Tiger route.
Mortars were falling with disturbing accuracy on the road and in the woods where most of the 3rd Battalion's paratroopers had taken cover.
At this moment, General Urquhart, the top commander of the 1st Airborne Division, has landed successfully. He and Brigadier General Rasbury are staying in the bunker, discussing the situation in the Arnhem area. Both officers are feeling frustrated by the current slow progress. disturbed.
The failure of communication tools prevented their instructions from being conveyed in time.
Half an hour ago, the two lost contact with the troops heading for the Jaguar route, and they only had intermittent communication with the second battalion.
"Where is Goff's reconnaissance company?"
"Haven't we contacted you yet?"
Urquhart turned to look at the correspondent.
"No, it's the same as the situation with the First Battalion. We still can't get through."
In the depressing atmosphere, Rasbury had a strong premonition: The 1st Battalion and the Reconnaissance Company walking on the Jaguar route would be in danger.
Almost subconsciously, Urquhart cast his eyes on the map, and a place circled in red caught his attention—Wolfheitzer.
In fact, Major Gough had traveled about two and a half miles along the Jaguar route from the time of departure to the present time, a distance that could only be covered with the help of the 1st Battalion.
The enemy was supported by half-track armored vehicles, artillery and tanks. Hundreds of paratroopers were forced to crawl on the grass. Even if they were carrying out a tenacious counterattack, the chance of reaching the Arnhem Bridge was still slim. They could only place their hopes on the Third Battalion and the Second Battalion.
Unfortunately, the third battalion walking on the tiger's route was also suppressed and did not dare to move.
What's more coincidental is that the enemies of the 1st and 3rd Battalions are Stormtrooper Major Zep Kraft, the unlucky guy who was forced to give up his station.
This guy was convinced that he was surrounded, and conservatively estimated that the ratio between the British army and his under-strength armored training battalion was 20 to 1, even if his subordinates came to report that the enemy had come to a standstill under artillery fire. Pu remained pessimistic and had no illusions about holding off the enemy for long.
Perhaps he didn't know that he was so strong, and the training camp was currently being supported by tanks, artillery and armored vehicles from the Hohenstaufen Division.
In fact, the division was less than two miles from Zepp's own headquarters, and due to confidentiality reasons, little is known about it.
For now, everything depends on Colonel John Frost's 2nd Battalion, who are marching steadily forward, because the road branch is not valued by the Germans.
Except for the obstruction encountered by Lu Li and others, there were only sporadic falling artillery fires, which caused some trouble for the second team.
"Guys, watch your surroundings!"
"Next stop, the Lower Rhine Railway Bridge!"
On the road along the river, Lu Li shouted to his brothers while driving.
After receiving backup, Monk emerged from the darkness and resumed his previous escape. As for what was in his mind, others could not tell.
"Boss, why do we act as the outpost every time? I thought that if the jeep was written off, we would be able to get rid of the bad luck, but the battalion commander dispatched three more vehicles."
After a fierce battle, it's a pleasure to hear the co-pilot ask some random questions.
Thinking of this, marksman Henry suddenly felt that he was being assimilated by Monk in a subtle way.
If one day he turns into a talkative sniper...it's scary to think about it.
"What do you think is the reason?" Lu Li asked.
Monk made an illogical guess, but he acted seriously: "Colonel Frost hates us. Have you or Sergeant Miller ever offended him?"
There was a huge difference between the two, and the commander would only embarrass them when he had nothing to do.
Correspondent Jerry curled his lips. This was the most boring joke he had heard this year.
"No, he doesn't hate me and Miller."
Lu Li looked around and replied, "He just hates you."
"A tool of misfortune."
Laughter suddenly came from behind.
It is conceivable that as time goes by, the nickname Lu Li gave Monk will be widely spread within the 1st Airborne Division.
Perhaps one day it will reach General Urquhart's ears. That man who makes people feel happy has a habit——
He likes to call the soldiers "son". If he knows the specific names, he calls them by their first names. He never puts on airs and often asks for the soldiers' nicknames.
"If the general knew that there was an extra person in his team who could bring misfortune, he would definitely try his best to remove him."
Correspondent Jerry looked serious.
And Henry also made a rare joke. He said: "Maybe I just lock you in the kitchen and scramble eggs every day."
"Don't be afraid, I will find a way to dig a hole and rescue you when the time comes."
Lu Li comforted him casually.
The atmosphere in the other two cars was also much better. After all, most people wanted to leave. War is never reasonable. If you deserve to die, you will die, and if you deserve to lose, you will lose.
All in all, fight hard to complete the mission and fight hard to protect yourself.
Time passed slowly, it was 5:40 pm.
Lu Li slowed down the car, not because there were enemies blocking the road or because there was not enough gasoline, but because the road was full of livestock carcasses, and they were all incomplete.
Enemy artillery?
Or one's own bombers?
Lu Li didn't know the truth, so he could only be more vigilant.
Soon, Captain McKay, who was in charge of support, drove up and followed. The soldiers under his command belonged to the engineering unit and were familiar with the bridge.
"Good job, brother."
The captain first said hello, and then said to Lu Li, "This place is so quiet, it feels unreal."
"The observation hand found no enemy."
After hearing this, McKay stopped the car, took out his binoculars and looked towards the railway bridge. The shore was indeed very quiet. No enemy was found, only water birds and weeds.
A few minutes later, the convoy of six jeeps continued to drive towards the target, and the bridge reflected in the pupils continued to expand.
Once it is taken and held, the importance of the Arnhem Bridge will diminish.
It is only one of the three objectives. Although it is important, it can be abandoned. After all, it only needs to ensure that the ground troops have a place to pass.
This is mine, take it!
Lu Li held the steering wheel tightly, stepped on the accelerator to accelerate, and led the charge. He did not want to go to Arnhem City and become material in the flesh and blood mill.
"God! German soldiers!"
Captain McKay, who was holding a telescope and always paying attention to the railway bridge, suddenly became painful. He saw a German running onto the bridge from the south bank of the Rhine, kneeling down in the center and starting to do something.
When Lu Li turned his head, he found that there was a small black spot in his field of vision, and immediately ordered the reconnaissance team to open fire.
"Get rid of this bastard..."
Halfway through his words, a burst of orange flames shot up into the sky, and shock waves shook the earth.
"The first bridge is gone."
McKay muttered.
Lu Li let go of the steering wheel and looked at the grand fireworks in front of him. He felt a little strange. He was neither happy nor sad. He thought silently: If he had come ten minutes earlier, his fate would have been changed.
In the silence, the flame in the center of the railway bridge went out and black smoke rose. Colonel Frost hurriedly arrived. He was more open-minded and encouraged:
"Boys, cheer up, it's not important, we still have two alternative targets."
It was half past six and night had fallen.
The Second Battalion has two bridges left to seize, one is a pontoon bridge located in the suburbs, and the other is a reinforced concrete bridge located in the urban area.
