The Third Reich in Desperation

The Battle of Verdun, which decided the life and death of the two empires, has always been regarded by Sidel as the proud battle of France.He always believed that sticking to the fortress area despite 38 casualties was a symbol of the brave national spirit of the French army who dared to sacrifice.

But when he thinks about it now, the Germans who caused 38 casualties to the French army were not tenacious and brave?Comparing this fortified battle with the [-]st Armored Division under his command, Siddell found with some horror that the really scary ones back then should not have been the Germans who bit the bullet and stormed the Fortress of Verdun?

Text Chapter 28 France No.1 will

By the time Petain arrived at the frontline headquarters, Sidel's [-]st Armored Division had already launched fire reconnaissance on the remaining two high ground positions of the SS.

The French frontline command designated these two highlands as "Highland No. [-] and Highland No. [-]" respectively.Of course, such a number, in a sense, just arrived to imply, Mr. Marshal, that the French army also took down "Highland No. [-]".As for who moved this kind of small thought, it is unknown.

Of course, Petain didn't bother to take care of these trivial matters.This great French marshal is now thinking about how to occupy the Ruhr as soon as possible.

The French army can't afford it anymore!To this day, there have been many domestic complaints against the government that caused the war.Although it is still possible to suppress discordant voices, problems will inevitably arise in the long run.

What's more, the occupation was originally launched to search for oil and water, but now it continues to allow the country to subsidize it from the stretched military budget.

Prime Minister Poincare was even more anxious about this and urged him many times.

Petain knew that he would not have much time.Prime Minister Poincaré would propose to transfer himself to the front line urgently at this time, in order to use his fame to boost morale and encourage the French army to win the battle quickly.

The new frontline headquarters of the French army was established in a small German rural town.There are no original residents in the small town at this moment. When the first battle broke out three days ago, the people in the town had all moved out.

The general command post of the French army was set up in a school in the town.At the lower end of the old gray and white walls of the school, there are still graffiti from naughty students in the past.But on the school square, there were no more frolicking students in the past.Instead, French officers of all ranks walked silently.

A small officer's car, which is also equipped in the French army, stopped at the gate of the school where the temporary command post was located.A general in the car wearing a French military officer's standard five-silver ring military cap and a dark blue waistband quickly got out of the car and walked into the command post in the building.

Originally, the waist belt of dark cloth has been the habit of the French army for centuries, but because of the status of this officer and general, his waist belt is a bit special.And the silver dagger pattern on his belt reveals that he is from an armored division—the commander of the French First Armored Division, Sidel.

Entering the room where Pétain was, Sidel consciously walked behind the marshal who had promoted him, and accompanied Pétain to look at the large map spread out on the wall.

"Here we come," Pei Dang said without looking back.

Hearing Petain's words, Sidel continued: "Marshal, I am late. According to your request, I have already figured out the Germans' forward deployment. Their remaining two highland positions are also attached to 5000 people. Also no heavy weapons."

In Siddell's view, even if the deployment of Germany was known, the time for the French army was too late.Even the next two highlands, the French army can take twice as fast as before.How much time will the German troops staying in the Ruhr industrial zone consume the French army?Does the French army really have that much time?

Siddell understood, and he believed that Petain also understood that the country would give them another week at most, and if they could not take the Ruhr, the French army could only retreat back to the country in despair.Because France today no longer has the courage to endure a world war.

However, Sidel's worries did not affect Petain.As a generation of famous generals, Petain's methods are much more than Siddell imagined.

Compared with Verdun back then, the current situation is much better.At least the initiative has always been in the hands of France, even if it cannot win, France is not considered a loser.

What's more, since he, Petain, who is ranked No. [-] in France, is coming, the French army can't return empty-handed!

Petain's arrival also had a great shock to Steve, who had participated in the First World War.

Although Steve was only a grassroots officer when he became famous in the first battle of Pétain Verdun.However, Steve is still very familiar with Petain's reputation.

In Steve's eyes, this French Marshal who graduated from the Saint-Cyr Military Academy in France and has always been known for his impeccable and steady tactical style.Is a respectable opponent.Even, he, Steve, doesn't even have the qualifications to be Pétain's opponent!

