The Principality of Monaco is one of the four principalities in Europe. However, compared to other principalities, Monaco is more controlled by other countries. Yes, it is the French, and France's peek at Monaco is simply naked.
Not only did it take away the ownership of the two major towns of Menton and Roquebrune in Monaco, reducing its territory from 20 square kilometers to 1.98 square kilometers, it also fully respected the premise of France's political, economic, navigation and military interests.
exercise sovereignty.
In addition, the Grand Duke of Monaco signed a treaty with France in 1910, stipulating that once the head of state dies without a male descendant, Monaco will be incorporated into France.
As for why it is ahead of history, it has to do with the pressure Italy put on France. When Germany and Italy showed their hostility clearly, Paris, which was under great pressure, had already behaved badly towards the Principality of Monaco, a small group of territories nestled in the Nice area.
Patience. So during the second Moroccan crisis, the naked desire to annex Monaco was thrown on the face of Albert I who had just succeeded to the throne.
Faced with the naked intention of annexation by the French, Grand Duke Albert I of Monaco could only place his hopes on his children. Yes, as long as there are male heirs, the Principality of Monaco will always exist.
As for why we are talking about Monaco, it is because now it has become a battlefield. At this time, there is a sea of fire in Monaco, and this coastal area is being bombarded continuously.
The heavy artillery fire from the 18th Army and the Southern Front Army increased the artillery fire coverage of the 18th Army, so that the French officers and soldiers stationed here could only hide in the anti-aircraft holes and tremble.
As for the artillery counterattack, the French artillery did not dare to move at this time, because the artillery formation led by the Kamal six kilometers away from the coastline was preparing for a counter-artillery attack while shelling.
The 210, 150, 120, and 105 mm naval guns in this formation, with their high magnification advantage, are enough to shoot a range of more than ten or twenty kilometers.
How can the 75mm rapid-fire cannon equipped by the French army compete with it?
After being beaten to a pulp, the French artillery no longer believed in the 75 mm rapid-fire cannon. Now they purchase, collect, and build large-caliber artillery everywhere, even in museums. But now the number of French artillery over 100 mm
There aren't many, and these artillery pieces have to be prioritized for the Battle of Paris, so there aren't many in the hands of the French army on the Italian-French border.
There was no way to compete with the artillery in the hands of the Italian army, so the artillery was left until it was more useful. This was a hardship for the infantry who were in the lead. They could only wait for the Italian artillery bombardment to end.
Suddenly a roar came from the sky, and the expressions of the French officers and soldiers hiding in the anti-gun cave changed.
One of the French soldiers said, "Damn it, these devils in the sky!"
What the French officers and soldiers called the devil was the Italian DF-3 aircraft.
Speaking of which, after the war broke out, airships shone brightly during this period, and their light even overshadowed other types of aircraft of the same era.
That's right, I'm talking about airplanes. Due to their short range and high failure rate, airplanes can only perform reconnaissance work, and their tactical applications are extremely limited. Therefore, when airplanes are used in the military field, their performance is naturally not as exciting as airships.
But this is only for other countries, for Italy, under someone's guidance, the gadget of shooting coordinator was quickly designed.
With the shooting coordinator, the pilot's best shooting method, nose-forward shooting, is born.
The DF-3 aircraft is currently the top product of the Italian aircraft manufacturing industry.
The aircraft has a total length of 6.9 meters, a height of 2.7 meters, and a wing length of 8.7 meters. The aircraft weighs 690 kilograms and has a maximum take-off weight of 950 kilograms.
The aircraft engine is a Siegel II radial engine researched by Siegel and the Power Laboratory. The maximum horsepower of this engine is 200 horsepower. This horsepower can propel the aircraft to 195,000 kilometers per hour.
And this also allows the maximum lift-off height of the aircraft to reach the limit of 4,500 meters.
Judging from the performance of this aircraft, it has reached the original historical standards of the middle and late World War I.
One more thing to say here is that due to the early invention of aircraft, all countries started research on aircraft early. At present, the general performance of aircraft in various countries has reached the level of the mid-term World War I. Even so, Italy has relied on many years of heavy investment.
It is also better than other countries.
As for why the French officers and soldiers were so frightened, it was because of the two Maxim machine guns on the nose of the DF-3. The thousand rounds of ammunition it carried were enough to straf the ground more than ten times.
