Chapter 108: This Is When Half-track Vehicles And Airborne Drops Are Used
Lelouch gritted his teeth, took on the task of offering strategies to crack these two key difficulties, quickly sorted out his thoughts, and spoke eloquently:
“Let’s first discuss the first issue, that is: You feel that an attack from Krakow via Gorlice to counterattack the Przemysl Fortress in the future might not be reliable enough. But I believe the actual situation may not be as bad as you think.
If, by then, our army’s counterattack happens at the end of April or early May, I think the Lushans are very likely to slack off—it’s well known that the vast black soil plains of Kievan Rus’, and even the North Carpathian plains between Lviv and Krakow, experience muddy seasons and thaw periods from March to May every year.
Meanwhile, the situation in the Carpathian Mountains at that time will be exactly the opposite of the plains, because the mountains are at high elevation without the muddy conditions of the plains. In other seasons, mountain roads are hard to traverse while plains are easy, but in April and May, it might become ‘mountain roads and plains are about equally hard to traverse.’
So, if the Lushans break through the Przemysl Fortress during the thaw period, they will definitely become complacent and think of taking advantage of the final stage of the thaw period to cross the Carpathian Mountains and quickly achieve results in the Hungarian Basin!
Because they know that the Hungarian Basin is blocked from spring rains and ice floods by the Carpathian Mountains, so inside the Hungarian Basin there is no thaw period like north of the mountains! Inside the Hungarian Basin, it will be the golden time for offense! The enemy cannot possibly miss it!
And during the thaw period north of the mountains, the Lusha Army definitely won’t guard against our army counterattacking westward from Krakow, because the Lushans know that during the thaw period, our army can hardly conduct field marches and supply except along the railway, especially our heavy cannons cannot be maneuvered to the front lines and will only be swallowed by the mud! This way, they will cherish and seize this window period that is destined not to last long! And they will be even more willing to take risks and advance aggressively for it!”
Marshal Leopold frowned even more tightly: “Then wouldn’t that make it even harder for us to ensure a victorious counterattack westward from Krakow? The enemy’s thinking is very correct; the thaw period will indeed pose a great obstacle to our army’s offense. Infantry and war horses might still slog through the mud, but cannons, no matter how many horses pull them, as long as they have wooden cart wheels, cannot be dragged on muddy ground.”
Lelouch was not worried about this; he believed the Germania Army certainly had this combat effectiveness. In Earth’s history, Mackensen won this battle too, and Marshal Leopold was no worse than Mackensen.
More crucially, Lelouch suddenly realized he had thought of an extra insurance for Marshal Leopold.
He suddenly had a flash of inspiration and said: “Speaking of which, it’s truly a blessing from heaven to the Empire! Two months ago, I discussed a half-track diesel heavy artillery tractor project with Dr. Porsche from Skoda. At that time, Austria was eager to pursue this project because they were troubled by artillery traction in mountainous and muddy areas, and after painful reflection, they wanted to invest resources to solve this problem.
Mr. Porsche had already done a lot of work, but there were some key points he hadn’t figured out. I gave him some guidance at the time, and when I inquired again a couple of days ago, I learned that Mr. Porsche had already produced a prototype vehicle, and it could go into small batch trial run. The body is the original old truck body, slightly modified. If the Empire urges Austria to give it top priority and speed up mass production, perhaps we can gather a hundred or so half-track tractors before the future ‘Krakow Offensive’ is launched.
This half-track structure can naturally overcome the problem of trucks and mule carts getting stuck in mud, and it also handles uphill and downhill driving on rugged terrain more smoothly. By then, our heavy cannons can maneuver from Krakow to the Gorlice front line in a way beyond the Lusha generals’ imagination, or even appear outside the Przemysl Fortress…”
“There’s such equipment?!” Old Marshal Leopold and Duke Rupprecht both stood up upon hearing about this unprecedented new equipment, not even minding that their chairs were knocked over.
This thing might not be very useful normally, but in today’s special battlefield environment, it is truly a perfect counter!
The rugged terrain on the edges of the Carpathian Mountains requires constant uphill and downhill even when marching along highways. And the geography and climate north of the Carpathian Mountains are the same as the Kievan Rus’ black soil great plains, with the thaw period mud issue.
These two originally unsolvable problems encounter the world’s first half-track vehicle, which has the capability to transport heavy cannons through mud and rugged terrain. How could the enemy possibly anticipate that Germania artillery could overcome natural barriers that were previously impossible?
The suddenness of this assault will absolutely max out the meter!
“If we can really gather a hundred or so of these things, and their hill-climbing and mud-traversing performance reaches what you described, then I truly have confidence to suddenly raid and recapture the lost territory north of the mountains in the late thaw period when the enemy is most off guard!”
The more Marshal Leopold thought, the more excited he became, unable to resist rubbing his fists and palms. At this point, even he was completely convinced by Lelouch, and the entire campaign’s tactics and plan were becoming clearer and clearer.
Truth indeed becomes clearer through debate; every question from the marshal made Lelouch’s staff contingency plans more solid and complete.
