Just when everyone felt a headache, Fredo began to continue to throw out the news: "This is just the current number of technical equipment of the Allied forces, the Americans are still transporting various technical equipment to the North African battlefield, and the specific number will further surge!" ......Hearing this, the atmosphere in the battle hall suddenly became solemn, and everyone frowned, obviously losing their previous lightness and happiness. Because? In terms of the most important equipment, the heavy equipment of the Axis coalition forces was at a clear disadvantage. Seeing that the friends were stunned, Rommel smiled and said:

"Don't be too nervous, although the Allied forces have much higher technical equipment than we do, and they have very strong replenishment capabilities, it's not a big deal at all. Because these technical equipment can only play a role when they encounter the front line and are put on the battlefield, otherwise they are just piles of scrap metal. Meneki, the chief of staff of the German army, nodded and echoed when he heard this: "What His Excellency Commander-in-Chief said is extremely true, as long as the logistics supply lines of the Allied forces can be cut off, their aircraft, tanks, and armored vehicles can either sink to the bottom of the sea halfway, or become scrap metal because of fuel exhaustion, and their artillery can become ornaments because of the lack of shells!" "That's right." Rommel nodded and smiled: "In the final analysis, the essence of war is to fight for consumption and supply, as long as you can protect your own logistics supply line and cut off the enemy's logistics supply line, then you will always be invincible." ”

Meneki continued: "The problem is that we have the ability to blockade the current Allied supply lines in the Mediterranean, but the problem is that the Allied forces can also pass through the Indian Ocean supply line, although there are some detours, but they can also meet the needs. Unless the Combined Fleet of the Japanese Navy can rush to the aid of the Indian Ocean, it will be delusional for us to cut off the Allied logistical supply lines. "Don't count on the combined fleet of the Japanese Navy, not to mention that they are currently fighting with the Americans on the west coast of the United States, even if they are idle, they will not be able to come to the Indian Ocean to help."

Rommel shook his head, and continued: "But it doesn't matter, as long as we can completely cut off the supply line in the Mediterranean, the Allies will lose a major artery. If the U.S. transport fleet wants to bypass the Cape of Good Hope, it will not only consume a lot of time costs, but also have to pass the submarine forces of the Third Reich. "I have said before that the essence of war is to fight for consumption and replenishment!"

Speaking of this, Rommel paused: "And the enemy we can think of will also think of it, and the Allies will definitely think of ways to cut off our logistics supply channels." Therefore, while intensifying the offensive, we must carry out two immediate tasks at the same time, that is, to conquer the island of Malta and gain control of the Mediterranean, so as to completely secure our logistical supply lines! Libyan Navy Commander Zando said proudly: "Please rest assured that Your Excellency the Commander-in-Chief is that the Mediterranean logistics supply channel of the coalition forces is protected by our Royal Italian Navy fleet, and it is wishful thinking for the allies to cut it off." ”

Although maintaining the line of communication from Italy to Libya was the primary task of the Italian Navy, there were no naval bases in North Africa capable of accommodating a large fleet.

As a result, the Libyan Navy Command has at its disposal mainly submarines, destroyers, and many more small ships, whose main mission is to maintain the security of the coast and transportation routes. Rommel smiled and said: "General Zando, I am very confident in the combat effectiveness of your naval fleet, and there will be no problem with your naval fleet in the logistics supply channel of the coalition forces!" However, although the British Navy's Mediterranean Fleet has suffered heavy losses, after all, they still have strong combat effectiveness, and we must be cautious and look for fighters to annihilate them in one fell swoop in order to completely eliminate the hidden danger. ”……

British military base in the Maltese Islands, December 25. Today is supposed to be a traditional Christmas in the West, but this beautiful island does not have any festive joy and peace, only the noise of aircraft motors, the shrill whistling of aerial bombs, the rumbling of cannons, and the incessant sound of explosions. The entire island shuddered in the violent explosion, and everywhere was covered in billowing smoke, as if a devastating volcanic eruption was taking place.

Since the early hours of this morning, the German-Italian forces have again launched a continuous air raid bombardment of British bases in Malta, and have also organized a naval fleet to prepare for a landing operation. Malta is a small country in the Mediterranean, with a total land area of 316 square kilometers, the archipelago is mainly composed of 5 islands such as Malta, Comino and Gossou, 90 kilometers from Sicily in Italy and 300 kilometers from the African continent, which is a maritime bridge connecting the two continents of Europe and Africa.

At the same time, due to the sea traffic fortress of Europe, Asia and Africa, Malta is also known as the "heart of the Mediterranean". As early as the beginning of the 19th century, British colonists used Malta as a Midway to the East, establishing sea, land and air bases there. After the outbreak of World War II, Britain built a large number of airfields on the island of Malta, and built batteries to intercept and attack the Italian air fleet, and it was very effective.

