Reincarnated as Nikolai II

So if we could just trip up their feet that are running without rest just once...

'We could interfere with the enemy's strategic goal achievement.'

'What we need right now is time. We need forces that will buy time regardless of operation success.'

It might be possible to safely overcome this crisis.

"It seems Marshal Joffre has something in mind."

"Yes. This friend will explain the details instead."

As he passed the floor while pointing to the side, a famous figure in social circles, called a genius of division-level combat, enters.

"Robert Nivelle."

A legendary division commander and leader who proved his competence from the Boxer Rebellion, Algeria, Tunisia, Marne, and even last year's Verdun.

The Allied Command was so impressed by his abilities that they were going to appoint him as commander of the great counterattack.

"Even so... wasn't the Nivelle Offensive cancelled?"

"The enemy has divided the British and French forces while crossing above Arras and is heading for Amiens. I am confident I can win by counterattacking them."

"I oppose this. We barely have enough troops even focusing all on defense, and you talk of counterattack? Even if it takes longer, if Russia moves, we'll have opportunities without having to step forward."

"Sir Wilson, how long do you plan to continue this war relying on Russia? 48 hours. Give me just 48 hours."

Nivelle boldly declared before everyone that two days would be enough.

"If the counterattack doesn't happen within 48 hours, I'll withdraw the offensive."

"...If that's the case."

Just as they opened the Battle of the Somme when they couldn't stop Verdun.

This time too, when they couldn't stop the enemy's Stormtroopers, the Anglo-French alliance tried to organize their own strike force.

While Foch barely formed a defense line, Nivelle tried to attempt a counterattack by scraping together the main force.

The fate of France hung in their hands. Read latest stories on My Virtual Library Empire

==

"I underestimated them."

"Which country do you mean?"

"All of them."

Ludendorff's offensive timing was 1918. I thought there might be some inadequate or lacking parts in 1917, but I couldn't help but be surprised by the news that they were easily breaking through the Arras defense line.

"I have to say France is impressive too. To consider a counterattack in this situation."

"Pressure about the Eastern Front has been increasing lately."

"They don't actually think we'll move, do they?"

Most of the Imperial Army is currently deployed in the Slovakia-Hungary direction.

Unlike the Poland region connected by railways, the reliance on horse transport was very high, and naturally, supply lines were stretched.

In other words, while defeating the Austro-Hungarian army might be easy, entering their territory is very difficult even for us.

We have no capacity for an Eastern Front offensive.

"They should be grateful we're just holding troops here."

"However, their sense of betrayal won't be small. They might resent us after the war."

"Chief of Staff, hasn't Rödiger already brought enough justification?"

Rödiger, who called for a Western Front offensive more than anyone. He argued that the pincer attack between the Eastern and Western Fronts must not stop for even a moment.

He criticized that America's entry would not fundamentally change the situation, and rather pointed out that the slow American mobilization would be a factor delaying the war by more than a year.

'But our Entente allies ultimately couldn't give up their greed.'

This is the result.

Russia choosing to eliminate Austria-Hungary before Germany.

The Anglo-French alliance consequently feeling Germany's true strength with their whole body for the first time.

"Chief of Staff, my conclusion is simple. We've done enough."

We abandoned our duty?

We still have forces numbering a million in standoff with Roman's Northwestern Army Group.

Russia is using hit-and-run tactics?

Considering the position Russia has maintained all this time, they shouldn't say such things.

"Still, I highly praise Nivelle's offensive. It shows their fighting spirit isn't dead yet."

"...Will General Nivelle's counterattack really succeed? From our view, it seems too early for a counterattack. It looks almost reckless to decide on an offensive when they're barely managing to defend Amiens and the Anglo-French jurisdictions are split in two."

"Of course it will fail."

While Kuropatkin expresses concern with various grounds, I said I praised it, not that it would succeed.

'In original history, the counterattack to Ludendorff's offensive was carried out after conducting defense for about 5 months and draining all of Germany's strength.'

And that wasn't planned as a short-term battle, but from the start they set a generous timeframe and not only recovered all lost front lines but even destroyed Hindenburg's final defense line.

But now?

No American quantity, lacking firepower, lower quality troops, and even the offensive objectives of both sides are misaligned.

Germany is aiming for Paris beyond Amiens.

Then naturally, France's strategic objective in their inferior position should be 'defending Paris'.

Not this impossible counterattack.

"Ludendorff is like a wolf. He sends his assault troops to find vulnerabilities while keeping low behind massive firepower."

It's nothing less than a fantastic combination of Hutier's infiltration tactics and the firepower doctrine learned from the wars of attrition from 1915 to 1916.

"Insufficient supplies compared to the enemy. Increasing American forces as the offensive drags on. Considering the collapsing Austria-Hungary, Ludendorff attempted an offensive that would self-destruct as he loses composure with the passage of time."

"Then the Nivelle Offensive..."

"Yes, they've made the worst choice."

I think that I'm not well-versed in military science and don't know much about field command or supplies.

Naturally, I'll never go to the battlefield myself until death and will always delegate full authority to my appointed representatives.

However, as far as I know, Nivelle is:

'A god of division-level battles.'

And:

'An idiot at corps-level battles.'

Nivelle is not Brusilov.

Even probabilistically, it's very difficult to consistently choose the worst strategies, yet the Nivelle of original history managed that difficult feat.

Using firepower and pulling troops away for attack during a defensive turn? This doesn't make sense from the start.

"If they had done the offensive in spring, this wouldn't have happened... What a shame."

"...Ahem, then regarding the Eastern Front..."

"There will be no more offensives."

Whether Nivelle or Ludendorff wins, the Western Front has now left our hands.

My consideration.

Russia's sacrifice.

And the disappointment coming from the other side.

This tiresome relationship ends now.

"If it's urgent, they can go to the US Congress and urge them to hurry."

The alliance service is shutting down.