Chapter 207: Silent Night, Deadly Night
1915, December 24, lunar calendar eleventh month eighteenth, 8 PM.
Because it was the eighteenth of the lunar calendar, it had only been three days since the full moon night of the fifteenth.
Plus a recent winter snow from the previous days had just passed, and the weather was still fairly clear, so visibility for nighttime marching was relatively high, just a bit cold.
The Germania elite soldiers participating in tonight’s front-line combat had specially taken extra vitamin A beforehand.
“This is truly heaven helping me; the weather is good tonight, so no fire preparation. Have the artillery unit stand by, and the assault battalion move forward stealthily. Try not to alert the enemy; delay opening fire as long as possible. Artillery waits for the assault battalion to report coordinates and call for fire before engaging.
There shouldn’t be many fortifications in this area. The Britannians have only been advancing for less than ten days or half a month, and they have to guard such a long border; they don’t have time to dig trenches everywhere.”
Lelouch made a final confirmation of the front-line situation through high-powered binoculars, then signaled that the assault troops could launch the attack as planned.
The Germania Army broke from routine; they didn’t even conduct fire preparation and advanced stealthily in the dark.
The reason for not opening fire was due to several considerations.
Over the past year, Lelouch’s assaults had a characteristic: fire preparation became increasingly intense but shorter. He would concentrate as much artillery as possible but wouldn’t let the fire last too long—ideally finishing within an hour or even half an hour.
For the same 10,000 artillery shells, other units might use 50 guns for 200 rounds, but he preferred concentrating 200 guns for 50 rounds, compressing the time to the extreme.
The core spirit of all this was to compress the enemy’s reaction time, connecting the charge as soon as possible after fire preparation.
Tonight’s situation was the ultimate extreme of “compressing fire preparation time”—not even one round of bombardment, relying entirely on a quiet sneak attack.
Lelouch had clearly considered the special circumstances of Christmas Eve, hoping the enemy would be a bit lax during this unique time.
Normally, they bombarded at dawn and charged at first light. Even without firing, the gained sneak attack reaction time wouldn’t be long; they’d be discovered once it got light, so it wouldn’t make much difference.
But tonight they charged at 8 PM in the first half of the night; the night battle would last the entire night. Refusing to fire early could gain several hours of stealthy infiltration time.
……
Six infantry assault battalions, as the first wave of pathfinding troops tonight, advanced by searching through the forested areas on both sides of the Bontu Ancient Road.
The Strandzha Mountain underfoot wasn’t particularly treacherous, but it was definitely rugged.
Most of the land was covered in dense forests, but in a few mountain hollows most exposed to sea winds, the fierce Black Sea cold winds prevented large trees from growing, exposing jagged scree rock and marble bedrock.
The soldiers advanced stealthily, holding MP15 submachine guns or MG15 light machine guns; occasionally there were weapon support groups carrying grenade launchers or 80mm mortars, helping each other climb.
Each soldier had at least two bandoliers strapped on, with bullet counts compressed by a few tenths compared to usual, but everyone carried extra grenades or mortar shells.
Everyone knew that this Strandzha Mountain Area’s dense forests stretched 80 kilometers north-south, but before opening fire, the Germania Army had already infiltrated nearly 20 kilometers forward without detection by the enemy. Only 60 kilometers remained.
Within this 60-kilometer depth, they could only possibly get support from their own artillery in the first 15 kilometers; deeper in, they’d have to rely mainly on mortars and grenade launchers for support fire, so grenades and mortar shells had to be carried in sufficient quantities.
Moreover, the main ridge of the Strandzha Mountains was only about 20 kilometers from them, with several relatively low passes on it—the key points where the “Bontu Ancient Road” crossed the Strandzha Mountains. According to daytime aerial photos, those places definitely had tight enemy defenses, but the outer areas were less certain.
Officer Lelouch, for the sake of operational secrecy, hadn’t dared deploy troops too close to the Strandzha Mountains main ridge pre-war; he had to leave a nearly 20-kilometer buffer zone to avoid early detection by the enemy.
Besides artillery shells, the soldiers carried more food than usual, enough for two or three days.
To increase energy density, the field kitchen prepared plenty of Hesse liver sausage （Leber-wurst）.
The soldiers of the 6th Division were mostly Barians, accustomed to local white sausages with higher starch and fat content, hence white in color.
