“What about them? We have lost all the good fields in the south, and so most of the squadrons have flown off to Corsica. The fields there are limited, so some have even had to return to Italy. They will have complete air supremacy now. We couldn’t even stop the movement of a reinforcing division into Cagliari. That is what is going to lose us this war—the enemy air power.”
“Very well,” said Kesselring. “Hold on as long as you can. The Führer needs toughness now, not another quick defeat.”
“We weren’t ready,” said von Senger. “The 15th had only just arrived, and by the time the 90th got here, it was already too late. We would be better off getting over to Corsica while we can.”
“That may end up being the order,” said Kesselring, “but I must consult Hitler. Collapse has a way of cascading from one front to another, so do whatever you can to hold on there.”
Kesselring was beginning to feel like the patron saint of lost causes. Ever since the Allies had landed at Casablanca, it had been one backward step after another, and now, with Corsica coming into the Allied crosshairs, Rome or even Southern France were now possible targets. After seeing this, he would spend a very long night re-thinking his position on Sicily.
Chapter 30
The young Lieutenant Colonel Creighton Abrams was right out in front with the men of his Task Force as it motored up the main road to Nuoro. First built by the ancient Romans, it wound through a narrow valley, with occasional vineyards and orchards crowding the base of the hills, until it reached the town, situated on the slopes of Monte Ortobene. Over the centuries, it’s stone streets had heard the footfalls of Roman Legions, The Vandals, and soldiers of the Byzantine Empire. Now it would hear the rattle and grind of heavy tank tracks, and the soldiers of General Casula’s Calabrian Division crouched behind makeshift field works, waiting in the tense evening of June 24th.
Abrams had rolled up with two companies of the 753rd Armor Battalion, three Mech Infantry Battalions, Armored Engineers, and Armored Cav. In all, he had 53 tanks and the power of a full brigade at his disposal, including a battalion of tracked artillery.
He stopped in the cool evening, and then sent word to bring up the interpreter and a squad with a white flag. Those men were sent forward, the interpreter shouting that they wanted to parley with the local commander, and would guarantee his safety if he would agree to meet with Abrams.
“General,” he said after giving Casula a formal salute. “I am only a Lieutenant Colonel, but my country has seen fit to give me the means of making war here, in this quiet valley, and doing so with terrible power. I have sixty tanks with me.” A little exaggeration could not hurt, thought Abrams. “Not 15 kilometers to the south on this mountain road, there is yet another Combat Command—fully mechanized—and behind that the entire 1st US Infantry Division. To your north, the British 3rd Infantry Division is assembling in force, three full brigades there as well. The road behind you is already cut off, so there can be no further retreat. Is there any reason for us to destroy this beautiful city tomorrow? Won’t you consider that you and your men have done all that you could to serve honor, and stand for your nation. But now this fight should be over.”
General Casula nodded gravely as the interpreter finished. “You have driven us from our North African colonies,” he said, “and now you come to our homeland. What else can I do but oppose you?”
“You can live,” said Abrams bluntly. “You can consider that your allegiance to Hitler was a grave mistake, and one that brought me here with orders to plow right through this town in the morning. Rest assured, I can do that, but I would much rather see you and your men live on after this, because if I have to come in here tomorrow, a lot of good young men will die, and needlessly so. Do you realize yours is the only Italian Division still under arms south of La Maddalena?”
The General did not realize that, for he had heard no news of what was happening. “The Germans have already abandoned you. They retreated towards Olbia and they are many miles north of you by now. What purpose does it serve for us to destroy this place, when you can do so much more by coming to terms—you can save it from the ravages of this war. Look around you, sir. Fight, and this city will die tomorrow. Shake my hand now instead, and it lives on, you and your men live on as well, and perhaps you would even consider joining us so that we can chase the Nazis out of your homeland altogether, because that is exactly what we are going to do. Now… If you need time to consider this, I can wait until 04:00 hours. After that…. Well, I have my orders.”
General Casula took a deep breath. He had six understrength battalions. They had very few anti-tank guns, and only a few AT Rifles against all the armor he could see around him now, carefully lined up by Abrams to make his point. A little theater never hurts. Then a runner came up wearing a British uniform and Beret. The man saluted and spoke.
“Excuse me Colonel. I was sent here by General Ramdsen to tell you that the whole of our division is now in position and ready to coordinate the attack with you at the designated hour.”
General Casula knew just enough English to understand what had been said. He decided that he and his men would live.
The Allies would spend the next two days negotiating the mountain roads on the approach to Olbia. Everything was converging there, leaving little room for the American divisions because the British had not pushed all the way to the north coast. The town of Tempio was unoccupied by either side on the main rail to La Maddalena. The Canadians were in Sassari, and making ready to push on to Porto Torres. It seemed as though the campaign was coming to an end, at least for the Italian troops on the island, but there was still the matter of von Senger’s two German divisions. The arrival of two Regiments of Student’s Paras brought his entire force up to strength, and he was in a much better position now than he was down south above Oristano.
Yet the Allies would begin lining up six divisions, and on a front stretching no more than 55 kilometers. The ground was rugged, and well suited to the defense, but those were steep odds. The Germans had 12 PzKfw-IVF2’s, 18 light Lynx Pz-II’s, and ten Marders for armored support. The allies had easily more than two full armored divisions. In spite of that, von Senger was digging in, prepared to fight it out unless Kesselring ordered him to move to Corsica. The time to do that was now, and he waited anxiously by the telephone for news.
Hitler was astounded that the island could fall so easily. The Generals at OKW explained that the divisions had only recently arrived, formed from March replacement battalions; that they were underequipped, had few tanks, and were faced by vastly superior odds.
“They will fight if you order it,” said Zeitzler. “But it will only be a matter of time on Sardinia after this, and we will have the ignominious honor of watching those divisions destroyed for the second time. Do not forget what we lost in Tunisia. If they could get to Corsica, then they could at least force the enemy to plan, stage, and execute yet another amphibious assault, and that will be expensive in both time and resources, particularly the shipping.”
“Where was Raeder?” said Hitler. “I recalled his ships from the Black Sea to prevent such a landing. What was he doing?”
“I cannot speak for the Navy, but it would be my opinion that he could not have done much to stop the landing on Sardinia. His ships would have been under all the enemy air power if he came anywhere near the beachheads. Corsica might be better defended, or else he might be better used to defend Toulon or La Spezia.”
“He is good for nothing,” said Hitler. “He did one thing right when he delivered the Black Sea, but otherwise the steel we used to build those ships has been a great waste. Very well, I can see no point in having those two divisions destroyed on Sardinia. As you say, once was enough. Order them to evacuate to Corsica, but that island must be held.”