Old Marshal Leopold reviewed this issue again, then earnestly summarized: “Now, it seems only one difficulty remains: if the Przemysl Fortress ultimately does surrender, how do we ensure, through intelligence probing and other means, to timely grasp the positions and movements of the prisoners of war. To strive to rescue some captives after the counterattack begins?
Moreover, several batches of sulfonamide have already been airdropped into the fortress by our army, right? These medicines have saved many wounded, allowing the garrison to hold out until now. The Lusha Army probably still doesn’t know our army has this divine medicine sulfonamide. But if the garrison surrenders before finishing the sulfonamide, leading to some medicines being captured by the enemy, this leak would be very serious and affect the overall situation—
These problems must all be resolved! As long as this point is solved, I fully support your plan. Even if someone pursues ‘failure to rescue friendly forces in time, deliberate delay and neglect’ in the future, I will stake my old face to defend you!”
After hearing the old marshal’s question, Lelouch and Duke Rupprecht subconsciously exchanged a glance.
Fortunately, in this mutually inspiring intellectual environment, Lelouch quickly thought of a new stratagem.
“We need to ensure we grasp the positions of our surrendered prisoners of war after the war, and also ensure their state after surrender is controllable, that they surrender after finishing the sulfonamide… Why not organize one last airship airdrop reinforcement, drop another small batch of sulfonamide, let them urgently treat all infected wounded before surrendering, adjust their condition, and then surrender in a planned manner?
Moreover, during this airdrop of sulfonamide, we can airdrop a supervising officer carrying secret orders from both marshals, have him convey to the Przemysl Fortress commander that the Hungarian theater commander permits them to surrender after finishing the medicine, to preserve their useful bodies and avoid pointless sacrifice.
This way, as long as they surrender under the above instructions permitting temporary surrender, they won’t have too strong a feeling of ‘running out of ammo and food, abandoned by friendly forces.’ They will believe ‘friendly forces have done everything possible to rescue them.’
The airdropped officer can also tell them about the friendly forces’ efforts to rescue them outside: over the past six months, the Austrian Army has suffered how many casualties just to relieve the fortress, even more than the remaining numbers inside the fortress. This way, perhaps we can ensure that after they surrender, they still remain loyal to the motherland and can be mobilized more quickly if changes occur in the future.”
Lelouch was used to airdrops; he himself was the regimental commander of a parachute regiment, had previously used airships to airdrop medicine supplies, so thinking of airdropping a staff officer for morale integration and authorized orderly surrender was very natural.
Moreover, Lelouch knew that sending a propaganda and rectification cadre into the army would greatly help the army’s mindset after capture.
With an officer entering with a mission, they could pre-agree on some contact methods, even disperse and hide some personal items. When they are later taken to a prisoner of war camp, and Germania reconnaissance aircraft come to scout the enemy rear, they can signal with the agreed, relatively concealed code to report their position via aerial photography.
Once their position is confirmed, then whether coordinating rescue or ground assault, there will be much more operational space.
Moreover, Lelouch had a unique advantage no one else had: he controlled the only parachute regiment on this era’s, this planet’s, East.
He didn’t want to replicate the Dunkirk Fortress parachute direct seizure of a fortified fortress like before, because with the Dunkirk precedent, the enemy would definitely be prepared.
Airdropping again in enemy-dense areas, the enemy could easily wait in ambush on the ground, strictly on guard; even if anti-air weapons are insufficient, killing paratroopers after landing is something paratroopers can’t withstand.
But if airdropping into empty areas in the enemy rear, far from the front line? That would be a completely different tactic.
This tactic might not work on the Western Front, because the Western Front lines are too dense, with enemies everywhere and no gaps to exploit.
But on the vast Eastern Front, it’s impressive if both sides’ troops can fill the front line; the rear is full of vulnerabilities everywhere. Have a regiment airdrop undetected into an empty position with no enemies, assemble, then conduct infiltration and sabotage behind enemy lines, or even rescue prisoner of war camps… the operational possibilities are endless.
However, these require adaptability; no need to tell Marshal Leopold now, to avoid overly high expectations or leaks.
Just adapt to the actual situation when the time comes.
And Marshal Leopold was already very shocked just hearing the first half of the stratagem Lelouch spoke.
“…Airdrop an officer with orders permitting the fortress garrison to surrender in an orderly manner, and organize the surrender-time capture work—this is indeed a good idea. But you won’t want to go personally, right? This mission is very dangerous. Find a reliable staff officer from the Army Group, promote him one rank before going, and promise preferential treatment for his family regardless of success or failure. Best to find someone who already knows how to parachute. As long as this can be handled, I fully support your plan.”
Marshal Leopold ultimately made this commitment.
Duke Rupprecht beside him immediately picked up his second uncle’s words: “Alright, for the officer to airdrop into the encirclement, organize orderly surrender and rear contact, I’ll find one from the 6th Army Group’s staff. Worst case, find one from artillery observer background—early artillery observers were hot air balloon pilots who already learned parachuting, so it’s more convenient, less prone to accidents, and no need to risk elite combat officers from the parachute regiment; those combat officers know fighting but may not know propaganda, boosting morale, or organizational work.”
