At this time, outside the city of Rome, the German 26th Armored Division was standing ready, and the torrent of steel shone coldly in the sun. The tanks were lined up neatly, with their muzzles pointing directly at the city of Rome. The tracks and the ground made a dull sound, as if it was the prelude to the war that was about to begin. The soldiers were dressed in black military uniforms, with stern expressions, and their resolute eyes revealed their confidence and fearlessness in the upcoming battle. Major General Olendorf stood next to a command tank. He was tall and burly, with broad shoulders supporting his straight military uniform. His short hair was neat and neat, and his eyes were sharp and deep. He raised his head slightly, looked past the troops in front of him, and landed on the magnificent Roman city in the distance. He couldn't help but said lightly: "It is indeed a magnificent city." His voice was low and magnetic, with a long-lasting tone. Calmness on the battlefield. "Commander, you don't want to loot, do you?" the chief of staff next to him asked in surprise, with a look of doubt on his face. The chief of staff is relatively thin and wears a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, which is in sharp contrast to Olendorf's burly figure. His eyes revealed curiosity about the teacher's thoughts. After all, the city of Rome carries a profound history and culture, and looting such a city will have immeasurable impact. Olendorf's face darkened instantly, and his face that originally looked a little ferocious became even more gloomy, as if covered with a layer of frost. He frowned and glared, staring at the chief of staff and said: "I look like a robber?"
His voice rose a bit, with obvious displeasure. "It's very similar!" The surrounding officers nodded one after another. Although they were in awe of the division commander, they couldn't help but tell the truth when faced with Olendorf's extremely intimidating appearance. Olendorf has a broad face, a pair of bright eyes under thick eyebrows, and a firm lip under a high bridge of nose. However, his face has strong lines and a cold temperament honed on the battlefield for many years. Just looking at the surface, he does look like the kind of robber who runs rampant. "Okay, stop talking nonsense. Send a message to the Marshal and say that our troops have surrounded the city of Rome on three sides." Ohlendorff interrupted unhappily. He waved his hand as if to drive away these irrelevant jokes. open. He knew that the situation at this moment was serious and every minute and every second was crucial. He must report the military situation to the marshal as soon as possible and wait for the next instruction. "Yes!" A communications soldier quickly ran to the communication equipment and skillfully operated the telegraph machine. His fingers jumped quickly on the keys, transmitting Ohlendorf's instructions to the distance in the form of radio waves. Behind, an armored command vehicle parked quietly in a hidden location. This command vehicle has a solid appearance, and its body is covered with various communication antennas and observation equipment, making it look like a mobile combat fortress. Inside the car, various instruments flashed indicator lights and made a slight buzzing sound. The communications staff officer hurried in with a telegram in hand. His steps were quick and his expression was tense and focused. "The 26th Armored Division has surrounded the city of Rome and is waiting for your order." The communications staff officer said loudly. He stood upright and saluted a standard military salute, his eyes showing respect for his superiors. Marshal Catherine was sitting in the main seat in the command car. Hearing the report from the communications staff, he nodded slightly, but his eyes never left the map in front of him. "Don't rush to attack yet. Send a telegram to the enemy forces in the city. If you don't want to be killed, everyone surrenders immediately. We will take over the entire city of Rome and even the defense of the entire country. Anyone who resists will be killed without mercy." Catherine said in a bad tone. He said, his voice was low and cold, like a sentence coming from hell. There was an unquestionable majesty in his eyes, as if he had taken control of the entire battle. "Yes, Your Excellency, Marshal." The communications staff member replied loudly after saluting the military salute again, then turned around and left quickly to convey the Marshal's order. "Remember to send it to all citizens." Catherine added, he frowned slightly, and there was a trace of deep thought in his eyes. He is well aware of the importance of psychological warfare. By putting pressure on citizens, he can disintegrate the enemy's will to resist from within. "Understood." The communications staff officer responded respectfully, and quickly disappeared from the car. After the communications officer left, Catherine continued to stare at the map, lost in thought. On the map, the outline of the city of Rome is clearly visible, with various markers densely marking various strategic points of the city. His fingers slid gently on the map, constantly thinking about various combat plans in his mind.
