At this time, the commander-in-chief of Sicily had also been replaced by Mantufer, and he was also organizing German troops hidden in various underground bomb shelters and concealed air raid fortifications, preparing for a counterattack.

The remaining forces in Sicily at this moment are the 15th Panzer Division, the 14th Panzergrenadier Division and the newly formed 505th Heavy Panzer Division, the 29th Panzer Division, 6 Italian divisions that surrendered to the Germans, half of the 5th SS Panzer Division (i.e., the Viking Division), and half of the 7th Volunteer Mountain Division (i.e., Prince Eugen's Division); The 9th SS Panzer Division (i.e. Hohenstaufen Division), the 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division (i.e. Nordic Division), and the 17th SS Grenadier Division (i.e. Guz von Pelissingen).

As for Hermann Goering's division, it was transported to the area of Cassino early in the morning by Kesselring to fight, but in order to increase the counterattack force in Sicily, Kesselring also dispatched several armed SS troops with good strength to assist in the operation according to Chen Yanlong's combat intentions.

Montgomery and Patton, who were in charge of the main attack on Sicily, were ignorant of this.

Even Alexander, who was in charge of Cassino and the Winter Line, and Matthew Bunker Ridgway, the new commander-in-chief of the U.S. Army's new 5th Army, knew nothing.

Of course, the commanders-in-chief of the British and American armies, Eisenhower and Admiral Marshall, have not yet received the news, so for the British and American troops that have already carried out amphibious landing operations, they are also conducting a high-alert search throughout Sicily to see if they have found any German troops or Italian troops.

It's just that the British and American armies, which had just landed, did not search for many German troops in one day, and as for the Italian army, although it also had about two regiments; However, the Italian officers and soldiers who were found were crushed at the first blow, or they immediately raised the white flag to surrender to the British and American troops as soon as they saw the arrival of the British and American troops.

In this regard, the British and American troops who had successfully landed in Sicily gradually relaxed their vigilance, and even the 1st Red Division commanded by Allen was gradually declining in vigilance.

"The German Air Force has finally appeared! Allan! ”

On the island of Sicily, Patton stared with his military binoculars at the group of German planes in the sky that were fighting fiercely, and said to Allen, the commander of the big red 1st Division beside him, with a little excitement and belligerence.

"Yes! After three days of waiting, I finally found their traces, and I thought that the Germans had completely abandoned Sicily! ”

The division commander Allen also looked up at the dense German fighters in the sky with full of fighting spirit, and grinned.

As for the chief of staff of the division commander Allen, Norman, and his deputy, Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt (son of US President Theodore Roosevelt), they also stared at the air battle between the German planes and the British and American air forces, and remained silent.

"Hey! Do you think that Hitler, who was fighting for every inch of land, would really have completely changed his character so easily and abandoned Sicily so easily? ”

"This is one of Italy's strategically important islands, and once we break through here, our troops will continue to enter the Italian mainland and attack Italy!"

"You don't see that although we have succeeded in parachuting and seaborne a lot of troops to fight at Cassino and the Winter Line, there are still quite a few troops entering Italy through Sicily, just like Ridgway's 5th Army Group entered Italy through Sicily!"

Barton said with a smile.

"Hmmm! You're right! Sir! ”

"But that's why I wonder why we've all shipped so many troops into Italy, and have occupied almost half of Sicily, and still haven't found many German army units?"

"Even their aircraft carrier fleet has not reappeared, and they have lost their trace, and I feel that this situation is very wrong!"

After Barton finished speaking happily, Theodore Roosevelt said his inner thoughts with a puzzled face.

"I want to know too!"

"Maybe they've found some hiding place to hide, and they're going to kill us by surprise!"

"Just like the last time we fought here in Sicily, didn't they also lurk some elite SS divisions? Maybe they'll do the same this time! ”

Barton also sneered when he heard this.

"So what do we do? Should we strengthen our defense and vigilance? ”

"Or shall we lengthen our cordon, as well as the reconnaissance line? How is it? Sir! ”

After listening, Theodor Roosevelt said with a solemn face.

"Have you forgotten what I often tell you about the criteria for success in combat? In any case, I hope that you will be able to find them as quickly as possible, deal with them, attack them---- inflict maximum damage on the enemy with the least casualties, night attack, night attack, night attack. ”

As soon as he finished speaking, Barton immediately smiled confidently.

Because he has recently conducted hellish night combat training for his troops, it can be said that the current field and night combat strength of his troops is not comparable to that of ordinary British and American infantry divisions.