Both sides thus reached an agreement and finalized the operational plan.
……
Duke Rupprecht took Lelouch and soon returned to Budapest, and among the 6th Army Group’s staff officers, they looked for suitable candidates.
However, at first there were no particularly suitable ones, mainly because no artillery observer background officers particularly proficient in parachuting were found in the Army Group staff.
In the end, the duke had to slightly expand the search scope, allowing selection from staff personnel under the subordinate armies, temporarily promote one rank to Army Group Headquarters, then have him execute this dangerous mission.
After expanding the scope, they quickly found a suitable person—Your Highness the Duke’s second brother, in the headquarters of Baria 2nd Army Corps commanded by Lieutenant General Karl, there was a captain staff officer named Albert Kesselring.
This man was exactly from artillery observation officer background; pre-war in 1912 he served as second lieutenant hot air balloon pilot and observer, already proficiently passing hot air balloon pilot parachute escape training. Just promoted to lieutenant before the war started, now already a captain, and he previously had real combat experience of “hot air balloon punctured and deflating, successfully parachuting to escape.”
In the case where combat officers aren’t needed but a staff officer to airdrop into the encirclement to organize orderly surrender, this man was already the best option.
Upon hearing his second brother’s army had a suitable candidate, and seeing this man had been a captain for nearly half a year with good performance, almost due for promotion in another half year, the duke boldly signed, promoting him ahead of time, leaving the rest to Lelouch and him to discuss.
Captain Kesselring was soon brought to the Army Group Headquarters and met Colonel Lelouch von Hente, the Army Group’s most important staff officer. （But not the chief of staff; Lelouch was too young and low in rank. The duke trusted him most, and in fact his suggestions were even more likely to be adopted by the duke than the chief of staff’s. ）
“2nd Army Corps staff Captain Albert Kesselring reporting for duty! Awaiting orders from Colonel Lelouch!”
The man was already 30 years old, six or seven years older than Lelouch, and three full ranks below him. But no one ever expressed dissatisfaction; Lelouch was just too extraordinary.
Lelouch sized him up for a moment, then got straight to the point: “Here is a promotion order just signed by the commander Your Highness, promoting you to major, but this promotion is conditional: you must accept the subsequent very dangerous mission and ensure secrecy. Moreover, if the mission is completed well and you return alive, the commander promises to promote you another rank, straight to lieutenant colonel!”
Kesselring’s eyes instantly widened. He had been soldiering for so long and only reached captain; now one mission, accept it and promote one rank, complete alive and promote another—where else is there such a good deal! Officer Lelouch was delivering merit to him!
“I accept the mission! I’m not afraid of danger; as an Empire officer, I’m always prepared to sacrifice!” Captain Kesselring immediately stood at attention and saluted.
“Good. Take this secret order. Tomorrow a batch of supplies will be airdropped into the Przemysl Fortress; you go with the supplies, parachute into the fortress, then hand the secret order to the fortress commander. Here is also an appointment order obtained by the commander Your Highness from General Linsingen of the Austrian Southern Army Group.
General Linsingen wrote in the appointment order that the supreme commander of the Przemysl Fortress, Lieutenant General Hermann Kusmanek von Burgneustadt, must obey the orders of Marshal Rupprecht relayed through you. What you need to do is authorize Lieutenant General Kusmanek to legally surrender to the enemy when necessary, but must ensure no ammunition or medicine aids the enemy.
As for military rations, if any remain, allow leaving some to aid the enemy, to lull them or reduce their urgency to quickly withdraw you to the rear. In short, the most critical is to ensure finishing the sulfonamide before surrender. You will take charge of the fortress military hospital and thoroughly check all accounts.
Later, I will provide you some contact methods, but they may not be needed. If there’s a chance, after entering the prisoner of war camp, when Empire reconnaissance aircraft come to scout the enemy rear, you can try to secretly signal the aircraft—understand?”
Major Albert Kesselring had been a hot air balloon artillery scout and had roughly learned to fly planes, knowing open space simple communication signaling methods. So after briefly learning the contact methods taught by Lelouch, he quickly mastered them.
Kesselring’s heart was extremely tense, but he knew this mission was very important, and in the haste, only someone like him with actual parachute survival experience and knowledge of air-ground signal contact could execute it. Moreover, he had been an army-level staff officer, understood some personnel and organization, knew how to communicate with an allied mid-level corps commander after entering the fortress.
Forcing himself to calm down, he saluted again: “I know what to do! After entering the prisoner of war camp, I will try to help stabilize morale, awaiting the Empire’s counterattack and rescue! And this matter, until the last moment, I will keep it buried in my heart! I believe Officer Lelouch will come to save us!”
This belief required great courage. If Lelouch didn’t save them, they would be sent to Siberia to farm.
And it was precisely this high risk that brought such high reward: promote one rank on departure, another on safe return.
——
PS: Originally planned for seven thousand words today, but ended up with nine thousand.
Just like this; can’t break a stratagem mid-telling, that would be too tasteless.
