Rommel's dazzling succession of victories in Africa made him the marshal of the German Empire and propelled his personal popularity to the pinnacle.

But this did not allow Germany to win in Africa.

The British appointed Montgomery to command all Allied forces in Africa. Erwin. Rommel met the greatest enemy of his life!

On August 12, 1942, General Montgomery flew to Africa and was ordered to take command of the 8th Army.

Montgomery had an eagle-like face, and his high, heavily nasal English tone didn't sound very friendly. He bears similarities with Rommel in many ways. Both men are withdrawn and surrounded by more enemies than friends; Both of them were imperious and arrogant, and when they obeyed the orders of others, they were like a fierce horse that could not be controlled, and when they were given full command, they were both excellent commanders with clear minds and the most original opinions; Both of them enjoy sports, do not smoke or drink hard alcohol, and are focused on maintaining good health.

Like Rommel who always wore that famous hat with plexiglass goggles, Montgomery also wore an eerie Australian bush hat with the team badge to show off his difference. In addition, both men liked to select outstanding, young and handsome officers to form their own staff corps. In terms of tactics, Rommel was good at sports warfare, while Montgomery was never an expert in sports warfare; But in the positional warfare that had been carefully arranged in advance, he was superior to Rommel. In terms of obtaining information, Rommel could not be compared with Montgomery. Since Rommel lost his radio listening company. He had less and less information about the British army. British intelligence knew how to deceive the enemy in intelligence sources, and a large amount of easily decipherable intelligence implied that the Germans were constantly leaking information.

Rommel was convinced of this deception, which further deepened his contempt for the Italians. However, the British spy agencies continued to send Montgomery a large amount of German intelligence that they had detected. Rommel didn't know anything about it. "It was as if Rommel was blindfolded in a duel with Montgomery," a German military critic thought after the war.

However, both Montgomery and Rommel were equally aware that the victory or defeat of mechanized warfare depended largely on logistical supplies. Therefore, both of them strongly demanded that their high command send as many fighters and weapons and equipment as possible to the African theater. Clearly, Montgomery has an absolute advantage in this regard. The war machines of Britain and the United States were at full speed, and large fleets of ships poured across the Mediterranean. A large amount of weapons, equipment and logistics were transported to the British army. The strength of the 8th Army is growing day by day. Churchill told Montgomery's 10th Army was being formed and that another 300 Sherman tanks were expected to be shipped from the United States to North Africa in early September.

On August 30, Rommel finally made "the hardest decision of his life":

That was to attack the British.

This can actually be said to be the most difficult "life and death fight". Because at this time the number of tanks of the Panzer Corps was less than half of that of the British. The remaining fuel was not even enough to cover 160 km, while the British still firmly controlled air supremacy.

Early in the morning, when Rommel boarded the car to the command post, he told the health care doctor with a heavy heart: "Today's attack is the most difficult decision I have ever made. Either we will reach the Suez Canal. or"

The following words: He couldn't say any more.

The British soon discovered information about Rommel's impending attack from the deciphered ciphered cables. Although Auchinrik repeatedly hinted to Montgomery that the 8th Army should retreat to preserve its strength in the event of an all-out attack by Rommel, Montgomery believed that the British army was now fully capable of defeating Rommel's attack and could take advantage of this opportunity to launch a rapid counteroffensive. At a meeting of senior officers of the army, Montgomery announced to everyone the order to "never retreat."

At 10 p.m. that day, in the pale moonlight. The African Panzer Corps advanced along the undulating sand dunes towards the British minefields. On the left flank of the Afrika Army was the Italian tank forces, and on the right flank was the 90th Light Panzer Division. Under the guidance of sappers. The soldiers swung their miniature flashlights and cautiously passed through their minefields. Just as the troops were about to cross their minefield, the Afrika Army Band played an old Prussian march that made the veteran's throat choke. The officers and men of the Panzer Regiment will never know what to do, and they are stepping into a trap that the British have long set for them.

Late at night, the Panzer Corps launched an offensive against the British positions at the southern end of the El Alamein Line. Rommel received information that the British had no mines in the area and that their defenses were weak. But when the offensive began, the Germans actually broke into an extremely dense minefield. As the Afrika Army slowly advanced behind the engineers, suddenly, flares exploded in the air, and the dazzling flash immediately exposed the troops to the range of British fire. The British heavy machine guns and artillery, which had long been ready, immediately fired heavily at the Germans in the minefield. Tanks, armoured transports and cars were hit and set on fire, and some vehicles and soldiers set off mines to escape artillery fire.

