The Rise Of Australasia
Chapter 507: Chapter 399: Victory on the Eastern Front, Attack on the Westline_2

At this time, the German army was already exhausted, and the constant retreat had severed their connection with the Austro-Hungarian First Army Group.

As the First Army Group of the Austro-Hungarian Empire tried to support the German army in the war, they accidentally entered the heavy encirclement of the Russian army, resulting in heavy losses and the entire Army Group being crushed.

To quote Rudolf, "The order to retreat was given on the 11th, but this retreat was completely involuntary. Our situation has become extremely critical, and it now seems that the Russian army is about to invade Poznan, Cilicia, and the Moravia region."

In fact, Rudolf's judgment was very accurate. After achieving initial success in the battle, the German army urgently attacked the west and southwest, with the goal of occupying the Cilicia region and then entering the German hinterland from there. It would then join the armies of the four Allied nations on the Western Front to end the war as soon as possible. Exclusive content from m,v lem|p,yr

The Russians had great ambitions. After winning the initial battle, there were plans within Russia to attack Berlin and end the war.

If it were not for Archduke Nicholas' excuse to cooperate with the Western Front armies and not advance blindly, Nicholas II could have ordered the army to attack Berlin with all its strength.

Although the German army failed in several attacks on the Western and Eastern Fronts at this time, no one could guarantee that they could conquer Berlin, and the German army still had the strength for a final fight.

The battle on the Eastern Front was named the Battle of Warsaw-Ivangorod because it took place in the area around these two locations.

This battle was of vital importance to the Eastern Front. Russia mobilized as many as 800,000 troops (including the Warsaw and other regional garrisons) to face more than 300,000 German-Austrian troops, achieving a resounding victory.

Although casualties on the Russian side were close to 100,000, looking at the achievements of this battle, the loss of 100,000 was worth it.

More importantly, after this battle, the German army suffered heavy defeats on both the Eastern and Western Fronts, shattering the myth of Germany's invincibility, and giving many countries, including Russia, hope to directly defeat Germany. The experience also led some factions within Germany to lose confidence, and the enthusiasm of the German people for the war seemed to wane.

Soon after the Russians launched the battle, the battles on the Western Front also began one after another.

The Australasia Army was divided into two parts: the Guard Division Two and the regular Third Division operated independently. Britain and France again assembled two divisions to form a mixed force commanded by Commander Martin, protecting the flank of the French Army Group.

The huge indigenous army, with more than 400,000 soldiers, was then assembled on the front line as cannon fodder for the Allies' offensive.

Indeed, the indigenous army was used in this way, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Expeditionary Force, Martin, had no complaints about such a plan, as Britain and France had also deployed two main divisions.

On May 7, 1915, with an order from the French General Headquarters, the Western Front campaign began in full swing.

The first to move was the central front, where the Australasia Expeditionary Force was also located. On the afternoon of May 7, nearly 850,000 combat troops (400,000 main force and 450,000 indigenous troops) from two French Army Groups and the Australasia Expeditionary Force advanced to the Alsace and Lorraine fronts, firing the second shot to recover the lost territory.

Immediately after, on the following day, an army group from France and the British Expeditionary Force, with nearly 500,000 troops, as well as about 80,000 remaining Belgian troops, marched majestically from northern France, aiming to recover French border and Belgian fortress areas.

The battle in the southern region was the last to begin. Here, France dispatched only one Army Group to provide cover for the Italian Army.

The Italian army, on the other hand, deployed a full 500,000 troops, launching a fierce offensive against the Austro-Hungarian Empire and aiming to capture disputed areas between Austria-Hungary and Italy.

The scale of the Western Front campaign was even larger than that of the Eastern Front. Just on the side of the Allies, nearly two million troops participated in the battle.

If the German army is included, as many as more than three million people were involved in desperate fighting on the Western Front alone.

To cope with this offensive, Germany has taken out all its old resources, including various Krupp cannons, airships produced by Zeppelin Company, airplanes without much actual combat performance, and even cars and trucks fitted with additional steel plates. Whatever is useful is sent to the battlefield, which is the current situation in Germany.

In response to Germany's airships, the Allies also took out their own airships that had been gathering dust for six months.

When the war first broke out, all countries eagerly used airships, but soon discovered that their practical significance in combat was not significant. This is because the enemy also has airships, and when two airships meet, they generally both suffer losses.

Unable to establish a technical lead over opponents in airships, this has led to British and French airships struggling to carry out combat missions when they encounter German airships.

Current airships are too fragile and are basically doomed to crash when hit by enemy weapons. After dozens of airship operators were killed or injured, European nations generally chose to hide their airships, either leaving them in warehouses to gather dust, or using them for transportation in the rear, occasionally conducting reconnaissance and gathering intelligence.

It was because of this battle that airships were able to rejoin the war, and with the entire army mobilized.

With the addition of airships from Britain, France, Australasia, and Italy, their total number approaches 300, far ahead of Germany's 100 airships.

In addition to the relatively small number of outdated aircraft from various countries, flying objects of various sizes can now be seen regularly on the Western Front of World War I, showcasing the technological advances brought about by the war.

It has to be admitted that war is the fastest time for technological development. According to Arthur's understanding, Britain and France have already improved their current airships, and new airships are about to be developed and put into production.

In terms of aircraft, Britain and France have also re-emphasized the importance of this issue, and joint research on military aircraft is underway.

Although Arthur doesn't know Germany's progress, given the black technologies that Germany frequently brought out during World War I, Germany's research on airships and aircraft will not be slow.

Conservatively speaking, Australasia's aircraft should soon be able to join the battle. As various countries begin to pay attention to aircraft again, Australasia will no longer need to hide its own aircraft.

Even if Australasia continues to hide, it will not be able to stop the development of aircraft by Britain, France, and Germany.

Instead, it would be better to introduce aircraft in advance, gaining some advantages in the war.

Then, sell a large number of clearly outdated aircraft to Britain and France for significant profits and provide more motivation for Australasia's aircraft research.

In terms of aircraft research, whether Britain, France, and Germany can catch up with Australasia's aircraft research progress by overtaking in bends.

At least in the next ten years, this situation will not occur. Arthur has already laid out airplane-related plans for years, even a decade. Australasia has already attracted over one-third of the world's top aviation power, airship, and aircraft manufacturing talents.

Unless Britain and France can always cooperate closely, there may be hope for them to catch up with Australasia's aircraft development speed in a short period.

However, in view of some conflicts between Britain and France in the distribution of interests, the relationship between the two countries will not be so close after the war, and some conflicts will emerge.

However, after World War I, Britain and France will be in a weak period, so there is almost no possibility of large-scale conflicts erupting.

With Australia's maintance, the Allies, would be able to keep their presence until World War II. As a member of the Allies, Australasia could also take advantage of the benefits brought by the Allies to gain more international status and interests.

Not to mention, after World War I, the United States' international status may not be higher than Australasia. On the one hand, Britain and France will be wary and defensive, and on the other hand, the United States is not a member of the Allies. Faced with the huge Allies organization, the single United States also appears weak.