Reincarnated as Nikolai II

Chapter 188 The Alliance is Shutting Down (6)

After the war of attrition in 1915, Russia's power had reached its peak in early 1917.

It was Russia who wanted to wield that power against Germany more than anyone, and it was Britain and France who blocked this.

America's entry into the war.

'...Yet that America cannot replace the role of the Eastern Front.'

That late entry from the new continent gave the Anglo-French alliance too much inflated dreams.

"The Chief of Staff's will is firm. We will still faithfully engage in the war as allies and participants, but we will strike Austria-Hungary first. Germany is now merely secondary."

In Nicolson's view, this wasn't simply Russia's emotional choice.

'They've already expanded the front in the south. With investments made, it's not easy to just pull out completely.'

Directions diverging too much.

"...We shall respect that."

Even he as plenipotentiary ambassador didn't have confidence to coordinate this, and the day's meeting ended without any results.

However, a few days later...

"Minister Rödiger! Please reconsider! This, this is right! A misunderstanding! They say all those idiots in the Supreme War Council are being replaced so this must be a misunderstanding! Or, or let me meet Prime Minister Kokovtsov! Time is of the essence now!"

Gone was the gentleman who had been distressed about the alliance's division, and in his place remained only a rioter spouting anything while begging.

Autumn, as October was ending.

Amiens had fallen.

This meant the Nivelle Offensive had failed.

==

The counterattack operation to stop Ludendorff.

Nivelle's offensive was conducted on a scale incomparable to the original history.

There was no deployment of 1.2 million troops across a 40km front supported by 7,000 artillery pieces.

Of course, it's not that the Allied forces suffered no damage from Nivelle's offensive failure just because they invested less.

Whatever the case, everything Nivelle pulled together was from the Central Army, rear reserves, and Northern Army Group.

"Huh? Mobilization? Right now when we've lost Arras and the Chief of Staff ordered us to form a defense line-"

"The French Third Army will all be committed to the counterattack operation! In 24 hours! In 24 hours our enemy will have no choice but to leave the north on their own feet!"

He might have been a man who knew nothing else.

However, this Nivelle.

"We can trust General Nivelle! I can guarantee his fighting spirit is the best in France!"

"Who else but him could be the next Marshal?"

The Grand Quartier Général (GQG), French rear headquarters, supported him.

"If Marshal Joffre agrees... We'll try believing too."

"Actually, we don't have any better options than General Nivelle right now, do we?"

The Supreme War Council and subordinate Allied Command approved.

"Is there another phrase that moves the hearts of us French people as much as General Nivelle's slogan 'They Shall Not Pass'?"

"And what about his statement to the press 'The artillery conquers, the infantry occupies'? The citizens of this country want him!"

Above all, British and French political circles were biting, sucking, and pushing the man named Robert Nivelle.

Thus Robert Nivelle, receiving everyone's trust, prepared both the first offensive plan to stab Ludendorff's lower belly and a second offensive plan after that.

The Arras defense line collapsed.

Amid Amiens' desperate resistance.

Exactly 48 hours after the offensive began.

"Fuck this, I quit!"

"Y-you want us to split between German 5th and 6th Armies alone? Are you crazy?"

"We were originally from the 20th Corps led by General Foch, why do we have to die here?"

"Do they think we're Stormtroopers or something! Everyone's dead, what breakthrough!"

Mutiny broke out in the French 3rd and 6th Armies that had been half-destroyed failing to break through German defenses.

A week later.

"...Retreat again. We abandon Amiens."

"If we withdraw, won't the Central Army Group be in danger?"

"Tell General Pétain to pull back. We must pull the Central Army Group back to the Marne."

Amiens had fallen.