Paris, a grand metropolis renowned across Europe and the world, is on the brink of descending into the chaos of war. Once a beacon of romance and culture, this vibrant city now faces imminent destruction, destined to become a mere ruin.
Countless hearts mourn this fate. Within the span of merely two days, Paris has transformed into a ghost town, its civilian inhabitants having fled. Yet, tens of thousands of soldiers have entered the city, ready to turn Paris into a battleground against the German invaders.
At the French Army Headquarters, Marshal Joffre continues his duties, though he knows he cannot remain in Paris much longer. The defense of the city will be entrusted to the newly appointed commander of the Paris garrison, General Gallieni, whose Tenth Army of 200,000 will form the primary force defending the capital. Additionally, the British Expeditionary Force's Fourth Army and the remaining units of the French First Army will contribute to a total of 500,000 Allied troops stationed in Paris.
Meanwhile, the remainder of the Allied forces is retreating further south, hoping to turn Paris into a meat grinder where the Germans will bleed profusely. In this scenario, the forces that have withdrawn southward may seize the opportunity to launch a counteroffensive and defeat the Germans.
This strategy, however, is fraught with uncertainty; the strength of the German army is formidable, making the success of such a plan highly questionable.
"Marshal, as per our strategy, all units have successfully deployed in Paris. Our total strength here amounts to 500,000. The soldiers are diligently reinforcing defensive positions. When the Germans assault the city, they will find Paris transformed into a formidable fortress. We will ensure they pay a heavy price for their advance," General Gallieni declared.
Joffre nodded, confident in Gallieni and the troops' resolve, yet he understood the challenges in realizing their strategic objectives.
"General Gallieni, I entrust Paris to you. I recognize that fully securing the city against German control is nearly impossible; their might surpasses ours. No one anticipated the extent of their preparations and the formidable army they assembled for this conflict. If we are defeated, it will not be due to any failing on our part, but rather because the Germans are simply too strong," Joffre stated.
He spoke thus to alleviate the burden on Gallieni, understanding that holding Paris was a daunting task that could very well lead to disaster.
"Yes, Marshal," Gallieni replied, fully aware of the gravity of the assignment.
Subsequently, Joffre summoned General Allenby, commander of the British Fourth Army, and General Desperet of the French First Army. He instructed them to maintain their positions in Paris for as long as possible, emphasizing that this effort was vital for both the French Republic and the British Empire. Moreover, he urged both generals to follow Gallieni's command, for if their ranks were to clash, the defense of Paris would surely falter.
Before Joffre, both Generals Desperet and Allenby pledged their allegiance to Gallieni's leadership. Particularly Allenby, though a British commander, recognized Joffre as both the commander of the French forces and the overall commander of the Allied forces.
Once these matters were settled, Joffre departed from Paris.
At this moment, Paris had effectively become a military zone, with civilians having all but vanished. Those who could leave had done so, as the French were prepared to sacrifice their capital, willing to see it reduced to rubble in their struggle against the Germans.
Under the efforts of hundreds of thousands of French soldiers, Paris was being fortified. These troops focused on excavating defensive positions outside the city while constructing barricades, artillery emplacements, and strongpoints within the streets, preparing for the forthcoming battles. However, transforming such a large city into a fortified bastion would demand extensive time and resources, of which the French had little to spare.
Meanwhile, the German army was advancing toward Paris. The First and Eighth Armies were approaching from the west, while the Second and Fifth Armies were advancing from the east. The other four divisions had separate assignments.
Duke von Württemberg, commander of the Fourth Army, harbored dissatisfaction over not being included in the assault on Paris. To him, capturing the capital of his long-standing rival, France, was a significant achievement. However, Qin Tian's decision to exclude him felt like a personal affront.
Despite his frustrations, he dared not express them openly, recognizing Qin Tian's influential position within the German military.
On April 16, the German forces stood at the gates of Paris. The First Army had captured Versailles in the southwest, the Eighth Army had reached Saint-Denis in the northwest, while the Second Army had taken Créteil in the southwest, and the Fifth Army had seized Châtillon in the northwest. The four armies effectively surrounded Paris from all directions.
Encircling such a vast city with over 800,000 troops was undoubtedly a daunting task, especially with more than 500,000 French soldiers inside.
Consequently, the German encirclement was not tightly secured; however, escaping Paris would still prove exceedingly difficult for the French, except through small-scale maneuvers. The bulk of their forces had become firmly ensnared within the city. Nevertheless, the French had no intention of retreating. Their mission was to confront the German army head-on.