The General Staff of the German Army, which has become the busiest place since the outbreak of the war. Pen, fun, and www.biquge.info

A large number of staff officers came in and out, and the telegraph machine was constantly ringing, receiving and receiving telegrams. The tall female officers, according to the latest battle situation, marked the situation on the front line on the sand table and the map, so that the commanders could see it at a glance.

Wilhelm II also often visited the General Staff after he had completed his official duties. This war is too important, and the fate of Germany is at stake. Therefore, even Wilhelm II did not dare to take this lightly.

"Your Excellency Chief of the General Staff, a telegram from the Meuse River Corps." A staff officer handed a telegram into the hands of Moltke Jr.

"What's wrong? Have they already taken the fort of the following day? Wilhelm II asked, taking his gaze back from the sandbox. However, then he found that Moltke's face was not good-looking. The smile on his face has disappeared cleanly.

"Your Majesty, the Meuse Legion did not take the fortress of the following day. Instead, they were blocked. With the help of a strong fortress, the Belgians managed to hold back General Embich and inflict heavy losses on the Meuse legion. Moltke said.

Wilhelm II's brows furrowed tightly.

"Your Excellency Chief of Staff, will this have any adverse effect on the next battle?" Wilhelm II asked.

"Your Majesty, everything is under our control, and there won't be too many problems." Moltke shook his head, confidence regaining on his face.

It can be said that the German Army was the first army to set up a staff headquarters, and they commanded the army with strict battle plans, even to the point of rigidity. The battle plan drawn up by the German army was very detailed, even to the point of how many meters the troops had to march during the march, and it was not enough to have one meter more or one meter less. It is precisely because of this system that the German army has become a sophisticated machine, which can run quickly, and other countries cannot compare with it.

It was also from this time that the role of strategy and tactics in warfare became smaller and smaller. War has become a contest of a country's comprehensive national strength. The wisdom gathered by a large number of staff officers is not much worse than that of the so-called famous generals.

In these respects, the Germans undoubtedly did the best.

"Order our secret weapon, prepared at the ready, to the fortress of Liège. In addition, all borrowed from Austria-Hungary were also sent. Tell General Emmich that within a week, the fortress must be taken for the following days. Moltke commanded.

"Yes, Your Excellency Chief of Staff." A staff officer immediately went to deliver the order.

In this regard, although Wilhelm II saw everything, he did not care. He only cares about the final result, not the process. He also knows he's not a professional. Therefore, commanding the troops to fight, it is better to leave it to the professionals.

The so-called secret weapon in Moltke's mouth was specially prepared for the Liege Fortress. Before the war, the General Staff of the German Army also took into account the problems that would arise. So, the transformation has prepared a batch of secret weapons.

These secret weapons are large-caliber siege artillery. Respectively, a 420-mm howitzer from the Krupp company and a 305-mm howitzer from the Škoda plant in Austria-Hungary. In the whole of Germany, there were only 5 420-mm howitzers in total, and Moltke Jr. provided 4 to General Enmich at one time. Together with eight 305-mm howitzers borrowed from Austria-Hungary, General Enmich had a very formidable siege force in his hands.

On August 12, 4 420-mm heavy howitzers and 8 305-mm howitzers arrived at the front. Although, in the course of these days of fighting, the Germans had already captured a number of fortresses. But in general, the main fortress was still under the control of the Belgian army.

"Haha, this time, let's see how the Belgians resist our attack! Order the artillery to get ready, start shelling this afternoon, destroy the Belgian fortress, blow them all up! General Nmmich ordered. You must know that in the continuous days of fighting, although the Germans achieved some success, they suffered a lot of casualties.

At half past six in the afternoon, General Nmmihi gave the order for an artillery bombardment. Four 420-mm heavy howitzers and eight 305-mm howitzers fired first at the Fleiron, the strongest of the various batteries in the Liege fortress. The gunners filled the shells, retreated to the protective trench 300 meters away from the cannon, plugged their ears with earplugs, and then ignited the cannons. With an earth-shattering roar, a giant cannonball soared 3,000 meters into the air, and then landed in a parabolic shape 1,000 meters in front of the Freilon Battery. Immediately, a large crater dozens of meters square was blown out of the ground, and sand and dust were splashed all over the sky. The astonishing power of the 420mm howitzer not only terrified the Belgian defenders, but also the attacking Germans. After that, the other heavy artillery batteries fired repeatedly, and the German observers in the airship continued to correct the shelling coordinates, and finally, the eighth shell hit the top cover of the Fleiron battery. The huge shell penetrated the top of the battery and exploded into the central tunnel, and the inside of the battery was immediately filled with smoke and fire, and the Belgian defenders were blown to pieces. The other three giant guns of the German army also calibrated the coordinates, and the Freilong battery shook as if it was sitting on a volcanic crater, reinforced concrete, stumps and broken bodies, guns and materials splashed everywhere, and the fire reflected half of the sky. When all fell silent, the German infantry rushed forward, and the large Fleiron battery was reduced to rubble, leaving none of the defenders alive.

On August 13, the German artillery destroyed two more Belgian batteries, and the rest of the batteries still resisted and refused to surrender. General Enmich ordered the remaining 12 cannons to divide into two groups and sweep the remaining batteries along both sides of the Maas River. As a result, the earth-shaking loud noises on the battlefield every day continued, and the various forts collapsed one after another, turning them into huge iron furnaces and crematoriums. By 16 August, 11 of the 12 batteries had been destroyed, leaving only the Longsen battery, which was held by the Belgian defender Liman. General Emmihi sent someone to persuade him to surrender again, but Liman still refused. So 12 huge cannons fired a salvo at the Longsen battery, and the battery immediately ignited a raging fire, and the ammunition depot in the battery was also ignited, a chain explosion occurred, and the top cover of the battery was lifted dozens of meters away, and the entire battery was completely destroyed.

The Battle of Liège finally ended with a German victory, but the Germans suffered heavy casualties in front of the fortress, losing more than 40,000 men. But after taking the fortress of Liège, millions of German troops were able to drive straight into the Marne.