German Red Prince

Page 191

"What were our casualties? Did the Prussians suffer heavy losses with poison gas?"

"At least four thousand soldiers have suffered varying degrees of damage from the poison gas, and according to reports from the front lines, nearly one hundred have died in hospitals so far."

This only accounts for casualties in hospitals. Rhein did not expect Prussia to use poison gas. The conservative estimate is that at least three hundred people were killed by poison gas on the front lines. After more than ten years of development, the power of poison gas has become increasingly greater.

The harm of poison gas is continuous. It takes a long time for a place contaminated by poison gas to recover. Moreover, this Prussia used visible poison gas. Who knows when he might throw over those invisible viruses?

Since poison gas was used, Thorne had no choice but to speculate about Ludendorff's possible involvement with the Sinister Poison.

Caught off guard by the poison gas attack, the front lines were bound to be lost, but Thorne didn't care. This small position couldn't determine anything, nor could it change the inevitable demise of Prussia. Using poison gas was just their last struggle before their demise.

"They actually dared to use poison gas! We should retaliate against them severely! Let them pay double!"

Goebbels appeared very agitated. He felt disgusted by this crime against humanity. Since Prussia had already used poison gas, they should not hesitate to retaliate with poison gas as well.

"Comrade Goebbels, calm down. They have become beasts, but we cannot. We are human beings, and we must uphold the bottom line of being human. Using poison gas on the battlefield will inevitably lead to a strong backlash from public opinion."

"Ludendorff has only won a small victory on the battlefield, but he has lost the hearts of the people in Germany. I believe that any German with a conscience, whether Rhine, Prussian, or Bavarian, would be outraged by the use of poison gas against his compatriots. Germans are not barbaric enough to applaud such a thing. Justice is on our side."

Since Prussia has resorted to poison gas, Rhine will undoubtedly retaliate with the most ferocious force. However, this retaliation will certainly not involve throwing poison gas at the other side. Just because Prussia has no means doesn't mean Rhine has no means; Rhine has plenty of methods at its disposal.

The war was nearing its end, and it was time to destroy Ludendorff's proud so-called Western Defense Line, which he considered an ironclad line, but which had long been riddled with holes.

"The infiltration and subversion work in Hamburg and Kiel has been quite successful. Ludendorff's use of poison gas is also a good opportunity for us to conduct propaganda. We should actively mobilize the sailors in the naval ports. They are our allies, and it is time to bring out these allies."

Pieck and Heinrich reported many times that the defection activities at the naval port were going very smoothly, and most of the sailors had accepted their ideas. In particular, the Rhine's announcement of the establishment of a revolutionary republican government gave them a strong boost of confidence. As long as Thorne made the decision, they could immediately launch an uprising.

The time is ripe, and there's no need to hold back. Attacking Bremen from Hanover? I'll just turn around and wipe out Hanover. Expect Hamburg's army to come to our aid? If Hamburg revolts, it'll be like trapping a dog inside a cage.

"By the way, regarding the situation in Flanders, the International Brigades have already moved to the Luxembourg Special Region, and our troops have followed and completed their deployment. When will we begin the formal counterattack?"

The sudden attack from Flanders took Thorne and his men by surprise. Although they had expected them to attack, they did not expect them to be so bold as to actually come forward. They were just looking for a reason to slap them, and now they had their faces right in front of them.

"The uprising has already begun in the Walloon region. We must fight our way out, of course, immediately. We cannot let our class comrades lose heart."

Flanders were already struggling to survive, yet they still wanted to stand up for Prussia. I was so moved I could cry. Thorne was so touched he cried buckets.

Now that the troops have assembled, what are we hesitating for? Flanders has declared war on the Rhine Revolutionary Government in a high-profile manner, so why should we give them any face? Even if we can't deal with Prussia in the short term, does that mean we can't defeat them? How much have Prussia paid you to be so willing to fight?

The International Brigades and the National People's Army will move out together with the goal of sweeping through Flanders and transforming the kingdom into the first republic after the war. In the Bremen direction, Guderian and Model will also act together to coordinate with the major uprisings in Hamburg and Kiel. The war should be over by then.

"Let's go to the front lines and see; our soldiers need encouragement."

Since the Prussians attacked the Republic's soldiers with poison gas, these soldiers naturally had to go to the front lines to see what was going on, showing that they were taking the matter seriously.

