Chapter 427: Disaster of the General Staff
Wilhelmstrasse, Berlin, Germany.
Falkenhayn's General Staff was in chaos. The staff officers were busy and sweating. Telegrams were flying everywhere and the telephones were ringing non-stop. The air was filled with a depressing and anxious atmosphere. Even Falkenhayn, who was known for his calmness, was no exception.
Falkenhayn walked around the desk and asked Colonel Moritz, who was looking for a spot on the map, in a deep voice, "Are you sure there are no enemies in the Tibitz area?"
Colonel Moritz hesitated for a moment and said, "That's right, the intelligence is correct. One of our infantry battalions escaped the encirclement from the Tibitz area without any obstruction."
Falkenhayn heard the hidden meaning behind Colonel Moritz's words: "'This is the intelligence'?"
"I'm not sure, General," Colonel Moritz replied. "I find it hard to imagine that Charles would leave such a big loophole. I doubt it..."
"Suspect this might be a trap set by Charles?" Falkenhayn understood what Colonel Moritz meant.
"Yes, yes." Colonel Moritz wiped the sweat from his forehead: "You can say that, but you may not!"
This was different from Colonel Moritz's usual self; he had lost his usual courage and confidence.
Ciel completely broke him down psychologically, even though the two had never met.
This day was a disaster for the General Staff think tank.
When Charles launched the attack, Colonel Moritz judged that it would take at least several days for Charles to make a breakthrough, and that the French would suffer heavy casualties.
"Our defense in Cambrai is very tight." Colonel Moritz analyzed, "We have known Charles' tactics since the last Battle of Cambrai. We have deployed a large number of 105MM caliber howitzers there, plus the First Tank Division and complete trench fortifications, which will make Charles feel like he has hit a wall!"
Falkenhayn nodded, which was consistent with his judgment.
He stared at the map for a while and ordered: "Immediately transfer the 91st Reserve Division to Cambrai for reinforcement."
It was an infantry division training in Berlin. They were being reinforced by train and if they could move fast they should be able to reach Cambrai the next day.
Before he finished speaking, the signalman guarding the radio station exclaimed: "General, Charles has broken through our defense line, and our army has collapsed!"
Falkenhayn was stunned. This turn of events was too quick.
Colonel Moritz widened his eyes, looked at the signalman in disbelief, and asked, "Whose report is it?"
His first reaction was that someone lied about military intelligence because they were afraid of fighting. Now it was only half an hour before the war started, how could it collapse so quickly?
"It's a telegram from Major General Nicholas." The signalman quickly stood up and handed over the telegram.
Colonel Moritz took the telegram and read it carefully several times, but could not find any problems. As the commander of the 1st Tank Division, Major General Nicholas would not be afraid of fighting.
"Where are our artillery?" Colonel Moritz held on to his last glimmer of hope: "105MM howitzers, why are they not working?"
"They were suppressed by enemy bombers," the signalman replied. "It is obvious that the enemy has already discovered the exact location of our artillery positions."
Colonel Moritz swallowed and had to accept and face this reality.
Colonel Moritz then analyzed the map and said, "Charles' troops may advance to Valenciennes before this afternoon. We can transfer the 182nd Infantry Regiment from Maubeuge in the east to reinforce them. The regiment has been resting on the second line for more than half a month. The troops and equipment have been replenished. If they move quickly, they can build a line of defense there."
Valenciennes is at the French end near the Franco-Belgian border, about 20 kilometers from Cambrai.
Colonel Moritz made this judgment based on Charles' previous penetration speed.
However, Charles' previous infiltration was with Mark I tanks, and the infantry had not yet been fully mechanized, so the marching speeds of the two were not at the same level.
Falkenhayn did not object. Even if this infantry regiment could not stop Charles' attack, it could at least slow down his speed, and then other reinforcements would arrive continuously.
But before Falkenhayn could give the order, the signalman reported loudly: "General, the town of Vallo has been lost, and the vanguard of the French army has arrived in the town!"
Colonel Moritz did not think anything of it at first. He was not familiar with the terrain in Belgium and took it for granted that the town of Vallauris was west of Valenciennes, which meant that the French army had not yet reached Valenciennes.
After searching for a long time in the west, they still couldn't find the town of Wallau. A staff officer pointed out the location of Wallau: "Here, about 5 kilometers into Belgium."
Colonel Moritz was petrified for a moment. After he came to his senses, he turned to the signalman and asked loudly, "Whose report?"
"Major General Nicolas," the signalman replied, "They were attacked by the guerrillas and the French vanguard there, and were also bombed by bombers. He had no choice but to abandon his tanks and equipment and retreat towards Germont."
Colonel Moritz still couldn't believe it.
It was only more than two hours, and Charles' troops were able to cross Valenciennes and advance to the town of Vallo, more than 30 kilometers away from Cambrai?
The top speed of the "Char A1" tank is only 15 kilometers per hour. Even if they move at top speed, they can't reach...
Perhaps seeing Colonel Moritz's confusion, the signalman further explained: "Colonel, intelligence says that the enemy is equipped with a car covered with steel plates. They are much faster than tanks. The French use this car to go ahead and clear obstacles for the tanks."
Colonel Moritz looked embarrassed and glanced at Falkenhayn.
Falkenhayn was also anxious at this time. He didn't have time to worry about whether Colonel Moritz had made a wrong judgment. He pointed to the map and said, "Mons, send reinforcements to Mons immediately."
"Yes, General."
But still a step late.
In fact, it was not only a step late, but when Charles' army occupied Mons, it took another hour for the German reinforcements to arrive.
Next up is Brussels.
Colonel Moritz thought that there was a reserve division with more than 20,000 troops there, and this time Charles would not be able to pass through quickly!
But with a loud bang, the ammunition depot was blown up and the 82nd Reserve Division retreated before the French army arrived.
The last misjudgment was Antwerp.
The tortured Colonel Moritz breathed a sigh of relief at this time, thinking that Charles' attack for the day was finally over.
It was already dark at this time. Antwerp was a famous "national fortress". The German army had used "Big Bertha" as a stepping stone to successfully break through. Charles only had tanks but no large-caliber artillery, so he could only sigh at the city.
Even if we attack, we have to wait until the next daybreak, Colonel Moritz thought.
However, just as Colonel Moritz and his staff were working all night to mobilize troops, a telegram suddenly came: "Colonel, Antwerp has fallen, and Charles' troops have entered the city!"
Colonel Moritz, who was drawing the defense line on the map, was stunned for a moment. Then he calmly put down the pen in his hand and sat back in his chair. He sighed lightly and stared blankly at the void in front of him.
He is numb!
(End of this chapter)
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