London, United Kingdom, Prime Minister's Office.
Winston Churchill sat at his desk, his brow furrowed in deep thought. Before him sat Richard Haldane, the Secretary of State for War, and General Trenchard, the Chief of the Air Staff.
As the German Luftwaffe advanced into British airspace, the shrill sound of the air raid sirens echoed throughout London. Countless Britons, in a frantic panic, sought shelter. Many had just risen from their beds, unable to even dress properly. Some women were wrapped only in bedclothes, scarcely clothed.
Churchill, the Prime Minister, was also escorted to a bomb shelter by his secretaries and guards. Fortunately, the Prime Minister's residence was equipped with a sturdy shelter, so he did not have to scramble for space with the general populace. Yet, in the end, the Luftwaffe did not launch an air raid on London, choosing instead to focus on destroying the airfields.
After a long pause, Churchill finally inquired, "General, how severe are the losses to the Royal Air Force?"
General Trenchard replied gravely, "Prime Minister, after this battle, the Royal Air Force has lost ninety percent of its fighting strength. The remaining forces are no longer capable of continuing the fight."
Churchill and Haldane exchanged a glance, both stunned. The scale of the RAF's losses had far exceeded their expectations.
"How could the losses be so great?" Churchill asked, his voice tight with concern.
"Yes, Prime Minister. In this attack, the Germans deployed nearly a thousand aircraft. Their power now far exceeds that of the Royal Navy, which is why the Royal Air Force had no means of resistance," Trenchard explained.
"Then, when can the Royal Air Force recover its strength?" Haldane pressed.
The southeast region of the British Army was waiting for the Royal Air Force's support. Without it, their losses under the German Luftwaffe's attacks would continue to mount, putting them at a severe disadvantage in the coming battles.
"Secretary of State, it is very difficult, if not nearly impossible," Trenchard responded.
"What do you mean? Are you saying the RAF cannot recover its strength?" Churchill's brow knitted in disbelief.
"Yes, Prime Minister. After this battle, the RAF will likely never be able to fight again. Our aircraft factories are constrained by numerous factors, and the number of planes produced each month is steadily decreasing. Even if the RAF wanted to recover, we have no idea how long it would take," Trenchard lamented, his tone heavy with despair for the future of the Royal Air Force.
"Secretary of State, it seems that the upcoming Battle of Canterbury will be troublesome for us," Churchill muttered, his voice tinged with frustration.
"Prime Minister, we will do our utmost to secure victory in the Battle of Canterbury," Haldane reassured.
Churchill nodded but said nothing more. He knew the Army would give its all in the coming conflict, but whether victory was attainable was another matter entirely.
As the British people despaired over the crushing losses to the Royal Air Force, the German Army was already making preparations to launch a massive offensive, seizing upon this opportunity.
"Gentlemen, this morning, the Luftwaffe delivered a decisive blow to the British Air Force. From now on, the skies over Britain will belong to us. All attacking units will have the full support of the Luftwaffe!" Field Marshal von Falkenhayn addressed the German Army's generals.
"General Zect, well done!"
"Indeed, General Zect. In the upcoming battles, we shall need even more support from the Luftwaffe!"
The other German generals chimed in, their praise directed at Zect, whose forces had shattered the Royal Air Force.
The German Army had grown accustomed to having air support overhead during their offensives. Not only did these planes provide intelligence on enemy movements, but they also rained bombs down on their adversaries or strafed them with machine gun fire, weakening the enemy's morale and diminishing casualties. With air support, their own losses in battle were kept to a minimum.
"Very well, gentlemen. The conditions for launching a fierce assault on the British forces around Canterbury appear to be ripe. We must not waste any more time. The Emperor expects us to bring this war to an end before Christmas!" von Falkenhayn continued.
Despite the heat of the current weather, the onset of winter in Europe would soon make outdoor operations and movement nearly impossible. Cold weather casualties could devastate an army, and the Germans were eager to finish the war before the harsh winter set in.
"Field Marshal, we are ready. The main forces of the First Corps have already landed, and all preparations for the assault are complete. We are ready to strike at any moment!" General Kluge, Commander of the First Corps, reported.
"Field Marshal, the Second Corps is also prepared for the offensive," General Behlau, Commander of the Second Corps, added.
"Excellent. Let us proceed with the planned assault. This time, we must eliminate the main British forces in southeastern England!" von Falkenhayn declared.
"Yes, Field Marshal!" the generals replied in unison. They knew a great battle was about to begin.
"According to the plan, the First and Second Panzer Divisions will lead the way, advancing toward Canterbury. Upon reaching Canterbury, they will break through the British defenses, infiltrating their flanks and encircling them. Large infantry forces will follow closely behind, and with the help of the Panzer divisions, we will annihilate the encircled British forces. Meanwhile, the Third Corps will attack Maidstone to tie down the British 3rd and 8th Armies. The Eighth Corps will join the battle as needed," von Falkenhayn outlined the strategy.
The generals nodded in agreement. This plan had long been prepared and, given the current circumstances, remained perfectly sound.
"Are the Panzer divisions ready? They are crucial to this operation!" von Falkenhayn emphasized.
Speed was essential to the success of the operation, and only the Panzer divisions could achieve the necessary breakthrough.
"Field Marshal, the First Panzer Division is on full standby, ready for combat at any time!"
"The Second Panzer Division is also ready!"