While the global artistic community was in an uproar over the German military's assault on Paris, brazenly employing heavy artillery and aircraft to devastate its renowned landmarks, the advancing troops seemed utterly unfazed.
The four German army corps, engaged in the offensive against Paris, continued their meticulously planned assault with unwavering determination. Countless infantry divisions surged into the fray, relentlessly pushing back the Anglo-French forces stationed in the city, inflicting severe losses.
In merely a day's time, the defensive lines surrounding Paris collapsed entirely. The German forces penetrated the city and commenced fierce urban combat with the Anglo-French troops. This rapid advancement was largely due to the deployment of armored units. Combined with the relentless bombardment and aerial strikes, the German artillery had thoroughly decimated the Anglo-French defenses. Under such circumstances, the Allied forces could hardly withstand the German onslaught.
Upon breaching the city limits, the German armored units momentarily halted their advance. Aware that the Anglo-French had equipped themselves with a considerable array of anti-tank weaponry, the German commanders deemed it too risky to push further into the city, as such an action would inevitably lead to increased tank casualties. Although the production of German tanks had ramped up significantly, the crews operating them were even more invaluable. QinTian could not afford to see his elite tank operators suffer excessive losses.
"Boom! Boom!"
On a wide street, a German company was launching a fierce assault on a French position. Spanning over two hundred meters in length and more than twenty meters in width, the street, once lined with towering buildings, lay in ruins, reduced to rubble by the intensity of the German bombardment. Yet, despite the devastation, the French soldiers remained entrenched among the debris, resolutely resisting the German advance. In their eyes, they had nowhere left to retreat; their capital lay in ruins at the hands of the Germans. The only course left for them was to continue fighting amidst the ruins, determined to defeat the Germans or perish in the process. This resolve rendered their resistance unexpectedly tenacious.
A 60mm mortar fired relentlessly, with the gunner striving to achieve the weapon's maximum rate of fire. Shells rained down upon the French positions, sending plumes of dust and debris soaring into the air.
"With such a fierce bombardment, the French on that position must surely be dead by now," remarked a young lieutenant.
"Lieutenant, lead your men and commence the attack," commanded the captain.
"Yes, sir," the lieutenant replied with a nod.
Soon, dozens of German soldiers advanced cautiously toward the French position. However, barely had they set off when two Hotchkiss machine guns opened fire from the French defenses, accompanied by a barrage of rifles joining the assault.
The concentrated gunfire resulted in immediate casualties among the advancing German soldiers. Those who survived instinctively dropped to the ground, unable to press onward. Caught in this crossfire, they found themselves in a dire predicament, unable to retreat or advance.
"Blast it! All mortars and grenade launchers, join the bombardment! Reduce those Frenchmen to nothing!" ordered the captain.
Instantly, three 60mm mortars, two 80mm mortars, and nine grenade launchers entered the fray. Shells and grenades fell upon the French positions like rain, explosions ringing out in quick succession, enveloping the area in a thick cloud of smoke.
Minutes later, the captain finally issued the command to advance. This time, the assault faced no resistance. As the German soldiers surged onto the French position, they discovered that aside from a few scattered corpses, the area was devoid of enemy combatants. Clearly, after suffering the German bombardment, the French had hastily retreated.
Intense fighting erupted within the city of Paris. Even as the German bombardments reduced the once-majestic city to a near-wasteland, the Anglo-French forces mounted a fierce resistance.
They engaged the Germans in fierce skirmishes throughout the city, battling for every street, every building, and even each heap of rubble, with the outcome determined only through relentless conflict. Particularly among the French soldiers, there was a palpable ferocity in their attacks, as if they were entirely unafraid of death. In contrast, while the British troops fought tenaciously, their resolve was not quite as fervent.
This disparity was hardly surprising; after all, this was the capital of France, a city imbued with deep sentimental value for the French people. For the British, however, it was merely a battlefield.
The defense within Paris was delineated primarily by the French 10th Army, responsible for the northern banks of the Seine, while the British Expeditionary Force's 4th Army took charge of the southern sector. The French 1st Army, comprising 100,000 troops, remained as a reserve, ready to reinforce any sector in distress.
Despite the Anglo-French forces in Paris numbering as many as five hundred thousand, they appeared increasingly outmatched under the German siege. The overwhelming firepower of the Germans inflicted staggering losses upon the Allies, leading to a retreat that saw their defensive lines fracturing under pressure.
Conversely, the German offensive advanced steadily, each attack bolstered by formidable artillery support.
In the urban warfare, German units typically operated in squads or platoons, each equipped with mortars and grenade launchers, providing potent fire support during street combat. Simultaneously, artillery positions stationed outside the city remained poised for action, ready to deliver concentrated fire upon designated areas when required.
Under this tactical bombardment, the Anglo-French forces suffered grievous losses, unable to withstand the relentless pressure. This effectiveness accounted for the German forces' ability to secure significant victories in urban combat at minimal cost.
"General Manstein, is the advance proceeding smoothly?" QinTian inquired.
"Your Highness, everything is proceeding very well. Although the Anglo-French forces are fiercely resistant, their capacity to inflict casualties upon us has been minimal. The entire battle remains firmly within our control," Major General Manstein replied.
QinTian nodded, reassured by the report.