Chapter 425 Bombardment of Verdun

The German General Staff made detailed plans for the siege of Falden and finally decided to launch the offensive in November 1915, codenamed Execution Ground.

The capture of Verdun was a very difficult task, but it also brought unparalleled honors to the generals who led it.

Therefore, many German generals are eager to try the commander of the execution site plan.

But Falkenhayn finally chose the German Crown Prince William as the commander of the main attack on Verdun. Perhaps it was to flatter the royal family, or perhaps it was to get William II to approve the plan as soon as possible. In short, Crown Prince William indeed became Commander who captured Verdun.

An authoritative history of the First World War called The Guns of August describes the German crown prince in a satirical tone:

The crown prince is in his 30s, has a fox face, no breasts, and is as thin as a wicker. He is not at all like the five muscular brothers born to his mother every other year.

The crown prince gave people the impression of being weak and mediocre in intelligence, not at all like his father.

But his pretentious posture is exactly the same as that of William II, who likes to make amazing appearances.

Although William II intended to train him to become a commander, his training was far from enough. Although he served as a colonel of the Skull Hussars and worked in the German General Staff for a year, he directly became the commander-in-chief of the German Fifth Army without holding any position as division commander or corps commander.

Former Chief of Staff Schlieffen has always been dissatisfied with Crown Prince William's confidence. Schlieffen believed that it was unfortunate to appoint young and inexperienced commanders, believing that such commanders would be crazy about pursuing personal honors and full of energy, but not interested in executing strategic plans. .

Although Kaiser Wilhelm initially became the main commander in the capture of Verdun, Falkenhayn did not give the original memorandum to the Kaiser to the Crown Prince or to his Chief of Staff, General Schmidt.

Falkenhayn's order to Crown Prince William was: "Towards Verdun, attack the Moze area."

Crown Prince William mistakenly took this order as a signal from the staff asking him to occupy Verdun, but this was not what Fingham expected, which was to lay siege to Verdun and make France shed blood.

In order to achieve the purpose of besieging Verdun, Falkenhayn mobilized three armies under the command of Crown Prince William.

This also expanded the Fifth Army commanded by Crown Prince William to six armies, all of which were composed of Germany's most elite troops.

After the execution site operation was formally determined, the German army and staff entered intense preparations.

Falkenhayn kept asking about the preparations of the Fifth Army, and then transferred a large number of artillery from the Russian front line and Krupp Arsenal to the front of the Verdun Fortress.

The previous capture of the Belgian fortress convinced Falkenhayn that the German army could easily seize positions on the ground by relying on artillery. The infantry attacking on a narrow frontal battlefield was only occupying and consolidating positions.

In order to destroy France's strongest defenses and crush French resistance, the Germans mobilized 1,200 artillery pieces and 200 mortars, including the most powerful 304mm naval artillery and 420mm siege guns.

Especially the 420mm siege gun, which is a huge artillery specially designed for siegeing cities and seizing territory. The sound of the gun can be heard dozens of kilometers away, and any strong bunkers and fortifications will be blown to pieces by it.

In addition to these artillery pieces specifically used to siege cities and seize territory, the German army was also equipped with mine-throwers, small-caliber high-speed guns, poison gas and flamethrowers and other weapons.

Logically speaking, it was impossible for the Germans to plan such a large-scale attack in the Verdun area without hiding it from the Allied powers.

Although there is currently no satellite technology for monitoring, the large number of spies and intelligence personnel dispatched by various countries to each other is not a vegetarian.

In fact, this is indeed the case. As early as the Germans began to prepare, the French intelligence agencies had already mastered the information that Germany was about to launch an attack.

Russia also reported from the Eastern Front that Germany had mobilized part of its main force to the Western Front, putting Britain and France on guard.

But at this time, the French commander-in-chief Joffre disagreed. Joffre firmly believed that the Battle of the Somme planned by the British and French forces was more important than the German attack, and Joffre did not believe that the direction of the German attack was at Verdun. After all, Verdun had been under attack since the outbreak of the war. It is a peaceful area.

However, due to the advice of his subordinates, Joffre still sent a small number of troops to the Verdun area to increase the strength of the defenders in the Verdun area.

November 27, 1915, Verdun, early morning.

The temperature on this day was a bit cold, because the humidity in the air was very high, and the fog shrouded the entire land like a veil.

If you have a thermometer, you will find that today's temperature has reached below zero, and even the few green plants on the land are covered with a layer of hoarfrost.

