The German forces steadily advanced through London, causing the British troops to retreat step by step. Countless British soldiers had even lost the will to resist, firing a few shots at the advancing Germans before abandoning their positions and fleeing. As a result, large areas of the city quickly fell under German control.
On September 21st, more than twenty percent of South London had been taken by the Germans.
By September 22nd, another twenty percent of the city was captured.
By September 23rd, the British forces had been pushed so far back that their operational space was almost entirely compressed to the banks of the Thames. At this rate, it wouldn't be long before the southern banks of the Thames would also fall into German hands.
Meanwhile, the German 8th Army had circled around to the north of London and launched an attack from there. However, given the limited strength of the 8th Army, their main mission was to prevent the British from retreating from the north, so their offensive was not particularly fierce. Still, the psychological impact on the British was devastating. It now seemed certain that London was completely surrounded by the Germans, and the defenders had no escape left.
"Generals Crook and Billow, it appears that we will soon have full control over South London," Marshal von Falkenhayn said, moving his command post to the suburbs of London. Although the battle was still ongoing, he was supremely confident in the German army's success. He firmly believed that it would not be long before London was completely taken.
"Yes, Your Excellency," General Crook replied. "In two or three days, we will have conquered South London. As for whether we can take the entire city by the end of the month, I cannot guarantee it. But at the very least, we should be able to seize London by the beginning of next month."
The 1st German Army, as the main force in the assault on London, had performed admirably, and this success was a source of pride for General Crook. It seemed inevitable that after this battle, he would be promoted to Field Marshal of the Imperial Army.
"Your Excellency, the British morale is rapidly weakening. Perhaps once we secure the southern part of London, the British will collapse entirely. At that point, we can easily take North London as well," General Billow suggested.
Marshal von Falkenhayn nodded. "Indeed. The continuous defeats have dealt a fatal blow to British morale. With their spirits broken, their fighting strength is minimal. This is a great advantage for us, allowing us to defeat the British with minimal losses and capture London swiftly."
"Such a pity," the Marshal added with a sigh. "London is one of the greatest cities in the world. But after this battle, it will be utterly destroyed."
At that moment, London was indeed being ravaged. In the southern districts, which were the site of the fiercest fighting, not a single building was left intact. The northern districts fared slightly better, but once the Germans secured the southern districts and began their assault on the north, it was inevitable that the northern parts would meet the same fate—reduced to ruins by German artillery and bombings.
Of course, the German commanders felt no remorse for this devastation. After all, they had done the same to other great cities, like Paris. For Germany's enemies, destruction was the price to be paid. The annihilation of the capital was simply part of the cost.
The rapid progress of the German forces in London shocked other nations. Although it was expected that Britain would eventually fall, no one had anticipated that the collapse would occur so quickly. The initial hope was that Britain could weaken Germany's strength, but now it was clear that Britain was failing to even achieve that.
The United States, especially, felt an increased sense of pressure. President Woodrow Wilson had repeatedly called for the strengthening of America's military forces in preparation for the growing German threat. With the current state of the U.S. military, it was no match for Germany. If not for the Atlantic Ocean, it would have been incredibly easy for Germany to defeat the United States.
On the southern banks of the Thames, the command of the British 43rd Infantry Division was in disarray. The division, originally numbering over 10,000 men, had already been reduced to fewer than 5,000. Normally, such heavy casualties would have led to the division's collapse, yet they continued to fight. This was not out of bravery, but because Minister of War Richard Haldane had issued a direct order: any unit retreating without his permission would be dealt with by military law.
Several division commanders who had fled to the northern bank of the Thames previously had been executed, and now their bodies hung from the gallows as a grim reminder.
"General, what should we do now? We've lost contact with the 45th Infantry Division. A German unit has cut into our gap, and now we're surrounded. We've attempted multiple counterattacks to reconnect with the 45th, but all have failed!" Colonel Richard, the division commander, said, his face dark with anger.
"I can't believe this... The Minister of War has gone mad! He wants us to die here on the southern bank of the Thames! We've done our best, but the Germans are simply too strong. And yet, he insists we keep fighting!" another regimental commander fumed.
In Western armies, surrender was not considered dishonorable, provided one had fought to the last. In extreme situations, surrender was often the chosen course, as it allowed for the preservation of life. However, this time was different. Richard Haldane had issued a ruthless order, forbidding any surrender and demanding that the troops fight to the death. For many British soldiers, this was an unbearable burden.
"General, we can't defeat the Germans. If we continue fighting, we'll all die here. We must surrender to the Germans!" the Chief of Staff suggested.
General Richard paused, contemplating, before nodding slowly.
"Very well. Contact the Germans and demand that they guarantee our safety. We will surrender."
"Yes, sir!" The officers of the 43rd Infantry Division looked visibly relieved.
The next day, the entire 43rd Infantry Division surrendered to the Germans, becoming the first full unit to capitulate in this battle.