Chapter 415 "Blitzkrieg"

Charles knew nothing about the situation in the rear. At this time, he was leading the armored division and mechanized division to intersperse along the established route.

The tactics were the "blitzkrieg" of World War II.

Charles already had several conditions for the "blitzkrieg":

The first was to have a strong air force to control air superiority.

Without air superiority, the armored division and mechanized division would be bombed by the enemy all the way and would be destroyed before reaching the destination, which was meaningless.

The second was the main body of the attack: the armored division broke through in the front, the mechanized division provided infantry and artillery fire support in the rear, and finally Foch's infantry followed and advanced.

The key point was that the armored division and mechanized division could break through quickly. Once they were dragged by the enemy, the war would be in a scorch.

Finally, there was intelligence and infiltration.

In World War II, the German army used airborne troops and special forces. It is said that they spent several years recruiting a group of people who could speak English and Russian. During the war, they pretended to be British, American, and Soviet troops to infiltrate the enemy and seize important transportation hubs.

Charles relied on the "Lady in White" and the Belgian guerrillas.

Otherwise, once the road bridge in Vallo was blown up by the Germans, no matter how much preparation Charles made, tanks, armored vehicles, and cars could not pass, and the whole plan would be destroyed.

Fortunately, this did not happen.

Charles rode in an armored vehicle. He sat in the back of the armored vehicle wearing a helmet like a soldier. Even the signalman had to spend some time to find Charles.

There were German prisoners everywhere along the way. They were disarmed, their belts were untied, and they were covered in mud and dejected. They walked under the guns of the French army. They looked at the vehicles passing by with fear and envy in their eyes.

Charles was looking at the map in the car and ignored them. A sidecar three-wheeled vehicle sped from the front. It passed by Charles and turned around before catching up. The signalman reported to Charles in the car: "General, the guerrillas successfully occupied the Watan road bridge, and our vanguard has joined forces with the guerrillas!"

Charles breathed a sigh of relief, and his hanging heart was completely put down.

Tijani, who was sitting opposite, chuckled: "Brigadier General, how much preparation have you made?"

Charles did not tell Tijani in advance. The fewer people who knew about this, the better. Besides, telling Tijani would not help.

"You have seen almost everything." Charles replied calmly: "Except Brussels."

"You are also prepared in Brussels?" Tijani looked at Charles in disbelief.

Charles pointed to the map and explained: "The Germans have very few troops in the rear. After the Watan Highway Bridge, the Germans have almost nothing to resist us, as long as we are fast enough."

Tijani nodded.

The armored division and the mechanized division advanced at a speed of about 30 kilometers per hour. If the rest time is not counted, it only takes more than three hours to reach Brussels, which is 100 kilometers away.

In addition, due to the bombing of the railway line by bombers, almost no German troops could block the front in time during this time.

"Only Brussels." Charles said, "There is a German division there. Although it is a reserve division with weak combat effectiveness, they are in the city."

Tijani nodded to show that he understood.

Tanks are not suitable for street fighting. The Germans can hide in the corners or on the roofs and throw grenades or explosives at the tanks.

In addition, the French army must clear or fight with the Germans for every house, which will become a stumbling block on the French army's way forward.

Charles was thinking about the Battle of Stalingrad. Urban combat was a problem until World War II.

However, Brussels, as the capital of Belgium and an important transportation hub, cannot be avoided or bypassed.

Otherwise, the logistics supplies and even reinforcements following behind may be cut off here.

Charles took out another map from the file package calmly. It was a detailed map of Brussels.

He pointed to the stadium in the north of the city and said, "The Germans have transformed this into a military camp, and the arsenal is located in the underground warehouse of the textile factory next to it."

"Arsenal?" Tijani understood instantly: "Are you preparing to blow up the arsenal?"

...

The 82nd Reserve Division of the German Army, led by Major General Khalil, is stationed in Brussels, Belgium.

The division was replaced from the front line a month ago. When it was stationed, there were only more than 3,000 people left. After less than a week, it quickly expanded to more than 27,000 people. It was ready to be sent to the battlefield again after one month of training.

Chief of Staff Colonel Aifuri was worried about this. He looked at the troops training on the playground and said worriedly: "If there is any difference between them and civilians, it is that they have just learned to shoot."

Major General Khalil, who was sitting in a chair drinking coffee, replied coldly: "That's enough, Colonel. What else do we need?"

Colonel Aifuri was stunned, and then he chuckled bitterly.

Although what Major General Khalil said was extremely cold-blooded, it was true. Trench warfare did not seem to require any skills from soldiers, as long as they could endure hardships and shoot.

Because what they did every day was these two things: endure the harsh environment of the trenches, live a primitive life, and then pop up and pull the trigger when the enemy charged, killing the enemy or being killed by the enemy, that's all.

Major General Khalil stood up with coffee, walked to Afuri and cast his eyes on the shooting range: "Any more training is a waste, Colonel, because no one can avoid artillery shells."

Afuri was speechless, but he thought of someone: "Charles' troops may be different, I heard that he is actively training."

"Maybe!" Khalil replied, "But it has nothing to do with us."

At this time, the staff officer who answered the phone suddenly screamed:

"Something's going on, General!"

"Charles' troops broke through the Cambrai defense line, and they are advancing rapidly along the highway."

"It is estimated that they will reach Brussels in three hours!"

There was an exclamation in the headquarters, and everyone, including Major General Khalil, changed their faces.

The last second they thought Brussels was the rear, and they hoped to stay here for a few more days and enjoy a few more days.

But now it has become the front line, and the enemy will appear here in three hours. Incredible!

Khalil asked puzzledly: "We are a hundred kilometers away from Cambrai. How could the enemy get here in three hours? Did they come by car?"

"Sorry, General." The staff officer replied: "They did come by car!"

Khalil was speechless.

He took the telegram from the staff officer and looked at it, then looked up and ordered loudly:

"What are you still standing there for?"

"Get ready for battle!"

"This is not a training, open the ammunition depot and move the ammunition out immediately!"

"Yes, General!" The signalman turned around to pass the order.

What Khalil didn't know was that there happened to be a group of "German troops" outside the ammunition depot, and they were waiting for the signalman to convey the order to open the ammunition depot and distribute ammunition.