I was a tycoon in World War I: Starting to save France - Chapter 616

Different from the purpose of the Volunteer Army’s ambush warfare, Charles’s battle was to save time, ammunition, and fuel.

Although Charles secretly stored a batch of ammunition, it was an interspersed attack after all, and no one could be sure how much ammunition and fuel would be needed to defend Hasselt.

This was a battle to see who could last until the end, and the savings in the early stage should be saved.

The Germans had never experienced such a desperate fighting style, and they could not imagine anyone who could lurk in the snow for a long time, especially with more than 3,000 people.

This sounds simple, but it is very difficult to do.

More than 3,000 people lurked in the severe cold for more than three hours without moving. As long as one person could not hold on and made a little movement, they might be exposed. Without super organization and discipline, it was impossible and even dangerous.

But this was just routine training for the First Armored Army.

Especially for Tijani’s mechanized division, Charles’s requirement for this unit was that it could fight any battle, while the infantry of the armored division was much simpler, that is, infantry-tank coordination.

The battle was as Charles expected. The soldiers were halfway successful if they could hide until the scheduled time.

The tanks were put into battle more to attract the enemy’s attention and artillery fire.

The German artillery always maintained traditional habits. They took it for granted that the French offensive line was still behind the tanks, so they fired at the tank group as the first target.

The sound of artillery roared, and rows of shells flew to the tank group a few miles away with a whistle.

But the effect of bombing the tank group with artillery fire was always unsatisfactory. The tank was mobile and armored, and it was basically impossible to pose a threat to the tank without a direct hit.

And this artillery sound and chaos just provided cover for the attack of the lurking troops.

When the German artillery sounded, the lurking troops immediately launched a charge. They climbed out of the hiding place one by one, passed through the barbed wire and anti-tank trenches under the cover of friendly forces, and threw grenades into the enemy trenches in rows when they approached.

There was a cloud of smoke and roar, and finally the submachine gunners and shotgunners rushed into the trenches and started the massacre.

The German artillery stopped soon.

It was not that they wanted to stop, but the German artillery was firing, and when they looked up, they were shocked to find that their troops were retreating in groups.

Looking closely again, they saw groups of French soldiers with needle-shaped bayonets behind their friendly troops, pressing towards the artillery positions fiercely.

What happened?

Wasn’t the enemy still a few miles away?

Why did they appear in front of them?

At this time, they had no time to think about it, and turned around and abandoned the artillery and fled with the infantry. The infantry and trenches could not stop the enemy, let alone their artillery.

Charles’s First Armored Army won a great victory.

The French army chased the Germans all the way, advancing more than 20 kilometers into the hinterland of the German army in one day, killing and wounding more than 20,000 people and capturing more than 7,000 people.

Charles was too lazy to count the specific numbers, because it was not important, at least not important for the First Armored Army that lacked supplies.

What was important was supplies.

As the German 37th Army retreated quickly, food, ammunition, and equipment were not burned or blown up, and were almost completely handed over to Charles.

Including cleaning the battlefield, confiscating rifles from prisoners, and obtaining rifles from warehouses, Charles seized more than 40,000 rifles in one go, as well as a large number of Maxim machine guns, anti-tank rifles, hundreds of 77MM infantry guns, and more than 30 105MM howitzers, as well as a large number of food, ammunition, and shells.

Tijani’s eyes were burning when he saw the piles of ammunition: “It’s a pity that these ammunition don’t match our rifles!”

“But they are the same as those of the Belgian army.” Charles said: “The military rifles imitate Mauser, and most of the artillery is from Germany.”

Tijani instantly understood what Charles meant: “You mean, let the Belgian First Special Reconnaissance Army follow us?”

“Do we have any other options?” Charles asked back.

The French army may be able to transfer a French army from Gembloux to follow up, but the more French troops there are, the greater the consumption of Lebel rifle bullets.

If the Belgian army equipped with German weapons follows up, the captured equipment and ammunition can be well utilized. The Belgian army of more than 60,000 people will hardly need to consider the problem of ammunition and equipment. The more they fight, the better their equipment and the stronger their combat effectiveness will be.

Tijani seemed to have thought of these benefits. He nodded excitedly and agreed: “This can reduce the pressure on our army’s logistics. I didn’t expect the Belgian army to have this benefit.”

Then he hesitated and asked: “It’s just that the Belgian Special Reconnaissance Army does not seem to have a unified command.”

This unit has always been led by Major General Eden, who is organizing defense in Antwerp at this time.

Charles answered very straightforwardly, or it can be said to be an order: “Call Albert I back and let him command.”

Tijani was stunned. That’s the king, Lieutenant General, can you be more polite?

However, Albert I seemed to have no reason to refuse. He would even be grateful. After all, this is to take his troops to recover the country and follow Charles’ troops to gain experience.

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How could I refuse such a strong brother to lead the team to level up?

…

Brussels, Albert I was busy collecting intelligence in the temporary command center of the city government.

The reason why he rushed to Brussels to take command was, firstly, because he estimated that Charles would use this place as a base to launch a counterattack, and secondly, because Brussels is the capital of Belgium.

After the German army broke through the defense line from Antwerp to Brussels, its garrison and interspersed troops in Leuven formed a semi-encirclement of Brussels.

He could ignore or not care about the situation of the Allies.

But Brussels, she is the capital of Belgium, she cannot fall into the hands of the German army again, otherwise it will cause a great blow to the morale and confidence of the Belgian military and civilians.

Therefore, as soon as he arrived in Brussels, he actively organized militias to find out German intelligence, and at the same time made every effort to do logistics work, such as raising fuel for Charles’s planes and tanks, and preparing food and ammunition for the troops.

“We can’t let Charles’ troops get into trouble because of these factors.” Albert I said to the mayor of Brussels: “Otherwise, we are the sinners of Belgium and will be nailed to the pillar of shame for life!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!” Mayor De Bru was a little nervous. The king’s words were very serious. It has risen to the national and ethnic level. This matter must not be slackened.

However, just when Albert I was busy, a signalman excitedly reported to him with a telegram: “Your Majesty, Charles’s troops have broken through the German defense line and penetrated into the enemy’s hinterland. He needs you to command the First Special Reconnaissance Army.”

Albert I was stunned: “Charles won the battle? Where?”

Albert I’s first reaction was somewhere in Brussels, but he didn’t hear that Charles’ troops had arrived here.

“Namur, Your Majesty.” The signalman replied: “Charles broke through the German Namur defense line and is marching towards Hasselt!”

“Namur?” Albert I exclaimed: “March, towards Hasselt?”