The British 30th Army finally eliminated the Germans who ambushed it and captured more than thirty Germans. However, it paid the price of ten tanks and armored vehicles being destroyed, hundreds of casualties, and the speed of its march was also reduced.

It was slowed down. And after that, the British were very careful when passing through any small town on the march. They always let the armored troops stop farther away, and then let the infantry approach in skirmish formation.

, and occupy the commanding heights - even if a large group of residents have already come out to welcome them.

As a result, the British army advanced even slower. Even so, it was constantly blocked by German troops along the way. After nightfall, it was often attacked by German mortars. The army advanced faster than

The plan requires it to be much slower.

On the other hand, the battle site was already very close to Germany, especially the location of the British 1st Airborne Division, which was only across a river from the German mainland. Compared with the slow-moving British ground forces, the Germans' supplementary forces

But they came faster. Although most of these troops were supplementary soldiers, either half-old men or half-old children. Compared with the elite British paratroopers, their combat effectiveness was very problematic. But relying on heavy weapons and numerical advantages,

At least there's no problem holding the bridge.

By the next day, the British 1st Airborne Division had already felt that it was difficult to capture the bridge with its existing strength. Moreover, the scouts also noticed that the Germans had placed explosives on the piers of the Anheng Bridge. In this way

Come on, even if the British army attacks the bridgehead, they may not be able to completely capture the bridge.

However, the British were still unwilling to give up. They decided to airdrop paratroopers to Anheng again. This time, the Polish 1st Airborne Brigade was dropped. To be fair, the soldiers of the Polish 1st Airborne Brigade performed very well in previous air battles.

No less than the British paratroopers, but this time, their luck was very bad. Their airborne field was originally under the control of the British army, but just a few minutes before the airborne began, the German army gathered an "armored division".

With the support of ten tanks, they launched an attack on the British paratroopers occupying this area. At that time, the paratroopers on the ground tried to call for air support. But something fatal happened, and the 22 radio liaison machine in their hands was unable to respond.

The transit bomber made contact. This electronic liaison aircraft converted from a Lancaster bomber was so busy that it could not respond immediately to the call from the ground. As a result, of course, there was no call for air support, only

Naturally, the paratroopers with light weapons could not defend the airborne field. The airborne field fell into the hands of the Germans.

The airborne field fell into the hands of the Germans. The consequences were unusually serious, because in a few minutes, the Polish 1st Airborne Brigade would land here. The British paratroopers once again tried to use radio to contact the command center or liaison aircraft.

, but still failed, so a tragedy happened under their noses.

The transport aircraft group, which was ignorant of the changes on the ground, dropped the Polish paratroopers who were also ignorant of the ground conditions at the predetermined position.

White umbrella flowers bloomed in the sky. The Polish paratroopers hanging under the parachutes may still be thinking that there are British friendly forces on the ground. After landing, they will quickly organize their troops with their help.

Then they join the fight and seize the target. Finally, maybe they will have the opportunity to return to their hometown and rebuild a peaceful and independent Greater Poland.

However, what greeted them below was not the greetings of their comrades, but a deadly rain of bullets. As soon as the Germans occupied this airborne field, a large number of paratroopers airborne here. The Germans immediately used all available weapons to attack those who were still there.

Hanging under the parachute, unable to fight back or dodge, the Poles opened fire wildly. The 20mm machine gun shells, various 7.92mm machine guns, and rifle bullets formed a fire net that immediately trapped these poor Poles.

Before most of the Poles could fall to the ground, they turned into corpses. Some of the Poles who were lucky enough to land alive didn't even have time to cut off the umbrella straps and pick up the guns at hand, only to find that there were already several guns.

Aimed at him.

The entire airborne brigade was annihilated in this way without even taking a chance. Such losses gave the British a blow. The British continued to hold on in Anheng for two days and launched several sneak attacks at night.

Including using rubber boats to cross the river and launch attacks from the other side. But these attempts failed. As the German army

There are more and more supplementary troops, but the advancement speed of the British Army's 30th Army has never been faster. Until it has far exceeded the scheduled time in the plan specified by Montgomery, the 30th Army has just arrived at the position occupied by the 82nd Airborne Division.

The location is still far away from Anheng, where the British 1st Airborne Division is located.