At the beginning of the North African War, in order to prevent the Maltese garrison from interfering with the supply lines, the Luftwaffe under Marshal Catherine was stationed in Italy, and together with the Italian naval and air forces, the British troops were stationed on the island of Malta and bombed almost all the military facilities on the island. Soon after, German Navy U-boats secretly dived into the Mediterranean Sea through the Strait of Gibraltar and sank two large warships of the British Royal Navy in succession at the end of 1941--- the battleship "Barham" and the aircraft carrier "Ark Royal".

Although the British sent reinforcements to Malta from time to time, the warships and planes that had just arrived were immediately crushed by the German and Italian naval and air forces. So throughout 1941, the island of Malta could be said to be lifeless, and it was no longer capable of posing a threat to the Italian transport fleet. But even so, in order to prevent the German army from occupying the island of Malta, the British and American forces still spared no effort to continue to transfuse blood to Malta.

Although the German-Italian coalition forces have never been able to achieve landing operations to conquer this main island, which is difficult to defend and difficult to attack, under the wanton and indiscriminate bombardment of the German-Italian coalition forces, the continuous blood transfusion of the British and American coalition forces can only play a life-sustaining role, and there is absolutely no way to reverse the passive attack on Malta Island.

Just before Jiang Qiang intervened in Malta, Malta had already experienced extreme difficulties in supplying materials, and a strict food rationing system had already been implemented. All in all, the current situation in Malta is extremely dire, and it is appropriate to describe it as dangerous! Although it is said that the other islands of Mayu have always been controlled by the Allies in another plane, it does not mean that the current plane will be so peaceful.

Not afraid of 10,000, he was afraid of what happened, after Jiang Qiang completely grasped the command of the Allied forces in the North African theater, he immediately decided to open the plug-in on the night of February 22. After buying an "insurance" for himself, he ordered the submarine force to send more than 1,500 engineers, more than 50 medical personnel, an anti-aircraft artillery regiment, a reinforced infantry regiment of 2,000 men, and more than 2,000 British troops to the Maltese Islands safely.

At the same time, Jiang Qiang also distributed a large amount of food, ammunition, antiaircraft guns, mortars, communications equipment, construction equipment, generators, oil, cement, steel bars, and other weapons, equipment, and supplies. After this wave of powerful reinforcements, the Maltese Islands suddenly became vigorous, especially with the Tiger Ben Army Engineers, who can be called infrastructure maniacs, in just one or two days, under the indiscriminate bombardment of the German and Italian air forces, urgently repaired and strengthened a large number of fortifications.

Coupled with the addition of thousands of new troops and a large number of weapons and equipment, the defense of the Maltese Islands has been greatly strengthened at once. Otherwise, according to the inevitable posture of the German-Italian coalition forces today, the Maltese Islands will really hang. In an underground air defense command room in Malta, Yu Xueli, commander of the Burmese Army, Bai Liang, commander of the Burmese Army Engineer Corps, Peng Liang, commander of the Burmese Army's antiaircraft artillery regiment, British Major General Commander Leames, Chief of Staff Daniel, and others gathered together to discuss defense matters.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please see that this is a model of the sand table of the island of Malta." Daniel stood in front of the sand table and introduced the topography and existing defense system of Malta Island in English, while an interpreter of the Tiger Army was simultaneously interpreting and explaining: "The main island of Malta is an area of 246 square kilometers, with a steep and straight west coast, many deep-water bays on the east coast, and the island is mainly coral limestone highlands, with many cliffs, caves and valleys in the north, and many highlands in the south. ……”

Yu Xueli, Bai Liang and others have been on the island for two days and have a general understanding of the situation in the Maltese Islands. But after all, time is in a hurry, and they have been working hard for the past two days, strengthening the existing defense system, and how can they have the time to go around. In addition, the Maltese Islands are currently in a state of north-south attack by the Axis armies, and a large number of German and Italian combat aircraft groups will come to patronize every day, carrying out indiscriminate bombardments of various sizes.

Even if they had the heart to go to the field to investigate and survey, it would not be so easy, so now they have to rely on the British guards to explain and watch the sand table model to understand in detail. "Lao Bai, the infrastructure construction task of your engineering unit this time is very arduous. We not only have to withstand the indiscriminate bombardment of the German-Italian coalition forces, but also have to withstand their landing attack, and the terrain is so complicated! ”

After listening to the careful explanation of the chief of staff of the British army, Yu Xueli's brows furrowed even tighter. Boom! As if to confirm Yu Xueli's words, as soon as he finished speaking, there was a dull explosion overhead, and then the rock formations on the roof began to fall dust, and the chandelier on his head shook violently.

