The War of Resistance: My Expedition, My Country

Chapter 259: Battle of Najaf

After an overnight march, von Locke-Auspers' 1st Tank Army arrived in Najaf. Just as Lieutenant General Hoepner had predicted, the Chinese had established a defensive line there, and British forces were among the defenders. A tank regiment from the 1st Tank Army immediately launched an attack, only to be counterattacked by at least one heavy howitzer regiment. This meant that the Chinese and British forces defending this area possessed at least one 155mm heavy howitzer regiment.

Aupers immediately ordered the 1st Army's Grenadier Regiment to join the battle, attempting to use tanks as a breakthrough force and grenadiers as the main attacking force to quickly close the distance with the defending enemy forces.

"Boom boom boom!" The explosions continued, and smoke filled the air, shrouding the entire city of Najaf in a thick haze of smoke and dust. Having experienced the Battle of Gabès, the 13th Brigade had become fully accustomed to such defensive operations. A battle of this scale was child's play for them. Both the soldiers and the commanders appeared remarkably composed. The Germans deployed a tank regiment and a grenadier regiment, and the 13th Brigade's tactics of luring the enemy deep into their territory quickly led to them falling into the quagmire they had carefully planned.

The battle lasted from morning until about 3:30 p.m., during which the Germans lost nearly 13 tanks and finally withdrew from the 1000th Brigade's position in a panic. The German losses were very heavy, including nearly grenadiers, the elite of the German army, which made Ospers feel painful.

The 1st Tank Army's staff officer suggested melancholy, "General, should we hold off on the assault and instead resort to a harassing attack, waiting for Xiumask to capture Kufe from the rear, and then attack the enemy from both sides?"

Osprey thought for a moment, then shook his head and said to his chief of staff, "Fernandez, this won't work. We have to hold these Chinese back for dear life. This will give Schumacher a chance. After a night of marching and a morning of fighting, the troops must be exhausted. Order them to suspend their offensive and rest. We will launch a second attack at dusk."

Financi quickly asked, "General, do you mean a field battle tonight?"

Osprey nodded affirmatively. "We must use the night battle to put pressure on the enemy, making them feel we will not give up until we achieve our goal. This will force them to focus their forces on Najaf and reduce their defenses against Kufai."

It must be said that the German generals' thinking and strategy were very targeted and not at all sloppy. If it weren't for someone like Kuang Zhengqi who traveled from the future, their plan would probably have succeeded.

Kuang Zhengqi and his colleagues had long since detached themselves from the confines of a single campaign, instead focusing on the German army's weaknesses from a broader strategic perspective. All their deployments revolved around the Germans' ultimate objectives. Consequently, despite their limited manpower, they implemented a strategy of splitting up their forces and combining them with strategic maneuvers. For the Chinese Second Army, their objective was not to defeat or annihilate the German First Tank Army, but to delay its advance, detaining and depleting it, thereby buying time for the main US and British forces.

Kuang Zhengqi ordered Zhang Lingpu to launch a counterattack and penetrate the German rear, attacking their supply and transportation lines. He also ordered Pu Zhengsong to concentrate his main tank and armored forces to rendezvous with the 47th Army, preparing for a decisive tank battle with the Germans at Khan Musela. Kuang Zhengqi's confidence stemmed from a clear understanding of the Germans' objectives, believing that the Germans would inevitably be manipulated by Kuang Zhengqi to achieve their ultimate goal. The decisive tank battle at Khan Musela was a cover, as was the defense of Najaf, designed to destroy the Germans' effective forces and delay and consume their time.

According to the telegram sent by General Wimad, the United States and Britain are desperately trying this time. Air Force transport planes have been working day and night and have transported two divisions of US and British troops to the port of Kuwait. Their equipment was shipped from India and South Africa respectively, and whichever arrived first was used. Heavy equipment and other troops set out from Tunisia and have now passed the Cape of Good Hope in southern Africa. It is less than a week away from arriving in Kuwait.

Furthermore, with the increasing number of bomber groups being transferred to Iraq from various locations, it is expected that starting the day after tomorrow, the Second Army will receive support from at least one air wing, which will be fatal to the German army. By then, with the support of the US and British air forces, the Second Army may truly be able to deal a fatal blow to the German First Tank Army.

Let's talk about Xiumask. He arrived at his destination in the afternoon. There was a British regiment defending there. Xiumask did not act immediately. He wanted to wait until dark and take advantage of the darkness to defeat the British army in one fell swoop. Then he would build a bridge across the river under the cover of darkness and quickly move north under the cover of darkness, so as to launch an attack on Kufe before dawn.

Almost at the same time, the 1st Tank Corps of Ospers launched a second attack on Najaf. This time, they dispatched two tank regiments and a grenadier regiment, and concentrated all their artillery fire to launch the most fierce attack on the brave defenders in the city of Najaf.

Shells rained down like raindrops, explosions echoed, and the entire city seemed to be a sea of ​​fire. Dust and smoke billowed, obscuring vision. However, the defenders did not retreat, stubbornly resisting the enemy's attack. Soldiers hid behind bunkers, in underground trenches, and fought back with all kinds of weapons, engaging in fierce exchanges of fire with the enemy.

The battlefield was thick with smoke and flames. German tanks pressed forward fiercely, using artillery fire and their steel bodies to eliminate any suspected resistance. German grenadiers, accompanied by tanks and other armored forces, seized the suburbs and gradually approached the city. Soldiers from both sides shuttled through the hail of bullets, and the struggle for life and death seemed particularly cruel at this moment. Every bullet could claim a life, and every second was filled with endless danger. But both the enemy and the soldiers defending the city were fearless, fighting with determination and selflessness...

In the fierce fighting, Najaf was tottering under artillery fire. The 13th Brigade proactively allowed the British to evacuate first, while methodically drawing the Germans into the city and engaging them in street fighting. Once inside Najaf, the Germans lost their superior artillery and tanks, forcing both sides to engage in brutal hand-to-hand combat, relying on light armor and small artillery for support fire.

At this time, the power of the light multiple-barrel short-range rocket launchers equipped by the 13th Brigade was brought into play. Often, if a German combat squad happened to be exposed, it would be immediately attacked by several rocket launchers, and then it would be surrounded by Chinese individual combat teams that appeared everywhere. The losses were very heavy. For a time, the battle between the two sides entered a stalemate...