Chapter 54 On the Tenacity of German Spirit
Another morning, another rainy day.
The roaming British fleet no longer approached the coastline easily, but without the harassment of the German air force, they could leisurely shell targets on the island - ports, positions, and roads. From the air, the once picturesque holiday resort almost turned into a pockmarked lunar surface!
After changing commanders, the British Army, after two days of keeping a low profile, finally couldn't resist launching an attack on the German landing forces on the Isle of Wight!
This time, their objective was very clear: to first take down the only available port in German hands, Bembridge!
In the drizzling rain, traversing muddy roads and fields, 11 battalions of British infantry cautiously and slowly reached the German outer defense line north of Bembridge Harbor with the support of 68 tanks. In a continuous 40-minute bombardment, 117 infantry guns fired across a distance of 5 kilometers. Under the cover of one heavy cruiser and two light cruisers, 10 British destroyers approached the coast for half an hour of artillery preparation. Then, clusters of Matildas crawled through the battlefield riddled with craters like turtles. Over 4,000 British infantrymen armed with bayonets formed a massive swarm, while 800 Royal Marines landed forcibly on the southeastern coast of Bembridge Harbor via boats and landing craft.
Apart from a few reconnaissance and spotting seaplanes, the battle seemed like something out of 1917, except the impact of the Matildas was nowhere near as powerful as the "Big Push" against the German Imperial Army.
Perhaps it was the days of isolation on the island that weakened morale; perhaps it was the pressure from the powerful combined land and sea assault of the British Army; perhaps it was just tactical arrangements. After a brief resistance, the German defenders of Bembridge withdrew, retreating from the left flank of the British without encirclement towards the south of the Isle of Wight. The retreat was so swift that they abandoned a large amount of equipment and supplies, including two tanks damaged by artillery fire.
The blue ensign of the British Empire finally fluttered high over Bembridge Harbor again.
The news of victory spread to London immediately, and hundreds of residents took to the streets in the rain to celebrate, as if the complete victory on the Isle of Wight was imminent, and the German ambitions were about to be completely thwarted!
Under the command of General Montgomery, the British forces landing on the Isle of Wight did not recklessly "sweep" the retreating German forces to the west and south of the island. Instead, after entering Bembridge Harbor, the infantry immediately began repairing the port facilities. Due to German "care," by noon, the first 2,000-ton cargo ship was able to enter the harbor, unloading much-needed American-made M3 and M1 anti-tank guns and British-made 25-pound field guns for the British infantry - while naval guns were undoubtedly powerful, infantry guns could provide timely and accurate support in close combat!
Starting from 2 o'clock in the afternoon, seven battalions of British infantry advanced from Wootton Harbor towards Newport Harbor, while at the same time, British infantry stationed in East Cowes, Cowes, and Yarmouth began advancing towards the same area. Each unit strictly followed the schedule of action. If not for the uniforms, their precision might have mistaken them for Germans!
Led by the British heavy cruiser HMS Devonshire, the second British task force launched a 45-minute bombardment from north of Cowes Harbor towards Newport Harbor. Along with dozens of field guns landed by the British Army, the political and economic center of the Isle of Wight seemed destined for destruction - as for the residents in the harbor area, the British government had hinted at "necessary sacrifices" through national broadcasts.
As the gunfire of the British Army subsided, the once beautiful inland port had been reduced to ruins. However, over 2,000 German troops had occupied the area for several days, utilizing the large area, numerous buildings, and complete water facilities to construct a large number of underground shelters and concealed firing points. Therefore, when the British infantry, twice their number, fiercely surrounded them, the German defenders put up a fierce resistance. At the critical moment, the young men of the 1st Armored Battalion of the "Führer Escort Flag Guard" organized an effective counter-charge with the last 9 Panzer IV tanks and 7 Panzer III tanks, forcing the enemy who had penetrated from the east to retreat two blocks. They quickly flanked to the north of the enemy and launched a pincer attack with German infantry, severely damaging the famous Royal Infantry Volunteer Regiment of the British Army!
In the southwest of the Isle of Wight, the British forces advancing from Wootton and Bembridge encountered the "disappearance" of the main German forces for a day and night. Unexpectedly, the Germans did not employ the "trench defense" tactics as before but actively defended with infantry groups. Tanks and armored vehicles used their speed advantage to flank, and the German artillery group lurking near the coast dealt a heavy blow to the British destroyer fleet attempting to provide close support. General Montgomery's 4th Division and 50th Division were forced to stop their advance and switch to local defense. In the open fields, they were quickly targeted by German armored units and artillery groups. After dark, they stubbornly held their ground and even constructed several arc-shaped and circular defense positions, attempting to suffocate and annihilate the invading Germans through a step-by-step compression tactic.
Yet another morning, yet another rainy day.
Watching the drizzle fall, the British commanders couldn't help but thank God's favor - within just two days of the Battle of the Isle of Wight, the Royal Air Force had lost as many as 392 combat aircraft, leaving Sir Dowding with only 400 fighters. Although Britain's aircraft production had soared from 900 to 1,500 per month (with only two-fifths being fighters, a somewhat perplexing number, likely due to production line constraints), pilots who parachuted into German-controlled areas could no longer serve the Royal Air Force. It should be noted that during the Battle of Britain, what the Royal Air Force lacked most were experienced combat personnel, not equipment!
The continuous rain provided the heavily depleted Royal Air Force with precious respite. The numerically superior German air force struggled to take off from various airfields along the southern coast of the English Channel this day, but the swirling rain and muddy fields disrupted the visibility of German pilots, while the surging waves and muddy fields affected the effectiveness of aerial bombs. After this unsuccessful bombing, the German air force returned home in disappointment and did not reappear for the entire day!
