I was a tycoon in World War I: Starting to save France

Chapter 1029 This is the only chance

In Wilhelmshaven, Germany, General Scheer was busy reviewing exercise reports in his office.

General Scheer's military leadership style was unique.

After being reinstated, he did not drastically reshuffle his old subordinates into important positions, knowing that doing so would cause resentment among many.

He also did not change the rules and regulations established by the "Secret Committee of Wilhelmshaven and the North Fleet," knowing that the rules and regulations were nothing more than a piece of paper.

He did not, as everyone expected, dissolve the “Secret Committee of Wilhelmshaven and the North Fleet” that was at odds with the Navy, because that would have dragged him into unnecessary political struggles.

The first thing General Scheer did upon arriving in Port Wilhelmshaven was to organize an exercise.

The exercise was divided into two teams:

One force was more powerful, consisting of 12 battleships assigned to the Royal Navy.

The other, slightly weaker force, was assigned 10 battleships as the German High Seas Fleet.

Then the two teams were sent to the North Sea to conduct day and night drills and confrontations. Once a captain or officer was found to be incompetent in command, he or she was immediately replaced.

Admiral Scheer used this method to quickly restore the morale of the officers and soldiers and the combat effectiveness of the fleet, and even rendered the so-called "Secret Committee of Wilhelmshaven and the North Fleet" ineffective.

However, we should thank Charles for this.

On his first day in office, General Scheer delivered an impressive speech to all officers and soldiers:

“I know how you see me. A lackey of Wilhelm II, a henchman of the emperor, an instrument of dictatorship.”

"I don't deny it, I really am."

"But that was then, three months ago. The General Scheer you knew had already resigned!"

As he spoke, he tore off his military rank insignia and the medals hanging on his chest, waved them in front of the officers and soldiers, and then let go, causing them to fall to the ground with a clang.

"I intend to start as a captain!" General Scheer said.

"The reason I can command you is not because of how many merits I have made or how many battles I have fought, but because I have more experience."

"Therefore, the person standing in front of you is not General Scher, but Captain Scher."

"A Captain Scheer who believed in upholding the 'French spirit,' a Captain Scheer who championed 'liberty,' 'equality,' and 'fraternity'!"

Would you like to come with me?

"Let us follow Charles and together defeat hegemonic Britain, defeat colonialism, defeat all injustice, and restore freedom to the world!"

The officers and soldiers cheered loudly, shouting at the top of their lungs:
"Welcome back, Captain Sher!"

"We accept your command."

"We are willing to fight for freedom and equality!"

……

This scene left the "Secret Committee of Wilhelmshaven and the North Fleet" completely dumbfounded.

Prior to this, the committee had used the French spirit as a pretext to recruit naval officers and incite them to revolt against Wilhelm II's dictatorship.

Through a series of operations, they gradually gained real control of the high seas fleet.

Unexpectedly, as soon as General Scher took office, he used magic to defeat magic, and rallied his officers and soldiers on the grounds that Scher and his allies would participate in the war, and he succeeded.

Admiral Scheer smiled slightly and glanced at the members of the "Secret Committee of Wilhelmshaven and the North Fleet" who were standing beside him, unsure of what to do.

Do these guys really think I'd cooperate with you? Only a fool would do that!

General Scher turned his gaze to the officers and soldiers who were in a state of excitement, and secretly felt pleased. Scher was very useful. Using him as a decoy saved me a lot of effort.

……

Once the ideological work is "successfully carried out," the reform of the navy will not be difficult.

General Scheer often called on his officers and soldiers: "France and Britain are about to go to war, and we have very little time."

“We must help the Shire win this battle, otherwise the most promising hope for equality and freedom in human history may be extinguished.”

"Work hard, young men, for our ideals, for our future, for our freedom!"

……

This system was even more effective than the German one, and the officers and soldiers rallied around General Scher like they were on steroids, eagerly moving forward.

Within a few days, Admiral Scheer regained control and successfully restored the High Seas Fleet's combat effectiveness.

Next, Admiral Scheer began to seriously consider the "air-sea coordination" tactic that Scheer often used in naval warfare.

General Scheer understood the British.

Because of its dominant naval power, the British are often arrogant and overconfident, and as a result, their naval officers and sailors generally don't spend much time or energy researching new tactics.

Therefore, Admiral Scheer could guess that the British would use a tactic known as "Venetian shutters" to block the German fleet:

The British fleet used its speed advantage to occupy the "T" shaped horizontal position.

A horizontal position is advantageous for artillery output, but its weakness is that it is easily attacked by torpedoes.

The British countermeasure was to change the warship's orientation from horizontal to vertical when attacked by torpedoes, opening it like "blinds".

At this point, unless the torpedo happens to hit the narrow bow of the warship by sheer coincidence, it will be perfectly avoided.

Charles's countermeasure was to attack from another direction using "torpedo planes," and it worked every time.

"Germany should do the same," General Scheer thought.

Moreover, the target should be the most powerful super-dreadnoughts in the British Navy, such as the Elizabeth-class destroyers.

This not only strikes the enemy with firepower, but also undermines their command and the confidence of their officers and soldiers.

As General Scheer was considering the matter, a staff officer handed him a telegram: "Captain, a telegram from Liège. The British have been tricked; they have sent reinforcements to the Atlantic."

(General Scheer insisted that his subordinates address him as "Captain." Since he had already said it, he had to make it look proper. Besides, whether he was called "General" or "Captain" was irrelevant; his prestige and strength spoke for themselves.)
General Scherr took the telegram, read it, and jumped for joy:
"They actually dispatched two Elizabeth-class destroyers, leaving only the Barham?"

"Aren't these guys taking us way too seriously?"

Admiral Scheer was skeptical, fearing it was a trap set by the British to lure the High Seas Fleet into an attack.

The staff officer understood General Scher's meaning and said:

"I think this is normal. The British have been pushed to their limits by the French and are now losing their composure."

"Most importantly, they didn't know that the Charles had the ability to block the English Channel."

"They believed that the reinforcement fleet they sent, and even the Second Fleet in Brest, could return to the North Sea within a day, so there was no danger in the North Sea."

General Scherr nodded and then gave the order:

"All fleets return to port to replenish fuel and ammunition and prepare for battle."

"The officers and soldiers should take a break as soon as possible."

"At the same time, cut off all external communications of the fleet and maintain radio silence."

He didn't want the British to know anything about the German fleet's active preparations for war.

"Yes, Captain."

After the staff officer left, Admiral Scheer stood up and looked out the window of the command post, which was in the direction of the British North Sea Fleet.

This was the only chance, he thought, and the best chance he could think of!

(End of this chapter)