Iron Cross Fire

The news that the French army was annihilated in Le Mans quickly spread throughout Western Europe. The defenders of Paris were extremely worried about the precarious situation because they were not far from being surrounded.

As long as the Germans went further south and took Orleans, the Paris area would be truly undefendable.

For this reason, the famous Frenchman Father Joffre issued a death order to the Orleans Army Group, requiring them to hold on there even if they were completely wiped out.

The French Northern Army Group also attacked the Germans from the side starting from Paris in an attempt to contain their attack.

Foch, the commander-in-chief of the Northern Army Group, also asked people to keep a close eye on the Germans' movements and ensure contact with the Orleans Army Group at all times.

Even a few minutes before the attack, the French arsenal's weapons were carefully counted, and the French who were searching inside wanted to pull the things out directly and expose them to the scorching sun so that they could see exactly how many there were.

They concentrated their superior forces on the right wing, with nearly 1.5 million people stationed there, nearly three times as many as the Germans!

All the shells that had been saved were also used, and the budget was to use them all here (but it was still insignificant compared to the German shells) to preserve the only passage between Paris and the outside world, as well as the safe escape route for senior officials.

If the attack failed, they could only pin their hopes on the Orleans defenders; if it succeeded, they would expand the results of the battle, penetrate deep into the depths of the German army, eat up their main force, and engage in an annihilation war, so that the pressure would be reduced a lot, and even the passive position could be temporarily transformed into the active position.

Both sides were well prepared, with countless people attacking on the right wing and the bravest French in the middle defense; it seemed impeccable, and they should have won this defensive battle.

However, they had a small flaw: their attack could not penetrate the enemy, and their defense was vulnerable.

They were too idealistic, and the only advantage they could gain on the battlefield was people.

But if it really came to people, the French army was probably not as good as the Germans, and they still couldn't compare to them in this regard.

If most of the troops were put in the Orleans area, there would still be some hope for defense, even if they would completely lose the initiative and have no chance of winning, the Germans could also change the direction of attack and insert from other places.

But this is already the best way. Facing the collapse of the whole line, they could drag it out as long as they could.

But the French still chose to attack recklessly, which had a lot to do with the commander's personality, but it still could not be denied that this was their most wrong step.

So there is no doubt that the French budget for this battle is impossible to achieve, and the best result can only be to keep the Orleans Corridor.

And more fatally, their offensive intelligence had been intercepted by the Germans and was now on Custer's desk.

Custer leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs, and looked at the telegram quite casually, showing his ease.

After he and the friendly Second Army successfully joined forces in Le Mans the day before, the strategic deployment of the Brittany Peninsula was handed over to them, and Custer was able to concentrate all his troops in the Loire River area.

However, it was very sad that Nelson, the old German officer, was poached by them. Kuster must feel sorry for losing a good subordinate.

But Kuster thought it was good, and even wanted to laugh.

This just solved the only Junker officer in the army who could compete with him and was pro-Falkenhayn. Xinglu and the others would definitely not punish him, but might even owe him a favor.

"Are you sure they attacked from there?" Kuster said to a trembling officer. The "they" and "that" in the words refer to the French and the city of Velorso in the north of the Loire River respectively.

This officer should undoubtedly be a pro-Falkenhayn figure. From his expression, it can be seen that he must be afraid of him, Kuster thought so.

But a small officer obviously cannot let Xinglu and the others owe him a favor. He can't sell a few pounds of meat in the slaughterhouse, and the skin on his body is not as comfortable as sheepskin and synthetic fiber.

Since he can't make a few cents, there is no need to mess with him.

"I'm not sure, but the intelligence people must be sure!" The officer said fearfully, his voice trembling with fear.

"Very good! Withdraw all the troops there, put four divisions on the flanks, and we'll catch the turtle in the jar."

"Yes!" The officer agreed quickly, and ran out of the command room without looking back.

Custer took a breath, stood up a little weakly, and sighed with emotion.

He complained a few times and focused his eyes on the map a few meters in front of him.

He originally planned to attack Orleans directly and attack from the north and south with Franche-Comté's army.

But now everything has changed, the war situation is fleeting, and even the French dare to attack them, so they have to be on guard.

He withdrew all the German troops in the town of Velorso, emptied the city's supplies before leaving, and drove the local people eastward.

Although this is inhumane, it can effectively slow down the French army's advance.

And this land is not theirs, looting is legal. If the French army did not deal with their homeless compatriots, they would be attacked by public opinion.

The oppression of their superiors and their sympathy for the civilians would ruthlessly squeeze their remaining energy.

By the time they arrived in Velorso, they would probably have been exhausted and become fish meat at the mercy of others.

Moreover, those Germans who retreated did not actually retreat completely. A considerable number of people were left hiding in the dark, and they prepared a lot of dry grass, firewood and cloth piled together.

Dry grass and firewood - yes, Kuster planned to attack with fire! Melt all the French and their towns in the sea of ​​fire!

Outside the city, those who retreated would also use cannons to plow the ground into pits and piles of mud.

As long as the above plan goes well, the German army on both wings will play a big role.

They will attack in different areas, one south and one north. The north will go to encircle the retreat route of Paris, and the south will try to cross the Loire River and encircle the French army in Orleans and Paris together with friendly forces in the south.

Just as Kuster was frowning and walking anxiously on the marble floor, a message came that made him smile.

"General, the French have launched an attack!" The messenger who came was a messenger, about 20 or 30 years old, with a face full of anxiety and looked very worried.

However, when Kuster heard his words, he suddenly felt relaxed, as if he had unloaded some invisible heavy burden, and even sleepiness came back.

He slowly walked to the window, looked at the sky with some complexity, and thought with emotion in his heart.

I am afraid that only after thoroughly trampling on them can we conquer these stubborn French people.

Of course, the premise is to have a good sleep.

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