By the time Pétain arrived at the frontline headquarters, Siedel's 1st Armored Division had already launched fire reconnaissance on the two remaining highland positions of the SS.
The French frontline command headquarters designated these two highlands as "Highland No. 2 and Highland No. 3" respectively. Of course, such numbers, in a sense, are just new to hint to the marshal that the French army also captured "Highland No. 1".
". As for who had such a small idea, it is unknown.
Of course, Pétain was too lazy to care about these trivial matters. All this great French marshal could think about now was how to capture the Ruhr as soon as possible.
The French army can no longer afford to delay it! To this day, there are many domestic complaints against the government that caused the war. Although the discordant voices can be suppressed now, problems will inevitably arise in the long run.
Furthermore, the occupation operation was originally launched to search for oil and water, but now it is constantly being subsidized by the country's stretched military expenditures.
Prime Minister Poincare was even more anxious about this and urged him many times.
Pétain knew that he would not have much time. Prime Minister Poincare would propose that he be transferred to the front line urgently at this time, in order to use his fame to boost morale and encourage the French army to win the battle quickly.
The French army's new frontline headquarters was established in a German rural town. There are no original residents in the town now. When the first battle broke out three days ago, all the people in the town moved away.
.
The general command post of the French army is set up in a school in the town. Under the old gray and white walls of the school, there are still graffiti from naughty students in the past. But in the school square, there are no more playful students in the past. Instead,
They are French military officers of all levels walking silently.
An officer's car, which was also equipped with few in the French army, was parked at the gate of the school where the temporary command post was located. A man in the car was wearing a French army officer's standard five-silver ring military cap and a dark blue waistband.
The general quickly got out of the car and walked into the command post in the building.
Originally, using dark cloth waistbands has been a habit of the French army for centuries, but due to the identity of this officer and general, his waistband is a bit special. The silver dagger pattern on his belt revealed that
He revealed his identity as an armored division commander—Sidel, commander of the 1st French Armored Division.
Entering the room where Pétain was, Sidell consciously walked behind the marshal who had promoted him, and accompanied Pétain to look at the large map spread out on the wall.
"Here we come," Petain said without looking back.
After hearing what Petain said, Sidell continued: "Marshal, I'm late. According to your request, I have thoroughly figured out the German forward deployment. Their remaining two highland positions are also equipped with 5,000 people.
, also without heavy weapons.”
In Sidell's view, even if they knew the German deployment, the French army would not have enough time. Even the next two highlands could be captured by the French army twice as fast as before. Those are far away in the Ruhr Industry
How much time will the German troops left behind in the area consume the French army? Does the French army really have that much time?
Sidell understood, and he believed Pétain also understood that the country would only give them another week at most. If they could not win the Ruhr, the French army would have no choice but to retreat to the country in despair. Because France today has no intention of enduring another world war.
courage.
However, Sidel's worries did not affect Pétain. As a famous general, Pétain had many more methods than Sidel imagined.
Compared with Verdun back then, the situation at hand was much better. At least the initiative was always in France's hands. Even if it couldn't win, France wouldn't be considered a loser.
What's more, since Pétain, the number one star in France, is here, the French army cannot return empty-handed!
Pétain's arrival was also a great shock to Steve, who had participated in World War I.
Although Steve was just a low-level officer when Petain became famous in the Battle of Verdun. However, Steve still knew Petain's reputation very well.
In Steve's eyes, this French marshal, who graduated from the French Military Academy of Saint-Cyr and is known for his meticulous and steady tactical style, is a respectable opponent. In fact, he, Steve, even became Pétain's opponent.
Not even qualified!
Think of the original Battle of Verdun. Originally, as Germany blatantly increased its troops to Champagne and made a gesture of launching an offensive in Champagne, the French commander-in-chief Joffre had been fooled, and almost all the main force of the French army had been deceived.
Go to Champagne.
