Chapter 723: Running Away
Chapter 706 Run away
On November 18, 1880, the Russian army conquered Poznan, the Prussian army in Warsaw was in danger of being cut off from the rear road at any time, and the Prussian-Russian war became clear.
Command of the Prussian Army in Warsaw
Receiving this bad news, Mauch did not feel the slightest surprise. From the time he refused to divide his troops to reinforce Poznan, he had prepared for the worst.
There is a skill in taking the blame, giving up Warsaw is not as simple as talking about it, if there is not enough reason, there can be no way to explain to the outside world.
At the military conference, Mauch said calmly: “Poznan lost in advance, our back road is threatened, and the plan to encircle the Russian Third and Sixth Armies is bankrupt.
Now we have to change the original battle plan, first recapture the Poznan area, to ensure that the back road is open, and then turn around and return to Warsaw to fight the Russians.
The Russian Eighth Army now occupying Poznan was mainly infantry, with a total strength of nearly 200,000, and its combat power could only be regarded as mid-range among all the units of the Russian army.
The Russian Eighth Army is not alone, the Russian Ninth Army is less than one hundred and sixty kilometers away from them, and once we launch a counterattack, the enemy is sure to carry out reinforcements.
We have all heard about the situation in the country, and the fighting strength of the newly formed troops is worrying, so they cannot be put into the battlefield in a short period of time.
Wanting to recapture the Poznan region from the enemy as soon as possible, this time we must draw our main force into the war, now we need someone to stay behind in Warsaw to make sure that Warsaw is not lost during the time the main force is away.”
Staying behind in Warsaw was no easy job. The situation on the battlefield now was clearly unfavorable to the Pupo Federation, if things went well, they still had a chance to usher in a counterattack, if something went wrong, the troops that stayed behind would be the outcasts.
Admiral Giovanni Ferrari, the commander of the First Army Group, jumped the gun and said, “Let’s stay behind, the First Army Group has the strongest combat power and should be able to buy enough time for the main force.”
This is not for show, the first group army is the absolute main force of the Prussian army, the stronger the fighting force on the battlefield, often bear the heaviest combat task.
Without knowing that the country had decided to abandon Warsaw, it was natural for Admiral Giovanni Ferrari to take on this daunting task in the light of the greater good.
Mauch flatly denied it, “No!”
Then he explained, “It’s true that the First Army has the strongest combat power, but what you are best at is attacking, not defending. The First Army is also indispensable to recapture the Poznan region next.
This time, the Warsaw defense battle is difficult to fight, the Russians may go crazy like never before, and it’s impossible for us to leave more troops behind, to hold the Warsaw area in this context, we must work closely with the local militia forces.
A general mobilization order has been issued in the country, and Warsaw, together with the surrounding area, will be able to mobilize about 200,000 men. These troops had only received simple military training and could not be used as the main force, but could be used as an auxiliary force.
In the absence of sufficient troops, we must utilize the combat power of this force. We don’t want to defeat the Russians, as long as we keep Warsaw intact, it will be considered a victory.
Taking all factors into consideration, the command decided to let the Third Army, which has the best popular base, stay in the Warsaw area.
General Washkiewicz, you will hold Warsaw for at least 40 days under Russian attack, any questions?”
The Prussian-Polish Confederation was established too soon, and although the Warsaw government intended to push for the unification of the language and writing system, it was still too short a period of time, and coupled with Polish resistance, it naturally failed to bear fruit.
There was no unification of language and writing, and in order to keep the order, the Prussian army had to be separated when it was being prepared.
The Third Army was the Polish-dominated unit, with most of the soldiers coming from the area around Warsaw. A force composed of locals naturally had a better mass base than the others.
Wa’s Kiewis face was a bit ugly, on the surface it looked like Mauch was asking for his opinion, but in reality he didn’t have the chance to refuse at all.
The command had made a decision, what could he do other than carry out the order?
Moreover, Mauch’s reasoning was also very good, the Third Army was a local, defending their hometown was in itself the right thing to do.
In the case of not knowing to fall into the abandonment of the situation, Va’s Kaiwis resistance is not high, just as an ordinary mission.