Reminds me of the Battle of Verdun.Originally, as Germany blatantly increased its troops to Chamberigny, it made a gesture of launching an offensive in Chamberigny.The commander-in-chief of the French army, Joffre, had already been fooled, and almost all the main force of the French army was tricked into going to Champaign.

At that time, the ready-to-go German corps had already attacked the Fort Verdun, which was short of major generals, with lightning speed, and was ready to rush into the French capital Paris at any time.Facing the nearly completely retreating French army, the entire German top management is optimistic that the main force of the German army can easily advance to Paris!

But unexpectedly, Petain, who had just taken office as the commander of the Verdun Fortress, stabilized the situation as soon as he arrived at the front line of Verdun.He commanded the two second-rate divisions hastily transferred by the French army to block the key road leading to Verdun by the German army!

That offensive and defensive battle has been repeatedly studied by Germany and France as a case.Petain used two second-rate divisions plus his own two divisions, a total of four divisions, to fill the theater with fuel.Although it was pushed 6 kilometers by the German army on the first day, it finally stabilized its position.

Four divisions won 96 hours for Petain!

In the past four days, he desperately gathered the remnants of the army, and desperately mobilized the small forces distributed in the rear.And put these troops firmly into the battlefield.This death-like tactic left the German General Staff helpless.They didn't know the numbers of the troops that had been defeated some time ago, why did they appear in front of them again?

The Germans attacked with all their might, trying to break through.However, as time passed, when French reinforcements appeared on the front line of Verdun like a tide, the German General Staff let out a deep sigh.

They know that the best opportunity has been missed!

Since then, the two sides have formed a strategic stalemate in the area of ​​Verdun.And this kind of stalemate, in a sense, is more cruel than a decisive battle with all your strength!The two sides continued to invest in troops, using human lives to fill in strategic locations.The huge Verdun fortress area has since become synonymous with meat grinders.

The Germans didn't want this, and the French couldn't stand it either.However, everyone still has to fight like this without technical content.

At this point in the battle, it is already difficult to ride a tiger.Whichever side can't stand it first will collapse completely.Such a collapse will be like dominoes, causing the whole line to collapse!

The two sides continued to transport supplies to the front line and transport the wounded back.

The French army used the only Pale-Dick-Verdun highway to keep in touch with the rear, continuously dispatching troops and supplies to Verdun, organized 3900 trucks within a week, and transported 19 personnel and 2 tons of supplies.Formed the first large-scale automobile transportation in the history of war.

As the offensive side, Germany repeatedly transported the wounded back to the rear.Often after a large-scale offensive, the German army had to transport back tens of thousands of seriously wounded who could not be treated by front-line hospitals within a week.Coupled with the materials shipped to the front line, Germany has played the role of every car to the extreme.Materials were brought in when they came, and the wounded were transported away when they left. It can be said that no transport capacity was wasted.

Even so, the war on the front line went nowhere.A reorganized regiment was pulled to the front line and was quickly wiped out.Then pull another regiment up, if one regiment is not enough, just one brigade; if one brigade is not enough, just one division!

An ordinary highland is often still in the hands of the French army in the morning, becomes the position of the German army in the afternoon, and returns to the hands of the French army at night.Both sides are filling their lives, and no one dares to stop!

This kind of tug-of-war is so cruel that it makes people crazy.Since the two sides formed a stalemate in Verdun, the gunfire on the front line has never stopped.Everyone is desperately striving for the superior force to seek the final decisive battle!The sooner the decisive battle comes, the sooner this tormenting day will end!

From the fierce battle until April, Petain, who had originally had a small force, was already comparable to the German army in terms of strength.The urgent William II even sent the crown prince to fight in person, and used gas bombs for the first time.But Petain still stopped the German offensive again and again in front of the fortress.

In July, the German army launched the last offensive climax, but it was still resisted by Petain.In the autumn, Peidan ordered a counterattack, and the French army with superior forces finally broke the siege of Verdun.

Going back to the Battle of the Ruhr, after Pétain confirmed the markings on the map again, a confident smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, "Order all troops to attack according to plan B. If anyone panics and reveals the attack plan, Dispose of it according to military law!"