The German landing forces on the Isle of Wight were facing unprecedented challenges!
In the Newport Harbor area, the reorganized British forces, led by more than ten Matilda tanks, also brought over thirty M3 37mm anti-tank guns into the battlefield, either towed by armored vehicles or directly dragged by manpower. Fierce battles erupted in the central area, between ruins, where Number IV tanks clashed with Matilda IIs at close range from time to time, and German infantry with hand-held Panzerfausts daringly attacked British tanks from the sides and rear. However, some were killed by accompanying British infantry before they could succeed, and the relatively weak armor of the Panzer IIIs was vulnerable to the assault of British anti-tank guns at close range. After a bitter fight, 7 or 8 were destroyed, with almost every tank accompanied by the body of a Waffen-SS tank crew member in gray uniforms - the relentless fighting had already driven the British to a bloodthirsty state.
Facing the numerically and equipment-advantaged British attack force, the German defenders tasked with holding Newport Harbor demonstrated iron-like will. They used ruins as cover, sewers as trenches, and utilized all available weapons, including the firearms and ammunition left behind by the previous British soldiers, to stubbornly conduct counter-attacks. At a critical moment, the young men of the 1st Armored Battalion of the "Führer Escort Flag Guard" organized an effective counter-charge with the last 9 Panzer IV tanks and 7 Panzer III tanks, forcing the enemy who had penetrated from the east to retreat two blocks. They quickly flanked to the north of the enemy and launched a pincer attack with German infantry, severely damaging the famous Royal Infantry Volunteer Regiment of the British Army!
In the southwest of the Isle of Wight, the British forces advancing from Wootton and Bembridge encountered the "disappearance" of the main German forces for a day and night. Unexpectedly, the Germans did not employ the "trench defense" tactics as before but actively defended with infantry groups. Tanks and armored vehicles used their speed advantage to flank, and the German artillery group lurking near the coast dealt a heavy blow to the British destroyer fleet attempting to provide close support. General Montgomery's 4th Division and 50th Division were forced to stop their advance and switch to local defense. In the open fields, they were quickly targeted by German armored units and artillery groups. After dark, they stubbornly held their ground and even constructed several arc-shaped and circular defense positions, attempting to suffocate and annihilate the invading Germans through a step-by-step compression tactic.
Yet another morning, yet another rainy day.
Watching the drizzle fall, the British commanders couldn't help but thank God's favor - within just two days of the Battle of the Isle of Wight, the Royal Air Force had lost as many as 392 combat aircraft, leaving Sir Dowding with only 400 fighters. Although Britain's aircraft production had soared from 900 to 1,500 per month (with only two-fifths being fighters, a somewhat perplexing number, likely due to production line constraints), pilots who parachuted into German-controlled areas could no longer serve the Royal Air Force. It should be noted that during the Battle of Britain, what the Royal Air Force lacked most were experienced combat personnel, not equipment!
The continuous rain provided the heavily depleted Royal Air Force with precious respite. The numerically superior German air force struggled to take off from various airfields along the southern coast of the English Channel this day, but the swirling rain and muddy fields disrupted the visibility of German pilots, while the surging waves and muddy fields affected the effectiveness of aerial bombs. After this unsuccessful bombing, the German air force returned home in disappointment and did not reappear for the entire day!
The German landing forces on the Isle of Wight were facing unprecedented challenges!
In the Newport Harbor area, the reassembled British forces, led by over ten Matilda tanks, along with armored vehicles or directly by manpower, brought over thirty American-made M3 37mm anti-tank guns into the battlefield. Fierce battles erupted in the central area among the ruins. Occasionally, one could see German Panzer IV tanks engaging in close combat with Matilda II tanks. German infantry, wielding panzerfausts, bravely attacked British tanks from the flanks and rear. Some were taken down by accompanying British infantry before they could succeed. Meanwhile, the relatively weaker armor of Panzer III tanks struggled to withstand the assault of British anti-tank guns at close range. After bitter fighting, 7 or 8 of them were destroyed, with almost every tank having the body of a grey-uniformed SS tank crewmember lying nearby—such continuous intense combat had already driven the British soldiers to a state of bloodlust.
Facing the British attacking forces, which held both numerical and equipment advantages, the German soldiers defending the Newport Harbor area showed iron-like determination. They used ruins as cover and the sewer system as trenches, utilizing all available weapons at hand, including ammunition left behind by previous British soldiers, to stubbornly resist. At a critical moment, young men from the 1st Armored Battalion of the "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" organized an effective counterattack with the remaining 9 Panzer IV tanks and 7 Panzer III tanks, forcing the enemy who had penetrated from the east to retreat two blocks. They then quickly flanked the enemy's north side and, together with German infantry, launched a two-sided attack, inflicting heavy casualties on the renowned British Royal Infantry Volunteer Corps!
In the southwest of the Isle of Wight, British forces departing from Wootton and Bembridge encountered a large German force that had seemingly disappeared for a day and night. Unexpectedly, the Germans did not adopt the "hunker down" tactics as before. Instead, they actively defended with infantry groups while their tanks and armored vehicles utilized their speed advantage to conduct flank attacks. The German artillery group ambushed near the coast dealt a heavy blow to the British destroyer fleet attempting to provide close support. As a result, the 4th and 50th Divisions under General Montgomery's command were forced to halt their advance and transition into a defensive posture. In the open fields, they soon became the focus of attention for the German armored units and artillery groups. Even after nightfall, they stubbornly held their ground, constructing several curved and circular defensive positions, aiming to suffocate the invading Germans through a tactic of incremental compression.