Chapter 608 Benefits of the Belgian Army

Different from the purpose of the Volunteer Army's use of ambush warfare, Charles's battle was to save time, ammunition and fuel.

Although Charles secretly stored a batch of ammunition, it was an infiltration after all, and no one could be sure how much ammunition and fuel would be needed to defend Hasselt after it was reached.

This is a battle to see who can last until the end, so save as much as possible in the early stages.

The Germans had never experienced such a desperate fighting style. They could not imagine who could hide in the heavy snow for a long time, especially with more than 3,000 people.

This sounds simple, but it is very difficult to do.

More than 3,000 people hid motionlessly in the severe cold for more than three hours. If just one person couldn't hold on and made the slightest movement, they would be exposed. Without strong organization and discipline, it would be impossible and even dangerous.

But this was just routine training for the 1st Armored Army.

Especially Tijani's mechanized division, Charles' requirement for this unit is that it can fight any battle, while the infantry of the armored division is much simpler, which is infantry and tank coordination.

The battle went just as Ciel had expected, and half the battle was won if the soldiers could lie in wait until the appointed time.

The purpose of tanks in battle is more to attract the enemy's attention and fire.

The German artillery always maintained their traditional habits. They took it for granted that the French offensive line was still behind the tanks, so they immediately opened fire on the tank group.

The sound of artillery roared, and rows of artillery shells whistled as they flew towards the tanks a few miles away.

However, the effect of bombarding a group of tanks with artillery fire is always unsatisfactory. Tanks are mobile and have armor, and there is basically no threat to the tanks without a direct hit.

The sound of artillery fire and the chaos provided cover for the lurking troops' attack.

When the German artillery fire sounded, the lurking troops immediately launched a charge. They crawled out of their hiding places one by one, and under the cover of friendly forces, they passed through the barbed wire and anti-tank trenches. When they approached, they threw rows of grenades into the enemy trenches.

There was a cloud of smoke and noise, and finally the submachine gunners and shotgunners rushed into the trenches and started the massacre.

The German artillery fire soon stopped.

It was not that they were willing to stop, but the German artillery was firing and suddenly looked up, and was shocked to find that their own troops were retreating in large groups.

Looking more closely, they saw that behind the friendly forces were groups of French soldiers holding needle-shaped bayonets, pressing towards the artillery positions with ferocious looks.

what happened?

Aren’t the enemies still several miles away?

Why does it appear in front of me?

There was no time for them to think, they just turned around and abandoned their artillery and fled with the infantry. The infantry and trenches could not stop the enemy, let alone their artillery.

Charles's First Armored Corps won a great victory.

The French army chased the German army all the way and advanced more than 20 kilometers into the German hinterland in one day, killing and wounding more than 20,000 people and capturing more than 7,000 people.

Charles was too lazy to count the exact number because it was not important, at least not to the First Armored Army which was short of supplies.

What matters is supplies.

As the German 37th Army retreated quickly, the food, ammunition and equipment had not yet been burned or blown up, and were almost completely handed over to Charles.

Including rifles seized from the battlefield, prisoners and warehouses, Charles seized more than 40,000 rifles in one go, as well as a large number of Maxim machine guns, anti-tank rifles, hundreds of 77MM infantry guns and more than 30 105MM howitzers, as well as a large amount of food, ammunition and artillery shells.

Tijani's eyes blazed with anger when he saw the piles of ammunition: "Too bad these ammunitions don't match our rifles!"

"But they are the same as those used by the Belgian army," said Charles. "Their rifles are copies of Mauser, and most of their artillery is from Germany."

Tijani immediately understood what Charles meant: "You mean, let the First Special Reconnaissance Army of Belgium follow us?"

"Do we have any other choice?" Charles asked.

The French army might be able to transfer a French army from Gembloux to follow up, but the more French troops there are, the greater the consumption of Lebel rifle bullets.

If the Belgian army equipped with German weapons is allowed to follow up, the captured equipment and ammunition can be put to good use. The Belgian army of more than 60,000 people will hardly need to worry about ammunition and equipment issues. Their equipment will get better and better, and their combat effectiveness will become stronger as they fight.

Tijani seemed to have thought of these benefits as well. He nodded in agreement excitedly: "This can reduce the pressure on our military logistics. I didn't expect the Belgian army to have this benefit."

Then he asked hesitantly, "It's just that the Belgian Special Reconnaissance Army doesn't seem to have a unified command."

This force had been led by Major General Eden, who was now organizing the defense of Antwerp.

Charles answered very straightforwardly, or it could be said to be an order: "Call Albert I back and let him take command."

Tijani was stunned. That's the king, Lieutenant General, could you be more polite?

However, Albert I seemed to have no reason to refuse. He would even be grateful. After all, this was an opportunity to recover the territory with his troops and gain experience with Charles' troops at the same time.

With such a strong brother leading the team to level up, how can we refuse?

…

In Brussels, Albert I was busy gathering intelligence at the city government's temporary headquarters.

The reasons why he rushed to Brussels to take command were, firstly, because he estimated that Charles would use this place as a base to launch a counterattack, and secondly, because Brussels was the capital of Belgium.

After the German army broke through the defense line from Antwerp to Brussels, its garrison and interspersed troops in Leuven formed a semi-encirclement of Brussels.

He can ignore or not care about the situation of the Allied Powers.

But Brussels, the capital of Belgium, cannot fall into the hands of the German army again, otherwise it will deal a heavy blow to the morale and confidence of the Belgian military and civilians.

Therefore, as soon as he arrived in Brussels, he actively organized militias to gather intelligence on the German army, and at the same time made every effort to do logistics work, such as raising fuel for Charles's planes and tanks, and preparing food and ammunition for the troops.

"We can't let Charles' troops get into trouble because of these factors." Albert I said to the mayor of Brussels: "Otherwise, we will be the sinners of Belgium and will be nailed to the pillar of shame for the rest of our lives!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Mayor De Blau was a little nervous. The king's words were very serious. It has risen to the national and ethnic level, and this matter must not be slackened.

However, just when Albert I was busy and exhausted, a signalman excitedly reported to him with a telegram: "Your Majesty, Charles's troops have broken through the German defense line and penetrated into the enemy's hinterland. He needs you to command the First Special Reconnaissance Army."

Albert I was stunned: "Charles won the battle? Where?"

Albert I's first reaction was that he was somewhere in Brussels, but he had not heard that Charles' troops had arrived there.

"Namur, Your Majesty." The signalman replied: "Charles has broken through the German Namur defense line and is marching towards Hasselt!"

"Namur?" Albert I exclaimed. "March on Hasselt?"

(End of this chapter)