He was well aware of the importance of the city of Rome. Once captured, it would have a major impact on the entire war situation. It would not only undermine Italy's will to resist, but also lay a solid foundation for the further advancement of the German army in the European battlefield. After some careful consideration, Catherine believed that the fastest speed was to give full play to the mobility and powerful firepower of the armored forces. First, let the armored forces quickly capture strategic locations, control key nodes in the city, and disrupt the enemy's defensive deployment. Then let the infantry enter the scene to clean up the remaining enemy troops and consolidate the occupied area. With the current combat effectiveness and chaotic command system of the Italian army, it is impossible to stop the powerful German attack. "Where are the 157th and 158th Infantry Divisions?" Catherine asked with a frown, a hint of anxiety in his eyes. He knew that the timely arrival of the infantry division was crucial to consolidating the results of the battle. Only the infantry division's rapid arrival could ensure that the situation could be quickly stabilized after the city of Rome was captured and the enemy's counterattack could be prevented. "About fifty kilometers behind us, we will probably reach Rome at night." The combat staff immediately replied. He stood next to the map and pointed to the location mark of the infantry division on the map. The combat staff officer was of medium build, with a thin face and shrewd eyes. He always paid attention to the movements of various troops and knew the battlefield situation well. "Well, let them speed up." Catherine gave the order, his tone unquestionable. He hoped that the infantry division could overcome all difficulties, rush to the battlefield as soon as possible, and form close cooperation with the armored forces. "Yes!" the combat staff responded, then picked up the communication equipment and conveyed Catherine's order to the infantry division. At the same time, in Rome, there was a scene of panic. When the news came that the German troops were approaching the city, all the senior officials were frightened and panicked. Inside the government building, officials scurried around and documents were scattered everywhere. Some people didn't even have time to tidy up their clothes, so they hurriedly ran towards the palace. "It's not good, it's not good, Your Majesty the King, German troops and their armored divisions appeared outside the city." A minister rolled to the palace and said in horror. He was out of breath from running, his face was covered with sweat, and his hair became messy. There was a sense of despair and helplessness in his voice, as if the end of the world was coming. The other nobles also ran in and reported the intelligence they had received in front of Eli III. Some people's voices were trembling, some were speaking incoherently, and everyone's face was full of fear and worry. They are well aware of the power and brutality of the German army. Once the city is defeated, Italy will face a huge disaster, and their wealth, status and even lives will be seriously threatened. Hearing that he was surrounded on three sides, Eli III's face turned a little pale. He sat on the throne, his body trembling slightly, and there was a trace of despair in his eyes. He was dressed in gorgeous royal robes and a crown studded with gems, but none of these could bring him the slightest sense of security at the moment. He did not expect that the German army would be so fast. In just one day, the German army arrived in Rome like divine soldiers from heaven. He couldn't help but sigh: "The armored troops are so terrifying!" "Your Majesty the King, the current situation is very dangerous. Why don't we evacuate to other cities immediately and regroup our troops when the situation stabilizes? I believe that with the assistance of the Allied Forces, we will definitely be able to recapture the capital." Ciano stood up and said. Ciano was tall and handsome, but at this moment his face was full of anxiety and fear. He was originally the son-in-law of Prime Minister Mussolini. He was once Mussolini's confidant and won Mussolini's trust. However, as the war continued to lose, Italy was retreating on the battlefield. The successive defeats made him lose confidence in Mussolini. For his own interests and future, he took the lead in opposing Mussolini. As a result, as soon as Eli III took sides here, Catherine's army came to Rome on the other side. This sudden change made him feel dizzy. He knew that his situation was very dangerous. Once Mussolini was rescued, he would definitely be the first to suffer as a betrayer. This book was recently updated in ##六@@九@@书@@!! Updated! Therefore, he just wants to leave Rome as soon as possible and stay away from this place of right and wrong.
