Chapter 0484: Defensive Counteroffensive

After Marshal Joffre concluded his address, the ordinary generals departed from the conference room. They needed to return swiftly to their respective troop locations to prepare for the impending German assault. No one could predict when the Germans would strike, so it was best to be ready early to avoid being caught off guard.

A few army commanders remained behind, needing to discuss urgent military matters with Joffre.

With the departure of the lesser generals, the atmosphere in the conference room grew tense.

"Gentlemen, my previous remarks were merely intended to inspire morale. I urge you, as army commanders, not to take them too literally. Our enemy remains formidable. After six months of preparation, we face an even greater threat from them. This battle is crucial. If we fail to withstand the German offensive, then all will be lost! The French Republic will perish, and the British Empire will face the same fate!" Joffre declared, his expression grave.

The Anglo-French commanders shared his solemnity, aware that Joffre's words were not mere alarmism. The situation was indeed dire. The Allies, specifically the Anglo-French forces, were in a position of extreme disadvantage. If they did not seize the opportunity, a crushing defeat awaited them, with consequences too dire to contemplate.

"According to our intelligence, the Germans have completed their preparations. Not far from here in Reims lies their command center. This assault will be led personally by the German Crown Prince. However, he seems to underestimate us, mistaking us for the feeble Russians, believing we are as easily vanquished as they were," Joffre continued.

"The German Crown Prince is only in his twenties, isn't he? It is utterly reckless of Wilhelm II to entrust him with such a large command," commented a middle-aged general, shaking his head. He was General Roy, commander of the British Expeditionary Force's Second Army.

"Perhaps Wilhelm II is misled by the Crown Prince's performance on the Eastern Front! The Western Front is not the same as the Eastern Front, and we are not the ill-equipped, easily defeated Russians," said General de Castelnau, commander of the French Second Army.

"Ha!" The generals chuckled, rightly so. The strength of the Anglo-French forces far surpassed that of the Russian army. They did not believe the Germans could easily defeat them as they had the Russians. Such a notion seemed utterly impossible.

"Now, gentlemen, let's maintain our seriousness! Opposing us are four German army groups, numbering over 800,000 men. While we have gathered six army groups along the Marne, totaling 1.2 million, I still feel uncertain. I hope our forces can withstand the German onslaught. We must exert every effort to do so and find ways to wear down their fighting strength," Joffre stated.

"Your Excellency, we have constructed robust defensive works along the southern bank of the Marne. These fortifications, composed of trenches and barbed wire, should adequately withstand the German attack," asserted General Maunoury, commander of the French Sixth Army.

"Commander, how will we deal with the German tanks? The tanks have proven devastating on the Eastern Front. The German Eighth Army's victory there was significantly aided by their tanks," expressed General Foch, commander of the French Ninth Army, with evident concern.

"We are actively developing our own tanks. However, regrettably, we had no prior designs and are forced to replicate the German models. Many internal structures remain unclear to us, so progress has been slow. We expect to begin mass production by the end of this year. The British are on a similar timeline. Thus far, we have yet to provide our troops with tanks," Joffre explained.

With QinTian's assistance, Germany had pioneered tank development, equipping its forces and achieving considerable success in actual combat. In contrast, both Britain and France lagged far behind in this regard, placing the Anglo-French forces at a disadvantage should they encounter German tanks on the battlefield.

Indeed, upon hearing this, the smiles vanished from the faces of the Anglo-French commanders.

"However, gentlemen, while we have not developed tanks, we have created weaponry capable of countering them. These weapons are already being issued to our troops, are they not? Have faith in our scientists and engineers; these weapons will surely play a significant role in battle!" Joffre asserted.

In light of the tanks' delayed deployment, Britain and France had jointly developed anti-tank artillery and rifles. The former, based on the British Army's two-pounder, featured an enhanced barrel for increased firing rate and penetration capability. The latter was a large-caliber rifle capable of firing 13mm rounds, designed to penetrate the armor of standard tanks.

With both nations mass-producing anti-tank weapons, the Anglo-French forces were at least better equipped than the Russians, who had found themselves utterly defenseless against German tanks.

"Your Excellency, must we rely solely on defense against the German assault? That doesn't seem prudent," questioned General Nivelle, commander of the French Fourth Army.

"Very well, I will do my utmost regarding armament. Your task is to hold the line and inflict as much damage on the Germans as possible, preparing for a subsequent counteroffensive. I hope you can achieve this. If so, we may have a chance to defeat the Germans in future battles," Joffre declared.

The strategy devised by Joffre and Sir John French, commander of the British Expeditionary Force, centered on a defensive counteroffensive—initially relying on solid fortifications to withstand the German assault while exhausting their forces. Only after gathering a superior concentration of troops would they initiate a counterattack, striving for a decisive victory. Thus, successfully repelling the initial German offensive was of utmost importance. Without that, the prospect of a counteroffensive would be moot.