The infantry tactics of the German army were formulated on the basis of Germany's own special conditions, and the ultimate goal of pursuing flexible and mobile lightning tactics, developing mechanized and automatic weapons, and vigorously promoting the tactical air force and air-ground joint combat mode was to make up for the lack of Germany's overall strength.

The hypothetical goal of the German army has always been the powerful French army, and it is impossible for the German army to have an advantage in terms of strength and equipment, and can only rely on the advanced nature of tactics and weapons to shorten the gap between the two sides in size.

Germany has done a good job in this regard, so it has also achieved unimaginable results. Because of the sweetness on the battlefield, the German army has never stopped studying infantry tactics.

In particular, under the guidance of the German Führer, the German army no longer focused on operations under ordinary conditions and environments, and began to explore the tactics of the army under complex geographical environments and special conditions.

"We should be glad that the target this time was not the guerrillas in the usual sense, because they could not get the support of the local population, which was very important for us to accomplish this mission." Major Conig tightened the belt of his mountain pack and shook the pack on the mule vigorously.

This German standard mule and horse pannier weighed 20 kilograms, because it had to be made strong enough to bear the weight of mountain gun parts and a whole box of ammunition, and at the same time would not put too much pressure on the waist and abdomen of the mule and horse, affecting the normal breathing of the livestock. At this time, the panniers were loaded with food supplies for the special detachment, as well as the carry-on luggage of the commanding officer.

This detachment is composed of 40 veterans with rich combat experience, basically with the rank of quasi-non-commissioned officer or above, and the members are all from mountain troops.

The small unit also carries a communications and ground guidance team from Army Aviation, which can request close air support from air combat units patrolling nearby airspace if needed.

The superiors equipped the unit with the most advanced infantry combat equipment at their disposal, and expected them to surprise themselves on the battlefield and make achievements that would satisfy the leaders of the high command.

"We're so close to the goal that I can feel it." Sergeant Meyer raised his head and drank the water from the cup, he shook the cup, buckled the lid of the kettle with his backhand, and after neatly fastening the leather strap, handed the kettle back to his partner.

"Five kilometers ahead is the village of Casasola, our people have been evacuated as planned, and the target will definitely choose to go into the village to rest." Sergeant Stocker took the kettle and flipped it to the belt on his waist.

"I don't remember seeing this in the intelligence." Captain Pete frowned and flipped through the papers.

"Use your brains, Captain, they haven't found a suitable water source along the way, their livestock have to drink, and there are two wells in Casasola, so this is their only option." Conig tightened the strap of his felt leggings, stood up and stomped his foot, grabbing the Mauser 98K sniper rifle leaning against the tree.

"The troops have been assembled, and the spearheads have set off first, sir." The adjutant, Second Lieutenant Rudolph, stepped forward to report.

"Very good, go now, and try to get rid of that group of scum today." Major Koenig returned a military salute to the adjutant.

"Colonel, the village of Casassola is ahead, I just sent someone to investigate, and the Germans evacuated two days ago." A henchman ran to Gandino to report.

Gandino proclaimed himself commander of the Italian Free Army, ordered his subordinates to call him a colonel, and for this he actually went to get a uniform and rank of colonel in the Italian army.

This guerrilla leader is about 1.65 meters tall, with a very ordinary round face in southern Italy, small brown eyes, a slightly upturned nose, and a short thick beard on his lips and chin.

"The Germans will not come back, they won't win, they got what they wanted, and soon they will withdraw their troops from Italy." Gandino likes to show off his knowledge in front of his subordinates, and occasionally gives some opinion on the situation, but he does have a keen eye and things tend to follow his predictions.

"Everybody's a little tired, and the livestock need drinking too, Colonel." Another henchman stepped forward and said.

"I always have a bad feeling that I can't stay here anymore, so I'll leave the village after dinner, and we'll have to travel overnight tonight." Gandino rode on his horse and watched the village not far away, holding a telescope.

"Yes, Colonel, we still have time to have some fun in the village before we leave." The henchman said happily.

"Don't overdo it, we still have to save our energy to hurry." Gandino tapped his man's shoulder with his horsewhip, and then followed Mussolini's example, tilted his head and raised his chin.

"Yes, understood, Colonel." The bandit gave a serious fascist salute.

When Eduardo arrives in Casasora, he realizes that something is wrong with the village. A wooden house next to the village was burning, with columns of black smoke rising into the sky, and the loud cries of men and women could be faintly heard in the wind, mixed with the sporadic sound of crisp gunfire.

"Haven't the Germans left yet?" Eduardo stopped, and he cautiously slipped into the grass beside the road.

"All we have left is food, Colonel." The village chief, Sagio, is a retired bureaucrat who worked for the municipality of Verona for twenty-six years, but his career was rather poor, and until his retirement he was still an inconspicuous middle- and lower-level civil servant.

"You've seen what happens to those who resist me." Gandino gestured to the headless corpse lying on the ground.

"Do you think we are bandits, we are freedom fighters who fought to save Italy, and everyone here is willing to give their lives for the liberation of Italy. I now suspect that there are people in your village who are collaborating with the Germans, including you, and everyone in the village is suspected of collaborating with the enemy. Gandino sat in the high-backed chair that he had brought under his command, his fingers tapping on the armrests, and his little eyes twinkled with a sinister look.

"No one cooperates with the Germans, Colonel, I can swear to God."

"Who can prove what you say? Merciful God? Village chief, and I have ample evidence of your collaboratorship. You.... You.... And the two of you. Gandino lazily pointed his horsewhip at the villagers kneeling in the clearing.

"Drag the person I pointed out to the side and die." The guerrilla leader turned his head and said to his henchmen.

"Yes, Colonel." Several bandits stepped forward and dragged several villagers out of the crowd with kicks.

"Have mercy, they are all innocent, for God's sake, Colonel." The village chief struggled to endure the fear, his legs trembling and pleading.

"I'm not a murderer, everyone knows that. I don't want to see bloodshed, but I have to stand up for my authority before my men. Gandino waved his hand, and then the gunshots rang out, and in the village clearing, there were several more corpses with broken heads, and one of the bandits smirked and stabbed each victim in the back with a bayonet-mounted Carcano rifle.

The hearts of the villagers were full of humiliation and anger at the moment, but they were afraid of the weapons in the hands of the other party, so they could only bow their heads helplessly and remain silent, and there were only heart-rending sad cries from the families of the deceased.

"I'll say yes to whatever you want, but I beg you not to kill again, Colonel." Seeing Gandino raise his horsewhip again, the village chief hurriedly shouted.

"You see, how good it would have been sooner rather than later. We fought bloody battles in front for the liberation of Italy, but you dragged us back for some personal selfish interests, and you have to let me use such drastic means before you realize your mistakes, and it is all your responsibility to get things to such a point. Gandino stood up and walked over to the village chief.

"I'm not an insatiable person, as we all know. I don't want your food, I want gold, silver, and banknotes, and I will get fifty thousand lire in cash or anything of equal value before dinner, the village chief. You know, I can kill all of you traitors, and then slowly look for it myself. Gandino poked the village chief's shoulder with a horsewhip and said. (To be continued.) )