Although the discussions between the three countries in Munich lasted only three days, their promotion of the war was unparalleled.
The day after the negotiations, Germany and Italy asked France and Russia to cancel their general military mobilization.
Having said that, will Russia and France agree to this request?
Don't even think about it. Seeing the other party sharpening their swords, and canceling military mobilization at this time, isn't this a joke?
As for Germany and Italy, could they not know that the other party would refuse their unreasonable request?
In fact, they know, but sometimes the excuse for declaring war is very important. Germany and Italy cannot say that the war is because of helping their allies. Then the other party must have offended the dignity of our country, so that the people can realize that the other party is at fault.
First of all, we are just trying to punish the other party. As for taking away their interests, just know it in your heart and don't say it in public.
In fact, when the two countries asked each other to cancel military mobilization, their war preparations had already entered a countdown.
On the German side, divisions are marching to predetermined positions in accordance with the Schlieffen Plan. Under the command of the German General Staff of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Germany's seven armies on the western front have been formed.
At this time, 1.4 million German troops on the Western Front have completed their mobilization and have marched towards various assembly points. Germany's railways, roads, shipping and other transportation have been taken over by the military. Its transportation vehicles are full of
Full of soldiers rode it to the designated location. In addition, a large amount of ammunition and other military supplies were also transported to a reserve point under its transportation.
One more thing needs to be said here. At present, Germany's seven armies on the Western Front all have car transport groups. One or two as few as ten, as many as ten. For example, the First Army has the heaviest task and the longest distance.
, there are thirteen automobile transport regiments under this group army. They are all equipped with Fiat F75 trucks, and each regiment is equipped with 200-300 trucks. These trucks will serve as a powerful supplement to the logistics transportation of its group army, allowing it to
Can carry more supplies.
That's right, the German military, which is preparing for the war, has purchased more than 20,000 trucks of various types from Fiat, but the main force of the German military's transportation is still not trucks, but transportation consisting of horse-drawn carriages.
Team.
For the militaries of various European countries, railways are still the main force of transportation. Of course, if the railway cannot reach places, other means of transportation are needed. Although trucks are superior to horse-drawn carriages in all aspects, there is one thing that they are not as good as horse-drawn carriages.
, that is the commuting rate. Horse-drawn carriages can travel as long as there are roads, while trucks have requirements for roads and bridges.
Although roads in Western Europe are well developed, not every road can pass trucks.
While Germany was preparing, Italy, as an ally, was certainly not left behind. In order to coordinate Germany's actions, Italy also gathered troops in Italy and France.
"Everyone get out of the car."
"Hurry up, don't waste time."
At Turin Railway Station, groups of heavily armed soldiers were walking from the carriages to the platform amidst the greetings of officers. After a while, the platform was filled with officers and soldiers getting off the train.
"Hurry up and report the numbers as a team."
After driving all the soldiers off the train, the officers immediately carried out a headcount. The officers did not give the soldiers much time because they were very pressed for time. The next train would only arrive at the station in ten minutes, and they needed to count the soldiers within this time.
After that, take them off the platform and leave their seats for the next train.
The soldiers are very adaptable to the officers' orders, because they have been in the army for at least one or two years and have become very accustomed to the army's system.
"one"
"two"
"three"
"Four"
…
After a brief count, the soldiers, led by the officers, lined up and left the station. After a while, the platform became empty. Except for the station staff and some military police guarding the station, there was no one else on the platform.
"Woooooooo..."
Less than three minutes after they left, another train slowly stopped at the platform. However, compared with the previous train, which had stuffy-tank carriages, this train had two more high-end-looking carriages.
The station staff who were familiar with military trains knew that a general should have arrived with the train.
Yes, this train is carrying Lieutenant General Cosentz, the commander of the 57th Infantry Division. That's wrong. In addition to being the commander of the 57th Infantry Division, Lieutenant General Cosentz also serves as the deputy commander of the 18th Army.
One position.
The 18th Army is a newly formed army of the Army. It is composed of the 42nd Division, the 57th Division, and the 61st Division. The commander of the Army is Lieutenant General Armando Diaz.
The current order received by the Eighteenth Army is to go to the northern border of Italy and France and join the Third Army commanded by Prince Filiberto.
Prince Filiberto is the second generation Duke of Aosta, and his father is Amadeo, who was once the King of Spain. He is also Carlo's uncle, so Prince Filiberto is considered Carlo's cousin.
Unlike his father, Carlo's cousin is obsessed with military life and is very talented in combat command. He is now also a very famous commander in the army. Carlo is very relieved to have him lead the Third Army.
The Third Army is mainly responsible for fighting in the Savoy area. Of course, this is when there is an opportunity. Although it is only a containment task, the Italian military first wants to show its strength, so it has ideas about Savoy, its homeland.
Some people may ask, why attack the Savoy area? Why not seize the Nice area, whose terrain is more suitable for attack?
Very good, very good idea, the French think so too. So they have deployed a large number of permanent and semi-permanent fortifications in the Nice area, and 120,000 French troops are stationed in the area. According to estimates by the Italian General Staff
, in order to seize the Nice area from these 12 French troops, if the French army does not increase its troops, Italy needs to prepare 300,000 people and be prepared to lose 80,000 to 130,000 people.
As for the Savoy region, because it is separated by the Alps, the French army only has more than 40,000 troops stationed here. If the tactics are used properly, it is possible for the 120,000-strong Third Army to seize the Savoy region.
After all, the Italian royal family is the Savoy family. They gave up their ancestral land for the unification of the kingdom, but if there is a chance, no one would want to take it back.
The German and Italian armies are stepping up their preparations for war. How could France be unaware of such a large-scale military mobilization? France is also carrying out military mobilization against its two ill-intentioned neighbors.
And in view of the dangerous situation it faces, France has mobilized very hard. This wave of general mobilization orders has allowed France to recruit more than 80% of all its men of working age. According to current information, France has formed 68 divisions, and its total strength is expected to be
Reached 1.3 million people.
If it were Italy alone, France could easily withstand Italy's attack by relying on the terrain of the Alps.
Of course, if France attacks the same way, Italy can easily resist the French attack.
Of course, the two countries have not forgotten one thing as they stepped up preparations for war, and that is the issue of declaring war.
On October 3, 1913, Germany and Italy declared war on France.
France also declared war on the two countries, and the next day Russia declared war on Germany, Italy and Austria. The three countries also declared war on Russia, and Austria-Hungary also declared war on France on the same day.
At this point, a war sweeping across Europe began, and all countries were fully armed and engaged in a brutal fight.
