The 3,000 British soldiers who defended Alexandria did not perform any miracles, in fact, with the total annihilation of the Nile Army, the fate of Alexandria was almost decided. Pen ~ fun ~ pavilion www.biquge.info

These 3,000 British soldiers did not have the skills of the 300 Spartan warriors, and Rommel's army was much more powerful than the Persian army.

The British soldiers calmly blew up the warehouses and harbor of Alexandria on the same day, and hastily destroyed some facilities, and then handed over their weapons to the German armored forces.

Yes, there were no waves, not even fierce street battles broke out, and these British soldiers handed over Alexander, who had destroyed only a third of it, to the Germans.

Inside the harbor, two French gunboats that had just sunk themselves and surrendered to the British, and their masts were exposed on the water.

Everything seemed calm, and the Italian navy was shouldering the task of minesweeping on the water, and they wanted to restore the captured port as soon as possible into an important North African supply depot.

On the other hand, the German infantry entered Alexandria and found a mountain of supplies in the harbor, burning only a small half of the supplies.

The grain in the warehouses and the oil stored in the warehouses made the German Afrika Korps up and down ecstatic.

These supplies were much more than the Italians had stored in Tobruk, and even enough to support the German Afrika Korps to attack Cairo and kill the Suez Canal.

The streets of Alexandria, which had just been occupied by German troops, were filled with Egyptian locals, and some hotels and other shops owned by British merchants were closed, and Rommel had no intention of looting them.

He is so rich now that he is worried about how to use it, so he naturally can't look down on the inventory in these stores.

The Italians followed the Germans, equally stunned by the sight of the sight – 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, but when the British defenders surrendered, they only had time to blow up a section of the main port facility, and the German sappers were repairing and would soon recover.

With Alexandria, the German army was backed by a huge supply base, which in this case was considered to occupy a height overlooking the whole of Egypt.

All important areas, including the Suez Canal, were within the range of the German armoured forces, and the British, even with twice as many troops, could no longer defend themselves against the German army.

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

"Aren't you afraid of cold shots?" An officer with a cigarette in his mouth jumped out of the car and stopped a group of German soldiers who were patrolling.

The German soldiers were carrying weapons on their backs, and the officers led by them also looked casually at the Egyptian civilians passing in front of them.

The officer leading the team glanced at the officer who jumped off the barrel cart, took a cigarette handed by the other party, and put it in his mouth with a smile.

"Shhh When the other party helped him light the fire, he took a deep breath to let the air circulate, and the cigarette burned more thoroughly.

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

"It's being sent out over there in the warehouse! If you have counted the number of people, you should have several packs in a while. The officer who came by car replied with a smile.

"Don't tell me, and wine?" The German officer on patrol took another puff of his cigarette and had a satisfied expression on his face.

Along the way, from Matroul to Alexandria, there is yellow sand and desert wasteland.

Now, at least, he can walk on the streets, enjoy the shade of the buildings, and smoke the cigarettes of the captured British—it's a very good life.

At least he didn't have to wash his clothes with sand anymore, and where he had just walked was provided with fresh water to wash his clothes, many German soldiers were naked, playing around there.

Although it is only purified by seawater, the so-called fresh water that cannot be drunk can only be used to cool down the equipment, or to wash clothes - that is also a very valuable thing.

You know, when they were near Matru, the Germans had to use sand to wash their clothes.

Because the temperature was too high, the eggs were spread on the armor plates of the tank and immediately cooked. You can eat it just by putting it on the sand......

The details of life in North Africa may be the worst enemy for both sides compared to the glorious results of the battle, and it can be said that the brutal environment here is far less romantic than the war described.

"With this batch of supplies, we are less dependent on logistical supplies." Italian General Garibaldi spoke with satisfaction in the makeshift headquarters.

The commander of the 21st Panzer Division, General Carl Boucher, took a sip of coffee and did not speak.

The capture of Alexandria meant that the Germans could transport their 21st Panzer Division to Egypt at a much faster pace.

By that time, he had a lot to fight in the attack on Cairo, a rendezvous with the Italian army in Ethiopia, or an eastward advance into the Suez Canal.

Rommel still had a tired look on his face, and he hadn't had a good rest in the last two days. In order to seize Alexandria before the British took measures, he did not even sleep yesterday.

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

As if by a spell, both counterattacks by the British army were near Matru and also ended in crushing defeats.

What is even more ironic is that the main commanders of the two counterattacks have become prisoners of the Afrika Korps and a dazzling flash on Rommel's meritorious book.

Admiral Wavell in Operation Compass I and Lieutenant General O'Connor and Lieutenant General Cunningham in the Battle of El Alamein...... Now they are all playing chess in African prisoner of war camps.

"Whatever, in a few days, when I am ordered to return to Germany to report on my work, I may have to take it with me to the Führer." Rommel casually pointed to the messy corner of the headquarters and commanded.

There was also a large stack of maps that the British defenders had not had time to take, showing nearby British military deployments and some fortifications that could have prevented the German attack.

Unfortunately, with the surrender of the British army and the collapse of the Nile Army, these facilities are now in the hands of the German army.

"Recently, I have no plans to attack, and all the troops can rest and recuperate, 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 rushed back to Germany to report on his work, and met Li Le to show his loyalty.

A series of brilliant German victories in North Africa are due to Rommel's personal talent and strategy, as well as Li Le's accurate judgment of the movements of the British fleet and army!

Li Le accurately judged the strength of the Nile Army, allowing Rommel to accurately guess what the British commander thought.

It is precisely because of this that the battle in North Africa can be completed so smoothly, from the city of Tobruk to Alexandria in one go.

"Not attacking?" Rommel arranged this way, but Garibaldi expected, Garibaldi thought that the German army would take advantage of the victory to pursue, but he did not expect to suddenly stabilize.

"There is intelligence that the British side is not capable of transferring troops to North Africa in a short period of time, so what is our urgency." Rommel took off his hat and hung it on the hanger where Admiral Wavell had hung his hat.

After such a series of combat operations, the German Afrika Korps itself was exhausted and could not continue to fight at this time.

Including the 90th Infantry Division and the 15th Panzer Division, Rommel's most elite troops have been fighting continuously for almost a month, running back and forth for nearly 1,000 kilometers, and it is really not suitable to continue to advance.

At least in Rommel's view, now is definitely not a good time to attack, but to let the tired Afrika Korps have a good rest.

Another reason for him to make this decision was because of the news from Li Le, which made him suspend the attack on Port Said.

In this order, it was clear that the Führer had no intention of forcing the British Mediterranean fleet into the Indian Ocean so simply.

He wanted to find an opportunity to eat part of Cunningham's Mediterranean fleet before the other party left.

However, Rommel is not a Führer, not a traverser, how to eat the Mediterranean fleet, he cannot guess.

What he knew was that when he returned to Alexandria again, it would be when the Germans fully occupied Egypt and he personally became Field Marshal!

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

"I have always believed that it is never too late to rest after overcoming the exhaustion of the troops, capturing Said, and Cairo." He spoke of Cairo, apparently with a strong desire.

After all, the occupation of Egypt would connect the two colonies of Italy into a single piece.

Such a strategic situation was coveted by Italy, and in this case, Garibaldi could not help but fantasize about such a wonderful situation.

"Half a month later, we will attack here with a bigger advantage, and at that time, the victory will still be ours." Rommel patted Garibaldi on the shoulder and spoke comfortingly.

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

He wanted to leave the German army to attack alone, but after all, now that North Africa had been relocated, it was the Germans who had the final say.

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