CHAPTER 679: CHAPTER 679: ERWIN’S TACTICS

"Why not launch the attack in April?" Tijani asked. He didn’t understand the difference between April and Shire’s original plan for June.

Instead of answering, Shire asked back, "What is special about Brusilov’s attack this time?"

"New tactics," Tijani replied. "I heard it’s ’multiple breakthroughs, focusing on one point’."

"What else?" Shire prompted, "What new equipment did they use?"

Tijani looked over the telegram again, trying to find the answer, but it wasn’t there.

This kind of detailed tactical information, especially combined with simple equipment, was often overlooked and rarely transmitted from Russia to France that quickly.

"It’s the sledge and Maxim, Major General," Shire replied. "To be precise, they use sledges in winter when there is snow, and switch to carriages with Maxims when the snow melts in summer."

"Did you teach them that?" Tijani gave a wry smile and then seemed to understand, "In April, the snow in Russia hasn’t melted yet, so they use sledges. In the middle of the battle, they suddenly find that the snow is gone and need to switch from sledges to carriages?"

Tijani knew that Russia’s weather was different from France’s, with an average temperature around 0 degrees in April.

Shire nodded.

It was obvious that even Brusilov overlooked this point.

Or rather, they didn’t overlook it but thought the transition between the two would be too simple.

...

Indeed, that was the case.

Brusilov returned to Russia and reported his entire conversation with Shire to the Tsar. Immediately, Tsar Nicholas II fully supported the operation plan.

Tsar praised the tactical map in front of him:

"As expected of a plan devised by Shire!"

"Everyone is digging trenches for defense, but it’s actually not a defense; it’s a retreat, even a rout!"

"Beyond that, there is nothing, and everyone is in a state of pessimism and passiveness."

"Only Shire would think about attacking at this time, and with a completely new offensive tactic, even considering the sledge and Maxim!"

Brusilov stood in front of the Tsar, holding his military hat and bowing slightly:

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"From this, we can see that we wasted a lot of funds and manpower on the ’Tsar Tank,’ and it was unnecessary. We should stop this program immediately, all of it."

"Because things that can’t be deployed to the battlefield won’t help us at all. It might look impressive, but it will only drag us down and make our already limited funds even scarcer!"

Nicholas II nodded, "Absolutely right, General. The sledge and Maxim, on the other hand, can be equipped in thousands in no time, and more importantly, the Germans can’t learn from us!"

Brusilov paused, puzzled that the Germans couldn’t learn?

Then he understood -- yes, Russians have lived in ice and snow for so long that even civilians can easily drive sledges.

The Germans could also learn, because it isn’t hard.

However, on the battlefield, it requires skilled drivers who can navigate sledges swiftly through trees, rocks, and even across enemy trenches...

These are things the Germans can’t manage.

"I can’t wait to witness this victory, my General." Nicholas II’s eyes wandered over the map, full of excitement, "Why don’t we launch the attack now? If we can gather enough troops within a month."

"Your Majesty," Brusilov replied, "Shire reminded me to launch the attack in June. I believe apart from considering the Germans’ difficulty in adapting to the June climate, there’s also the issue of transitioning from sledges to carriages."

Nicholas II laughed, "Is that a problem for us? Many of our people have spent their entire lives on sledges and carriages, General!"

Brusilov didn’t see it as an issue either.

Sledges and carriages are cheap, and horses are even more crucial, so he agreed with Nicholas II’s decision.

However, what they hadn’t anticipated, always fighting defensive battles without launching attacks, was:

Once they attacked, their supply lines would stretch with the front lines’ advance. When the snow melted and the thaw season began, transportation of supplies would be challenging. At this point, transforming numerous sledges into carriages wouldn’t be as simple as they thought.

...

Along the English Channel coast, Montreuil was shrouded in rain and mist.

Major General Erwin was hiding behind the trenches, observing the enemy lines with binoculars.

For weeks, he’d pursued the British Expeditionary Force all the way here.

His plan was clear: advance along the River Somme with the First Tank Division as the main force, isolating the British from France.

"As long as we take Montreuil, we can encircle Dunkirk and the entire Belgium!" Major General Erwin looked at the British defenses under artillery fire with excitement.

To encircle Shire’s forces, what an exhilarating moment.

The River Somme was a natural barrier. Deploying a few infantry divisions could perfectly isolate this battlefield from France.

Belgium, due to the Arden Mountains and forest barriers, had only an exit a few dozen kilometers wide.

The German Army only needed a pincer movement to attack from behind, seizing one trench after another, and these defense lines would then become the German Army’s support to block Shire’s forces.

(The red line in the image shows the direction of the River Somme, with the French defense zone to the south, the British defense zone to the north, and the red circle indicating Montreuil’s location. Dunkirk is not only an important port for British landings but also a key point for blocking Belgium.)

However, Erwin’s advance was halted at Montreuil.

The British frequently deployed warships to provide cover for their army with naval guns. Although the accuracy of the naval guns wasn’t high, their power couldn’t be underestimated. Erwin’s several attacks had been repelled by shelling from the ships.

"General!" Just as Major General Erwin was pondering how to take this stronghold, a messenger came to report, "The Eastern Front is changing, the Russians are counterattacking our lines, our forces are suffering heavy casualties and are retreating!"

"What?" Major General Erwin looked at the messenger in astonishment.

Once the Eastern Front collapsed, any achievements on the Western Front would be worthless.

What’s happening with the Russians?

Always suppressed by the German Army, why have they suddenly launched a counterattack and succeeded!

"General," another messenger came with a telegram, "The Chief of Staff hopes you can accelerate your offensive to win quickly!"

Major General Erwin muttered an acknowledgment.

He understood Fajin Han’s meaning. The Eastern Front’s retreat meant Germany’s resources would shift eastward, possibly even reallocating forces from the Western Front to the Eastern Front.

If the River Somme could not be won in the short term, it would likely never be won.

But Montreuil couldn’t be taken in a short time.

Suddenly, a bold idea popped into Major General Erwin’s mind.

Since the British concentrated their forces, even their navy, here, why not bypass them and directly attack Dunkirk?