“This is what I believe as well,” said Hitler, pleased that for once, he had a General that agreed with him. “Kesselring is of a different mind. He thinks the center and south can be held, but with mobile forces capable of reacting to any contingency, and tenacious infantry. Where would you build your defensive front?”
“Along these mountains,” said Rommel, indicating the position on the map, “the Apennine Range. Anchor it just south of La Spezia in the west, and follow the mountains all the way south and east to Pesaro on the Adriatic. Place our reserves in the east, near Ravenna.”
“A very good plan,” said Hitler. “I want you to select the divisions and supervise the building of this defensive front, and for that purpose, I will empower you with command of all divisions north of Rome. At the appropriate time, you are to seize all passes, key bridges, rail depots and other major roads in the north, and disarm any Italian units you can find. Kesselring is adamant that we should hold the south as well, and he has been organizing the initial defense there. He is convinced that the Allies will invade Sicily, but tells me he can delay them there for two months if they do so. Then he proposes delaying actions in the south, and successive lines of defense on the narrow waist of the peninsula between Naples and Termoli on the Adriatic. He would even want to defend Rome.”
“That would be useless,” said Rommel, “and in some ways, it would be criminal. Do you realize the artistic legacy of that city? You are a man who understands culture, my Führer. Do not send your panzers into the narrow streets of Rome and destroy all that history and artwork.”
“If I do choose to hold it, the Allies will be responsible if they attack us there.” Hitler had an unlimited capacity to shift the blame. “Yet at this time, I am inclined to withdraw all our forces north of Rome should Italy betray us. Very well… Go to Munich and establish a special headquarters there to plan this defensive front and complete your other tasks. You will be very well occupied in that.”
In war, as in life, way leads on to way. Rommel would soon find that he had more to do than select divisions and build fortifications, for Churchill was still burning oil in his planning lamps for a Mediterranean strategy, and he was enlisting the support of Sir Alan Brooke to be his ambassador. What that would become was as yet part of the unformed mist of the future, something that not even Anton Fedorov could have predicted. Just as Rommel was picking up his gloves to depart, a runner came to the conference room, eyes alight with alarm.
The Allies were invading Sardinia.
In the first hours of an invasion from the sea, confusion is as much a factor in the outcome as anything else. News of the fighting on the coast told von Senger where the enemy had attacked, but nothing of where else he might appear. The entire western coast of the island was a potential target, and with only one good German division at hand, he had to be very prudent as to how he would commit this force to the battle.
The Gulf of Oristano had been considered a probable target if Sardinia was to be invaded, which was why the bulk of the Italian Bari division had been garrisoned there. Yet Monty was going to hit the beaches with two veteran British Divisions supported by a full armored brigade, and the Bari Division was not going to stop him.
At the same time, a small airborne drop had been planned north of Oristano, conducted by Colonel John Frost, now elevated to command the 1st British Para Brigade for his defense against the Wiking Division in Syria. The main airfield in the region was very near the city, but there was also a small secondary strip at Milis, about seven kilometers to the north.
The first two battalions landed, though they were fairly well scattered in the dark, but the 3rd Battalion got off to a late start with mechanical problems in the lead plane. By the time it reached the coast, it was nearing dawn, and German fighters became a real problem, forcing the mission to abort. So Frost proceeded with two battalions, finding no German units at the airfield, and only a small force of Italian military police. Like Darby in the south, he would have his objective secured just after sunrise, but he would not keep it for very long.
Other special operations saw British Commandos landing on the southern cape framing the bay to get after Italian shore batteries there, and the Royal Marines landed 15 kilometers to the south, where they were to destroy another coastal gun position at Torre Cosari.
In Patton’s sector, he would soon realize that most of the available assault boat shipping had been claimed by Montgomery as well. There was only enough left over for Patton to land the infantry of two regiments in Terry Allen’s 1st Infantry, and two battalions of TF Abrams. Most of the artillery had to wait for the second wave later in the day. Patton steamed at his situation.
Monty had told him that his maneuver south would cut the main roads and force any enemy troops to use the less developed roads on the east coast—the very same roads Patton would have to use himself to get up north. From his position at Oristano Bay, Monty also had a 50-kilometer lead on him in the race to La Maddalena, but it was still one that the fiery American General wanted to win.
Very little moved that morning on the Axis side. Von Senger gave orders for 15th Infantry Division to prepare to move south, for it had only arrived on the island a few days earlier, and was concentrated in the north near La Maddalena and Sassari. The Bari Division rushed to man defenses at Oristano and the Sabuda Division sent three battalions up the road to Iglesias to face the wrath of George Patton. When von Senger reported to Kesselring, the Field Marshal was shocked that the Allies had moved so quickly after Tunis, and surprised they had selected Sardinia.
“We thought they would need at least another month before they could move,” he said. “How many divisions?”
“Two at Oristano Bay, both British, and one reinforced American division further south on the beaches west of Iglesias. Do you want me to order the 15th Infantry to Oristano?”
“They want to cut off Cagliari,” said Kesselring. Yes, get to Oristano. The 90th has just arrived on Corsica, but I will move it to Bonifacio and get Siebel ferries there to cross the Strait. We must delay them as long as possible. Try and prevent any major movement north until the 90th Division arrives.”
Kesselring also had a whole series of other questions on his mind now. What was he to do with Sicily? There was only one German division there now, the 15th Panzergrenadier, but should he move Goring’s division there as originally planned?
Sardinia, he thought. What in God’s name do they want that for? It was clearly reachable from their western ports and airfields at Bizerte and Tunis, but Sicily was the greater prize. The big question now is the Italians. Will they fight? If we can win on Sardinia, I think that would be decided favorably. But if the Allies make a quick victory there, then Italy’s position is fatally compromised. The enemy will be holding a knife at Mussolini’s throat. They could jump directly to the vicinity of Rome.
Yet not until they clear Sicily. Yes… Cagliari is the only decent port on Sardinia, and if I keep Palermo, and concentrate my air power there and at Trapani, then I can possibly neutralize Cagliari as a debarkation port for any move against the Italian mainland. This will force them to use La Maddalena as their main anchorage, and for that, they will have to clear us off Corsica. Let me see about getting another division there from Southern France.