“Benghazi is not Tobruk,” said Rommel. “It has no major fortifications in place, and can be approached from all directions. Anything we leave there is as good as lost. Our only chance of holding any line is here, between Agheila and Agedabia. The position at Mersa Brega is a bottleneck, with bad ground for mobile operations to the south. It is one of the best defensive positions in Libya. That is where I will make my stand.”
Paulus smiled. “That is where you were told to set up your division as a blocking force last month! What possessed you to disobey the Fuhrer and go charging off to Tobruk?”
“The British were off balance. They were worn out and easily beaten. You saw how they retreated east when I moved. That would have continued, whether or not they held on to Tobruk. It was not until this new force suddenly appeared on our deep right flank that everything went to hell. We were right in the middle of an enveloping movement that had every prospect of breaking their last line of defense. Then I had to pull out of that attack and redeploy to the south, and the defense was too hasty.”
Paulus was silent for a time, thinking. “I spoke with Cramer,” he said in a low voice. “He said the British deployed new armored vehicles unlike anything he had ever seen-massive new tanks that make their old Matildas look like children’s toys! He said the Matildas were trouble enough, even for the 50mm gun, but these new tanks are fearsome. He engaged and found his own armor was completely overmatched. They were able to see and strike our own tanks at ranges well beyond the effective firing radius of even our best Panzer IIIs.”
Rommel’s eyes had a haunted look in them now. “I heard this, but did not believe it-until I went forward to see for myself. I was looking for Streich, but heard he was dead. I hate to say it, but good riddance. The man was a thorn in my side from the very first. Kircheim will take the division now until I can find someone else. I requested Ravenstein.”
“He’s coming,” said Paulus. “Too bad for Streich.”
“Yes, his position was one of the first to spot and engage this new British force with a small battery of 150s. Unfortunately, he received direct counter-battery fire in a matter of minutes. My god, Paulus, everything Cramer said about these new British tanks is true! They are enormous! I saw a company sized unit lead their attack, and the Pak 37s and 50s in the forward screen were no more effective than throwing gravel at the damn things! Fortunately, I had ordered the flak batteries to set up a Pakfront west of that hill. It was a good position. A wadi channeled the enemy advance right toward the hill where Streich died. I had twelve 88s covering that defile, and that should have been enough to end the matter.”
He stopped, clearly bothered now, a desperate expression on his face. “But it wasn’t enough, Paulus. They hit those gun positions with artillery and took out three or four 88s in a matter of minutes. The others returned fire, and I saw them getting hits, but could not believe it. The tanks just kept coming! I saw one hit three times, and it sustained no significant damage. Then they returned fire and took out three more guns. We were lucky to get the remainder out and retreat north. Do you understand what this means? Those were 88s, and they could not penetrate this new British tank armor! They were completely useless! We have no anti-tank weapon in the army that can better the performance of that gun. For all intents and purposes, these new British tanks are invulnerable, and if that is so…”
He did not have to say anything more, leaning heavily over the map, the weariness of many sleepless days of fighting very evident now. “So now you know why I have no intention of trying to hold Cyrenaica. It can’t be held by a mobile force. I could order infantry into the Jebel country, but once the British push through to Beda Fomm as they did before, they will be completely isolated. If the Fuhrer wants us to stand at Benghazi, then let the Italians hold the place. I will not leave my troops there.”
“We’ll have new reserves very soon.” Paulus tried to encourage him. “The 90th Light is already arriving at Tripoli and will be heading east to join you. There will be more troops coming soon. A few weeks ago OKW moved 1st Mountain Division and the Grossdeutschland Regiment from Spain to Italy. They were the troops that broke the Rock of Gibraltar. I thought they were heading for the new front along the southern border near Ukraine, but I was wrong. They are coming here, and another Panzer division is being assigned to your Korps as well.”
“Another Panzer Division? I can certainly use it, but we can barely support the two mobile divisions I already have. Add the 90th Light and we’ll be lucky to get water to the men, let alone fuel and ammunition!”
