(Chapter 1 arrives, there will be chapter 1 later)
"After the 2nd Army and the 5th Army were cut off, the other armies immediately began to retreat and quickly marched towards Hamm, trying to break out of the encirclement before the French army reached Hamm." Clausewitz ordered. Now the French army is constantly approaching Dortmund from all directions, and now he can only lead his army to retreat to the north, and then try to find a way to return to Berlin.
The commanders of the 2nd Army and the 5th Army reluctantly accepted the order to stay in Dortmund. The current Prussian 2nd Army and the 5th Army add up to only more than 40,000 people, while the French army attacking Dortmund has about 200,000 people from the two armies. Fortunately, Clausewitz only asked them to block the French army for 3 hours, otherwise I am afraid they would have to disobey their orders, otherwise they would have to wait to die in Dortmund.
On the afternoon of March 19, the French 2nd Army and 3rd Army arrived in Dortmund and launched a fierce attack. However, the defense of the Prussian army was not firm at all, which made Marshal Bessières and Marshal Lanz suspicious. After detection, it was found that the main force of the Prussian army had indeed left Dortmund. The two dared not be careless, and immediately reported the news to Paris.
After receiving the news from Besiere and Lance, Xiao Jie immediately adjusted his military deployment. He ordered the French 3rd Army to attack Dortmund with all its strength, while the French 2nd Army pursued north. At the same time, the French 2nd Army, which was rushing to Hamm, was also ordered to speed up its march, and it was necessary to rush to Hamm before the main force of the Prussian army escaped from the encirclement to block the gap.
"It's over, the French army has surrounded Dortmund, and now we can't leave even if we want to." Said the head of the Prussian 2nd Army Corps extremely frustrated. Originally, according to their thinking, they would immediately abandon the city and flee after a little resistance, but they didn't expect that the French army would only attack once, and then a legion would head north. Although they also knew that the corps of the French army must be chasing the main force of the Prussian army rather than blocking them, but according to the current situation, can they still retreat northward? Isn't that self-inflicted?
"Damn, **** Clausewitz, let us die. Now that we have reached this point, I am afraid we will have to stick to it to the end." said the head of the Prussian 5th Army Corps. This is what he thought, the French army attacking Dortmund now has only one legion with more than 100,000 people, maybe they can hold Dortmund.
"Don't be stupid, you. Now our two legions only have a total of more than 40,000 people, while the French army has 100,000 people. We are no match for them one-on-one. Do you still think that our 40,000 people can block 100,000 people?" French attack?" said the head of the Prussian 2nd Army Corps angrily.
"But we have a tall city wall? Besides, we are much more familiar with the terrain than the French army. Maybe we can really defend Dortmund. Maybe we will make great achievements by then." The head of the Prussian 5th Army began to look forward to it. .
Regarding the proposal of the head of the 5th Army, the head of the 2nd Army was also a little moved, but then he dismissed this unrealistic idea because he saw that the French army outside Dortmund had launched more than 200 cannons Now, the ferocious muzzle was pointing obliquely at Dortmund, and he fell in love immediately, and his original ambition disappeared. "Damn, if you miss, don't let me accompany you. You don't look at the cannons of the French. Do you think we can hold Dortmund?"
Glancing at the artillery positions of the French army outside the city and those French artillery who were making preparations, the head of the 5th Army had no idea. "Then why don't we retreat to the east?" the head of the 5th Army said in a low voice.
"Don't forget that the French 4th Army is coming from the east, and we have only one dead end to break through from the east."
"Then this doesn't work and that doesn't work, what do you think we should do?" the head of the 5th Army asked a little angrily.
The head of the 2nd Army Corps thought for a while before saying: "If we want to save our lives, maybe we have to surrender. In this way, we can not only save our lives, but also have the chance to be promoted and make a fortune in the future."
The head of the 5th Army Corps was a little puzzled. He really couldn't figure out why he could still get promoted and get rich after surrendering.
The head of the 2nd Army Corps explained to him: "According to the current attack strength of the French, do you think the Anti-French Alliance will win the final victory? To tell you the truth, I quietly learned a little news from Berlin that the British Navy was killed The French navy has been defeated, and I think this war will probably end with the defeat of the anti-French alliance. If my guess is correct, this time Prussia may not be able to survive as in previous wars. But France will Governing Prussia will certainly select a group of people from Prussia, and those of us who surrendered to France earlier will undoubtedly have a great chance."
