Across Europe, the French may be the country with the strongest awareness of democracy and freedom.
As early as the end of the 17th century, a bourgeois revolution broke out in France, overthrowing the Bourbon dynasty that had existed for hundreds of years and establishing a republican country dominated by the bourgeoisie.
At the beginning of the World War, defeating Germany and taking back Alsace and Lorraine, in order to wash away the shame caused by France's defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, became the consensus of the entire French society. The French actively joined the army and became the main force before the British were fully mobilized.
The mainstay of the Western Front.
It's a pity that Joffre and Nivelle wasted the French people's efforts and sacrifices. The rigid and rigid command system, the unchanging human wave tactics, poor logistics, and the number of casualties often reaching hundreds of thousands have pushed the French people's endurance to the limit.
After Nivel's spring offensive was launched, in just 48 hours, the French army's casualties reached 270,000, and many troops suffered more than half of their casualties. Because there were too many casualties, the medical system collapsed completely, and many wounded soldiers on the front line could not receive timely and effective treatment.
Treatment, the bodies of the fallen officers and soldiers could not be buried in time, and Nivel's preparations were very poor. Many troops did not receive supplies after launching the attack. All the food carried by the soldiers had been eaten, and the officers were still pressing
The soldiers whose endurance had reached the limit launched an attack, and various factors came together to eventually lead to this far-reaching mutiny.
Yes, it was a mutiny. After Nivele issued the order to "attack overnight," the troops who received the order refused to carry out the attack. The soldiers shouted, "We need peace, end the war immediately, and let those responsible for the war go."
Die!" The officers were so drunk that they panicked. When an officer tried to forcefully order the troops to continue the attack, tragedy finally happened.
Roque didn't know what happened specifically. The French government had sealed all the information related to the mutiny. The unblocking period was 100 years. There were many soldiers who openly rebelled. The situation became extremely dangerous. Many officers were killed by angry soldiers.
Killing, at least half of the French troops on the Western Front were paralyzed, and one officer called it "a force with a tendency to be extremely suspicious and without conviction."
The French government put it more tactfully, describing the mutiny as a problem of "collective unconsciousness."
No matter how euphemistic the French government is, it cannot change the reality that the French army is on the verge of collapse. If the German army launches a counterattack at this time, the French army's defense line will instantly collapse.
Rock couldn't let this happen.
On March 28, after Roque learned that a mutiny had broken out in the French army, he immediately ordered the British Expeditionary Force to strengthen its attack on the German army, forcing Ludendorff to transfer troops from Sherman Dedham to deal with the British Expeditionary Force's attack.
There was no time to launch a counterattack against the French at Sherman Dedham.
The situation has reached a critical juncture. At this critical moment, Roque did not care about preserving his strength. After the Indian Army entered the battle, Roque successively discharged the Canadian Corps, the British Territorial Force, and the Southern African Expeditionary Force, leaving only the Australian and New Zealand troops.
The legion serves as the strategic reserve of the entire army.
By April 1st, the number of British Expeditionary Forces participating in the offensive had reached 1.3 million. George V and Winston successively sent telegrams to Locke, expressing serious concern about the war situation on the Western Front. Kitchener rushed from London to Dunkirk.
Rock, asked Rock in person about his views on the Western Front.
Kitchener's attitude was very clear. If the French army collapsed, the British Expeditionary Force should immediately withdraw from the Western Front and return to the British mainland to ensure the safety of the British mainland.
"No, we cannot withdraw, no matter what, the future of the Russian Empire is unclear, and the United States' participation in the war is far away. If we lose France again, the difficulties we have to face in winning the war will more than double. The chaos of the French army is temporary.
, As long as we buy enough time for the French government, France will definitely be able to return to normal." Roque is now the most powerful defender of the British-French coalition. The French government has no time to take care of itself, and the British want to escape from the Western Front at any time. The difficulties Roque faces cannot be increased.
What is certain is that if France fails, Italy and the Russian Empire will also fail one after another. Only the United Kingdom will definitely be unable to support itself. The Americans are unreliable. Don’t look at the fact that US military troops are continuously arriving in Europe. Once France fails, the United States may not be able to survive.
It will become the next Italy and join the Allied camp. Don't have too much confidence in the United States. Interest is the only factor that determines the position of the United States.
"But Locke, have you ever considered that under the current circumstances, a full-scale attack by the expeditionary force will attract all the attention of the German army. How much price do you estimate the expeditionary force will have to pay to buy enough time for the French government?
In other words, how long will it take for the French government to return to normal?" Kitchener's expression was gloomy and uncertain, and Roque suddenly realized that if he could not gain Kitchener's trust, then Roque's commander-in-chief would have come to an end.
This is also normal. Even after the outbreak of the world war, Roque's military exploits were outstanding, but the British government could even abandon France, its most powerful ally, so there was nothing else that could not be abandoned.
