"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Explosions reverberated through the heart of Osaka, as the devastating power of high-explosive shells revealed itself in full measure. Each detonation of the massive-caliber ordnance inflicted profound destruction on the city.
Streets lay in ruins, homes reduced to rubble, and raging fires ignited, consuming everything in their path. The entire city trembled under the relentless bombardment. The might of weapons forged by human industrial civilization was on full display here, terrifying in its efficacy.
"My God! This is utterly magnificent!" Major General Mauve lowered his binoculars, his face alight with a strange exhilaration. He appeared to savor the sight of an enemy city being reduced to ashes, finding a dark beauty in the devastation.
"Indeed, it is awe-inspiring. But only because it happens on enemy soil. Were it to occur on our own land, it would be far from majestic—it would be a horrifying bloodbath," observed Vice Admiral Spee.
"Who could possibly launch such an assault on the German Empire? I think not. The German Empire stands unparalleled as the most powerful in the world. No one can bring the flames of war to our homeland," Mauve declared with conviction.
Spee nodded in agreement, seemingly endorsing this sentiment. Yet, they remained unaware that in another timeline, war had indeed ravaged German soil. Entire regions were left in ruins, with countless lives lost and innumerable citizens displaced.
However, in this timeline, Germany was fortunate. An enlightened and capable emperor had steered them clear of such a fate. For other nations, though, this fortune translated into misfortune.
"Boom!"
A 380mm high-explosive shell landed amidst a crowd. The blast wave surged outward, flinging countless islanders like leaves scattered by an autumn wind. Many more were torn to shreds by shrapnel. In mere moments, the street transformed into a vision of hell, with blood and mangled limbs strewn everywhere, a grotesque tableau of carnage.
As the smoke cleared, a massive crater marred the road, while cries of anguish, wails of despair, and moans of pain echoed all around—a stark testament to the immense suffering of the islanders. Yet, all of this was the result of their own nation's actions; they had no one else to blame.
The light cruisers of the German expeditionary fleet joined the bombardment, unleashing their 150mm naval guns upon Osaka.
Under the relentless shelling, Osaka was rapidly reduced to a smoldering ruin. Fueled by sea breezes, the fires spread throughout the city. Wooden structures, perfect tinder for the inferno, ensured the entire metropolis seemed to be engulfed in flames.
"My God! We've set the city ablaze!" exclaimed Major General Mauve in astonishment.
"I can't imagine how many islanders we've wiped out this time," Vice Admiral Spee mused grimly.
It took the German expeditionary fleet an entire morning to obliterate Osaka. With their task complete, they headed south to Kobe.
Perhaps having heard of Osaka's fate, Kobe's residents had largely fled. By the time the fleet arrived, only a few remained, mostly those with nowhere else to go.
The fleet launched its bombardment, targeting not only the remaining civilians but also the city's buildings, particularly its factories. Under the ferocious assault, Kobe too was reduced to rubble. However, the casualties inflicted on Kobe were far fewer than those in Osaka.
After annihilating Osaka and Kobe, the German expeditionary fleet departed Osaka Bay unchallenged, traversed the Kii Channel, and entered the Pacific. There, they regrouped with their supply convoy before continuing southward to their next target.
With the island nation's navy rendered powerless by the German fleet, they could no longer resist. Helpless, they could only watch as the enemy ravaged their homeland. The only action left to them was evacuating coastal residents in a bid to avoid further losses.
At the prime minister's residence, Ōkuma Shigenobu's face was ashen. His subordinates delivered their grim report.
"Prime Minister, both Osaka and Kobe have been utterly destroyed, reduced to rubble. Our factories in those cities have suffered catastrophic damage, and the losses are enormous. Additionally, at least 30,000 lives were lost in the bombardment of Osaka, while Kobe suffered two to three thousand casualties."
"I understand," Prime Minister Ōkuma responded bitterly.
Two more critical cities lay in ruins—a devastating blow to the island nation. And this was merely the beginning. The German fleet's campaign of shelling was far from over. No one knew how many more cities would be destroyed or how many lives would be lost, but it was certain that the nation faced unprecedented calamity.
If Ōkuma had the authority, he would have unhesitatingly agreed to Germany's demands to spare his country from further suffering. Unfortunately, despite his position as prime minister, real power rested with the elder statesmen and the military. With the army and navy united, his voice carried little weight.
"Amaterasu-Ōmikami, please watch over this beleaguered nation," Ōkuma silently prayed.
On August 16, the German fleet shelled Kumamoto on Kyushu Island, reducing it to ruins.
On August 17, Fukuoka and Kitakyushu fell under attack, both major cities devastated by relentless bombardment.
Countless islanders perished, and countless factories lay in ruins, crippling the nation's industrialization efforts.
Although many heeded government warnings to flee their homes for the countryside or mountains, the geography of the island nation—with much of its land coastal—offered little refuge. With so many fleeing to the mountains, even basic food supplies became an insurmountable challenge for the government. The impoverished majority possessed little in the way of reserves, and when their provisions ran out, social unrest was inevitable.
For the island nation, this unfolding tragedy was nothing short of catastrophic.