"352nd Division!" Hearing this, the people in the headquarters couldn't help but gasp. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 ｉｎfo

This is not because the division has a great reputation or any extraordinary military exploits, but on the contrary...... This is a newly formed unit.

However, it is not a rookie unit in the ordinary sense of the word.

It is well known that Germany was at a disadvantage on both the Eastern Front, the Soviet Union, and Italy on the Southern Front, so many soldiers were withdrawn from the front...... On the other hand, northern France was at risk of an Allied attack, so the Germans formed a new force with these withdrawn soldiers.

The 352nd Division is one such unit, which is mainly derived from the following combat units:

546 Grenadier Regiment: Many of the soldiers of this regiment were successfully evacuated before the Soviet encirclement was finally formed during the Battle of Stalingore;

268 Infantry Division and 321 Infantry Division: The soldiers of these two divisions did not return to their original units after the Battle of Kursk...... Its original forces have been wiped out and no longer exist;

Convalescent personnel from military hospitals in Italy, most of whom have experienced the battlefields of North Africa and Italy.

Because this unit has rich combat experience, the equipment and supplies allocated to them by the military are also very adequate and quite advanced.

The result is a newly formed but very strong force...... The British intelligence services have found out this.

Eisenhower looked at Alexander and said, "You almost made me make the wrong decision and push an entire division of soldiers into the fire pit!" ”

Rao would make excuses, and Alexander didn't know how to justify it at this time.

"What about the other beaches?" Eisenhower asked.

"Things are going well at the other beaches!" The staff officer replied: "But at the same time it was suppressed by the fire of the cliffs on both sides of the Omaha beach!" ”

Eisenhower couldn't help but frown, Omaha Beach is the most important of the five, because the firepower on its two flanks can not only cover Omaha Beach, but also control the adjacent Utah and Gold Beaches, and most importantly, there is also a strategic point on Omaha Beach called "Hawk Point".

This "Cape Hawke" is a blunt triangular promontory that stands on a narrow rocky shore up to 35 meters high and is located about 5 to 6 kilometers west of one of the westernmost landing sites of "Omaha" Beach.

ACCORDING TO THE PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BY THE RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT, THE GERMANS HAD A 155MM SHORE ARTILLERY BATTERY THERE, A 6-GUN BATTERY, TWO OF WHICH WERE COVERED PERMANENT FORTIFICATIONS, AND A CONCRETE OBSERVATION RANGEFINDER.

These coastal guns all have a range of 22 kilometers and can simultaneously control "Utah", "Omaha" and a fairly open section of the sea.

It is conceivable that as long as this "Cape Hawke" exists, it will cause great trouble for the landing of the Allied forces.

And the best way to take Cape Hawke is to take the beach of "Omaha" and attack from the rear...... Otherwise, it will be necessary to find a way to climb the 35-meter (10-storey) almost vertical cliff and quickly occupy the shore artillery position.

And this was considered impossible, as Eisenhower said, "All it takes three old women with brooms to stand on it will completely stop us from climbing that cliff!" ”

"We might be able to ignore this beach!" "After all, it's just one beach, and we could possibly get four more beaches, right?" Alexander said. ”

"Haven't you realized the serious consequences of this misinformation?" Eisenhower pointed to the map and said, "Look at the map, 'Omaha' Beach is in the middle of five beaches, if we ignore this beach...... Then our troops will be divided into two segments that are completely unreaquitable, any idea what this means? ”

This time Alexander had nothing to say.

No matter how stupid Alexander was, he knew that the most important thing in an amphibious landing operation was two things: one was to be able to capture the beachhead, and the other was to be able to gain a firm foothold on the beachhead.

The first point may be important, but if the second point can't be done...... Everyone will be driven out of the sea, which will cause much worse damage than the first point.

And the prerequisite for gaining a firm foothold is to be able to connect the five beachheads together to form a line of defense, otherwise...... German reinforcements would have plunged like sharp knives into Omaha Beach and flanked the Allied landing force on several sides.

"Maybe we can leave it to the Allies!" Montgomery said, "The Zoaf Corps is just clearing obstacles and infiltrating to create chaos, isn't it? In a way...... They've completed their mission, so let's let the U.S. military do it! ”

Looking at the map, Montgomery continued: "Look, the US 1st Division is responsible for attacking 'Omaha', and their combat effectiveness has been proven in Sicily, and they also have the cooperation of warplanes and warships, plus the landing tanks......

"But that's 'Omaha' Beach!" Eisenhower interrupted Montgomery: "The point is the fire on the cliffs on both wings, and in this weather and visibility it is difficult for us to destroy the fortifications on them with warplanes and warships!" ”

It's not just about the weather and visibility...... Although the 6-meter wave can carry out the landing, it will also affect the accuracy of the ship's guns, and even worse, the cliff is as high as a ten-story building, and it is difficult for the ship's guns to hit the fortifications on the cliff below.

"What's more!" Eisenhower said: "The Zoaf Corps is still stuck on the beach, do you think we can cover it with artillery fire or carpet bomb with warplanes in this situation?" ”

"Why not?" Alexander said.

"What?" Zhang Chi couldn't believe his ears.

Not so long ago, Alexander used the lives of the soldiers of the Zoaf Corps as an excuse, and in the blink of an eye he simply ignored them.

"Sorry, Major General!" Alexander said: "I had to be realistic...... If we don't, we will probably fail the entire battle plan, which will lead to more casualties, and it will be a nightmare for the Allies to not win even after paying these casualties! You know, we only have two days, and in two days the storm will appear again in the English Channel, and we don't have time to waste time, do we? ”

Eisenhower couldn't help but be silent, and what Alexander said was indeed a very real problem.

"So!" Alexander continued: "I propose to bomb the beach of 'Omaha,' a fierce and comprehensive bombardment...... Blow it to the ground, it will clear the way for our landing force, and then there will be no problems! As for the 1st Zoaf Division...... There are always casualties in war, don't they? ”