Rommel's series of dazzling victory in Africa allowed him to become the marshal of the German Empire and pushed his personal reputation to the peak.

But this does not allow Germany to win a victory in Africa.

Britain appointed Montgomery to command all the Allies in Africa. Erwin Rommel encountered his biggest enemy in his life!

On August 12, 1942, General Montgomery flew to Africa and was ordered to take over the command of the 8th Army.

Montgomery had an eagle-like face, his high tone with a strong English nasal sound didn't sound very friendly. He had similarities with Rommel in many ways. Both of them were introverted and surrounded by enemies than friends; they were both arrogant and arrogant, and when they obeyed others, they were both liked a stubborn horse, and when they were given full command, they were both clear-headed and most unique commanders; both loved sports, and did not smoke, drank strong alcohol, and focused on maintaining good health.

Like Rommel has always worn the famous hat with plexiglass goggles, Montgomery also wore a weird Australian jungle hat with a team badge to show his uniqueness. In addition, both of them like to select outstanding people, young and handsome officers to form their own staff. In terms of tactics, Rommel is good at mobile warfare, while Montgomery has never been a mobile warfare expert who swept thousands of miles; but in carefully arranged positional warfare in advance, he is better than Rommel. In terms of intelligence acquisition, Rommel cannot compare with Montgomery. Since Rommel lost his radio snooping company, the British intelligence agencies have learned how to make the enemy illusion on the source of intelligence, and a large amount of easily deciphered intelligence suggests that the German army: the Italians are constantly leaking intelligence.

Rommel believed in this deception, which greatly deepened his contempt for the Italians. However, British intelligence agencies continued to send a large amount of German intelligence they had cracked, and Rommel knew nothing about it. "Romel was like being blindfolded and duel with Montgomery." A German critic thought so after the war.

However, both Montgomery and Rommel also clearly realized that the outcome of the mechanized war depends largely on logistics supply. Therefore, they both strongly asked their commanders to transport more combat personnel and weapons to the African battlefield as much as possible. Obviously, Montgomery had an absolute advantage in this regard. The British and American war machines were driving at full capacity, and a large number of fleets rushed across the Mediterranean to transport a large number of weapons and equipment and logistics supplies to the British army. The strength of the 8th Army was increasing day by day. Churchill told Montgomery that the 10th Army was under construction, and there were 300 "Sheerman" tanks expected to be transported from the United States to North Africa in early September.

On August 30, Rommel finally made the "most difficult choice in his life":

That is to attack the British army.

This can actually be said to be the final "life-and-death struggle". Because at this time the number of tanks in the armored legion was less than half of that of the British army, and the remaining fuel was not even enough to travel 160 kilometers, and the British army was still firmly controlling air supremacy.

In the early morning, when Rommel got on the bus to the command post, he told the health care doctor in a heavy mood: "The attack launched today is the hardest decision I have ever made in my life. Either we will reach the Suez Canal, or"

It would be hard for him to continue the following words.

The British army soon discovered information about Rommel's upcoming attack from the deciphered secret telegram. Although Ochinrik repeatedly hinted to Montgomery that if Rommel attacks with all his might, the 8th Army should retreat to preserve its strength, Montgomery believed that the current British army had the full strength to defeat Rommel's attack and could take this opportunity to quickly launch a counterattack. At the meeting of senior officers of the army, Montgomery announced to everyone the order of "never retreat".

At 10 o'clock that night, under the pale moonlight, the African Armored Legion advanced along the undulating sand dunes toward the British minefield. The left wing of the African Army was Italian tank troops and the right wing was the 90th Light Armored Division. Under the guidance of the engineers, the soldiers shook mini flashlights and carefully passed through their minefields. Just as the troops were about to pass through their minefields, the African Army Band played the ancient Prussian March that made the veteran's throats infarct. The officers and soldiers of the Armored Legion would never know that they were stepping onto the trap that the British army had already set for them.

Late at night, the armored legion launched an attack on the British positions at the southern end of the Alamein defense line. Rommel obtained information that the British army did not lay mines in this area and its defense was weak. But when the attack was unfolding, the German army actually broke into a very dense minefield. When the African army followed the engineers slowly advanced, suddenly, flares exploded in the air, and the dazzling flash immediately exposed the troops to the British fire range. The British heavy machine guns and artillery, which were already ready, immediately fired fiercely at the German army in the minefield. Tanks, armored transport vehicles and cars were hit and caught fire. Some vehicles and soldiers stepped on landmines to avoid artillery fire.

