"Marshal, at present, the 1st and 2nd Corps have gained a decisive advantage in the ongoing battles around Canterbury. The main force of the British Army has already been shattered in combat. Large numbers of demoralized British soldiers, some entire units, have even surrendered to us. If this continues, it won't be long before the British forces gathered around Canterbury are entirely eliminated," said General Ludendorff, Acting Commander of the 8th Corps.
Marshal von Falkenhayn nodded. The situation was developing in favor of the German forces, which pleased him greatly. Because, as long as Germany could secure victory in this great battle, the conquest of the British Isles would be a step closer to completion.
"What if the British continue to pour reinforcements into Canterbury? Let us not forget, they still have over a million troops around London and its surroundings," Marshal von Falkenhayn inquired.
"Indeed, Marshal. The British have an overwhelming numerical advantage. If they continue to reinforce, the situation will become even more troublesome. But it will only be troublesome to us. At most, it will cost us more time and effort, but we will still emerge victorious in this battle," General Ludendorff replied with unwavering confidence in their success.
Marshal von Falkenhayn shared the same confidence.
"General Ludendorff, I imagine you and your men are itching to join the fray?" Marshal von Falkenhayn asked.
General Ludendorff smiled and nodded. "Yes, Marshal. Our forces on the frontlines are securing victory, but we can only watch from the sidelines. It is indeed a most frustrating feeling. Moreover, I believe the 8th Corps is ready for action."
"Oh? What do you propose?" Marshal von Falkenhayn asked.
"Marshal, the 1st and 2nd Corps have successfully pinned down the British main force around Canterbury. If we continue as planned, we will soon eliminate the British forces there. However, let us not forget the presence of several hundred thousand British troops at Maidstone. Although the 3rd Corps has launched an offensive, completely wiping out this force will still be a difficult task. If they retreat to London, it could cause significant complications for our subsequent attack on the capital. Therefore, I suggest that the 8th Corps land in Britain and, in coordination with the 3rd Corps, launch an assault on the British forces massed at Maidstone. If successful, we will not only decimate several hundred thousand British troops but also deliver a tremendous psychological blow to the British forces in London, preventing them from sending reinforcements to Canterbury. This would lead to a swift victory in the southeast of England," General Ludendorff analyzed.
Marshal von Falkenhayn pondered for a moment before nodding. "General Ludendorff, this indeed sounds like an excellent plan. Destroying the British forces at Maidstone will deter the British in London from sending reinforcements to Canterbury, while severely weakening their overall strength."
"Yes, Marshal," General Ludendorff replied.
"Very well, then. Proceed with your plan," Marshal von Falkenhayn commanded.
"Yes, Marshal. The 8th Corps is fully prepared. We can embark tonight and land at Eastbourne tomorrow morning," General Ludendorff said, filled with excitement. He and his men could no longer wait to engage in battle.
"I will ensure the Navy provides full support for your operation," Marshal von Falkenhayn said.
"Yes, Marshal!" General Ludendorff responded, deeply moved. The 8th Corps was finally heading to the battlefield, and he believed they would achieve great success once again.
The 8th Corps had already earned victory after victory, both on the Eastern and Western fronts. On the British battlefield, they would surely add another triumph to their record.
On the evening of September 3rd, a large fleet of transport ships gathered at Catterwill. The 8th Corps stood by in the vicinity. Upon receiving orders, the troops began boarding the ships.
The German Navy's 4th Marine Division would land alongside the 8th Corps at Eastbourne. Following that, the main force of the 8th Corps would rapidly advance from Eastbourne toward Maidstone, working in conjunction with the 3rd Corps to annihilate the British 3rd and 8th Armies.
At this moment, the bulk of the British forces had already concentrated in the southeastern battle area and London, with very few troops stationed elsewhere. For example, at Eastbourne, the British had only deployed an infantry brigade, just over 4,000 men. It would be nearly impossible to prevent a German landing.
At 6:00 a.m. on September 4th, five German 'King-class' battleships and five 'Kaiser Friedrich III-class' battleships appeared off the coast of Eastbourne.
The ships immediately began bombarding Eastbourne.
German intelligence had thoroughly mapped out the British camps and defenses at Eastbourne, allowing the German warships to directly target these areas.
As the thunderous explosions erupted, the British soldiers, startled from their sleep, scrambled out of their barracks in a panic. Many were killed in their sleep by the blasts.
Under the cover of the German Navy's overwhelming firepower, the 4th Marine Division launched the landing operation.
The British forces, already severely weakened, were unable to mount any resistance against the German landing. The operation was a resounding success after just one round of attacks.
The British defenders at Eastbourne were swiftly defeated and fled the town. They were even unable to destroy the port, which remained intact and fell into German hands.
The German 4th Marine Division and 8th Corps quickly utilized the port facilities to disembark. Particularly for heavy artillery and tanks, which would have been much slower to disembark without proper port facilities, the process was now much more efficient.
The tanks were unloaded from the transport ships via cranes and immediately driven off, while the heavy artillery was swiftly hauled away by trucks.
By evening, the 8th Corps' 8th Armored Division and two infantry divisions formed a strike force and set out from Eastbourne, advancing along the road toward Maidstone. The rest of the troops were still disembarking, and it was expected that within one or two days, the entire 8th Corps would be fully landed in Britain.