Seeing him hesitating, just when the commander of the 2nd Army wanted to persuade him again, the shelling of the French army started. A large number of shells began to pour towards Dortmund, and the two were so frightened that they quickly lay down on the city wall. "Surrender, we surrender." The terrified head of the 5th Army shouted heart-rendingly.
In this way, the French 3rd Army only wasted a batch of shells and occupied Dortmund without bloodshed. More than 40,000 Prussian troops also entered the French prisoner-of-war camps.
Xiao Jie was overjoyed to learn that the Prussians guarding Dortmund had surrendered. At the same time, the battle plan was adjusted again, and the French 3rd Army was ordered to join the pursuit of the Prussian army, while the French 4th Army no longer rushed to Paderborn, but turned around and marched towards Hanover to occupy the Prussian army. This important town in central Prussia.
On the other side, Clausewitz's army finally arrived at Hamm on the evening of March 19, while Hamm was still under Prussian control at this time. Clausewitz was overjoyed and ordered the troops to replenish supplies here, and then continued to retreat north.
However, when the Prussian army was resting, the French 1st Army arrived. Davout saw that the main force of the Prussian army had arrived here, and quickly ordered the main force of the French 1st Army to attack Hamm. Clausewitz didn't dare to fight, and quickly led his army to retreat, because he knew that if he was held back by the French army, he would probably be surrounded by the French army that came later, and at that time, he would be unable to leave even if he wanted to. .
Despite Clausewitz's intention to retreat with all his strength, more than 30,000 men were held back by the French 1st Army. At this time, Clausewitz did not go to rescue them, but led the remaining 60,000 people to retreat in a hurry. In the end, the fighting spirit of these 30,000 people was completely lost. Under the joint attack of the main force of the French 1st Army and the subsequent French 2nd Army, they all surrendered after only resisting for two or three hours.
Clausewitz, who escaped from the encirclement of the French army, fled to the north like a stray dog. Originally, he wanted to return to Berlin via Hanover, but after receiving the wind that the French 4th Army was marching towards Hanover, Clausewitz Ci immediately dismissed this idea and led the army to retreat to the north of Prussia.
In order to destroy Prussia as soon as possible, Xiao Jie once again ordered the Second French Army to pursue Clausewitz, the main force of the First French Army and the Fourth French Army to march towards Berlin, and the Third French Army to march towards the capital of the Kingdom of Thuringia. Erfurt, prepare for the next phase of the campaign.
On March 22, the French 4th Army took the lead and captured Potsdam, an important town southwest of Berlin, shaking the Prussian government and the opposition.
"Your Majesty, something is wrong. The French army has already reached Potsdam, and it looks like they will reach Berlin tomorrow." Prussian Minister of the Interior Medel reported to Friedrich William III with a panicked expression.
Friedrich William III was also in a panic. He had just received a report from Dortmund at the request of Clausewitz, but he did not expect that the French team was about to hit Berlin in an instant: "Where is Clausewitz?" ? Where's his army?"
"Your Majesty, I just got the news that His Excellency Clausewitz was defeated by the French army in Dortmund and is now leading more than 60,000 remnants to Hamburg," Medel replied. UU reading www.uukanshu. com
"Damn it! How many troops are there in Berlin now? How many French troops are there?" Friedrich William III asked.
"There are nearly 130,000 troops in Berlin now, but they are all reserve legions, and I am afraid they don't have much combat effectiveness. In the French army, one legion has already arrived in Potsdam, and another legion is coming. Another legion is chasing Kremlin. Your Excellency Lausewitz."
"Pass my order to appoint Prince Hohenlohe as the commander-in-chief of the Berlin garrison to command all the troops in Berlin to fight against the French army. The government and royal family members immediately went to Königsberg to take refuge." Facing the threat of the French army, Friedrich ?William III chose to escape.
Of course, the 130,000 troops with little combat effectiveness will not be the opponent of the French 4th Army. Despite Prince Hohenlohe's best efforts, Berlin was still occupied by the French 4th Army on March 25. Hohenlohe The prince died in battle, and the rest of the Prussian army also died and surrendered.
After receiving the news that Berlin was occupied by the French army, Friedrich William III announced his visit to Russia, and then led government officials and members of the royal family to flee to Russia, not daring to stay in Prussia for a moment. And Clausewitz eventually led the remnant Prussian army to flee to Russia, but only less than 30,000 of the original 60,000 were left.