Chapter 322 France Don’t Cry VII

General Maurice Gustave Gamelin, like his boss Renault, did not know that his opponent was cheating.

Unlike the prime minister who was a lawyer, he was a veteran who participated in the First World War. He served as the director of operations at the French headquarters and led combat units at the brigade and division levels. He also suppressed the armed uprising of the Syrian working people after the war. He is a general with rich combat experience, and he also thinks he knows the German army and the French army very well - of course, he knows the German army in World War I without cheating and the French army in World War I who can die for the country with a smile...

So when he learned that the German army had launched a large-scale attack on Belgium and that the Eben-Emael Fortress in Belgium was captured by the German surprise attack, General Gamelin was not too nervous. He was still slow and leisurely (since Emperor Napoleon was unlucky, the French were such "slow-tempered" when fighting) and issued an order to the Northeast Front for the main force of the 1st Army Group to advance to implement the "Dyre River" plan, and also strengthened the 1st Reserve Armored Division for the 1st Army Group.

Then he asked someone to find Charles de Gaulle and General Verrick, the commander-in-chief of the British Expeditionary Force, to come to the headquarters in Vincennes. He went to bed himself - the general had some insomnia before the German army started the operation, but now he could rest assured. As for the specific command of the front line, that was the job of General Joseph George, the commander of the Northeast Front.

It was almost noon when the old general woke up from his dream and ate something. At this time, the latest battle report arrived with Colonel Charles de Gaulle.

So the old general met with Charles de Gaulle while reading the battle report.

"Charles, I plan to let you command the 4th Reserve Armored Division, which is an elite force, better than the German armored division." The old general flipped through the battle report and the news was not good. The Eben-Emael Fortress was still in the hands of the Germans, and the Germans also captured two nearby bridges.

In addition, Luxembourg has fallen! This year's Grand Duchess of Luxembourg is as pro-German as her sister (she is German), and did not choose to fight bravely against the German invaders, but this was expected. Moreover, the French High Command had already had a response plan - if Germany undermined Luxembourg's neutrality, then it would be extremely vigilant against the German army breaking through Luxembourg from the middle!

The "Maginot Line" was only built to the Longion area (militarily belonging to the Metz fortified area) in Lorraine (bordering Luxembourg and Belgium), but there was no defense line on the Franco-Belgian border north of Longion. This means that the German army can bypass the Metz fortified area through the narrow and long flat area of ​​southern Luxembourg-southern Belgium. Moreover, the transportation in southern Luxembourg is very developed, with a well-connected railway network. Once the German army breaks through from southern Luxembourg, it will be able to go straight to the back of the "Maginot Line" and surround the 50 divisions of the French army in one fell swoop.

Therefore, in the plan of the French High Command, after Luxembourg was captured by Germany, the urgency of encircling the rear of the "Maginot Line" was higher than reinforcing Belgium.

For this reason, the 2nd Army of the 1st Army Group will be withdrawn and deployed in Metz to cover the rear of the "Maginot Line". At the same time, 11 divisions (including the 1st Reserve Armored Division) will be drawn from the reserve to the Northeast Front to fill the gap left by the withdrawal of the 2nd Army from the 1st Army Group.

In other words, after Luxembourg was occupied by Germany, the number of reserves directly controlled by the French High Command will be greatly reduced, and the frontal forces of the Ardennes Forest will also be greatly reduced - in fact, the French High Command guessed to a certain extent that Germany would break through from the middle, but they did not expect that the German breakthrough point would be the Ardennes Forest instead of the conveniently located southern Luxembourg.

However, even if the German army broke through from the southern Luxembourg, the French 2nd Army alone could not stop the 64 divisions of the A Army Group.

"Charles," Gamelin handed the battle report to de Gaulle, "Take a look at this, what do you think?"

De Gaulle looked down and frowned. He also knew the Supreme Command's response plan for the fall of Luxembourg - all the French operations were carried out around the "Maginot Line". With so many troops already concentrated on this line of defense, adding more troops to cover the flanks would likely cause a shortage of troops on the Belgian battlefield.

"Admiral," Charles de Gaulle whispered, "if the reinforcements to Belgium are only the 1st Army, the 7th Army and the 9 divisions of the British Expeditionary Force, it will be difficult to defeat the main force of the Germans."

"It is not necessary to defeat them," Gamelin smiled and said, "As long as we can fight to a stalemate in Belgium... the force required for defense is definitely less than that for attack. Charles, your 4th Reserve Armored Division may be sent to Belgium to participate in the defense in 1 month. Do a good job!"

The 4th Reserve Armored Division was not a newly built unit out of thin air, but was formed on the basis of the 4th Light Mechanized Division (also a newly built division after the start of the World War), so it takes a shorter time to build.