But this operation required maximizing soldiers’ night vision capability; the quartermaster department even used vitamin tablets, so diet naturally had to match. Logistics coordinated in advance with friendly forces of the 4th Division, who were happy to trade since meat-filled ones were more expensive.
……
The troops advanced several kilometers under the pale moonlight of the lunar eighteenth without encountering any enemy outposts; clearly, the Britannians’ defense of this mountain forest was indeed not very tight.
“Those Britannians deserve to be snuck up on; their defenses are so lax. We’ve gone five or six kilometers into the mountain forest without meeting a single patrol.”
A lieutenant mortar platoon leader named Alfred Jodl, after commanding his artillerymen to haul mortars disassembled into three-part components over mountains for two hours without encountering enemies, couldn’t help complaining about the enemy while stopping to drink water and rest.
For this operation, Brigadier General Lelouch had attached an extra mortar platoon as support fire to each assault battalion: four squads per platoon, totaling four 80mm mortars. In mountain forest combat, 12 soldiers were needed to carry the guns, with the rest providing cover or carrying shells and other supplies.
This Alfred Jodl was also a post-90s, born in 1890. At the war’s outbreak, he was just an officer candidate, not even a second lieutenant, serving as a technical NCO in the Army Group’s direct 4th Heavy Cannon Battalion.
So when Lelouch initially assembled his direct lineage team, he searched the 6th Army Group’s officer roster but didn’t find him.
After over a year of real combat, Jodl advanced two ranks through his performance to become a lieutenant artillery platoon leader; just before this campaign, Army Group Chief of Staff Officer Lelouch finally noticed him and reassigned him for more opportunities to earn merits.
After a midnight snack and some rest, the troops continued forward, advancing another half hour and two more kilometers, cresting a small hill, when the scouts ahead finally found the enemy’s observation post.
“600 meters left front, enemy outpost! Exactly as seen in daytime aerial reconnaissance!”
The reconnaissance company commander confirmed again with binoculars, then called over the mortar platoon accompanying the reconnaissance company and asked Jodl to assess:
“Do we need to get closer? Binoculars show the enemy outpost’s radio antenna. Ensure the first few rapid fire rounds destroy the transmitting antenna, so they can’t send news of the enemy attack back to rear command. That could delay them at least half an hour, letting our forces advance more.”
Jodl squinted for a while, then for caution replied: “Can we close to 200 meters before acting? At 400 meters, I guarantee all four guns rapid fire on contact, taking out the antenna and everything alive within 50-meter radius.”
The reconnaissance company commander nodded: “Fine. Night battle—another 200 meters forward shouldn’t be detected. But if they hear anything, prepare to fire immediately.”
Jodl looked troubled: “Impossible. Before firing mortars, the baseplate must be leveled for accuracy; otherwise, firing table data can’t be used. For quick reaction, have grenade launcher groups advance with us—they don’t need leveling but aren’t accurate.”
On technical matters, Jodl was insistent and wouldn’t blindly agree to technically impossible demands just because the other had higher rank.
The reconnaissance company commander had no choice, so the troops advanced cautiously again; the mortar platoon and grenade launcher group stayed fully alert, luckily without incident—the Christmas Eve enemy was very lax.
Jodl had time to level all four mortar baseplates; then the reconnaissance company commander gave the charge order. After his comrades rushed out and he counted 10 seconds, Jodl opened fire.
The charge noise might not be heard immediately by outpost enemies, but cannon fire definitely would. Charge first, fire second, for 10 extra seconds of closing distance.
“Bang bang bang~” Four mortar shell explosions rang out when the soldiers were just over 200 meters from the outpost.
All mortars entered rapid fire: six rounds per gun in succession, intervals only 3-4 seconds. The opposite radio station and antenna were completely destroyed; the communications NCO and sentries inside were likely done for.
Two Vickers heavy machine guns tried to swing muzzles and spray wildly but were soon silenced by mortar and grenade launcher covering fire—probably the gunners dead.
Germania soldiers charged into the outpost’s outer trench ring with MP15 submachine guns, clearing with close-range bursts. Some British Army soldiers rushed out in panic with Lee Enfields and were killed just out of tents.
