79 – Episode 79 Contact Accident
The Negotiation Army stopped the offensive in late August and resumed the offensive in late September. It was an attack launched in confidence of the 100,000-strong expeditionary force sent by Asian allies, Japan and Thailand.
The battle continued until early November, and more than 400,000 casualties occurred in the process. Although it was an absolutely terrible battle, the negotiating forces acted as if breaking through the Kaiser Line was their top priority.
Thanks to this, we were able to leisurely prepare for the winter offensive.
In Brandenburg, the 3rd Panzer Regiment was established and was in the final stages of training.
The number of tanks to be used in offensive operations was 300 on the front line alone, and 200 tanks were to be prepared for replenishment.
Total 500 units.
I felt the power to push through the wire in one go just by slamming into it.
Of course, considering the tank’s poor reliability and mobility, it was not something that could be used for blitzkrieg like Nazi Germany.
At best, we will push to Franche-Comté.
But even that amount had a huge impact on the enemy.
Once you start getting pushed back, you’ll know that you can’t stop it.
There was no need to worry about the battlefield, which we would win anyway.
I talked with the military attachés about the war situation between Italy and the Ottomans. In the midst of a heated debate, the head of the Intelligence Bureau requested a meeting.
“What’s going on, Kyung?”
Colonel Walter Nikolai, head of the Counterintelligence Bureau’s Intelligence Bureau, has delivered important news.
“The French side has told us that they want to know our exact reinforcement conditions.”
Did you sense that the ship was wrecking?
“Jim, I don’t think the story came from the official line.”
If the official line tried to strengthen contact, it means that the French government is crazy. This means that they will openly betray their allies.
“This is an unofficial line. “This is an inquiry made in the name of Colonel Charles Dupont, Director of the Second Secretariat of France.”
2The Secretary General is still a talented person who cannot be ignored.
“Do you think France’s attitude is serious?”
“I’m not sure, but I don’t think it was light contact.”
Look at the liver of France.
I never thought that France would show weakness before we even threw a punch.
‘Now that I think about it, it might be time to check my liver.’
The Entente Powers exhausted almost all of their spare capacity in the aftermath of the offensive operations carried out throughout 1916. On the other hand, we were concentrating on defense and preserving our capabilities.
I tapped the glass with my index finger and asked for the director’s opinion.
“What kind of content should we send in the plan to end the war so that the French people will be swayed?”
“Shouldn’t the conservation of mainland France be included?”
That was difficult. At the point when it was decided to carve out southeastern France for the Italians, the promise of territorial integrity could not be maintained. If they made such a promise, they would have nothing to say even if they were criticized for being on the same level as the hateful countries that committed triple real estate contract fraud.
Germany may not be a country with a good reputation, but that doesn’t mean it needs to add the ugly stigma of real estate contract fraud. If it was called an evil empire, it would have been called that, but the image of a fraudster like a lease scam was not acceptable.
“If that doesn’t work, the French won’t tolerate it.”
“The division of the mainland will only be accepted when we recognize that we have lost the war.”
Then the contact has passed.
I was about to instruct Colonel Nikolai to stop contact when a thought occurred to me.
“Speaking of that contact, where is it taking place?”
“This is Tangier.”
Ah, Spanish Morocco.
In fact, a neutral country was appropriate for free contact between the two sides.
“Speaking of that contact, can you leak information to the British?”
If the contact is not usable anyway, it should at least create a rift in the negotiating countries.
“It is possible. However, if an accident occurs, the French will not try to contact you again.”
It didn’t matter.
Because the tank will deliver my demands.
You have a great messenger (physics) ready, so what are you talking about?
“I can bear the burden.”
Colonel Nikolai stood up with regret.
But I wasn’t disappointed at all.
It would be a loss to leave all limbs to France in return for advancing the strengthening by a few months.
If that’s the case, you need to be very careful.
I did not want a 20-year armistice.
For France, the French version of the ‘Treaty of Brest-Litovsk’ was suitable.
Bland peace treaties like the Treaty of Versailles are rejected by this side.
I plan to follow the ‘precepts of the Treaty of Versailles’ and act harshly. Because ‘generosity’ is not a virtue of the German Empire.
