The Rise of the Third Reich

In the days after April 10, the strength of the French Army's Second Army was greatly strengthened. The army received the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Reserve Armored Divisions and the 3rd Motorized Rifle Division from the General Reserves, as well as the 3rd Light Cavalry Division from the 3rd Army, plus the 2nd The 2nd and 5th Light Cavalry Divisions of the Army Group already have several infantry divisions, and the 2nd Army Group has become the main force of the coalition forces on the central front.

Moreover, most of the troops under the jurisdiction of the 2nd Army are mechanized and motorized troops, including 3 reserve armored divisions, 1 motorized infantry division, and 3 semi-motorized cavalry divisions. These seven divisions, plus the 1st Reserve Armored Division belonging to the 9th Army (currently in Belgium and being transferred to France) and the 1st and 4th Light Cavalry Divisions, are the entire mobility force of the coalition in France ( Not counting newly-built mechanized/motorized units after April 10).

If all 10 divisions were wiped out in the first phase of the operation, then there would be no force that could stop the actions of the German 12th Army (reinforcing the 41st Armored Corps and 1 Armored Division) and the 1st Armored Army.

This means that at the end of the first phase of the operation, the German Army Group A can complete two outflanks at the same time, cooperating with Army Group B and Army Group C to encircle the two main strategic forces of the coalition in Belgium and the Maginot Line.

"Marshal, I think this is a rare opportunity!" Manstein tapped the Monte-Dieu Highlands on the map with a baton, "This is only 15 kilometers away from Sedan, and they almost deliver the goods to your door. Moreover, the main force of the 16th Army (belonging to Army Group A) has arrived in Virton, Belgium (the southernmost part of Belgium, close to France and southern Luxembourg). Within 2-3 days, they will be able to advance to the vicinity of Stenay on the Maas River (belonging to the France, 30 kilometers southeast of Sedan). By then, the flanks of the French 2nd Army will be threatened by the 16th Army. The Army will be encircled by our 12th and 16th Army, or under the 12th Army. Collapsed under the pursuit of 3 armored divisions."

Since dozens of divisions are trapped in the Maginot Line and cannot get out for a while, the French can only gather up to 10 divisions for this counterattack, and the 12th Army and the 16th Army have nearly 40 divisions, so there is no chance of victory or defeat. suspense.

Marshal Harmanstein nodded, "Let's do it this way. Make a battle plan immediately. The plan doesn't have to be too detailed, just have a rough outline, but it must be completed this afternoon."

Encircling and annihilating the French 2nd Army was an opportunity that suddenly appeared, and naturally there was no time to formulate a thorough plan. In fact, in a big battle, there will be many "unplanned" battles to be fought. Sometimes the two warring parties have no plan and get into a confused mess.

Such was the case on the Monte-Dieu plateau on the evening of April 15. Manstein was still informing General Lundstedt, commander of Army Group A, of his plan by phone. Guderian, who was on the front line, was busy organizing troops to march north to the English Channel. General Kleist, who was responsible for commanding the 12th Army to fight southward, and his headquarters had just crossed the Maas River and had not yet completed the handover with Guderian.

At this time, the "Grossdeutschland" flag team of a battalion (tank battalion) of the 10th Armored Division deployed on the Monte-Diu heights did not know that a long and arduous battle was about to take place. The order they had received before was only to hold on to the Monte-Diu Highlands until the 17th, and they could leave here and go north in one and a half days.

Their opponent, General Betty Busu, the commander of the French 3rd Reserve Armored Division and the 3rd Motorized Infantry Division, also did not have a feasible combat plan in his hands. He spent most of the day on April 15th concentrating his troops.

The French Army's 3rd Reserve Armored Division and 3rd Motorized Infantry Division were dispersed to deploy defenses yesterday afternoon and evening. Now the trenches have not been dug and they have to be concentrated again to prepare for the attack. In the process, there are constant attacks. Scheer Hs-123 and Junkers Ju87 came to drop bombs, and it was really a rush.

As for the Germans, the supermen also take a nap! The tank battalion of the 10th Armored Division that was supposed to defend with the "Gross Deutschland" flag force was transferred north by Guderian at 4:30 in the afternoon, but the battalion of the 5th Armored Division that took over the defense had not yet arrived. .

As a result, there were only 6 No. 3 assault guns of the "Grossdeutschland" (deployed on the "Sugar Loaf" heights) and 1 No. 4 tank of the 10th Armored Division left on the Monte-Dieu Highlands—— It was the No. 711 tank that was damaged in the early morning of the 15th. The tank was repaired in the evening, and all crew members returned to prepare to drive the tank away after dinner.

At this moment, the artillery bombardment before the French attack began!

…

"Tanks! Tanks! French tanks are coming!"