Obviously, the British 1st Airborne Division is in trouble. Not only is it impossible for them to continue the attack, they even have to retreat. Otherwise, the entire force will probably be handed over to Anheng.

Although the 1st Airborne Division really hoped that the 30th Army could help the brothers for the sake of the British Empire, it was obvious that the 30th Army could not arrive in another 5 minutes. Therefore, the 1st Airborne Division began a difficult journey.

Retreat. The Germans pursued them all the way, but the 1st Airborne Division did not

They had to cut off their tails to survive. In the end, although they escaped under the enemy's pursuit, they also suffered heavy losses. Also suffering heavy losses during the retreat was the US 101st Airborne Division. Because of this operation

It failed, and the Allies never launched a large-scale airborne operation again.

This defeat completely disappointed the Allied forces' expectations of "ending the war before Christmas." The children of the Allied forces were destined to have no chance to go home to reunite with their families before Christmas. And the defense master Marshal Model

, once again won a defensive battle with a bad hand. Now that the battle line has temporarily stabilized, the noose around the Germans' necks has loosened, and the Germans have also won a brief respite.

But the fact that the soldiers can't go back to the United States for Christmas doesn't mean that Ron can't go back. In fact, he just got an order: "Hand over the troops to Boston, go back to the United States to see General Arnold, and then go to the Pacific

, prepare for strategic bombing of Japan."

This order was handed over to Ron almost at the same time that Marshal Montgomery issued the retreat order. Ron knew that in General Arnold's view, the air confrontation in Europe was over. Now Ron could only stay in Europe.

There to lay a hand on the ground troops. General Arnold did not want to continue to waste his elite troops in Europe. He now,

He has already proven in Europe how air power changed the battlefield. Now, he wants to prove in Japan that air power alone can defeat a country. If this can be proven, the Army Air Force will definitely

Can realize his dream for many years and become an independent air force. This will also confirm General Arnold's status in military history.

In early October, Ron got on a C-54 transport plane, took off from the UK, and returned to the United States again.

Of course, the first thing he did after returning home was to write a letter to his parents and Nadya. But it was not the time to go back to see them yet, because he still had official duties to attend to, and he had to report to General Arnold first.

It was already past three o'clock in the afternoon when Ron arrived in Washington. He did not see General Arnold that day. However, the person sent by General Arnold to greet him told him that General Arnold was planning to invite him on Sunday, that is, tomorrow.

Visiting his own home. It is said that General Arnold and some friends will also attend this party.

Since you're going to be a guest at someone's home, it's not a good idea to be empty-handed. Necessary gifts must always be prepared. But Ron is really not very familiar with this, so what should he buy as a gift? If it's really close to Christmas

, it’s easy to say, if you don’t want to buy some Christmas gifts, it’s enough. But it’s only October, and Christmas is still far away, so what should I give?

In the end, Ron gritted his teeth and took out one of his collections - a gold-plated P08 pistol. This thing was given to him by General Collins when he visited him in the hospital after he was gloriously injured in Cherbourg.

It is said that this thing was originally a collection of the German commander stationed in Cherbourg. Later, he voluntarily or perhaps was voluntarily gave this thing to General Collins.

At about nine o'clock the next morning, General Arnold arranged for a car to pick up Ron. The car took Ron and soon arrived at General Arnold's home.

General Arnold's residence is not particularly large (of course, this is not particularly large compared to Americans). It only has a two-story building and a small garden. Of course, it is said that General Arnold lived in the countryside of his hometown.

The house is much bigger than this.

General Arnold set up a table and a few chairs in the small garden, and there were already several people sitting on these chairs. But except for General Arnold, Ron didn't recognize anyone else.

Ron's leg injury has improved a lot, and now he can basically walk without a wheelchair and rely on crutches. So he walked over with a crutch, then stood at attention and gave a military salute to General Arnold.

"Haha, our combat hero is back! Well, he won another Purple Heart Medal." Arnold smiled, "You are also a general, how come you are still hit by enemy infantry?"

"Ah, General, you really don't blame me this time. It's purely a matter of luck. In fact, I have always been very honest and rarely appear within the enemy's range." Ron also smiled.

"Really?" Arnold stared at Ron, as if he didn't believe it. "When I was your age, I couldn't help but not run into other people's shooting range." Then he half-turned around and faced those few people.

A man sitting there said:
Chapter completed!