Chapter 602: The Real Crisis
Erwin carefully studied the fortress defense line and realized it was a multi-layered defensive system combining various types of firepower.
The fortress artillery ensured an unbeatable position in artillery duels: the fort could easily destroy German guns, while German artillery could only leave a white mark on the fortress walls.
If they tried to deploy the "Big Bertha" again as they had before, it would be easily destroyed by Charles' fighter planes.
It was a deadlock—unless the German army could maintain absolute air superiority at all times, which was impossible.
On top of that, the fortress line included barbed wire, anti-tank ditches, minefields, and then the Saint-Samont fortress artillery... it was practically impregnable.
Therefore, Colonel Erwin decisively changed his battle plan—from launching a direct assault on Antwerp to penetrating deep into British territory, aiming to encircle Antwerp while pushing straight toward the Belgian city of Ghent.
…
Dunkirk, British Expeditionary Force Headquarters
Kitchener and his staff were swamped in chaos; the sound of telephones and telegraphs never ceased.
With Haig commanding the Battle of the Somme and Lieutenant General Avis unable to control the situation in Antwerp, Kitchener, the Secretary of State for War, had no choice but to take charge of overall command.
A telegram was handed to Kitchener: "Field Marshal, Antwerp has successfully repelled the German attack."
A weight lifted off Kitchener's shoulders—this was a rare piece of good news.
The entire command staff also let out a collective sigh of relief. Their tense pace eased, and a few even cheered.
Kitchener asked gravely, "Who held them off?"
This was important—it concerned the prestige of the British Army.
The officer delivering the message hesitated, voice noticeably lower: "It was the Belgian Army, sir. Their fortress defense line held."
The atmosphere in the command room instantly turned awkward—tense, uncomfortable, and a little humiliating.
The British had entered Belgium as victors, liberators, protectors. When Lieutenant General Avis set out with his elite troops from Dunkirk, he had proclaimed that the French would see what real warfare looked like, that Charles would learn how to fight, and the Belgians would realize which army they could truly depend on.
In the end, they hadn't outperformed the French—or even the Belgians.
Worse still, they now needed the Belgians for protection.
They were supposed to be the ones protecting the Belgians. Now they were clinging to life under Belgian protection.
Kitchener forced a calm "Hmm" and changed the subject: "Order Lieutenant General Avis to organize his troops immediately for a counterattack!"
"Yes, Field Marshal."
Kitchener never believed the British Army was inferior to the Belgians.
He thought the collapse occurred simply because they had been caught off guard by the Germans.
Once the British regained their footing and launched a well-organized, planned counteroffensive, he believed they would teach the Germans a harsh lesson.
Just then, another telegram arrived.
"Field Marshal, the Germans have bypassed Antwerp and are advancing into our rear lines!"
"What?" The blood drained from Kitchener's face. He jerked his head up, eyes fixed on his staff. "What's their route? What's their target?"
The officer scanned the telegram and pointed at the map: "They're advancing west along the highway. Their target appears to be Ghent."
Kitchener collapsed into his chair, speechless for a long moment.
Eventually, he muttered, "Damn it. The Germans have learned Charles' tactics—and now they're using them on us!"
Trench warfare was like a shell: tough on the outside, but hollow once breached.
The British Army was no different.
Though the British Expeditionary Force had nearly a million troops, most were concentrated at the Somme. Only 300,000 or so were in the Belgian sector—and they'd been routed, unable to retreat in time, left far behind by the fast-moving German forces.
(Note: In the Somme campaign, the British deployed 54 divisions totaling over a million troops, suffering 420,000 casualties.)
"Field Marshal," said the officer anxiously, eyes on the map. "If the Germans capture Ghent, it won't just collapse the Antwerp line—the entire Belgian front will lose its supply routes, and it could even threaten Ypres and Dunkirk!"
Ypres had no defending troops, and Dunkirk had only two infantry regiments—less than 10,000 men.
But that wasn't the main issue.
The key was that once Ghent fell, the German Air Force could use its airfield to blockade almost all road and rail traffic in Belgium.
Combine that with German U-boats blockading sea routes, and the entire Western Front would be starved of supplies.
No matter how capable Charles' air force, how advanced his aircraft, or how powerful his armored units were, they'd face dwindling fuel supplies—and would eventually have to withdraw from the battlefield.
Only then did Kitchener grasp the true danger. He saw the real crisis.
After a long silence, he said wearily, "We should ask Charles for help."
"But Field Marshal," the officer said, confused, "We've already asked him."
Kitchener shook his head slowly.
"Not just his planes. We need his tanks, his troops—everything he has."
"Right now, he may be our only hope."
The officer froze, then understood: "I'll relay your message to Lieutenant General Avis."
As a Field Marshal, Kitchener couldn't personally bow his head to Charles. That would damage the honor of the British Empire.
Kitchener nodded gently, eyes still fixed on the map, struggling internally.
He knew what asking Charles for help would cost: the British Army would be trampled beneath Charles' feet, never again able to lift its head in Belgium or France—not in front of their soldiers, nor the colonial troops.
So he was still weighing one possibility: could the British Army salvage the situation on its own?
Moments later, the officer returned.
"Field Marshal, Lieutenant General Avis has responded. He asks for one chance to go on the offensive."
"He believes that since the Germans are advancing on Ghent, their rear must be poorly defended."
"If we dispatch cavalry to strike their supply lines, the Germans won't be able to penetrate our rear—let alone reach Ghent."
Kitchener laughed aloud. "Cavalry? He thinks cavalry can cut off German supply lines?"
This fool. Had the Somme taught him nothing?
But then Kitchener realized—if he didn't let Avis try, Avis, Haig, and others would always cling to illusions about cavalry. They'd believe cavalry hadn't worked only because high command wouldn't let them try. And so, cavalry would never be phased out.
With that thought, Kitchener's face hardened. He nodded.
"Send a reply: Do as you wish. You have full responsibility. Don't ask me again."
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