Doaumont, when almost the whole of France was shocked by the sudden outbreak of war in Verdun, the attention of the entire French political circle was focused here, on the top of Doaumont Mountain.

In just one day, with the help of the powerful power of the super cannon and the suddenness of the attack, and of course the French army's unpreparedness for its attack on Verdun, hundreds of thousands of German troops quickly conquered France.

The French army's field defense line was unprepared for the German attack and could only be forced to retreat towards the fortress. Although every French soldier and officer loyally made sacrifices for France during the retreat of the main force of the French army, these sacrifices could not be stopped.

german attack

The French army that retreated in the morning of the 22nd re-established a defense line on the mountain ridge near Doaumont. According to the plan of Langrede Cary, the commander of the Army Group in Verdun, the French army would re-establish a defense line here and stop the Germans.

footsteps

However, in just one day, the German Crown Prince Wilhelm Army advanced dozens of kilometers from the highest point of the French front. Unlike the German army's initial expectations, the French front was quickly conquered. The expected extremely tragic battle did not break out.

In those battle lines or field fortresses, but in the villages near the battle lines, the French stragglers who were scattered in the villages displayed unimaginable patriotic enthusiasm.

The team tenaciously blocked the German *** team.

When those stragglers relied on their patriotic enthusiasm to stop the German army's advance, thousands of refugees were caught in the retreating army. These refugees also greatly hindered the actions of the French troops. Facing the German offensive on the entire front

The civilians are fleeing to the south. Although the French government has mobilized them to leave before, they are unwilling to leave their homes. Until now, facing the attacking German army, they have chosen to leave.

Almost every soldier among the retreating French troops was talking about the super cannon that could level everything. Every time they mentioned the super cannon, they had a look of complete fear on their faces. They were frightened by the unprecedented

The cannon was frightened, but they knew they had to fight all the way. But because of the refugees along the way, they were completely unable to get any supplies or form a neat unit and retreat toward the rear.

According to the order, Doaumont became their destination. It was a mountainous area. At least in the mountains, the power of the German super artillery would be weakened. For these French soldiers, they had to retreat to Doaumont before the encirclement formed by the German army.

At the same time, they have to fight for the road with thousands of refugees. The refugees along the way have greatly reduced their forward speed, and sometimes they can hardly walk.

Those poor refugees were walking in the cold outdoors. A fresh snow had just fallen and the road was very muddy. Although the army had orders, the officers and soldiers still had to help and comfort the chaotic crowd. Almost all the refugees who were fleeing could move.

Vehicles rushed to the road. Each carriage dragged their luggage and property, and without exception, each vehicle was filled with frightened children. Their parents were walking beside these vehicles. Soldiers were in the flow of people.

Advancing slowly, the soldiers passed some villages and towns where people had been living a normal life a few days ago, although they understood that the Germans were not far away from them. In the past two days, the elderly, women and children here

They all thought that the war was still very far away from them, but now the news from the German army still put these people who were accustomed to that kind of quiet life in a state of extreme shock. They looked at the haggard and hungry soldiers who were withdrawn from the front line.

An idea emerged in everyone's mind

The Marne again

Yes, every French person knows what the Battle of the Marne meant to France at the beginning of the war. It meant that France was saved from destruction and now it is back to the Marne again. But the question is whether they can stop the German army again.

?….

We must defend France

Almost every time they pass through a village, some soldiers will take the initiative to stay to prevent the German attack, even without the command and orders of the officers. Others are reluctant to leave the soldiers who are about to participate in the blocking battle. Those who are responsible for blocking the German pursuit

The soldiers also knew that there was no chance of them coming back alive.

You must stop the Germans at Douaumont

Every soldier who volunteered to stay to hinder the German army would say this to his comrades. Within an hour or two after the large troops left, intensive artillery fire once again razed a village to the ground...

