Ruān, headquarters of the British Expeditionary Force's 1st Army Corps, found General Haig deeply troubled.
On the first day of the German assault on Ruān, the British sustained grievous losses. Not only had they relinquished the outer defenses of Ruān, but significant portions of the city itself had also fallen. The casualties among the troops weighed heavily on Haig's heart.
"General, the Germans are mounting an overwhelming offensive. We have lost considerable ground in the east and north of the city. Particularly in the east, two of our infantry divisions have been decimated by the Germans. Their advance units are now less than two kilometers from our headquarters," reported a major general.
"This is truly dreadful news. Is there no way we can withstand the German onslaught?" Haig responded, exasperated. The 1st Army Corps was reputed to be the strongest force in the British Army, yet before the Germans, it seemed woefully inadequate, a devastating blow to Haig's confidence.
"General, the combat capability of the Germans has indeed seen a significant enhancement compared to last year. Particularly the 8th Army Corps, which has emerged on the Western Front, appears remarkably adept at urban warfare. In street battles, they have shown an impressive mastery, and despite our defensive fortifications, our garrison is being steadily pushed back. If this continues, we may not hold out much longer," the major general added.
"Damn it! Is there truly no glimmer of hope?" Haig retorted, his irritation palpable.
"The only silver lining is that our anti-tank weapons have performed reasonably well. We managed to destroy several German tanks as they assaulted our outer defenses. However, our anti-tank units have also suffered severe losses. The 37mm anti-tank guns can destroy German tanks, but our anti-tank rifles fail to penetrate their frontal armor, only managing to breach their side armor. If the Germans dare to deploy their tanks in urban combat, we can certainly inflict greater casualties on them," another major general interjected, his expression one of eager anticipation.
"Regrettably, the Germans have ceased deploying their tanks. They clearly recognize the threat our anti-tank weaponry poses. Yet, even so, we still cannot fend off their advances within Ruān," Haig lamented.
A heavy atmosphere enveloped the office. The current situation was undeniably dire for the British forces. A moment's inattention could lead to a catastrophic defeat. Should they falter, the 1st Army Corps might suffer a devastating blow, perhaps even complete annihilation.
"Gentlemen, we must find a way to hold Ruān against the German onslaught. Otherwise, we risk facing an unprecedented catastrophe," Haig declared.
Yet, they had no recourse but to hold their ground in Ruān. The prospect of launching a counterattack was perilous; any such move would invite the full brunt of the German armored divisions, likely resulting in utter destruction for their forces.
In a state of desperation, Haig sent a telegram to the British Expeditionary Force headquarters, hoping that General Benson, leading the 3rd Army Corps and part of the French 1st Army Corps, could expedite their arrival for reinforcement.
This was precisely what the Germans hoped for.
German reconnaissance aircraft had been monitoring the movements of the British 3rd Army Corps and the French 1st Army Corps. Upon learning of their accelerated march toward Ruān, General Kluck, commander of the 1st Army Corps, and General Ludendorff, chief of staff of the 8th Army Corps, exchanged gleeful glances.
"General, the British reinforcements are on their way. It is time for us to take action," Ludendorff announced.
After capturing Ruān, the Germans would need to cross the Seine River. This maneuver posed risks to their logistical supply lines. If they could defeat the British and French forces before crossing, their task would be significantly simplified.
They had not committed their full strength in the assault on Ruān, waiting instead for the Allies to deliver themselves into their grasp.
"The incoming reinforcements from the British and French armies number over three hundred thousand. If we can annihilate them, victory will be assured," Kluck said, his eyes alight with excitement.
The Allied forces positioned in the northwest totaled only three army corps, around six hundred thousand troops. If they could eliminate these three hundred thousand reinforcements, and then also deal with the remaining two hundred thousand in Ruān, the Allies would be left with merely one hundred thousand troops. Even if they drew forces from other fronts, it would pose little threat, especially as the German central and right flanks were also on the offensive.
"This time, both our armored divisions will be deployed. Defeating the Allied reinforcements should pose no problem, though the extent of our victory remains uncertain," Ludendorff added, hoping for a decisive outcome.
In preparation to potentially envelop the incoming British and French reinforcements, the German 1st and 8th Army Corps devised meticulous plans. The 1st and 8th Armored Divisions would spearhead the assault, while the 1st and 34th Infantry Divisions would maneuver to block the Allied retreat routes. The remaining infantry divisions would be engaged in succession, striving to encircle the three hundred thousand reinforcements east of Ruān.
Although the German armored divisions had lost several tanks during the fight for Ruān, they were still considered the main force. Both divisions believed they could once again play a crucial role in this battle.
Upon receiving orders from Sir French, General Benson, commander of the 3rd Army Corps, directed his thirty thousand reinforcements to hasten their advance toward Ruān. At the same time, he fantasized about striking the Germans from the flank, believing he could achieve a decisive victory. He was convinced that the Germans had concentrated their main force on the assault of Ruān, leaving behind only a token force. As long as he launched an offensive, victory would surely be within reach.
Regrettably, Benson was unaware that the Germans had committed only six infantry divisions to the assault on Ruān, sufficient to overwhelm the defenders within the city. The remainder of their main force lay in wait, eager for Benson's thirty thousand reinforcements to arrive!