In a certain trench in France, recruit Gerry rubbed his hands gently and took a breath of hot air. Then he followed the veterans around him and got out of the underground bunker in twos and threes, breathing in the cold but very fresh air.

Including Gerry, this French army has been stationed in the Verdun Fortress area for several months. All the surrounding fortifications and defensive buildings are too familiar to them. After all, most of them were made by themselves. built.

During this period, some brave French soldiers would also shout to the soldiers in the German trenches not far away, and sometimes they could get a chat from the equally bored German soldiers. There was no cruelty of war on either side.

But today, after Gerry's squad leader shouted twice to the opposite position, he received no response.

"Damn it! These pigs only know how to sleep." The squad leader cursed angrily, trying to ease the awkward atmosphere.

But it wasn't just here. The German soldiers who often talked to him never responded, which made the French soldiers, including Gerry, feel a little abnormal.

Looking at the time, it was already early eight o'clock. Gerry's squad leader ordered: "Everyone, go have breakfast first, and then continue to build that damn defensive position."

The logistics of the French frontline army are still sufficient, so the troops defending the Verdun Fortress can eat steaming food every day, and occasionally coffee, milk and fruit.

Of course, when the weather gets colder, the logistics department will also provide some bad wine to the frontline troops to help the frontline troops relieve fatigue and keep out the cold.

That's right, it's bad wine. Because this kind of wine is relatively low-quality, it also tastes spicy when you drink it. It can even be spicy from your throat to your chest, and it can heat up the artifact properly.

Thanks to today's cold weather, the French soldiers were each given a sip of bad wine to keep them warm without getting drunk.

Hearing that they had to go to eat first, Gerry's troops quickly forgot about the Germans not talking to them. After all, in this boring position, eating is more important than anything else, so why should they care about the Germans on the other side? ?

But soon, the French army discovered something was wrong. There was no movement from the German army not far away. Logically speaking, it should be breakfast time for the German army.

boom!

With a bombardment, the silent Verdun defense line suddenly shook, and flames shot into the sky.

The German army was no longer hiding. Artillery positions of all sizes and calibers were deployed at the front and in the depths. They roared together and launched a large-scale bombing of the French positions in front.

The loud noise shook the earth, and countless artillery shells pierced the dusty sky with horrifying roars. From far to near, they poured overwhelmingly on the French positions, causing a series of explosions and wails.

By coincidence, some artillery shells happened to explode in the logistics department in the rear. Not only did they injure many French soldiers who were queuing up for meals, but the hot soup for breakfast also became one of the main culprits in injuring French soldiers.

The steam from breakfast, the smoke from exploding artillery shells, and the fog from the cold weather completely covered the entire French position like a suffocating cloud of smoke.

Dazzling red lights and ear-splitting noises continued to come from the smoke, and the continuous explosions shook the surrounding land, causing some of the fortifications that were being built or not yet built to collapse directly, and many more were buried. french soldier.

"The Germans have launched an attack! Go to the trenches and take shelter!" the commanders of the French armies roared at the top of their lungs.

It is not convenient to prepare a variety of food in the trenches, so the logistics department responsible for cooking is a few hundred meters behind the trenches.

Although there are certain fortifications here, they cannot accommodate so many French soldiers, and they are far less strong than the trenches on the front line.

Under the orders of their commanders, countless French soldiers bent over and rushed into the trenches, looking for the strongest hiding place.

There were still some French soldiers who were still unconscious in the trenches. They were already bloody and dead due to the German bombing.

Gerry's condition was not very good at this time. Although he hid in the trench in time, the aftermath of the explosion caused Gerry's ears and nose to bleed, with stars in his eyes, roaring in his ears, and he had temporarily lost his hearing.

"Gerry, open your mouth to reduce the shock wave!" Gerry's squad leader shouted.

When he saw any reaction from Gerry, he knew that he might have temporarily lost his hearing, and he quickly motioned for Gerry to open his mouth.

This is the experience these French veterans summed up when facing German bombings. Opening the mouth can effectively alleviate part of the shock wave, at least it will not cause people to lose their hearing due to the shock wave.

Of course, this method can only effectively prevent the shock wave caused by the explosion of the artillery shell at a distance, and it does not help in defending against the explosion of the artillery shell.

Anyone faced with a bombing can only pray for one thing, either not to be bombed, or to be bombed faster.

The worst ones are those that only hit the legs or limbs. Not only does it cause great pain, but it is also very likely that such severe trauma will lead to wound infection and cost a life.

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