Metz, the gateway city in northeastern France, is the capital of the Lorraine region!
But the reputation of this city for its military fortress is far greater than the reputation of the city! During the Roman Empire, the Romans first built a permanent fortress here to protect the safety of the road.
After that, the Metz Fortress became a baton-passing task for multi-ethnic expansion!
The Romans, the Germans, the Gauls...even the Huns with the Scourge of God!
No matter who occupies this place, they will invariably expand this fortress city!
For 1,500 years, the city of Metz has been continuously renovating the old city and building a new city. As the scale of the city expands, its military significance has become more and more prominent.
Whether in war or peace, Metz is constantly under construction, sometimes by the French, sometimes by Germans or others, but no matter how Metz develops, the theme of focusing on defense always runs through it.
In the 17th century, the French kings finally turned Metz into a large fortress, blocking Germany's road to the heart of France. It is no exaggeration to say that it is the ancestor of the Maginot Line.
The Netherlands even built bunkers and river channels behind Metz, blocking the Spanish invasion for eight years, which shows how strong it is.
At the end of World War II, after the Allied forces landed in Normandy, France quickly recovered, and the U.S. military began to march into the hinterland of Germany. At this time, Metz was a stumbling block in front of the U.S. military.
Those who attacked Metz were the elite of the US military at that time. The Third Army commanded by Patton was highly mechanized and had a total strength of more than 300,000.
The German army stationed in Metz only had four divisions, which were not fully equipped. The total strength was between 25,000 and 30,000!
Among the garrison troops, there are also many academy soldiers and civilian soldiers, because Metz had several SS training universities and government agencies during World War II.
Such a disparity in strength made all US military commanders think this was an extremely easy battle!
But when the battle broke out, the solid defense line of Metz City broke the US military's teeth!
The permanent forts couldn't even blow up heavy aviation bombs, and all the heavy artillery of the Third Army couldn't knock down the huge reinforced concrete fortresses.
The communication trenches extending in all directions allow German soldiers to move quickly, and the tunnels hidden underground can always transport groups of surprise troops!
Even the bastions and city walls built in the Middle Ages can block the torrent of American armor!
What is even more frightening is the will of the German army to fight. Even when they are almost out of ammunition and food, they still shout the slogan of never surrender!
The one who finally defeated Metz was really out of ammunition and food. The Germans fired their last bullets and ate up their last rations. Only then, under the strong propaganda pressure of the US military, did some fortresses begin to surrender!
Throughout the Battle of Metz, Germany held back the Third Army for 77 days with a very weak force. This battle was so difficult that the American propaganda agencies were embarrassed to speak out.
Why did so few people know about this battle after World War II? Why do only a few military fans know about that battle? To put it bluntly, Americans still want to save face. Patton is the military god of World War II created by Americans. Of course, such a shameful battle cannot be publicized too much!
After the war, the 95th Infantry Division in the U.S. Third Army was called the "Metz Heroes"! From this nickname, we can see how difficult this battle was!
In his previous life, Xiao Letian had never understood the strong defense of Metz City. But today, when he saw all this with his own eyes, he realized that this fortified city was really easy to defend and difficult to attack!
"We can't let the soldiers sacrifice themselves in vain... When I get here, the battle in Metz City is almost over!"
Xiao Letian left the trench and returned to the frontline command bunker. He had some lunch and soon a dozen French officers of the rank of colonel were escorted in.
At this time, three pots of rat broth had been cooked in the Metz defense line. The old company commander closed his eyes and rested his mind, thinking constantly. Suddenly he opened his eyes and "opened a few captured meat cans, chopped them up and sprinkled them in the soup." Here...we are going to be extravagant today!"
"What? God... you can't survive? You don't have enough supplies to use, and you want to eat them all in one day?" the platoon leaders around him said in unison.
The old company commander suddenly laughed, "Believe me, I have been fighting for more than 20 years, and I have an intuition... I feel that this battle will not go on!"
"Our hard days are coming to an end...but I don't know if other people's hard days will come to an end..."
Ordinary soldiers were naturally happy to have something to eat. Regardless of the objections of their squad platoon leaders, they took the initiative to grab the cans, pry them open carefully and cut into the broth.
I have to say that large pieces of well-cooked beef are more delicious than rat meat without seasoning! After a while, the entire position was filled with the sound of spoons scraping lunch boxes.
The old company commander who had just undergone surgery could not eat anything. This veteran had seen countless laparotomies, and he had personally assisted in four of them.
Those surgeons have said that for any abdominal surgery or any operation involving the intestines, you must wait until you pass gas before eating, otherwise you will be waiting for the earth-shaking torment in your intestines.
The old company commander resisted his hunger and leaned against the wall with his eyes closed to rest. After eating, several of his subordinates came to him and asked in a low voice, "Tell us the truth. What will happen? Can you guess it?" what……"
The veteran didn't open his eyes and just leaned there, his gray hair blowing in the wind!
"I joined the army when I was nineteen years old...I am already forty-five years old this year...I grew up from a rural boy to now be a company commander..."
"What do you rely on? It's my experience and vigilance you rely on... When you reach my age in the war, you will also have a premonition..."
"I'm old and can't do anything anymore. If I were to retire now, I'd probably starve to death after spending all my retirement money..."
"I don't have any skills, and my body can't do strenuous work... Maybe after I leave the army, you will see me shining shoes on the street... or simply a beggar..."
After the veteran said this, the eyes of the brothers next to him were red. The officers and soldiers of this company were all led by the veteran. The old company commander was like a master to them.
When they heard such a sad topic, these people couldn't stand it anymore. "Stop talking! We can't let you fall to this point under any circumstances!"
"You are old, and all the brothers in our company are supporting you! Damn it, why did His Majesty surrender? How did the empire fall?"
These are real professional soldiers, raised by the Emperor with good food and drink. They do not understand the contradictions in society. In their eyes, they only have loyalty to the empire!
The veteran smiled slightly, "Actually, what I'm talking about is the worst ending... Actually... Actually, I definitely believe that we are still valuable! Valuable things will not be abandoned easily!"