427. A great victory? A crushing defeat!

Many soldiers lay in the field hospital in the Rhine. Although gas masks were a necessity in soldiers' equipment, who would have thought that they would actually use poison gas? A few shells came at them, and many soldiers did not have time to react before inhaling the poison gas, resulting in very serious casualties.

Treating poison gas wounds is much more difficult than treating injuries caused by ordinary gunshot wounds or artillery shells. Moreover, with so many people arriving at once, the field hospital was overwhelmed. One doctor or nurse often had to care for more than ten wounded, resulting in a severe shortage of manpower. The only option was to recruit volunteers from the local area to help at the field hospital.

Fortunately, the recruitment of volunteers went smoothly. Students from nearby medical schools were all brought in to help, and many citizens volunteered to take care of the injured, which alleviated the strain on medical resources.

These citizens who volunteered to care for the wounded realized just how cruel the war was, and how Prussia could be so ruthless as to use poison gas against the Germans.

Many soldiers inhaled excessive amounts of poison gas. Although they were carried to the hospital and appeared to still have a breath left, they were barely clinging to life. The poison gas had already corroded their bodies. Some were covered in festering sores and could not utter a word, only able to inhale but not exhale. Others were blinded by the fumes and had their faces wrapped in bandages.

"Damn it, these Prussians actually used poison gas on their own countrymen! This is trampling on the conscience of Germany! These warmongers deserve to die!"

Jord was outraged as he looked at the wounded lying in bed. Just as Thorne had said, any German with a conscience would be ashamed of this, ashamed to be a German.

The effects of the poison gas attack were very obvious. It is unknown whether Ludendorff will try it again after he has tasted its benefits, but it is also a taboo.

Just because you have poison gas doesn't mean others don't. If you set this precedent, others may retaliate against you on a massive scale, using poison gas on an even larger scale than you.

Throughout the war, the Rhineland held the advantage. Prussia broke the rules of the game by using unconventional warfare. The Rhineland already had a significant advantage, so if you use unconventional methods, the other side can use them even more. At worst, you can just throw poison gas at each other all the way to Berlin. That's not out of the question.

This was the only victory Prussia achieved after Ludendorff came to power. Although it was only a small-scale occupation of territory, the Prussian side still publicized it as a major victory to boost morale, claiming that the Prussian army had annihilated 100,000 enemy troops and that its advance was aimed directly at Frankfurt.

Prussian official reports stated that approximately 10,000 soldiers died in the Rhine battle, with total casualties around 30,000. This figure is similar to the exaggerated reports from the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters. This was originally a small position; how could it possibly accommodate 30,000 soldiers? However, this was still the Rhine's most severe loss since the start of the war, with approximately 5,000 casualties in a single battle.

Prussia, in its propaganda of a great victory, naturally wouldn't mention that it had used poison gas. They knew it was a dishonorable act, and all reports omitted any mention of the poison gas attack on the Rhineland, only attributing it to Ludendorff's superb "art of command" and the Rhineland army's utter incompetence.

Although the wounded were transferred to the rear, this place was still very close to the front line and quite dangerous. If Prussia continued its momentum, it might very well reach this place. However, even though it was so dangerous, Thallman and his men still came. These soldiers were also human beings, not expendable resources. They were also children of some mother and fathers of some child. This war was a people's war. Since Thallman and his men said they would represent the people, they certainly couldn't keep hiding in the back.

Upon arriving at the hospital, everyone directly witnessed the devastation caused by the poison gas. The wounded were huddled together, and doctors and nurses were busy everywhere. The pain inflicted by this unconventional weapon was unforgettable.

"Poison gas is a weapon against humanity. It should never exist. Any country that uses poison gas as a means of attack is shameless and a crime against humanity!"

Thallman expressed his anger, stating that poison gas, such a weapon, should not exist in the world.

What was said in jest was taken seriously by the listener. Thorne broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing what Thälmann said. Any country that uses poison gas is shameless. During the war, several European countries used poison gas, including the Rhine. On the Western Front, it was commonplace for the Rhine and France to use poison gas against each other.

However, the Rhineland is gone now, and it is now a republic. It can probably be said that this is the "retribution" for throwing poison gas. Of course, the newly established republic would not use such an inhumane weapon, let alone use it on the Germans.

"Comrades, you are all heroes of the Republic. You were ambushed by Ludendorff using the most despicable and shameless means. The Republic will never forget your contributions. At the same time, I assure you that the Prussian army will face the fiercest retaliation. We must let them know that if they have become beasts, they should be prepared to be beaten!"

