In fact, due to the opposition of their own governments, many people who came to Spain to volunteer for the war did not have passports and visas, but they still tried their best to come to Spain.
For example, hiding in the cargo hold of a train or ship; drifting across the sea on a civilian sailboat; walking across the border on a rainy night, etc.
Philip, the commander of Company A of the 71st "James Hardy" Battalion, is a lieutenant in the Royal Marines. He is also an amateur sailing enthusiast and has his own yacht. He sailed across the English Channel with a total of twelve people, including four miners, a lumberjack, three Cambridge University students, an iron policeman, an actor, and two retired soldiers, and successfully arrived at Cherbourg. Went to the south of France.
Seeing Zhou Changfeng coming, the soldiers were very excited. Some of them waved without waiting: "Mr. Commander! When can we go to the front line?"
His words immediately triggered a series of echoes and heckles.
"We have been training for more than a month, do we want to continue?"
"The 14th and 15th brigades destroyed 3,000 Italian intervention troops in Guadalajara. They really only bully weak cowards."
"Sir, we are ready to kick those ▇▇▇ elements in the butt!"
Facing the warriors who were eager to fight, Zhou Zhangfengqing couldn't help but smile.
He looked around, then pressed his hands, and said loudly:
"I share your enthusiasm, but now is not the time. We have to wait for at least another month."
"First, the minimum training has not been completed. Going to the front line now is equivalent to death; second, our heavy weapons are not in place yet."
"Even if the sacrifice is inevitable, it should not be a meaningless sacrifice. I am responsible for all members. Now, your only task is to train patiently."
For a general, if he could have a group of subordinates who didn't have to worry about morale, it would be something he could laugh out of his dreams.
The high morale of the International Brigade soldiers can be said to save a lot of trouble. The volunteers who have gone through many hardships and thousands of miles to go to a foreign country are equivalent to having experienced a tempering and selection. It is almost impossible for those who are not determined. Come here.
The biggest headache for Zhou Changfeng now is the equipment problem. The lack of heavy weapons means that the 50th Brigade's firepower projection capability is quite weak and its combat power is limited.
For example, after 12 hours of fighting under the same terrain conditions, a unit with heavy equipment can inflict 1,000 casualties on 5,000 enemy troops, forcing them to withdraw from the battle; while a unit with only light weapons can only kill 300 people, so the enemy can continue Maintain the offensive, which may turn the balance of victory and defeat.
This has nothing to do with will. The objective gap is difficult to make up for through spirit. The killing efficiency of artillery shells must be greater than bullets.
The theory of spiritual victory only applies if the equipment gap is not too large.
On the contrary, it is impossible for the Mongolian cavalry to defeat the Soviet tank group; it is impossible for the Red Shirt Army to defeat the German infantry battle group.
"We need to find a transportation captain. We don't want more than a dozen cannons."
At night, a rather melancholy Zhou Changfeng stood on the balcony on the second floor of the villa, thinking about how to solve the problem.
Unlike Daming's subtropical monsoon climate, Albacete's Mediterranean climate is already quite hot and quite dry in early summer. As long as you don't drink water for a while, your lips will easily become flaky.
"Miller," he called.
"Sir!" Miller, who was flipping through the war briefing, responded as he stood up.
"After the Battle of Guadalajara, now that the entire front is in a temporary stalemate, I want to know where the Italian intervention forces are."
"Cordoba on the southern line, Madrid on the central line, Zaragoza and Huesca on the northern line..."
Memorizing maps and even imagining the approximate location and terrain in your mind is almost an essential skill for a qualified commander.
Zhou Changfeng closed his eyes and thought carefully for a while, then suddenly asked: "Where is Talavera de la Reina?"
Miller turned around and walked into the hall, checked the map and briefing for a while, and then replied loudly: "Yes! There is now a brigade of the National Army there, as well as a regiment-level unit of the Italian Army."
"Do you have more specific information?"
"Uh...it's the 96th Brigade of the National Army. It suffered heavy losses in the fierce battle a month and a half ago and has been being replenished. The other one is the 79th Regiment of the 38th Infantry Division of the Italian Army. It is paired with a battalion of the division's artillery regiment. Together, as a temporary combat task force.”
Oh? Also attached to an artillery battalion?
Zhou Changfeng's eyes lit up when he heard this.
The disdain for the combat effectiveness of the Italian army is secondary. The main reason is that the organization of the Italian army is relatively unique, and its units below the division level are relatively small.
Different from the three-three system of organization that most countries now use, the Italian army uses a two-two system. The division has two brigades, the brigade has two regiments, the regiment has two battalions, and the battalion has two companies; but one company has three platoons. , one platoon still has two classes under its jurisdiction.
The infantry squad is extremely large, with 18-20 people, while infantry squads in other countries often only have 10-12 people.
This kind of organization is unique at best and weird at worst.
"An Italian regiment has two infantry battalions, a machine gun company, an artillery unit, and some service units, with a total strength of less than 2,000 people..." Zhou Changfeng calculated it and pondered it with interest.
According to known information, the combat power of the Spanish National Army should not be underestimated. Rebellion is a rebellion, but its morale and fighting will are quite high.
In Quiona, a small unit of 300 people of the National Army was besieged by more than 4,000 members of the Republican Army. However, it held its position for two days and one night until reinforcements from two flag detachments of the Falange arrived, forcing the Republican Army to Gave up the attack.
In Cadena Sin, a flag detachment of the Selivian Falangist Party and two National Army units short of two companies, with a total strength of only more than 300 people, insisted on holding on in the face of the attack of two brigades of Republican troops. Position until everyone is killed.
It is said that persimmons should be picked on the soft side. After careful consideration, Zhou Changfeng felt that it would be better not to cause trouble with these fanatics for the time being.
In comparison, Italians seem to be easier to bully?
Although its combat power is not as high as in the anecdotes of later generations, it currently seems to be the most suitable target. As long as we can find a way to deal with this regiment-level unit of the Italian army, won't we have heavy equipment?
It doesn't even need to be annihilated, just be able to defeat it.
That night, he made a rough judgment based on the map and known intelligence, then summoned the officers the next morning, and then told his analysis and considerations.
"This seems like a good idea, the bastards are withholding our weapons and we're on our own," Miller agreed.
"I also agree that it is impossible without artillery. It is difficult to even maintain the front." Chretien was once an artillery officer, and now he naturally serves as the commander of the brigade artillery group and concurrently as the chief of staff.
No one objected to Zhou Changfeng's idea, and they could only rely on their own efforts at the moment.
"Sir, will the headquarters approve our request for instructions?" asked the commander of the 72nd "Montmartre" Battalion.
Before Zhou Changfeng could speak, Brett replied leisurely in his London accent: "Schroeder may not agree, but the Spaniards will not refuse."
(End of chapter)