As for why a plane and not an airship?
The reason is very simple. After the French army was hit by airships in the early days, they quickly developed anti-aircraft guns. Although this was just a small-caliber gun with a longer barrel, it was enough to hit airships. However, an airship that can hit large targets at a slow speed is not suitable for small and compact airships.
Flexible aircraft are not enough.
After the sound of the aircraft engine resounded through the French position, the explosion extended to the rear of the position.
At this time, the French observation post saw the enemy.
"Quick, the enemy is attacking."
Amid the shouts of the sentries, French officers and soldiers entered their positions one after another, preparing to meet the Italian attack.
The officer is much busier. He has to direct the soldiers to defend their positions while also paying attention to the situation in the air.
At this time, a fierce battle is about to begin in the Monaco area, and the officers and soldiers of the two sides will also engage in a bloody fight.
The fighting is not unique to Monaco. From Monaco on the coast to the Lombard Pass, the Italian army launched a fierce attack from the southern border of the two countries.
Although it was a full-scale attack, the battle between the two countries was mainly in mountainous areas, which resulted in only so many lines of attack. At this time, both sides were fighting around various passages, and the most intense one was Bu
Luoshankou.
The Bro Pass is located five kilometers west of Sospele in a straight line. The pass is the only way from Sospele to Les Carrennes. As long as you get here, you can go to Nice, Conte or Le Ventoux.
Can.
Currently, Italian and French officers and soldiers are fighting fiercely at the mountain pass.
"Mortars, destroy the opponent's machine gun positions."
Halfway up the south peak of the mountain pass, the Italian officer who was in charge of commanding the attack kept giving orders.
Under the officer's order, several soldiers quickly assembled the mortar and built the mortar position at the same time.
"Peng Peng Peng~"
After the test firing, several consecutive shells destroyed the machine gun firepower point.
After solving the obstacles blocking the attack, the offensive began again. At this time, it was only 500 meters away from the enemy's position. After the team's light machine gun was set up, it began to suppress the firepower of the enemy's position.
At this time, the mortars also fired smoke grenades.
That’s right, they are smoke bombs. Using mortars to fire smoke bombs can block the enemy’s sight and provide convenience for the attacking troops. Although the mortar team following the attacking troops carries a limited amount of bombs, at least one-third of the smoke bombs they carry .This is a common offensive tactic used by the Italian army. It uses smoke to block the enemy's sight to reduce soldier casualties.
Since the smoke grenade was invented a few years ago, the Italian army has begun to study its use. Not to mention that it has studied many tactics. This gadget may seem inconspicuous for enriching offensive and defensive tactics, but it has a significant effect. So the machine gun , mortars, various grenades and smoke bombs have become the most trusted weapons of Italian offensive soldiers.
As the elite 11th Army of the Italian Army, it was even more comfortable in using this tactic.
But despite this, Lieutenant General Caviglia, the commander of the 11th Army, did not take it lightly. Although his troops' attack seemed to be going smoothly, the terrain here was really terrible.
The location of Buro Pass is composed of four mountains, divided into four peaks: southeast, southeast and northwest. Among them, the east peak is the shortest, the south peak is the second, the north peak is the second, and the west peak is the highest. They are distributed in a diamond shape.
The road from Sospele to Lescarene first goes south to the foot of the East Peak, then goes around the valley inserted between it and the South Peak, then goes all the way between the South Peak and the North Peak, and then goes west past the West Peak. , and then along the valley to Les Carrennes. A large number appeared.
Therefore, conquering the south peak is nothing. The west peak must be conquered to open up the road to Les Carrennes. Les Carrennes is only the first town that the 11th Army needs to conquer. Next, he still has three towns to conquer. .
Of course, the offensive and defensive battle at the Bro Pass is also the most difficult point, because there are two French divisions stationed here. With superior firepower and a series of new weapons such as aircraft, Lieutenant General Caviglia is very important in conquering the Bro Pass. Still very confident.
However, the speed of attack is the key. If you take the time, you can quickly threaten Nice's flanks, and it can also help relieve pressure on friendly forces elsewhere. If you are slow, you will have to wait for others to help you.
How could Lieutenant General Caveglia, the commander of the 11th Army, not understand this gap?
At this time, Lieutenant General Cavilla already had the idea of a quick breakthrough and was waiting for the opportunity.
