I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France-Chapter 844: They Are Deserters

The chaos in Reims City was akin to the end of the world.

The German Army, unaccustomed to such battles, had been divided into separate "factions," each fighting independently.

The 18th German Army was newly formed, and many soldiers were from different units, temporarily cobbled together, with many reinforcements who sometimes didn’t even know the faces or names of their comrades in the same infantry company.

Many officers were temporarily transferred from the Eastern Front.

The German Army had done this before without issues, but who would have thought they’d encounter Shire’s insane "infiltration warfare" this time.

Yet even so, they couldn’t ensure their own safety.

Because the "German Army" had started singing in duo:

"Which part are you from?"

"We are from the 29th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Company."

"Nonsense, we are the 7th Infantry Company!"

"No, we are, I’m Company Commander Lieutenant Lyon..."

"No, you’re lying, Lieutenant Lyon died half an hour ago, I saw him blown up by a grenade with my own eyes!"

"Yes, I saw it too, I guess the spies didn’t know about this!"

...

"Rat-a-tat-tat, boom boom!"

The Germans hiding in the building claiming to be the 7th Infantry Company immediately came under concentrated fire, even as Lieutenant Lyon shouted at the top of his lungs, "I am Lieutenant Lyon, I’m not dead, I’m here!"

But it was futile, no one would listen to him, and his voice couldn’t be heard over the gunfire and explosions.

...

General Hutier was at a loss in the command center regarding the current chaos. He sent people out several times to try and quell the situation, to regain control of the troops.

He sent well-known figures, like Major General Hamilton, who had long commanded on the Western Front, rising from major to major general in battle, known to many frontline commanders and soldiers.

Hutier believed that as soon as Major General Hamilton stood high and called out, the real German Army would immediately rally under his banner to launch a crusade against the "spies."

Unexpectedly, everyone was shouting:

"We know Major General Hamilton, we support him."

"Don’t trust them, they’re the enemy in disguise, they don’t know who the major general is." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"I’ve been with Major General Hamilton for a year, participated in the Battle of the River Somme with him, I even have his signature!"

...

No one could distinguish the real from the fake, and finally, both the real and fake German Army swarmed under Major General Hamilton. Suddenly, a few grenades with wisps of smoke appeared, followed by a burst of gunfire.

Amidst the chaos, the German Army discovered Major General Hamilton lying in a pool of blood.

"The enemy’s disguise is impeccable," Hutier lamented. "Not only do they speak German, they know everything about us. How do they do it?"

But what’s important is not these, but rather this tactic, this despairing tactic.

At this moment, the communication officer nervously reported, "General, Shire’s troops have reached outside the city, the Reims defensive line has collapsed, and they are launching an attack on the city."

Hutier realized that the situation was lost.

With internal chaos combined with external attacks, even God couldn’t win this battle.

"Breakout!" Hutier decisively ordered.

"Yes, General." The staff officer responded, but then turned back to suggest, "General, I think it’s best for you to change your uniform."

Hutier was wearing a general’s uniform, with the rank of General. This could easily lead the entire breakout force into enemy encirclement or pursuit.

Hutier nodded and said in a deep voice, "Get me a major’s uniform!"

It wasn’t just Hutier; all the other high-ranking officers in the command headquarters also changed their uniforms, with no rank higher than lieutenant colonel, making them less conspicuous.

However, as soon as they rushed out of the command headquarters, they heard someone shouting with full voice:

"Deserters, they’re trying to escape."

"Stop them, these people are trying to escape!"

"Shameful cowards, I order you to return to your posts!"

...

Of course, Hutier and his party couldn’t "return to their posts," knowing that the people shouting were spies, they fired without a word.

They completely failed to realize that this action just solidified their identities as "deserters."

And not just deserters, but also trying to "kill witnesses," aiming their guns at the "brave" soldiers trying to stop them from escaping!

Is there no military law left?

Where has the spirit of Germany gone?

Does the glory of the Empire mean nothing anymore?

Squad after squad of German soldiers stepped forward:

"Stop, or we’ll shoot."

"Return to battle."

"Put down your guns, or you’ll be sorry!"

...

Ultimately, Hutier failed to break through, not blocked by the French Army, but by his own soldiers.

...

Shire and Pershing didn’t enter the city; the battle inside was commanded by Pershing and Tijani.

The US Army and French Army took Weisse Street as the boundary, with the US Army responsible for the west side and the French Army for the east side.

(The image above shows the Notre-Dame Cathedral on Weisse Street, Reims, the main avenue in Reims City, running north to south, connecting the train station and the cathedral. The cathedral was severely damaged by shelling during WWI and was restored in 1919 with the support of the Rockefeller family from the United States, as a symbol of France’s resistance spirit.)

But it was clear that the French Army’s offensive was much faster than the US Army’s, with far fewer casualties.

The French Army had larger, sturdier tanks equipped with phones for "infantry-tank coordination" and "tank coordination," the "Shire B1."

They also had more skilled and mature urban combat tactics.

Most importantly, this was Reims, where the citizens were French, more supportive of the French Army, especially Shire’s troops.

Even the soldiers of Belgium’s 9th Reconnaissance Brigade mixed in with the German Army shouted to the American soldiers, "We will only surrender to Shire’s troops, let them come over!"

But that wasn’t the focus.

Shire and Pershing already started discussing expanding the success by capturing the two hills in the east and west.

"Once we occupy Reims, the two hills will be a sure thing," Pershing sighed with relief, pointing at the map and analyzing, "From Reims base, we can attack Mount Saint Thierry and Beihan Mountain, putting the stationed German Army in a situation of ’being attacked from both sides’ with ’double envelopment.’"

Shire added, "And the German Army isn’t sure if there are explosives under their feet."

Pershing laughed heartily, "Exactly, Vice Admiral, this makes the Germans lose the will to fight."

Then he curiously looked at Shire, "Did you plant explosives on those two hills?"

"What do you think?" Shire countered.

"I guess not." Pershing’s tone was a bit uncertain, "Because it’s not necessary anymore."

Shire nodded, understanding that Pershing was a smart man.

At this moment, several armored vehicles approached from afar, a few of them seemingly escorting a group of German prisoners.

After the armored vehicles stopped, Tijani leapt down, excitedly commanding his men to bring the prisoners forward while saying to Shire, "Vice Admiral, you’ll never guess who we captured!"