"The city is surrounded, how can we evacuate? And you took the lead in overthrowing your father-in-law. Do you think he will let you go?" Eli III said meaningfully, with a trace of disdain and ridicule in his eyes. . He sat on the throne and looked at Ciano condescendingly, as if he was examining a clown. Hearing this, Ciano's face became even paler, his body trembled slightly, and he couldn't help but sweat all over his head. There was a trace of fear and remorse in his eyes. He hesitated for a while and said slowly: "You will definitely not let me go." He was not a fool. He naturally knew that once his father-in-law came back to power, he would never let him go easily. Pass him. He was just curious about what Eli III planned and whether there was any countermeasure that could save the current crisis. "Your Majesty the King, what should we do now?" Ciano asked hurriedly, with a hint of anxiety and helplessness in his eyes. He was eager to get clear instructions from the king to determine his next course of action. "What else can we do? Of course, keep fighting." Eli III gritted his teeth and said firmly. He straightened his body, trying to show the majesty and determination of a king. He knew very well that he could not give up easily at this time. Once surrendered, Italy would face great humiliation and disaster, and as a king, he would also become a sinner in history. "But before that, send someone to negotiate, delay it for a while, and send someone to contact the Allied Forces and ask them to send troops to support us." Eli III said with a long sigh, his eyes showing a hint of helplessness and expect. He hoped to buy some time through negotiations, waiting for the support of the Allied forces, and maybe there would be a glimmer of hope. "Ciano, I wonder if you would like to be a negotiator?" Then, Eli III added another sentence, with a trace of expectation in his eyes. He believed that Ciano, as a once important figure, might have some possibility of negotiating with the German army. "No, no, no, I can't go. I definitely won't survive if I go." Ciano shook his head like a rattle, determined not to go. His eyes were full of fear. He was well aware of the contradiction between himself and the German army. If he acted as a negotiator, it would be tantamount to seeking death. The Germans were likely to retaliate against him for his betrayal of Mussolini. "Humph, coward." Eli III shook his head, feeling a little upset at the same time. He never expected that Catherine's army would arrive in Rome so quickly, which made him extremely passive. He couldn't help but wonder to himself, when did the German army gain such powerful mobility that they were able to attack long distances and surround the city of Rome in such a short period of time. Unfortunately, no one could answer his question. Because Catherine showed extraordinary decisiveness and action in order to achieve this rapid raid. He ordered all gas stations along the route to be requisitioned to provide sufficient fuel support for the armored forces. It is precisely because of the support of this fuel that the 26th Armored Division was able to cross a long distance and reach the city of Rome in such a short time. Otherwise, it would be absolutely impossible to reach Rome so quickly with limited fuel storage. In the armored command vehicle, time passed by minute by second. Catherine always remained calm and focused. He constantly communicated with the troops to understand the latest situation and made final adjustments and improvements to the combat plan. There was a kind of determination and confidence in his eyes, as if he had seen the dawn of victory. "Your Excellency, Marshal, a messenger has been sent from the city and wants to negotiate with us." In the armored command vehicle, the intelligence staff came over and said. The intelligence staff officer is thin and has sharp eyes. He is always able to obtain important information on the battlefield as soon as possible. "Negotiation? No negotiation. Tell them to surrender unconditionally. If they don't surrender in ten minutes, they will attack the city immediately." Catherine smiled contemptuously, and his smile was full of disdain for the enemy. He did not believe that the enemy troops in the city would surrender easily, but he still gave them ten minutes, which was regarded as an ultimatum. In his opinion, the enemy's resistance was in vain, and the German army was powerful enough to crush everything. Soon, ten minutes arrived, and the city still showed no intention of surrender. Catherine was not surprised by this. He had already expected that the enemy would not give in easily. Immediately, he ordered without hesitation: "Attack!" Following his order, the German armored forces, like a group of ferocious steel behemoths, launched a fierce attack on the city of Rome. The roar of the tanks was deafening, streams of flames erupted from the muzzles, and the shells roared towards the walls and fortifications of the Roman city. In an instant, the sky over the city of Rome was shrouded in fire and smoke, and explosions occurred one after another. The Italian soldiers in the city seemed panicked under the fierce attack of the German army, and their resistance seemed weak. The German infantry followed closely behind the armored troops and quickly rushed to the city gate.
Armed with weapons and shouting, they surged forward like a tide. The Italian soldiers on the city wall fired desperately, but the Germans relied on strong fire suppression and close tactical cooperation to gradually break through the Italian defense line. During this fierce battle, the streets of Rome were filled with smoke and dust. People were running in all directions, with screams and cries intertwined. Buildings collapsed under the attack of artillery fire, masonry flying. The entire city of Rome was caught in the flames of war, as if it had become a purgatory on earth. And Catherine stood in the armored command vehicle, calmly directing the battle. (End of chapter)