Expedition to Europe

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Verdun is located on the banks of the Meuse River. It is an important transportation hub to Paris and is known as the "Key to Paris".

The reason for launching the Battle of Verdun is absurd.

The German commander Falkenhayn believed that Germany must launch an attack in 1916. This view may be correct, but Falkenhayn was wrong because he chose the wrong direction of attack. The French army built a strong fortress near Verdun, and Falkenhayn could have chosen other directions to launch an attack.

But Falkenhayn did not.

It is also absurd that the French held on to Verdun. Overall, the French defense in 1916 was very strong. The French could have completely abandoned Verdun at this time and turned to defend the southern mountains. The Germans would not attack Paris when their rear was threatened, so the Germans could only get a victory that was only symbolic but had no practical value.

But the French did not.

The Battle of Verdun was a wrong war that started at the wrong time and in the wrong place.

There is no direct train from Amiens to Verdun. Qin Zhiyuan led the troops from Capitol to Paris first, and then took a car from Paris to Verdun. When they arrived in Verdun, it was already December 22.

As soon as he arrived in Verdun, Qin Zhiyuan went to report to Nivelle.

After Nivelle became the commander-in-chief of the French army, he moved the headquarters to an ancient castle, which not only had luxurious living facilities, but also a wine cellar. This wine cellar belongs to Nivelle, and all the wines are aged. When Nivelle relaxes, he likes to sit on the top of the castle. While tasting the wine, he enjoys the scenery in the distance and looks far-sighted.

This pretense can be given 10 points.

Hearing the news reported by Qin Zhiyuan, Nivelle summoned Qin Zhiyuan in the office.

"Things in the world are hard to predict, right?" Nivelle looked at Qin Zhiyuan, smiling.

"Yes!" Qin Zhiyuan said concisely.

Foch's failure was entirely his own fault, not Qin Zhiyuan's poor work. Qin Zhiyuan had already reminded Foch to pay attention to the British, but Foch did not pay attention to it. What can I do? What can I do?

"You still have time to repent now." Nivelle seemed very generous.

"I have never made a mistake, so there is no need to repent." Qin Zhiyuan insisted.

The relationship between Nivelle and Qin Zhiyuan is already difficult to reconcile. Even if Qin Zhiyuan now surrenders to Nivelle, I cannot gain Nivelle's trust. Nivelle said this just to increase Qin Zhiyuan's sense of frustration, and then affect Qin Zhiyuan's mood, prompting Qin Zhiyuan to make the wrong choice. Qin Zhiyuan knew it very well.

"Very good, I like strong people, and it is obvious that you are like this." Nivelle put away his smile and looked frostbitten.

"Here!" Nivelle came to the topographic map near Verdun hanging on the wall, and pointed his finger heavily at a German salient position: "Bra, the salient of the German position on the west bank of the Meuse River, its existence seriously threatens the security of the Verdun area, and it must be conquered!"

The Meuse River near Verdun winds and turns, flowing through the Verdun area in an "M" shape. Bra, at the corner of the "M", is indeed a salient of the German position, but it is not necessarily a big threat to the Verdun area.

There are many such German positions nearby, and there are also many on the French side. If you want to say that there is a threat, there is indeed, but the degree of threat is far from what it looks like.

The key issue is that this map is a map from the beginning of 1916, and Bra's position is in the German control area. In other words, since the Battle of Verdun, the French have recovered all the territory they lost at the beginning of the battle at the beginning of this year. Qin Zhiyuan and his team are now going to counterattack the German control area.

This is not to recover lost territory, but to take the initiative to attack.

The Germans have occupied the Bra area for more than two years. There must be a solid defensive position there now. Qin Zhiyuan and his team are facing the Germans who are ready to fight. Even if Qin Zhiyuan and his team capture the Bra area, they may fall into a hard battle afterwards.

Bra is on the west bank of the Meuse River. There are no French positions on the west bank of the Meuse River. If Qin Zhiyuan and his team capture Bra, the Germans can mobilize heavy troops to support at any time, while the French are limited by the Meuse River and cannot provide effective support in time.

"The newly formed 45th Division will cooperate with your attack. Once you occupy Bra, they will then enter to consolidate their positions." Nivelle did it very well.

Qin Zhiyuan and his team just arrested two soldiers from the 45th Division. They are now detained in Capy, awaiting trial by the Amiens District Court. The commander of the 45th Division, Bradris, hates Qin Zhiyuan to the bone because of this matter. Whether the 45th Division will wholeheartedly cooperate with the First Brigade in the attack, only God knows.

"Is there a time limit for the attack?" Qin Zhiyuan did not consider the reinforcements and focused on how to complete the task.

"No in principle, but you definitely don't want to delay it until the New Year." Nivelle smiled but his eyes were like a hawk staring at a hare, which was chilling.

Today is December 20th, and New Year's Day is December 31st, which is 11 days away.

Qin Zhiyuan looked at his watch, to be exact, there are still 10 days.

"Okay, if there is no other arrangement, please allow me to leave, I have to go back and make some arrangements." Time is running out, Qin Zhiyuan has to race against time.

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If you say that you have no resentment in your heart, you are deceiving yourself. But if you find all kinds of excuses to shirk your duties and are unwilling to perform your mission because you have resentment in your heart, then you are giving others a handle.

Nivelle is waiting for such an opportunity to deal with Qin Zhiyuan.

After returning to the base, Qin Zhiyuan secretly thought about how to complete the mission.

Qin Zhiyuan and his team's base is next to the Douaumont Fortress, where the French troops of the 45th Division are stationed.

Because it is a temporary camp, most of the soldiers of the First Brigade live in tents. They just need to stay for a few nights and there is no need to be too particular. The First Brigade has a convoy with various military supplies. The tents have been built. The soldiers are dispersed to find some fuel to start a fire and prepare to make a fire to keep warm.

It is winter now, with snowflakes floating in the sky and the north wind howling on the ground. If there is no fire, even the food cannot be heated. I am afraid that this night will not be easy.

Qin Zhiyuan does not need to worry about these things. Naturally, the soldiers will take care of them. Qin Zhiyuan's task is to consider how to deal with the enemy, and there is no need to worry about anything else.

After a long journey, Qin Zhiyuan was really tired. He went back to the tent and lay down in his clothes. He wanted to take a nap and wait until he woke up. Just after Qin Zhiyuan lay down, there was a sudden sound of chaotic footsteps outside the tent, and then Chen Kangjian's loud voice: "Master Qin, the 45th Division is bullying people. You have to make a decision for the brothers."

The 45th Division? Qin Zhiyuan was startled and lost all sleepiness.

"What's going on?" Qin Zhiyuan stepped out of the head of the sect and asked in a deep voice.

"Our brothers went to find firewood and happened to run into the patrol team of the 45th Division. The people of the 45th Division sneered at our brothers. Our brothers said a few words back, and as a result, they detained our people and refused to let them go, saying that you should go and get them in person." Chen Kangjian shouted in injustice.

"Fuck, the first regiment assembles, armed with guns and live ammunition, follow me to get people!" A burst of evil fire rushed straight to his head, and Qin Zhiyuan was furious.