The attack started from the self-propelled artillery unit. 18 powerful 194mm artillery pieces were lined up one kilometer away from the German positions and began to bombard the German positions indiscriminately.
The French's technology is still good. On the fourth day of the battle, only two of the 20 self-propelled artillery were deployed. For a new type of weapon, this is already very good.
Seeing the orange-red flames bursting out on the German positions, the soldiers of the Xu Sheng Regiment and the Xiang Ankang Regiment, who were waiting in the starting position to launch the attack, gave out loud cheers.
Along with the smoke rising into the sky from the orange-red flames, there were also large pieces of soil, flying sand and rocks, and occasionally broken human bodies or weapons. The Germans did not have enough time to build complete fortifications, and their positions now even lacked artillery holes.
None. The soldiers defending the position could only hide in a narrow and crude trench, shivering, waiting for the long artillery bombardment to end, and at the same time waiting for tanks and infantry to attack.
If it weren't for the supervising team, I'm afraid the German front would have collapsed by now.
The war team was not unique to the Russians during World War II, but also to the Germans during World War I, and even to the French and British. The long and cruel war had worn away the warriors' will to fight.
The more tenacious ones have already died in the battle, and the rest rely on supervising the battle team to ensure the basic will to fight and keep the front from collapsing.
The soldiers of the First Division do not need to supervise the team. Their desire for honor and yearning for military medals motivate them to move forward bravely. Since their establishment, they have not suffered a defeat, except for the remnants of the original Second Brigade. But the Second Brigade
The remnants are now more eager for honor. They need honor to wash away the shame on themselves, and they need honor to gain the same status as the original soldiers of the 1st Brigade.
Whether it's financially or psychologically.
Now the soldiers of the former 2nd Brigade in the 1st Division have an insurmountable obstacle in their hearts, that is, their disastrous defeat in the spring offensive. Although their companions will not mention it, the soldiers of the former 2nd Brigade always feel that their companions
There is a special meaning in the eyes. They need to prove themselves and prove that they are qualified to join the First Division.
According to the regulations of the French government, as long as they have achieved military merit and received military medals in war, soldiers will enjoy extraordinary treatment after retirement. The soldiers of the first division are all mercenaries. If they do not become French nationals, they will return after the war.
In the Far East, soldiers who obtain military medals will enjoy a one-time compensation. The amount of compensation varies according to the difficulty of obtaining military medals. Even at the lowest level, it is equivalent to two years' salary when serving in the Foreign Legion.
The French artillery bombardments have always been long-lasting and high-intensity, but the First Division did not have much time. If it dragged on for too long, Chen Kangjian's armored troops might not be able to withstand the German attack from both sides. So the artillery bombardment only lasted.
Within twenty minutes, tanks and infantry immediately began to attack.
As early as in Corsica, when Qin Zhiyuan was training troops, he attached great importance to infantry and artillery coordination. Therefore, when the bombardment ended, the tanks and infantry of the First Division were less than 200 meters away from the German position. Considering that
The artillery owned by the First Division was a 194 mm caliber heavy artillery, which was tantamount to launching an attack on the German positions by stepping on the explosive spot.
This made the Germans, who lacked defensive means, persist. Almost as soon as the tanks rushed into the position, the Germans raised their hands and surrendered.
There are also those who refuse to admit defeat.
When the tanks rushed into the German position, some Germans bundled five or six wooden-handled grenades together to make cluster grenades, preparing to use them to attack the tanks of the First Division.
Wooden-handled grenades are heavy and long. If the average German soldier does not have extremely strong arms, he can only throw them ten or twenty meters. Five or six wooden-handled grenades are bundled together and can be thrown farther.
So close, it's almost like carrying a pack of explosives to blow up a bunker.
At this time, the role of accompanying infantry can be seen.
Although tanks have strong attack and defense capabilities, they still have limitations. Take the turret for example. Although the FT17's turret can rotate 360°, the rotation of the turret takes a certain amount of time. On the ever-changing battlefield, even a tank
The opponent's infantry was discovered by hand, and because the turret rotated slowly, it could not be stopped in time.
With the rotating turret, cluster grenades have already been stuffed into the vehicle body.
But when tanks are accompanied by infantry, the situation is completely different.
When encountering an enemy bunker, the infantry will hide behind the tank and rely on the tank's solid hull to protect themselves. After the tank destroys the enemy bunker, the infantry will continue to move forward. But when enemy infantry tries to approach the tank to attack
, the accompanying infantry will launch an attack first to prevent the enemy infantry from approaching the tank.
The weapons accompanying the infantry of the First Division were semi-automatic pistols, shotguns and Lewis machine guns, but no bolt-action rifles at all. These weapons all have a common feature, which is that they have a short reaction time and can be fired quickly.
The result was that the Germans who wanted to blow up the tank had just jumped out of the trench and were either shot into briquettes by large-caliber shotguns or shot into pieces by Lewis machine guns.
It is indeed fragments. The power of military weapons cannot be compared with that of police or civilian weapons. The only meaning of the existence of military weapons is to kill the enemy, so the power of military ammunition is unimaginable to ordinary people. Even the caliber of the Lewis machine gun is not as good as that of tanks.
The 12.7mm machine gun is as big as a machine gun, but if it hits a person at close range, it will be hit wherever it hits.
In particular, the accompanying infantrymen are equipped with a large number of Mills grenades. When this grenade with a safety sleeve explodes, it will fire 800 steel balls in the safety sleeve, causing almost death or injury within a 15-meter range. It is used to clear trenches and
The German soldiers hiding behind the bunker were really safe.
Using the tactics of the mid-20th century to deal with the troops of the early 20th century, the battle was so simple. Almost at the same time that the tank troops rushed to the German position, all German resistance stopped. The Germans who were still determined just a moment ago raised their hands and walked away.
They came out from behind the trenches and bunkers and surrendered to the waiting soldiers of the 1st Division.
When the strength gap reaches a certain level, all resistance is in vain. Like French soldiers, German soldiers are not afraid of death, but are afraid of meaningless death. When they find that all resistance cannot stop the tanks, they follow
What is true in your heart is the only option.
The fact that the battle went so smoothly was not beyond Qin Zhiyuan's expectation, but it was incredible in the eyes of Armstrong and Bastian.
Armstrong and Bastian are also veterans. This battle between them and the Germans has been fighting for three years. In these three years, Armstrong and Bastian's troops killed many Germans, and there were also many people in their troops.
Killed by the Germans.
Precisely because they knew each other well, Armstrong and Bastian did not think the Germans were easy to bully.
When Qin Zhiyuan proposed to annihilate the Germans, Armstrong and Bastian did not believe that Qin Zhiyuan could do it. Even if Bastian agreed to Qin Zhiyuan's battle plan, Bastian was worried about the first division.
The combat effectiveness is also deeply doubted.
Not to mention Armstrong, he even had the intention of watching a good show when the First Division just launched the attack.
The 32nd Division is responsible for taking in the prisoners. My troops will continue to pursue until all the Germans are annihilated. Qin Zhiyuan ignored Armstrong and Bastian who were stunned. For the First Division, this was just a pre-dinner meal.
