The minutes ticked by, and there were five minutes left until eight o'clock in the morning. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

"When will the air brigade arrive on the battlefield?" Qin Tian asked.

"Your Highness, each of the four air groups has sent a fighter group and a bomber group, and the planes have already taken off. Calculating the time, they should not be far from the battlefield, and in a few minutes at most, they can arrive at the battlefield. Major General Manstein reported.

In order to minimize the casualties caused by the troops crossing the Marne, and to ensure that the crossing could successfully break through the Anglo-French defenses, the Germans made careful planning. Not only was the fire preparedness carried out, but it was also planned that the fighters of the air force would be able to fly in time to support the crossing of the river. In this way, it can undoubtedly effectively reduce the casualties of the troops.

Qin Tian nodded: "What we should do, we are all ready." Next, it's up to the warriors. May God bless us! ”

"Your Highness, this time we will definitely win." Major General Manstein was convinced of this.

When the hour hand on the watch pointed to eight o'clock, the German artillery bombardment began to extend to the deep positions of the Anglo-French troops. At the same time, on the front-line positions, mortars and grenadiers, as well as light and heavy machine guns, were erected and ready to fire at any time. More German soldiers, carrying small boats that had already been prepared, rushed to the Marne.

Although the Marne is not wide, the water is not deep. However, if you want to wade directly across the river, it is undoubtedly very difficult. Therefore, in the past two months, the German sappers have prepared a large number of small boats for the army to use in the early stage of crossing the river.

The Anglo-French forces on the other side of the river also sensed the change in the German artillery bombardment.

"Quick, get into position, the Germans are going to attack!" The officers of the Anglo-French army commanded loudly at the top of their voices.

A large number of Anglo-French soldiers came out of the anti-artillery holes and entered the position, ready to resist the German attack. At the same time, the soldiers deployed in the rear also moved to the front through the communication trenches. However, these Anglo-French soldiers had to first pass through the German artillery blockade. Under the heavy shelling of the German army, it is not known how many British and French soldiers would die under the heavy shelling of the German army before reaching the front-line position.

"Your Excellency Marshal, the German attack has begun." One of the generals reported to Marshal Xia Fei.

"May God bless the French Republic, and hope that we will be able to withstand the German attack!" Marshal Xia Fei closed his eyes and prayed to God.

On the Marne front, the 3nd, 3rd, and 4th armies of the German central group launched an attack on the positions of the British and French forces on a defense line of more than 100 kilometers. In the first wave of the offensive, the Germans chose six landing sites and committed as many as 150,000 men to attack. And that's not counting the troops who provided them with fire support from the positions.

"Fire!"

With the order of the commander of the front, heavy fire began on the German defensive line. Heavy machine guns, light machine guns, mortars and grenadiers began to fire frantically at the positions of the British and French troops on the other side of the river.

The dense artillery shells smashed into the positions of the British and French troops like rain, and many shells fell directly into the trenches, causing the British and French troops who hurriedly entered the trenches to suffer heavy losses.

The dense machine-gun bullets hit the soldiers of the British and French forces who could not even raise their heads, and they could only shrink their heads into the trenches and act as turtles with shrunken heads, and no matter how the officers scolded, they were unwilling to stick their heads out to fight. After all, those bodies that have fallen in the trenches and still have residual warmth are the best examples.

"Cowards, you cowards, raise your head and fire at me! Otherwise, the Germans would have crossed the Marne. When the time comes, everyone will have only one dead end! A French second lieutenant officer scolded loudly.

But in the next second, his roar stopped abruptly. A stray bullet hit him in the head, shattering his entire skull, like a watermelon shattering at once.

On the north bank of the Marne, many German soldiers have already washed down the Marne with wooden boats. These tall German soldiers were able to carry a small wooden boat for two people. As soon as the wooden boat was lowered to the surface of the river, the soldiers jumped on it, and then rowed hard to rush to the other side of the river. The Marne is only a few tens of meters wide, and the current is not turbulent, so if there is no disturbance, it can be crossed in a minute.

Despite the strong German firepower, there were still quite a few British and French soldiers who resisted. In particular, those fire points that had not been destroyed in the German shelling and bombardment began to fire fiercely.

"Da Da Da!"

The French Havkais machine guns deployed in the firing points and the British Brent machine guns were firing. Dense bullets hit the surface of the river, splashing one after another.

The small wooden ship has almost no defense, and the wooden hull can easily be pierced if hit. As a result, many German soldiers were hit by bullets from the British and French forces and fell into the Marne River screaming. Their bodies flowed down the river to the Seine and to Paris. Blood flowed from the corpses, staining the waters of the Marne.

"Open fire, knock out the fire points of the French!" A German officer ordered.

A 120-mm heavy mortar aimed at a French pillbox on the other side of the river.

"Boom! Rumble! ”

Two shells flew out, and although one shell missed, it landed in the trench, killing many French soldiers. Another shell hit the French bunker and blew up the entire bunker.

The German soldiers were undoubtedly at their most vulnerable when they crossed the river. In the face of the fierce fire of the Anglo-French forces, they could only bear it silently. At this time, there is no doubt that only the firepower in the rear can be counted on, which can suppress the firepower of the Anglo-French forces and provide them with protection.

"Order the artillery to open fire at once!"

The commander of the French 2nd Army, Decarthy? Admiral Terno commanded with a dark face.

The firepower of the German army was very strong, so strong that it was beyond their expectations. So much so that their defensive line was completely suppressed by the powerful firepower of the German army. If they didn't find a way, the Germans would have to rush across the Marne. At that time, it will be even more difficult to drive the Germans down the river.

Although, the battle has only just begun. But in order to solidify the defence, Dekassy? Admiral Terno had no choice but to send out the artillery that had been hidden before.

Several other Anglo-French army groups also gave such orders. The German attack put great pressure on them.