Chapter 711 You Need a Speaker More
As the 1st Armored Division advanced towards Verdun again, Estiny, who was stationed in Mezieres, sent a telegram: "There are only 35 incendiary bombs left, General, they are not enough to launch the next batch of attacks!"
Charles replied with an order: "Drop the remaining incendiary bombs on the Verdun defense line."
Incendiary bombs do not have much killing power against ground troops hiding in the defense line. They may even be less lethal than ordinary bombs, especially since there are only 35 incendiary bombs left.
But Charles decided to do it anyway.
He didn't want to kill as many Germans as possible, but to tell them that Charles' troops were coming from behind them.
And by the way, use the flames of incendiary bombs to give them a little psychological shock!
Most importantly…
Charles ordered his staff: "Send a telegram to Pétain. It's time to change the offensive strategy."
…
Verdun front.
The headquarters of the German 5th Army was located in the small town of Moiret, two miles away from the defense line.
The army group commander, Lieutenant General Valek, had been guarding the radio station, and he ordered the signalmen to send messages to the 1st Tank Division over and over again.
He wanted to know the situation in Truk, which was related to the safety of the Verdun defense line, but he has not received a reply until now.
"General," the staff officer reported, "our artillery was suppressed by French bombers, and suffered heavy casualties."
Lieutenant General Valek did not hesitate and gave the order in a deep voice: "Persevere until the last moment."
This concerns the safety of the entire line of defense, and it is worth it no matter what the cost.
"But it was a gasoline bomb." The staff officer looked embarrassed: "It burned the entire forest, and the fire was spreading around the artillery position. They couldn't hold on."
"Gasoline bomb?" Lieutenant General Valek frowned.
What was that? Was it so powerful? Could it render two artillery regiments ineffective in an instant?
"What about the First Tank Division?" Lieutenant General Valek asked again, "Any information about them?"
"No, General," the staff officer replied, "the artillery only received the order to fire from Major General Erwin, who may be commanding the 1st Tank Division to fight against Charles's Armored Division."
Vice Admiral Varek said "hmm", but for some reason he still couldn't feel at ease.
Even if you are commanding a battle, there should be time to reply to a telegram, right?
Did the radio station get blown up?
Suddenly, a long and shrill air defense alarm sounded, and the anti-aircraft machine guns made a sound like tearing cloth, firing dense bullets into the air.
Lieutenant General Valek walked out of the command center and looked up, and his forehead suddenly felt cold.
"Flying from the north." Lieutenant General Varek muttered to himself: "French bombers!"
There were not many bombers, only four, and they dropped their bombs when they saw the German defense line below without even lowering their altitude.
"Boom boom"
“Boom boom boom!”
…
Bright red flames rose on the battlefield and several houses were set on fire. German soldiers shouted and rushed to the fire scene in their cars.
However, Lieutenant General Valek's attention was not here.
Although this was the first time he had seen a gasoline bomb that could set a forest on fire, it didn't matter.
"If their bombers have enough energy to bomb here." Lieutenant General Valek stared blankly at the "Caproni" bomber returning to the sky: "Does it mean that they have defeated the First Tank Division?"
"No, General." The staff officer replied, "There is only more than half an hour left before the battle. The enemy cannot defeat the First Tank Division so quickly."
Lieutenant General Varek nodded slightly: "I hope so."
Yesterday at noon, when Lieutenant General Vareck learned that Charles' troops were moving south along the Meuse River, he was worried that Charles would infiltrate Verdun.
Lieutenant General Valek wanted to make some preparations, but found that he could not do so.
The Verdun line of defense was too long, more than twenty kilometers.
At the same time, as the Battle of the Somme began, the Fifth Army was also hollowed out.
Originally it had 7 armies and 17 divisions with a total of more than 300,000 troops, but now there are only 3 understaffed armies and 6 divisions with a total strength of less than 100,000.
With this amount of troops, they are no longer able to build another line of defense in the rear.
Besides, Lieutenant General Varel also knew that building a defense line was useless.
Charles' tanks are used to break through ordinary defense lines. To stop them, you must build a defense line with anti-tank trenches.
It was dozens of kilometers long, with anti-tank trenches, and was completed within a day.
This is almost an impossible task!
Lieutenant General Varel could only report to Chief of the General Staff Falkenhayn: "Rather than waiting here to be defeated by Charles, I think the better option is to retreat in advance."
But Falkenhayn rejected his idea outright: "No, Lieutenant General. We will stop Charles' troops. The 1st Tank Division is already on its way to Truk."
Upon hearing the name of the 1st Tank Division, Lieutenant General Varel felt a little relieved.
Falkenhayn added: "Also, you must block the news, understand? Don't let anyone know that Charles is infiltrating Verdun from the rear!"
"Yes, General," Varel replied, "I understand."
As a lieutenant general, he certainly understood that this was related to the morale of the entire army.
Once the soldiers knew this, they would have almost fled before Charles' tanks appeared.
…
Fort Douaumont in Verdun.
Pétain had moved his headquarters here last night because it was at the forefront and from here he could clearly see the attack situation within a radius of several miles.
However, the offensive situation was not ideal, very far from ideal.
The soldiers could often only advance more than 200 meters when rushing into the no-man's land. Once the enemy machine guns and artillery fire started, they retreated like a tide.
Pétain could not even blame them.
His usual slogan to the soldiers was: Blind attack is equivalent to suicide, it will not have any effect on the war except death. You should remember that flesh and blood cannot withstand the enemy's artillery fire and bullets.
Damn it, I should have some tanks, Pétain thought, so I could attack like the Charles!
But of course he would not say this, otherwise it would contradict the "defense theory" he emphasized.
Pétain felt that he was in a huge contradiction, and what he was doing now was the usual tactic of negation.
But from a strategic point of view, it was necessary: Charles was advancing towards the German defense line in the rear, and he should cooperate.
Just when Pétain was at a loss as to what to do, the staff officer handed him a telegram: "General, Charles called and said you should prepare a few trumpets and use them as weapons. This might be more effective."
"Trumpet? What a joke!" Petain cursed, "Use it as a weapon? Are you going to shout at the Germans and ask them to surrender..."
Pétain reacted before he could finish his words.
He hesitated for a moment and then shouted excitedly: "God, he is right, we do need trumpets, they will be much more useful than rifles and cannons!"
The staff officer looked confused.
Are you really not kidding?
(End of this chapter)
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