Since Pétain took office, the French army attacking the Ruhr has been fighting with the SS for two days. Except for several breakthroughs into the city on the first day when the SS was caught off guard, the French offensive has made no progress.
The invading troops were driven out, and the oppressive and attacking troops were desperately blocked by the SS.
"Is this tenacity or stupidity?" Pétain looked at the crumbling SS defense line on the battle map and muttered to himself. He couldn't understand why these Germans were still working so hard when it was already doomed to fail.
.What is the difference between whether the Ruhr Industrial Area falls a few days earlier or a few days later? Is it worth fighting for with your life?
Staring at the line of defense that was struggling to be supported by the SS, Sheldon looked at the calendar on the wall again and paced back and forth a few steps.
The country has urged itself many times. Since the international situation does not allow France to monopolize the German cake, the French government has received increasing international pressure.
Just yesterday, under the leadership of Britain and the United States, the League of Nations issued a mediation notice against the French and Belgian governments! The war is about to be extinguished.
Thinking of this, Pétain turned to his adjutant and said, "Can we contact the German commander now?"
The adjutant who had followed Pétain since World War I did not ask any questions. He stood straight and replied: "Since the telephone network in the Ruhr Industrial Area has not been damaged, we can make calls to the Ruhr Industrial Area at any time."
.It's just that I can't be sure..."
"Can't you confirm the phone number of the militia headquarters in the Ruhr Industrial Zone?" Pétain sneered: "With such a long fight on the border, the German government would not know about it? This militia really has nothing to do with the German government? Some
Everyone is tacitly aware of the matter. Just call the mayor's office in Dortmund, Germany, and ask them to forward it to the frontline commander."
"Yes!" The adjutant gave a standard military salute and left quickly. Although he didn't know why the marshal suddenly wanted to contact the other party's commander, the adjutant still obeyed Petain's instructions unconditionally. In the adjutant's memory, the marshal's instructions
Never missed it!
Outside Petain's headquarters, artillery roared and roared continuously. Because the SS in Steve's hands secretly received heavy weapons including 30 37mm anti-tank guns provided by Rhein Company, they were now reckless.
The SS troops in the Seoul area already have the strength to engage in local artillery battles with the French army.
After a while, the SS received a ceasefire request from the French army, and the sound of gunfire on both sides gradually fell silent.
An hour later, the call from the French military headquarters was transferred to the SS headquarters through the telephone exchange in Dortmund.
"Mr. Steve." Because he didn't know what to call Steve Petain, who joined the SS and had no military rank, he had to use the general word sir to address him: "I am the current Field Marshal of France, Petain."
"Hello. I have heard about your identity from the secretary of the mayor of Dortmund. If you have anything to say, just say it. I believe that the Marshal took all the trouble to contact me, and it is not for the purpose of chatting."
Without a trace of his usual playful smile, Steve responded in a cold tone.
Although he knew that Petain could not see him now, Steve still buttoned his cuffs, put on the silver SS epaulettes, and stood upright next to the phone, holding the phone.
At this moment, Steve felt like he was standing in front of the legendary French general, as if the two were talking face to face. He neither dared nor wanted to relax!
After listening to the young and emotionless tone on the phone, Petain sighed in his heart.
Although from the previous battles, he had already seen what kind of person the commander of this unit was. The command level shown by the opponent in many aspects was quite satisfactory. In other words, the command methods were immature!
He is a young commander who lacks experience. He has a solid foundation but lacks experience. Pétain made a conclusion in his mind.
However, even if the other party's commanding art is not as good as his own, the perseverance and determination shown by this commander are not inferior to his own at all!
It wasn't until he heard the voice on the phone that he truly understood what a determined soldier this young commander was.
After the other party answered the phone, he spoke calmly and calmly, without any emotion in his conversation. Petain could tell Steve's determination. He led his troops to fight here and had no intention of returning alive!
"Although I know that some words may be difficult for you to accept," Pétain pondered for a moment and said slowly: "However, I still want to ask your troops to give up resistance. Such a battle is just meaningless for my troops.
Just killing."
"There is no word surrender in the German dictionary. We founded our country in iron and blood, and we also developed in iron and blood. "Surrender" can be said to be the most distant word in our eyes." Steve smiled and shook his head.
He shook his head and firmly rejected Petain's proposal.
"Don't you think this futile battle is cruel to the soldiers under your command?" Pétain asked in a higher tone.
"You can always say despicable things with such a righteous face." Steve laughed loudly: "Is this kind of shallow provocation useful?"
Petain said calmly: "While you are talking to me, your soldiers are dying!"
"Yes, they are dying!" Steve's laughter stopped and he roared loudly: "We lost two million soldiers in the last world war. Most of our SS soldiers survived in that world war.
Those who came down. For us, it is an honor and a blessing to be able to return to the battlefield and die in battle instead of dying of old age in a hospital bed!"
He continued coldly: "You said cruelty in front of me!? The Treaty of Versailles drained every fiber of Germany's flesh and blood, and the heavy reparations made the German people miserable. Isn't this cruelty? The Franco-Belgian coalition invaded the Ruhr Industrial Zone, isn't it cruel?
Isn't it cruel to leave Germany a way to survive? The invaders don't think they are cruel, but they think the resisters are cruel. Don't you think your logic is ridiculous?"
"If you stop resisting, I will ensure that you and your men leave safely." Pétain did not want to stay on this topic.
"Don't put on such a Madonna-like face!" Steve said coldly, "The German people have seen enough of this face in the League of Nations before!"
Pétain seemed to sigh regretfully on the phone: "Actually, I'm telling you this just because I can't bear to continue the massacre. In fact, within 24 hours, your defenses will collapse. Is it true that as a commander?
Official, can't you see it? For me, it's just an extra 24 hours. But for you and your soldiers, it's the difference between life and death!"
"This is not the difference between life and death, but the difference between resistance and weakness." Steve said loudly: "The bones of the German soldiers are much harder than you think! The battle has only lasted two days. If you want to win,
To defeat us within the third day, you French people will have to work hard. But... you are just daydreaming!"
"If you don't believe me, you can try! You can't take down the SS defense line in 24 hours." Before cutting off the communication, Steve returned to the state he was in when he was with Zhang Chengtian for a long time, and said with a sly smile: "You have to call me
dad!"
The communication was cut off cleanly, and it was obvious that the SS would not connect it again.
Pétain gritted his teeth. He had originally planned to persuade Steve to surrender. If he could not persuade Steve to surrender, he simply promised to let him leave. After all, the Belgian army had previously received news that a regiment had lost contact inexplicably. This was not a good sign. However,
Unexpectedly, before he finished speaking, the stubborn young commander cut off the communication.
"Order all the troops to press forward!" Pétain ordered fiercely: "At all costs, break through the enemy's defense line in the Ruhr Industrial Zone within 24 hours!".