Battle of the Third Reich Chapter 121: Defense

The defense system of the Dover area is unqualified in the eyes of some military experts. Compared with those on the European continent, its light and heavy firepower distribution is very unscientific, and the main fortress is not strong enough. As a whole, most of the facilities are not suitable for the needs of modern warfare. The most deadly problem is the lack of defense in depth and detour space, which can easily be destroyed by enemy siege. Geli Literature Network

There are many reasons for this situation. First of all, the Dover area has only been threatened by two invasions in hundreds of years. It has never really encountered a war. So those ancient defense facilities built since the Middle Ages Almost all of them have been preserved intact, which severely restricted the performance of future fortress builders, because many ancient fortresses did still play a defensive role in the modern period. In view of economic considerations, the parliament and the upper army They did not agree to dismantle those seemingly strong fortresses and restart them on the spot, because in the eyes of politicians, this is a shameful waste, but in the eyes of the army, it is abandoning tradition and glory.

Secondly, the defense system of Dover Fortress is mainly to deal with the threat from the other side of the strait. In the era when the British navy was dominating the world, this threat was reduced to almost zero, so the British government believes that the existing fortress facilities are sufficient to cope All troubles.

It was only during the Napoleonic Wars and World War I that Dover was truly threatened by invasion. Especially in World War I, the British government really spent great efforts to improve and expand it, but It turned out that this was another false alarm after the event. When the war ended, the economic situation turned bad, and these new transformations were once again stagnated. Therefore, the equipment in these fortresses were all old goods from the First World War, and many places were even retained. The ancient copper communication tube.

The special geographical environment of the Dover area is also an important factor restricting the development of the defense system here. This port closest to the European continent first exists as a trading port, and military value can only be placed second in the face of economic benefits. All projects have to make way for trade development. Dover is actually a small plain sandwiched between two highlands. To the west is a large number of low north-south ridges and valleys. To the east is a towering terrace with a height of 300 feet, and there are not many flat grounds that can be used.

Because it has not been threatened by war for hundreds of years, a large amount of flat land and gentle slopes have been taken up by civilian buildings, and military installations that are not necessary in the eyes of the citizens have been driven to some hills and gullies. . The fortifications are separated by large areas of residential streets, warehouses and factories, and the positions are like isolated islands surrounded by houses. If you want to mobilize troops to transfer materials, you must pass through the narrow and crowded urban area.

Because of the same terrain, Dover is surrounded by a large ridge and hillside, and a main road runs through the center line. There is no depth at all, let alone a defense-in-depth system.

The attack of the landing German army directly hit its key, because the Dover defense system is not a defensive circle, but a defensive line. This line of defense is composed of some permanent coastal firepower points, central fortresses, and flanks. The bastion is composed of two large coastal defense fortification positions and coastal defense turrets. All of these are built to defend against enemies on the sea. Except for the central fortress and the bastion, none of them have omnidirectional defense capabilities. Machine gun perforations and artillery are mostly directed at the coastline and port roads, and they have little resistance to attacks from behind.

The remaining infantry force of the British Army's First Armored Division is not enough to make up an infantry battalion. After those tankers left their iron shells, they were even worse than ordinary infantry. After learning that the German armored forces appeared behind, the British command organization in the Dover defensive circle fell into a panic without accident, and everyone was shocked by the shocking news.

When most people heard the news, they thought that there must be a communication error, but when the Queen’s private cavalry squadron of a Vickers light tank with half a turret and an incomplete commander After the corpse fled back to the British position in panic, the commanders finally accepted this cruel fact.

The German army has landed and has outflanked Dover's side. There are only two paths left to the British commander, whether to stay or retreat.

As long as you have a formal military education, this question is actually a very good choice. The road behind Dover has been broken, and the German army is continuing to outflank the rear. The German intention is very obvious, that is, to encircle the Dover area. If you continue to stay in Dover, waiting for the British team will be an annihilation battle.

