Li Mo has this point of strength, of course, it is impossible to hedge against the 300,000 troops of the Anglo-British coalition army, Li Mo must defend Tunisia, Li Mo intends to hit the Anglo-British coalition army in the defensive battle of Tunisia, and at the same time protect the Tunisian port and wait for Li Mo's army to arrive... In this way, the port of Tunisia has become the focus of Limer's defense, which is the key node of the life and death of Limer's troops.

……

After Montgomery fled, he soon joined up with the British Commonwealth army that had come to reinforce him, and after a short rest and redeployment, the British army's weapons and ammunition were quickly restored.

On July 25, 1940, the British and British leaders decided to implement the "Torch" operation plan to attack North Africa, and appointed General Eisenhower as commander-in-chief of the Allied expeditionary forces of the "Torch" operation. In late July, the British Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed the details of the implementation of the "Torch" operation plan in London, and decided that the British Commonwealth troops would land in Algiers, Oran, and Casablanca in French North Africa on 28 July, occupy the main coastal ports, and then the Algiers landing force would seize Tunisia to the east, and then wait for the time to coordinate with the British troops in North Africa to eliminate the German and Italian forces in North Africa.

The British army participating in the "Torch" operation totaled 33 divisions and 450,000 troops, which were organized into three special contingents: western, central, and eastern. Task Force West landed in Casablanca, Morocco; Commanded by Major Generals Freddendale and Major General Ryder respectively, Task Force Central and Task Force East set out from Britain and landed at Oran and Algiers, Algeria.

On July 28, 1940, 450,000 Anglo-British troops landed in Algiers, Oran and Casablanca on 1,664 warships and transports. The coalition met with only minor resistance from the French. Admiral Darlan, the commander-in-chief of the French army, who was inspecting North Africa, declared his independence from the Vichy government, ordered a ceasefire for the French army, and joined the coalition forces. After the successful Allied landing, the British 1st Army and the British 2nd Army continued to advance eastward to capture the city of Tunis and the port of Bizerte.

The Germans preemptively occupied Tunisia. On August 1, 1940, Limmer organized the German German troops in Tunisia as the "German Afrika Korps", and Hitler appointed Limer as the commander of the general. The German-Italian Afrika Korps has 2 armored divisions, 1 motorized infantry division and 13 Italian infantry divisions. Limer established a defensive line in the northern hills of Tunisia and gradually advanced south to counter the advance of the British 1st and 2nd armies.

On August 1, 1940, the British leaders met in Casablanca. It was decided to establish a theater of operations in the North African theater. General Alexander of Britain was the commander-in-chief. The Allied forces in North Africa were reorganized into the 18th Army Group, which consisted of the British 1st Army under the command of Anderson, the British 8th Army under the command of Montgomery, the 2nd Army under the command of Fredendale and part of the French Army. Alexander was the commander of the 18th Army Group, commanding all Allied ground forces in North Africa.

Li Mo was already keenly aware of the emergence of a new fighting opportunity. The British 8th Army, which at that time was in front of Limer's forces, had not yet posed a threat to the Maret Line, and Montgomery was after the capture of Tripoli. Just busy with the reopening of the port of Tripoli. It will take some time to prepare for a new offensive.

The British 1st Army, commanded by Anderson, and the 2nd Army, commanded by Freddendale, to the west, threatened his rear. Li Mo was determined to take advantage of the central position between the two enemy forces. First crush the allies behind him with a surprise attack, and then turn around against Montgomery. It was an excellent plan, but it was difficult to implement. The Italian 5th Panzer Army was not under the command of Limer, and the Italian army was not coordinated with Limer.

Li Mo also reported the issue of command to Hitler, Li Mo had already told Yuan the command of the Italian army, and Hitler agreed, but unfortunately Mussolini said that he would not hand over the command of the Italian army with a stupid pig, and Li Mo had no choice, he should really hang Mussolini, a fat pig.

Limer's offensive plan was reported to Hitler and the High Command, and some information was somehow broken by the Allies, but they mistook the location of the main German attack, and both Eisenhower's headquarters and the British 1st Army command believed that the enemy's attack was near Fontuk. To this end, the Allies deployed heavy forces behind Fonduk.

On September 4, 1940, the German and Italian forces launched an offensive codenamed Operation "Spring Breeze". From the north to the 2nd Army's positions from the Verde Pass, the German 7th Panzer Division and the Italian Panzer Division at Dvincent flanked on both sides, inflicting heavy losses on the British 1st Panzer Division and capturing Sidibuzid. On the 5th, Limer's forces in the south also captured Gafsa and advanced towards Feriana. Li Mojin occupied Feriana.

Limer planned to advance northwest of Ferriana to Tebesa, Algeria, in order to cut off the lines of communication of the British and British allies, thus developing a tactical victory into a strategic victory. However, although he received the support of the air force on the island of Malta, he could not get the cooperation of the Italian army, and Li Mo only had more than 50,000 people, so he dared to launch a counteroffensive against the 450,000 British and British coalition troops, which shows Li Mo's momentum, but Li Mo's troops are too small.

Li Mo, who had no choice, had to attack Le Kaif in the northeast first. In this way, Li Mo faced the front of the British and British allies instead of the back. Li Mo couldn't help but be angry. In his view, this meant that "being too close to the enemy's line would inevitably lead us to attack the enemy's strong reserves." ”

At 2:30 a.m. on 5 September, Limer began to attack in the direction of Le Kef. Limer captured the Kassellin Pass and then advanced to Tara south of Le Chaif. However, Lemmer was unable to capture Tara, and his offensive was halted by Allied reinforcements. After all, Li Mo only had more than 50,000 people, while the British army was 400,000!! More than 300,000 Italian troops were basically playing soy sauce, and Li Mo, who had no choice, stopped the attack and ordered the troops to retreat.

Li Mo's attack, as a "limited target" sortie, can be said to be brilliantly fruitful. But the disparity in strength between the two forces was too great to achieve the strategic goal of forcing the Allies to withdraw from Tunisia, although that goal seemed very close. British theorist Liddell. Hart said: "If Limer had taken full charge of the campaign and attacked Terbesa without being contained, the British army in Tunisia would have been completely defeated, and such a goal would have been completely achievable." A quick capture of British bases and central airfields, with their large supply reserves, would make it impossible for Allied forces to hold their positions in Tunisia. ”

Limer's offensive inflicted heavy losses on the British army. Of the 30,000 men of the British 2nd Army, 3,000 were killed, 4,000 were captured, and 260 tanks were destroyed or captured, the worst defeat of the British army in North Africa. Humiliated, Montgomery replaced Fredendoyle and appointed the brave and combative Major General Genecy as commander of the British 2nd Army. Genesi had long longed to fight Li Mo, he said: "I don't know how many times I have read his books, studied every one of his battles, and I think I know him well, and my life's wish is to fight with him."

…… (To be continued.) )

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