Chapter 683 Erwin's Tactics
"Why not attack in April?" asked Tijani, not understanding the difference between April and June as originally planned by Charles.
Charles did not answer but asked: "What are the characteristics of Brusilov's attack this time?"
"New tactics," Tijani replied. "I heard it's 'multiple breakthroughs, one point as the main one.'"
"What else?" Ciel reminded, "What new equipment did they use?"
Tijani took the telegram and read it to find the answer, but unfortunately it was not written on it.
Such tactical details, especially those involving the combination of crude equipment, were generally not taken seriously and did not spread quickly from Russia to France.
"Sledge and Maxim, Major-General," Charles answered. "To be exact, we use sledges in the winter when the snow is still warm, and carriages and Maxims in the summer when the snow is thawed."
"Did you teach them this?" Tijani smiled bitterly, then seemed to understand: "In April, the snow in Russia had not melted yet, so they used sleds. Halfway through the battle, they suddenly found that there was no snow. At this time, they needed to convert the sleds into horse-drawn carriages?"
Tijani knew that the weather in Russia was not like that in France, where the average temperature in April was around 0 degrees.
Ciel nodded.
Obviously, this was overlooked by everyone, including Brusilov.
Or rather, they did not ignore it, but rather oversimplified the transformation between the two.
…
This is indeed the case.
Brusilov returned to Russia and reported to the Tsar the entire conversation with Charles. This battle plan immediately received the full support of Tsar Nicholas II.
The Tsar praised the tactical diagram in front of him:
"As expected, this is a battle plan drawn up by Ciel!"
"Everyone is thinking about digging trenches for defense, but it is not defense but retreat, or even rout!"
"Other than that there is nothing, everyone is just pessimistic and negative."
"Only Charles, only he would consider attacking at this time, and it is a completely new offensive tactic, even thinking of the sled plus Maxim!"
Brusilov stood before the Tsar, holding his military cap in his hand and bowing slightly:
"Yes, sire."
"It is clear that we have wasted a lot of money and manpower on the 'Tsar Tank' unnecessarily. We should stop this project immediately, all of it."
"Because anything that cannot be put into the battlefield will not be of any help to us. Although it may look impressive, it will only drag us down and make our already insufficient funds even worse!"
Nicholas II nodded his head: "That's right, General. The sled plus the Maxim is exactly the opposite. We can equip tens of thousands of such equipment in an instant. What's more important is that the Germans can't learn it!"
Brusilov was stunned. Couldn’t the Germans learn this?
Then he understood, yes, the Russians had lived in ice and snow for a long time, and even civilians could drive sleds easily.
The Germans can do it too, because it's not difficult.
However, the battlefield requires a skilled driver, who must flexibly drive the sled at high speed through tree trunks, cracks in rocks, and even across enemy trenches...
These are not things the Germans can do.
"I can't wait to witness this victory, my general." Nikola II looked at the map with excitement: "Why don't we launch an attack immediately? If we can gather enough troops in a month."
"Your Majesty," Brusilov replied, "Charles reminded me that I should launch the attack in June. I think he took into account the difficulty of the Germans adapting to the June climate and the problem of converting sleds and carriages."
Nikola II laughed. "Is that a problem for us? Many of us spend our whole lives in sleds and carriages, General!"
Brusilov also thought this was not a big problem.
Sleighs and carriages were not expensive, and what was more important was the horses, so they agreed to Nicholas II's decision.
However, they had always been on the defensive and had never launched an attack, but what they had not expected was:
After the attack, their supply lines will be lengthened as the front line moves forward. When the ice and snow melt and enter the slush period, it will be difficult to even transport supplies. At this time, replacing the large number of sleds with horse-drawn carriages is not as easy as they imagined.
…
On the coast of the English Channel, Montreuil was gloomy and rainy.
Major General Erwin hid behind the trench and observed the enemy's defense line with a telescope.
For weeks he had pursued the British Expeditionary Force and finally arrived here.
His plan was clear: to use the 1st Tank Division as the main force to advance along the Somme River to separate the British Army from France.
"As long as we take Montreuil, we can surround Dunkirk and the whole of Belgium!" Major General Erwin looked excitedly at the British defense line amid the sound of artillery fire.
The troops surrounding the Shire, what an exciting moment.
The Somme River is a natural barrier, and just a few infantry divisions can perfectly cut off this battlefield from France.
Because of the Ardennes Mountains and forests, Belgium only has an exit that is several dozen kilometers wide.
A single pincer attack would allow the Germans to attack from the rear and capture the British trenches and lines of defence, which would in turn serve as a support for Charles's troops, who were being blockaded by the Germans.
(The red line in the above picture is the direction of the Somme River, the south is the French defense zone, the north is the British defense zone, and the red circle is the location of Montreuil. Dunkirk is not only an important port for the British landing, but also an important node for the blockade of Belgium)
However, Erwin's advance was halted at Montreuil.
The British frequently sent warships to use naval guns to provide cover for the army. Although the accuracy of the naval guns was not high, their power should not be underestimated. Several of Erwin's attacks were bombed back by warships.
"General!" Just as Major General Erwin was thinking about how to get rid of this nail in front of him, a signalman came forward and reported: "There are changes on the Eastern Front. The Russians are counterattacking our defense line. Our army has suffered heavy casualties and is retreating!"
"What?" Major General Erwin looked at the signalman in surprise.
Once the Eastern Front collapses, no matter how great the achievements on the Western Front are, it will be of no avail.
What's going on in Russia?
Why did it suddenly launch a counterattack and win the victory when it had always been suppressed by the German army!
"General." Just as he was thinking, another signalman sent a telegram: "The Chief of the General Staff called and he hopes you can speed up the offensive and win the battle quickly!"
Major General Erwin said "hmm".
He understood what Falkenhayn meant. The retreat on the Eastern Front meant that Germany's supplies would have to be shifted to the Eastern Front, and even troops from the Western Front would have to be transferred to the Eastern Front.
If the Somme could not be won soon, it would mean that it might never be won again.
But Montreuil before us cannot be taken in a short time.
Suddenly, a bold idea popped into Major General Erwin's mind.
Since the British have concentrated their troops and even their navy here, why don't I bypass it and attack Dunkirk directly?
(End of this chapter)
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