Chapter 298 The Panic That Was Delivered
In sharp contrast, until this time, there was still a tenacious French army resisting behind the German bridgehead. In Sedang, after the German tanks achieved an unprecedented victory on June 14, 1940, the German army in other aspects scared the French army without crossing the river. Or rather, it was the tenacious German infantry and unprecedented air attack, coupled with the dazzling speed of the German army since June 10, which achieved this victory.
The scattered 55th Infantry Division transmitted the shock wave of the German attack to the rear like wildfire. The 2nd Army tried every means to control the defeated soldiers, but a large number of defeated soldiers were seen in villages 50 kilometers away, including various units of the 55th Division and subordinate military artillery. They exaggerated the scale of the German attack by a hundred times.
In the chaos, the commander of the 55th Division also requested to retreat the command center, and the commander of the 10th Army asked him to make a judgment on his own. Then the commander of the 55th Division and his command center disappeared. That night, many officers of this division came to the command center for orders, but only saw an empty house, so they also found a reason to retreat. The impact of the collapsed troops was so serious that the commander of the 213th Infantry Regiment of the Division Reserve had no confidence in his task as a reserve force - counterattack.
Another B-class division that was advancing, the 71st Division, was also deeply affected. While still marching, the division received news that the German tanks transferred from the military headquarters had arrived in Bolson. The commander of the 71st Division immediately pointed the division he had just set up and moved about 6 kilometers, and the division artillery command was also moved. As a result, the artillery was unmanned all night, and many people joined the scattered ranks. In the morning, three of the four 75mm artillery groups of the division were abandoned, and four of the six heavy artillery groups were abandoned. These heavy artillery groups were the firepower to shoot the Germans across the river. In this case, if the 71st Division was attacked by the Germans tomorrow, what would be the fate?
The French counterattack was nothing at all because the French army could not organize an effective counterattack. The French army on the front, Flander, lost the best opportunity to counterattack because of the lack of offensive spirit, and the French defeated soldiers themselves spread fear. They were all scared.
The reserve team in the hands of General Grand Saad, the commander of the 10th French Infantry Army, has the following parts: the 4th and 7th Tank Battalions, and the 205th and 213th Infantry Regiments. Behind them are the 3rd French Armored Division and the 3rd Motorized Infantry Division who are coming under the order of General George. General Grand Saad has handed over the existing troops, two tank battalions and two infantry regiments to the commander of the 55th Division, who then ordered these troops to fight back against the German army in a form of clamps. Each route has a tank battalion and infantry regiment. The time is scheduled to be on the morning of the 14th.
If it really acts as planned, it is very likely that the German infantry, which is not covered by tanks and anti-tank guns, would be "thrown into the river" and at least it would be able to buy time for the arrival of the 3rd Armored Division and the 3rd Motorcycle Division.
As a result, no unit could execute on time. The commander of the 213th Regiment first persuaded the commander of the 55th Division. Because his troops were depressed, the troops were afraid of being affected by the defeated troops. The 7th Tank Battalion did not receive the order on time. (The result of the movement of the 55th Division) When the 205th Regiment marched at night, he really encountered a collapsed unit. Under the warning of "good intention" - there was a fierce German tank cluster ahead that had no chance, so you should not die.
In addition, he received the order to cancel the counterattack from somewhere, and the regiment stopped moving. It seemed that the leader of the 213th regiment had reason for his concern. The 4th Tank Battalion, designated to accompany the 205th regiment, also received false news that German tanks crossed the river and decided to stop in violation of the order.
The original counterattack did not start until 7 a.m., and at this time, German tanks and anti-tank guns had crossed the river. At night, Lieutenant Colonel Balk sensitively realized the weakening of the French resistance on the opposite side. Although the Germans were exhausted, he desperately drove the German infantry forward. In the morning, the Germans advanced another 8 kilometers without resistance, almost doubled the depth of the bridgehead. Li Mo was on the west bank at this time, watching the progress of the bridge building anxiously. Almost everyone realized that the enemy had temporarily given up on resistance. In the early morning, the floating bridges were built, and German tanks quickly entered the bridgehead. At this time, the bridgehead was already 8x11 kilometers.
Li Mo was very happy. After returning to the command center, he couldn't help but generate electricity to the commander-in-chief of the Western Front and told him the progress.
The German offensive was progressing smoothly on Flander's left and middle, but the armored troops of Reinhardt on the right wing encountered great difficulties. The division first did not go smoothly on its way, and then, as soon as it arrived at the river, it was accidentally attacked by the Luftwaffe. (The Luftwaffe originally assigned them less support, but now it is used in the wrong place).
The opponent of this division is not a B-class division like the Seedon, but a 102nd Fortress Division, which is a regular force. Moreover, the banks of the Metz River are very steep and are not conducive to attack. As a result, although a small number of German troops crossed the river, they were firmly suppressed by the river. Reinhardt's armored division will not make any progress in the next two days until the German offensive in other places affects this place.
In the north, the situation in the Netherlands had reached the "last few hours". After retreating, the French 1st Army had some firm foothold, but the 9th Armored Division of the German Wehrmacht was able to let go and attack Rotterdam. In order to quickly free up troops, the commander-in-chief of the German Army A Group that day was to "use all means to quickly crush Rotterdam's resistance." This also laid the groundwork for the later tragedy.
The front was still calm, but the cavalry army of the vanguard of the French 1st Army, Pulios, finally fought with the two armored divisions of the National Wehrmacht. The German tank No. 4 could not destroy the French infantry support tanks 1,500 meters away. However, the Germans still discovered the weakness of French tank tactics.
First, the French tanks have a very slow fire rate (single-man turret), so German tankers always try to shorten the distance. Secondly, due to communication and tactics, the French tanks have poor cooperation. The Germans were able to use concentrated forces and maneuvers to overcome the French army. By night, the Germans actually controlled the battlefield, and both sides suffered great losses. However, the French losses would have far-reaching impact.
On the night of the 13th, General George, the commander of the Northeastern War Zone of France, finally realized that the German offensive in the Seandang area was the main direction, not Belgium. Bad news about the Seandang area flew in like snowflakes. At 3 a.m. on the 14th, General Dominic was woken from the bed. When he arrived at George's headquarters, he found that all the staff officers were busy and busy, but the atmosphere at the entire headquarters was extremely heavy, "just like a dead person." Everyone was very quiet. Chief of Staff Rodon sat in a chair dejectedly, while George was pale. He told Dominic in a brief manner:
… (To be continued, please search Piaotianwen, novels are better, updated and faster!
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