Just as Qin Zhiyuan led the First Brigade back to France, on April 6, in the Compiègne Forest near Paris, senior French military and political officials gathered in the train box of President Raymond Poincaré to discuss
The upcoming spring offensive.
I am certain that the war will be over within 48 hours. We will drive the Germans out of French territory, invade Germany, regain Alsace and Lorraine, and restore the glory of the invincible army. After a long speech, Nivi
Le finished his explanation and returned to his seat proudly.
I still want to remind you that since Hindenburg replaced Falkenhayn, the Germans' combat methods and guiding concepts have changed. They will not choose to fight us head-on, but have retreated to the strong Hindenburg.
We must hold on to the danger in the defense line. I insist that this war cannot achieve the strategic goal and the assumption of attack has lost its rationality. Lyautey, who is sitting on Poincaré's right hand, disagrees.
The relationship between Lyautey and Nivele has never been good. In Nivelle's eyes, Lyotely is a man who is not worthy of his reputation; but in Lyotey's eyes, Nivelle is an arrogant person.
Maybe we can wait. The Americans have declared war and tomorrow is the day it takes effect. We can wait for the Americans to come over and let our exhausted troops get more rest. The new Prime Minister Paul Pan Lewe has expectations for the Americans.
This was also the common view among Europeans at this time.
The participation of Americans in the war is an absolutely major benefit. Although before this, the United States only had tens of thousands of national reserves and did not even have a serious army. However, the United States has unrivaled industrial capabilities and relative
Britain and France have stronger mobilization capabilities. Therefore, for Britain and France, the United States' participation in the war is more important than Russia's ending of the imperial system.
The end of Russia's imperial system is also a good thing for Britain and France, but this good news does not seem to be obvious now, at least not as much as the boost to military morale that the United States' entry into the war has.
This is our war, and if it is going to end, it should be ended by us ourselves, instead of hoping for those cowboys. Nivele looks down on Americans.
The relationship between France and the United States is actually very good. The role of the French in the founding of the United States cannot be ignored. Even the Statue of Liberty, a symbol of the United States, was gifted by France. Nivelle’s ideas are very popular in this era, and white supremacy
Among them, European supremacy is another form of racial discrimination, and the target of discrimination is all non-European white people.
However, what Nivelle said was obviously not the right place. When Nivelle finished speaking, everyone looked at Nivelle differently, including his chief of staff and commander of the mobile unit Alfred.
Inside.
Prime Minister Pan Lewei was particularly helpless. Prior to this, Pan Lewei approached Poincaré and asked to resign as prime minister, but Poincaré did not agree. Are you kidding me? France is going to replace two prime ministers within a month.
Your idea is simply ridiculous. If the lives of young French people can be spared, then why are you so stubborn? This is a war that belongs to the whole world and should not be borne by France alone. Lyautey denounced Nivel's indifference.
Lyautey's dislike of Nivelle could not be greater. If it were not for the support of Clemenceau, Foch and others, Lyautey would have resigned and returned to Morocco, just as he did in another time and space.
This is not stubbornness, nor is it absurd. This is me restoring the glory of France in my own way. As Minister of War, what you just said is obviously inconsistent with your status. Louis, you also disappointed me. Nivelle knows Lyautey
Regarding his opinion, he did not intend to avoid the question, and he was also not polite to Lyotey.
Damn it, Robert, you're going to mess it all up. Lyautey's last warning was not just for Nivelle, but also for Poincaré and Panrovay.
If I mess up, I will take responsibility in my own way, but before that, I am still the commander-in-chief of France. We must unite our minds in order to fight the enemy together, Nivelle insisted.
I don’t know which of Nivelle’s words moved Poincaré. The already exhausted president chose the new Nivelle: Robert, how sure are you?
Absolutely certain, with a thousand percent confidence, Nivele stood up again and came to the wall chart: We will launch an attack at Sherman Dedam. We will first use artillery and make full firepower preparations to blow up the German positions.
All this forces the German army to reinforce. When the Germans are unable to survive, our mobile troops will appear in time and annihilate the Germans within a ten-kilometer radius near Sherman Dedam.
Nivele held the baton and pierced it hard at the point of Shermandedam on the map, as if the German Crown Prince was standing there.
Responsible for the defense of the Sherman-Dedam area is the corps of which the German Crown Prince Wilhelm serves as the commander-in-chief of the group army. This corps now has 21 divisions and another 27 divisions serving as reserves. The German Crown Prince Wilhelm was the commander-in-chief of Nivelle in the world.
An old rival in the Battle of Erden, William and his generals were familiar with Nivelle's tactics. More importantly, the Germans occupied the commanding heights of the battlefield.
You can't have a thousand percent, you don't even have one percent. Lyautey devalued Nivelle's tactics as worthless. His ten fingers were formed into a spire, just like that
The famous Merkel rhombus shows strong self-confidence: Your experience comes from the last period of Verdun. Although it seems reasonable, you should pay attention to this: this is Sherman-Dedham, not Verdun.
.The position held by the Germans is far stronger than the dilapidated castle of Verdun, and your artillery and infantry tactics may not necessarily work.
Nivelle's mistake was that he applied mechanically. Not to mention that the Sherman-de-Dam area was much larger than Verdun. Nivelle's achievements in Verdun also had a certain element of luck. In the later period of Verdun, Donnie
When Nieweiler started his attack, the German troops were retreating. Those positions were basically abandoned by the Germans themselves, so Nieweiler was able to take advantage of them.
I think I have more say than you on this matter. From the first day of the war, I stayed in France while you were in Morocco. Even during the time you returned to China, you just kept
Staying in Paris, while I was at the front every day. Nivelle took a different approach, sounding a bit like accusing Lyotei of being careless.
You should be lucky that I am in Morocco. If I were in France, you would feel that you are sitting in this position now. Lyautey is also blaming Nivelle for his position.
Enough was enough. Poincaré was so noisy that his brain hurt. He was really tired of this endless arguing: Robert, please go back and prepare for the attack. As you said, you have 48 hours. Liote
, at this critical moment, please put aside your prejudices, we must unite as one. Ferdinand, I appointed you as the Chief of General Staff of the Army Department. Poincaré took office immediately, appeased Nivel and Lyautey, and announced an announcement.
appointment.
Chief of the General Staff, this is a sign of Foch's reactivation, and it is also a warning to Nivele. If you don't do well, well, there is someone behind you watching you.