The morning glow glowed red in the distant sky of Douaumont Mountain. At this moment, the flames of war were burning here. But for the French officers and soldiers who organized defense on the mountain, they ignored the sound of gunfire and were still busy with daily life. They only had the simple trenches.

Only here can you feel the tense fighting atmosphere

In the field hospital on the reverse slope behind the mountain, some lightly wounded people were each telling their own experiences. Doctors and nurses running back and forth were busy bandaging and operating on the wounded. The large German troops had not yet arrived, but they had already rushed to organize a defense.

The ** team inflicted heavy damage

On the road leading to the anti-slope position, there were many soldiers and stretchers carrying the wounded going back and forth. In a trench behind the mountain, an artillery officer was very excited.

Damn bureaucracy

He was cursing and complaining loudly

Before the war, they always shouted for maneuver. But now, every German shell is heavier for us. Every cannon has a larger caliber than ours. We have suffered a lot on the battlefield and now we are better.

The damn officer actually asked us to set up positions here in order to avoid the so-called super artillery. How could the artillery shells be fired from here? The French Miss Cannon is a field artillery, not a Chinese mortar.

When he complained loudly, he obviously did not look at the poor artillery battalion with only four cannons left in his hands. His artillery battalion almost discarded all the cannons during the retreat. Even the current cannons were temporarily replenished.

Just as he complained, out of concern for the German super artillery headquarters, the troops' defense line was required to be set up on the reverse slope of the mountain that is not susceptible to shelling, especially for important artillery positions. However, it ignored the fact that the German artillery could not attack.

During their time, the casualties they caused to the German army were extremely limited.

Mr. Major, this is to prevent us from suffering greater losses.

That is, if the German super cannon fires, maybe...

What the soldiers were still talking about was the German super cannon. On the way to retreat, the soldiers who witnessed the power of the super cannon's giant shells told others about the power of the super cannon in an exaggerated manner to cover up their own fear. Perhaps they were not afraid of the Germans.

The Japanese army also has a spirit of sacrifice, but few people are willing to pay their lives for fearless sacrifice. Just as they are willing to actively join the covering force to hinder the German army, but at this time, when the defense line is built again, they begin to worry.

super cannon

With just one shot, the entire Douaumont Mountains can be leveled.

In the trenches on the top of the mountain, the soldiers described the super cannon from word to mouth. On this day, the super cannon became a nightmare for all French soldiers. In their opinion, the human body was obviously unable to stop the bombardment of the super cannon. Now they were the only hope.

I'm afraid that the German super artillery can't hit here because they have retreated far enough.

Yes, they retreated far enough, almost thirty kilometers, which was beyond the range of artillery that anyone knew. However, they didn't know that the giant cannon they were facing was also incredibly powerful.

Possessing a unique range in this era

There's still a chance

Among the behemoths on the double-track railway between the forests, the German officer wearing an artillery officer's hat drew a line on the map. The line extended for nearly forty kilometers from their position. That was Alf

The ultimate range of Red Cannon….

General Hank, now the whole army is talking about us. If we fire one shot there, the French defense on Mont Douaumont will collapse.

Heisenberg, the former Krupp artillery expert, is now the gun control officer of the Alfred Cannon. Brigadier General Hank von Schlien is the commander of this huge gun. He is responsible for commanding this army with more than 4,000 officers and soldiers.

Although this artillery unit only has one Alfred, his inner pride now far exceeds that of the others.

Can it hit that far?

Brigadier General Hank von Schlien asked with some uncertainty. To be precise, his words were filled with extreme worry. What he was worried about was not the range issue but the body control issue.

If you shoot this far, the life of the barrel will be reduced. Alfred, sixteen rounds have been fired. The next one, Alfred, will have to wait until the end of the year...

But the most important thing now is that we have to end this war

Ending this war. For Heisenberg, from the moment he operated this cannon, all he believed was that this cannon could end this war. He never doubted that, just like now, it was Alfred's time to perform.