Goebbels expressed his righteous indignation, stating that as a legal professional, he had high moral standards and a clear distinction between civilization and barbarity. He said that Prussia had become so shameless that they shouldn't blame them for showing no mercy when they fought.

"We have brought in the best doctors from Frankfurt and sufficient medical supplies to ensure that all comrades receive comprehensive treatment. The Republic will never forget your contributions. As long as the Republic exists, your pensions will never be interrupted. I assure you of this!"

These wounded soldiers are certainly unable to continue fighting. What needs to be done now is to properly settle them. Many people have become disabled because of the poison gas, making it difficult for them to take care of themselves and live like normal people. Their future days will definitely be extremely difficult.

Thorne then established a welfare organization for victims of chemical warfare, providing special compensation to these individuals to ensure they could live normal lives afterward.

After all, they risked their lives for the Republic. It would be unreasonable not to give them some compensation. Thorne still remembers those war veterans begging on the streets. What use are a few medals? Can they be eaten?

Since Prussia has done this, it must be prepared to face the Rhine's fiercest offensive. Since Ludendorff is proclaiming it a great victory, let them see what a great victory looks like. Prussia has no choice but to suffer a crushing defeat this time.

The Prussian army is now crammed along the Hödenhagen line, where they are vulnerable to attack. Model can launch an offensive from Rothenburg, and Guderian can begin from Ningburg, giving Ludendorff, the veteran marshal of the Great War, a good lesson in what lightning strikes are.

The revolutionary government's army is now fully equipped with gas masks, and even mules and warhorses have been urgently arranged. Gas warfare may yield some success the first time, but it is difficult to achieve anything the second time.

Thorne would certainly not resort to such underhanded tactics on the battlefield; the revolutionary government wanted a fair and square victory.

With everything ready, the armored forces were at full speed, ready to give Ludendorf a small blitzkrieg shock.

428. Whoever you beat loses.

Ludendorff touted this battle as a great victory, one of Prussia's few wins. Since the start of the war, it seemed that Prussia had only won a few battles in the early stages, and then it was constantly being chased by the Rhine.

An inspiring victory can greatly boost morale, just like this time, when Berlin unusually announced the lifting of the curfew and food rations for a day, essentially allowing for a day of celebration.

Since the start of the war, those horrific memories have begun to haunt the Germans again. Food rationing, curfews—after more than a decade of good living, encountering those same situations again has caused many Germans to show strong discomfort.

The war cannot be stopped. It would be fine if it were a kingdom, but now it is a republic and an empire. If it were to stop now, it would be equivalent to splitting Germany. Germany took so long to unify, and it has been less than a hundred years before it is divided. No one would agree to that.

Moreover, with Rhine having conquered Bavaria and Prussia controlling Eastern Europe, both sides felt they had a better chance of winning and were unlikely to back down so quickly.

Ludendorff had tasted the benefits, and he also knew the dangers of poison gas. Whoever started it was crossing the line, and once that line was crossed, things would only become more and more extreme.

To be honest, Thorne was also thinking about revenge. If it weren't for the fact that they were fighting Germans, he would have loved to use napalm bombs on them.

Before Rhine could react, they needed to quickly expand their gains. Rhine had been stunned by the poison gas, and Ludendorff was good at seizing the opportunity. Now they should press on and try to take Bremen in one fell swoop.

Regarding poison gas grenades, he dared not throw too many. Firstly, if poison gas was used, the other side would definitely be prepared, and using it would not be very effective. Secondly, if poison gas was abused, it would definitely provoke a strong backlash from Rhine. They had many secret weapons on their side, and who knew what terrifying things they would pull out.

If the German people found out about the use of poison gas, it would be extremely inhumane, and Ludendorff would definitely be condemned, leading to a lot of trouble.

Ludendorff ordered the army to continue its advance toward Bremen, while also requesting reinforcements from Hamburg and Hanover.

Now that's great! The more people come, the better the dumplings will taste, with their thin wrappers and generous fillings.

When orders are given from above, the soldiers below must carry them out. Ludendorff's use of poison gas was indeed extremely inhumane, as it not only affected the Rhine people but also his own people.

Before Lucas and his team arrived, they were repeatedly reminded to wear gas masks. He also practiced wearing gas masks in various situations every day, which is why nothing happened.

The others weren't so lucky. Although these Eastern Europeans weren't Germans, they were still allies. The Prussians didn't hesitate to use poison gas, throwing it out very quickly.

These people never expected the Prussians to release poison gas, or rather, why would they poison the Rhine people as well when they were attacking them?

