Chapter 496: pontoon

   "Da da da!" A general-purpose German machine gun was firing at the French position. The dense bullets made the French soldiers defending this line of defense completely unable to raise their heads and could only shrink in the trenches.

   After several opportunities, several small boats successfully rushed to the river beach on the south bank of the Marne River, and almost a platoon of soldiers successfully crossed the river. They lay on the river beach, further suppressing the French army's position, and creating conditions for the subsequent troops to cross the river.

  As more and more German soldiers crossed the Marne River, they gradually established a solid beachhead on the south bank of the Marne River. And tentatively launched an attack on the French army's position, trying to tear through the French army's defense line.

  The French army's line of defense is too close to the Marne River. If they can't break through their first line of defense, it is almost impossible for the engineers to erect a pontoon bridge. They will suffer heavy casualties under the firepower of the French army.

   Therefore, the German army needs to break through another line of defense of the French army and establish a solid position before the engineers can be dispatched.

   "Boom! Boom! Boom!"

  On the German positions, mortars and grenades of various calibers were firing to provide fire support for the German soldiers who had successfully crossed the river. The shells fell on the French army's position like raindrops, causing heavy losses to the French army stationed on this line of defense.

"Your Highness, the soldiers fought very hard, and the casualties were relatively heavy. However, it was within our expectations. I believe that the casualties of the French will definitely not be much smaller than ours. When we cross the river, more and more troops The more they have, the more they will be able to attack the defense lines of the British and French allied forces and take their defense lines in one fell swoop." Major General Manstein said.

  Qin Tian nodded: "Well, let the engineers get ready. Once we take down the first line of defense of the British and French allied forces, we will immediately start building the pontoon bridge."

  Using small boats to transport soldiers was too slow after all, and at the same time, under the firepower of the French, the losses were also great. If weapons can be built, soldiers and various combat materials can directly cross the river. In that case, the efficiency will be greatly improved. After spending a little more time, let the engineers build a pontoon bridge that can pass tanks, and they can directly use armored troops to assault the defense lines of the British and French allied forces. Qin Tian believed that the British and French allied forces would absolutely be unable to withstand their attack.

   "Yes, Your Highness." Major General Manstein replied.

  In this battle, crossing the Marne River is the most critical battle. As long as the Marne River is hit, the problem is easily solved. The armored forces will rampage on the French land and completely beat the British and French allied forces to the ground.

  The battle continued, and the German army and the British and French allied forces fought desperately on the south bank of the Marne River. Although the British and French allied forces have a great advantage in strength. However, they suffered heavy losses under the attack of the German army. Even the line of defense they held on to became precarious.

  Marshal Xia Fei, who was sitting in the rear, was also very nervous after learning of the predicament at the front.

  The battle has only started for half a day, are they about to lose the first line of defense? At this speed, the line of defense they built on the south bank of the Marne River would not last for a few days in total! Once the Marne River defense line fell, the German army could not be stopped in the future. At that time, the German army will probably fight all the way to Paris. In that case, France will be finished.

   "Marshal, the first-line positions of the several armies on the front line have suffered heavy losses. They have already started to use the reserves. But even so, it is not known how long they can last." A French general reported to Marshal Joffre.

   "Tell the frontline departments that the battle has just begun. The two army groups serving as reserves cannot be used. They must find their own way to resist the German attack." Marshal Xiafei said.

  Although, he prepared two group armies and a reserve force of more than 400,000 people for the coalition forces on the front line. However, it is not possible to invest a large number of reserves at the beginning of the battle, right? In that case, how can this battle continue?

   "Yes, Your Excellency Marshal." The general nodded, and immediately went to convey the order.

   "Oh!" After the general left, Marshal Xiafei couldn't help but sighed.

"Those Germans, after half a year of rest, have their strength become so strong? The four front-line armies, with more than 800,000 people, couldn't hold on shortly after the battle started. If this is the case, how can it be possible? ?” Marshal Xia Fei became even more worried about the upcoming battle situation.

  Although, compared with half a year ago, the British and French allied forces are stronger. But obviously, the progress of the German army is greater than theirs. In this case, it would be even more impossible for the British and French allied forces to resist the German attack, or to defeat the German army.

  French Second Army Command, Admiral Decasy Terno is in a state of desperation. The fierce attack of the German army caused great losses to the 2nd Army. The front line of defense is even more precarious. On the more than 20-kilometer defense line in charge of the Second Army, the infantry army he deployed had suffered more than half of its casualties. If the deployment dispatched another infantry army to replace it in time, the line of defense would have been breached long ago.

   "General, a telegram from the headquarters." A staff officer reported to Admiral Decasy Turno.

   Admiral Decasy Terno took the telegram and looked at it, and his face immediately became even uglier.

   "Damn it, let us figure out a way for ourselves. Are we going to lose all of my 2nd Army here? Then, how will this battle go on?" Admiral Decasy Terno said dissatisfied. I am very dissatisfied with this order of Marshal Xia Fei.

  However, he has no choice but to issue stricter orders to the frontline troops, asking them to stick to their positions.

  The French have never been people who will fight to the end. In the case of heavy losses, the fighting will of many French soldiers is already very fragile.

  On the afternoon of April 1, the German 2nd Army took the lead in breaking through the first line of defense of the French 2nd Army. The French army, which suffered heavy casualties, retreated to the second line of defense.

  The 2nd Army Corps of the German Army launched an attack on the second line of defense of the French Army while dispatching engineers to start building pontoon bridges.

   By the evening of April 1st, the first line of defense of the British and French coalition forces on the south bank of the Marne River had been broken by the Germans one after another. The German army has established a solid position on the south bank of the Marne River. The engineers and soldiers of each legion began to move and began to build pontoon bridges. Be prepared for the subsequent rapid crossing of the main force and combat supplies.

  For engineers, it is very easy to build a pontoon bridge on a river tens of meters wide, and it can be completed in at most two hours.