ps:ps: The high temperature for a long time causes physical discomfort and affects the update, everyone understands. At present, the body has adapted and improved, and is trying to recover from the state.

Chapter 302

The German army's plan for a decisive battle was not too complicated, and in fact it was hard power to fight on the European battlefield. There is not much room for scheming, especially in modern warfare. Of course, France in World War II was an exception!

The key to this campaign plan in advance was not to defeat the Chinese and American armies on the left and right, but to break through the junction of the two armies. And this key point is Vitry, Leva François. It is a small town where the Seventh Army of the Chinese Expeditionary Force is stationed. Once this point was broken through by the Germans, the Germans could quickly advance east along the road to Saint-Dizier. Once the Germans reached this tactical detour, the entire American army would be encircled by the Germans.

As for the Chinese Expeditionary Force, a friendly unit of the US army, the situation is a little better than that of the German army, but it is also difficult to withdraw to reinforce the US army. Because of the front of the Chinese Expeditionary Force, the strength of the 25 infantry divisions of the German army, under the cover of 300 tanks, launched a fierce counterattack on the defense area of the Chinese Expeditionary Force.

In order to achieve the goal of completely annihilating the US army and inflicting heavy losses on the Chinese expeditionary force, the German army placed almost all its mobile units in the eastern theater. It was under such circumstances that the British and French troops did not have the intention of taking the initiative to attack. Even a day after the battle, Petain rejected the request of the American commander Pershing to send the French First Army in Orleans to reinforce the east. Moreover, Petain stubbornly believed in the reply that the main force of the German army was still in the western theater, and the counteroffensive in the eastern theater was still a tactical deception.

On the evening of the 11th, a dragon-like German armored unit appeared outside Vitry, Levie-François, highlighting the most critical point of the entire battle. At this time, the battle situation suddenly became clear and clear. The main force of the Chinese Expeditionary Force on the left encountered a strong counterattack from the German forces from the two directions of Champagne Beach on the front and Welty on the flank, and the Chinese Expeditionary Force could only turn from offensive to defensive, and was able to withstand the German counterattack on the Watri line. On the right flank, under the premise of the basic collapse of the front group, the American army built a simple defensive line in Baledik and resisted the German army to the death. At the same time, Pershing gathered his troops and urgently asked for reinforcements from the French army.

In the eastern battlefield, the two sides are equal in terms of troops. However, the German army was well prepared and reached the suddenness of tactics, and after the American army suffered a sudden blow, more than 100,000 people were routed, and the strength suffered huge losses. Plus the Germans were on the right. Forty infantry divisions were invested at one time, and the US army was able to withstand a day without being defeated, and it was already very lucky.

When the German tank appeared in the high-powered artillery mirror, the expression of Wu Peifu, the commander of the 44th Division, was a bitter gourd face. According to aerial reconnaissance, there were too many tanks of the German army, and more than a dozen tanks in front of the breakthrough were in an attack formation that was slowly advancing.

The defensive line of the Seventh Army was built in strict accordance with the textbooks of the Army University, and the three divisions were not lined up. Rather, one before the other, one as a reserve. When competing for the front, Wu Peifu had good luck, and he got the word "front" when he drew lots. Able to be at the forefront. Since joining the war, the 44th Division has not fought many hard battles, and the Seventh Army, with sixty percent of Beiyang veterans and officers as the main force, is in the eyes of the commanders of the group army. It's really not a workhorse. It's really a breath of evil for the Seventh Army to go online. Fight a good fight.

"Heavy artillery battalion fire!" The German tanks were still five kilometers away, but Wu Peifu did not dare to be sloppy in the slightest.

Boom Boom! The heavy artillery battalion of the 44th Division took the lead in firing and suppressed at a distance. The shells fell in the formation of German tanks, and although they did not hit directly, one tank still listened to it, and the other German tanks turned around.

The chief of staff, Gao Shuai, came over with the phone and said, "Division, military phone." Wu Peifu took the phone and said, "Junzao, it's me." ”

"Wu Ziyu, the commander-in-chief called, the German counterattack was fierce, the US army was fighting hard, and the main force of our army was also fighting hard. We must hold Vitry and Leva François, otherwise the situation will be unimaginable. I have already stated to the commander-in-chief that even if the Seventh Army is exhausted, it will hold its position. Ziyu, whether the Seventh Army can get ahead depends on this experience. Lan Tianwei's voice was extremely stern, and the entire Seventh Army was a bit of a queen, and this time it was an opportunity to show it.

"Please rest assured, as long as one of the 44th Division is there, the position will not be lost." Wu Peifu's heart was ignited by Lan Tianwei's words, and he replied very resolutely. Lan Tianwei's tone was a little relaxed: "How's the situation?" Wu Peifu walked to the gun mirror and glanced at it, saying: "The vanguard of the German army has been repulsed, and I humbly request the heavy artillery brigade of the army to reinforce our department at any time." ”

"Okay, I promise you, the artillery brigade will open fire according to the requirements of your department." "Thank you, Gunza!"

