CHAPTER 423: CHAPTER 423: THE GENERAL STAFF’S DISASTER

Germany Berlin Wilhelm Street.

Fajin Han’s general staff headquarters was in chaos; staff officers were sweating profusely, telegrams were flying everywhere, phones were ringing incessantly, and the air was filled with a stifling and anxious atmosphere—even Fajin Han, known for his composure, was no exception.

Fajin Han paced back and forth at his desk, asking Colonel Moritz, who was pinpointing locations on the map in a deep voice: "Are you sure there are no enemies around Tibet?"

Colonel Moritz hesitated for a moment: "The intel says so; we have an infantry battalion that successfully broke out of the encirclement around Tibet without encountering any resistance."

Fajin Han noted the implication in Colonel Moritz’s words: "’The intel says so’?"

"I am not sure, General," Colonel Moritz replied, "It’s hard for me to imagine Shire would leave such a large gap; I suspect..."

"You suspect this could be a trap set by Shire?" Fajin Han understood Colonel Moritz’s meaning.

"Yes, yes." Colonel Moritz wiped the sweat from his forehead: "You could say that, but it might not be!"

This was unlike the usual Colonel Moritz; he had lost the decisiveness and confidence he had always had.

Psychologically, Shire had completely defeated him, despite the fact that they had never met.

This day was a disaster for the brains of the general staff headquarters.

When Shire launched the attack, Colonel Moritz judged that it would take Shire at least a few days to achieve a breakthrough, and the French Army would suffer heavy casualties.

"Our defenses in Combray are very tight," Colonel Moritz analyzed: "Since the last Combray battle, we have understood Shire’s tactics and have placed a large number of 105MM howitzers there, along with the First Tank Division and complete trench works, this will make Shire feel as if he’s hitting a wall!"

Fajin Han nodded, this was almost the same as his own judgment.

He stared at the map for a while and then ordered: "Immediately mobilize the 91st Reserve Division to reinforce Combray."

That was an infantry division trained in Berlin, they would be reinforcing by train, and if they moved quickly, they should be able to arrive at Combray the next day.

No sooner had he spoken than the radio operator on guard exclaimed: "General, Shire has broken through our defensive line, our army has collapsed across the board!"

Fajin Han looked shocked, the reversal was too fast.

Colonel Moritz stared wide-eyed in disbelief at the radio operator and asked: "Whose report?"

His first reaction was that someone had falsely reported the situation due to battle fright; it had only been half an hour since the battle began, how could it collapse so quickly.

"It was Major General Nicholas’s telegram." The radio operator quickly got up and handed over the telegram.

Colonel Moritz took the telegram and read it several times, finding no errors; Major General Nicholas, as the commander of the First Tank Division, couldn’t possibly fear the battle.

Colonel Moritz clung to the last trace of hope: "What about our artillery? 105MM howitzers, why didn’t they function?"

"They were suppressed by enemy bombers," the radio operator replied, "It was clear the enemy had long reconnoitered the precise positions of our artillery units."

Colonel Moritz swallowed and had to accept and face this reality.

Afterward, Colonel Moritz analyzed the map again: "Shire’s troops could advance as far as Valenciennes before afternoon; we can mobilize the 182nd Infantry Regiment from the east side of Mobege to reinforce. That regiment has been resting in the second line for over half a month, and its personnel and equipment have been replenished. If they move quickly, they can establish a defensive line there."

Valenciennes is near the French-Belgium border on the French side, about twenty kilometers from Combray.

Colonel Moritz made this judgment based on Shire’s previous penetration speed.

However, Shire’s previous penetration was with "Mark I" tanks, and the infantry had not yet fully mechanized; the speed of march was not on the same level.

Fajin Han did not object; even if this infantry regiment could not block Shire’s attack, it could at least slow him down, then other reinforcements could continuously arrive.

But before Fajin Han could issue the order, the radio operator loudly reported again: "General, Vallo Town has fallen, the French Army’s vanguard has arrived at the town!"

Initially, Colonel Moritz didn’t think much of it; unfamiliar with the terrain around Belgium, he naturally assumed Vallo Town was west of Valenciennes, meaning the French Army had not yet reached Valenciennes.

Searching the west side for half a day, he couldn’t find Vallo Town; a staff officer identified the location quickly: "Here, within Belgium, about 5 kilometers."

Colonel Moritz was instantly petrified; snapping out of it, he turned to the radio operator and asked loudly: "Whose report?"

"Major General Nicholas," replied the radio operator, "They were attacked by guerrillas and the French Army’s vanguard, and simultaneously bombed by bombers; he had no choice but to abandon tanks and equipment and retreat towards Hotmon."

Colonel Moritz still could not believe it.

It had only been over two hours, Shire’s troops managed to cross Valenciennes and advance to Vallo Town, thirty kilometers from Combray?

The maximum speed of "Shire A1" tanks is only 15 kilometers per hour, even at the highest speed they couldn’t possibly reach...

Perhaps seeing Colonel Moritz’s confusion, the radio operator further explained: "Colonel, intel says the enemy is equipped with steel-plated cars, much faster than tanks; the French used these cars to clear the way for the tanks."

Colonel Moritz felt embarrassed and stole a glance at Fajin Han.

Fajin Han was getting anxious too, with no time to dwell on whether Colonel Moritz’s judgment was wrong, he pointed at the map and said: "Mons, immediately dispatch reinforcements to Mons."

"Yes, General."

But it was still too late.

In fact, not just too late—the German Army reinforcements needed an hour to arrive when Shire’s army occupied Mons.

Then there was Brussels.

Colonel Moritz thought there was a reserve division with more than twenty thousand troops there, surely this time Shire couldn’t pass through quickly!

But a loud explosion sank the ammunition depot, and the 82nd Reserve Division withdrew before the French Army arrived.

The final misjudgment was Antwerp.

Suffering greatly, Colonel Moritz breathed a sigh of relief, thinking Shire’s day’s advance was finally over.

By this time, it was dark—Antwerp was a famous "National Fortress," originally breached by the German Army using "Big Bertha;" Shire had only tanks, lacking large-caliber artillery, he could only stare at the city walls.

Even if an attack was to come, it would wait until dawn the next day, Colonel Moritz thought.

However, while Colonel Moritz was leading the staff team in sleepless maneuvers, suddenly a telegram arrived: "Colonel, Antwerp has fallen, Shire’s troops have entered the city!"

Colonel Moritz, in the midst of drawing defensive lines on the map, stood frozen for a moment; then calmly put down his pen, sat back in his chair, lightly sighed, and stared blankly into the void ahead.

He had become numb!