Many Eastern European soldiers were caught off guard by the poison gas and were poisoned before they even had time to take out their gas masks.

The front lines were in complete chaos. By the time the poison gas was released, the fighting had ceased, and everyone was busy putting on gas masks.

Many Eastern European soldiers also fell on the front lines. They had just arrived in Germany and, instead of being killed by the Rhinelanders, were poisoned by their own people.

Lucas still can't bear to recall what happened. Many people were clutching their necks and convulsing on the ground, while others were running around in all directions. Someone almost ran over and ripped off his gas mask, which scared him so much that he had to hide in a corner of the trench until the Prussians came over with their masks on.

After occupying the area, they began the cleanup work. These Eastern European bastards had to take on all the hard and tiring tasks. They were the ones who had just fought to the death, and now they had to continue doing the dirty work for Prussia, burying the corpses.

Because they were killed by poison gas, the deaths of these people were extremely gruesome. Many were curled up in a ball, their expressions extremely painful, and some even had festering sores on their bodies. It was truly hell.

Lucas followed the men as they carried the corpses into the pit. The pit contained both Rhine soldiers and Eastern European soldiers. They had fought so fiercely in life, yet they were still buried together in death.

After carrying the body, Lucas felt uneasy, as if he wasn't clean. After walking through the poisonous gas, his paranoia worsened, and he was afraid that he had suffered some hidden injury. He kept feeling aches and pains here and there.

Having just finished their work, they casually found a place to sit down and eat. Before they had even taken a few bites, orders came down from above, instructing them to advance quickly, join the main force, and continue the attack.

Military orders are absolute, and even the Prussians couldn't complain, let alone these inferior Eastern European soldiers. After a hasty packing, Lucas carried the supplies and followed the troops forward.

During wartime, they are cannon fodder; when there is no war, they are just cattle and horses—neither of them are human.

Carrying heavy weapons, Lucas couldn't help but complain, wondering how long this war would last and why the Germans were fighting so desperately.

I've heard in the military camp that the Rhineland is a republic, and they're said to be different from Prussia. If they win, the Eastern European countries covered by the Imperial Pact can also be liberated. That would be great! Lucas is now hoping that the Rhineland will win.

Ludendorff ordered his troops to advance rapidly toward Bremen, while Rhineland was not stunned but waited for the right moment. Reinforcements from Hamburg and Hanover were already on their way, and they were waiting for this moment to fight a decisive battle and expedite the war's resolution.

Both Prussia and the Rhine were pressed for time. Ludendorff, aside from anything else, was indeed highly skilled in military affairs and had excellent execution capabilities. The reinforcements from Hamburg and Hanover arrived very quickly and soon joined forces with the main army to launch a combined attack on Bremen.

Such execution was so good that it directly ran into the Rhine's gun barrel. Prussia had not completed its military reforms, and its troops were still traditional conventional forces. The Rhine's troops, on the other hand, had undergone military reforms. No matter how fast two legs are, they can't outrun four wheels. No matter how powerful a rifle is, it can't outrun a cannon.

And so, tens of thousands of troops were heading straight into the Rhine's encirclement. Model and Guderian, two former Prussian officers, were once on the same side, so how could they not be familiar with Prussia's fighting style?

On the way to Achim, as expected, they were ambushed by the Rhine army, which had been lying in wait for a long time. The Rhine army was neither caught off guard nor tied down by Flanders Wallonia.

"put!"

Rocket artillery bombardment is more thorough and destructive than artillery bombardment. They only realized they were ambushed when countless shells were falling.

However, there's no possibility of them backing down now. Blitzkrieg is all about mobility. The armored forces from Rothenburg and Ningburg have already quickly outflanked the Prussian army from the rear. Their way back is blocked. The trap is set, and all that's left is to slowly devour them.

When Lucas was hit by the first round of rocket attacks, he knew that he probably couldn't escape this time. Rhine would definitely retaliate fiercely, and he estimated that this time it would be a crushing defeat.

This made him inwardly complain, "What's going on? When we were fighting Germany with Russia, we suffered defeats every day. Now that we're fighting Germany, why are we still suffering defeats every day?"

How do they manage to lose to whomever they fight? Whoever they beat, they lose?

429. Firepower Coverage

It is unknown whether Adalbert regrets his rash intervention in the German civil war, but the current situation is "quite challenging" for him.

