Chapter 757: We Also Have Our Own Channels for Buying Gasoline
Erwin understood what Manstein was getting at.
He was suggesting that defeating Charles required a new approach, one that didn't rely purely on imitating Charles's own tactics. Otherwise, they'd always remain a step behind.
Manstein's next words confirmed this:
"There's something else you must consider, General."
"The tactics you learned from Charles were created by Charles himself. Naturally, he knows them better than anyone—including their weaknesses."
"But if we use different, completely unfamiliar tactics, then the situation changes drastically."
Erwin had no argument to offer in response.
Perhaps this was what they meant by "being unable to see the forest for the trees." Erwin was the one too deeply immersed, while Manstein could see things more clearly from the outside.
Erwin stared intently at the sketches of the anti-tank guns in the file. After thinking for a moment, he asked, "How many of these guns can we produce?"
"Our initial estimate is around 1,000," Manstein replied.
This was a quantity-driven artillery piece, intended especially to equip infantry and significantly boost their anti-tank capabilities.
The cost would be enormous, yet if they succeeded, infantry trenches would no longer be something Charles's armored units could easily overcome.
"Do we have that kind of production capacity?" Erwin was skeptical.
Manufacturing 1,000 units quickly—even though they were small-caliber 37mm guns—would be challenging for Germany given its current material shortages.
"We have a simpler solution," Manstein said, handing him another diagram. "You must be familiar with this gun, General."
Erwin glanced at it and instantly recognized the French rotary cannon.
(The diagram depicted the Hotchkiss 37mm revolving cannon, equipped with five barrels that rotated like a Maxim machine gun. Widely used by both French and German armies during WWI.)
"Our tank cannons were modified from this very gun," Manstein explained. "We captured many of these cannons during the war. Each gun can be disassembled into five separate anti-tank guns. With dedicated armor-piercing ammunition and some slight modifications, they can be ready within a week."
He added, "We've already converted more than 600 guns!"
Realization dawned on Erwin.
The main component was the barrel itself. If they didn't need to produce barrels from scratch, the production process would be significantly simplified.
Without comment, Erwin moved his coffee aside and spread out a map before him. After studying it for a moment, he asked, "What's your plan?"
"The most crucial thing right now is training, General," Manstein replied. "First, we must rebuild the First Tank Division and our mobile forces, and then—"
Erwin interrupted him, "And then wait for Charles to attack?"
"Yes," Manstein confirmed. "Our mobile forces have superior speed compared to Charles's armored units. They're perfect for intercepting his armored divisions."
Erwin objected sharply, "But have you considered that Charles controls air superiority and also has mechanized divisions?"
"What do you mean?" Manstein was puzzled.
Erwin stared down at the map and responded without looking up, "What if Charles attacks with mechanized infantry divisions instead of armor? Would you still achieve victory as you envision?"
Manstein paused. He hadn't considered that possibility.
Mechanized infantry divisions were fundamentally different from armored divisions. Equipped mostly with armored vehicles, troops could quickly disembark and engage on foot. Anti-tank guns, while effective against tanks or armored vehicles, would be significantly less useful against infantry fighting outside their vehicles.
If the mobile units encountered Charles's mechanized infantry, they could suffer devastating casualties, and the anti-tank guns could even end up becoming spoils of war.
Erwin continued analyzing aloud:
"Let's consider how Charles would proceed. First, he'd deploy fighters and bombers to track and bomb our mobile units."
"Because no matter how fast our mobile forces move, they can't outrun aircraft, correct?"
"With our exact locations pinpointed by aerial reconnaissance, Charles can easily avoid our strong points and deploy mechanized infantry, armored divisions, or even standard infantry to encircle and annihilate us."
"Do you still think you can stop his armor under those conditions?"
Manstein was speechless.
Charles had the capability—not just with armored and mechanized divisions, but also with motorized infantry divisions under the Sixth Army. Military Intelligence had already confirmed this.
Indeed, Charles's motorized units had always existed, ever since his invention of the sidecar motorcycle. They had proven invaluable on various fronts, and now Charles was organizing them into formal divisions as rapid-reaction infantry reinforcements.
These motorized infantry divisions would pose an even greater threat to Manstein's mobile units.
Against fast-moving, small sidecars, anti-tank guns would be virtually useless—probably even less effective than rifles.
"Do you know what the greatest lesson I learned from our defeat at the Somme was?" Erwin asked, his voice heavy with sadness.
"What?" Manstein wondered inwardly. Wasn't it the near annihilation of the First Tank Division?
Erwin provided the answer himself:
"It wasn't the loss of the First Tank Division, Colonel."
"It was the fact that over 600,000 soldiers along the Meuse River couldn't hold back Charles's mere 20,000 troops. Many units surrendered without ever even seeing Charles's tanks."
"Why did this happen?"
Manstein understood exactly what Erwin was getting at. Besides establishing anti-tank mobile units, they would also have to build mechanized and motorized infantry divisions—just like Charles. All three elements were necessary. Each complemented the others, and missing any one would create vulnerabilities that the enemy could exploit, eventually causing a catastrophic collapse.
Aristocratic pride prevented Manstein from openly agreeing with Erwin. Still, he knew Erwin was correct.
"No problem, General," Manstein finally conceded. "We can establish our own mechanized and motorized infantry divisions."
Yet another issue immediately arose.
Erwin raised his head to face Manstein directly. "You must realize it's not merely about tanks, vehicles, and motorcycles—this is fundamentally a fuel supply problem."
This was among the reasons for Erwin's deep despair.
As the war progressed, he had realized that the army's fuel needs had grown exponentially.
Without adequate fuel, even a massive army couldn't match Charles's elite forces, whose speed allowed them to reach and engage effectively on the battlefield.
Charles was the one controlling fuel supplies—through his convoy fleets continually purchasing gasoline from America.
Meanwhile, Germany was increasingly crippled by the Entente's naval blockade.
Manstein hesitated briefly, then replied, "Don't worry, General. We also have—I mean, our own channels to buy gasoline."
He couldn't say more. This information was currently classified at the highest level.
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