Chapter 657 Threat of Force

The territory north of the Loire is undoubtedly the most quintessential part of France. Almost all of France's major industries are concentrated in this area. The vast areas in the south are dominated by agriculture and animal husbandry.

After losing the vast territory north of the Loire River, France was completely reduced from an industrial power to a third-rate agricultural country. Such a change is undoubtedly unacceptable to the ministers. What's more, Paris was also included in the territory ceded to the Germans.

"Your Excellency President, Your Excellency Prime Minister. Can we still talk to the Germans and cede some less territory to the Germans?" Alexander Ribert, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, asked.

Both President Poincaré and Prime Minister René Viviani shook their heads.

"The Germans said it very hard. They must want the territory north of the Loire River. There is no room for bargaining." President Poincaré said. President Poincaré's words reveal a deep sense of helplessness. As the president of France, in the face of such a situation, he is powerless, which is a kind of sadness!

"Then we have no other choice, either agree to the conditions of the Germans and cede half of the territory to them. Or we can only resist to the end. Of course, the result of that is nothing more than being completely destroyed by Germany." Alexander ? Liebert continued.

There is no doubt that neither of these results is what the French government wants. They wouldn't want to pick any if they could. But, sadly, they have to choose one.

"If we resist, can we persevere?" asked President Poincaré.

"Your Excellency, if we continue to resist, the mainland will soon fall. I am afraid that we will only be in exile in overseas colonies. And the Germans have the most powerful navy in the world. Therefore, even in exile in overseas colonies, that is It’s not safe. The Germans will continue to attack us. Therefore, in the overseas colonies, we can only persist for a year or two at most.” Alexander Millerand said.

President Poincaré nodded, but said nothing more.

"The fourth requirement, the Germans require our army to be controlled at less than 100,000 people, not to be equipped with artillery with a caliber of more than 100 mm, and not to have tanks and armored vehicles, etc. The navy is not allowed to build warships with a displacement of more than 5,000 tons. Submarines and planes cannot be owned. The surrender of the police and the Chinese army must also be controlled to less than 100,000 people." President Poincaré continued.

"There is no doubt that the Germans say this in order to limit our military strength, thereby weakening our threat to them." Prime Minister René Viviani said.

Although the Germans attempted to weaken France's military power in this way, the ministers of the French government were very angry. But they know it's impossible. Who let them be defeated in the war?

"The last condition is that the French demand that before the French government fulfills the above conditions, the German army will send a 100,000 troops to France to ensure that we fulfill those conditions." President Poincaré continued.

This last condition did not arouse everyone's dissatisfaction. After all, if you can even agree to the first few humiliating conditions, then the fifth condition is nothing at all.

"Everyone, let's talk about whether we want to agree to the terms of the Germans!" President Poincaré said.

Next, the ministers of the French government began to express their opinions. Some people have expressed their opinion that the conditions of the Germans can be accepted. Although the conditions of the Germans are very harsh. However, at least half of the country can be kept, and the French can continue to exist. The most important thing is that these people can continue to hold the power of the country.

Some people are against it. Those in the military especially believed that if France agreed to the conditions of the Germans, it would be better to fight to the end and fight directly to the end. Even if you can't hold on at home, you can still go to overseas colonies, and you can continue to hold on. Although the Germans are powerful, it will undoubtedly be difficult and take a lot of time to clear them out step by step. In this case, if you persist until the end, maybe a miracle will happen.

However, one thing in the German threat is that if France continues to persist, they will kill and collect wealth in France, suppress resistance, and kill the whole of France to bleed into rivers. This is a threat to many people. They don't want the Germans to raise their butcher knives in France and slaughter them wantonly. In that case, they don't know how many French people will die in the hands of the Germans.

A fierce quarrel ensued, and neither faction could convince the other. Even President Poincaré and Prime Minister René Viviani are caught in a dilemma.

Time passed bit by bit amidst the quarrel.

The German government only gave the French government three days to consider. Once the three days have passed, the German army will continue to attack.

On the morning of May 27, the German government officially announced that the negotiations had broken down in view of the French government's delay in giving a reply. At the same time, the German army, which had stopped attacking, once again launched a massive attack on southern France.

The German 2nd Army, 3rd Army, 5th Army, 6th Army and 7th Army, millions of elite troops, launched an attack with all their strength.

Although, during these three days, the French army rushed to repair some fortifications, hoping to withstand the German attack. However, the result was counterproductive. Under the fierce attack of the German army, these fortifications of the French army were broken through after only holding on for half a day.

A large number of French troops began to collapse, and countless French soldiers directly raised their hands to the German army and surrendered to the German army in order to survive.

The battle has reached the point where they are completely desperate, and they no longer have the confidence to continue fighting. Under such circumstances, the French army was even more vulnerable.

The Germans resumed their offensive, and it was overwhelming. The French army couldn't resist at all, which also put great pressure on the French government.

They seem to have seen that if they reject Germany's conditions, the German army will really spread throughout France very quickly. This is undoubtedly difficult for the French government to accept.

Under the threat of force from the German army, more and more French cabinet ministers gradually changed their attitudes. After all, being in exile overseas is not as comfortable as staying in France! Even if half of the territory is lost, isn't there still half of the territory for them to continue to dominate?