As a result, there is no need to guess at all. Apart from the still huge organization, there is not much combat power left in the Dover Defender. After the German Army has bypassed the fortress side, no one had thought of encountering this before. Happening. There are no defensive positions in the rear of the city, except for some anti-paratrooper trenches and barbed wire on both sides of the main road, at most there are only a few checkpoints in the form of roadblocks and simple sandbag fortifications.

The local National Self-Defense Army wanted to set up minefields in the roadside fields, but they were stopped by the local farmers, because it was a private property. Anything to be buried must be approved by the owner, and the farmers insisted on asking for it. After the mine was laid, a sign was set up on each mine, and material compensation was also required. Otherwise, when the Germans stopped landing, who would dare to enter the land, the SDF abandoned the plan after half a month of noisy At that time, the Royal Navy was still fighting power, and the Royal Air Force was gaining momentum. No one thought the Germans could break through the Dover Fort.

So now if you want to stop the German army from advancing, the British army can only leave the strong fortress and fight field battles with the German army in the hilly area. Faced with the German army armed to the teeth, the British army in its heyday may not be able to face confrontation. Not to mention that in this state, there is no hope of winning at all.

The highest command structure of the fortress was destroyed, the garrisoned infantry unit was severely damaged, the artillery unit of the fortress and the fort were burned, a large number of ammunition materials were destroyed, the supply line was cut off, the only armoured mobile unit was annihilated, and the remaining armored units were short of oil With little food, the ammunition has only a base number of the vehicle, which can only be used for a medium-scale battle, but the fuel has been consumed more than half, the mechanical failure is also serious, and there are no accessories and spare parts, and repairs are impossible.

The most correct choice that the British army can do now is to abandon Dover immediately. Taking advantage of the fact that the army still has a certain combat power and morale, concentrate all the assault forces along the coastline and retreat towards Folkestone. Before the siege of Dover, it met with the two infantry divisions stationed at Folkestone, and at that time would it be on the spot or retreating. It depends on the specific situation at the time.

Col. Evans of the British Army’s First Armored Division holds this view. He has taken over the command of the Dover Garrison by relying on himself as the highest army officer in the Dover area. Do not plan to discuss with other officers. The order was issued for the whole army to assemble and prepare to retreat immediately.

At this moment, the most dramatic scene in the history of war appeared. The Dover Fort Command, which has long been thought to have been buried with the collapsed underground fortifications, returned to the world. The process can be called a Hollywood-style disaster blockbuster, with ups and downs in the plot, exciting and touching, and many personalities embellish it. Of course this is another story, so I won't elaborate on it here.

Anyway, the members of the headquarters were almost unscathed. They overcame all obstacles, and finally escaped from the enclosed concrete coffin through an excavation shaft that had been abandoned for many years. After returning to the ground, Major General Mason filled two kettles. Shimizu rushed to the temporary headquarters immediately, and he wanted to take back his command.

At the first level of the official ranks, the dead can be killed, not to mention that it is now at the second level. Colonel Evans didn't even struggle at all. He obediently offered the seal of the commander of the defense that hadn't covered his heat on the spot. Major General Mason is not an official fan. He doesn't have such strong power either. He just stubbornly thinks that he is a fortress commander. It is the duty and responsibility of a commander to hold command. As long as he still has a breath, he will never give up this responsibility.

Mason first asked Evans and the current commander of the fortress garrison to report on the current situation in the Dover area fortress, especially the current status of the troops and the latest battle status obtained. He was also taken aback by the news that the Germans had landed. Where did the Germans landed? Does London know this news? Why hasn't there been any response so far? The fortress commander is completely confused.

Evans suggested to Mason to retreat. He felt that as a qualified commander, Mason would definitely agree with him and make the right choice. But to everyone's surprise, Mason firmly opposed the withdrawal of troops from Dover. This shocked the officers present.

