"Very well, gentlemen. Now that you have completed your preparations, I can rest easy. The weather is favorable today, and for the Empire, this presents a golden opportunity. Today marks the first day of the Empire's planned assault on British soil. In one hour, the attack will commence. May God bless the German Empire, and grant us victory over the British!" General von Falkenhayn declared.
"God bless the German Empire!" The generals responded, their voices full of fervor and excitement. They, too, had long awaited this day. Over the past several months, they had been preparing for the invasion of Britain. Vast supplies of military provisions had been delivered to the frontlines, and the losses suffered by the various corps in earlier engagements had been replenished. The troops had been refitted and made ready for battle. At the same time, a considerable quantity of weaponry had been provided, restoring the fighting strength of the various divisions to its prime.
Though the Empire's army, with its four corps and five Marine divisions, numbered only about 1.1 million men—just a quarter of the British Army's size—its combat effectiveness was another matter entirely. The fully armed German Army, with its morale at its peak, stood in stark contrast to the poorly equipped, demoralized British forces, making victory seem inevitable.
Indeed, while numerical superiority remains a vital factor in warfare, its importance has been diminishing with advancements in technology and weaponry. The millions of British soldiers would be no match for the well-trained German forces, and once their elite units were eliminated, the rest would be like lambs to the slaughter.
"According to the plan, the Imperial Navy's bombardment fleet will first clear the landing zones, destroying the British defensive works painstakingly constructed over the months. The Imperial Army's Air Force will also join in, bombing the British fortifications to pave the way for the Marine Corps' landings. In addition, the Air Force will secure air superiority. If the British dare to send their planes aloft, you must bring them down, ensuring the skies belong to the German Empire!" General von Falkenhayn emphasized.
"Yes, General!" replied General Seckt, commander of the Imperial Army's Air Force, and Rear Admiral Richard Fils, commander of the Navy's bombardment fleet.
"If all goes as planned, the Marine Corps should be able to launch their attack by tomorrow morning or noon. Our initial landings will be at Margate, Dover, and Folkestone. Once the Marine Corps secures the landing zones, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Corps should be able to land on British soil by tomorrow evening. If we can withstand any British counterattacks that night, we will have firmly established our foothold in Britain. At that point, it will be difficult for the British to drive us back into the sea. Once our three corps are ashore, the British Army's main force will inevitably concentrate in the southeast, presenting us with an opportunity to strike them a crushing blow.
The 8th Corps will take advantage of the situation to land at Bournemouth, advancing eastward to sever the British forces' logistical lines, setting the stage for their total destruction. If we can annihilate the British Army's main forces in the southeast, the next stage will be to capture London and bring an end to Britain. Once London falls, the end of the British Empire will be nigh. Though some may resist, their main forces will already be destroyed, and the remainder will pose little threat. In the subsequent battles, they will be easily eradicated."
General von Falkenhayn concluded.
Though the plan was already well known to all present, no one grew impatient as von Falkenhayn laid it out once more. After all, they were about to bring the end to a great power, a former world leader. Each man present was filled with pride at the opportunity to participate in such an historic event.
"Gentlemen, the time has come. Go now and make your final preparations. We shall defeat the British. His Imperial Majesty awaits our victory in Berlin!" General von Falkenhayn commanded.
"Yes, General!" came the unanimous response.
As time ticked on, the Imperial Navy and Army Air Force were already hard at work. Gigantic warships steamed toward the Dover Strait, heading for their designated positions.
Five "Bavaria-class" and "Deutschland-class" battleships formed the 1st bombardment fleet, tasked with pounding the British positions at Margate. Five "King-class" and five "Brunswick-class" battleships made up the 2nd bombardment fleet, targeting the British lines at Dover. The 3rd bombardment fleet, comprising five "Wittelsbach-class" battleships, five "Kaiser Friedrich III-class" battleships, and four "Brandenburg-class" battleships, would strike the British forces at Folkestone.
The bombardment fleet gathered Germany's most powerful battleships, along with several obsolete pre-dreadnoughts, relics of the Anglo-German naval arms race. These warships, once state-of-the-art, were now relegated to a secondary role in the fleet, but their firepower would still be decisive in the upcoming battle. After the war, they would be dismantled—this would be their last hurrah.
On the airbases, the Army Air Force was also busy. Ground crews were fueling and arming aircraft to ensure they would be in optimal condition for the assault. Pilots were receiving their combat briefings.
By 7:00 AM, the three bombardment fleets had arrived at their designated sea zones. Positioned about ten kilometers off the coast, the battleships lined up, their main guns trained on the British positions. As soon as the order was given, the bombardment would commence.
"Order all ships to open fire!"
Upon receiving the command, the battleships began their bombardment, marking the beginning of Germany's attack on British soil.