Stephen's aide-de-camp, three months ago, was no more than a French major staff officer, and like Stephen, who was then a lieutenant colonel's deputy regimental commander, he was a member of the common people.

But with Berente's massive expansion in Algeria, mid-level French officers, such as Stephen and his lieutenants, were promoted to senior colonial commanders.

And Stephen's adjutant Baptiste has been the deputy commander of the 5th Colonial Division for nearly 2 months.

Although Baptiste does not know 100% about Stephen, he has been in contact for two months, and from Stephen's foresight in insisting on building fortifications early without war, Baptiste can also see how thoughtful his chief is.

How could such a cautious and prescient commander make such a hasty decision today?

The French fought according to the Germans' plan, which Baptiste would not have dared to imagine three months ago.

Although the current German army is no longer the enemy of the French army, it is inevitable that the French army will still be quite uneasy to put under the command of the German generals.

"What, do you think I'm too hasty?" Steve turned his head and looked at Baptiste with an anxious look on his face.

"Division commander......" Baptiste glanced at the interpreter brought by Rommel beside him, and whispered to Stephen with scruples: "We can hold our positions and wait for Italian reinforcements to arrive, and it seems that there is no need to act according to the battle plan of the German army." ”

Shaking his head, Stephen smiled faintly and said, "There are three reasons why I do this. First, you can see the combat effectiveness and equipment of the German army. That's not something our colonial division can match. What we can't do with our strength, others may be able to do. ”

"Second, you should know more about the situation of our army than the German general. Even if it's full, do you think we'll be able to survive 48 hours? Stephen asked rhetorically.

“....... No! Baptiste shook his head and sighed heavily: "The divisions have suffered heavy losses, and the casualty rate of some battalions has reached the collapse line of 30%. Judging from it this way, after a day, every extra hour that our army holds on to is a miracle! ”

With a casualty rate of 30%, this is already the upper limit of what the colonial conscription force can hold. If it weren't for Stephen's urgent formation of a battle supervision team, perhaps the troops on the front line would have no intention of fighting.

However, this also does not change the fact that the 5th Colonial Division is about to collapse. The existence of the battle supervision team only delayed the collapse a little.

"Italians, if they could have arrived, they should have arrived a long time ago." Talking about the Italian army rescued by the loser, Stephen was a burst of contempt: "Even if our army checks for another 2 days, presumably they will not be able to arrive." ”

Then, Stephen changed his tone and said, "In that case, we might as well trust the German troops who have arrived here, believe in their battle plan, and fully cooperate with them." If the German plan fails, we will not last long. But if the German plan succeeds, this deadlock that must be lost at the moment may be solved! ”

Hearing this, Baptiste has been said to be moved a lot.

However, even if their division did not cooperate with the German army and held their positions on their own, they would not escape the fate of defeat in the end. Rather than this, it is better to give it a go and fight for a chance to win!

"Commander, what about the third?" Baptiste nodded and asked curiously.

"Take it and see it." Stephen did not answer directly, but gave Baptiste the battle plan that Rommel gave him to watch: "The third reason is this plan." ”

Baptiste watched a little slower than Stephen, and it took him about 15 minutes to read and roughly understand the plan.

"How do you feel?" Stephen asked lightly.

"This is a crazy and genius battle plan......." Baptiste swallowed and said with a shocked face: "That German general, he is simply a madman!" ”

"But this battle plan is really amazing, and people are willing to give it a try." Baptiste added in a wry remark.

.................

"The French army has changed its tactics and begun to concentrate its forces on the first line of positions?"

Major General Johnson of the 24th Division of the British Army, after receiving the report from the staff officer, repeated the news to the commander of the Australian 26th Division beside him.

Because of heavy losses in the battle against the French 3rd Home Division, Johnson's British 24th Division had lost its combat effectiveness and lost the ability to attack alone. At this time, his troops were used as auxiliaries, in coordination with the Australian 26th Division, to eliminate the French colonial army on Heights 3.

Therefore, although Johnson is at the same level as the Australian division commander, he can only influence the thinking of the Australian major general who is responsible for the main attack by consulting and making suggestions.

"What's all the fuss about reinforcing the first line of forces?" The Australian division commander said with a look of indifference: "If they don't strengthen the first line of defense, then this position should be broken by us." But it doesn't matter, even if they strengthen their forces, we won't be able to break through in less than 5 hours. ”

"No, Major General!" Johnson quickly shook his head, walked to the sand table model of No. 3 Heights, pointed to the raised sand table model for the Australian division commander: "You see, according to the topography of No. 3 Heights, the French army should actually have established two lines of defense, and their headquarters should be in an area behind the two lines of defense." ”

"What's wrong with that?" The Australian division commander wondered.

In his opinion, the generals from the British mainland just like to make a fuss, and compared to their Australian officers, the British generals seem to be a bunch of timid cowards. Seeing that his 26th Division had gained the upper hand, the other party actually said that there was a problem just because the French army had increased its troops to the front line.

Finding that the other party had not yet seen the problem, Johnson had to be patient and carefully explained to the "barbarian" from Australia: "Generally speaking, if the other side has two complete fortifications, then they will split their forces into two parts and put them in two positions. ”

Johnson used a telescopic pole to wrap around the sand table model of Heights 3 and said: "According to our attacks on Heights 3 these days, the first line of fortifications of the French army here is relatively complete. Therefore, we have reason to believe that their second line of fortification should also be relatively complete. ”

Pointing to the middle of the highland model, Johnson asked rhetorically, "Do you think, since they have a more complete fortification behind them, why do they have to send troops to the first line of fortifications that have been destroyed by our artillery fire and have greatly reduced their defenses?" ”

"It is worth noting that the French army is a large-scale increase in troops to the front line, which means that the large number of additional troops was not originally arranged by them in the first line of defense. Most likely, these are the forces that the French army originally left on the second line of defense! ”

"Can't it be the reserve of the French army?" The Australian division commander asked.

"Nope! The strength of the reserve will not be so large. Moreover, if it is a reserve, it should also be transferred when the first position is relatively well fortified, and the benefits will be reasonable. Johnson denied: "I am sure that there are new changes in the French army's combat policy. ”