Battle for France Part 4
After the German invasion of the Sovjet Union, the western allies pondered how German forces could be tied down in Europe. In Greece the Allied force worked as the naval maxim – a force in being. It probably couldn’t overrun the German defences, but then the Germans couldn’t overrun the Allied defences either. But the consequences of the Allies breaking out of the Peloponnesus, was far worse than the Germans breaking into it!
Another possibility was to invade Sicily, knocking X. Flieger Corps out of the island and putting further pressure on the Italians, with the threat of invading the Italian mainland.
Bombing of the Ploesti oilfields in Romania was also considered and British bomber airplanes were ordered to this task from bases in Greece.
The deployment of the Halifax was prioritized for the naval patrol version, making the mid-Atlantic more secure against submarines. A short break in the patrols from Flores occurred on 29. June, when German signal intelligence managed to pinpoint the base. An attack by 12 Focke-Wulff Condor’s wrecked havoc among the parked Halifax’s and Martin Maryland’s. In the rebuilding of the base a fighter squadron was allocated for defence.
Not being satisfied with the British tanks received, the French army made the government ask the US Army to develop a new tank to French specifications. In return the French would supply experienced officers and NCOs to train the US tank crews and give briefings on the tank battles of Western Europe and Greece. Being anxious to get more than the hand outs from the British, the US Army seized the opportunity. The French tank design was the AMX-41, a low profile vehicle armed with a 75mm gun that was later upgraded to an 85mm. It was heavily armoured but also fitted with a powerful engine because of the realization of speed as an important factor in the survivability of the tank. All new tanks were to be fitted with radios, as was all French tanks in service being fitted with.
The radios became lighter and smaller in size due to experiences in the air, where the use of radios was discovered to be vital. Lighter radios meant more weight being allocated to fuel for extended range.
Another field in which radios was found to be of great value was in directing artillery fire support of front line units. This would eliminate the need to rely on telephone wire being laid, and thus minimize the response time for units on the move. This was found to be ideal in a fluid situation, but not to be relied on in a static environment, as the radios could be pinpointed and taken out by artillery fire.
After the suppressing of the Rashid Ali coup in Iraq the British forces were withdrawn and an Indian Div. composed mainly of Islamic troops was deployed there for dealing with security matters.
In the Far East the Japanese decided that in order to be independent the import of US oil, the Dutch Indonesia was to be the target. In order to get there and establish a line on communications the French Indochina was to be occupied. This would also be a base for further actions. Another stepping stone was Hong Kong and the attack on the Allies would of course necessitate a later attack on Singapore to rob the Allies of this important base. The US and Sovjet Union however were not to be attacked and would, it was figured remain neutral.
The second phase would see the attack on Indonesia and then an indirect approach attack on Singapore.
In case of US belligerence, the US navy especially the carriers were to be taken out by a surprise attack.
Hitler had some troubles as the allies still hung on to Greece, the Yugoslavians didn’t want to bow to axis rule and fought the invaders with partisans. Also in France the Resistance was making itself felt by attacks on the Germans. A Panzer div. was tied up in reserve in Greece and other army formations in Yugoslavia and France, even if the Italians and Croats provided some forces. The Italians still didn’t want to commit their parachute troops in Greece and the continued bombing of Italian factories, railways and harbours were putting a strain on them.
20. July: After a month on preparations the invasion of Sicily is undertaken. From bases in Sardinia, Tunesia, Malta and Greece air attacks are conducted in Sicily to suppress X. Flieger Corps. The invasion forces sail from Tunis and Benghazi. The French force land at Marsala in the western end of the island and the British force at Catania. The Italian defenders give a poor performance, and only at the X. Flieger Corps bases are the defenders motivated to fight. This makes it possible for most units of X. Flieger Corps to take off but at the expense of the ground crews.
21. July: In response to the Allied invasion and the poor Italian performance, Hitler decides to move army units into Italy to counter any future Allied moves.
The Japanese demands bases in French Indochina to be handed over. The French refuses.
22. July: French troops move into Palermo.
23. July: British troops move into Syracuse. French troops move along the coast towards Messina. The evacuated X. Flieger Corps is attacked by French bombers at airfields in southern Italy. Having left their ground crews in Sicily and therefore not ready to fight, heavy losses are incurred.
24. July: British troops move north past Etna in the direction of Messina. A group of Italian torpedo boats attack the British invasion fleet off Catania and sink one destroyer.
25. July: 4 German infantry div.s among these one mountain div. moves into Italy to beef up the Italian defences. French and British troops meet in Messina. X. Flieger Corps is pulled out of Italy.
26. July: The last defenders in Sicily surrender.
27. July: The first German army units arrive in Rome, giving much needed support to Mussolini.
28. July: In response to the Japanese demands on 21. July, additional French troops and air forces are send off to Indochina. The Dutch commander in Indonesia is invited to talks with the Allied commanders in Singapore.
29. July: The Allied commanders in the Far East agree to put up a joint command in the area to coordinate the air – sea and land operations. The Japanese threat is perceived to be aimed at Indonesia, to posses the oilfields. The Dutch are asked to join the command or at least coordinate actions. After having received orders from the exile government in London, the Dutch commander places his forces under the Allied command. British Commonwealth troops are going to reinforce the Dutch in Indonesia.
31. July: The first French air-force reinforcements arrive in Indochina.
1. August: The Japanese demand bases in French Indochina. The French rejects the demand.
2. August: Australian troops are moved into Java and Sumatra in Indonesia. The New Zealand div. lands in Sarawak, Borneo.
4. August: Battleships Barham, Warspite of RN and Strasbourg of the French navy arrive in Singapore along with aircraft carrier Ark Royal.
8. August: French army reinforcements arrive in Indochina.
9. August: Japanese forces cross Tongkin Bay from Hainan Island and land in Indochina. Hong Kong is attacked. A Japanese fleet move from the Palau Islands and attack New Guinea and New Britain. A Japanese carrier fleet leaves Taiwan and heads into The South China Sea for Singapore.
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