Expedition to Europe

Just as Qin Zhiyuan led the First Brigade back to mainland France, on April 6, in the Forest of Compiègne near Paris, senior French military and political officials gathered in the train compartment of President Raymond Poincaré to discuss the upcoming spring offensive.

"... I can be sure that the war will end within 48 hours. We will drive the Germans out of French territory, then invade Germany, recover Alsace and Lorraine, and restore the glory of the invincible army." After a long speech, Nivelle ended his explanation and returned to his seat triumphantly.

"I still want to remind you that since Hindenburg replaced Falkenhayn, the Germans' combat methods and guiding concepts have changed. They will not choose to fight us head-on, but have retreated to the solid Hindenburg Line to defend. I insist that this war cannot achieve the strategic goal, and the assumption of the offensive has lost its rationality." Lyaute, who was sitting on Poincaré's right, disagreed.

The relationship between Lyautey and Nivelle has always been bad. In Nivelle's eyes, Lyautey is a man who does not live up to his reputation; in Lyautey's eyes, Nivelle is an arrogant man.

"Perhaps we can wait a while. The Americans have declared war, and tomorrow is the day it takes effect. We can wait for the Americans to come and let our exhausted troops get more rest." The new Prime Minister Paul Painlevi has expectations for the Americans, which is also the general view of Europeans at this time.

The participation of the Americans in the war is an absolute major positive. Although before this, the United States only had tens of thousands of national reserves and did not even have a proper army, the United States has unparalleled industrial capabilities and stronger mobilization capabilities than Britain and France. Therefore, for Britain and France, the United States' participation in the war is more important than the end of the Russian empire.

The end of the Russian empire is also a good thing for Britain and France, but this good news does not seem to be obvious now, at least not as big as the boost to military morale from the United States' participation in the war.

"This is our war. If it is to end, we should end it ourselves, not expect those cowboys to end it." Nivelle looked down on Americans.

France and the United States actually have a very good relationship. The role of the French in the founding of the United States cannot be erased. Even the symbol of the United States, the Statue of Liberty, was donated by France. Nivelle's ideas are very popular in this era. "European supremacy" in "white supremacy" is another form of racial discrimination, and the object of discrimination is all non-European whites.

However, Nivelle's words were obviously not in the right place. When Nivelle finished speaking, everyone looked at Nivelle differently, including his chief of staff and Alfred, the commander of the mobile force.

Prime Minister Pan Lewei was particularly helpless. Before this, Pan Lewei found Poincaré and asked to resign as prime minister, but Poincaré did not agree. What a joke, is France going to replace two prime ministers within a month?

"Your idea is simply absurd. If you can save the lives of young French people, why are you so stubborn? This is a war for the whole world, and it should not be borne by France alone." Lyautey denounced Nivelle's indifference.

Lyautey's disgust for Nivelle was beyond measure. If it were not for the support of Clemenceau and Foch, Lyautey would have resigned and returned to Morocco, just as he did in another time and space.

"This is not stubbornness, nor is it absurd! This is me restoring the glory of France in my own way. As the Minister of the Army, what you just said is obviously inconsistent with your status. Louis, you also disappoint me!" Nivelle knew what Lyautey thought of him, and he did not intend to avoid this issue, and he was also not polite to Lyautey.

"Damn it, Robert, you will mess it all up." Lyautey's last warning was not only for Nivelle, but also for Poincaré and Painlevi.

"If I mess up, I will be responsible in my own way, but before that, I am still the commander-in-chief of France. We must unify our thoughts to unite against the enemy." Nivelle insisted.

It is not known what words of Nivelle moved Poincaré. The exhausted president chose the new Nivelle: "Robert, how sure are you?"

"Absolutely sure, one thousand percent!" Nivelle was full of confidence. He stood up again and came to the wall map: "We will launch an attack at Chemin de Dames. First, we will use artillery and make full firepower preparations to blow up everything on the German positions and force the Germans to reinforce. When the Germans are unable to continue, our mobile forces will appear in time to annihilate the Germans within ten kilometers of Chemin de Dames."

Nivelle held the baton and stabbed it heavily at the point of Chemin de Dames on the map, as if the German crown prince was standing there.

The corps responsible for defending the Chemin de Dames area was the corps of which German crown prince Wilhelm was the commander-in-chief of the army group. This corps now has 21 divisions, and another 27 divisions serve as reserves. German Crown Prince William was Nivelle's old rival in the Battle of Verdun. William and his generals were familiar with Nivelle's tactics. More importantly, the Germans occupied the commanding heights of the battlefield.

"You can't have a thousand percent, you don't even have one percent!" Lyautey devalued Nivele's tactics as worthless. His ten fingers were formed into a spire, and It seems to be the famous "Merkel diamond", showing strong self-confidence: "Your experience Although it seems reasonable to come from the last period of Verdun, you have to note that this is Sherman-de-Dam, not Verdun. The German positions are far more dilapidated than the ruined castle of Verdun. Strong, your artillery plus infantry tactics may not work."

Nivelle's mistake was that he applied mechanically. Not to mention that the Sherman-de-Dam area was much larger than Verdun. Nivelle's achievements in Verdun also had a certain element of luck. In the later stages of Verdun, when Nivelle began to attack, the German army was retreating. Those positions were basically abandoned by the Germans themselves, and Nivelle was able to take advantage of them.

"I think I have a greater say in this matter than you. From the first day of the war, I stayed in France while you were in Morocco. Even during the time you returned home, you were just Staying in Paris all the time, and I'm on the front line every day," Nievelle took a different approach, sounding a bit like accusing Lyautey of being frivolous.

"You should be lucky that I am in Morocco. If I were also in France, do you think you could be sitting in this position now?" Lyautey was also accusing Nivelle of being in a dead position.

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"That's enough!" Poungale was so noisy that his brain hurt. He was really tired of this endless wrangling: "Robert, please go back and prepare for the attack. As you said, you have 48 hours. . Lyotei, at this critical moment, please put aside your prejudices. We must unite as one. Ferdinand, I appoint you as the Chief of Staff of the Army Department and take office immediately!" Poincaré appeased Niweiler and Leo. Tai, also announced an appointment.

Chief of the General Staff, this is a sign that Foch has been reactivated, and it is also a warning to Nivele. If you do not do well, well, there is someone behind you watching you!

This is the master of balance!