The tanks finally appeared!
Two Mark I tanks appeared arrogantly in front of the position.
If it weren't for Weiyi Wang's prior warning, perhaps the German soldiers of the third platoon would have been panic-stricken at the sudden sight of these two steel monsters.
The appearance of any new weapon, especially in the era of hot weapons, always has a huge impact, whether on the battlefield or on the psychological impact on the enemy soldiers.
But that wouldn't happen now.
The third platoon quickly dispersed to the sides. Weiyi Wang and Sergeant Hall quietly lay in the trench, each holding a bundle of grenades tied together.
Unfortunately, without artillery support, it would have been quicker to destroy these two tanks. Weiyi Wang wanted to call for air support, but he thought it might not be the right time yet. It would be a waste to use air support so early. Who knows what even more dangerous situations lie ahead in the future.
The sound of clattering grew closer, and the tanks continued to roll towards the position as if they owned the place.
"Lieutenant, they're getting closer!"
That was Adolf Hitler's voice.
Weiyi Wang knew Hitler was worried about him. He smiled slightly at Hitler, showing no fear on his face.
They were gradually approaching the position.
Weiyi Wang made a gesture, and then he and Sergeant Hall pulled the fuses of the grenades together.
The grenades hissed and smoked, and Weiyi Wang silently counted down. Suddenly, he shouted, "Now!"
The two bundles of grenades were thrown forward at the moment the tanks were about to roll over the position, and Weiyi Wang and Sergeant Hall rolled to the sides.
After two loud explosions, the two previously arrogant steel monsters suddenly stopped moving forward...
"Fire!"
Without any pause, Weiyi Wang suddenly jumped up from the ground, raised the submachine gun in his hand, and swept it towards the British soldiers who were trying to take the position with the help of the tanks.
Mauser rifles and Maxim heavy machine guns opened fire along with Weiyi Wang's submachine gun...
The British, who had previously witnessed the power of the tanks and relied on them to capture several German positions, were now at a loss.
They had never doubted the combat power displayed by the tanks, and they even believed that the Germans would scatter in front of the tanks. So they had never thought that the Germans would be able to destroy the tanks and retaliate at the first opportunity.
A large number of British soldiers fell, and the remaining ones stared dumbfounded as the tanks were destroyed there. It took them a while to react, and under the concentrated firepower of the third platoon, they turned and fled from the area.
Several grimy tank crew members climbed out of the tanks, but they were quickly swept away by the German soldiers.
The third platoon successfully held the position.
Cheers erupted from the position, and even Adolf Hitler waved the rifle in his hand, cheering like a child.
This battle was fought beautifully. The third platoon only had one person injured, but they successfully destroyed two enemy tanks and killed at least twenty British soldiers.
Watching the cheering soldiers, watching Adolf Hitler cheering as well, Weiyi Wang couldn't help but blurt out:
"Hey! Third platoon!"
The soldiers of the third platoon were taken aback, then cheered enthusiastically together, "Hey! Ernst!"
Hey! Ernst—Lieutenant Ernst Blehm had created a small miracle on the battlefield with the third platoon: they showed no panic in the face of the enemy's use of new weapons in combat, instead demonstrating their firmness and bravery, successfully repelling the enemy's attack.
"Hey! Ernst! Hey! Ernst!"
Among all the voices, Adolf Hitler's was the loudest.
Uh— amidst this chorus, Weiyi Wang was somewhat amused and puzzled. He had just said this casually, but who would have thought he would receive such a strong response from the soldiers.
Looking at Hitler, who was cheering the loudest, Weiyi Wang suddenly thought... Hey! Ernst... Hey! Hitler...
Could it be that from this day on, such cheers had taken root in Hitler's mind?
Weiyi Wang didn't know, he couldn't guess what would happen in the future...
"Lieutenant, someone's looking for you." At this time, Banklei led a German officer over.
He was a young and handsome lieutenant.
At first sight of the lieutenant, Weiyi Wang felt somewhat familiar. It seemed that he had seen this person somewhere before.
"Battle of Pozieres Mountain, Erwin Rommel."
When he heard this name, Weiyi Wang's head buzzed.
Erwin Rommel? The future "Desert Fox," the "Great General" Erwin Rommel?
Weiyi Wang composed himself and saluted: "Ernst Blehm, Third Platoon, Bavarian Infantry Regiment 16th Regimental Reserve Battalion, Third Company."
Sergeant Hall exclaimed next to him, "The hero of Brou village, Erwin Rommel?"
"The
hero of Brou village," was the first honor Erwin Rommel received in his legendary life.
After the outbreak of the First World War, Germany and France declared war on August 3rd. Second Lieutenant Rommel's 124th Infantry Regiment belonged to the 27th Division of the 13th Army commanded by William von Prussia, responsible for responding to the French offensive launched locally after the war mobilization. Rommel experienced his first battle in the small village of Brou on the Belgian-French border on the early morning of August 22nd. At this time, Rommel was very tired due to reconnaissance operations the day before and even had symptoms of stomach pain. However, in order to prevent his superiors from thinking he was cowardly and trying to escape the battlefield, Rommel did not tell anyone about it.
In the fog of bullets on the front line, Rommel's squad arrived at the village of Brou and subsequently conducted reconnaissance inside the village with three other subordinates, discovering 15 to 20 French soldiers. In order to maintain the "element of surprise," Rommel decided not to call in other members of the squad and immediately launched an attack with only four men. The French immediately scattered and hid in houses and hiding places, with one bullet even grazing Rommel's ear. Rommel chose to retreat and took his subordinates back to the position outside the village.
Rommel decided not to wait for reinforcements, splitting his squad in half and immediately launching another attack. The split forces conducted frontal attacks on the houses where the French soldiers were hiding in the front of the defensive line, while the other group launched a flank attack on the French houses where there were no French soldiers, continuously setting fire to them.
However, the French resistance was also very strong, and the casualties among Rommel's subordinates began to rise. Rommel himself also lost consciousness several times due to fatigue and stomach pain, and had to have his sergeant major act as squad leader for combat command.
Subsequently, with the support of other squads from the 2nd Company, and the occupation of the 325th Heights northeast of Brou village by the German army, the situation turned in favor of the Germans, and the French troops in Brou village surrendered.
After the battle, German soldiers cleared the bodies of villagers and livestock that had been caught in the crossfire. Several of Rommel's comrades also died in battle, which greatly discouraged him.