Before the roar of the cannon had dissipated, Rudolf Ribbentrop heard his company commander, Captain Kruger, shouting loudly.

He must have been calling Flag Force headquarters to report on the situation at the front. Rudolf Ribbentrop raised his head from the foxhole, glanced forward, and saw a dozen "Hotchkiss" H39 light tanks lined up, leading many French infantrymen to move slowly. go ahead.

Fortunately, the No. 711 tank is still there! Rudolf Ribbentrop thought, otherwise these H39s would not be easy to deal with.

When he thought of this, he heard the roar of the motor and the sound of tracks crushing the ground. He looked back and saw that it was indeed the No. 4 tank driving up.

"Rudolph, go and help!" Schwarzenegger's loud voice suddenly reminded him, "Go and help them push the cannon, behind the No. 4 tank!"

Rudolf Ribbentrop quickly got up, ducked and ran behind Tank No. 4, and saw that this tank was also towing a 47mm anti-tank gun. It was the same cannon that destroyed No. 700 and damaged No. 711 early this morning. After it was captured by Schwarzenegger's infantry platoon, it was immediately incorporated into the 14th anti-tank gun company. This French 47mm anti-tank gun is better than the 50mm gun of the No. 3 tank and can be used at 500 meters. It can penetrate 89mm at a distance and 72mm of homogeneous vertical armor at a distance of 1000 meters.

Rudolf Ribbentrop helped a short-staffed temporary artillery team (led by Second Lieutenant Heinz, a platoon leader of the anti-tank gun company) to push the 47mm cannon behind a row of wooden fences. At this time, the 75mm gun of the No. 4 tank fired.

First, there was synchronized machine gun fire, and then there were two "boom" shots. An H39 tank rushing at the front was turned into a fireball. At the same time, two 37mm guns that had been ambushed in advance also opened fire, and two H39s were set on fire. Then Tank No. 711 opened fire again and destroyed another H39. Then the 47mm gun commanded by Second Lieutenant Heinz also joined the bombardment, and soon destroyed an H39 tank.

"This won't work at all!" Major General Betty Busu, who was watching the battle from behind, shouted immediately when he saw four H39s being blown up in a very short period of time. "Let the CharB1 heavy tank go up! Let the heavy tank go up quickly!"

"Major General, only 54 CharB1 heavy tanks can be moved now." Colonel Brocard reminded quickly. "If all these tanks are used up in attacking the infantry, what will happen when the enemy's armored division comes?"

"Send all the heavy tanks up!" Major General Betty Busu shouted, "We must take the Monte-Dieu Heights... Now the whole of France is counting on us, hurry up and mobilize the tanks."

…

"Ewald, the Monte-Dieu Highlands are currently under fierce attack by the French army." Guderian held the "Stoney Battle Plan" he had just received in his hand, and while flipping through it, he talked with the 12th Army who had just arrived. Army commander Ewald von Kleist discusses the situation of the battle.

"The Grossdeutschland Infantry Regiment is guarding there," Guderian said. "I leave this reinforced regiment (equivalent to a brigade) to you. In addition, the 5th Armored Division, the 6th Armored Division and the 8th Armored Division of the 41st Armored Corps The divisions have crossed the Meuse River, and these three armored divisions are now yours. I will leave 20% of the gasoline for your 12th Army, which will be enough to fight until the 16th Army captures Stenay."

Stenay on the Maas River is about 70 kilometers away from Luxembourg City. Because it is an important industrial and mining area (iron ore), it has good road facilities. Luxembourg City itself is a railway hub. The German logistics department can transport the gasoline to Luxembourg by rail, and then transport it by truck to Stenay, 70 kilometers away, which is very convenient. So Guderian unceremoniously used 80% of the gasoline to supply his 1st Armored Army.

General Kleist thought for a moment and said, "The French troops are coming south of the Monte-Dieu Highlands?"

Guderian smiled humorously: "Yes, they all came here to die. This saves us fuel."

"Okay then, I will give 80% of the oil to the 1st Armored Group, and leave the south to me!" General Kleist was reasonable. After thinking for a while, he accepted Guderian's suggestion.

General Kleist, who came from a well-known family, was a senior officer who took the overall situation into consideration. He knew that in the next few days, Guderian would need gasoline more than he did. Because his 12th Army did not need to drive two to three hundred kilometers to Dunkirk and Calais.

The 12th Army only needs to wait for the French counterattack forces to arrive near Sedan, then work with the 16th Army to repel them, and finally dispatch three armored divisions to pursue them all the way to complete the mission. And when the 16th Army and the 12th Army join forces, a large amount of gasoline will be shipped from Luxembourg. By then, the three armored divisions of the 12th Army will be able to move south to Verdun.