Fall Of Giants

Walter, on the western front in France, is elated that Russia has signed an armistice with Germany and withdrawn from the war. German soldiers leave the eastern front (now uncontested) to reinforce the western front. Where they had 129 one year ago, Germany now has 192 divisions. This is more than the Allies’ 173 divisions, but Walter knows the coming offensive is Germany’s last chance to succeed before American reinforcements arrive en masse to the front.

Walter is the officer in charge of hundreds of “storm troopers,” troops specially trained to bypass enemy strongholds to progress quickly through enemy territory. The kaiser visits Walter’s division and calls the offensive Germany’s “hour of victory” (789). Walter leads his division of storm troopers through the fog toward the British line, and he hears Welsh voices.

Billy and his men see hundreds of German soldiers approaching. Billy orders his relatively small division to defend their position but sees that they are being surrounded and orders the men to fall back. In one day, Germany regains all the land won by the Allies in the 5 months of the Battle of the Somme.