Va’s Kevis asked with concern, “Overall I have no problem with it, the Third Army will try to buy time for the main force as much as possible. But to cooperate with the local forces, who is in command?”
Receiving an affirmative answer, Mauch nodded with satisfaction, “The command will of course go to you. Before we launch the counteroffensive, the Third Group will take over all military and political power in the Polish region.
This is a special time and must be treated specially. Both the local troops and the local government are temporarily under your control.
The command will not ask how this battle is to be fought, I have only one request, Warsaw must be held.”
Delegation of authority, maximum delegation of authority. Wah’s Kervis that is about to become the commander of the group army with the most power in the Pupo Federation, even Mauch the marshal does not have the power to restrain the local government.
Va’s Kervis was not surprised; anything was possible in the war years. Although the PUP had not yet taken over local administration, and this might be the first case, the military’s meddling in local politics had been rife for a long time.
In order to win the war, the Berlin government had gotten used to playing deaf and dumb. Whatever was good for the war effort was allowed to go.
The throttling of local government was the first instance of this, and it will never be the last.
Getting off to this bad start would undoubtedly be a heavy blow to government authority. But those sitting here were military men, and the position under their asses dictated that they had to favor the military.
Va’s Kaiwis face a happy, can get the local forces command are unexpected joy, now even the local government can be moderated, then can mobilize the resources greatly increased.
With so many resources, he could not even hold out for 40 days, then he could go home and farm, so as not to stay and disgrace himself.
Va’s Kaiwis replied affirmatively, “No problem, the Third Army guarantees to complete the mission!”
Mauch glanced at Va’s Kervis, a wisp of sympathy flowed from the tip of his eyebrow, quickly covered it up and warned in a serious tone:
“Don’t be too happy, the Third Army only has 156,000 men, even if you add 200,000 local troops, the total strength added up is only more than 60% of the enemy’s.
Even as the defending side with the advantage of geographical location, we are still at a disadvantageous position and must be careful.
The local troops have just been formed not long ago, and many of them have not even completed their basic military training, so you’d better not hold out too much hope for combat effectiveness.
The situation on the battlefield is ever-changing, and this 40-day period is just the minimum. If something changes in the middle, who knows when, we will be able to reinforce Warsaw.”
“Yes, Field Marshal!” Va’s Kervis replied gravely
There were still a few moments of gratitude in his brow, since Mauch became the commander-in-chief, he had still taken care of the Third Army, whether it was replenishing supplies, or assigning combat missions, he had never treated them differently.
Defense of Warsaw, this is the third group since the beginning of the war received the most challenging task. However, high risk also means high reward, this kind of difficult task, but also the most easy to produce war work.
Wah’s Kervis was a man of pursuit and not afraid of challenges. Mou Qi’s warning, he only took it as the commander-in-chief’s concern for his subordinates, and did not have the slightest suspicion.
Mauch nodded with satisfaction: ”Very well, since you are so confident, the task of defending Warsaw will be given to the Third Army.
There is not much time left for us, the rest of the troops, immediately pack their bags and leave for Poznan early tomorrow morning.
Due to the limited capacity of the railroads, heavy weapons and logistics will be transported by train, and the troops will leave on foot with light equipment.”
The railroad facilities of the Pupo Federation were already relatively perfect, but no matter how perfect they were, there was no way to transport hundreds of thousands of troops, along with logistical supplies, hundreds of miles away in a short period of time.
In this context, in order to save time, it was natural to prioritize the transportation of weapons, equipment, and strategic materials, and the soldiers still had to march on foot.
Fortunately, Poland was not very large. From Warsaw to Poznań was less than 37 puri (about 280 kilometers), and the troops were almost a week’s journey in light armor.
Of course, this was a theoretical figure. In practice it would certainly take longer, and large regiments could not fight fast enough on their own.
Before arriving at the battlefield, heavy weapons and logistical supplies would certainly have to be distributed to the troops first, which would require a test of logistical organization.
If the organizational ability is not up to scratch and these tasks cannot be completed in time, then it would be better to let the soldiers take their weapons, equipment, and logistical supplies on the road, lest there be confusion and waste of time.
……
(End of chapter)