"General!" Major Kleiman couldn't help but be stunned: "This may be...... It's not something we can decide, is it? ”

Major Kleiman was a little ashamed of himself.

It is not surprising that it seems somewhat inappropriate to discuss the fate of Clyte Island with the rank of major, which should be the general's business.

But Rommel was a general from the grassroots, and he sometimes preferred to listen to the opinions of junior officers.

"But you are the main force to take Crete!" Rommel said, "You have this power!" ”

Saying that, Rommel raised his head towards Qin Chuan and said: "You see, I often listen to the second lieutenant's advice, and even the victory in this battle was completely based on the second lieutenant's advice, and it turns out that he is right!" We have achieved this brilliant victory! ”

When the officers heard this, they became excited, so they made various suggestions to Rommel, such as strengthening the garrison on the high ground at "eight o'clock", such as strengthening air defense, and so on, and Rommel would reply with a sentence or two from time to time.

Rommel did this because he wanted to know some difficulties and suggestions from the grassroots, but more importantly, Rommel was mobilizing the enthusiasm of the officers and soldiers to make the German officers and soldiers think that each of them was involved in the management of this war...... Rommel was very good at this kind of thing, and this was his merit, so the Germans were always able to exert extraordinary combat effectiveness in the North African theater to defeat the British army with more troops.

Montgomery's command style was the opposite, so the British army always needed more troops and better equipment.

The real discussion of this issue was when Colonel Slein and General Stryk arrived at the Irak airfield...... Some issues are not known to ordinary soldiers because they are military secrets and cannot be discussed publicly.

Colonel Slain came with a few bottles of wine, and as soon as he walked into the command, he showed off to Rommel and the others: "I've always wondered where the British wine came from, and I knew it when I saw a whole box of wine ready to be shipped to Africa in the warehouse at the airport!" ”

"You should ask me!" Rommel laughed and said, "Don't you know that Crete is a famous wine island?" ”

There are hundreds of grape varieties that grow in Crete, some of which have been cultivated since ancient times. Many wine critics agree that the unique grape varieties of the region make for the unique taste.

"Oh, really?" Colonel Slein looked confused: "But why didn't anyone tell me?" ”

General Stryk replied, "That's because they're worried that you're only grabbing wine when you parachute here, and you won't be able to fight if you're drunk, aren't they?!" ”

There was laughter from within the command.

After the assistant poured everyone a glass of wine, Rommel raised his glass and said, "For victory!" ”

"For victory!"

……

Taking a sip, Rommel shook his glass habitually and said, "Gentlemen, do you know what problems we are facing now?" We have captured too many territories! ”

The officers burst into laughter again.

"It's not a joke!" Rommel said: "We have the Alexandria Line to garrison, and now we have taken Crete...... Yes, it's a proud victory, and it's important. But it is precisely because of this that we must hold it, but we do not have the spare troops. As you know, we have only three armored divisions, including the 90th Light Division, and if the 90th Light Division were stationed in Crete, we would only have two armored divisions. And on the other hand...... Germany is attacking the USSR again, and the Führer has no more troops to devote to North Africa! ”

"Perhaps, we can have the Italians stationed in Crete!" General Stryk said.

"We may have to do this!" Rommel said: "But this is obviously not a safe approach, because you know the fighting power of the Italians...... This will only put Crete in danger, and even the British may re-stage our offensive plan in Crete! ”

Rommel was right that the Germans could parachute into Crete and achieve victory, just as the British.

Even the British have many advantages in parachuting, such as the British have aircraft carriers, and the British transport aircraft are more advanced...... At this time, the transport aircraft used by the British paratroopers was the "Dakota" transport aircraft (in fact, the American C47 transport aircraft), which had a range of 2,600 kilometers, a maximum speed of 360 kilometers per hour, and a transport plane could carry 28 people, which were not comparable to the Italian transport aircraft.

"What do you think, second lieutenant?" Rommel asked Qin Chuan.

Qin Chuan thought for a moment and replied, "General, I think we should give up our plans to attack for the time being!" ”

Rommel was stunned when he heard this.

Qin Chuan obviously guessed Rommel's thoughts...... At this time, the Afrika Korps did not actually have enough troops to defend, but not enough troops to attack.

If it was just a defense, the two German armored divisions plus the cooperation of the Italian army could hold the Alexandria Line, why could they not hold it now that there are more reinforcements and the supply lines are unblocked?

As for Crete, it was completely left to the 90th Light Division, as well as several Italian infantry divisions that had landed.

But Rommel's mind was not about defense, but about attack.

He wanted to take Port Said and even Cairo as quickly as possible, so he had to transfer the 90th Light Division to North Africa, so he didn't have enough troops to defend Crete.

"Uh-huh!" Rommel answered, Qin Chuan's words obviously did not suit his appetite, but today's Qin Chuan is no longer Wuxia Ameng, although Qin Chuan is still a second lieutenant, but he has a great reputation, and his suggestions are always right.

So Rommel patiently asked: "Tell me what you think, second lieutenant, why should we give up the attack!" ”

"Because the British line of defense is already solid!" Qin Chuan said: "It is difficult for us to let the British be fooled or make mistakes again, plus the British still have advantages in equipment and troops...... The rush to attack will only further weaken our strength, and we need to replenish it even more now! ”

General Stryk and the others nodded in agreement, and the current situation is actually very clear.

But Rommel didn't think so.

"Ensign!" Rommel said, "Do you think I don't know this? But we don't have any other choice, understand? There is no other option...... You know the reason, behind the British is the United States, the United States is an industrial power, a war machine, and their equipment will be continuously transported to the British through the Suez Canal! So, do you think that if we continue to wait like this, the situation between us and the enemy will be improved? ”

Saying that, Rommel glanced at all the officers in the command and said, "No, there will be no change, and the disparity will be even greater!" So we have to attack! ”