I Became a Tycoon During World War I: Saving France from the Start

Chapter 267: The Super-Heavy Tank

Early morning in Berlin, Wilhelmstrasse lay blanketed in fresh snow. The street, covered by a night of snowfall, looked like a pristine mirror or a giant cake, its surface dotted by scattered tire tracks and footprints like decorative lace.

Inside Falkenhayn's General Staff meeting room, representatives of the military and the 7th Transportation Division argued heatedly, their voices filling the room, seeming even warmer than the roaring fire in the hearth. At the height of the debate, they almost seemed ready to settle the dispute with a duel.

The debate focused on the future direction of tank development.

Major General Fein, a commanding officer of the A7V tank unit and the officer with the most front-line experience with armored combat, represented the military. At this moment, Major General Fein was shouting across the table, his face flushed with intensity:

"We are risking our lives fighting on the front lines against the enemy."

"We've seen firsthand how the Char A1 tanks devastate our A7Vs, which are completely defenseless against them."

"We realized right then and there: this is the kind of tank we need—only tanks like these can prevail!"

"These are hard-earned lessons, bought with blood and lives, and yet you still believe your design strategy is sound!"

…

Sitting opposite him was Major General Luca, the representative from the 7th Transportation Division, formally known as the "7th Department of Unified Transport." They oversaw the design and management of military vehicles, including tanks. The A7V tank, developed and deployed in less than a month, was under General Luca's command.

Despite the A7V's defeat, Major General Luca remained Germany's top authority on tank development and design.

Locking eyes with Major General Fein, General Luca replied forcefully:

"You're correct, General, the A7V was defeated. But have you considered why it failed?"

"Perhaps it wasn't because the A7V was too large, but because it wasn't large enough!"

"If our tank were big enough to mount cannons on every side, we wouldn't have the problem of being circled by a Char A1 and unable to aim."

"Tell me—what chance would a Char A1 have against such a tank?"

…

General Fein couldn't immediately refute Luca's argument. After all, if a tank could be outfitted with cannons like a porcupine bristling with spines, a light tank like the Char A1 would face annihilation if it tried to get close.

While he sensed something was wrong with Luca's line of thinking, Fein couldn't quite articulate it. His only reply was:

"The question is, how long will it take us to get such a tank?"

"Until we have it, are we supposed to counter the Char A1 with only basic anti-tank rifles?"

"The French are already mass-producing Char A1 tanks; soon, they'll be swarming across the battlefield, while our super-heavy tanks are still stuck in the factory."

…

General Luca had no ready answer to Fein's point, as a super-heavy tank would indeed take months, if not longer, to manufacture—and the front-line situation might not be able to wait that long. His response was:

"We don't necessarily need tanks to counter enemy tanks."

"There are plenty of ways to deal with them—the frontal armor of the Char A1 is only about 20mm thick."

"We could consider using artillery, increasing the caliber of anti-tank rifles, or even developing new types of grenades!"

…

Falkenhayn sat at the head of the long table, supporting his chin and frowning slightly as he listened to the back-and-forth between the two factions. Each side had valid points, making it hard to determine who was in the right.

From the standpoint of immediate needs, light tanks seemed the way to go, but long-term, the super-heavy tank appeared to be the true direction. Like battleships, the appeal of a large-tonnage tank carrying thick armor and heavy guns to dominate the battlefield was undeniable.

After a moment's thought, Falkenhayn interjected, "Gentlemen!"

The two factions gradually ceased their arguments, though their eyes were still filled with defiance, and they were already preparing for the next round.

Falkenhayn scanned the table. He was ready to end the fruitless debate.

"I haven't commanded tanks, nor have I designed them. In this, I am as much an outsider as any of you."

"So I can't give you a definitive answer or persuade you either way."

"But I do know one thing…"

Falkenhayn sat up straighter, his voice slowing, turning somber: "Charles has chosen the Char A1 type of tank, and so far, he has never been wrong—not once!"

A hush fell over the room.

It was true—every choice Charles had made had proven effective. From the earliest prototype tank to the Mark I and now the Char A1, each model had dealt devastating blows to the German army.

Inspired by Falkenhayn's words, General Fein, understanding their implication, enthusiastically continued:

"I agree with the Chief of Staff. We could very well follow France's tank development approach."

"In addition to Charles' tanks, the French also have Schneider's Saint-Chamond and CA-1 tanks. These are similar to our A7V—larger bodies with mounted artillery."

"Yet Charles has consistently preferred machine guns, and even on the Char A1, he only installed a small 37mm cannon."

"And this small cannon is mostly intended for anti-tank use, while machine guns remain more prominent on the front lines."

"Why is that? Do you think Charles is a fool who doesn't realize he could build a bigger tank with more weapons?"

General Fein's words left the 7th Transportation Division speechless. Every person at the table, including Major General Luca, was momentarily stunned, with some even doubting their own assumptions.

Charles was, after all, a benchmark; following his lead had proven effective every time. Perhaps their own approach was indeed mistaken.

The atmosphere in the meeting room shifted as the 7th Division began seriously reconsidering their plans for a super-heavy tank in favor of pursuing lighter models.

At that moment, a staff officer entered the room, quickly delivering a document to Falkenhayn and whispering a few words in his ear.

Falkenhayn's expression shifted as he opened the document, revealing flashes of surprise and puzzlement.

Both factions waited, watching the Chief of Staff with curiosity.

After a long pause, Falkenhayn sighed and leaned back in his chair, holding up the document.

"Gentlemen, these are the schematics for Charles' latest tank model."

"You won't believe it, but it's a super-heavy tank."

"It's larger and heavier than anything we've imagined."

The news caused a visible stir among the officers.

Especially for General Fein, who now saw that tank development was indeed leaning toward the super-heavy concept.

Major General Luca couldn't help but feel a sense of vindication; after all, this development affirmed his approach, with Charles' latest design providing the strongest endorsement of his vision.

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