After a period of rest and recuperation, the four German army groups had restored their combat readiness to peak condition. Although some units had not fully replenished their ranks, the soldiers' fatigue had been alleviated, and, with the resupply of vast quantities of weapons and ammunition, their fighting strength had been fully regained.
The German losses in the Battle of Canterbury had been minimal, and thus the decline in combat effectiveness due to personnel shortages was not severe. Both morale and battle readiness were in prime condition, far surpassing the British forces stationed in London.
To the south of London, the five small towns of Dartford, Sidcup, Bromley, Croydon, and Epsom almost formed a straight line. This allowed the British defenders to concentrate their forces in these towns, creating a formidable defensive line intended to stall the German advance into London or, at the very least, wear down their fighting strength.
The British knew that, with their current capabilities, defeating the Germans would be exceedingly difficult. Their only hope lay in maximizing the attrition of German forces through brutal urban warfare. Only by inflicting heavy losses could they hope to extract a costly victory. Faced with the overwhelming might of the German military, the British had no choice but to rely on the strength of their fortifications.
Along the southern defense line, the British initially deployed two army groups—the 12th and 13th—later bolstered by the reorganized 1st Army. General Haig, who had retreated from the front lines, was appointed as commander of the southern defense, overseeing all three army groups.
"General Haig, I expect you to hold the southern defense line for at least a month! In that time, we can further fortify the defenses within London and ensure that the Germans pay a greater price. This will lay the foundation for victory in the Battle of London," said Richard Haldane.
Although General Haig had been repeatedly defeated by the Germans, his competence was not in question. In Richard Haldane's view, Haig's ability was sound, though luck had not been on his side. More significantly, the German military's strength had been insurmountable. Even with Haig's prowess, such a vast disparity in strength made victory impossible for the British.
"Sir, this will be extremely difficult. The 12th and 13th Army Groups are already weak, and even the 1st Army is little more than a disbanded force from the Southeast Theatre. Their morale was shattered by the Germans long ago. On the battlefield, I fear they will be of little use. Once the Germans attack, many will likely surrender without a fight," General Haig said, his face filled with concern. Clearly, he did not believe that three army groups could hold the southern line for a month.
"General Haig, I will not impose a time limit. If you believe the defense is no longer tenable, you may retreat. However, I hope you can hold for as long as possible, inflicting as much damage as you can on the Germans. Our position is precarious, and even if we must eventually retreat to Canada, we must weaken the Germans as much as possible. Otherwise, they could cross the Atlantic at any time and attack us!" Richard Haldane replied.
General Haig nodded. "Sir, I will do my best!"
The southern defense line stretched just over forty kilometers, with 600,000 British troops stationed there—a formidable force by any measure. General Haig placed the 1st Army in reserve to the north of the line, while the 12th and 13th Army Groups were stationed along the defensive front.
"1st Army, advance on Dartford. After breaking through the British lines, push into London. 2nd Army, attack Bromley and, after breaking through, move into London from there. 3rd Army, assault Croydon. 8th Army, attack Epsom. Once Epsom is captured, advance quickly to the northeast and, in coordination with other units, annihilate the British forces deployed along this line!" Field Marshal von Falkenhayn directed, pointing to the cities on the map.
"Yes, Marshal!" the army commanders replied in unison.
"At this critical juncture, the British have made a fatal error by committing such a large force. It's as if they are inviting destruction!" General Krück said.
London, as a global metropolis, could easily accommodate over a million soldiers. Were the Germans to attack the city, they would have to wage a protracted battle, contesting every street and every building with the British. Such an endeavor would be time-consuming, costly in lives, and fraught with danger. Urban combat meant sudden, unpredictable risks, and even battle-hardened veterans could easily fall. Yet, the British had voluntarily deployed 600,000 men outside the city, presenting the Germans with an opportunity to destroy them. Once these forces were dealt with, the remaining defenders inside London would be minimal, making the capture of the city far easier.
"Perhaps the British still harbor the delusion of holding London. They believe they can stop us at the city's outskirts and spare their capital from becoming a ruin," General Büllow sneered.
In Britain, the Germans were unrestrained. To minimize casualties, they heavily relied on artillery, knowing that the destruction of the city would primarily affect the British, not the Germans. But the British seemed unwilling to reduce their own city to rubble, which only hampered their strategy and offered the Germans more opportunities.
"Whatever the British think, we only need to eliminate their forces and win the war!" General Haussen declared bluntly.
"Once we have dealt with the British forces outside the city, the 1st and 2nd Armies will push south into London. The 3rd Army will circumvent the city and attack from the west, while the 8th Army will cross the Thames and strike northward. I expect that we will annihilate the last of the British forces within London!" Field Marshal von Falkenhayn concluded.
"Yes, Marshal!" the commanders responded in unison.