At that time, the well-equipped German army had already attacked the Verdun Fortress, which was short of major generals, at lightning speed, and was ready to rush into the French capital Paris at any time. Faced with the nearly complete retreat of the French army, the entire German top brass was optimistic.
I believe that the main force of the German army can easily advance to Paris!
Unexpectedly, Pétain, who had just assumed the post of commander of the Verdun Fortress, stabilized the situation as soon as he arrived at the Verdun front line. He commanded two second-rate divisions hastily transferred by the French army and blocked the German army's approach to the fortress.
Verdun's key road!
That offensive and defensive battle has been repeatedly studied by Germany and France as a war example. Pétain used two second-rate divisions plus his own two divisions, a total of four divisions, to continuously add fuel to the battlefield.
Although the German army advanced 6 kilometers on the first day, they finally stabilized their position.
Four divisions bought 96 hours for Pétain!
In the past four days, he desperately gathered the remaining troops, desperately mobilized small groups of troops scattered in the rear, and resolutely threw these troops into the battlefield. This death-like tactic left the German General Staff helpless. They could not do anything.
Knowing the numbers of the troops that had been defeated some time ago, why did they appear in front of him again?
The German army launched an attack with all its strength, trying to achieve a breakthrough. However, as time passed, when French reinforcements appeared on the line of Verdun like a tide, the German General Staff let out a deep sigh.
.
They know that the best opportunity has been missed!
Since then, the two sides have formed a strategic stalemate in the Verdun area. And this stalemate, in a sense, is more cruel than an all-out decisive battle! Both sides continue to invest troops and use human lives to fill every strategic point.
Important place. The huge Verdun fortress area has since become synonymous with meat grinder.
The German army doesn't want this, and the French army can't stand it. However, we still have to fight like this without any technical content.
At this point in the war, it is already too difficult to get off. Whichever side fails to withstand it first will completely collapse. Such a collapse will be like dominoes, leading to the collapse of the whole line!
Both sides continued to transport supplies to the front line and transport back the wounded.
The French army used the Bar-le-Duc-Verdun road, which was the only road that maintained contact with the rear, to continuously transport troops and supplies to Verdun. Within a week, 3,900 trucks were organized to transport 190,000 personnel and 25,000 tons of supplies. Formed.
The first large-scale automobile transportation in war history.
Germany, as the attacker, has repeatedly transported wounded soldiers back to the rear. Often after a large-scale attack, the German army has to transport back tens of thousands of seriously wounded people who cannot be treated by frontline hospitals within a week. Coupled with the supplies transported to the frontline, Germany
The role of each vehicle was maximized. It transported supplies when it came and transported the wounded when it left. It can be said that no transportation capacity was wasted.
Even so, the war on the front line still made no progress. An integrated regiment was pulled to the front line and was quickly defeated. Then another regiment was pulled up. If one regiment is not enough, just a brigade; if one brigade is not enough, just a division!
An ordinary high ground is often still in the hands of the French army in the morning, becomes a position of the German army in the afternoon, and returns to the hands of the French army in the evening. Both sides are paying for it with human lives, and no one dares to stop!
This kind of tug-of-war is so cruel that it makes people crazy. Ever since the two sides formed a stalemate in Verdun, the sound of artillery on the front line has never stopped. Everyone is desperately trying to win the final decisive battle with superior strength! The decisive battle is one day earlier.
Come, this tormenting day will end as soon as possible!
In the fierce fighting until April, Pétain, who originally had a small number of troops, was already equal to the German army in terms of strength. The eager Wilhelm II even sent the Crown Prince to fight in person and used poison gas bombs for the first time. However, Pétain still defeated the German offensive again and again.
Once stopped in front of the fortress.
In July, the German army launched its last offensive**, but it was still resisted by Pétain. In the autumn, Pétain ordered a counterattack, and the French army with superior strength finally lifted the siege of Verdun.
Returning to the Battle of the Ruhr, after Pétain once again confirmed the markings on the map, a confident smile appeared on his lips, "Order all units to attack according to plan B. If there is any panic and the attackers leak the attack plan,