"General, should we continue with the offensive?" asked the commander of the 3rd Infantry Division of the British Army.
Originally, their orders had been clear: once the tank units breached the German lines, the infantry would launch an assault, swiftly reclaiming the positions seized by the Germans and eliminating their forces.
However, the tank divisions had been all but decimated in the fighting. To send the infantry forward now would be akin to condemning them to certain death. The commander of the 3rd Infantry Division feared that Generals Hamilton and Hagg might still issue orders to continue the attack.
General Hamilton remained silent. The crushing defeat of the tank units had drained him of any hope.
"Temporarily halt the plan," General Hagg ordered. He clearly would not sacrifice his troops for nothing.
"Yes, sir," replied the 3rd Infantry Division commander, breathing a sigh of relief, his heavy heart finally finding some peace.
Thus, the British assault ended abruptly. The heavy losses rendered their plans utterly null, and the situation on the battlefield had only grown more dire for them.
Upon returning to headquarters, General Hamilton's demeanor darkened further.
"General Hagg, the Germans' combat strength is overwhelming, far beyond our expectations. Even the tank units failed to break through. This battle... we may very well lose," Hamilton said, his tone tinged with despair.
He had hoped to deliver a decisive blow to the Germans in this battle, aiming for a glorious victory. But now, it seemed, he had greatly underestimated the might of the enemy. The Germans' formidable strength had shattered their hopes.
"Commander, winning this battle now seems nearly impossible. In fact, hope appears exceedingly faint. We must brace ourselves for defeat," General Hagg sighed, fully aware of the catastrophic consequences such a loss would have for Britain. The fall of the Southeast Theatre would cost them hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of soldiers, and the war could very well spill over into London itself, leaving the British with few options for retreat.
"Is there no way to turn the tide?" Hamilton asked, unwilling to give up.
"At this point, Commander, we can only adopt a defensive stance. We can anticipate the Germans' large-scale offensive is imminent. Our only hope is to destroy as many of their forces as possible while holding our ground. After all, the Germans' greatest weakness lies in their limited manpower. In terms of numbers, we still hold the advantage," Hagg advised.
Hamilton nodded, reluctantly accepting Hagg's suggestion. Beyond that, he felt utterly at a loss.
"Commander, if possible, we should request reinforcements from other fronts. With our current forces, holding off the German advance seems increasingly unlikely. If we receive reinforcements, we could potentially retreat and avoid suffering catastrophic losses in the Southeast Theatre," General Hagg added.
"I will report to London," Hamilton replied. He knew the ideal solution would be additional troops, though he was also aware of how difficult it would be to convince London to divert forces originally tasked with defending the capital.
After the British counteroffensive was crushed, the Germans launched their attacks according to plan. The main forces of the 1st and 2nd Armies, supported by armored divisions, relentlessly tore through the British defenses, enveloping and annihilating them.
The German assault was so fierce that British losses skyrocketed. One infantry division after another was shattered and surrounded. Many soldiers, having nowhere to flee, were forced to surrender.
Though the soldiers' commitment to defending their homeland fueled their spirit, the grim reality of their situation left them with little resolve to continue the fight.
Especially with the Germans' armored units replenished and restored to full strength, the British faced a rapidly worsening situation.
The entire Southeast Theatre was falling apart. A defeat for the British Army there now seemed inevitable.
On September 1, the British lost over 100,000 men. While relatively few were killed by the Germans, the majority surrendered. Several divisions had been routed and lost the will to continue fighting.
On September 2, the British suffered another devastating blow. Under a relentless barrage from the Germans, their forces collapsed with little resistance when faced with a renewed armored assault.
"Commander, this cannot continue. The 1st Army Group has already lost more than half of its forces. The remaining troops are demoralized. Under these conditions, we cannot possibly withstand the German offensive," General Hagg said, his face filled with dejection.
"General Hagg, are you suggesting we abandon the Southeast Theatre?" General Hamilton inquired.
"Yes, Commander. We must evacuate while we still have a significant force and retreat to London to reinforce its defenses. Perhaps, in London, we can still hold out against the Germans. If we wait any longer, our losses will be so great that escape will no longer be possible," Hagg insisted.
"Commander, it would be best if London could send reinforcements to assist us. Without them, we may not be able to break through the German blockade," General Benson added.
To the northwest of Canterbury, the Germans had amassed a formidable force: two armored divisions and four infantry divisions, numbering over 100,000 troops. They had effectively severed the link between the British Southeast Theatre and London, creating an unbreachable barrier.
"Is it possible to mobilize the 3rd Army Group or the 8th Army Group from Folkestone to support us?" General Hamilton asked.
He had already contacted London, hoping for reinforcements, but Army Minister Richard Haldane had rejected his request, citing the urgency of London's own defense.
"Commander, both the 3rd and 8th Army Groups have been tied down by the Germans. If we draw them away now, we risk collapsing their lines," General Benson said.
"Very well, I will contact London once more and request reinforcements," Hamilton concluded.