Chapter 1762: Erosion

"Your Excellency Chief of Staff, we have captured Banda Aceh. The 16th Army of the Island Army stationed here were all killed. During the battle, the Islanders also dispatched armored troops. However, almost all of their tanks It is a light tank or a miniature tank." Marshal Bock, commander of the German 3rd Army, said.

  The weight of the medium tanks of the Japanese army is only equivalent to the light tanks of the German army. As for the light tanks weighing only a few tons, they are only equivalent to the tanks equipped by the German army in the early days. The current German army is rarely equipped with light tanks. As the main force, they are all medium tanks and heavy tanks. Even after the mass production of the "King Tiger" heavy tank began, the production of the "Black Panther" tank had stopped. In other words, the German army has begun to eliminate medium tanks. It can be seen how big the gap between the armored forces of the two sides is.

  The German Minister of War and Chief of the General Staff Marshal Manstein was not surprised that the island army's armored forces were vulnerable. After all, the previous island countries have always lacked resources, so it is naturally impossible to develop heavy tanks that consume extremely resources like Germany.

   "How many troops from the 3rd Army have gone ashore?" Marshal Manstein asked.

"Your Excellency Chief of Staff, four infantry divisions of the 3rd Army have successfully landed. After occupying Banda Aceh, the 3rd Armored Division, the 21st Mechanized Infantry Division and the 22nd Mechanized Infantry Division are speeding up their landing. In addition, The 13th Army of Army Group F also captured Simawei, and the main force began to land," Marshal Bock reported.

   "Marshal Rundstedt, what about the 11th Army?" Marshal Manstein asked.

"Your Excellency, Chief of Staff, the 11th Army has captured Lansa in the west of Medan, only 40 kilometers away from Medan. Now, the main force of the 11th Army is landing, and will launch an attack on Medan later." The Special Marshal replied.

  Marshal Manstein nodded. The German attack on Sumatra Island went smoothly. Although the army of the island country has two front armies and two armies on Sumatra Island, its strength is strong. However, the German army planned to invest in three main armies to fight. Judging from the current situation, there is no problem at all for the three main group armies of the German army to wipe out the island army's troops on Sumatra in one fell swoop.

   "Order all the ministries to step up the landing, and then launch an attack. Try to take Sumatra within half a month." Marshal Manstein ordered.

   "Yes, Your Excellency the Chief of Staff!" Both Marshal Bork and Marshal Rundstedt replied.

  The German army is not only progressing smoothly on the island of Sumatra, but also on the island of Java, the German army is also progressing smoothly. The 12th Army of the German Army Group E, the 4th Army and the 16th Army of the G Army Group have all established a firm foothold in Cirebon, Pekalongan and Semarang on Java Island. And, as a large number of troops landed, they began to attack the defense line of the island country army, further seizing more territory.

  As some coastal cities fell into the hands of the German army, the main armored forces of the German army also began to go ashore. Once these armored units go ashore, the attack power of the German army will be greatly improved. It is even more impossible for the Japanese army to resist the German attack.

  Semarang, the 5th Front Army of the Japanese Army is still struggling here. Three infantry divisions of the German 12th Front and a regiment of the Marine Corps laid siege here. As for the troops defending in the city, only the 101st Independent Mixed Brigade and the 129th Independent Mixed Brigade of the 5th Front Army of the Japanese Army and the 41st Independent Mixed Brigade directly under the 5th Front Army remained. The 22nd Chariot Wing, the 22nd Independent Tank Battalion, and four independent infantry brigades. Adding up these troops, the total strength is only more than 20,000. It is almost impossible to resist the attack of the superior forces of the German army.

  As for the several divisions under the 5th Front Army of the Island Army, they have suffered heavy losses under the German attack, and even two divisions have been wiped out.

  The reinforcements sent by the Southern Army Command of the Island Army were intercepted by the German 4th Army west of Cirebon. This also made it impossible for reinforcements to arrive.

  Under such circumstances, it is only a matter of time before the 5th Front Army is eliminated.

  The underground headquarters of the 5th Front Army of the Semarang Island Army, Lieutenant General Higuchi Kiichiro, the commander, was pale. Even though he tried to stay calm, he found that it was impossible. The bad news one after another put him in a state of collapse.

"Your Excellency, Commander, the 42nd Infantry Division was completely broken an hour ago. The 7th Infantry Division was surrounded by siege in Cirebon. The division commander, Lieutenant General Kotogyuichi, is determined to die!" Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Hagi Saburo reported. .

   Such news made Lieutenant General Higuchi Kiichiro's face pale again.

   "What about the situation in Semarang City?" Lieutenant General Higuchi Kiichiro asked.

   "Your Excellency, the situation in the city is also very pessimistic. The Germans actively launched an attack with tens of thousands of elite troops, while our troops are seriously at a disadvantage, and we are almost unable to hold on." Lieutenant General Hagi Saburo said.

   "Baga! Where's the reinforcements? Where's the reinforcements sent by the commander? Why haven't they arrived yet?" Lieutenant General Higuchi Kiichiro panicked. He knew that if this continued, he might have to commit seppuku.

   "Your Excellency, the reinforcements were stopped by the Germans west of Cirebon. The commander of the 38th Army, Lieutenant General Yuichi Dohashi, reported that they were unable to break through the German blockade." Lieutenant General Hagi Saburo replied.

"Baga! The 38th Army has 4 divisions and an independent mixed brigade, as well as an elite unit like the 2nd Infantry Division. How could it be impossible to break through the German blockade?" Lieutenant General Kiichiro Higuchi Some gaffe. There is no way to do this, and no one can be calm when facing death.

  Lieutenant General Hagi Saburo said nothing. Although the 38th Army has 4 infantry divisions and an independent mixed brigade, the enemies they face are not weak either! The German 4th Army deployed three infantry divisions west of Cirebon, supported by naval artillery fire from the sea and air force. It is almost impossible for the 38th Army of the Japanese Army to break through the German blockade. Once the armored troops of the German army come ashore, the 38th Army of the Japanese Army can be thrown out.

  The German army's large-scale offensive has only been carried out on the third day, and the situation in the entire Southeast Asia has become very unfavorable to the army of the island country. Whether it is Sumatra, Java, or New Guinea, the war situation continues to erode.