I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France-Chapter 872: Roles Reversed

The rain, like threads and strands, intricately wove across the sky above the Ovire defense line.

The stars were devoured by dark clouds, with only occasional lightning in the distance, like the scythe of Death slicing through the sky, illuminating the mud beneath the dome.

Corpses, tank wreckage, and the shrapnel of barbed wire and gun parts lay in disarray on the muddy ground, full of desolation and bleakness.

This position had changed hands over ten times between the German Army and French Army. Now evening had come, and it was time for the German Army to reclaim it again.

Major General Dewitt cautiously peered out from the edge of the trench, quickly observing the enemy force points ahead using the lightning's illumination.

No change, unchanged from the day when the withdrawal occurred.

Voluntary retreat held many benefits.

For instance, the German Army could construct tunnels and pits on the front of the enemy's position in the no-man's land, with soldiers in concealment. When the attack commenced, they would be the first to infiltrate enemy trenches and engage in close combat, with the main forces following swiftly.

Additionally, pre-buried explosives in trenches and familiarity with the terrain allowed for setting up howitzers aimed at potentially exploitable enemy constructions.

They could accurately destroy vital structures, even in the dark of night.

Major General Dewitt crouched back, shielded under a raincoat, and flicked on a flashlight covered with black cloth.

The dim light revealed the pocket watch ticking in his palm, the second hand jumping like a beating heart, gradually approaching zero.

At seven o'clock, several red signal flares suddenly ascended into the sky, followed by the sound of artillery.

"Boom boom, boom boom boom!"

Amidst the explosions were pre-buried explosives within enemy trenches, set to collapse the enemy's tunnels or possibly detonate ammunition depots.

After ten minutes of artillery preparation, Major General Dewitt waved his Luger Pistol, "The time has come, soldiers, let them taste the bayonet!"

No shout followed, German Army soldiers passed the order quietly along and began crawling out of the trenches like a swarm of ants, advancing with bayonets toward the enemy positions.

This was the German Army's night combat strategy, prohibiting whistles or shouts in the dark, as such actions would alert the enemy, leading to machine-gun bullets and artillery, even if the enemy could see nothing.

Indeed, the march was accompanied only by raindrops tapping steel helmets with "plunk plunk" and footsteps in the muddy terrain.

Engineers had already clipped multiple openings in the barbed wire, familiar soldiers swamped in with rifles, closing in like the tide on enemy positions.

Everything proceeded smoothly, with only scattered gunfire sparking as if the French Army hadn't realized yet.

German Army soldiers lay in the mire preparing grenades, intending to throw them into trenches with comrades' coordination before launching an attack amidst the blast's aftermath.

Just then, a German Army signal emerged from the trench: "Nightingale, Nightingale, we are Nightingale!"

It was a code for identifying friend from foe in the dark.

"Iron Fist," Major General Dewitt replied and loudly questioned, "What's happening?"

A shout from the trench: "There's no one here, the French Army has withdrawn early!"

Major General Dewitt furrowed his brow, had the French Army withdrawn early?

They actually abandoned the position?

Perhaps they knew they couldn't withstand the German Army's attack, hence the withdrawal?

After a brief hesitation, Major General Dewitt finally ordered the troops to enter the enemy trenches.

The situation was indeed as initially reported, the trenches were empty.

Soldiers involuntarily let out a sigh of relief, they had expected a brutal hand-to-hand confrontation.

This was no easy task, French Army morale was increasing, combat capabilities strengthening, fighting would be tough, and only a few would witness the next sunrise alive.

However, Major General Dewitt's commands reignited tension among the soldiers.

"Prepare for combat!" Major General Dewitt shouted, "We should seize this opportunity and chase them down, don't let them escape!"

Soldiers could only silently curse, as their hands mechanically executed orders, moving forward with the main forces.

Passing through two trenches, arriving at the other side of the position, German Army soldiers regrouped at the front of the no-man's land.

This time, there was confirmed presence opposite, Major General Dewitt saw in the afterglow of lightning the enemy's machine guns, 75 artillery, and several tanks with only turrets exposed, utilized by the French Army as perfect fire points.

"Prepare for battle!" Major General Dewitt commanded loudly.

Soldiers panting heavily converged by the wooden ladder, tightly holding rifles, anticipating Major General's signal for attack.

Suddenly, explosions roared incessantly, "boom boom" sounds and wails echoed uninterruptedly.

Before the soldiers could react, a flash and shockwave erupted nearby, muddy water splattered wildly, enveloping all in chaos.

Major General Dewitt pressed down his head on the ground, yelling, "What's happening?"

An aide-de-camp responded uncertainly, "I'm not sure, General, maybe the French Army, they've buried mines in the trenches."

(Note: During World War I, pre-buried explosives were generally classified as 'mines.')

Major General Dewitt instantly realized, this was part of the French Army's plan.

Since in night combat the advantage lies with the party voluntarily retreating and setting up ambushes, why wouldn't the French Army release the position to disrupt the German Army's offensive rhythm?

So it was foreseeable for the German Army to face all the disadvantages: fire points being bombed, trenches infiltrated by small enemy units, followed by the concentrated attack of enemy main forces.

"Organize defense!" Major General Dewitt bellowed, "Hold your ground!"

Retreat was impossible.

Major General Dewitt understood the difficulty of retreating at night, just like when the French Army was repulsed before, the German Army could follow retreating forces into trenches, resulting in further skirmishes and losses, repeatedly.

But now roles changed, the French Army was on the offensive.

Major General Dewitt couldn't grasp why this was suddenly occurring, he only knew he must hold ground!

Yet reality was harsh, even before Major General Dewitt's order fully spread, gunfire and screams erupted from the trenches, he could even hear the "da-da" of submachine guns.

Soon the French Army main forces launched their assault.

Major General Dewitt was shocked to find the French Army replacing tanks with armored vehicles to support soldiers, and they had headlights on.

Glaring headlights shone onto the trenches, illuminating the German Army clearly, yet they could barely open their eyes.

"Take them down!" Major General Dewitt shouted, "Destroy those armored vehicles!"

But the aide-de-camp responded terrified, "We can't achieve this, General, we're not equipped with artillery."

Major General Dewitt suddenly recalled, the forces were lightly equipped for night combat, even mortars were scarce.

"It's Shire," Major General Dewitt cried in astonishment, "Shire has completely taken control of the Eastern Army Group!"

Otherwise, the French Army wouldn't possess such organization and combat capabilities!