Mason's reason is very good. Dover still has a part of the fortress and fortresses that have not been destroyed. The air-raid shelter on Queen Elizabeth Hill is still 30% intact. There are also some barricades and roadblocks in the city that have been constructed. At the same time, the harbor The facilities are still intact. Mason believes that the British Army can rely on these existing conditions to fight the German Army in the Dover area. To firmly attract the Germans to this port, buy time for London to deploy reinforcements.

Mason believes that although the retreat can temporarily retain the existing army, it is difficult to predict how long it will last. The British supply line has been cut off, and the supplies on Folkestone have been exhausted, even if the British Dover is really Arriving at Folkestone can not get supplies, and will waste the remaining vehicle fuel on the road in vain. At the same time, Folkestone's food supply has been in short supply, coupled with Dover's troops, the consequences can be imagined.

And no one knows how many German teams have landed on the British island. If there are enough, the German National People's Congress can even include Folkestone’s British troops in the encirclement. Who can guarantee that the Germans are not marching on Folkestone now .

Mason felt that it was a good thing for the German army to dispatch an army. As long as the German army was placed in the city, the other side would not dare to use heavy artillery bombardment. He still wanted to fight a vigorous street battle with the Germans as planned.

Mason also comforted Evans. Although the garrison’s coastal artillery had been lost, there were still more than a dozen large-caliber infantry guns on the small fort around the bastion that had not been destroyed. Although the ammunition was not much, it was enough to give the Germans. The offensive forces created a deterrent.

He has another reason to defend Dover, that is, the port of Dover is still intact. London can organize the transport of troops and supplies to Dover Fortress from the sea. As long as the sea supply line can be guaranteed, Dover It is still a fortress that never falls.

Maybe it was Mason's military rank that put too much pressure on, or it was indeed persuaded by the facts Mason enumerated that Evans finally agreed to Mason's plan.

Part of the fortress garrison was sent to the outskirts of the city. They were ordered to build a simple line of defense to delay the advancement of the German army and buy time for rear troops to rearrange their positions. More than a dozen infantry tanks that are running out of fuel are provided to these light infantry units. These tanks are used as mobile firepower points to provide infantry fire support on the entire line of defense. When the fuel is exhausted, they can also be used as fixed bunkers. These tanks carry Enough ammunition and heavy armor should be able to withstand the Germans for a period of time.

The remaining armored units and infantry were ordered to shrink into the core defense area, strengthen and rebuild the barricades, and at the same time mobilize a part of the surviving troops from the central fortress to enter the city, build hidden fire spots and street fighting anti-tank traps in the residential buildings, and the soldiers began to collect All kinds of combustibles, set up anti-tank fire barriers and make combustion flasks.

Another group of soldiers was ordered to clean up the core fortress and dig buried underground ammunition and material warehouses. Mason believes that at least three of these tunnels dug along the **** have only been blown down, and they should remain intact. Structure ~ IndoMTL.com ~ The ammunition and materials in these storage warehouses are now an important guarantee for keeping Dover, even if they are dug out at all costs.

Following the command of the Rear Admiral, the entire Dover Fortress became busy. The frustrated soldiers finally found a direction for their efforts. The news of the German army's arrival was even more waved behind them like a whip, but they Now I began to feel a kind of confidence, perhaps under the command of Major General Mason, it could really block the Germans.

On this day, because of this series of orders, Rear Admiral Henry Mason of the Royal Navy was recorded in history. Historians agreed that if the German head of state put a noose around the neck of the Dover defender, then the Royal Rear Admiral was the one who turned the gallows floor trap.

ps: Yesterday the computer broke down and the graphics card was killed. Because it was found late and it was Sunday again, I had to ask for a day off. I posted a sticky post in the book review area yesterday. Obviously, many people didn’t read it. One more explanation, thank you for your support. (To be continued.) WWW.GEILIWX.COM Happy reading every day