The Germans are indeed disciplined. If they say they surrender, they will truly surrender. They will never surrender and rebel again.
In Chinese terms, it means: keep your words and keep your words.
Just after Ludwig von Schroeder handed over the command knife symbolizing command authority to Chen Kangjian, thousands of Germans, under the guidance of the armored infantry, handed over their sidearms in an orderly manner and then returned to the military camp to await further processing.
There was no resistance, no fists and kicks, no angry glares and tense situations. It was just like a normal handover when commuting to and from get off work. The Germans calmly accepted the result.
Perhaps the war has been going on for too long and people are tired. Whether it is the Germans or the French, they all want to end the war.
Although the war would not end with the surrender of thousands of Germans, for these Germans, their war was over.
As the victor's armored regiment, their war continues.
Almost as soon as all the Germans were imprisoned in the camp, the armored regiment ushered in the next wave of Germans.
This time it was the 20th Infantry Division that came from Reims for reinforcements. They belonged to the 14th Reserve Corps of the 17th Army.
Generally speaking, there are about 17,000 people in a division. If these people march in formation, the formation can extend as long as about two kilometers.
The 20th Infantry Division arrived in a hurry. Their vanguard was a cavalry unit of about 500 people. This may be the only cavalry unit in this infantry division.
When the cavalry on horseback meets the second-generation cavalry driving tanks, the generation difference in weapons becomes obvious.
On the plain facing Reims in Tadenoua, hundreds of cavalrymen looked hesitantly at the nearly a hundred tanks waiting in front.
They couldn't escape. Crown Prince William was waiting for their rescue more than ten kilometers away. They couldn't escape and they didn't dare to escape. But the attack seemed impossible because they were cavalry troops and they were not equipped with artillery in order to quickly move in.
Apart from the lance on his back, the only weapons he can use are the saber on his waist, which means he lacks the means to deal with tanks.
When the first tank appeared on the battlefield of the Somme, it marked the decline of traditional cavalry. But there will always be some people who do not believe in evil and insist on using traditional cavalry and reject tanks. For example, Haig, the commander of the British Expeditionary Force, is a
A general who adheres to traditional cavalry.
There were so many people like this that in another time and space, more than 20 years later during the Second World War, some countries still had no choice but to stubbornly insist on forming cavalry units. In September 1939, a German war correspondent reported
Polish cavalry used broadswords and spears to fight against German tanks. This myth, which was impossible to even imagine, was actually generally accepted by both sides. The Germans saw pride and achievement in it, and the Poles saw bravery and loyalty. As for those who
People who spread rumors, God knows what they saw.
Unless you are a fool, you will not use cavalry to attack armored forces. The German cavalry commander is obviously not stupid either. He led the cavalry to bypass the armored force's position and gave up the right to attack to the infantry who continued to arrive.
Thick skin and a long health bar are only one of the advantages of armored units. Mobile assault is the core advantage of armored units.
Therefore, Chen Kangjian did not wait for the Germans to deploy the artillery they carried, and immediately ordered the tank troops to launch an assault.
During the exercise in the Erani area, Liu Zizheng's artillerymen created the myth of deploying artillery positions in two minutes. The German artillery obviously failed to meet this standard. This does not mean that Liu Zizheng's artillerymen are more professional than the German artillerymen, but that the German artillerymen
There is not enough time, just selecting the artillery position cannot be completed in two minutes.
What's more, the tanks commanded by Chen Kangjian were still firing while walking, which made the situation look even more urgent, so that the artillerymen were in a hurry. Before they could set up their hoes, the tanks of the armored forces had already rushed in front of the artillery.
How can we fight this?
Can't fight
The generational advantage of weapons is so obvious. Traditional infantry units are vulnerable to armored units and have no ability to resist. Cavalry units simply find no chance to attack and can only leave helplessly.
Well, the traditional cavalry finally has an advantage over armored troops. Their horses run faster. This is only temporary. Soon, the traditional cavalry will not be able to maintain even this advantage. Even now, if you run long distances,
The horses still couldn't outrun the tanks. It was just that Chen Kangjian's troops were given the task of blocking the Tadenuva Pass, not annihilating the cavalry, so they escaped.
There were more than 10,000 more prisoners of war in the prisoner-of-war camps, and the three regiment-level camps were packed to the brim.
The organizational discipline of the Germans once again showed its strength. They spontaneously maintained order in the prisoner of war camp according to their previous military ranks. There was no trouble, no connection, everything was normal. Even the medical soldiers continued to rescue the wounded soldiers who had been injured in the previous battle.
There was almost no hatred or disgust in the eyes of the Germans when they looked at these guarding soldiers, and some were just calmness mixed with a trace of curiosity. When the soldiers in charge of guarding helped the German medical soldiers find some medicine, there was even more in these eyes.
A hint of gratitude.
Because the Germans have exhausted their resources, they only have a small amount of medicine in the army, and even the bandages are made of paper. The medicine can only be used in small amounts when officers are injured. Ordinary soldiers are insulated from medicine even if they are seriously injured, and can only rely on their own slow recovery ability.
Simmer.
Because France has relatively smooth sea access, there is still no shortage of material resources, and medicines are more abundant.
What France lacks is human resources, so Chinese people will be valued. Therefore, Pershing, who has never done anything serious since arriving in Paris, has become a boss since he wants things every day.
Qin Zhiyuan is now a popular figure with French Army Minister Léautey and French Commander-in-Chief Foch. Logistics chief Bruno Garcia is Qin Zhiyuan's buddy and partner. All kinds of supplies for Qin Zhiyuan's troops are provided beyond the norm. Not only
Medicines are available in as much quantity as you need, and other materials such as food, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, etc. are also available in as much quantity as you need.
So when a soldier in charge of guarding tried to hand a piece of chocolate issued by the military headquarters to a prisoner of war who looked only 17 or 18 years old and was obviously a little malnourished, the Germans looked even more grateful.
Quite a bit.
This kind of occasion is perfect for building reputation, so after asking for instructions, a truckload of all kinds of food was delivered directly, from chocolate to tobacco to various cans, everything except alcoholic beverages.
There is a reason why alcohol is not provided. Who knows if the wines of these Germans are good? If someone drinks too much and goes crazy, at this special time and special place, he may make an irreparable mistake.
At that time, what was originally a good thing to build reputation will turn into a tragedy that ruins one's character.
The nutritious chocolate was immediately sent to the wounded camp. Even the prisoners carrying the box looked malnourished, but no one took a piece to eat first.
The soldiers who were responsible for guarding the prisoners of war became stevedores. This was their old profession and they were very good at it.
Although the soldiers felt normal, their move earned them standard military salutes from hundreds of officers, including Ludwig von Schroeder.
Well, the soldiers responsible for guarding the prisoner-of-war camp were just ordinary people. When facing the neatly arranged team of officers to pay respects, they were a little at a loss.