The menacing German army quickly retreated, and it was almost dusk, and Bob, the commander of the German assault group, was somewhat surprised when he received the news from the front. The fire of at least one heavy artillery battalion, which indicates that at least one infantry division was defending Vitry, Leva François. Judging from the location of the blockade, it is clear that more than one infantry division is defending, otherwise it would not have been possible to have such a long defensive depth. Bob quickly waited for the results of the aircraft reconnaissance, and sure enough, there was more than one division of the defensive force in front, and it was also under the banner of the Chinese, and judging from the construction of the fortifications, this unit did not come temporarily.

This result is very normal, and probably only the Chinese Expeditionary Force can think of putting a force in Vitry, Levit-François in the event of a full-scale offensive to ensure that the connection with the American army is not separated.

Among the German army, the best understanding of the squadron is probably Bob, and the armies of Britain, France and the United States will definitely not think of the possible counterattack when attacking Shun, let alone put at least two infantry divisions on the small town of Vitryy and Levit-François, because that would look like a waste of troops.

Since the Chinese are prepared, it is stupid to simply ram forward with tank troops. Before Bob set out on the expedition, he thought that he might encounter resistance, and he was prepared for both. Behind the tank units in front of the breakthrough, five infantry divisions followed.

Thanks to God, the German tanks did not march fast, and the distance between them and the infantry was not large. When it was completely dark, the German infantry followed. Bob immediately convened a military meeting, and in any case, he had to take Vitry, Leva François, otherwise the encirclement and annihilation of the American army would be an empty word.

Taking advantage of the night's time, both sides are making adjustments. The U.S. troops seized the time to build fortifications in Baledique, and although Pershing, who suffered a heavy loss, had a deep grudge against the French army, after learning that a German unit had appeared in Vitry, Levois-François, he could only report the battle situation to Petain and ask for reinforcements. At this time, the U.S. military could not take a step back, otherwise the collapse of the entire eastern war situation could be foreseen. Even the US troops could not withdraw to Saint-Dizier one after another, because there were only a small number of US logistics troops there, and it was simply impossible to build an effective defensive position in a short period of time.

Pershing is most fortunate that the Chinese Expeditionary Force actually thought of putting three infantry divisions in Vitry, Lewa François, and when he first knew it, he still laughed at the Chinese for wasting troops, but now that he thinks about it, he is really wrong.

This time, Petain's reply was very fast, and when he learned that a German army had appeared in Vitry, Levois-François, Petain completely reacted and was deceived by the Germans again. There is no doubt that the war situation in the east is very important for the entire Allied powers, and if they are defeated again, the Entente will not be able to hold out if they do not do well.

Petain could only ask the Americans to resist, and said that troops would be drawn from Orleans to reinforce the American forces, and at the same time, the western theater would launch an attack on the German lines, retake Paris, and march into Reims. One of the keys to Petain's deployment was that the Chinese and American armies were able to withstand the fierce attack of the German army in the east. For the Chinese expeditionary force, Petain was very confident, but not so confident in the US army. Therefore, in Petain's telegram to Cai Yi, he deliberately emphasized that the Chinese expeditionary force should better reinforce the American army.

The reply of the Chinese Expeditionary Force surprised Petain and Pershing, and after reconnaissance and a day of defensive battle, the Chinese Expeditionary Force found that the German army in front of them was not as strong as expected. Cai Yi and others believed that as long as they held out for two days and consumed the spirit of the German army, they could use the reserves to launch a counterattack. Therefore, the American army must withstand the German attack at Baledik, and at the same time, the French reinforcements must arrive within two days.

Petain unexpectedly supported the plan of the Chinese Expeditionary Force, and said that he would transfer the French Third Army to the east for reinforcements, and at the same time transfer 300 tanks and five 210 mm heavy artillery regiments to reinforce the eastern battlefield.

If it is still understandable to draw reinforcements from the Third Army, the transfer of five heavy artillery regiments is a bit unexpected by the expeditionary force. You must know that the French attach great importance to artillery fire in war, especially this large-caliber artillery. Seeing that the army is about to counterattack in the west, how can they be so kind to transfer the heavy artillery? It later became known that these heavy artillery units, which had not been transferred to the west, were to defend Orleans and prepare for the possible south of Paris from the German army.

With Petain's decision, it was the American army that suffered the most. To realize the Chinese counterattack strategy, the US military must form a defensive depth at Baledik and Saint-Dizier, holding out for at least five days and nights. In terms of troops, it will take at least three days for the Chinese to crush the German army in front of them. This is still a relatively conservative estimate.

Pershing had a feeling that he was being pitted by the Chinese and French armies, but he had no choice but to accept the task of sticking to it. Otherwise, even if there are hundreds of thousands of troops in the entire US army, there will be no morale and defeat like a mountain.

In this situation, the important point of Vitry, Leva François, has become extremely important. Knowing that at least 300 tanks and five German infantry divisions were arriving at Vitry, Leva François, the command of the Chinese Expeditionary Force also became nervous, and temporarily transferred two divisions from the strategic reserve to reinforce them in the starry night.

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