World War II: Starting with the defeat of the Desert Fox

Chapter 19 The Chase

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Gunfire and explosions from the salt marshes reached Montgomery's command post several kilometers away, making him realize it was time to make a decision.

"Landmines." Montgomery pointed to the map and ordered Degangan, "Order the 1st Royal Regiment of West Kent to lay mines and do everything possible to hold off the enemy."

"The rest of the men followed the 4th Royal Regiment of West Kent to Alexandria."

"Simultaneously order the 1st Panzer Division and the 8th Panzer Division to immediately return to reinforce Alexandria!"

(Note: The Royal Regiment of West Kent is named after its recruiting district in western Kent, England, and is the main infantry regiment of the 8th Army.)

Montgomery had two native infantry regiments that were good at defense.

However, Montgomery did not believe that two infantry regiments could withstand the attack of a German armored regiment, so he chose to retreat.

"Yes, General," Degang responded and immediately relayed the order.

The staff officers began sorting through the documents, taking away the important ones and burning the ones they couldn't take with them.

Degangan, who had come to help, listened to the gunfire for a while, then looked up at Montgomery and said, "General, it seems the Germans are chasing our men!"

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A thrilling chase is indeed unfolding in the desert.

When Thorne and his party climbed down from the sand dunes and onto their vehicles, they were surrounded by German troops: on one side were remnants of the enemy forces from the direction of the salt marshes, and on the other side were enemy reconnaissance units returning to reinforce.

After starting the car, Thorne hesitated only slightly before sharply turning the steering wheel to lead the convoy onto the highway.

Thea was horrified: "What are you doing? We should go around them, Thorne, they have tanks!"

But Thorne remained unmoved and continued on his course.

"It's because they have tanks, Captain," Thorne reminded him. "Think about what would happen if we went around to the flank?"

Thea understood after a moment's thought.

German scouts weren't fools; if a unit tried to flank them, they would immediately recognize it as the enemy.

However, if they were facing each other, the German troops would not be able to tell whether the convoy was friend or foe under the moonlight.

Thorne was also terrified; his hands gripping the steering wheel trembled uncontrollably, and he could even hear his teeth chattering.

But he still managed to control himself with the last shred of rationality, even forcing himself to drive toward the German scouts.

Because he understood that there was only one outcome if he didn't do this: being riddled with bullets by the enemy's powerful firepower.

Ferguson, who was following behind, seemed to realize this as well, and waved to signal the other vehicles to follow.

Just as everyone was trembling with fear, Thorne actually turned on his headlights and flashed them a few times to signal oncoming traffic to give way.

Thea almost cried out in surprise, but the next second she realized Thorne was right: the headlights would blind the German soldiers.

As expected, the German scouts had no suspicions. They not only did not stop them, but also made way for the Panzer II tank.

As the convoy passed by, Thea leaned out and called out in German, "Hey, are you all alright?"

While the German soldiers were stunned, she quickly threw two grenades with the pins off.

"Boom!" The German scouts were blown to pieces, and one of the grenades was even thrown into the troop transport truck, instantly blowing more than a dozen German soldiers in the back seat to pieces.

The British soldiers following behind opened fire simultaneously, dozens of rifles firing wildly at the German troops, the hail of bullets causing the Germans to scream in agony.

Thorne, gripping the steering wheel, praised, "Well done, Captain. No wonder you had the courage to encourage your men to stop the Germans."

Thea crouched low, squeezing with difficulty through the gap between the seats to the back seat, complaining:

That was 'mobilization,' not 'incitement.'

"And what I'm thinking is that with two infantry regiments plus fifty tanks, we are not without the ability to fight."

"Instead of leading only twenty-odd maintenance soldiers against an entire armored regiment, as we are doing now!"

Thorne smiled and asked in return, "How does it feel?"

Before she could finish speaking, she heard the sound of breaking glass behind her; Thea was smashing the back window with the butt of her gun.

"Hey, my car!" Thorne cried out in pain. "It's the only thing I can afford."

"Sorry!" Thea replied, but her voice betrayed no remorse. She mounted the rifle on the back window and pulled the trigger sharply.

"Bang! Bang!"

Thorne saw in his rearview mirror that a three-wheeled vehicle that had been chasing him suddenly lost its way and plunged headfirst into a sand pile by the roadside.

Thorne was somewhat surprised: "Good marksmanship."

Hitting a moving target from a moving car is not easy, especially for Thea, who is a mechanic.

"Thank you!" Thea replied calmly, then focused her attention back on the crosshair.

"Bang! Bang!"

"Bang! Bang!"

……

The bullets whistled through the gaps in the friendly jeeps, heading straight for the German car that was following behind, first extinguishing the headlights and then killing the driver.

The German truck instantly lost control and veered off the road. It was jolted by a rock and overturned, throwing more than a dozen German soldiers in the back seat heavily into the sand amid screams.

Thea aimed at the next target, but the car suddenly jolted, and the gun went off accidentally.

"Stay calm, Thorne." Thea turned around and complained, "I almost hit one of our own!"

"Relax." Thorne nodded forward.

At the end of the road, there was a makeshift defensive line made of sandbags, where many British soldiers nervously held up their guns, their dark muzzles pointed at the convoy speeding along the road.

"We've arrived," Thorne said, "but you'll have to figure out a way to let them know we're on their side!"

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The gunshots grew closer, and Montgomery took his beret off the wall and put it on.

He felt a sense of irony as his fingertips traced the double badges on the brim of his hat.

(The image above shows Montgomery wearing a double-badge beret, one insignia of a general and the other of a tank soldier. This beret is now kept at the Imperial War Museum in the UK.)

The double badge symbolizes "leading from the front and being close to the soldiers." He hoped that when the soldiers saw this military cap, they would know that the general was with them, rather than hiding in the rear and issuing orders.

but now……

He fled in panic, wearing this military cap.

He walked slowly to the door and glanced back at the command post.

"This is a disgrace, Freddie." Montgomery's eyes were filled with weariness.

(Note: "Freddy" was Montgomery's nickname for Chief of Staff Degangan, and he even used this name in his memoirs.)

"No, General," Degangan reassured him.

"This was an accident."

"And we all know that the German 5th Panzer Regiment was Rommel's most elite armored unit."

"So you're right, we should avoid confrontation for now."

Montgomery nodded slightly.

This is one of the reasons he likes Degangan; he can always find a reason for himself.

Montgomery turned around and finally made up his mind to walk towards the stairwell.

Degangan closed the door behind him, seemingly foreshadowing the end of the Borg Arab command.

Just then, hurried footsteps came from down the stairs, and a communications soldier appeared in the dim light.

His eyes gleamed with excitement, and upon seeing Montgomery, he breathlessly reported:

"General, we have won."

"The repairmen defeated the Germans."

"So, no, there won't be any attack!"

……

Montgomery tilted his head, staring at the communications officer as if he were an idiot: "What did you say?"

Has this guy gone mad?

There were only about twenty maintenance soldiers, and they sent out five tanks. Do you expect me to believe that they could defeat a German armored regiment?