The lines continued to fold in France as the Germans and their allies continued to march forward with overwhelming montum and power. Like a thunder strike, they march and they marched, obliterating every enemy position in their path.
With the nation's shores blockaded by the Navies of the Central Powers, there was really only one way to escape the chaos, through the Pyrenees into Spain. A treacherous journey, which thousands or perhaps even millions had opted to take.
Of course, when the first few thousand illegal French migrants made their way to Spain, nobody truly batted an eye. But when the numbers beca far more troubleso, the Kingdom of Spain sent its army to the borders to stem the tide of would be refugees who would overwhelm an already unstable and chaotic system.
To describe Spain in this era, and its internal politics was a difficult feat. While calling themselves a monarchy, they lacked all the stability that typically ca with such governnts.
Rather, the real power lied with their electoral system, which was prone to unchecked fraud, allowing sweeping and unilateral transitions between parties of widely different ideologies and policies in every election cycle.
Whoever had the ability to commit the most voter fraud usually ended up in power until soone else could supplant them with the sa thods. As a result, the governnt was riddled with corruption, instability, and plenty of economic problems.
It was an impossibility for the Spanish to take care of French refugees and they were not willing to entertain the thought. As a result, France continued to burn in the background while the German 8th Army and its fellow combined arms counterpart surrounded Paris within a week of offensive.
An ultimatum was quickly given to what remained of the French Governnt.
"Surrender or die..."
What remained of the French Army that had not already been destroyed, captured, or routed into desertion, was held up within the city, planning to make a last stand in their capital rather than surrender.
Even so, Bruno had given the order to request a formal surrender and disarmant as the idea of going door to door fighting in every building within the city was sothing that he feared would cause millions of casualties on his own end.
Because of this, there was a cold air within Paris and its imdiate vicinity as those posed to wager their life in this futile battle prayed that the leaders of the Third French Republic could be reasoned with.
---
Bruno would rather level Paris and plant the flag of the German Reich over its ashes than entertain the idea of sending millions of the n beneath his command to risk their lives storming the city.
This was not the Battle of Berlin, and it did not need to be. As a result, he was quick to take a train from Elsass-Lothringen to Berlin so that he could et with the Kaiser and re-propose his previous offer to end the war swiftly.
When Bruno entered the command center of the German Army's General Staff, he was surprised to find that the Kaiser was standing there celebrating over drinks with his generals, boasting about their grand victory.
Wilhelm had even handed Bruno a glass of champagne and personally congratulating him for his role in the war.
"My friend! Together, we have done the unthinkable! In a single week we have so humbled the French they are now forced to grovel for our rcy! Once thought to be among the greatest of Europe's powers, brought to heel by your perfect strategy! It is truly marvellous! Co, let us celebrate together!"
Bruno was stunned to hear this, from what the Kaiser said it sounded like the French had accepted the terms presented to them, and because of this he was quick to ask if anything had happened while he was on the train.
"I'm confused. Did France officially surrender while I couldn't be reached?"
It was now everyone else's turn to be perplexed as they looked around at one another and shrugged before the Kaiser clarified why they were all celebrating.
"Not yet, no... But why wouldn't they? The war is over. They wouldn't really push us to fight for every city block of Paris now would they?"
Bruno sighed and shook his head, cursing beneath his breath before clarifying that the French Governnt might indeed make such an action, while explaining the reasoning and consequences for doing so.
"If they have not formally surrendered, the war is still being waged, and millions of our n are advancing onto Paris right now to reinforce the 2nd and 8th Armies to ensure we can take the city from the citizens within, whom our intelligence suggests are all ard and ready to fight til the last breath.
We need to act decisively now, to at the very least intimidate the French into recognizing that we have the ans to level their capital and kill everyone in it! And that we are not bluffing! I will burn Paris to the ground before I send those n to their deaths fighting against those who are to mad to see they have already lost!
Their damned pride won't allow them to admit defeat, and they still hope they can break us as Paris, or hold on long enough for the Aricans to co to the rescue.
Give the order and I will level the outskirts of París with the shells I told you about. I will turn it to ash, and plant our flag above, while letting those bastards know we have enough to do the sa to the rest of their beloved city!"
The Kaiser was bewildered by the frenzy in Bruno's eyes, and so of the other Generals thought this might be an opportunity to drive a wedge between him and the Kaiser, as they felt Bruno had seized too much power over the military during this war.
One of them was quick to make this attempt by placating on the sense of rationality the French should have to see that defeat was certain.
"Don't listen to him, my Kaiser... Generalfeldmarschall von Zehntner here is clearly being pushed to the brink of madness by this war. He might be suffering from shell shock. We don't need to do a thing, and victory will be ours!"
There were several other highly influential generals, especially those among the old nobility, who were quick to side with the General who made this statent of defamation towards Bruno and no doubt the Wolf of Prussia was quick to rember their faces and nas for future reference.
However, one man instantly stepped forward and defended Bruno while it was becoming clear that the majority of the General Staff were turning against him, now that they believed the war was already won, and that Bruno would need to be knocked down a peg or two in this transition to peace.
The one to take Bruno's side in a room full of enemies was none other than the legendary German Generalfeldmarschall August von Mackensen who tapped Bruno's shoulder and nodded to him before making his thoughts known.
"The young wolf is right. Our intelligence has confird France intends to fight into the bloody end, it is not guaranteed they have yet to see reason despite their current fall from grace. A show of force may be necessary to secure the results we desire, lest we may find ourselves losing more n taking París than we have lost so far throughout this damned war!"
The Kaiser looked at the two factions that had quickly ford in the room. On the one side was Bruno and von Mackensen's faction, the young nobles who had earned their titles and positions through ritorious service to the state.
On the other were those from longstanding noble families, with extensive military legacy. Their real objective here and now was to hinder Bruno's power and prestige as the German Reich transitioned from an era of war to one of peace.
Obviously the Kaiser had made long-term plans to keep Bruno and his family by his dynasty's side, and thus he was about to naturally make a choice who to support when a Paige ran into the room and alerted them to France's response.
"France has declined our request for their surrender, and demanded that if we want them to lay down their arms, we will have to co and take them ourselves!"
Bruno looked over at the old fools who had tried to take a stand against him with a sense of disdain, while recognizing the loyalty of those who had stuck by him here and now, pleading with the Kaiser to give the order.
"My Kaiser... I beg of you for a third ti now... Let show the enemy what we are really capable of..."
Wilhelm had found himself in a rock and a hard place, he understood the terrifying nature of the weapons Bruno had described, and also knew it would likely be enough to at the very least force the individual soldiers of the French Army to lay down their arms. And thus, he was ultimately compelled to make a difficult decision in order to spare as many of their own n as possible.
"So be it... Let it burn..."
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