Chapter 196 Copy Tactics
Wilhelmstrasse, Berlin, Germany.
In previous years, it usually snowed in Berlin in early December. Perhaps because of the cruelty of the war, the first snow came earlier this year.
The light snow fell on the ground and soon disappeared, leaving only a little white on the branches and walls, like the white hat worn by Santa Claus.
Inside the General Staff, Falkenhayn sat at the table leisurely drinking steaming coffee. As the Seventh Transportation Department produced Germany's own tanks, he finally felt that the gap between Germany and the enemy was not that big.
More importantly...
"The intelligence is confirmed!" Colonel Moritz replied holding a telegram: "The commander of the attack in the direction of Cape Town is Joffre."
"Are you sure it's not Charles?" Falkenhayn asked again.
"It's not Charles!" Colonel Moritz answered confidently: "Our intelligence officers have found out the numbers of the attacking troops. They are Joffre's troops, not the 5th and 6th Armies commanded by Gallieni."
Falkenhayn said "hmm" in satisfaction, and then asked, "What about the plane?"
The First Flying Squadron was formed by Charles. It is no longer a secret that wherever there is the First Flying Squadron, there is Charles.
…
Falkenhayn was shocked when he first learned about this situation, and he even prepared for reinforcements.
"Immediately dispatch three infantry divisions to reinforce!" Falkenhayn's face turned pale.
Colonel Moritz was puzzled: "The enemy currently has only three divisions, and we already have four divisions on the front line..."
"That's Charles!" Falkenhayn interrupted Colonel Moritz. "We can never guess what he's going to do. We don't know where he'll attack from, how many troops he'll have, or what tactics he'll use or what new equipment he'll have. The only thing we can do is to use more troops to stop him!"
"Yes, General!" Colonel Moritz replied, turning around and passing on the order.
Soon, the atmosphere in the headquarters changed. It became tense and depressing. Some staff officers had fear in their eyes. Like Falkenham, they had lost confidence because of Charles's defeat.
This atmosphere spread like a plague outside the headquarters and soon reached the front line, causing panic among the 4th Reserve Army stationed in Cape Town. The entire army was on edge and prepared for battle.
However……
At this time, news came from the front that the French Commander-in-Chief Joffre was commanding the attack, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
"Unbelievable!" Falkenhayn was confused when he heard the intelligence: "Charles has always won victories and has never failed, but they don't let Charles take command, including the First Flying Squadron he formed. Why is that?"
Colonel Moritz replied meaningfully: "Perhaps it is because Charles's existence offended the French commander-in-chief."
Falkenhayn uttered an “hmm,” and then a smile appeared on his face. “This is what they call Parliament, right?”
"Yes." Colonel Moritz replied sarcastically: "The parliament does not send the most capable one to the battlefield, but the most powerful one!"
Falkenhayn nodded, with a hint of relief in his eyes.
"We have also found out about the plane!" Then Colonel Moritz handed over another telegram: "The one flying over the position was indeed Charles's First Flying Squadron, which was transferred to the front by Joffre."
Falkenhayn's expression changed: "Charles is also being transferred here?"
He knew that Charles was the captain of the 1st Flying Squadron.
"No, General." Colonel Moritz shook his head, his voice full of contempt: "They excluded Charles. Like I said, they want to beat Charles. Of course, they can't let Charles participate in this battle."
Falkenhayn laughed: "I like this commander-in-chief!"
Colonel Moritz agreed: "Me too, I really hope to have the opportunity to thank him in person!"
The two looked at each other and smiled.
After a while, Moritz asked, "So, we need to send in three more infantry divisions?"
Falkenhayn put away his smile, stared at the map for a while, and said in a relaxed tone: "No, Moritz, we should reinforce four infantry divisions!"
Colonel Moritz thought he had misheard: "Four infantry divisions?"
"Yes!" Falkenhayn nodded slightly, took a sip of coffee leisurely, and asked out of context: "I heard that the tanks supported by Joffre have received new orders?"
"Yes!" Colonel Moritz replied, "Saint-Chamon and CA-1."
Falkenhayn hummed, "The First Flying Squadron, tanks, and Cape Town..."
Falkenhayn tapped a point on the desktop map and reminded, "What did you think of?"
Colonel Moritz looked at the Cape Town defense line pointed out by Falkenhayn and suddenly understood: "Cape Town is a salient. The general means that Joffre intends to replicate the battle of La Faux?"
Falkenhayn smiled without saying anything. He held the coffee, blew on it lightly, then took a big gulp of it.
"But, General," said Colonel Moritz, "this is a tactic Charles has just used, and Joffre has copied it so blatantly..."
"That's why he chose Cape Town." Falkenhayn casually placed his coffee cup on the empty space on the table and interrupted Colonel Moritz: "Lafox only has one infantry regiment and two artillery regiments. If Joffre can surround all four divisions in Cape Town, do you think people will care whose tactics he used?"
Colonel Moritz thought about it and felt that it was true. Besides, the propaganda tools were still in Joffre's hands. As long as they avoided the important issues and did not report the tactics, people would still cheer for Joffre's achievements.
Falkenhayn went on to analyze: "The three divisions that Joffre used for the frontal attack are probably just feints. His real main force should be placed on the two wings of Cape Town. I estimate that there will be one to two divisions on each wing, and a large number of tanks will be deployed to carry out penetration!"
Colonel Moritz was speechless. If this was true, Joffre would have completely replicated the battle of La Faux.
But on second thought, the French army had no tactics for decades. They always attacked, attacked and attacked again, in a monotonous and repetitive manner.
Now suddenly a Charles jumps out and uses this refreshing interweaving and encirclement tactic. It should be normal to copy it once.
"So!" Moritz pointed to the map and said, "If we divide the four divisions into two parts and ambush them on both wings, and wait for the French to break through the defense line and enter our defense zone before retaking the defense line, their infiltrated troops will..."
Falkenhayn and Moritz smiled at each other, as if they had seen Joffre's furious look.
(The above picture shows the modern street view of Wilhelm Street in Berlin, Germany. It is a street in the center of the German capital Berlin. It has been the administrative center from the mid-19th century to 1945)
(End of this chapter)
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