Chapter 375: The End of a Great War
Having been given approval from the Kaiser to teach the world a powerful reminder about who had become the supreme hegemon of the coming century in this world, Bruno immediately gave the order to break the cluster shells out of storage and to bring them to bear on Paris specifically its outskirts.
Wanting to prove a point, and not cause any unecessary suffering to the innocent civilians who had been caught up in the madness of their failed government, Bruno spent the time it took to transfer these shells to the frontline having the German Air Force drop fliers on the city basically stating that they would begin shelling the outskirts within the next few days as a result of France’s stubborn refusal to surrender.
These fliers were written in French and were naturally there to get the civilians out of dodge before the attack could begin. Giving them both the option of doing so to surrender to the Germans and be cared for until Paris surrendered, or flee further into the city where they would be safe from the attack.
Naturally, Bruno had suspected the possibility that Paris would become a new Berlin and would fight until the last man. Thus, these fliers were already printed in sufficient quantities well in advance of the city’s encirclement.
Eventually the shells arrived, and so too did Bruno with them, not wanting to miss the fireworks of his latest weapon, Bruno approached Heinrich, and the other General officers safely at the rear of the siege camp and was swiftly greeted with a respectful salute.
"Generalfeldmarschall we were not expecting your presence here... Have you come all this way just to witness us shell a few empty buildings?"
Bruno scoffed as he gazed through his binoculars towards the city’s outermost layer, quick to ensure there was nobody left behind during their attack. After which he responded to the question with an almost amusing tone in his voice.
"No, I have come to witness your Army light a ring of fire around Paris... Let us see how much resolve the individual soldiers trying desperately to defend this city still have when they realize that hell has come to Paris, and has brought its demons with it!
So long as the fliers have been distributed over the course of the last few days as I ordered you all to do so, then we have given enough notice. Anyone left behind does so knowing the risk, begin the assault!"
The fliers had indeed been distributed over the last few days, and the Germans had accepted many Parisian refugees, giving them a safe place to stay, while clothing and feeding them as many appeared malnourished from the ongoing effects the war was having on their country.