I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France-Chapter 823: Hutier Tactics

The news of victory reached the Berlin General Staff, and the office erupted with cheers, with some even embracing each other in tears of joy.

The Germans had been without air supremacy for too long, having fought under the shadow of the French air force’s wings since the outbreak of war.

Issues like hiding, death, traffic disruption, and bombed logistics emerged endlessly.

Now, they finally redeemed their shame with a great victory.

Though they defeated the British and not Shire, their opponent was still the "Camel," giving everyone hope.

Ludendorff cast an inquiring look at Hindenburg, as if asking: What should we do next?

Hindenburg breathed a light sigh, as though a heavy burden was removed from his shoulders: "Leave the rest to your cousin!"

"Yes, Your Excellency Marshal," Ludendorff replied. "I am honored!"

...

At the Metz command center, General Hutier, commander of the 18th Army Group, received the order to "approve the action."

Hutier made an affirmative sound, and ordered emotionlessly: "Action!"

(Above: German Infantry General Hutier and his Blue Max medal. He is Ludendorff’s cousin, best known for pioneering the "Hutier Tactics" during World War I, also called "storm troops tactics," now commonly known as "infiltration tactics").

...

Suddenly, thousands of cannons fired simultaneously on the front line, shells of various calibers trailed watery trajectories toward the British defense line, bursting into balls of fire and smoke.

The British artillery immediately returned fire.

However, they only regarded it as shelling or routine artillery preparation before an attack.

This had happened so many times on the front line that everyone had become accustomed to it.

But what the British didn’t know was that the German Army’s shelling this time was deliberate and planned.

Ten minutes later, part of the artillery fire ceased, and the no man’s land was filled with smoke and the vapor of exploded shells.

The German frontline commander raised his large hand and waved forward, and the prepared Storm Assault Team, holding submachine guns, crouched low and charged into the smoke in squads.

The Storm Assault Team had existed for a long time, nothing new.

Previously, both sides didn’t pay much attention, considering it only a tactical level.

But Hutier had systematically trained and deployed them in bulk, forming a tactic that could influence battles’ victory or defeat.

At the onset, thousands of cannons fired simultaneously, even creating smoke screens in no man’s land to provide cover for the Storm Assault Team.

Then, expanded to division-scale (about 15,000 troops), the Storm Assault Team launched attacks as companies, platoons, and even squads under the smoke’s cover.

The artillery continuously bombarded the enemy, making them unaware of danger.

Until it was estimated that the Storm Assault Team had advanced to the vicinity of enemy trenches for ambush, the artillery pushed deeper, and the Storm Assault Team launched the attack.

The attack was no longer about capturing trenches, but once a breach was opened, they surged forward like a tide, penetrating deep into enemy territory behind advancing artillery fire.

At this time, the enemy hiding in the trenches didn’t even know what had happened.

If the enemy in the trenches was in a state of "mutiny," it would be perfect. The Storm Assault Team could silently and unnoticed infiltrate ten kilometers deep behind enemy lines.

(Note: This "infiltration tactic" was still used during World War II, but with more variations, like the famous "Brandenburgers," where the Germans learned enemy languages and habits before the war and disguised as enemy soldiers to infiltrate during the war).

...

Thule, Haig’s command post, six kilometers from the front line.

Though not far, he felt at ease.

He heard the roar of cannons, those were the new six-inch, 26-cwt howitzers. The British Army had deployed over 500 pieces from eight artillery regiments nearby.

Plus the 30-cwt howitzers and other field guns, Haig believed no matter how many German troops and tanks advanced, it would be in vain.

As long as the Germans were stalled by barbed wire and trenches, they’d be blasted to pieces by countless shells.

However...

Outside the command post came gunfire and grenade explosions, mixed with soldiers’ screams and shout.

Haig thought he had misheard.

"What’s going on?" Haig frowned and turned to ask.

"I don’t know, General," the staff officer looked baffled.

The staff officer thought of partisans.

But this was France, certainly not a place for partisans attacking the British Army.

The Germans?

Even more impossible, it was six kilometers from the front line, with no warning signal from upfront, and no breach of the line. How could the Germans be here?

Suddenly, a blood-soaked guard burst into the command post, reporting in panic: "General, retreat quickly. It’s the Germans, they’ve reached here!"

"What?" Haig stood up abruptly: "How did they get here? What about my troops?"

"I don’t know, General..."

Before he finished, bullets whistled by, exploding blood roses on the guard’s chest. He fell silent, his rifle flung aside.

The gunfire intensified, bullets hit the windows of the command post with ’bang bang’ sounds, shattering glass and sending papers flying everywhere.

A few standing signalmen were hit by stray bullets and died instantly on the spot.

The staff officer quickly responded: "General, they discovered this location, we should retreat!"

The Germans probably intentionally let those guards run to report so that they could trace back and quickly locate the command post.

Haig drew his pistol for resistance.

He estimated that the German squad might be small and would be repelled when reinforcements arrived.

But the staff officer’s reminder made him instantly realize that he was their target.

Haig hesitated for a moment, then gritting his teeth, ordered: "Retreat!"

When Haig withdrew from the backdoor under guard protection, he realized the British Expeditionary Force’s lines would entirely collapse:

The command post was overrun, files couldn’t be destroyed or removed in time.

As a result, the Germans would clearly know all deployments, including the positions of eight long-range artillery regiments.

The Germans would swiftly and stealthily eliminate these artillery positions one by one.

At this point, the main force of the Germans would initiate the attack.

Haig sighed lightly, they would easily occupy all British defense lines, and without unified command, the British, even the home-based expeditionary forces, would fall into chaos under such onslaught.

What to do? Haig asked, everything was messed up.

After this battle, he had even less reason to tie the colonial troops to the British side.

They might even say:

"Following the British is nothing but a death sentence. Why not allow us to make some impact beside Shire?"

"It’s good for England too."

"Our goals are identical; both to defeat the enemy!"

...

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