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

Chapter 950 You Don't Deserve to Be Treated Like This

The French command and tactics were impeccable. Despite having gained a huge advantage, they continued to proceed in an orderly manner, giving the Germans no chance to retaliate.

In the air, a powerful formation of fighter planes relentlessly suppressed the German triplanes, shooting them down one by one. The Jenny transport planes returned to the battlefield three times to drop ammunition.

After successfully capturing the German artillery positions, the paratroopers made full use of the captured equipment and ammunition to organize a defense.

Next, they set up signal boards on the ground and prepared signal flares, waiting for the transport plane to airdrop munitions.

Two motorized divisions were assigned to protect the two flanks of the force.

The "105mm truck-mounted gun" utilizes its long range to provide beyond-visual-range fire support to enemy tank units in conjunction with aerial reconnaissance.

The "75mm truck-mounted guns" were divided into three teams to form three lines of defense, and they played a different kind of "rolling tactic" against the German tanks.

When German tanks approached, they would fire a full load of shells at the target as quickly as possible, then immediately move to the next line of defense, repeating this process over and over.

Thus, German tanks were always facing French "truck-mounted guns" that they couldn't hit.

Erwin and Manstein each led a tank division in a pincer attack against the French army, but suffered heavy losses before even seeing the enemy.

Erwin gritted his teeth and pressed on, trying to reduce casualties by advancing in a dispersed manner.

Finally, Manstein couldn't take it anymore.

“Continuing this fight is pointless.” Manstein telegraphed Erwin:

Do you know why the French artillery always managed to hit our tank formations?

“Look at the sky, General. There are three metal planes flying overhead, carrying radios. They are constantly reporting our position to the artillery, while we have no idea where the enemy is.”

"We were fighting a system, and we have failed!"

Erwin, covered in dust and grime, gritted his teeth as he read the telegram. The wound on his forehead was deep enough to expose the bone, and blood was flowing out continuously.

But he neither bandaged himself nor dared to bandage himself.

He feared that if he stopped, he would be bombed by French artillery.

After a long pause, Erwin finally replied to Manstein with a simple message: "You are right, retreat!"

Continuing to fight is pointless. Even if they eventually reach the French 1st Panzer Corps, you could probably count the number of tanks left on your fingers.

However, they were facing an armored division and a mechanized division of the Char, with at least three hundred Char A1 tanks and two hundred Char B2 tanks.

After sending the telegram, Erwin silently issued the order to retreat.

However, the French army was still unwilling to let him go.

Almost the instant the German tank group turned around, the French "75mm truck-mounted guns" began rolling in the opposite direction, turning into a pursuit of the German tank group.

Erwin, fleeing in panic amidst the gunfire, was so enraged that he almost drew his pistol and committed suicide.

This was the most humiliating battle he had ever fought; he didn't see a single French tank or enemy, only enemy artillery through his binoculars.

And then, they lost!

……

The main battlefield should have been the most intense, important, and suspenseful, but this time it turned out to be unremarkable.

Tijjani described the battle in his post-war report as follows:
"The Germans were trapped by their own landmines; they could only move through trenches and communication trenches."

"Because we don't need to worry about anyone coming up and blowing up the tanks."

"The fighting became a tedious and monotonous exercise, like running: 'mine-clearing tanks' would drive in, capture trenches, clear mines, capture trenches again, and so on..."

Two hours later, the First Panzer Corps arrived at the gates of Saarbrücken.

Tijani is preparing to launch an attack on the city.

He gave an impromptu speech while the troops were resting, standing on an armored vehicle:
"Soldiers, the city before us is called Saarbrücken."

"I want to remind you that we are on German soil, this city is a German city, and everyone here, whether soldiers or civilians, is German."

"If you are willing to risk your lives to protect the lives of Germans, then do it bravely, and God will forgive you."

The soldiers burst into laughter.

They understood that Tijani was reminding them that they didn't need to be as cautious as they had been when fighting in the French city.

If you see German soldiers hiding in civilian houses and firing, you can use tanks to raze them to the ground without hesitation!

But they didn't have the opportunity to do so.

Just as Tijani was about to order the attack, a sidecar drove out of the city, with a German officer sitting on the side seat, holding a white flag.

"No firing!" Tijani quickly gave the order.

The three-wheeled vehicles approached from a distance; the drivers were all soldiers, but clearly unarmed.

All three, including the officer, stared in horror at the "Charles B2" equipped with two cannons.

The French soldiers themselves could not comprehend how terrifying these war monsters were, but the German soldiers, as the opponents of the "Charles B2", would truly feel a deep-seated fear and chill when facing them up close.

The sidecar stopped in front of the troops. The officer on the side slowly stood up, carefully raised a white flag, and called out in fluent French, "Don't fire! I want to see your commander!"

Tijjani patted the roof of the armored vehicle.

The driver understood and drove the vehicle through the gap between the tanks to the front line. The machine gunner adjusted his direction and aimed the dark muzzle of his gun at the German officer from above, with the butt of the gun against his shoulder and his index finger on the trigger.

Tijani stood beside the vehicle, supporting the side armor: "That's me. What's the matter?"

“I surrender to you on behalf of Lieutenant General Brandt.” The German officer’s face was filled with humiliation: “I hope you will abide by the Geneva Convention and not harm the prisoners and civilians in the city.”

A hint of disappointment flashed in Tijani's eyes. He didn't want the battle to end like this; he wanted to experience the "thrill" of storming into a German city.

He was then startled by this thought. When did he become so bloodthirsty and ruthless?
The battlefield is indeed a place that can change a person, he thought, he had become accustomed to killing!
……

News of Saarbrücken's surrender soon reached Charles's command.

The French staff officers and communications soldiers remained calm; they had already anticipated this outcome.

Deafening cheers erupted from the British and American command posts on both sides, and many people excitedly hugged each other in celebration.

Several disrespectful American military staff officers rushed up to Sharl and shook his hand:
"General, what a brilliant command!"

"A perfect battle. I have never seen such a wonderful battle before, and I believe there will never be one again."

"It is an honor to work with you, General!"

……

None of the British staff officers dared to step forward, perhaps because they knew something and felt guilty, just like Hague, who always had a dark expression.

Pershing shook hands with Charles and said abruptly, "Don't worry, Lieutenant General, I will give you an explanation. You don't deserve to be treated like this!"

(End of this chapter)