"I understand, Admiral." Charles de Gaulle understood Gamelin's conservative mind, and said nothing more. He saluted and left to take over his 4th Reserve Armored Division.

After a while, British Admiral Verrick hurried over. Because the land war in Western Europe has begun, the British Expeditionary Force Command and the Allied General Headquarters will be merged.

"Mr. Churchill has become Prime Minister?" Gamelin invited Admiral Verek to lunch and continued to discuss the changes in the political situation in Britain with him in a leisurely manner.

"I heard that he is a staunch anti-German," Gamelin asked tentatively. "Does this mean that it will be difficult for us to make peace with Germany after a stalemate on the Belgian battlefield?"

Of course there was a stalemate on the Belgian battlefield, otherwise what else could it be? The 30 divisions of the British and French forces (which will be added later) plus the 22 divisions of the Belgian army are defending on a rather narrow battlefield. It is impossible for the Germans to achieve a breakthrough like they did in Poland.

"Impossible!" General Verrick felt that the French general was testing Britain's attitude. He quickly said, "Germany is launching an attack because its fuel reserves are unable to cope with a protracted war." His point of view is "This is a risky gamble. If the Germans lose... we can win by strengthening the blockade."

"Oh," Admiral Gamelin nodded, then took a sip of champagne and just murmured, "This should be the ending. It will be good for all of us."

…

"Marshal, our people have arrived in Luxembourg City (referring to the capital of Luxembourg)!" General Halder was as happy as a child, dancing and waving a copy of the telegram. "There is no reaction from the French... they are just sitting in silence!"

Due to the close distance between Luxembourg City and the "Maginot Line", the German General Staff had been worried that the French army would occupy it before Germany and then carry out full destruction. This small Germanic country has abundant iron ore resources (which is exactly what Germany needs), and the transportation is very convenient, which is conducive to the entry and exit of large armies.

More importantly, the French's "Maginot" Line did not cover the French-Luxembourg border. This means that Germany has another route to attack France! Although Germany may not attack from the south of Luxembourg, France must mobilize heavy troops to defend it.

"That's good." Hessmann was eating in the No. 1 Command Center of the General Staff with a few slices of bread, meat, and milk. He also laughed when he heard Halder's words. "The French want to send troops into Belgium, and at the same time they want to mobilize troops to defend Metz... The front of the Ardennes must be empty. This is not only conducive to the breakthrough of the armored forces, but also conducive to our airborne landing west of the Meuse River!"

Airborne to the west bank of the Maas River! This was not found in the original "Manstein Plan" and "Operation Sickle". But now that there is no Battle of Norway and the Battle of the Netherlands to fight, the German Wehrmacht has enough airborne troops and transport aircraft to use. Moreover, Germany's air superiority is now considerable, and "escort fighters" such as the Fokker Zero are available. Naturally, an airborne operation can be launched to cooperate with the breakthrough of the 1st Armored Group Army (the commander is General Guderian).

"If the Maas River can break through, then the victory of this war will be determined!" General Halder said to Hessmann with admiration, "Marshal, His Majesty the Emperor has really become the master of the Palace of Versailles!"

"The Meuse River will definitely be able to break through!" Hersman was confident, "But the victory of the war has not yet been determined...unless we can get the French Mediterranean Fleet!"

"Marshal, I will try my best." Halder said. He is the commander-in-chief or deputy commander-in-chief of the soon-to-be-established Southern Front Headquarters, and capturing the French Mediterranean Fleet is the key to the Southern Front Operation. If this operation fails, Germany will have to rely on the Italian Navy in the Mediterranean. This will be Put your destiny in the control of others.

"This is not just military, but also involves political and diplomatic issues!" Hersman shook his head. "There are too many uncertainties." He paused and asked again: "Have you made plans to land on the British mainland?"

"We are advancing with the Navy," Halder said. "The Navy believes that it is necessary to conduct a decisive battle of the main fleet in the English Channel... This will be a sea and air battle. If there are only 2'Bismarck' class ships and 1'Gneissen No', three Deutsche-class ships and three Admiral Hipper-class ships are not enough."

"Isn't there the Air Force and Naval Aviation?" Hersman took a bite of the homemade sandwich, chewed a few mouthfuls and swallowed it. "It's April now, and the battle in France is likely to be decided in June. July and August are the time windows to implement the 'landing plan'... Regardless of whether we want to land or not, there must be a plan!" He thought for a while and said, "You don't have to worry about this matter. Just concentrate on the Liberator Plan. After the 1st Armored Group completes its breakthrough, I will personally discuss it with Marshal Redel."