Although this underground command post is several meters deep from the ground, you can still clearly feel the violent power of the heavy bomb, as if it will be directly blown up if you are not careful. Looking up a few times, he fanned the flying dust with his hand, and Bai Liang said with a smile: "Hehe, it's not normal to have difficulties." As we often say, as long as the mind does not slip, there are always more ways than difficulties. As long as we work together, there is nothing that cannot be done! ”

Before coming, Bai Liang had some understanding and anticipation of the current difficult situation, so he was naturally mentally prepared for a long time, and he didn't feel a headache or fear at all, but was full of fighting spirit and passion at the moment. According to Jiang Qiang's instructions, the engineering troops that landed on Malta Island this time have the primary task, one is to help strengthen and strengthen the defense system of Malta, and the other is to build a cave hangar that can be attacked, retreated, and defended, so as to create a material basis for the large-scale deployment of air force units.

In the original history, after July 1942, due to the outbreak of the Battle of Stalingrad on the Eastern Front in Europe, the front line was in urgent need of combat aircraft, so the Luftwaffe wing stationed in Italy was withdrawn and flew to the Soviet Union to fight, which gave the other islands of Maladow a chance to breathe. Immediately afterwards, the island of Malta, which had been reinvigorated by reinforcements, dispatched a large number of aircraft and ships to cooperate with the British fleet that rushed from the Strait of Gibraltar to launch the "Battle of Pedestal".

Throughout the operation, most of the merchant ships of the British fleet were sunk by the German and Italian naval and air forces, and the Royal Navy also lost a large aircraft carrier "Eagle". However, a small number of merchant ships arrived in North Africa, which still brought a large amount of supplies to the British army under Montgomery, and laid a good material foundation for the future North African turning battle "El Alamein".

By 1943, the air base on the island of Malta had more than 300 combat aircraft, a large number of ships, and sufficient supplies. In stark contrast, Rommel's German-Italian Agrokorps suffered heavy losses, was desperately short of fuel, and military supplies were slow to be replenished. Soon, on May 13 of that year, the 250,000 German-Italian Afrika Korps, which had been denied ammunition, were defeated and surrendered under the attack of the powerful British army and the American army on the eastern and western fronts, and the North African war came to an end.

However, the fascist nightmare is far from over. Because, the Anglo-American allies used the island of Malta as a springboard, and after full preparation, launched the Battle of Sicily and landed on the Italian mainland, forcing Italy to withdraw from the Axis first. But it is obvious that at this time and that time, not to mention that it is impossible to wait for these things to fall from the sky, even if they will appear according to the original trajectory, Yang Fan will not sit back and wait for him to be self-reliant.

Although it is necessary to do things in the face of the air raids and attacks of the German-Italian coalition forces, it will definitely suffer a lot of casualties, and it must be done! The island of Malta can only be truly effective if it is firmly in control of the island and the defense system and the cave airfield are put up as quickly as possible. Only then can it protect the Allied Mediterranean shipping routes, but also carry out air strikes on the North African battlefield and attack the Italian transport fleet going south to North Africa.

Only by cutting off the supply lines of the Axis forces can the Chinese Expeditionary Force win victory in the North African theater at the minimum cost and end this protracted world war as soon as possible. I don't know how long it took, but the earth-shattering explosions outside finally stopped, and after two or three hours of indiscriminate bombardment, it finally came to an end.

"Jingle bell", just then the phone in the command post rang. "Hey, I'm Major General Remus!" Remus hurriedly picked up the phone and answered. "What? How could there be such a thing? Is this true? After a few moments, Remus's expression suddenly became wonderful, and he showed an exaggerated expression of extreme surprise.

After hanging up the phone, Remus immediately said excitedly to Yu Xueli and the others: "Good news, we have finally successfully repelled the attack of the German-Italian coalition again, and now we are safe for the time being!" "Very good, it's finally clear after the rain! Let's take advantage of this time to go out and have a look! Yu Xueli's mood also became better all of a sudden, although he was not worried that the other islands of Mahai would be conquered so easily, but his heart was still hanging in his heart.

Well, now it's finally the first battle! "Oh, Commander Yu, Commander Bai, and Commander Peng, your Huaxia army is too powerful." At this time, Remus stretched out his thumb again and couldn't help but praise: "Do you know, in the battle just ended, you not only managed to shoot down 17 enemy bombers, but also sank 4 enemy troop carriers, in addition to annihilating more than 500 enemy landing troops!" ”

"Oh! Your Huaxia army is really amazing, if you hadn't rushed to the other islands of Mayu in time to reinforce us, I'm afraid we wouldn't have been able to defend ourselves against the crazy attack of the Evil Axis army today! After speaking, Limsky stretched out his hands to hug Yu Xueli. The 88-mm anti-aircraft guns combined with close-fire fuse shells to bomb groups of bombers that were not flying fast enough, as well as slower troop carriers, the shelling effect was indeed very gratifying!

