There is no airtight wall in the world, not to mention that when Britain decided to compromise with France, the two sides carried out frequent diplomatic activities, and it was impossible not to leak some rumors. After Britain and France reached an agreement, both sides had to make some diplomatic and diplomatic arrangements in accordance with the agreement.

Military adjustments and mobilizations. This has made almost all European politicians realize

With the arrival of a new era, Britain, which has always pursued the idea of ​​"glorious isolation", decided to personally intervene in the affairs of European countries! This situation only occurred when dealing with France led by Napoleon. But this time, the British

Join forces with France, which has never had a good relationship, to deal with the more threatening Germany!

If the change in the British policy towards China can be described as a fire at the city gate that affects the fish in the pond, then Germany is the real owner of this international change. Even China has had big problems because of the change in British policy. So as a

Germany, the target of this Anglo-French alliance, political

It would be impossible for the top government officials not to make some responses and preparations! In July 1901, just after Berlin once again confirmed that the Anglo-French alliance had been initially formed, in a palace on the outskirts of Berlin, high-level officials of the Second Empire gathered together to prepare for the future.

gathered together to reflect the national destiny and international situation.

To be honest, the top leaders of the German government and Wilhelm II still wanted to avoid a head-on confrontation with the British from the bottom of their hearts. Even Marshal Tirpitz, the father of the German High Seas Fleet, only said that the High Seas Fleet was a risky fleet and just let the British

People feel the pressure and can "listen" to Germany's demands on maritime and colonial issues, instead of really fighting to the death with the British Empire's Grand Fleet. When the war started, they directly chose to defend their own side of the North Sea while ensuring that

Blockade of the Russian Baltic Fleet.

As for the army, the Germans had planned to wipe out France in 4 to 6 weeks. Then they would concentrate their main force to advance eastward and defeat Russia within half a year. But as for the idea of ​​landing in Britain, the German General Staff had not even thought about it.

.Emperor Napoleon, who trampled all of Europe under his feet, did not

There are things that can be accomplished, but Wilhelm II cannot do it either! As long as he can defeat the British with a relatively complete high seas fleet after winning the continental war. This was the most perfect ending in the minds of the Germans.

When it came to destroying Britain, the Germans never even thought about it.

This is not just because of the narrow English Channel between the United Kingdom and the European continent. It is also not simply because of the unparalleled large fleet during World War I. As the third largest industrial power in the world at that time, Britain itself was not weak.

They are not fighting alone. Under the Commonwealth, there are countries such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as vast colonies, which provide sufficient soldiers, weapons, and resources for the British Empire. Although Germany is strong, it is still unable to achieve self-sufficiency in agriculture and resources.

Compared with the world's largest colonial power.

After learning that Britain and France had finally decided to stand together against themselves, the German top brass had to make some plans for the country's future. So, Kaiser Wilhelm II, Prime Minister von Caprivi, Army Chief of Staff Schlieffen and the Navy

Minister Tirpitz gathered together to make suggestions for the future of the German Empire. The situation was now clear, and the alliance between Britain and France had

It is a fact. Now that these two powerful countries have come together, is it still far behind for Russia to join this alliance? You know, the French have been planning revenge since their defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, and winning over Russia is the most important step. Now the Russians are obsessed with it.

As for the Far East, if the war in the Far East comes to an end, regardless of victory or defeat, Russia's focus will shift back to Europe.

"Your Majesty, judging from the current situation, war is inevitable. After the French have received the support of the British, they have no worries about the sea and colonies. There is no doubt that the French will focus on the army. We

The pressure on the Western Front will increase," Schlieffen said carefully.

"Increased pressure? Can you be more specific? In addition, didn't Mr. Chief of Staff formulate a plan to start from the United States and then cross the Belgian plains into France? So after the French concentrate on the army, will this plan be affected?

"William II asked.

"The French built a series of fortresses and fortresses on the 150-mile-long border between the two countries. Starting from the Swiss Alps in the southeast, they built a reinforced concrete and edge line through the fortresses of Belfort, Tours, and Verdun.

Fort defense line. Facing this defense line, even if heavy artillery bombardment is used, it will take a long time.

, and now, after the French reached a settlement with the British, they have more resources to strengthen and extend this defense line. From the current point of view, the French have indeed done so! They began to build fortifications and bastions in Belgium

!And help the Belgians strengthen the defense line between Belgium and Germany!" Schlieffen said with a slight embarrassment.