When Germania soldiers burst into tents, they surprisingly saw pots still cooking, stewing unknown chicken, duck, or other poultry or game birds. These Britain folk, even in a remote wilderness outpost, didn’t forget a Christmas Eve feast.
After breaking through this outpost, the reconnaissance troops continued forward another two or three kilometers, encountering another forward position with tighter defenses and more garrison troops. The Britannians here didn’t give them a chance to sneak attack; they seemed tense and heavily alert—probably having heard the gunfire earlier but not yet understanding the situation, without radio alerts.
The Germania reconnaissance troops immediately changed tactics, advancing mortars within 1 kilometer for rough aiming, while infantry continued pushing forward.
Only when spotted and Britannian Vickers heavy machine guns opened up did Germania mortars and grenade launchers roar together, unleashing dense shell rain. Infantry then alternated cover charges, MG15 light machine guns weaving fire nets for fierce suppression.
After a real bloody battle, they broke through another British Army position.
The reconnaissance troops’ accompanying radio was set up immediately after seizing the position and sent a report rearward:
“Our army’s offensive has fully alerted the enemy; we’ve just captured their 2nd defense line. Call fire per daytime reconnaissance for fire preparation on enemy 3rd defense line!”
Exploiting Christmas Eve laxity and enemy troop thinness to sneak off two alert lines and maneuver 7-8 kilometers extra ahead through the forests was already a huge gain; couldn’t expect more.
After rear received the telegram, heavy cannon groups roared, no longer concealing strength, pounding enemy preset defense zones 10-15 kilometers from the front line.
Each assault battalion continued stealthily forward another 20 minutes or so, until near their own pounding artillery positions, then radio-called for ceasefire and fire extension.
Fire stopped, assault battalion immediately advanced on the freshly bombarded British Army position, which indeed had over a hundred surviving soldiers, but their fire net was shattered. The assault battalion fought these scattered survivors and quickly killed them all.
……
The Germania full-line general offensive on Christmas Eve finally alerted the British Army generals on rear defense lines; they hurriedly ordered rear defenses to prepare and counterattack quickly.
First overwhelmed by telegrams was Major General Delis of Canada’s 7th Division, garrisoning Ternov Town near the Bontu Ancient Road pass on the Strandzha Mountains main ridge.
“Division commander, our first two northern outposts and observation line were silently breached! Enemy is assaulting our third defense line with fierce fire preparation; we can’t hold, request support! Request permission to withdraw!”
“Royal Newfoundland Regiment about to be annihilated north of Ternov by enemy; enemy has broken our flanks! Request withdrawal!”
Major General Delis was a rigid soldier, lacking flexibility.
In the Earth plane’s Somme campaign, General Hegge ordered his division to charge, and he stubbornly did so; his Royal Newfoundland Regiment was mowed down by MG08 on the first day of battle, the whole regiment annihilated.
At this moment, how could he dare order withdrawal on his own?
He could only demand troops hold firm awaiting a turn, then request upward layer by layer.
Soon, he reached his direct superior, Lieutenant General Hunter Weston, British Army 8th Corps commander responsible for the entire Bulgaria-Austria border defense command, pleading for aid.
Hunter Weston reacted fairly quickly; hearing Germania assault battalions attempting breakthrough in Strandzha Mountains direction, actually reaching British third defense line overnight, he was shocked:
“What? You say enemy reached 12 kilometers from your Ternov Town garrison? Impossible! How? 30 kilometers north of Ternov Town isn’t all dense forest with no enemy movement detected?
Recent aerial reconnaissance showed enemy garrison on defense line’s east segment still in Burgas? Their main force should be on my side! But now’s not time to pursue that; I approve contracting forces, withdraw troops north of Ternov sequentially, concentrate to hold Ternov pass’s fortified zone to the death!”
Lieutenant General Hunter Weston’s own corps headquarters was set in Edinel City, 70 kilometers west of Major General Delis’s Ternov Town garrison.
Edinel City was already at the westernmost edge of the Strandzha Mountains, the Bulgaria-Austria border transition from mountains to plains.
British Army high command had always thought, even if Germanians risked reinforcing Ottoman, their main attack direction should be near Edinel, not Strandzha Mountain Area.
So Lieutenant General Hunter Weston, as corps commander, naturally had to personally command from Edinel.
