"Rat-a-tat-tat!"
On the frontlines of the German 2nd Infantry Division, the general-purpose machine guns and squad automatic weapons roared, their relentless barrage of bullets sweeping towards the British forces like a violent storm.
The attacking British soldiers had already left a thick carpet of corpses in front of their own defenses.
Above, several German H1 bombers soared through the sky, their bombs falling like raindrops.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Explosions rang out within the ranks of the British troops, as many soldiers were hurled into the air, their fragile bodies falling like autumn leaves.
In a desperate bid to evacuate Canterbury, the British launched a fierce assault on the German lines. However, the chances of successfully breaking through and retreating to London were slim—no more than one in ten. The majority of British soldiers either fell to the overwhelming firepower of the Germans or surrendered, raising their hands in defeat.
In the face of hopelessness, preserving one's life became the foremost priority for many. Everything else could be sacrificed, at least for the time being.
Once the German 3rd and 8th Corps joined forces to deal with the British 3rd and 8th Armies, the British could no longer escape to London. In this dire situation, the remaining British forces surrendered, and the Battle of Canterbury was brought to a close.
The outcome of the Battle of Canterbury was a crushing defeat for the British. Of the 1.4 million British soldiers gathered in the Southeast, fewer than 200,000 managed to retreat to London. The rest either perished on the battlefield or were captured by the Germans. In contrast, the Germans lost fewer than 50,000 men, including casualties and injuries, while their forces, consisting of four army corps and five Marine Divisions—more than 1.1 million soldiers—remained overwhelmingly intact.
Following their victory in the Battle of Canterbury, the Germans did not immediately launch an assault on London but chose to rest for a brief period. The British had already fortified London to the fullest, and attacking at that moment would be futile. Instead, the German forces allowed their exhausted troops to recover and replenish their supplies, particularly the tanks and other technical equipment, which had sustained significant losses. Many tanks, damaged by mechanical failures, could be repaired as long as replacement parts arrived.
The German High Command, now relocated from Calais to Dover, was led by Field Marshal von Falkenhayn, who had set foot on British soil.
"Gentlemen, His Majesty the Emperor is exceedingly pleased with our victory on the front lines. In this battle, we have annihilated the British main force at a minimal cost. Although nearly three million British soldiers remain, their elite forces are dwindling. The prospect of them halting our advance is now impossible!" Field Marshal von Falkenhayn beamed with satisfaction.
Although the war against Britain was only just beginning, von Falkenhayn was confident that the German forces could swiftly defeat the British in the shortest possible time.
Several corps commanders shared his optimism. The victory at Canterbury had virtually sealed their triumph. With London yet to be taken, they were confident that once it fell and the remaining British forces in its vicinity were annihilated, the war against Britain would be all but decided.
"Marshal, when do we begin the attack on London? Although the British have assembled 1.2 million men in the city, their strength is not comparable to that in the southeast. With our current forces, taking London is almost a certainty!" General Krook remarked.
In London, the British had deployed six army corps: the 4th, 5th, 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th. This force of over a million soldiers had spent a significant amount of time constructing defenses, turning every road, street, and building into a stronghold to resist the German assault. British War Minister Richard Haldane was determined to turn London into an impregnable fortress.
Haldane knew well that relying on over a million men to withstand the might of the Germans was nearly impossible. Their only hope was to reinforce their defenses and use them to wear down the German forces. Only then might success be within reach.
Of course, after such a fierce battle, London would likely be reduced to rubble. But few cared at this point. If they could not stop the German advance, the entire country would fall. Better to destroy London and leave a ruin for the Germans than allow them to capture an intact capital. If by some miracle they could resist the German assault, the war could still shift in Britain's favor. At worst, they might secure a peace with minimal loss—an outcome that was of utmost importance.
Additionally, the British had laid a vast array of mines in the Thames Estuary, completely blocking the waterway. This meant that the German Navy's ships could not bombard London, depriving the Germans of a critical advantage. When the assault on London began, the Germans would have to rely on their artillery and air support, knowing that they would need to expend vast amounts of ammunition to minimize casualties.
"We need not rush the attack on London," Field Marshal von Falkenhayn said. "It will still be there, it cannot escape. The British will not abandon it. Therefore, we shall rest for a few days before launching our assault. The previous battles have depleted our resources, and we must take this time to replenish."
General Krook nodded, understanding that the army needed time to recover.
"Gentlemen, the attack on London is crucial. Whether or not we can swiftly conquer all of Britain depends on whether we can destroy the British main force in London. Therefore, I wish for us to not only capture the city but also eliminate the British army's last stronghold here," von Falkenhayn emphasized.
"Yes, Marshal!" came the unified reply.
The German forces rested for a full week before finally launching their assault on London.
On September 12, the Germans, divided into four columns, began their advance toward London. Over a million men, with the apparent intention of annihilating all the British forces gathered around the city, marched forward.