The Strait of Dover, located in the eastern part of the English Channel, is an essential waterway that connects the North Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. To the east of the strait lies France, while to the west is England. The narrowest part of the strait measures only 28.8 kilometers.
After Germany signed the peace treaty with France, the German army had already begun to move in phases towards the Strait of Dover and its surrounding areas. Clearly, if Germany were to launch an invasion of England, crossing the Strait of Dover would undoubtedly be the most direct route.
Emperor QinTian of the Empire, along with the senior officers of the Imperial Army and Navy, arrived at Calais. At that moment, in Berlin, representatives from Germany, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Kingdom of Italy were engaged in negotiations. The Empire had already decided to exert pressure on the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and QinTian did not wish to remain in Berlin, to avoid the nuisance of the talks.
Fortunately, the war between Germany and France had come to an end. The next phase of operations against England would, in comparison, be considerably easier. Germany could now muster all its forces to confront the English. However, according to the General Staff's plans, no more than three to four corps would be dispatched to land on British soil. In the war games conducted by the General Staff, three to four corps were deemed sufficient to utterly crush the British.
Standing on the beaches of Calais, gazing across the strait towards England, there was nothing visible, but one could easily imagine the terror gripping the English on the other side of the Channel.
"What Napoleon could not accomplish, we certainly will. For centuries, the English, relying on the protection of the Channel and their mighty navy, have interfered recklessly in the affairs of the European continent. When France was strong, they allied with other European powers to counter France. When Russia was powerful, they did the same. Now, as we rise to power, the English seek to repeat their old tricks. But this time, they will ultimately fail. Now, it is their turn to bear the brunt of the Empire's wrath. For the Empire to rise as the dominant power in the world, we must step upon the corpses of other nations. England, the former world hegemon, is undoubtedly the best stepping stone!" QinTian declared, his gaze fixed on the distant shores.
"Your Majesty, I believe our goal will soon be within reach. Although the newly appointed British Prime Minister Churchill is actively preparing for war, and a large number of British have been armed, can a disorganized, poorly trained, and ill-equipped mob withstand the assault of the German Empire's elite forces? I am convinced that they cannot. Once the Imperial Army lands on British soil, they will undoubtedly sweep across the entire British Isles," said Marshal von Falkenhayn, the Minister of War and Chief of the General Staff, his expression full of confidence.
Having been tempered by the Great War, the combat prowess of the German Army had undoubtedly reached new heights. The army had been equipped with large numbers of advanced weapons and new gear, and new tactics had been adopted throughout the ranks. These factors solidified Germany's position as the preeminent military power in the world.
QinTian nodded in acknowledgment. He had not expected Churchill to rise to the position of Prime Minister at this juncture. It seemed that Germany's victory, or perhaps the looming crisis for Britain, had hastened Churchill's ascent. Men like him were born to thrive in times of adversity. However, QinTian believed that, even with Churchill in power, the British Empire was beyond saving. The disparity in strength between the two powers was simply too vast—Germany could easily crush Britain into dust.
"Is the Navy and Marine Corps ready?" QinTian inquired.
"Your Majesty, the main fleet of the Imperial Navy is currently blockading the British Isles. However, we have prepared sufficient warships for the landing operation. All of the pre-dreadnought battleships will participate in this assault, acting as bombardment vessels to support the landing forces. Unfortunately, the British have laid extensive minefields at the mouth of the Thames River, making it unlikely we can enter the river. We will need to select other landing points. As for the Marine Corps, five divisions have already reached their designated positions. Once the fighting begins, they will land at the fastest possible speed, secure the beachhead, and create conditions for the Army's subsequent landings!" Count von Tirpitz, the Minister of the Navy, reported.
The Imperial Marine Corps had only five divisions in total, and for this operation, all of them would be committed to the task of landing in Britain.
Amphibious landings were, by nature, brutal operations, with the attacking side needing to brace for heavy losses. While the Marine Corps had trained primarily for such operations, no one could guarantee how much they would suffer in their first large-scale amphibious assault.
"I have full confidence that the Marine Corps will display extraordinary combat power in this battle!" QinTian remarked.
Although many nations had Marine Corps, few were specifically trained for amphibious assaults. Most Marine Corps were tasked with protecting foreign embassies or serving on warships. In terms of scale, they were also not as large as the German Navy. Moreover, no other nation had deployed such a large force of Marines for a landing operation.
"Your Majesty, the soldiers of the Marine Corps do not wish to merely take part in the landing operation; they hope to be involved in the subsequent offensive against the British forces. After all, the equipment of the Marine Corps is comparable to that of the elite Army units," Count von Tirpitz added.
"The Marine Corps is an elite force; to use them solely for landing operations would be a waste of their potential. Chief of Staff, when devising the follow-up battle plans, be sure to consider the Marine Corps as well," QinTian said.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Marshal von Falkenhayn replied with a nod.
Count von Tirpitz smiled broadly. This would be the final battle with Britain. After this, there would be few more wars to fight. Therefore, if the newly formed Marine Corps wished to achieve more military glory, they would need to seize every opportunity in the battle against Britain. Simply taking part in the landing would provide little chance for distinction; only by joining the follow-up campaigns would they have the chance to earn further honors.
"When will our preparations be complete?" QinTian inquired.
Crossing the sea for a military operation was an immensely complex undertaking. The logistics and transportation alone were enough to give one a headache. Thus, QinTian had not immediately launched the operation against Britain after the war with France ended, but had instead granted them three months for preparation.
"Your Majesty, the necessary materials for the amphibious operation are being prepared with great urgency. We will complete all preparations within three months," General Walders, the Deputy Chief of Staff, responded.