On February 19, a vast convoy, transporting 200,000 soldiers of the German 8th Army, arrived in the western waters of India. The 8th Army had no stationed forces in Egypt or the Middle East. Their mission was to defeat the enemy, while the occupation and control of these colonies would be arranged by the homeland.
At that time, the General Staff would dispatch specialized troops to deploy, alongside reorganizing the forces of Germany's protectorates, ensuring these troops were strengthened to a degree sufficient to secure the safety of these protectorates.
That afternoon, General Ludendorff, commander of the 8th Army, boarded the flagship of the Indian Ocean Fleet, the battleship Nassau. The 8th Army would need to cooperate closely with the Indian Ocean Fleet in the forthcoming operations.
"General, welcome!" Vice Admiral Ingold and Rear Admiral Ruitt saluted Ludendorff, despite belonging to different commands. However, as a general, Ludendorff outranked them.
Ludendorff returned the salute.
"General, Chief of Staff, there are many areas where the 8th Army will rely on your assistance," Ludendorff remarked. He could not use his rank to pressure the Indian Ocean Fleet. After all, they were not under the same command, and if they chose to ignore him, there was little he could do.
"General, it is our duty to cooperate fully with your operations. The Indian Ocean Fleet will wholeheartedly support the 8th Army," Vice Admiral Ingold quickly assured.
They then proceeded to the operations room to discuss the upcoming battle.
"Vice Admiral Ingold, I plan to launch the landing operation tomorrow. Will the fleet be able to allocate some of its main vessels to provide us with fire support for the landing?" Ludendorff inquired.
"General, with the 8th Army having traveled such a long distance, shouldn't you take a moment to rest?" Vice Admiral Ingold did not answer immediately, but instead expressed concern. After all, a sea voyage, particularly a long one, was not a pleasant experience. Many soldiers, accustomed to land, often suffer from seasickness.
"No need. If rest is necessary, we will take it after landing. Every day we delay, the British can arm thousands more Indians. That would be the real disaster for us," Ludendorff said with a serious expression. According to intelligence, the British were rapidly arming the Indians, and the Anglo-Indian forces had reportedly reached five million, with recruitment ongoing. This was far from favorable news for the Germans.
Given the vast size of India, the 400,000 German troops stationed there were insufficient. The longer they delayed, the worse it would be. The British would have more time to arm and even train the Anglo-Indian forces, making them a formidable enemy. To defeat them would require an even greater cost. The German Army had to prevent such a scenario at all costs.
Vice Admiral Ingold nodded. "Indeed, General. Over the past couple of days, we have sunk dozens of foreign ships attempting to break through our blockade to enter India. The Pacific Fleet has destroyed even more. It is clear that the British have not ceased their arms shipments to India."
"The responsibility of halting the British arms shipments to India falls solely on your shoulders," Ludendorff remarked.
"It is our duty! Do not worry about the fire support, General. Tonight, additional main ships will arrive, and tomorrow morning, we will concentrate seven ships to provide fire support for the Army's landing," Vice Admiral Ingold assured.
The Mediterranean Fleet had only seven main vessels, and assembling them all for the landing's fire support was a strong commitment. This greatly satisfied Ludendorff.
"By the way, Vice Admiral Ingold, we are newcomers, while the Mediterranean Fleet has been patrolling the western Indian coastline for several days. Where would you recommend for the landing site?" Ludendorff asked.
"General, if we must choose a landing site, Mumbai is the best option. Mumbai is the largest and most industrially developed city in India, with a well-established port. Capturing Mumbai would greatly benefit the army's logistical support," Vice Admiral Ingold suggested.
Ludendorff nodded. The logistical supply for the 8th Army alone, with over 200,000 men, was a massive undertaking. When the 4th Army arrived, the pressure on supplies would only grow. Securing Mumbai, especially its port, was crucial to ensuring the German Army's operations on the Indian subcontinent.
"However, if we attack Mumbai directly, the British will likely destroy it, especially the port. In that case, we would gain nothing," Ludendorff expressed concern that the British might resort to scorched earth tactics.
"Yes, General, there is indeed that possibility. However, once we launch an assault on Mumbai, the risk of the British destroying the port becomes real. Capturing the port intact is difficult, but securing the main structures could still be considered a victory. If we act swiftly, it is not impossible," Vice Admiral Ingold suggested.
"Indeed. In that case, let us choose this location as the landing point!" Ludendorff declared, his finger landing on the map.
Ludendorff pointed to a place called Alibaug, a coastal town about twenty kilometers from Mumbai.
"This is indeed a very good landing point. According to our intelligence, there is a small port there that can accommodate a landing force. More importantly, it is very close to Mumbai, allowing the landing force to launch an immediate assault on the city," Vice Admiral Ingold explained.
"How many Anglo-Indian forces are in Alibaug?" Ludendorff inquired.
"Several thousand, roughly equivalent to an English infantry brigade. However, the Indian native forces are not particularly strong," Vice Admiral Ingold responded.
"Well then, it seems there should be no major issues," Ludendorff said confidently, reassured about the upcoming landing operation.