Comrade Schlieffen originally had a very good idea. The entire Schlieffen Plan was actually based on two assumptions. The first premise was that the French would concentrate their forces to attack Alsace and Lorraine after the war in order to recover the lost territory. The German Army

You can rely on rugged terrain and fortresses to block the superior French army's attack with a small number of troops. Another prerequisite is

It is because the French will not set up an insurmountable reinforced concrete defense line on the border between France and Belgium. The German army can quickly sweep away the small country of Belgium, and quickly advance along the railway and waterway network of this industrialized country, and then directly bypass France from the right wing.

The defense line built by the people. With a swift and fierce offensive, Paris was directly defeated, and the war on the Western Front was quickly ended.

Historically, the French did not build a systematic fortification on the Franco-Belgian border. Not only did they not build it in World War I, they also did not build it in World War II! The historically famous Maginot Line did not pass through this border.

Historically, Germany fought from Belgium to France in World War I and World War II. The only difference is that the Germans lost in World War I, but they won in World War II.

!But the current situation is that the French started to build a defense line as soon as the first battle. When there was no defense line in history, the Germans were finally beaten back by the British and French fifteen kilometers away from Paris. Now that they have a defense line to consume you, then

It's even more impossible to defeat! Schlieffen still knows himself. Facing the reinforced concrete defense line, he doesn't have enough confidence!

The only thing that's strange now is why, in Xu Jie's plane, the French didn't build a defense line on the Franco-Belgian border until their death, so why are they starting to dig holes now? This change was actually brought about by Xu Jie!

What did the Beiyang Army, the predecessor of the Chinese Army, do the most? There is only one answer, and that is defensive operations. From North Korea’s Moon

From Fengshan and Pyongyang to Lushunkou, and then to the battle with the Russians in Inner Mongolia, the Beiyang Army told its opponents what an iron-clad defense is! Relying on solidly designed fortifications and a large number of automated weapons, no matter how ambitious they are,

Both the Japanese army and the ferocious Russian soldiers smashed their heads in front of this fortification!

As an ally of the Russians, the French have also learned a lot based on the bloody lessons of the Russians. For example, facing a reinforced concrete bunker and a defense system with large depth and width and a large number of heavy artillery support in the rear, there is no absolute advantage.

There is no way for troops to break through without paying a heavy price. Even in plain areas, trenches can turn into chasms that are insurmountable for infantry!

On the other hand, there is the huge consumption of modern warfare. After repeated calculations, the French suddenly discovered that they had to support millions of French troops to attack the Alsace-Lorraine region with difficult terrain, let alone capture it in a short time.

Just the huge logistics put great pressure on France. As for the third point, the French suddenly

It turns out that Russia, the European steamroller, is not as powerful as imagined. With the installation of long-range artillery and a large number of automatic weapons, the Russians' fearless human sea tactics have very limited effect in the face of these murderous weapons! In addition, the Russians*

* army, the French could only express doubts about the combat effectiveness of the Russian army.

There is a saying that the situation is stronger than the people! Attacks will not be easy to achieve, and the Russian allies are not very powerful! In the face of facts, the French had to change their decades-long plan to quickly regain lost ground once a war against Germany started. Even now with the British

A strong ally, the French still decided to use defensive fortifications to consume German power and then counterattack. Compared to Germany,

France has no advantages in industry or military power, but as a colonial power and with the help of Britain, France can continuously transport the wealth of the colonies to the mainland through sea routes. When consumed, France will definitely be more confident. Therefore, the French

Start digging deep holes, not only on the French-German border, but also on the Belgian side!

And precisely because of the change in the French strategy, our poor Schlieffen found that the two prerequisites for the success of his strategy were gone! If Germany attacks France again, it will face the British and French forces hiding behind the defensive line!

There is no quick solution, Germany's meager resources can hardly withstand a war of attrition!

"That means that the decades of war planning carried out by the German Imperial Army General Staff fell short because of the French pickaxe?" William II said dissatisfied!

"To a certain extent, it is like this. The German Empire does not have sufficient resources, and the sea lines of communication will be cut off during the war. If we cannot win quickly, a war of attrition will be very detrimental to us. Nothing else.

It is said that it is difficult for us to achieve self-sufficiency in food simply." Prime Minister von Caprivi said worriedly.

"We lack a lot of things, including oil, food and manpower. Although the German Empire is the most populous country in Europe, facing Britain, France, Russia and their colonies, the German Empire is still quite short of human resources. As for the Austro-Hungarian Empire

And Italy, the former's own internal ethnic issues are enough to cause them trouble. The Italians may be good at the navy, but the army faces the mountains between France and Italy, and the possibility of the Italians breaking through is not high.

Big." Schlieffen thought for a moment and said.
Chapter completed!