Chapter 408 Armored and Mechanized Divisions

"The steel plants I bought are all in the offensive direction of Army Group East." Charles said: "My introduction of steel plant workers to Schneider and training them was actually a hint."

Foch said "Oh."

This was the first time he heard about this. Intelligence personnel would never report such a "little thing" to Deputy Commander-in-Chief Foch.

"I went to Ragden two weeks ago," said Charles.

Foch understood instantly: "Did you go to see Xiafei?"

Joffre's headquarters is currently located in Ragden, a small town in the northeast.

"No." Charles shook his head in denial: "I just went for a spin."

In principle, Charles should go, but he really didn't want to socialize with Joffre.

Foch was stunned for a moment, then nodded: "Yes, you don't need to see Xiafei."

Tijani on the side was confused when he heard this. What does this have to do with the battle in front of him?

But the colonel brought by Foch had a look of surprise on his face: "You hope to use this to hint to people that you have met with Joffre to discuss cooperation with Army Group East!"

"Yes." Charles looked at the colonel with some surprise in his eyes. His reaction was quite sensitive.

Foch introduced him on his behalf: "He is my chief of staff, Wei Gang."

Charles was stunned. It turned out to be Wei Gang, the future commander-in-chief of the French army and the minister of defense after France surrendered in World War II.

Wei Gang saw the difference in Charles's expression and asked doubtfully: "Have we met before, Brigadier?"

"No." Charles quickly replied: "I just heard that you and General Foch planned the 'Race to the Sea' campaign."

Charles originally wanted to find a battle example to compliment Wei Gang, but thinking that he had never been on the battlefield until now and had been working as a staff officer, he could only make up this excuse.

Wei Gang was a little embarrassed. "Running to the Sea" was not a victory, it could even be said to be a failure. It failed to achieve the desired results.

Foch broke the awkward atmosphere. He took the briefcase from Wei Gang, took out a document and raised it to Charles:

"Here's the equipment list for your unit, Brigadier."

"There's something I don't quite understand."

"The 1st Tank Brigade and the 105th Infantry Regiment are both equipped with tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery. What is the difference between the two?"

Foch once suspected that this was a mistake made by Charles, who confused the tank brigade with the infantry regiment, at least Foch could not see the difference between them.

Battlefield experience told Foch that each branch of the army should have its own strengths and weaknesses. For example, artillery should focus on artillery instead of focusing on everything.

"Of course there is a difference, General." Charles replied: "Actually, I think they should change their designation, because they can no longer simply be called a 'tank brigade' and an 'infantry regiment'."

Foch agreed, especially since the 105th Infantry Regiment was armed to the teeth, calling it an "Infantry Regiment" seemed excessive.

"What do you think they should be called?" asked Foch.

Charles did not hesitate and answered simply: "The 1st Armored Division and the 1st Mechanized Division."

The Charr have always built them according to the standards of armored and mechanized troops.

"The armored force has more tanks, which are mainly used to deal with enemy tank forces, or to tear apart the enemy's defense line in the direction of attack."

"The mechanized division has fewer tanks and more artillery, but is always dominated by infantry. It can quickly transport and deploy the infantry to the location where it is needed in the shortest time."

Foch nodded slightly.

Although he still couldn't understand the use of the troops organized in this way, he felt that Ciel's approach was very novel.

Wei Gang couldn't hold himself back any longer. He took a small step forward and looked directly at Charles: "Brigadier General, I noticed that your two armies each have more than 500 vehicles of various types. Don't you worry about them? Suffering heavy losses under enemy fire?"

Even a tank can't withstand the German 105MM artillery, right? Therefore, on the battlefield, these two armies will be defeated by the enemy like a whirlwind.

Charles raised his eyebrows and replied: "We will defeat the enemy's artillery before then."

"What?" Wei Gang laughed: "But our artillery is all 75 guns. Our army has always been at a disadvantage in terms of artillery. The range of the enemy's artillery is much longer than ours. We have already suffered heavy casualties before we even got in front of them. "

The Northern Army Group has a deep understanding of this. They adhere to the "offensive theory" and often encounter this situation during the offensive.

"That's why I want 'Saint Salmon'." Charles took the document from Foch's hand, pointed to "Saint Salmon" on the list and said, "It can be done."

"This is impossible, you think of the battlefield too simply." Wei Gang shook his head, with a look of disbelief on his face, and a trace of ridicule on his lips.

This guy has had too many smooth battles, Wei Gang thought, and he simplifies everything.

However, at this moment, the communications soldier guarding the radio station took a telegram and reported to Charles: "General, our army has defeated the enemy's artillery. Colonel Browne requests next instructions."

"Break through resolutely." Charles received the telegram and ordered with a firm tone: "Advance deep into the enemy."

"yes!"

Charles handed the telegram to Foch: "As I said, the armored divisions are tearing apart the enemy's defenses at the front, and they have done it."

Foch took the telegram, glanced at it, and then forwarded the telegram to Wei Gang, who looked shocked.

Wei Gang took the telegram and read it again and again, his face still full of disbelief. He looked at Charles with doubt, and asked with difficulty: "You, how did you do it?"

This is what Foch wanted to ask.

The disadvantage of artillery has always been a headache for the French army.

Foch and Weygand even believed that the reason why the "offensive theory" fell into the quagmire was not that the theory was wrong, but that the direction of artillery development was wrong.

If Charles could solve this problem and suppress the German 105 guns with 75 guns, it would be tantamount to paving a smooth road for the "offensive theory" that was about to collapse.

"It's very simple." Charles answered easily: "Intelligence, aviation, and "Saint-Samond"!"

"The Lady in White" was responsible for intelligence collection and knew in advance that the German artillery positions were suspected to be artillery positions.

Then, the "Caproni" bomber, under the cover and guidance of the "Camel" fighter, first bombed the German artillery positions.

While the German artillery was overwhelmed, the 1st Armored Division launched an attack.

Tanks were in the front, followed by armored vehicles full of infantry, and then 50 improved "Saint-Samond".

Then, before the German artillery reacted, "Saint-Samond" had entered the 8-kilometer range where it could fight back.

They fought and advanced, and cooperated with fighters and bombers to successfully suppress two German 105MM artillery regiments.

Foch and Weygand looked at each other in bewilderment. In their eyes, the problem was almost unsolvable, but Charles could easily solve it!