Chapter 443 Mobile Defense

Albert I's eyes flashed with hesitation: "You mean, we should develop armored forces?"

Colonel Eden nodded vigorously. "That's the way it should be, Your Majesty. Tanks are actually fortresses, mobile fortresses. The money we use to build a fortress is enough to buy hundreds of tanks. A fortress can only stay in one place and wait for the enemy to attack, but a tank can move around and play an unexpected role, just like what the brigadier general did."

Charles was a little surprised by Colonel Eden's words. Most of what he said was correct. In today's world where everyone is obsessed with digging trenches and advocating defense, it is rare and precious to have a mobile combat idea like Colonel Eden.

But Charles retorted: "No, Colonel, tanks can't always move. They always have to stop. In addition, fuel and logistics are their biggest weaknesses. This time we almost failed because of this."

Colonel Eden was stunned; he had not considered this.

Thinking about it carefully, he felt that what Charles said made sense. The enemy did not need to attack the tank group, but only needed to attack the Belgian fuel base.

If tanks are used to protect fuel, then the tanks will lose their flexibility and maneuverability because they will be tied to the fuel base and cannot go anywhere.

Albert I frowned: "Then we need a place to protect the fuel."

Then Albert I's eyes lit up: "I understand, the Brigadier General means that we need both armored forces and fortresses."

Charles nodded. "The fortress can serve as a support point, providing security for tanks, fuel, and maintenance. The tanks can maneuver between several support points. They will be like invisible ropes, connecting the support points together to form a complete defense system that can attack or defend."

"Very good idea, General." Colonel Eden looked at Charles in surprise: "You have given a very clear defense plan, it only takes a moment."

During this time, Colonel Eden only learned from Charles's fighting style that tanks should be "mobile", but he still had no idea.

Now that Ciel had said this, the vague concept that had originally been there gradually took shape in my mind.

Albert I hesitated and asked: "Can you be more specific?"

Charles put the map of Belgium in front of the two people, pointed to a few points and said, "We can build this invisible but actually existing system based on several areas that are easy to defend and difficult to attack, such as Antwerp, Leuven, Namur, and Liege."

Colonel Eden nodded slightly: "If it can't be seen on the surface, it will be difficult for the enemy to obtain more information and launch targeted attacks. They will only suddenly realize its existence after they have suffered."

"Indeed." Charles nodded.

This is the flaw of passive defense.

As for the fortifications that are there, as long as the enemy's intelligence work is detailed enough and they are willing to spend more time preparing, they will definitely be able to find the weaknesses in the defense, because there is no wall that is impenetrable.

But if it is a mobile defense, the enemy cannot be seen and is flexible, so it is impossible to predict and prepare.

(The picture above shows the defense system built by Belgium from World War I to World War II. I can't find the Chinese version, sorry. It is roughly divided into five parts: east, west, south, north, and center. The east is the Liege Fortress, the west is Ghent, the south is the Namur Fortress, the north is Antwerp, and the center is Leuven.)

Albert I listened to Charles' analysis, his eyes fixed on the map, feeling surprised and delighted.

Charles, worthy of being called the "Mars of France", came up with such a brilliant and mature plan so casually.

It cleverly utilized Belgium's original fortresses, saving money while combining modern equipment and modern combat thinking, making it flexible and changeable in both offense and defense...

I was right about him. His interests must be tied to Belgium at all costs.

What Albert I didn't know was that Charles's plan was not given "casually".

This is basically the defense system that Belgium will build in the next few decades. The difference is that Belgium uses trenches, machine guns, bunkers, anti-tank fortresses and other fortifications to connect these support points.

Belgium even converted an artificial canal into an anti-tank ditch.

(The picture above shows the Albert Canal in Belgium, which is 160 kilometers long from Antwerp to the Meuse River. It is 60 meters wide and 5 meters deep on average, and the average height of the east bank is 65 meters.)

But unfortunately they didn't work.

Belgium and France made the same mistake, their defense was too passive and they placed all their hopes on these fortifications and neglected the construction of the army.

As a result, the Germans threw the paratroopers behind the defense line and easily broke through these seemingly impregnable defense lines by attacking from both sides.

The plan proposed by Charles at this time eliminated these fortifications that cost huge amounts of money but were completely useless in a real war, and replaced them with mobile forces.

If the Belgian army is strengthened, and the Germans throw airborne troops behind the defense line one day in the future, they will face ruthless crushing from armored and mechanized troops with only light weapons.

Albert I seemed to be afraid that he had forgotten. He excitedly circled the places mentioned by Charles with a pencil, and then nodded to Charles with satisfaction: "I completely agree, Brigadier General, I fully agree!"

Having said this, Albert I turned his gaze to Colonel Eden.

Albert I did not actually need Colonel Eden's consent. At that time, he had won the general support of Belgian citizens because of his dedication to the liberation of Belgium during the war. His decision could almost be said to represent the will of the Belgian citizens.

But Albert I knew that military affairs were not his forte, and Colonel Eden held real power, so he sought his advice.

Colonel Eden nodded without hesitation and said, "Of course, Your Majesty, I also agree with this plan. There is no better plan than this!"

At this time, Charles brought the topic back to the point: "But if I want to do this, I mean to maintain and update the fortress while building a modern army. It doesn't seem necessary for me to set up a factory in Antwerp."

Then Charles added: "Like I said, you can buy equipment from France."

"No, Brigadier General," Albert I objected. "We need arsenals, at least on Belgian soil."

He didn't explain the reason, but Charles knew it.

Belgium has to guard not only against Germany, but France may also become an enemy one day.

Albert I was unwilling to rely entirely on France and become its puppet. This was the most basic political wisdom as a leader.

(End of this chapter)