……
After receiving Lieutenant General Weston’s withdrawal approval, Major General Delis stiffly telegraphed forward troops, permitting Royal Newfoundland Regiment to abandon positions quickly to avoid flanking enemy assault battalion encirclement.
Unfortunately, Delis’s orders arrived too late; all levels radio decoding and encoding wasted much time, basically reaching front at 1:30 AM.
When Royal Newfoundland Regiment prepared orderly withdrawal from positions, two Germania assault battalions had already bypassed their defense zone from left and right flanks.
Though the pocket wasn’t fully closed, it already threatened Royal Newfoundland Regiment’s rear.
Noticing Lord Canna’s men beginning withdrawal in the dark, Germania assault battalions reacted fast, immediately using mortars and grenade launchers to block enemy retreat paths.
Eight 80mm mortars and dozens of grenade launchers turned Lord Canna’s narrow mountain trail into a death zone; thousands of Lord Canna’s men fell during retreat.
Ultimately, Royal Newfoundland Regiment only withdrew a few hundred uninjured soldiers and over a thousand wounded; the rest were all annihilated.
Germania assault troops chased Royal Newfoundland Regiment’s rear, fighting and charging onward, approaching Major General Delis’s Ternov Town garrison by 4 AM, just 5 kilometers left, entering British Army’s tight fortified zone.
From 5 kilometers north of Ternov Town to the Strandzha Mountains pass, this final stretch was tightly defended by British Army positions.
Simple trenches dug fully six lines, one every 800 meters, connected by communication trenches.
But unfortunately, nighttime combat limited artillery observation; British Army’s cannon group behind the pass didn’t know where to bombard.
Front-line British Army infantry felt Germania everywhere, attacks seeming from all directions.
Germanians used flexible mortars and grenade launchers for nighttime close assaults, quickly eliminating British Army forward Vickers heavy machine gun positions, then alternated cover into the trenches.
Defenders here were second-line troops, Lord Canna’s men, naturally without submachine guns. Elite with submachine guns were assaulting Istanbul; none placed in such mountain gullies.
Trench fighting with Lee Enfields vs MP15s, British Army quickly yielded ground step by step. Germanians flexibly pushed mortars and grenade launchers forward: deploying mortars in 2nd trench to hit 3rd, in 3rd to hit 4th.
Distance between mortars and targets never exceeded 1 kilometer; at such close range, weapon trajectory accuracy didn’t matter.
Major General Delis didn’t even understand the situation before losing Ternov Town and Strandzha Mountain pass before dawn.
Canada’s 7th Division’s two regiments annihilated, another two regiments and artillery battalion routed and retreating.
The artillery battalion, when routed, could only withdraw on foot, abandoning all cannons; to avoid aiding enemy, they exploded grenades in gun barrels, damaging as much as possible.
After seizing Ternov Town, Germania Army immediately telegraphed rear; news quickly reached Chief of Staff Lelouch.
“Our army advanced 30 kilometers overnight; enemy had multiple defense lines in 17-kilometer depth, all breached. Currently occupying Ternov Town; follow-on armored forces can safely pass Strandzha Mountain pass.”
Lelouch final-checked on the map: after the pass, another 30-kilometer deep forest ahead, but downhill, better road conditions, enemy likely no defenses.
Lelouch decisively ordered: “Have infantry assault battalions continue forward opening path; full armored division follow. Half-track vehicles may not suffice to carry many infantry; have some ride outside on tanks, advance with vehicles, dismount after Strandzha Mountain pass and proceed on foot alongside.”
To pursue advance speed, Lelouch rarely had his troops imitate Earth Soviet hanging-ticket marching in safe zones.
Of course, he still cherished soldiers’ lives; dismount in unsafe areas as needed.
Armored division rumbled forward, reaching Strandzha Mountain pass shortly after dawn, then turned to downhill offensive.
——
PS: Sorry, a bit stuck today. Mainly this battle’s geography I’m not familiar with, couldn’t think of innovative tactics.
If no objections, I’ll skim details of this campaign’s follow-up battles, focus more on high-level perspective, wrap in one or two days.
Mainly too many continuous war scenes, timeline hard to break; just finished Kyiv battle, now connect timeline to this—I’m getting battle-fatigued. Comments data shows readers are too.
I’ll quickly shift to winter internal affairs and armament plots, harvest victories, promotions, and riches.
