"General, according to the intelligence we have gathered, the British Expeditionary Force in Le Havre consists of less than 300,000 troops. With our two corps combined, we outnumber them by at least fifty percent. Moreover, our morale and equipment are significantly superior. Should we launch an offensive, they would undoubtedly be no match for us," General Ludendorff said with great confidence.
The British Expeditionary Force in Le Havre, with its largest unit, the 5th Corps, was a newly formed formation. It had yet to be tested in battle, and relying on such inexperienced troops to stand against the elite German army seemed implausible. How could the British possibly withstand a determined assault from such seasoned forces?
General Krook nodded in agreement. "The only potential threat we need to consider is an attack from the sea. The British navy could deploy some warships to provide fire support. Although the Royal Navy was severely damaged by our High Seas Fleet, it still retains some fighting capability. Not to mention, the firepower of their pre-dreadnought battleships, armored cruisers, and heavy cruisers' main guns could inflict devastating damage to our infantry. The flesh and blood of our men would be powerless to withstand such force."
General Ludendorff's expression grew serious. While the Royal Navy's main battle fleet had indeed been crippled, this did not mean they posed no threat. As General Krook had noted, the firepower of British warships could wreak havoc on ground targets with frightening efficiency.
The British pre-dreadnought battleships typically carried 305mm main guns and 280mm secondary guns, while their armored cruisers also boasted 280mm main guns, and heavy cruisers carried 203mm main guns. In contrast, the heaviest artillery in the German army's arsenal was only 150mm. The disparity in firepower was staggering. If the British managed to deploy just a few warships in Le Havre, they could inflict considerable losses on the German forces. While they might not be able to halt the fall of Le Havre, they could certainly exact a heavy toll.
"My God! It seems we will need naval support after all. Without the navy to clear the waters around Le Havre, we must be prepared for heavy losses," General Ludendorff muttered.
"Indeed. I have already submitted a request for naval support. The reinforcements should arrive shortly. Once they do, they can assist us with shelling Le Havre, providing much-needed fire support. With their help, we can secure victory with minimal cost," General Krook reassured.
"Very well, General," General Ludendorff nodded. This seemed to be the most prudent course of action.
"However, to expedite the process, we will begin our attack tomorrow. If we detect British warships, we will cease the assault and wait for naval reinforcements," General Krook added.
"Understood, General. I have no objections!" General Ludendorff nodded vigorously.
"Then it is settled. Let us hope that once we capture Le Havre, the French will have already surrendered. With that, the battle will be all but won," General Krook said with a smile.
"Once we have dealt with the French, the British will be left isolated and vulnerable. This war is as good as won for the Empire!" General Ludendorff replied with equal confidence.
Of course, both of them had conveniently forgotten about the Kingdom of Italy.
On the morning of May 7th, the German 1st and 8th Corps were fully prepared to launch their assault on Le Havre. The artillery from the infantry divisions had already positioned their guns in the artillery positions, raising their menacing barrels a few kilometers from Le Havre.
Ammunition trucks were unloading shells at the artillery positions, while reconnaissance planes from the air force reported no sighting of British warships in the nearby waters. With no threat of naval fire, the artillery could open fire without restraint.
By 8 a.m., everything was in place. The artillery commander gave the order to fire. One after another, the German guns roared to life.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Orange flames erupted from the cannon muzzles as shells, propelled by their immense energy, sped toward Le Havre.
The infantry, meanwhile, huddled in their trenches, observing the display of artillery power. According to reports, this preparatory bombardment would last the entire day. Given the scale of the upcoming battle, which was expected to be one of the fiercest in Europe, the Germans spared no expense in their artillery preparation. The commanders hoped that the overwhelming bombardment would decimate the British forces entrenched in Le Havre, demoralizing them and reducing casualties when the ground assault began.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Shells fell like rain, their deafening explosions echoing through Le Havre. The British Expeditionary Force's defenses on the outskirts of Le Havre were completely shrouded in smoke and fire. Massive craters appeared in their positions, and their painstakingly constructed fortifications were obliterated at an alarming rate.
Although the British forces had already retreated from the frontlines as soon as the bombardment began, the ferocity of the German attack still left their troops stunned and terrified.
"Damn it, that relentless bombardment again! They keep calling the Germans 'the world's strongest army,' but it seems to me they're just burying us under a mountain of shells," one British officer muttered in frustration.
"Never mind whether the Germans are truly the strongest army in the world. At the moment, we have no answer to them!" another officer replied grimly.
Indeed, in the face of such overwhelming artillery fire, the British forces were completely at a disadvantage. They could only watch helplessly as their fortifications were destroyed, while their own artillery remained silent. The 1st Corps of the British Expeditionary Force had already lost most of its heavy artillery during the retreat from Rouen. Although the 5th Corps still had a considerable number of guns, they were no match for the German army's superior firepower. To avoid losing these guns in the brutal artillery duel, the British commanders ordered them to be concealed, hoping to reserve them for a more decisive moment.