Chapter 205: Tank Assault Tactics

Chapter 205: Tank Assault Tactics

In the German defensive line at Rhodes, Major General von Basel braved the rain to inspect the firepower layout. Colonel Alfreed, the frontline commander, hurriedly followed behind with a few guards.

As he walked, von Basel issued instructions, frowning as he surveyed the trench positions:

"Set up another machine gun here!"

"Scoop out that standing water; otherwise, no one will be able to move fast through it!"

"If you don't want to be blown to bits by enemy artillery, spread out the ammunition and keep it hidden!"

It was evident that von Basel was not fully satisfied with the defenses. However, he reminded himself that this was the 22nd Reserve Infantry Division, so high expectations might be unrealistic.

Reserve divisions generally consisted of soldiers who had undergone military training but had no battle experience. Such soldiers, new to the battlefield, could easily forget everything they had learned in their anxiety, and the purpose of reserve units was to give them a transition period before joining the regular army. However, due to the extensive front line and limited manpower, the reserve troops were now directly deployed into brutal combat.

Even so, they were better prepared than the recruits who had only one or two weeks of basic training in firing and marching.

Von Basel continued along the trench line, passing the bodies of French soldiers left over from the Germans' recapture of the trench. Some of the fallen soldiers still clung to life, emitting faint groans, but von Basel ignored them, leaving them to their fate.

The 22nd Reserve Division's mission was simple: hold the line and repel any French forces attempting to penetrate the sector, especially enemy tanks.

After covering about half the defensive line, von Basel turned to Colonel Alfreed. "How are the 77mm field guns positioned?"

"Just as you ordered, sir!" Alfreed replied crisply. "We've spread them out two to three hundred meters behind the line. They're set to fire only when enemy tanks approach."

Von Basel gave a satisfied nod. The field guns, K-bullets, and fifty or so T-model anti-tank rifles should be sufficient to handle any tanks that came their way.

Just as he was about to conclude the inspection and return to headquarters, a soldier's shout rang out: "Enemy sighted! They're advancing!"

Startled, von Basel quickly turned and crouched as he ran back to the trench, ignoring the blood and mud splattered everywhere. He threw himself down, raised his binoculars, and cautiously peered over the trench wall.

Through the rain, he spotted faint shadows advancing, their numbers small but creeping carefully forward, using shell craters and terrain for cover.

Von Basel frowned. Until now, French offensives had either involved mass infantry charges or a wall of tanks plowing across the trenches. This was the first time he'd seen French troops advancing under cover from 500 meters out with only a few soldiers.

The German soldiers, rifles at the ready, took up defensive positions at the trench's edge. Seeing the French forces advancing so cautiously without tanks, some of them couldn't resist mocking:

"Where are their tanks? Why are they sending infantry first?"

"We must've taken out most of the French already!"

"They'd better go home and start making babies, or France will run out of men soon enough!"

The soldiers laughed, their lighthearted banter spreading along the line. Von Basel paid them no mind, knowing they needed moments of humor to relieve their nerves.

Colonel Alfreed crouched beside him, reporting, "Sir, this is likely just a French reconnaissance attempt."

Von Basel shook his head slightly. He had a nagging feeling that this was more than just a probe.

Carefully adjusting the angle of his binoculars, he watched the French soldiers' movements. Most were advancing within 500 meters, with a few creeping to within 200 or 300 meters of the trench. He even heard the faint rumbling of sidecar motorcycles in the distance.

Initially, von Basel couldn't fathom their purpose. Were they planning to charge in with sidecars?

Then, it clicked. Before his eyes, French soldiers were dismantling sections of barbed wire with surprising ease.

"They're preparing for an assault," he muttered, frowning.

Curious, Colonel Alfreed popped his head up to look but seemed unconcerned. "Do they really think that will help them break through? Our machine guns will teach them otherwise."

Barbed wire was irrelevant if there were enough machine guns. Nothing would get through.

But von Basel's expression darkened. "No, they have tanks."

He pointed to a series of red flags staked in the ground ahead, barely visible through the rain.

"Those flags are marking a path for their tanks. They're mapping out the safest route to approach us directly."

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Alfreed's face grew tense. He immediately relayed the order: "Prepare for enemy tanks. Anti-tank rifles at the ready!"

Before the words had even left his mouth, a cacophony of explosions filled the air. Shells screamed overhead, but instead of exploding, they released dense clouds of acrid blue smoke, forcing German soldiers to cover their noses and mouths.

Wave after wave of artillery followed, some shells detonating, others adding to the thick smoke that quickly blanketed the German defenses. Between the mist, rain, and smoke, visibility was reduced to mere shadows even at close range.

Von Basel felt an uneasy dread creeping over him.

He realized that the French had devised an intricate tank assault strategy, methodical and coordinated. The Germans, however, were caught unprepared, entirely in the dark about how to counter it.

Even von Basel himself understood what the French were doing, and why, but he had no means of countering their attack.

The shelling grew fiercer, with some rounds hitting the trenches directly, sending soldiers screaming as explosions tore through their ranks. Instinctively, many dived into nearby dugouts for shelter.

Von Basel, however, sensed the imminent danger. He strained his ears and, amidst the roaring of artillery, heard a faint yet distinct rumble.

"Enemy tanks!" he shouted, ducking as he dashed along the trench. "They're advancing! Prepare to defend!"

But he knew it was already too late.

The soldiers were disoriented, oblivious to the larger strategy unfolding around them. They had missed their chance to stop the enemy's tanks.

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