I Became a Tycoon During World War I - Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Advancing in Defense

Matthew originally didn’t need to go to the battlefield.

Charles’ plan didn’t include him. Charles had already selected a dozen tractor drivers, which wasn’t a difficult task for the tractor factory.

However, when these drivers heard they would be driving tractors into battle and leading the charge to block bullets, their faces turned pale:

“We’re just drivers, Master Charles, not soldiers!”
“We have families to feed!”
“We only earn 28 francs a month, barely enough to get by!”

...

In essence, they were saying it wasn’t worth risking their lives for a 28-franc salary.

Charles felt the urge to raise their pay but ultimately held back. He understood that opening the door to higher wages would lead to more complications. French soldiers were also risking their lives on the battlefield. They too had families to support, and their pay was often even lower than that of workers. Shouldn’t they be paid more?

A fully staffed army group had roughly 300,000 soldiers. There were at least 100,000 soldiers gathered in Davaus. Could Charles afford such an increase in pay?

Thus, the drivers had to volunteer; there could be no talk of raising wages!

While Charles was struggling with this dilemma, Matthew stepped forward:

“Let me go!”

Charles refused without hesitation:
“You work in the assembly workshop; we need skilled drivers! This is a battlefield, not a joke!”

Charles emphasized the latter part of his statement, particularly the word “battlefield.”

Matthew’s eyes flashed with a trace of confusion, but he quickly understood. He stared at Charles with a half-smile and replied, word by word:
“I’ve been driving tractors like toys since I was a child. No one in this factory is more skilled than I am!”

Matthew raised his eyebrows meaningfully, as if to say, You know this perfectly well.

Charles did know. He just didn’t want Matthew to take the lead in this dangerous endeavor.

But with Matthew’s words, Charles could no longer refuse. Otherwise, no one would be willing to take the risk.

Seeing Charles’ tacit approval, Matthew turned to the others and gestured lightly:
“Gentlemen, think about it! We might defeat the Germans—that’s how we protect our families, isn’t it?”

“Or have you decided to kneel before the Germans, begging them not to harm your families or steal your belongings?”

“Stand up, gentlemen. I won’t live like that!”

Matthew’s words were persuasive.

After a moment of silence, the drivers began raising their hands one by one:
“Count me in!”
“I’ll take my chances. Maybe I’ll come back alive and even be lucky enough to help defeat the Germans!”
“I’ll join! I don’t have any family, so it doesn’t matter if I don’t make it back!”

...

Thus, these ordinary yet extraordinary people headed to the battlefield.

They had no military training, driving what could only be described as crude “metal cans,” venturing onto the battlefield to face fierce German troops and the menacing barrels of countless rifles.

...

Perhaps due to the “tank’s” poor external awareness, two of the “metal cans” drove into trenches one after the other and became stuck.

Joseph suddenly grew anxious. Could one of them be the “metal can” Matthew was driving? Charles cursed under his breath. He had already warned them about the trenches. These prototype “tanks” lacked trench-crossing capabilities. Their tracks could barely handle farm mud and ridges!

The German soldiers noticed this as well. Sensing a glimmer of hope, or perhaps making a desperate last stand, some of them retreated into the trenches, attempting to reorganize their defenses.

This demonstrated the quality of the German troops. Even at this point, some of them had not given up.

But reality was cruel. Their efforts soon became futile.

One by one, the “metal cans” stopped in front of the trenches. Instead of advancing, they aimed their machine guns directly into the trenches at close range.

The French soldiers following behind used the “metal cans” as cover to snipe at the German soldiers. They divided into two teams, working in tandem. One team fired a shot and ducked down, while the other immediately emerged to continue firing.

It was an uneven battle. The trenches the Germans occupied had been hastily constructed by French soldiers, facing the opposite direction and incomplete. The Germans had to hunch down just to take cover.

Meanwhile, the French soldiers had several large shields in front of them. The “metal cans,” lined up one after another, left only a passage about ten feet wide between them. Any German soldier’s position that deviated from this passage was blocked from firing.

In the end, the Germans could only accept the result through mounting casualties. One by one, soldiers fell in the trenches with regret and reluctance, most becoming lifeless corpses.

Major Browning shouted from behind a “metal can”:
“Hold the line! Maintain the defense! Maintain the defense!”

It was an incredible tactic, Major Browning thought.

Before this, the French army’s tactics had always been: “Attack, attack, and attack again!”

It didn’t matter whether a commanding officer had graduated from a military academy; everyone knew how to command and fight... The French army’s tactics were overly simplistic. All orders boiled down to one word: “Advance!”
If the enemy held the line, they advanced.
If the enemy retreated, they advanced.
If the enemy attacked, they still advanced.
...

No matter who was in command, the result was the same.

This led to heavy casualties for the French army from the very start of the war. While Major Browning didn’t know the exact numbers, from what he had seen, heard, and felt, the losses were undoubtedly staggering.

(Note: In August and September of 1914, the French suffered 164,500 deaths, disappearances, and captures each month. This forced France to lower the conscription age to 18. By 1915, 80% of men aged 18 to 46 had been drafted.)

But now, they appeared to be attacking while constantly defending.

To be precise, they were advancing in defense, hiding behind the “metal cans” and slowly pushing toward the enemy under their cover.

And then the enemy collapsed. A force of thousands of elite German soldiers crumbled under an attack by just over 300 men!

This was unimaginable before. It would have taken at least tens of thousands of French soldiers to defeat this elite German force. Yet, they had only 300 men and about a dozen tractors! Major Browning roughly estimated that they had suffered just over 20 casualties, including those killed or wounded.

“This is incredible!” Major Browning exclaimed as he directed the battle. “Damn it! What were we doing before? They were wasting soldiers’ lives! We should always fight this way from now on!”

The soldiers were equally inspired. As they fired at the enemy, they thought: Battle has become easier. France will undoubtedly win!

Though few in number, the troops were high-spirited and fought with increasing vigor.

The terrified German soldiers retreated continuously toward the bridge. Meanwhile, the German main force on the north bank of the Marne River continued charging across the bridge under orders. The two forces collided like surging tides, instantly creating a packed, immovable mass of bodies. Many were injured by falling spiked helmets, while others screamed as they were pushed off the bridge into the river.

“Drive them onto the bridge!” Major Browning shouted. “Machine gunners, aim at the enemy on the bridge!”

The machine guns roared to life. They didn’t need to aim carefully; the dense hail of bullets rained down on the Marne Bridge, hitting targets with ease.

The French 8mm rifle rounds were devastating. If not stopped by bone, a bullet could penetrate three bodies and kill a fourth.

Amid the thunderous gunfire, the Marne Bridge turned into a scene of carnage. Blood soaked the bridge, viscous and flowing like streams along its edges and crevices. It dripped into the Marne River, turning its waters a horrifying shade of red.

Finally, the Germans realized the Marne Bridge was impassable. They began fleeing toward the river below.

But this, too, was a poor choice!

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