Text Chapter 29 Fog

"According to the battle situation on the front line, we can fully deduce that the French army has received reinforcements. The sudden appearance of these reinforcements without warning also shows that the Gestapo's intelligence collection capabilities are far from enough!" Sickert proposed to convene At the discussion meeting on the situation of the war, as the head of the Gestapo, Ross bravely stood up and took responsibility.

Just on January 1, the famous French general Petain, who was urgently sent to the front by the French General Command, changed the tactics of the French army's previous steady and steady tactics.Bypassing the two high ground positions deployed by the SS in front of the Ruhr Industrial Area, the army went straight to the Ruhr Industrial Area.

This abnormal offensive caught Steve, the commander in chief of the SS, by surprise.At noon that day, the French army entered the urban area of ​​Dortmund in the Ruhr Industrial Zone for the first time.Fortunately, Steve had just received SS reinforcements assembled in place, which drove the French advance team out of the city.

Therefore, there was such an urgent discussion meeting afterwards to discuss the next step.

Immediately after Rose spoke, Lieutenant Colonel Doyle of the National Defense Forces who joined the Socialist Workers Party.Lieutenant Colonel Doyle said loudly: "Except for the Gestapo, the intelligence department of the Wehrmacht has not received any information about the increase of the French army. From this, I think that the French army's daring to attack on a large scale does not necessarily mean that they have received reinforcements. On the contrary, it is likely to be bluffing!"

As soon as Doyle's words fell, more than a dozen senior military officers who also joined the Socialist Workers Party in the conference room immediately voiced their opposition.

Lieutenant General Cologne, who is serving as the Chief of Staff of the Infantry Division in the National Defense Forces and also joined the Socialist Workers Party, retorted first: "Lieutenant Colonel Doyle may have taken it for granted. Without reinforcements, the commander of the French army, Pétain, While besieging the two highland theaters of the SS, where can we spare our troops to attack the Ruhr on a large scale? Judging from the current attack strength of the French army, if we cannot mobilize reinforcements for Steve's army in time, the French army is likely to Break through the SS defense line in Dortmund within 3 days. Next, if the French army assaults along the Duisburg line and goes straight to the city of Hagen, then the defensive battle of the Ruhr can be declared a failure.”

As a general whose military rank is two ranks higher than Zhang Chengtian's and second only to Sickert's among all of you present, Lieutenant General Kelun's words carry quite a bit of weight.

A lieutenant colonel staff officer immediately echoed: "Yes, as far as the current situation is concerned. Petain, who ranks first in the French general list, is indeed capable of breaking through the Dortmund front line, where the SS is weakest, within three days. .Although Steve is brave and resourceful, it is his first time commanding a large-scale battle, and he is at a disadvantage in terms of strength. Obviously, it is difficult for Steve to defeat the man who was able to hold off the German army with a weak force and has countless combat experience in legions. Petain."

Seeing that the topic began to show signs of negativity, Sickert, who was the organizer of the meeting, coughed twice: "Even if Petain is very powerful, he is only one person, and it is impossible to conjure up an army out of thin air. Besides, as long as there are people , there are weaknesses. Furthermore, even if we can’t find Pétain’s weaknesses, we have already found the weaknesses of the French army.” Glancing at Zhang Chengtian, Sickert paused: “Reinhardt, tell me , where is the weakness of the French army?"

For me?! Zhang Chengtian was a little confused by Sickert's sudden roll call.As a time traveler, he still thinks that he has not reached the level where he can brazenly talk about military affairs in front of a group of generals.

However, the group of people present did not feel anything wrong.After all, Zhang Chengtian is the leader they agree with in their hearts. He once planned Operation Rainbow and was appraised as the hero of the Karp Riot!

Of course, Zhang Chengtian also underestimated his ability to some extent.Sickert agreed to teach him military knowledge at the beginning, in fact, because he discovered his talent in military affairs.

The perspective of a traveler, the summary of the experience of later generations, and the thinking from the future brought Zhang Chengtian not only the ability to predict, but also a kind of experience, a kind of alternative military talent.