British Army Headquarters, Underground Command Center
Richard Haldane stared intently at the defensive map of London hanging on the wall, his eyes nearly bloodshot, like a gambler who had lost everything and was now consumed with the desperate urge to wager it all once more.
The situation had turned overwhelmingly dire for the British forces. Almost the entirety of southern London had been overrun by the Germans, and the remaining British troops had been forced to retreat to the southern banks of the Thames. It was only a matter of time before they too would be wiped out.
Though Haldane had anticipated this day would come, the speed at which the German forces advanced still exceeded his expectations. The Germans seemed unstoppable, pressing forward without any meaningful resistance. This battle, more than any other, had crushed the spirit of the British forces, leaving them feeling utterly vulnerable in the face of such a relentless assault.
Military leaders defending the southern districts of London had repeatedly sent urgent telegrams requesting permission to retreat across the Thames to the northern bank. Yet, despite the gravity of the situation, Haldane had refused their pleas each time. He knew this would breed immense dissatisfaction among his commanders, but he stood firm in his decision.
Haldane had hoped that holding out in London a little longer would allow Churchill and others to escape the island and reach Canada, and perhaps inflict more casualties upon the Germans. But now, it seemed unlikely they could even accomplish that much. As for staving off the German onslaught, he had already given up hope.
"Sir, another frontline commander has requested permission to retreat. They've been pushed to their breaking point by the Germans. If we don't allow it, they'll likely be annihilated soon," reported General Haig.
Despite the near-total destruction of Haig's 1st Army, Haldane had not penalized him. Instead, he had appointed him as Chief of Staff for London's defense operations, hoping to benefit from his expertise. But now, the situation had become so grim that there was little left to strategize.
"No retreat!" Haldane snapped, his voice cold with authority. "Tell them they must fight to the last man. Any officer attempting to retreat without orders will be treated as a deserter, and dealt with according to military law."
"Yes, Sir!" General Haig nodded, understanding the gravity of the order. Though he followed it, he wasn't convinced it was a wise one. The consequences could very well be the opposite of what Haldane intended. But at this moment, Haldane would not entertain any advice to the contrary.
"General Haig, how much longer do you think we can hold London?" Haldane asked quietly, his voice betraying the weight of the question.
"Sir, the southern districts are unlikely to hold for more than two or three days at most. The Thames River cannot act as a sufficient barrier to the Germans. Even if we destroy the bridges, it will only delay them for a brief period. My estimate is that we can hold out for about ten days at most," Haig replied, his voice heavy with resignation.
For Haig, this was a painful admission. The capital could barely endure for a week. Yet, as a soldier of the British Empire, he knew he had no choice but to continue fighting, however futile it seemed.
"Let's hold on for as long as we can," Haldane sighed. "The more time we buy, the more people and resources we can move to Canada. It may give us a fighting chance against Germany."
Haig nodded silently. He knew that Haldane and Churchill were pinning their hopes on the future of the war, relying on the support of Canada and the United States to eventually rise from the ashes. However, Haig himself was skeptical. He did not believe that the Americans could provide enough help to turn the tide against the Germans—such hopes, he felt, were unrealistic.
Should Germany win this war, it would become the new global superpower, expanding its reach across the world. The British Empire's overseas colonies would likely fall, and once Germany claimed them, its strength would be unparalleled. Without their homeland, Britain, allied with the United States, would find it almost impossible to stand against Germany.
Though Haig harbored these thoughts, he did not voice them. To do so would serve no purpose and only harm his standing.
"Sir, the 43rd Infantry Division has surrendered to the Germans!" suddenly reported one of the officers, entering in a rush.
"What?" Haldane's face darkened with fury. Even though he had suspected this day might come, he hadn't expected it to arrive so soon.
"Was it just a single unit, or the whole division?" General Haig asked, his voice tight with concern.
"The entire 43rd Infantry Division," the officer reported.
"Scoundrels!" Haldane roared, his anger boiling over. "They dared to defy my orders! That fool Ritchie... I'll have him hanged for this!"
General Haig's expression soured, though he did not speak. He knew Haldane was simply venting his frustration. Ritchie, now a prisoner of war, would be safe in German custody.
What truly concerned Haig, however, was the precedent set by the 43rd Infantry Division's surrender. It would undoubtedly inspire more British forces to follow suit. The division's surrender had opened the floodgates, and soon, more units would likely lay down their arms.
Under the crushing pressure of the situation, it was hardly surprising. The commanders, faced with inevitable death, had little choice but to surrender rather than sacrifice their men for a futile cause.
As expected, on the same day that the 43rd Infantry Division capitulated, more British units stationed in southern London began to follow suit, surrendering to the Germans one after another. Within hours, the Germans had taken control of the southern districts of London without firing a single shot.
Soon after, even the forces in northern London were on the verge of capitulation.
The Germans, now in control of southern London, began advancing toward the northern bank of the Thames.
The British forces attempted to hold the river as a natural defense, but it proved to be ineffective. The German 3rd and 8th Armies had already crossed the Thames.
During the skirmishes, even more British soldiers, demoralized and defeated, began to surrender to the Germans. Despite Haldane's efforts to suppress the desertions, they were ultimately fruitless.
When entire regiments and divisions of British troops began laying down their arms, it was clear that the British had no hope of turning the tide.
By October 3rd, the northern districts of London had fallen completely to the Germans. Aside from a few pockets of resistance near the Army headquarters, the rest of the city was under German control—primarily because most of the British soldiers had surrendered voluntarily. Otherwise, the Germans would have had to continue their advance for a little longer.