Chapter 524: Steady Progress (Asking for a Monthly Pass)
While the literary and artistic circles of the world were making a fuss about the German attack on Paris, brazenly using heavy artillery and aircraft to destroy those places of interest, the army attacking Paris was as if it were not affected at all.
The four German corps attacking Paris were still attacking in an orderly manner according to the predetermined plan. Dozens of infantry divisions took turns to attack, and the Anglo-French troops stationed in Paris were defeated and suffered heavy losses.
In just one moment, the Anglo-French defense line on the outskirts of Paris all fell. The Germans entered the city of Paris and began to engage in fierce street fighting with the Anglo-French forces.
Of course, this was due to the fact that armored forces were dispatched. Coupled with the heavy shelling and bombardment of the Germans, the defensive positions of the Anglo-French troops were plowed several times. Under such circumstances, the Anglo-French forces naturally could not withstand the German attack.
After storming the city of Paris, the German armored forces ceased to operate. Knowing that the Anglo-French forces were already armed with a large number of anti-tank weapons, the German armored forces were certainly not able to venture into the city of Paris. In that case, it will undoubtedly increase the number of German tank losses. Although, the number of tanks produced by the German army has already come up. But every tank crew is precious. Even, those crew members are much more valuable than the tank itself. Qin Ke didn't want his elite tank crew to lose too much.
"Boom! Rumble! ”
On one street, a German company was storming a French position. This is a street more than 200 meters long and more than 20 meters wide. On both sides of the street, there were originally high-rise buildings. However, under the heavy shelling of the German army, the high-rise buildings on both sides of the street have collapsed, and the entire street is basically in ruins. However, even so, the French soldiers still fended off the German attack in the ruins. In the eyes of these French soldiers, they probably have no way to retreat now. Their capital had been destroyed by the Germans. The only thing they could do now was probably to keep fighting in the ruined capital until the Germans were defeated, or they were killed by the Germans. It is precisely because of this that the French army's will to resist is quite tenacious.
A 60mm mortar was firing wildly, and the gunner almost brought out the maximum rate of fire of this mortar. One shell after another smashed into the positions of the French army, blowing up dust and splashing earth and rocks.
"With such a fierce shelling, those French people on the position should all be dead." A second lieutenant platoon commander said.
"Second Lieutenant, take your troops and attack." The captain company commander ordered.
"Yes, sir." The second lieutenant platoon commander nodded.
Soon, dozens of German soldiers, bent on their waists, groped towards the positions of the French troops.
However, not long after these German soldiers walked out, two Habecas machine guns began to fire at the French position, and at the same time, many rifles also joined in the firing.
The dense firepower caused several German soldiers to be killed on the spot. The others, seeing that the situation was not good, hurriedly lay on the ground, not daring to move forward. However, under the machine-gun fire of the French army, they could not even retreat, and directly fell into a dilemma.
"Hell! All mortars and grenadiers were added to the shelling. With shells, tear those French all to shreds! The captain company commander ordered.
Suddenly, 60-mm mortars, two 80-mm mortars, and 9 grenadiers joined the attack. Shells and grenades rained down on the French positions, and explosions rang out one after another, and the whole was enveloped in gunsmoke.
A few minutes later, the captain company commander gave the order to attack. This time, the attack did not meet with resistance. When the German soldiers attacked the French position, they found that there was nothing left on the position except for dozens of corpses. It is clear that after heavy German shelling, the French troops immediately retreated.
Fierce battles unfolded in the city of Paris. Even the city, already under German shelling and bombardment, was about to be reduced to ruins. However, the resistance of the British and French forces was still very fierce.
They fought fiercely with the Germans in the city, and every street, every house, and even every ruin had to go through fierce battles before they could decide where to belong. In particular, those French soldiers launched an attack without fear of death, as if they were not afraid of death at all. In contrast, the resistance of the British soldiers, although stubborn, was not as desperate.
It's no wonder that, after all, this is the capital of the French, and for the French, there is an inseparable feeling. But for the British, they saw it as a battlefield.
The Anglo-French defense division in the city of Paris was mainly the defense area of the French 10th Army to the north of the Seine, and the 4th Army of the British Expeditionary Force was responsible for the defense area south of the Seine. The 100,000 men of the French 1st Army were to be used as reserves, and wherever there was a problem, they would fill it.
Although, the Anglo-French troops in the city of Paris were 500,000 men. However, under the siege of the German army, their forces still did not appear to be enough. Especially when the German army opened the way with strong firepower, it caused great losses to the British and French forces. As a result, they were defeated by the Germans, and the entire defense line was in a great collapse.
The German offensive, on the other hand, was advancing steadily. Every attack was supported by strong firepower.
In street fighting, the Germans often acted alone as infantry companies or infantry platoons. Each infantry company and infantry platoon is equipped with mortars and grenadiers, which makes them extremely capable of infantry support in street fighting. At the same time, the artillery positions deployed outside Paris also obeyed their call at all times. If necessary, the artillery positions outside the city were able to cover a large area of artillery fire into the designated area.
Under such a tactical blow from the German army, the Anglo-French forces naturally suffered heavy losses and could not resist. This is also the reason why the German army was able to achieve no results in street battles at a very high cost.
"General Manstein, is the advance of the troops going well?" Qin asked.
"Your Highness, everything is going well. Although the resistance of the Anglo-French forces was stubborn, the losses they were able to inflict on us were very small. The whole battle is under our control. Major General Manstein said.
Qin nodded, and then he was relieved.