"Haha, we are all allies, and now we are comrades in the same trench, so we should be closely united to fight the enemy!" After listening to the translation, Yu Xueli was also very happy and proud, and happily hugged several British and American officers. "Okay, time is precious, let's go out and see what the situation is!" After everyone had an intimate interaction, Yu Xueli couldn't wait to turn around and walk out of the gate of the command post, walking along a passage more than one person high to the ground.

"Keep up!" Bai Liang also couldn't wait, and walked out with a fart. Because their engineering troops' current priority is to strengthen the defense system, they must race against time and progress with the German and Italian armies, and use all the time and opportunities to build a strong and powerful defense system to ensure the safety of the other islands of Malada.

Under this premise, they were able to concentrate on carving out a large enough cave airfield from the mountains of the islands of Maho. "Ahem, ahem!" Soon, everyone rushed out to the ground, but they were greeted by a choking smoke and a strong smell of blood. Under the billowing smoke and strong pungent smell, it is difficult to even breathe normally, let alone open your eyes to see clearly.

Retreating to the underground passage, it took a long time for everyone to gradually adapt to the outside environment. When I got back on the ground, I saw that the ground around me was full of huge craters, and it was still stubbornly emitting green smoke, as if there had been a meteor shower here just now. Looking further afield, I saw that the entire island of Makai was shrouded in billowing smoke, as if the fog had not yet dispersed at dawn in the early morning, and the visibility was very low.

Through the layers of smoke, everyone could also see clusters of blazing fires and billowing plumes of smoke rising into the sky. Obviously, in the bombardment just now, the bomber group of the German-Italian coalition not only dropped a large number of extremely destructive heavy bombs, but also dropped sulfur incendiary shells that produce toxic gases.

Although the German-Italian troops were temporarily withdrawn, the entire island of Maladow was still bleeding and suffering from the raging war. Farther out on the sea, even with the naked eye, the vast fleet of Italian battleships, cruisers, and transports could be clearly seen staring ill-intentioned at the other islands of Maladow in the distance.

It seems that they have no intention of giving up the attack, and they should wait for the next wave of bombers to replenish their bombs and fuel, and then they will make a comeback again. The situation in front of them suddenly made Yu Xueli and the others feel heavy, and such a high-intensity and high-intensity indiscriminate bombardment would definitely cause considerable casualties.

"Let's go to the seaside position and have a look." With a heavy heart, Yu Xueli walked all the way to the bay on the southeast side, which was not only the port of call for the British navy, but also the landing point for the German-Italian forces. Along the way, I saw all kinds of vehicles shuttling back and forth, and the logistics troops were making every effort to search and rescue the wounded on the island and transport them to the field hospital for treatment.

These people who participated in the rescue and were rescued not only the British army, the American army, the Chinese army, but also many other British Imperial servant troops, but at this moment they only have the same identity, that is, anti-Nazi and anti-fascist allied soldiers! "Salute!" "Brothers, you are all good!" "Take care of your injuries, and you'll all be safe!"

As long as the vehicle transporting the wounded passed by, Yu Xueli and the others would solemnly salute the light and serious wounded on the car, and express their highest respect and sincere condolences to them. The distance of two kilometers is not far and close, and after walking briskly for nearly 20 minutes, Yu Xueli finally came to the bay on the southeast side. At this time, the battlefield had been cleared, the wounded had already been transported to the rear hospital by the logistics troops for treatment, the sappers were busy repairing their positions, and the Allied officers and soldiers responsible for guarding the positions were busy gathering to smoke and eat dry food, preparing for the next tough battle that was about to come.

"Tuanza, you're here!" "Salute!" "Your Excellency, General! Good! Seeing Yu Xueli and others coming over, Nie Wu, the commander of the infantry battalion of the Burmese Army, hurriedly put down the canned beef in his hand, stood up and saluted heavily. Immediately afterwards, the other Allied officers and soldiers around also stood up and saluted. "You're welcome, everyone, just do whatever you need to do, we're just here to see everyone!"

After returning the salute, Yu Xueli walked quickly to Nie Wu, patted his shoulder and said, "Seeing that you kid can eat and drink, I'm relieved!" Nie Wu smiled honestly: "The blessing of the Tuanza, although the German devils and the Italian devils have very strong firepower, they want my life to be a little more tender!" "You kid can be so hard!" Yu Xueli grinned in a good mood, and then asked: "Today is the first time you have exchanged fire with the German army, how do you feel, how do you compare to the Japanese devils?" ”

"The Germans aren't really good! They don't have two shoulders and a mouth, they are also flesh and blood, as long as a string of bullets is solid, it doesn't have to kill them! Nie Wu responded proudly, and then gestured to the bay in front of him with his hand and said, "Tuanzao, don't you know what the situation is when you look at it?" ”