Compared with the 82nd Airborne Division, the British 1st Airborne Division had much worse luck. The weather conditions over the target area were not good and the clouds were very low. After reaching the approximate location, the transport aircraft group had to lower its altitude to a dangerous level.

About 400 meters before we were able to find the target. And here

In terms of height, not to mention anti-aircraft guns, even the German mg-42 machine guns can hit them. Since the beginning of strategic bombing, the Germans have manufactured a large number of various anti-aircraft guns. And with the Luftwaffe

disappeared, Germany's air defense almost entirely relied on these anti-aircraft guns.

This also brought about a consequence, that is, the number of German anti-aircraft guns was astonishing. When the transport aircraft group lowered its altitude to search for targets, a group of bombers flew into the killing range of the German anti-aircraft guns.

The German anti-aircraft artillery force was quite calm and did not start to fire violently until the aircraft had fully entered the effective range. The first round of shooting shot down two transport aircraft and damaged at least three transport aircraft. The transport aircraft group was under attack

After such a blow, chaos arose, and two more transport planes crashed due to collision. When the transport group finally escaped the anti-aircraft gun's killing range, five transport planes had been lost.

This was really a slap in the face. In order to avoid a similar situation from happening again, the transport planes were much more rough in identifying the ground position. As soon as they reached a roughly similar position, they dropped the paratroopers.

As a result, after the airborne troops landed, it took an extra hour and a half to gather the soldiers. In addition, in order to ensure the safety of the next batch of airborne troops when they airborne, half of these airborne troops had to be left to protect the airborne site.

Half (the 1st Airborne Brigade) moved towards the target - Anheng Bridge.

In order not to immediately alert the Germans, and to avoid those known anti-aircraft guns, the British army chose a landing point that was a bit far from the target. After landing, the 1st Airborne Brigade had to march 13 kilometers before reaching the target. However, now, the British

Unknown to them, due to insufficient pre-war intelligence work, the British did not know that near their airborne location was the station of the Second SS Armored Corps that the Germans had just transferred and were waiting for weapons to be sent from China.

As soon as the British airborne troops began, the Germans noticed it. The German "armored troops" who had no tanks at all and were waiting for tanks to be sent from China were startled. Many Germans thought that the Allied airborne troops were directed at them.

It's coming.

In fact, it was not just the German "armored troops" who thought the British were coming for them. A group of paratroopers landed not far from Marshal Model's headquarters. This incident shocked Model.

Someone told Model that on the Western Front, the enemy's intelligence system is quite strong. Countries such as France, Belgium, and the Netherlands are full of intelligence agents working for the British and Americans, or

People who sympathize with the Americans and the British. Coupled with the reconnaissance planes in the sky, every move of the German army will be easily discovered by the Americans and the British. The unsuccessful counterattack launched by Marshal Kruger not long ago illustrates this.

This point: Kruger took all possible measures to ensure the surprise of this attack, but the fact is that the Americans and British had already prepared anti-tank fortifications and were waiting there.

Therefore, Marshal Model had every reason to believe that the Allies knew his position through some means, so they sent airborne troops over to catch him. Model even recalled that during the Battle of Moscow, the German army also

Airborne troops were once dispatched to launch a surprise attack on Marshal Zhukov's headquarters, but they did so only because they misjudged the strength of the Soviet headquarters.

It failed. And Model looked at the troops around him. Well, there were really not many troops. In contrast, there were quite a lot of troops dropped by the British. If he was really surrounded by them, he would really be in danger.

He was going to be a prisoner. There was no marshal in German history who had been a prisoner - ah, no, the coward Paulus had been one. But he could never be such a coward.

"I will fight until the end." Model said to himself while stroking the Ruger pistol with its ivory handle.

Of course, being able to avoid the enemy is better than dying for the country anyway. So Model immediately ordered an immediate transfer. The headquarters suddenly became busy. Things that could not be packed away, especially documents that could not be taken away in time, were

Burnt by a fire.

Model got on a barrel truck, and everyone else also got on the truck. The convoy quickly left the headquarters and began to move in other directions. Model knew that on the Western Front where the Allies had absolute air supremacy, the convoy appeared during the day.

Driving on the road is a very risky behavior. The unlucky Rommel suffered such losses twice. According to Rommel's experience, it is best to ride a barrel truck. This kind of vehicle is too common and the Allies generally will not

Make it your first goal.

While Model was in a hurry to transfer the headquarters, the British were also worrying about the Type 22 radio communication machine. As Ron had said in advance, the iron mines in that place caused great interference to the radio, so that

The range of the Type 22 radio communicator, which originally had a very limited communication range, is even smaller.

