The Rise of the Empire

According to the plan, the Third Army selected a total of three breakthrough areas. The most important middle breakthrough area was personally commanded by Ruprecht. This area is located in the middle of the Third Army Group's front line. The terrain is very open, flat, and without obstacles. It has an unobstructed view and convenient transportation. It is very suitable for armored troops and large-scale mechanized troops to advance. It is easy to attack and difficult to defend. Especially when there is no time and materials for fortification, it is obviously the best choice for a large corps to break through.

To this end, Ruprecht concentrated the strongest 1st Armored Division and the reserves directly under the Third Army Group, as well as the 2 most elite motorized infantry divisions and most of the self-propelled artillery in the center. Prepare for a flowering in the middle, and then open the way for a few infantry divisions to follow...

However, Ruprecht can realize this, and so can the French! They naturally know that this position is easy to attack and difficult to defend, and they also know that defense alone cannot break the deadlock. Therefore, the French are also accumulating strength. The only difference is that the Germans' preparations are completed relatively quickly. Before the French, the Bavarian armored forces have already launched an attack with roar.

In order to ensure that he could grasp the situation on the battlefield as soon as possible, Ruprecht took the command personnel to the front line in person. There was no other way. The entire legion relied on armored forces to open the opponent's defense line. For this breakthrough position where more than half of the mechanized units of the legion were concentrated, , the prince naturally has to direct it himself.

A radio communication station with a coverage of 120 kilometers was set up. Through this system, each armored battalion can directly contact the general headquarters and report the situation. Each armored company is equipped with two half-tracks equipped with unlimited communication equipment. One is responsible for communicating with other companies, and the other is responsible for communicating with superiors. At the same time, there are also communication soldiers laying telephone lines, just in case. .

After more than 700 artillery pieces carried out indiscriminate bombardment of deep and shallow targets for several hours, the most elite armored groups in Germany and even the entire world launched an assault. Compared with the two wings deploying one large armored battalion at a time, The prince almost committed an entire armored division to this wave of attacks! Two armored battalions equipped with 75 tanks and assault guns were followed by a reserve equipped with 55 tanks and assault guns. Various self-propelled artillery and towed artillery are included separately!

This was the first time in the history of world war that a complete armored division was committed in a certain assault direction. However, at the same time, this battle was also the first time that the defender committed large-scale armored units in a defensive direction. In the dark, the strongest spear of the Allies in the First World War and the hardest shield of the Allied Powers in the First War collided with each other!

The two armored battalions formed two wedge-shaped attack formations. The two battalions were not parallel, but moved forward and backward in an orderly manner, staggering each other. While the first armored battalion attacked, the second armored battalion provided cover. After the success, the 1st Armored Battalion temporarily defended and covered the advance of the 2nd Armored Battalion. This mutual cooperation and mutual cover covered each other's flanks very well.

The troops started to progress very smoothly. Hundreds of tanks crossed the positions full of craters, knocked away the destroyed flat-fire cannons, ran over the dead bodies on the ground, and rushed forward with a roar. Viewed from the air, groups of tanks formed a tight formation, forming an unstoppable torrent of steel that crashed down the French breakwater. The slender muzzle glowed coldly under the sunlight, and the 75MM cannon of the Wasp assault gun pointed straight forward, like a knight's heavy lance. The turret on the Cricket tank rotated from time to time, and together with the machine gun, it cleared the targets that were exposed from time to time.

The Hornet heavy self-propelled howitzer and the Weasel self-propelled mortar were located directly behind the two armored battalions.

The 150MM heavy howitzer coupled with specialized armor-piercing projectiles is the most brutal heavy hammer in the entire armored corps. Ninety-nine percent of bunkers will be wiped out by the attack of super-heavy armor-piercing projectiles.

Accompanying the advance of the self-propelled artillery are two full divisions of mechanized infantry. These steel legions, composed of a large number of half-tracks, truck guns, transport trucks and towed artillery, will be responsible for tearing the gap that has been torn open even wider. And provide reliable backup for the armored division.

"General, the Germans have launched an attack. They have launched the largest armored assault since its launch, and the center line of the attack is directed towards Reims! General Luf, commander of the Third Army, is about to launch a counterattack, and hopes that the reserve armored units of the base camp will also enter the battle!" The German attack was not hidden from the French. With aerial reconnaissance, once they left the starting position, the opponent could clearly know the attacker's intentions.

"The Germans have also launched an attack in the north. The general reserves of the base camp cannot be easily mobilized. Lu Fu already has our largest armored group in his hands. It shouldn't be difficult to repel the attacks from the opposite side." Xiafei touched his chin and said. .

"But it is said that the Bavarian Army is on the opposite side. According to the Russian intelligence, they can invest up to 10 armored battalions in one battle! And the equipment is very sophisticated, most of them are Wasp assault guns and Cricket tanks. If they put all their strength If we hit him, it would be difficult for General Luf to reach him," Chief of Staff Pétain said.

"However, it is absolutely impossible to have so many tanks in this direction. It will take time to mobilize all the base camp reserves, but we can give him some truck guns. He now has 12 battalions of armor in his hands! There are only 4 battalions at most on the opposite side. ! Can it be blocked with a force of three to one?" Xiafei said: "There can be no problems on this front. He must launch a counterattack immediately. We are engaged in a national war. We can't fight without a reserve team, right?"

The discussion at the French headquarters did not last long. The large number of armored reserves in Reims could not quench the thirst, but the French still removed some vehicles and artillery from other places. This is one of the reasons why Panzer Meier did not encounter French armored units.

"Okay, if that's the case, let's have a fight!" Although the headquarters did not fully agree with his request, Lu Fu was also very satisfied with the current situation. He knew that the Armored General Reserve Team could not devote itself to a certain one from the beginning. On the group army's position, he sent out a request for help telegram with the intention of getting as much as he could. In time, Joffre still gave him two additional battalions of truck guns. Although it is not the FT10 tank he dreamed of, it is better than nothing.

"The 1st to 5th armored battalions are blocking the front. The remaining 4 armored battalions are detouring from the sides. The last three armored battalions serve as support tasks. Tell the boys that we are making history. The heavy cuirassiers of France during the Napoleonic era are here. Suddenly he became the enemy's nightmare again!" Lu Fu said excitedly.

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