In fact, Berante's estimate was already very conservative. The casualties of the German 30th Division were not at all the 50% he estimated, but 70%!
According to current common sense in the European military community, usually a unit loses its offensive capabilities when its casualties reach about 10%.
The casualty rate of 30% has reached the normal casualty limit of a normal army. Beyond this limit, the general army will lose its organization, collapse, escape, abandon its position, surrender, etc. From a military theory perspective, the army at this time
Already in a state of extreme lack of fighting spirit, it is difficult to complete any combat mission.
Factors such as attrition, destruction of formations, loss of weapons, and suppression of the enemy's superior firepower have caused the troops to lose the effective combat effectiveness they should have. In this case, the large loss of non-commissioned officers and lieutenants is equivalent to damage to a person's peripheral nerves
, even if the muscle strength is still there, the combat effectiveness will be greatly reduced, and the ability to complete tactical intentions will inevitably collapse. From a military theory perspective, no amount of fighting will can make up for this!
Even for the most elite troops, the casualty rate in a collapse can be up to 40%. In the last world war, the Battle of Verdun, which was known as the turning point, France, as the defender, was the most elite.
After one of the divisions reached a casualty rate of 38%, Marshal Pétain was asked to withdraw, and only after replenishing the drawdown did it return to the battlefield.
But Berlant knew very well that the German division in front of him would not be able to receive any effective supplements, let alone have time to retreat and draw down. They had been fighting the Polish army from the beginning, and it was impossible for them to do so in the past two days.
There is no chance to retreat because there are no troops to replace their positions.
At this point in the battle, even if he received news of the complete collapse of the German army in the next second, Berlant would not be at all surprised. What really surprised him was that in this cross-level battle, the German army
But there has never been the slightest sign of collapse!
Are German bones really that hard?
Berante suddenly understood why his respected mentor, Pétain, the famous general of the Third French Republic, had failed in the small Battle of the Ruhr. Perhaps, the real reason was not the French army on the surface.
Ammunition was not in place, the Franco-Belgian coalition was not coordinated, etc. Will, the most easily overlooked factor, was the biggest reason.
Through this Polish battle, Berlant truly discovered how terrifying the German will is!
However, things haven't gotten out of hand yet. No matter how tenacious and tenacious these Germans are, they will soon have no capital to fight. The blame is on their stupid commander, who wasted the troops' hard-earned victory.
When the time came, reinforcements were not sent for a long time. As a result, the time gained by the almost terrifying tenacious struggle of the Rhodes defenders turned into wasted efforts at the last moment.
At this moment, even Berante, the enemy, had some sympathy for the remnants of the 30th Division who had retreated to the city of Lodz and were preparing for a last stand. They did not know yet that there were Polish troops within ten miles in front of them.
They struggled to support the hoped-for reinforcements, but so far not even a shadow has appeared.
After lighting a cigarette, Berante slowly stood up and walked to the combat map in the conference room. He said: "The German army in front of us is at the end of its war effort. It will be a matter of time before it is wiped out. After that, the Polish army can take advantage of the situation and rush forward."
A beautiful counterattack was launched towards the Vistula River."
Berlant's words quickly resonated with other Polish generals in the conference room.
"After fighting for so long, we finally have results. Now, it's our turn to deal with the Germans!"
"That's right, if you ask me to just counterattack, don't stop at the Vistula River and push forward all the way to the border!"
"I just said that victory will belong to us sooner or later, and the good luck of the Germans must come to an end!"
"...."
After being suppressed by the German army for several days, and losing troops and generals along the way, they finally organized a counterattack, but were blocked by a mere division. At this time, the Polish generals were already depressed to the extreme. So they took advantage of Berlant's auspicious words.
, actually there was a vague sense of fanatical joy, and they celebrated the victory that had not yet come.
Since Berante is French, this battle is just an away experience for him in the final analysis. His original purpose of coming here was just to gain experience and observe a war between great powers in the name of guidance.
It's a pity that the level of the Polish generals is so poor. Smigre, the Polish marshal, searched all over the country, and only Berante, the conceited French major general, was somewhat capable. Under the background of the Polish generals who were useless, Belante
Lante was actually treated as a "famous general" by Smigre. As a result, the Polish army began to seek the French general's opinion on all strategic plans.
Berlant, who has a conceited character, did not shirk away. He took advantage of the situation and gave the Polish High Command an idea. In this counterattack, which the Polish army tried its best to fight, it was he and the French officers who gave Marshal Smigre the money.
provide strategic guidance.
When he thought of this, Berlant was a little lucky. Fortunately, the German commander who made the impeccable plan did not react immediately due to his "ingenious plot". When he reacted later, the Polish army had already
According to their own plan, they rushed to the Vistula River. By then, the counterattack had been initially completed. What could the German army do to stop it?
However, the night was long and dreamy. Berlant bypassed the group of Polish generals who were in high spirits, walked to Smigre, the relatively calm Polish commander, and reminded: "Mr. Marshal! Although Lodz will definitely be captured by the Polish army sooner or later, but
I think the sooner the Polish army takes it, the better."
"Yes, things will change later, and it will be more reliable if you take it down earlier." Smigre nodded.
"Since Mr. Marshal thinks so too, I suggest that we send out troops overnight and launch an attack on Rhodes City tonight." After hearing what the French lieutenant colonel he had brought with him translated Smigre's words, Berante immediately became anxious.
Don't hesitate to make offensive points.
However, Smigre did not immediately respond to Berante's suggestion. After all, the Polish army under his command did not have the habit of attacking at night. Not only the Polish army, but also the French army did not like to fight at night. This day
You've been fighting all day, why don't you rest at night?
However, Smigre's refusal was still very tactful: "The Polish army has been exhausted for two days of continuous fighting and urgently needs a good night's rest. Besides, we are not good at night fighting, and our experience in night street fighting in the city is even more complete."
No. So I think it’s better to launch an attack during the day tomorrow, since German reinforcements haven’t come anyway.”
In fact, when Berante said that he would attack at night, he did not really expect the Polish army to take the city of Lodz in one night. He just wanted to express his attitude through this, so that if something unexpected happened in the end, he could
There is a reason to shirk responsibility: I asked you to attack faster, but you were lazy and unwilling. This does not mean there is a problem with my plan.
But Berante didn't know that his suggestion led the Polish army into Manstein's trap from the beginning. Now, no matter how fast the Polish army attacks, in this trap carefully laid by Manstein,
