaneously, although the search area was expanded, but the force was also dispersed, and the overall vertical force became very weak. Once the Germans chose to concentrate their forces and break through at one point, my troops exposed in the open without any defensive fortifications would be immediately pierced by the Germans. After all, this is not a positional warfare that can rely on fortifications for defense, or it can maintain horizontal search in places with no shelter. However, entering the large area of shrubs north of Monschau is very dangerous. At the same time, I am also deeply worried about the upcoming German Ardennes counterattack in my heart. Here is just a small forest, but there is a vast and original forest!

  "Your request I can grant, but this way you are very likely to be deeply surrounded by the Germans!" Colonel Herb obviously had other considerations.

  "I understand! Only by letting the Germans think they have the upper hand for a short time and devouring me can we possibly gather the main forces of the Germans together, so that we can thoroughly settle the remaining German troops in Munsterburg at the fastest speed."

  "Are you sure? Don't you have any questions?"

  "My 200 soldiers, even if the Germans are allowed to eat them, they won't be able to finish eating until tomorrow at this time!" What I meant was that we could hold off the Germans for 24 hours, of course the battle wouldn't last as long as 24 hours.

  "Alright! I agree with your battle request!"

  Charlotte's troops soon received Colonel Heber's order, immediately switching from offense to defense, setting up defensive positions everywhere, and dispatching a reinforced company of up to sixty people to supplement the insufficient strength of our troops. At this time, the number of my troops reached more than 260 people, which is exactly the scale of a specially strengthened battalion.

  Actually, my idea is not particularly complicated. No matter what conspiracy the Germans have in mind, I will remain unchanged and adapt to all changes. The Germans rely on geographical advantages. Without the help of the forest, the Germans dare not engage in a hard fight with me. It's not that the Germans don't dare to fight me, but this war of attrition is unbearable for the Germans.

  To be on the safe side, my strategy is to have scouts and engineers lead the way, followed by search parties, with two armored cars and my mortar team providing firepower support from behind. My left and right flanks are guarded by Lieutenant Colonel Lindbergh and Captain Jones respectively, with the distance between units never exceeding the range of mutual support. And every time I occupy a key point, I consolidate it before pressing on, step by step. I'm sure the Germans will be unable to resist jumping out. Of course, I have another idea - after all, the Americans have plenty of money, so even if we encounter just one German, I'll blast him with artillery fire, as long as we minimize casualties.

  But what I didn't expect was that the Germans simply ignored him, except for some small-scale harassment, their troops kept retreating, and even the temporary German command center David had discovered earlier withdrew from there. Although my unit and Charlotte's were still keeping a safe distance, my heart suddenly rose for no reason.

  "Halt! Stand guard where you are!"

  "Halt! Stand guard where you are!" The platoon quickly relayed the order to each other, vigilantly gazing at the dense thicket.

  "How far are we from Charlotte?"

  "Sir, one thousand meters straight line distance!" Jimmy replied without hesitation.

  "A thousand meters in a straight line? So we and he are at least two thousand meters apart?"

  "Yes!" Jimmy said definitely looking at me.

  "It's too dangerous! It's too dangerous! How can the distance be so far?" I paced back and forth a few steps, stopped and said to Miller, "Requesting Charlotte to continue approaching me! Continue to approach me!"

  I raised my hand to look at my watch, it's already noon now. The troops have been marching since morning until now. Although the German sniper we encountered this morning was the most dangerous one, but afterwards, except for encountering a small group of German soldiers, there hasn't been much resistance. Although the troops are still full of energy, they also need to eat to maintain their physical strength.

  The sky was gloomy, and in the dense thicket, pairs of eyes with hatred suddenly appeared, hiding in the dark and staring at me! My eyelids jumped involuntarily.