If Rock's plan results in heavy casualties for the British Expeditionary Force, then even if the British Expeditionary Force buys enough time for the French government and the Allies win the final victory, Britain will lose its competitiveness.
Look at France now. The casualties caused by the world war have reached more than two million people. Is the mutiny of the French army really due to insufficient logistical supplies?
No, the real reason for the mutiny in the French army was that the soldiers were tired of war and death. They began to fear sacrifice and did not want to die worthless. In other words, France had lost the courage to fight against Germany. They had already done their best.
Prepared to surrender to Germany.
"It is not difficult for the French government to return to normal. The demands of the French soldiers are very clear. They should not launch any more meaningless attacks with unclear objectives and will bring heavy sacrifices. As long as someone can stand up to calm the emotions of the French troops and bring the frontline troops to
Urgently needed supplies are transported to the front line as quickly as possible, allowing the French frontline troops to get adequate rotation and rest. The French troops will return to normal soon. Not all French troops are in chaos, and there are still French troops.
We are persisting in fighting." Roque did not directly answer Kitchener's question. Based on the conditions Roque said, the most suitable candidate to come forward to rectify the French army is almost ready to be revealed.
That's right, it was Pétain who had been appointed Chief of General Staff by French Minister of War Paul Panleve.
Nivelle, who became famous in the Battle of Verdun and became the commander-in-chief of the French army, revealed his true colors after a comprehensive defeat. This guy was not a normal person at all. After the 48-hour deadline that Nivelle promised himself expired, Nivelle did not
The attack did not stop, but the French army mutinied and France reached its most dangerous moment.
Paul Panleve appointed Pétain as Chief of General Staff at this time, hoping that Nivelle would resign voluntarily and leave his luxurious castle in a dignified way.
As the commander-in-chief of the French army, Nivelle unexpectedly refused Paul Panleve's request and refused to resign, which was shocking.
Look, now let alone the French soldiers who are disobedient to management, their commander-in-chief is also disobedient to management.
At this time, Nivelle had already betrayed all his relatives. Even Nivelle's confidant General Mangin and Alfred Michele, who was appointed by Nivelle as the commander-in-chief of the mobile force, believed that Nivelle should be responsible for the failure of the French army.
Responsible.
French President Poincaré also lost confidence in Nivelle, and Paul Panleve appointed Pétain as commander-in-chief of the French army. However, Nivelle still refused to resign, so now there is a rare situation in the French army.
It is a wonder that the army actually has two commanders-in-chief.
"Locke, be as cautious as possible. I will go to Paris early tomorrow morning and hope to have a face-to-face talk with General Petain." Kitchener gave Locke the greatest degree of trust. Locke's outstanding performance has played a key role.
No one can replace Rock. Kitchener believed that even if he served as commander-in-chief of the British Expeditionary Force, he could not do a better job than Rock.
After seeing off Kitchener, Rock returned to the combat command room. It was a huge room with huge maps hanging on the surrounding walls. The sand table in the center of the room was as large as fifty square meters. Nearly a hundred staff officers were busy.
, they climbed up the ladder and placed flags of various colors representing different units on the sand table to update the frontline battle situation in real time.
In the corner of the room, there is a chair dedicated to Rock. Rock will often sit in the chair and think about how to break through the German defense line. Whenever he encounters trouble, Rock will take a rest in the chair.
Now this is the situation again. As soon as Rock sat down on the chair, several telegrams were sent at the same time.
The performance of the Indian Army was as poor as ever. After the launch of the spring offensive, Rock invested 15 Indian divisions with a total strength of nearly 270,000.
The only contribution of the Indian Army to the expeditionary force was to add nearly 100,000 casualties to the expeditionary force, and nothing else.
The performance of the Southern African Expeditionary Force is as good as ever. At Helenthal Monastery and Brussels, the Southern African Expeditionary Force broke through the German defense lines one after another. Ludendorff has begun to mobilize troops from France to reinforce the Belgian battlefield. Rock's emergency plan to encircle Wei and rescue Zhao has begun to show results.
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What is surprising is the Canadian Corps. At Vimy Ridge in Arras, the Canadian Corps broke through the German defense lines, captured 14,000 Germans, and seized 180 cannons, achieving its greatest victory since the launch of the spring offensive.
In the autumn offensive organized by Joffre, the British and French forces suffered 150,000 casualties at Vimy Ridge, but failed to defeat the German troops guarding Vimy Ridge.
Remember the name Vimy Ridge. A series of fierce battles will take place at Vimy Ridge. In order to thank Canada for its contribution to France, after the end of the World War, France specially assigned Vimy Ridge to Canada and became Canada.
of overseas enclaves.
(Brothers are so awesome, the third update is here——)