Chapter 607: Hidden War
Outside the city of Namur, the German defense line in the wind and snow.
This line of defense was originally defended by Lieutenant General Nicolas's 21st Army to prevent breakthroughs and pursuit by the Belgian Army and Charles's 1st Armored Army.
However, this elite force was transferred to Antwerp for the attack, and the garrisoned troops were replaced by the 37th Army which had just rested in Berlin.
The so-called "rest and recuperation" means that the troops have been severely damaged on the front line, and they are transferred to the rear to rest. At the same time, a large number of new recruits are added, and after a little training, they are transferred to the front line again.
It was not the German army's habit to send new recruits directly to the front line. Usually they would put new recruits into reserve forces, have them perform some low-intensity combat tasks to allow them to adapt to the battlefield before sending them to the front line.
But at this point in the war, they are so short of manpower due to fighting on several fronts that they can no longer care about so many things.
Colonel Ralph stamped his feet in the trench, shivered nervously and stretched himself out, then stepped onto the step and carefully stuck his head out to observe the Belgian defense line on the opposite side.
Nothing, it's too quiet.
It was all white, even the corpses and blood were covered up and disappeared without a trace.
When Colonel Ralph drew back his head, Staff Officer Peter stepped forward and asked, "What are you worried about, Colonel? The Belgian attack?"
Ralph made no reply.
The German soldiers nearby responded confidently:
"Don't worry, Colonel. Although our troops have many new recruits, they are more than enough to deal with the Belgians."
"Yes, Colonel, we know the Belgians. They bought their rifles and artillery from us. They can't defeat us."
"If we have no combat experience, the Belgians are almost the same."
…
Colonel Ralph replied sullenly, "You seem to have forgotten that in addition to the Belgian army, there is Charles's army, the First Armored Army, in Namur."
These words instantly shut everyone up. It seemed as if a cold wind blew in the trench, instantly extinguishing the soldiers' just-ignited fighting spirit.
After a long while, Peter finally responded, "But Colonel, Charles' First Armored Corps will be transferred to Brussels soon."
The soldiers all echoed:
"Yes, everyone knows that the First Panzer Army is going to attack Antwerp."
"Our troops are beating the British up there, making them run around like monkeys. Charles must go and rescue them."
"No, it should be supplies. Coastal cities are important supply points for the Allies. Charles has to save them."
…
Colonel Ralph didn't answer. What the soldiers said made sense, but he still felt something was wrong.
If, as they say, Charles had to save Antwerp, then Charles' tanks would have been shipped to Brussels long ago.
But Colonel Ralph had heard no intelligence about this.
In other words, Charles's troops were most likely still in Namur, and his target was not necessarily Antwerp.
Suddenly, Colonel Ralph's face changed and he ordered: "Shut up, keep quiet!"
The soldiers all shut up, even the soldier who was wiping his rifle stopped what he was doing, and everyone turned their puzzled eyes to Colonel Ralph.
"Listen carefully," Colonel Ralph whispered. Then he asked, "Did you hear anything?"
The soldiers listened carefully, and some even took off the cotton masks and hoods covering their ears.
Peter stood up and leaned forward a little. Colonel Ralph was right. There seemed to be something different moving in the biting cold wind.
Like sobbing, like a wolf howling, and like...
No, that's the roar of the engine.
"It's a tank." Peter exclaimed and turned to look at the soldiers.
Shock and fear instantly appeared in everyone's eyes, including Colonel Ralph.
The Belgian army had no tanks. Another meaning of tanks was Charles's troops, the First Armored Army that was attacking them.
"This is impossible!" someone shouted with a trembling voice. He obviously sensed that something was wrong, but he just didn't want to face the reality.
The sound became louder and louder, and you could even hear the "crunching" noise of the tracks colliding with the ice and snow.
Colonel Ralph quickly lay down at the front of the trench and raised the telescope. The dark tanks ruthlessly tore through the snow curtain and jumped into the aperture of the telescope, densely packed everywhere.
Although it is very blurry, there is no doubt that it is the "Char A1", and there is also an armored bridge-laying vehicle in the distance.
"Alert!" Colonel Ralph shouted back, "Prepare for battle..."
Before he could finish his words, a bullet came through the air and hit Colonel Ralph's head accurately, leaving a trail of blood on the back wall of the trench, freezing Colonel Ralph's life at this moment. His body fell straight to the ground like a wooden stake.
The soldiers suddenly became chaotic. They shouted and rushed out of the trenches and set up their rifles at the edge. Machine gunners also followed them into the position.
However, before they could understand what was happening, the bullets seemed to have eyes and knocked them down in a pool of blood.
The German recruits who followed behind were terrified by the scene. They gasped and stared at it in a daze. It seemed different from the battlefield they knew.
Veterans have told new recruits more than once:
"The enemy would fire artillery before every attack. This is called artillery cover."
"Then the enemy will attack, and all you have to do is raise your gun, aim, and pull the trigger."
"Don't worry, there won't be any danger in the defensive battle. All you have to do is follow the veterans!"
"Think of the Battle of the Somme, where we killed 100,000 British in one day. Defensive warfare has geographical advantages."
…
However, the new recruits watched helplessly as the veterans were beaten back one by one as soon as they showed their heads, and almost all of them died in front of them with bullets in the head and their brains splattered.
There was no artillery preparation, and even the shadow of the enemy could not be seen. All we heard was the sound of gunfire, and it was so accurate!
What's going on?
Can we still emerge?
Will I end up like the old soldier if I stick my head out?
Some brave new recruits showed up, and they were killed on the spot just like the old soldiers, with their brains bursting out. The machine gunners fired randomly and were killed by a few bullets.
The recruits were so scared that they squatted in the trenches holding their guns, shouting and screaming, not knowing what to do. Some tried to recall what the instructors taught them, but found that their heads were blank, as no one had ever mentioned this situation.
Charles resorted to stealth warfare.
Snowy and windy days provide the best cover. Soldiers tie white cloth to their rifles, put on white cloaks, and crawl under the cover of night to lie in ambush at a distance of 100 meters, 50 meters or even closer to the enemy.
Just lie still for half an hour or an hour and the wind and snow will cover all traces.
At daybreak, thousands of soldiers would be lurking in front of the enemy's trenches, pointing their guns at the enemy, while the enemy would be unaware of this.
(Note: This is a tactic commonly used by our army, which is to fight hand-to-hand combat with the enemy without firepower advantage. Martyr Qiu Shaoyun died heroically during the lurking process in order to avoid being discovered by the enemy and not affect the combat plan.)
(End of this chapter)
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