The decisive battle against the Third Reich - Chapter 942

c939 patrol

After the general direction was decided, the meeting did not end there.

“Is it my turn to speak, Commander-in-Chief?” De Gaulle asked.

“What do you want to say?” Eisenhower asked.

De Gaulle stood up happily, walked to the map, pointed at it with a pointing stick and said: “I think we have another way of attacking, and that is to use northern France as a base to attack south…”

“But what’s the point?” General Bradley asked with a disdainful tone.

“We can clear the threats on the flanks, and then attack to the foot of the Alps to threaten Italy’s rear…”

“You hope to use our hands to liberate all of France!” General Patton interrupted de Gaulle.

All the officers present laughed, including the British officers… This was obviously not what the British official meant, but DeGaul’s own decision.

“No, no, of course, there is nothing wrong with that!” De Gaulle replied: “While attacking, we will also liberate France…”

While de Gaulle was boasting, Eisenhower had already left with Patton, Montgomery and other important generals, leaving only de Gaulle still talking to himself in the conference room to a group of officers who had no decision-making power.

On the other side of the Maginot Line, in the Belfort fortress, Lieutenant General Lu Manlin indeed arranged several more spacious headquarters for Rommel and others.

However, the change in environment does not seem to have much impact, because no matter where they go, the generals are always faced with combat maps and endless documents.

“I’m wondering where they will attack next!” Rommel said looking at the map.

“Without the mountain division, southern France would not be the best choice!” Rundstedt analyzed: “Because southern France is mainly composed of plateaus and mountains. Even if they occupy the south, they will still have to face the Alps. Mountain, with helicopters, we can even block their attack with the Italian army!”

“Yes!” Rommel said: “I think they might try to find some gaps in the Maginot Line. Lieutenant General, do you think there are any weaknesses in the Maginot Line?”

“Uh… I don’t think so, Marshal!” Lieutenant General Lu Manlin replied: “The weak point, oh, by the way… the Kanglong area is only five kilometers deep!”

Rommel couldn’t help rolling his eyes. He should have known it a long time ago. Asking Lieutenant General Lu Manlin was a waste of time.

“If I have time, I should go and inspect it!” Rommel said.

Then he quickly thought of someone, so he turned to Qin Chuan and asked: “Lieutenant Colonel…”

“Your Majesty Marshal!” Qin Chuan came back to his senses.

“Is there any problem?” Rommel saw Qin Chuan looking a little distracted.

“No, there’s no problem, Marshal!” Qin Chuan replied.

Rommel raised his head, indicating that he did not believe what Qin Chuan said.

“Okay, Marshal!” Qin Chuan stretched out his left hand, which was covered with small blisters under the light: “I don’t know what this is, I only know that it is so itchy that I want to chop it off. !”

Rundstedt pushed his eyes closer to take a closer look, and then laughed: “This is just eczema, Lieutenant Colonel. You know, underground fortifications are very humid, and many people have it, including me.” one!”

“Eczema!” Qin Chuan looked at his left hand helplessly. He now understood what Lundstedt meant by “unspeakable suffering” before.

Rommel also laughed: “Our ‘legendary staff sergeant’ was not defeated by the Soviets, British, or Americans, but was defeated by eczema!”

“I admit it!” Qin Chuan replied: “If I can, I will surrender to it!”

“No need to surrender, Lieutenant Colonel!” Rundstedt said: “Tell the medical department, they will give you some topical medicine!”

“So!” Rommel said: “You seem to be very suitable for this task!”

“What mission?” Qin Chuan asked.

“Inspect the Maginot Line for me!” Rommel said: “By the way, talk to the officers and soldiers stationed there, just like I did before!”

“Understood, Your Majesty Marshal!”

“I think General Rumanlin will be very willing to accompany you on the inspection tour!” Rommel said.

Lu Manlin gasped in surprise and joy, and quickly replied: “Of course, Marshal, of course!”

The next day, Qin Chuan and Lieutenant General Lu Manlin set out accompanied by the guards.

This is indeed a very easy job, and it is also very safe, because inspecting the “Maginot” line of defense does not require leaving the bunker like inspecting other lines of defense. It only requires taking the underground train to the destination, and then walking through the tunnels. Easily reach every place you want to go. At most, you need to go out and take a look when inspecting the ground fortifications, but this is more because Qin Chuan wants to bask in the sun.

Sometimes, Qin Chuan thought that Rommel sent him to inspect more to boost morale… Because wherever Qin Chuan stopped, he always made the German soldiers stationed there extremely excited.

Then, Qin Chuan would say some words of encouragement to them, sometimes make an impromptu speech, and then rush to another place amidst the cheers of the soldiers.

“Now I understand the pain of the generals!” Qin Chuan complained impatiently while sitting on the electric train heading to the next stop.

“What? What pain?” Lieutenant General Lu Manlin was a little confused.

“All of this!” Qin Chuan said: “Pretending to be a hero before the soldiers, and then saying some nonsense to them…”

“But you don’t have to pretend!” Lieutenant Colonel Lu Manlin said, “You are a hero… God, you don’t know how many people can be like you, the center of attention, and you think it is a pain!”

“Of course, General!” Qin Chuan replied, “I would rather they treat me as an ordinary person, or like a comrade-in-arms, rather than a high-ranking admirer!”

“What’s wrong with this?” General Lu Manlin asked.

“Of course, there are many bad things!” Qin Chuan replied, “For example, I can’t spit anywhere, I can’t tell them that my hand eczema makes me suffer, I can’t tell them that I just want to save my life…”

Lieutenant General Lu Manlin laughed, “Lieutenant Colonel, you are so cute. In fact, you can tell them these things, because these don’t affect your position in their hearts at all!”

“How do you know?” Qin Chuan asked back.

“Of course I know!” Lieutenant General Lu Manlin replied, “Because I am one of them!”

“Okay!” Qin Chuan replied helplessly, “Where are we going next?”

“Lauter area!” Lieutenant General Lu Manlin replied, “You will see your brother there!”