"Enter the positions and prepare for battle!" the officers of the German front shouted.
Countless troops of the British and French alliance launched their assault, undeniably placing immense pressure on the German forces at the front. Yet, they stood resolute, unshaken by fear. Just yesterday, they had successfully mounted an attack against the formidable artillery of the Allies. Now, it was their turn to defend against the onslaught.
"Gunners, ready yourselves; wait until they are close before firing. Let the Allies truly experience the strength of our firepower!"
A line of machine guns had been set up along the trenches, their long belts feeding into the ammunition boxes.
"Fire!"
From the artillery positions in the rear, the 75mm field guns raised their muzzles. At the command of their leader, they unleashed a barrage.
The relentless shells screamed through the air, raining down upon the advancing Allied soldiers like a storm from the heavens.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The cacophony of explosions erupted among the ranks of the Allies, shrapnel slicing through the air and claiming the lives of numerous soldiers. The force of the detonations hurled many bodies skyward, revealing the fragility of human life in that moment.
With over two thousand 75mm field guns firing upon the Allies, the devastating barrage exacted a heavy toll on the attackers. Countless British and French soldiers fell along their path, torn to shreds.
Nonetheless, the substantial forces the Allies had deployed allowed them to withstand the ferocious German artillery, even as their morale began to wane.
"Marshal, the German fire is too intense; our attacking forces are suffering significant losses," reported General Foch.
Marshal Joffre nodded. "If we are to achieve victory in this battle, our army must undergo reform. We need to enhance our artillery and machine gun capabilities. The size of our forces is no longer the sole determinant of success on the battlefield."
Foch acknowledged this, but defeating the Germans and securing a victory appeared to be a formidable challenge. Perhaps they were simply awaiting another defeat.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
German mortars and grenade launchers on the front lines began their barrage, raining down an even denser array of shells and grenades upon the Allied ranks, further escalating their casualties.
Though the impact of the mortars and launchers was not overwhelming, they were nonetheless effective against ordinary soldiers. A single shell could often claim several lives.
"Damn it, how many guns do the Germans possess? Do they intend to annihilate us with this artillery?" a French officer exclaimed in frustration.
Yet, confronted with the relentless German bombardment, they had no option but to press on with their assault.
"Rat-a-tat-tat!"
The machine guns on the German positions opened fire, unleashing a torrent of bullets that dealt a devastating blow to the advancing Allies. The Germans were equipped with superior machine gun firepower, firing at a much higher rate. The crossfire from these guns effectively blocked the Allies' advance.
Countless British and French soldiers collided with this invisible wall, suffering grievous injuries. Many fell, cries of agony echoing as their bodies piled upon one another, blood saturating the earth beneath them.
"Rat-a-tat-tat!"
A German gunner, numb to the chaos, squeezed the trigger. A belt of 250 rounds was expended in less than thirty seconds. The assistant quickly replaced the belt, enabling the machine gun to continue firing; the entire process flowed seamlessly, taking only seconds. This created a nearly uninterrupted barrage, inflicting tremendous losses upon the Allies.
"Mortars? Where are the heavy mortars? We need to silence those German heavy machine guns; otherwise, we will remain pinned down here forever!" an English officer bellowed.
But in the next instant, a mortar shell exploded nearby, shattering the officer into fragments.
"Oh God! The commander is dead; what do we do now?" A group of British soldiers was instantly at a loss. If given the choice, they would flee from this hellish battlefield.
However, retreating without orders would label them as cowards, subjecting them to a court-martial, or worse, death. This left the soldiers with no option but to press on, clinging to the hope of their comrades.
"Rat-a-tat-tat!"
A German machine gun, along with a light machine gun, created a devastating crossfire. The advancing Allied soldiers paid an exorbitant price, yet they remained powerless against this onslaught.
Minutes later, a mortar team moved into position, the gunner aiming to fire.
But the German gunners seemed to sense the threat and swiftly redirected their fire. The Allied gunner didn't even have time to load a shell before being reduced to a bloody mess.
Another Allied soldier attempted to retrieve a shell to load into the mortar.
"Bang!"
A sharp report rang out as a bullet struck, nearly severing the soldier's neck, blood gushing forth.
After several attempts, the mortar crew finally managed to fire.
Perhaps luck was on their side; the first shot from their mortar destroyed a German machine gun, not only demolishing the weapon but also claiming the gunner's life.
"Good work! Advance, immediately push forward and breach the German lines!" an English officer commanded loudly.
But within a minute, another machine gun opened fire. The torrent of bullets mowed down the Allied soldiers like wheat, forcing the others to take cover, too frightened to raise their heads. Bullets whizzed overhead, sending shivers down their spines as they feared being struck.
Despite the Allies organizing a formidable offensive, they continued to suffer heavy losses against the impenetrable German defenses.