Suddenly, the sound of shells, bombs and mines exploded. General Bismarck was killed when he touched the mine. Commander Nine's command vehicle was also hit by artillery fire. Most of the officers in the vehicle were killed and he was seriously injured. Chief of Staff Colonel Bairlein immediately changed to another car and continued to command the African army to advance. The engineers braved the artillery fire and tried hard to open the way in front, and the troops followed behind and advanced little by little, and finally passed this "death zone".

When the African army was trapped in the minefield, Rommel even planned to cancel the attack. It was obvious that the British army had already been prepared and the originally expected raid on the British army was no longer possible. However, when the African army broke through the minefield and continued to advance, Rommel decided to continue the attack.

After crossing the minefield, the African army gathered again and prepared to attack Alamhalefa. At this time, the Air Force sent a reconnaissance report, and Rommel couldn't help but have an ominous premonition. The Air Force reported that the British army had built a very strong position on this ridge, and the defenders also discovered the 44th Infantry Division, which had just been transferred from Britain recently.

It was too late to let the African army withdraw from the battle at this time. The African army attacked. At the beginning, the attack was relatively smooth, but the subsequent Italian troops were trapped in minefields and failed to catch up in time. Montgomery had mobilized more than 400 tanks and a large number of anti-tank guns to strengthen the troops defending the ridges. Under the tenacious resistance of the British army, the African army's offensive power became increasingly weak.

In the afternoon, a storm broke out in the desert. Although the storm caused the British aircraft to lose the opportunity to accurately drop bombs, it also made the African army's advance very difficult. At night, the storm stopped. Under the blazing light of the flares, the African army's personnel, tanks and vehicles became the living targets of the British army. Some British aircraft bravely rushed towards the advance German tanks after dropping the bombs. The violent explosion sounded deafening, and the flames after the explosion illuminated the night sky. Under the attack of the British army, the African army quickly became difficult to move forward, so they had to temporarily stop the attack.

At the same time, the German attack in other directions was also subjected to tenacious resistance from the British army. The British defense line seemed to have become indestructible. The Italian troops responsible for transporting materials and fuel to the front line were also attacked by British aircraft and the 7th Armored Division, and suffered heavy losses and could not cross the British blocking line at all.

On September 1, the German front-line attacking troops were in urgent need of fuel. Rommel had to order all large-scale operations to continue attacking only some important local targets. On the morning of the same day, the African army used all the forces of the 15th Armored Division to carry out a last attack on Alamhalefa. After destroying a large number of British tanks, the German tanks were ready to detour east of the ridge to surround the defense of British troops, forcing the British army to abandon their positions. At this time, the tank's gasoline and ammunition could no longer support the subsequent attack, and the German army was forced to stop.

On September 2, British Air Force aircraft bombed the attacking Germans 12 times. British artillery also fought back fiercely. On the front of the 15th Armored Division, the British army fired more than 10,000 shells. Tanks and vehicles that lost their mobility became the British army's favorite targets to attack. This day was the most heavy day for the German army to lose.

It is impossible to continue to attack forward. At 8:25 am, Rommel was forced to announce the cessation of the attack and ordered the African army to withdraw to the position before the attack. In order to prevent the British army from taking the opportunity to counterattack, Rommel ordered the troops to keep confidential as much as possible when retreating, "If the soldiers ask, tell them that they are changing defenses."

Erwin Rommel suffered the worst failure of his life!

On September 6, Rommel finally retreated his troops to the offensive starting position. The African Armored Legion began to enter the preparation stage for defending the British offensive.

The shadow of failure is shrouding the German army

But late at night on September 6, things seemed to have changed. A person who was enough to turn the German African army into victory appeared. At least, this is what all German troops thought.

As long as this person appears, he can survive any difficult situation:

Marshal Ernst Bryme:

——Baron Skeleton!

Wherever there is danger, there is a baron!

"marshal!"

"marshal!"

Facing the German generals who came to greet him, Marshal Ernst Breme looked solemn:

"Call all senior officers to hold an emergency meeting, immediately!"

God-like figures appeared, and German hope appeared! The German generals urgently hoped that Marshal Ernst Breme could create a new miracle just like on the Russian battlefield.

But at least from the current point of view, the challenge that Marshal Ernst Breme is too serious! (To be continued. Please search for Astronomy, novels are better, updated and faster!)
Chapter completed!