Chapter 495: Tragic
"Fire!"
Under the command of the commander, the artillery of the French army started shelling. One after another, the shells slammed into the Marne River and the German defense line on the north bank of the Marne River.
"Boom! Boom!"
The shell exploded in the Marne River, splashing a high column of water. The rate of fire advantage of the French 75mm field gun was brought into play. Although the artillery fire of the French army suffered heavy losses, the artillery fire was still very strong.
Shells continued to fall into the Marne River, and the German troops who were crossing the river were inevitably shelled. Even the shells of the 75mm field gun are not very powerful. However, that is definitely not something that wooden boats can resist.
"Boom!"
A small boat was hit, and the hull was instantly torn apart. The German soldiers on board also suffered heavy casualties and fell into the river.
On the German position, a heavy machine gun that was firing was hit, the machine gunner was killed on the spot, and the machine gun was also blown into parts.
The fierce shelling of the French army caused the German army to pay a lot of casualties. At the same time, it also eased the pressure on the defense line of the British and French allied forces, allowing the soldiers of the British and French allied forces who were suppressed to poke their heads out and pour firepower on the German troops who were crossing the river, further increasing the casualties of the German troops.
Seeing this scene, Qin Tian couldn\'t help frowning.
"Order the artillery to suppress the artillery of the British and French allied forces. Why hasn\'t the aviation team arrived yet?" Qin Tian asked.
"Your Highness, the aviation team should be arriving soon." Major General Manstein said.
The artillery of the German army once again began to suppress the artillery of the British and French allied forces, providing fire support for their own infantry. It\'s just that the artillery of the British and French allied forces seemed to be desperate. They ignored the shells falling from the sky and just fired desperately, as if they wanted to shoot as many shells as possible before being killed by German shells. .
"Boom! Boom!"
Two consecutive 150mm artillery shells fell on the artillery positions of the French army. This artillery position with six 75mm field guns was blown up like a typhoon passing through the border. Several field artillery were blown up, and those artillerymen suffered heavy casualties.
At the same time, the German air force finally arrived on the battlefield. Fighters and bombers rushed directly towards the artillery positions of the French army. Among the attack targets of the air force, attacking the enemy\'s artillery is always the first.
"Da da da!"
The aviation machine guns of the fighter jets fired, and many French soldiers fell to the ground screaming.
The bomber lowered its altitude, opened the magazine, and bombs fell like raindrops one after another, instantly destroying an artillery position of the British and French coalition forces.
Although, the anti-aircraft machine guns of the British and French allied forces fired crazily, trying to drive these fighters away. But their firing often had no results at all, except for attracting more violent attacks from the German army. There were very few German fighter planes destroyed by the anti-aircraft firepower of the British and French forces.
Under the joint attack of the German artillery and air force, the artillery of the British and French allied forces was suppressed. The casualties they caused to the German infantry who were crossing the river were also very limited.
Without the interference of artillery from the British and French allied forces, the German infantry crossed the river faster.
"Da da da!"
A wooden boat rushed to a place not far from the south bank of the Marne River, but the oncoming bullets smashed the entire wooden boat into a sieve, and the German soldiers in the small wooden boat suffered heavy casualties.
"Manstein, the defense of wooden boats is too bad. The next time there is a similar battle, wrap a layer of iron on the wooden boat. It doesn\'t matter if it can withstand the enemy\'s shelling, as long as it can withstand machine gun fire, then That\'s good too." Seeing that the casualties of his own soldiers began to soar, Qin Tian couldn\'t help but sighed.
"Yes, Your Highness." Major General Manstein nodded. Although doing it according to Qin Tian\'s request would result in an increase in cost and man-hours. But if it can reduce the casualties of the troops, these are all worth it.
The fierce battle continued, and the casualties on both sides continued to rise. However, judging from the situation on the battlefield, the British and French coalition forces still suffered the greater casualties. When the firepower is completely at a disadvantage and the fortifications are almost destroyed, it is naturally difficult for them to resist the German attack.
A small German boat rushed to the south bank of the Marne River. The soldiers just jumped off the boat when they were shot by the French army. A Hotchkiss heavy machine gun fired at them frantically. The German soldiers who jumped from the small boat were beaten into a sieve and fell on the river beach.
But the next moment, the heavy machine gun of the French army was destroyed.
An F2 fighter jet skimmed the trenches of the British and French allied forces, and the aviation machine guns fired wildly. Immediately, the coalition soldiers in the trench were beaten into sieves, and many fell to the ground after being shot.
Although, the British and French allied forces tried their best to prevent the German army from crossing the Marne River. However, the narrow Marne River is not a natural barrier after all. More and more small boats rushed to the south bank of the Marne River. The German soldiers jumped off the boat, lying on the river beach, and fired at the British and French allied forces.
However, because they are at a disadvantage in terms of strength, they are often suppressed.
"Whizzing!"
Bullets fly overhead, if you don\'t pay attention, you may be blown in the head. This is undoubtedly a great test for human will.
Many German soldiers could only hold their heads, lying on the ground, praying not to be hit.
"Grenade, destroy the French machine gun." An officer ordered.
A grenadier was set up immediately, but before it could fire, it was vented by the French machine gun, and a shuttle of bullets came over, immediately smashing the grenadier into a sieve.
But then, the substitute grenadier opened fire immediately, and a grenade accurately hit the machine gun, destroying it.
More and more small boats rushed to the south of the Marne River. With the support of their own fierce firepower, the German soldiers began to gain a firm foothold on the south bank of the Marne River, and even began to use their weapons to shoot at the German army.
Both sides come and go, fighting with great joy.
However, the brutality of this battle has not changed at all. The two sides were on the south bank of the Marne River, and blood flowed like a river. Whether it is the German army or the British and French allied forces, they have paid great casualties.