The good news is that Prussia kept its promise and did not sell out Flanders Wallonia this time, just as it did Bavaria. They did send troops, and quite a few of them. The bad news is that an uprising broke out in Wallonia, and it was particularly large, sweeping across the entire region from the border.

The good news is that the Flemish army has successfully reached the Luxembourg Special Economic Zone. The bad news is that they have retreated and wasted more than ten hours. Now, if they attack again, the enemy is prepared and it won't be so easy.

The good news is that with Prussia's help, they have enough troops to suppress the Walloon uprising and attack the Rhine. The bad news is that the Walloon uprising is now also being aided by the French Commune.

This time, Flanders has completely become a pawn on the international chessboard of power struggles, an arena for great powers to fight. Adalbert now faces a double attack from the French Commune and the Rhine.

This war completely destroyed Adalbert's hard-earned wealth accumulated over more than a decade, and his supporters were dwindling. But Adalbert was helpless; what could he do? He could only grit his teeth and continue fighting.

Flanders is just a small country, and this war cannot be stopped so easily. If they fight, there is still a glimmer of hope. If they don't fight, there is only one outcome: either they will be hanged by the French Commune, or by the Rhine people, or by the Walloons of Flanders.

The only thing that comforted Adalbert was that the Prussians were on their side; otherwise, he probably wouldn't have lasted a week and would have had to find a way to escape.

What infuriates him most right now is that group of Flemish troops. They've already reached the Luxembourg Special District, but the other side hasn't reacted at all. They actually retreated under their threats and then reported the matter to their superiors. When Adalbert heard this news, he almost vomited blood.

Do these people not even know how to fight a war? Although the Luxembourg region used to be Belgian territory, this area is now in the Rhineland, which means it's the enemy. How can they retreat? They should just attack directly! They're already at war, why are they being so polite? Now look what's happened, all the opportunities have been lost, and who knows how many casualties there will be if they fight again.

Prussia was reassuring Adalbert that they had recently won a major victory on the front lines and that the Rhineland was only at its last gasp. They claimed that as long as Flanders cooperated well, ending the war would be a piece of cake. They were constantly trying to reassure Adalbert, which was itself a problem, but he had no choice but to grit his teeth and continue fighting.

The second offensive in the Luxembourg Special Region did not go as smoothly as expected. According to information from Prussia, the Rhine was engaged in fierce fighting with them on the front lines, leaving their rear vulnerable. Flanders' offensive would not encounter much resistance this time, but in the Luxembourg Special Region, they suffered a solid slap in the face.

Although the first and second attacks were only a dozen hours apart, it seemed as if all the troops behind the Rhine had come over during those ten hours, blocking the Flanders army at the border.

After the victory in the Great War, the territories were redistributed. Germany ceded several important regions and strategic locations in Belgium to itself, ensuring that it could maintain an absolute advantage in the next war. And this proved to be true; the Rhine army did indeed maintain the upper hand in its battles against the Flemish army.

Even with superior forces, Flanders couldn't even capture a small position on the front lines. Moreover, this offensive by Wallonia in Flanders lacked the support of the local people in the Luxembourg region. Without popular support, this war was obviously even more difficult to win.

Through years of operation, the Luxembourg Special Economic Zone has become an important area for the Rhine to support the Belgian Communist Party. The Belgian Communist Party supported by the Rhine is active here. The entire Special Economic Zone is practically a "socialist Belgium". How could they possibly allow the other side to attack them? They would even attack the other side.

The people of the Luxembourg Special Region were all on the side of the Rhine, to the surprise of the Flemish army that they would volunteer to help the "invaders" transport ammunition. Now, in addition to the militia of the Luxembourg Special Region, the only other force fighting the Flemish army on the front lines was the International Brigades from the French Commune.

These international brigades should have had nothing to do, but their arrival was more a matter of good timing than good timing. Not long after they arrived, Flanders declared war on the Rhine.

The Rhine Revolutionary Government couldn't spare any manpower at the moment, but the International Brigades, being the closest unit to the front lines and a ready-made fighting force, were quickly deployed to the front and completed their deployment before the second Flanders offensive.

To flex their muscles, the French Commune equipped the International Brigades with the best weapons, which proved to be a hardship for the Flemish soldiers on the other side. They were soundly defeated as soon as they arrived, and their first wave of attacks was repelled before they could even get a clear look at the situation. Several more attacks were also repelled.

Later, they simply gave up. Since they couldn't break through the defenses anyway, they might as well use cannons to bombard the other side. This way, they could preserve some of their strength and wear down the enemy, a win-win situation.