Although it was late into the night, Marshal von Falkenhayn, despite his advanced years and deteriorating health, had not yet retired for rest. To stay awake, he had even instructed his adjutant to brew a pot of coffee, which he drank in small sips whenever his energy flagged, in a vain attempt to stave off exhaustion.
"How are the conditions at the front?" von Falkenhayn inquired.
"Your Excellency, the battle at the front is intense. The British seem to be throwing their lives away, launching a frenzied assault against our defenses. Their artillery is firing relentlessly, causing significant losses to our forward units," reported the adjutant.
"Can the front hold?" Von Falkenhayn furrowed his brow. He knew this British offensive was unlike the previous ones; the British had committed their main force in a desperate attempt to drive the Germans into the sea. It was clear that holding the line would exact a far greater cost from his troops.
"According to reports from the front, although our losses continue to rise, overall, we have inflicted heavier casualties on the British. We should be able to hold," replied the adjutant.
With a nod, von Falkenhayn finally allowed himself a moment of relief. "We have only a few hours until dawn. Tell the front-line units to hold firm. Once the sun rises, they will receive stronger support. The navy and the air force will reinforce them, and other army units will continue landing."
"Understood, Your Excellency!" The adjutant nodded and immediately began to send the orders.
"Also, wire the navy and air force to prepare. At first light, I expect reports that they have rained shells and bombs upon the British," von Falkenhayn added.
"Yes, Your Excellency. I will contact them right away!" The adjutant left to carry out the orders.
Despite the ferocity of the battle, the situation remained largely favorable for the Germans. As defenders, they enjoyed the advantage of fortified positions and powerful artillery support, which mitigated their casualties and allowed them to inflict greater losses on the British.
"Hold on, just a few more hours, and dawn will break. We will receive more support, and the British will pay an unbearable price for their persistence!" German officers on the front lines constantly encouraged their soldiers.
"Yes, sir!" the soldiers replied, knowing this night would be the hardest to endure. If they could hold until dawn, victory was assured. At that moment, the overwhelming firepower from the sea and the air would devastate the British, and they would be able to repel the British assault with ease, perhaps even launching a counterattack to expand their beachhead.
"Rat-tat-tat!" A general-purpose machine gun on the German line roared into action, its sustained fire holding back a large British assault on a twenty-meter stretch of the front. The bodies of the fallen British soldiers now numbered over a hundred, yet the British continued their relentless advance, determined to breach the German defenses.
"Damn it! If we can't destroy that machine gun, we won't be able to break their line!" an English captain exclaimed, his company nearly decimated.
"What about the mortars? How many do we have left?" a lieutenant asked.
"Only one left; the others were lost in the previous battles," the captain replied.
"Commander, let's try one more time! Use the mortar to destroy their machine gun, then immediately launch an assault to tear open their defenses. If we can create a gap, we can break through their line!" the lieutenant suggested.
"Alright, let's do it," the captain agreed, nodding grimly.
Within minutes, the British mortars were set up and, after a brief two-minute delay, began shelling the German machine gun.
"Boom!"
Perhaps fortune was on their side, for the shell struck the German machine gun directly, obliterating it. The gunner was killed instantly, though the assistant gunner was lucky to escape with only a superficial wound.
With the loss of this critical firepower, the previously suppressed British forces surged forward. They quickly breached the German defenses, and the defenders were overwhelmed by the flood of British soldiers pouring through the gap.
"Quick! Quick! The German defenses have been breached! Expand the breakthrough and completely tear open their lines!" the British commander shouted, ecstatic.
More British soldiers flooded the position, determined to exploit the breach and advance further into German territory.
The Germans, however, were not blind to this development.
"Second Battalion, immediate reinforcement! We must hold the line against the British!" Major General Alexander Linsingen barked, his eyes bloodshot with fury.
"Yes, sir!" The 2nd Battalion of the 1st Marine Division immediately moved to reinforce the position.
After the fierce battle earlier in the day, the 1st Marine Division had suffered considerable losses. The defense of the line was now entrusted to the 1st and 2nd Infantry Divisions, with the 1st Marine Division remaining in reserve.
The arrival of thousands of fresh troops quickly stabilized the precarious position. Despite fierce hand-to-hand combat, the Germans, with their superior combat capabilities, pushed back the British.
The amphibious tanks that had arrived provided the decisive blow. Though fighting at night was far from ideal for the tanks, the British attackers were unprepared for the onslaught. Without anti-tank weapons, they were helpless against the German tanks, which gunned them down with machine fire and crushed them under their tracks. In short order, the British were driven from the position, with little resistance remaining.
After a brutal clash, those British soldiers who had breached the German lines were either killed or expelled from the position, leaving the Germans firmly in control.