Imperial Overlord

The 3,000 British soldiers who defended Alexandria did not create any miracles. In fact, with the annihilation of the Nile Army, the fate of Alexandria was almost decided.

These 3,000 British soldiers were not as capable as the 300 Spartans, and Rommel's army was much more powerful than the Persian army.

British soldiers calmly blew up the warehouse and port of Alexandria on the same day, and after hastily destroyed some facilities, they handed over their weapons to the German armored forces.

Yes, there were no waves, not even fierce street fighting broke out. These British soldiers handed over Alexander, who had only destroyed one-third of it, to the Germans.

In the port, two French gunboats that had just sunk to surrender to Britain, and their masts were exposed on the water.

Everything seems to be very calm. The Italian navy has taken up the work of mine clearance on the water. They want to restore this port, which has been captured, as an important North African supply station as soon as possible.

On the other hand, the German infantry entered Alexandria and found a mountain of piles in the port, and only a little half of the materials were burned.

The grain and oil in the warehouse made the German Afrikaans ecstatic.

These supplies were far more than the Italians had stored in Tobruk, and were even enough to support the German Afrikaans attacking Cairo and killing the Suez Canal.

In Alexandria, which was just occupied by the German army, the streets were full of Egyptian locals watching the excitement. Some hotels and other shops opened by British businessmen were closed, and Rommel did not intend to rob these places.

He is too rich now, so much that he worries about how to use it, and naturally he doesn't look down on the inventory in these stores.

The Italians followed the Germans, and were also stunned by the touching scenery in front of them—the mountains of supplies and several sets of freshwater treatment equipment.

I don’t know if it was because of generosity or because there was really no time to react. When the British defenders surrendered, they only had time to blow up the main port facilities. The German sappers were being repaired and would soon recover.

With Alexandria, the German team is backed by a huge supply base. In this case, it can be regarded as occupying a height and overlooking the whole of Egypt.

All important areas, including the Suez Canal, were within the attack range of the German armored forces. Even if the British had twice the strength, they could not defend against the German attack now.

What's more, except for the South African 2nd Infantry Division in Port Said, the rest of Egypt has no formed troops.

"Aren't you afraid of a cold shot?" An officer with a cigarette jumped out of the car and stopped a group of German soldiers on patrol.

These German soldiers were carrying weapons, and the leading officers also looked casually at the Egyptian civilians passing by.

The officer who led the team glanced at the officer who jumped out of the barrel cart, took a cigarette handed over by the other party, and put it on his mouth with a smile.

"Hi!" When the other party helped him ignite, he took a deep breath to let the air circulate, and the cigarette burned more thoroughly.

"Huh!" Then he exhaled a puff of smoke, and then white smoke came out of his nose. Then he looked at the brand of the cigarette and said, "Not bad! British brand?"

"It's being distributed at the warehouse! You've counted the number of people, and you should have several packages in a while." The officer who drove by replied with a smile.

"Don't tell me, there's still alcohol?" The patrol officer took another puff of cigarettes with a satisfied expression on his face.

Along the way, from Matrouh to Alexandria in one breath, the eyes are full of yellow sand and the desert wasteland is desolate.

Now, at least walking where there are streets, enjoying the shade of the buildings, and smoking the cigarettes of the captured Britons—it's a very good life.

At least he doesn't have to use sand to wash his clothes anymore. The place where he just walked is supplied with fresh water that can wash his clothes. Many German soldiers are wearing their upper body and fighting around there.

Although it is only purified from sea water, the so-called fresh water that cannot be drunk can only be used to cool the equipment or to wash clothes—that is also a very precious thing.

You know, around Matrouh, the Germans could only use sand to wash their clothes.

Because the temperature was too high, the eggs spread out on the armored plates of the tank and were cooked immediately. Just eat the sand on it...

Compared with the glorious battle results, the details of life in North Africa may be the biggest enemy of both sides. It can also be said that the brutal environment here is far less romantic than the description of the war process.

"With this batch of supplies, our reliance on logistical supplies is reduced." Italian General Garibaldi said with satisfaction in the temporary headquarters.

General Karl Boucher, commander of the 21st Armored Division, took a sip of coffee and said nothing.