Okay, order everyone to prepare

Brigadier General Hank von Schlien did not refuse. After agreeing to Heisenberg's request, he immediately picked up the phone and coordinated with the artillery unit. In order to assist the troops in the attack, the offensive troops used trailers to haul hundreds of 150 mm large-caliber field guns to coordinate with the infantry.

The attack of the troops, and now the only thing he needs to coordinate is that he will start the attack on Mont Douaumont with Alfred

...But the German 6-inch cannon was dragged in by a tractor and fired dense shells at the new position, forming a sea of ​​​​fire. The main troops guarding the position completely collapsed. Especially during the German attack, the German Alfred cannon fired at a rate of one round per hour.

Long-range artillery bombardment is carried out in the Douaumont area. Each bombardment will level large areas of defensive positions...

When the German super cannon is mentioned in the French General Headquarters, any staff officer will sound full of complaints. Now on the second day of the battle, they have learned the code name of the super cannon——

The Alfred Cannon is a super cannon named after the founder of the Krupp company. It was just like the Franco-Prussian War in 1=871. In that year, the Krupp cannon completely destroyed the Second Empire. Now the new generation of Krupp cannon

Burgundy is trying to destroy the Second Republic

Now as long as the Germans continue to use the Alfred cannon to attack our defensive positions, any possibility of holding the position will be extremely slim and even extremely unrealistic.

Oh I know

As always, these unexpected and unfortunate events did not panic General Joffre at all. Faced with the setbacks from the front line and everyone's fear of the 800mm cannon, he showed only calmness. If it was the same as during the Battle of the Marne, he maintained his calmness from beginning to end.

This remarkable and admirable composure was even more extraordinary now that he was faced with defeat on the summit of Douaumont.

Mobilize the 1st and 20th armies to reinforce Verdun. The Germans may have huge artillery, but France has the will to defend their country.

After emphasizing his point of view, he took a look at the battle map and knew that just mobilizing two armies was not enough to relieve the crisis there.

Now immediately send a request to Sir Douglas Haig of the British Expeditionary Force in the name of the headquarters... The content of the telegram is that the direction of Verdun is now in an unprecedented crisis. France needs to mobilize the French troops fighting with the British Army.

10th Army to reinforce Verdun

After issuing this order, Joffre remained silent for a moment. As the commander-in-chief of the French army, in the past two years, he has been using his actions to send a signal of belief in victory. Starting from the Marne River, no matter what situation he faces,

They all acted extremely calm and composed while maintaining a regular diet and regular work and rest time, thus inspiring the confidence of everyone around them...

In his view, confidence is sometimes the most important thing. As the commander-in-chief of the French army, the only thing he needs to do is to give everyone confidence. Only with the confidence to win can France win this war.

General Castelneau, after you reach Verdun, you must hold on to Verdun at all costs. France must not lose Verdun.

When issuing this order, Joffre turned his attention to General De Castelneau. Although he was only a major general, he was the chief of staff of the French Army Headquarters. This general who had participated in the Franco-Prussian War may have many opinions and views.

They are fundamentally different, especially in some strategies and tactics. But as a French veteran who participated in the Franco-Prussian War, nothing is more important in his heart than defeating the Germans and ensuring the security of France.

matter

It was precisely because of his understanding of General de Castelnaud that Xiafei did not doubt that General de Castelnaud would not obey this order. Moreover, he also knew the situation in Verdun very well.

The only thing the Commander-in-Chief needs to do is to put more troops and more power there to ensure that Verdun is not lost.

Your Excellency, Commander, in addition to the First Army, the Twentieth Army, and the Tenth Army, I also hope that the headquarters can transfer the entire 2nd Army to Verdun.

After thinking for a moment, General De Castelneau immediately put forward his suggestion. In his opinion, with the current development of the situation in Verdun, it is obviously impossible to save the critical situation there by relying only on the First Army and the Tenth Army.
To be continued...