However, this time the British were prepared. According to the suggestions of the Americans, the British modified a Lancaster bomber. This modified Lancaster bomber has been hovering over the airborne troops. Its mission is

Provides an intermediary for communications between airborne troops, airborne troops on the ground

When they are unable to send a message to the distant headquarters, they can change the channel and send the message to the closer aircraft, which then transmits the message to the headquarters. There is no doubt that doing so will increase

An intermediate link is added, which reduces efficiency, but this is better than no signal at all.

However, the British still underestimated the seriousness of the problem. Almost all the 22-type radio communication machines in the hands of the 1st Airborne Division could not directly contact the headquarters, and even their communication with each other was full of problems. And these signals

Everything has to be transferred through this Lancaster. The people on this Lancaster are almost busy, but a large amount of information is still severely blocked.

As a result, it took more than an hour for the 1st Airborne Brigade to advance towards the target. However, this time had already passed three hours since they landed.

The British walked less than a kilometer towards the Anheng Bridge when they encountered the German army. After a period of chaos, the 2nd Armored Corps began to send reconnaissance troops to the British side, and then the two sides collided head-on.

The fight started.

This fight would be endless. The British had no heavy weapons, and the German armored forces had no armored vehicles. They were just a group of light infantry. In battles between light infantry, it has always been difficult to decide the outcome in a short period of time.

As a result, they were beaten and driven away, and until dark, the British had not reached the bridge.

After Marshal Model changed the command center three times, he finally understood that the British were not coming for him, but for the bridge. This was not because he was slow, but because he could not believe that he was here.

When he was almost desperate to defeat the enemy, the enemy actually gave such an opportunity directly to his hands.

"The enemy's airborne troops are here to seize the bridge. Assemble the troops and hold the bridge, but they will fail!" In the new command center, Marshal Model is issuing an order, "Send a report to Marshal Rundstedt, requesting that the bridge be captured."

The command of the 2nd SS Panzer Corps was entirely assigned to me. The enemy's troops were advancing along the Dutch road. I knew this road very well. It had only two lanes.

The two sides are much lower than the road, and the soil is very soft. Any vehicle will sink when it hits it. The tracks of American M4 tanks are very narrow, so they will sink in, and the British ones are no exception. This is also true.

This means that they cannot leave the road at all. Blocking the road can effectively block them and buy us time to eliminate those paratroopers. I order..."

…

The British 30th Army delayed their departure for several hours due to organizational problems. They soon discovered that something was wrong. The land on both sides of Route 69 was gradually declining, and now the road was almost one meter above the ground. And this

The height difference is still widening.

"Damn the Low Countries!" the tank soldier Victor cursed. He knew that if the height difference between the road and the ground widened a little, once he tried to drive his Churchill tank off the road when he was attacked, he might be in trouble.

It will turn upside down directly. However, once you engage the enemy, you must form a formation, otherwise everyone will be crowded on the road, and the consequences will be unimaginable.

Obviously Victor is not the only one who discovered this problem. In fact, even a driver like Victor can feel this problem. It would be strange if the officers above could not find it. So...

…

Several C-47 transport planes flew over the formation of the British 30th Army. They were surprised to find that the British had stopped again.

"Hey, man? What are the British doing?"

"I don't know, never mind them! We are only responsible for delivering these things to the 82nd Airborne Division."

…

The 82nd Airborne Division of the US Army is busy consolidating the bridgehead position. The Germans have been shelling the bridge continuously. The attack aircraft of the 21st Attack Aircraft Wing are flying around in the sky trying to find the German artillery positions. However, there are everywhere nearby.

It is a woodland. Although the PA-38 dropped a lot of bombs. According to them, they have killed a lot of enemy artillery, but various artillery shells will continue to fall to the 82nd

On the airborne division's position. Therefore, the guys in the aviation team had to admit that most of the targets they killed were probably false targets. You know, the Germans didn't care about the patent issue at all. After they discovered the US military's inflatable

After the false target was discovered, they immediately imitated it without any restraint. As for identifying the false target, even Ron had to admit that given the current technical level, it was really not something that the aviation force could solve.

"Brothers, work harder. We must set up the position before dark. Damn it... barbed wire, mines, and anti-tank guns haven't been sent yet!" Battalion Commander Lymas, who was responsible for guarding the bridgehead, complained.

"Batalion Commander, the stuff has been delivered!" A soldier ran over and said to Battalion Commander Lymas.

"Okay! Hurry up and arrange it!" Lymas looked at the soldier and found that his expression was wrong, so he asked again: "What's wrong? What happened?"
Chapter completed!