So, don’t go and die.
*
The French contact ended the moment Britain noticed.
The British government defined France’s ‘contact with Germany’ as a prelude to betrayal.
“If the French had tried to conclude a separate peace with Germany, it would have been a betrayal of the alliance. “Because we paid too much attention to the French people’s situation, we became unable to distinguish between what should be done and what should not be done.”
“Let’s give Paris a stinging taste.”
Britain decided to teach France a lesson. Even France will not be able to talk about independent reinforcements after experiencing the hardships.
“You’re refusing to buy bonds?”
The French government delegation, which visited the London financial market to sell bonds, was shocked by the British government’s notice.
A significant portion of the enormous supplies consumed by the French army was being covered by the purchase of British and American bonds.
If this were cut off, France had no choice but to suffer.
Something absurd was about to happen.
“No, what is the reason?”
The French questioned the issue, but Britain’s response was cold.
“London also has its own circumstances.”
Foreign Minister Del Case visited London in person to try to resolve the bond issue, but to no avail.
It was only after speaking with a British foreign ministry official with whom Delcase was acquainted that he became aware of the circumstances.
‘This was revenge.’
It was funny to retaliate against the allies who fought the war together, but France, which did something that deserved it, was equally funny.
Are you trying to strengthen yourself without any success?
Although it was not promoted at the level of the French government, the fact that influential government officials pursued independent strengthening was a reason for Britain to feel anger.
This friction issue caused a serious problem for the negotiating forces.
France immediately began to reduce imports of ammunition and weapons due to lack of funds. Naturally, the quantity of artillery shells supplied to the front line also decreased noticeably.
“No, just fire for 30 minutes and then charge?”
“It’s too much to do.”
This was enough to explode the dissatisfaction of the soldiers who were angry at the generals who forced them to inflict huge losses.
“Support properly. “Otherwise we won’t fight.”
The soldiers did not express their dissatisfaction verbally.
For now, tunnel work on the Kaiser Line has been halted.
“Hey, you idiots.”
This had an effect on the sluggishness of the French army’s offensive.
In the meantime, unusual signs began to be detected in the German army camp on the other side of the front. The information obtained through aerial reconnaissance was truly shocking.
“The number of trains crossing the Rhine River has increased to twice the usual number. In addition, the volume of wireless communication also exploded. “This is evidence that the Germans are strengthening their military on a large scale.”
“No, the Germans are making such speculations that they have more reserves.”
“It must have been brought from the East.”
The generals were afraid that Germany would launch a counterattack in a situation where there was a shortage of artillery shells.
“Let’s ask the government. “It looks like everything will collapse with one attack.”
Not only the French generals but also the British generals unanimously warned of the seriousness of the situation.
Only then did the British government show its intention to resume bond purchases, and France also promised to supply sufficient ammunition even if it meant taking on more debt.
However, there was no resumption of the offensive.
The governments of the negotiating countries listened to the warnings of front-line commanders and allowed the digging of trenches.
“If the Germans attack first, we can exhaust the reserves and break through. It worked out better.”
They stopped the offensive based on their own calculations and waited for Germany’s counterattack.
Amidst these complicated circumstances, winter has arrived.
Winter was a season when all things held their breath, but this was not the case for humans. Winter was a good season for waging war.
When the ground was frozen, it was easier for soldiers and heavy equipment to maneuver.
The negotiating powers knew that Germany was preparing an offensive, but they did not know exactly what and how much they had prepared.
I was just thinking about it in light of previous experiences.
‘Poison gas will be used this time too.’
Of course, even just a wave of poison gas was scary. The German army conquered Europe with a simple combination of infantry, artillery, and poison gas.
The negotiating forces made up their minds and accelerated their defense preparations. A strong defense line was built imitating the German army. Trenches were dug lengthwise and horizontally, and strong positions and communication lines were built to protect the artillery observation unit.
“Now, if they come, it’s over.”
The negotiators were delighted with the idea of returning the pain they had experienced to the Germans.
But the Germans didn’t just bring gas.
In the first week of December, special trains carrying hundreds of trams crossed the railway bridge over the Rhine River.
A harsh campaign that the negotiating forces had never even thought about was about to begin.