After the capture of Alexandria, it also means that the German army can transport his 21st Panzer Division to Egypt at a faster speed.

By that time, whether it was attacking Cairo, joining forces with the Italian army in Ethiopia, or heading east to the Suez Canal, he had many battles to fight.

Rommel still had a tired look on his face, and he had not had a good rest in the past two days. He didn't even sleep yesterday in order to capture Alexandria before the British took action.

"Sir! Where is this flag going to be placed?" A non-commissioned officer walked in, holding the flag of the British Army of the Nile.

As if it was a spell, the British team both counterattacked near Matrou, and also ended in disastrous defeat.

What is even more ironic is that the main commanders of the two counterattacks have become prisoners of the African Legion and become a dazzling flash on Rommel's merit list.

Admiral Wavell and Lieutenant General O'Connor in the first Compass operation, Lieutenant General Cunningham in the Battle of Alamein... Now they are all playing chess in the African prisoner of war camp.

"Whatever, in a few days, when I am ordered to return to Germany to report on duty, I may bring it to the Führer." Rommel casually pointed to the messy corner of the headquarters and commanded.

There was also a large pile of maps that the British defenders had not had time to take away, marking the nearby British deployments, as well as some fortresses that could have prevented the German attack.

It is a pity that with the surrender of the British Army and the collapse of the Nile Army, these facilities are now handed over to the German Army intact.

"Recently, I have no plans to attack. All the troops can rest for a while. After all, the soldiers are very tired." Rommel was not carried away by the victory in front of him.

In other words, Li Le asked him to hurry up and rest. He chose to obey and hurried back to Germany to report on his work, and met Li Le to show his loyalty.

Germany's series of brilliant victories in North Africa included Rommel's personal talent and Li Le's accurate judgment on the movements of the British fleet and the army!

Li Le accurately judged the strength of the Nile Army, allowing Rommel to accurately figure out the thoughts of the British commander.

It is precisely because of this that the Battle of North Africa can be completed so smoothly, from the city of Tobruk to Alexander in one breath.

"Don't attack?" Rommel arranged this, but it exceeded Garibaldi's expectations. Garibaldi thought that the Germans would pursue the victory, but they suddenly stabilized.

"There is information showing that the British side will not be able to deploy troops to North Africa in a short period of time, so what are we worried about." Rommel took off his hat and hung it on the hanger where Admiral Wavell originally hung his hat.

After such a series of combat operations, the German Afrika Corps was already exhausted and could not continue fighting at this time.

Including the 90th Infantry Division and the 15th Armored Division, the most elite troops in Rommel's hands have been fighting continuously for almost a month. They have run back and forth for nearly a thousand kilometers. It is really not suitable to continue to advance. .

At least in Rommel's view, now is definitely not a good time to attack. com should let the tired Afrikaans rest well.

Another reason for him to make this decision is because of the news from Li Le that he suspends the attack on Port Said.

In this order, it is obvious that the Führer did not intend to force the British Mediterranean Fleet into the Indian Ocean so easily.

What he thought was to find a chance to eat part of Cunningham's Mediterranean fleet before the other party left.

However, Rommel is not the head of state, not a traverser. He cannot guess how to eat the Mediterranean fleet.

What he knew was that when he returned to Alexandria again, it was when the German army occupied Egypt and he personally became a field marshal!

"Indeed... it seems that my thinking is too hasty." Garibaldi smiled a little embarrassedly and said to Rommel.

"I always thought that it would not be too late to take a rest after overcoming the fatigue of the troops and occupying Said and Cairo." He mentioned Cairo, obviously with a very strong *.

After all, by occupying Egypt, the two Italian colonies can be linked together and become a whole.

Such a strategic situation is the dream of Italy, and in this case, it is impossible for Garibaldi not to imagine such a wonderful situation.

"After half a month, we will use a greater advantage to attack here. At that time, victory will still belong to us." Rommel patted Garibaldi on the shoulder and comforted.

Garibaldi nodded depressedly: "It seems that this is the only way to go!"

He wanted to leave the German team to attack alone, but after all, now that North Africa has changed positions, it is the Germans who have the final say.

If you want to mobilize the Italian troops, there is no material and no order, which is tantamount to a fantasy, and everything can only be continued after Rommel returns to the front line from Germany.