Suddenly, the explosion of shells, bombs and mines rang out. General Bismarck was killed by a mine, and the command vehicle of Commander Ninin was also hit by artillery fire, most of the officers in the car were killed, and he himself was seriously wounded. The Chief of Staff, Colonel Baier Lein, immediately changed to another car and continued to direct the Afrika Army forward. The sappers braved the artillery fire to desperately open the way in front, and the troops followed behind, advancing little by little, and finally finally passed through this "death zone".

When the Afrika Army was trapped in a minefield, Rommel even intended to cancel the attack, and it was clear that the British army had been prepared for it, and the expected surprise attack on the British army was no longer possible. However, when the Afrika Army broke through the minefield and continued to advance, Rommel decided to go on the offensive anyway.

After crossing the minefield, the Afrika Army regrouped and prepared to attack Alam Khalefa. At this time, the Air Force sent a reconnaissance report, and Rommel could not help but have a sense of foreboding. The Air Force reported that the British had built a very strong position on the ridge and that the 44th Infantry Division, which had recently been transferred from the British, was found among the defenders.

By this time, it was too late for the Afrika Army to withdraw from the fighting. The Afrika Army attacked. At the beginning, the offensive went relatively smoothly, but the follow-up Italian troops were trapped in minefields and could not catch up in time. Montgomery had mobilized more than 400 tanks and a large number of anti-tank guns to strengthen the troops defending the ridge. Under the stubborn resistance of the British army, the offensive strength of the African army became more and more weak.

In the afternoon, a big storm broke out in the desert. Although the storm deprived the British planes of the opportunity to accurately drop bombs, it also made it very difficult for the African Army to advance. During the night, the storm subsided. Under the blazing light of flares, the personnel, tanks and vehicles of the Afrika Army became live targets for the British army. Some British planes heroically rushed at the advancing German tanks after dropping their bombs, and the violent explosion was deafening, and the fire after the explosion lit up the night sky. Under the attack of the British army, the African army soon became unable to move an inch, so it had to temporarily stop the offensive.

At the same time, the German offensive in other directions was also met with stubborn resistance from the British. The British defensive line seemed to have become impregnable. The Italian units, which were responsible for delivering supplies and fuel to the front, were also attacked by British aircraft and the 7th Panzer Division, suffered heavy losses and simply could not cross the British blocking line.

On 1 September, the German front-line offensive forces ran out of fuel. Rommel had to order to abandon all large-scale operations and to continue the offensive only on some locally important targets. In the morning of the same day, the Afrika Corps used the entire strength of the 15th Panzer Division to carry out the last attack on Alam Halfa. After destroying a large number of British tanks, the German tanks prepared to make a detour east of the ridge in order to encircle the defending British troops and force the British to abandon their positions. At this time, the tank's gasoline and ammunition could no longer support the subsequent offensive, and the Germans were forced to stop.

On 2 September, British Air Force aircraft bombed the attacking Germans 12 times. The British artillery also returned fire fiercely. Just on the frontage of the 15th Panzer Division, less than 3 kilometers, the British fired more than 10,000 shells. Tanks and vehicles that had lost their ability to maneuver became the most popular targets for the British. This day was the heaviest day for the German army.

It is no longer possible to continue the offensive forward. At 8:25 a.m., Rommel was forced to announce the cessation of the offensive and ordered the Afrika Army to withdraw to its pre-offensive positions. In order to prevent the British from taking advantage of the opportunity to counterattack, Rommel ordered the troops to keep it as secret as possible when retreating, "if the soldiers want to ask, tell them to change their guards." ”

Erwin. Rommel suffered one of the worst defeats of his life!

On 6 September, Rommel finally withdrew his troops to the starting position of the offensive. The African Panzer Corps began to move to the preparatory stage of defense against the British offensive.

The shadow of defeat was looming over the German army

But in the middle of the night on September 6, things seemed to have taken a turn for the worse, and a figure appeared who was enough to turn the German Afrika Army into a victory, at least, that's what all the Germans thought.

As long as this person appears, no matter how difficult the situation is, he can get through it:

Ernst. Marshal Braeme:

- Baron Skeleton!

Where there is danger, there is a baron!

"Marshal!"

"Marshal!"

Facing the German generals who had come to greet him, Ernst . Marshal Bream had a solemn face:

"Call an emergency meeting of all senior officers, immediately!"

God-like figures appeared, and the hope of Germany appeared! The German generals desperately hoped that Ernst. Marshal Bream was able to create a new miracle, as in the Russian theater.

But at least for now, Ernst. The challenge for Marshal Braham is too severe! (To be continued......)