The quarrel between Britain and the United States actually exists not only at meetings of senior generals, but also among the soldiers of the two armies, the media, and even among the people.

The contradiction is so strange. It actually exists all the time. If the Battle of Sicily is victorious, it will not intensify. Now the Battle of Sicily has failed, so everyone wants to find out the reasons and responsibilities for the failure. Some people even believe that it is impossible for the British and American armies to unite to defeat the Germans.

This view came from a senior military commentator named Nimes from the American media at that time. He analyzed on TV: "Everyone is considering this issue, why the Allied troops are much stronger than the enemy, and our equipment is much better and much more, such as our air supremacy, air supremacy, and even more... The Italian soldiers and people in Sicily can't wait to throw themselves into the arms of the Allied forces! But..."

Nims paused and changed the subject: "Why do we lose this war when we have an absolute advantage in all aspects? Is it too difficult to land on the battlefield? No, we know that the Allies did not encounter difficulties when landing. Are the Germans very smart? Perhaps, but this does not mean that if the enemy is smart, we can defeat the battle!"

There was a little laugh in the meantime.

"I think!" Nimes continued: "The fundamental reason for the failure is that the United States and the British militaries are not united. Oh, yes... everyone knows this. But no one considers why the United States and the British militaries are not united! Gentlemen, do you remember the Thucydides Trap? The British always think that they are the world's number one power, at least that's what he thinks. And the United States is challenging his status..."

The host asked in surprise: "Mr. Nimes, do you think we are walking into the Thucydides Trap with Britain?"

"Yes!" Nimes replied: "I do think so, so some people think that as long as they do a good job in ideological work of the commanders of the US and British armies, they can reach a unified opinion, and then they can unite together and eventually defeat the Germans. I don't think so, because the US and UK have conflicts in national interests. The conflict I mentioned is not a dispute between officers or soldiers, and even the people and the media. Do you understand? It is a difference in national interests, so it is likely that the US and UK will not be able to truly unite..."

There are not many people holding this view, but this is enough to make everyone's hearts "splitting".

In order to end this endless quarrel, Churchill flew to North Africa a few days later to conduct an inspection of the 15th Army Group (note: the British Eighth Army and the US Seventh Army).

The results of the inspection surprised Churchill. The conflict between Britain and the United States was deeper than he thought, and it even developed to the point where British and American soldiers fought in groups every day.

The worried Churchill organized a meeting.

Perhaps it was because the British Prime Minister who held the meeting, so the officers of the British and American armies did not quarrel as usual.

"I know everyone here is dissatisfied!" Churchill said, "Yes, I am also very dissatisfied. For you, this war, for everything. If it is dissatisfied or if it is useful to vent your own people, I should drive all of you home now! But you all know that this is useless. When we are arguing about who should be more responsible for this failure, when our soldiers smashed each other with beer bottles and stones to their heads and blood, when we try every means to find evidence to attack each other... do you know what the Germans are doing?"

As he said that, Churchill slapped a thick stack of documents on the table and said, "They are building trenches, they are laying landmines, and they are training with bayonets!"

There was a silence in the conference room.

"If you plan to continue to argue like this!" Churchill finally said, "Believe me, I can let you go home and make arguing!"

No one doubts whether Churchill has this ability. Although he is a general who has no right to mobilize the United States, he can propose to Roosevelt to change the commander.

At the same time, if the argument continues, I am afraid that Roosevelt will also be on Churchill's side.

So in the end, the British and American generals turned the page over.

And not only do this, grassroots officers are required to comply with each other at the top and bottom, and then grassroots officers are affected by the entire army.

Churchill called Eisenhower, Montgomery and other major generals to his office for a brief meeting.

"I want to know the next attack!" Churchill, holding a cigar in his mouth, asked: "How long will it take?"

"I was just about to give you a suggestion on this, Prime Minister!" Eisenhower said: "I think it should be the time for us to open up the second battlefield..."

"No, I'm talking about the Mediterranean!" Churchill interrupted Eisenhower: "We cannot give up the entire Mediterranean strategy because of one failure!"

Churchill will never give up the opportunity to sit in the mountains and watch the tiger fight.

"Prime Minister!" Eisenhower said: "The point is... we do not have the appropriate tactics to deal with enemy tunnel defense tactics, at least not yet."

"Is this a big deal?" Churchill asked irritably.

"Of course it's relevant!" Eisenhower spread a map in front of Churchill and said: "The Gabes defense line is mountainous, and the Germans built tunnel fortifications here. Sicily is mainly mountainous, and we found tunnel fortifications there to be more difficult than we thought. Similarly, three-quarters of Greece are mountainous, and then Italy... The Germans used tunnel fortifications to surround the Mediterranean Sea for a circle and a half. When we attack any point in the Mediterranean, we have to face mountainous land and enemy tunnel fortifications on the mountain."

"Then find a way to deal with them!" Churchill said.

"We have no choice!" Eisenhower retorted: "During this period, I have asked someone to simulate their tunnel fortifications and hope to find a suitable tactic, but the corresponding tactics proposed have been denied!"

After pausing, Eisenhower continued: "We don't even need to face such complex fortifications here at all, because 80% of France's areas are plains, and the mountains are mainly concentrated in the southeast. Especially now that the Germans have attacked Moscow on the Eastern Front, it is the best time for us to land in northern France to attack Germany..."
Chapter completed!