Chapter 0594: France's Obsession

"Surrender, we surrender!" 

"Oh God! We no longer wish to fight, we want to go home!" 

Countless soldiers of the British Expeditionary Force emerged from their trenches. Discarding their weapons and raising their hands in surrender, they capitulated to the German forces. The relentless bombardment from the German Navy had shattered their resolve, and the desertion of several key commanders further demoralized them, stripping them of any courage to continue fighting. 

In such dire circumstances, the overwhelming desire for survival eclipsed both personal and national pride. For these soldiers, surrender became their sole option as they sought only to preserve their lives. 

The Germans, though surprised by the sudden surrender of the British forces, accepted it with smiles. Despite the ease with which they could have wiped out the demoralized British soldiers, they knew that, even in victory, there is always a cost. In this case, the surrender allowed them to seize Le Havre with minimal loss, expending the least amount of time and suffering the fewest casualties. 

Both General Crook and General Ludendorff welcomed this outcome. Whether by capturing prisoners or annihilating the enemy, it was still a victory. They were indifferent to the process, as long as the result was a successful one. 

"General, the last of the resisting British forces has laid down their arms. The Battle of Le Havre is over!" General Ludendorff said, his lips curling into a smile, a breath of relief escaping him. After all, the battle had been fraught with unexpected twists. What they had initially anticipated would be a straightforward victory had turned into a struggle, with heavy losses due to the Royal Navy's surprise attack. Fortunately, the Imperial Navy's air support and fleet had come to their aid, without which they might not have secured Le Havre. 

"We've finally finished. Though there were some setbacks, overall, the result is still satisfactory," General Crook remarked. 

"Indeed. The French front is nearly over as well, and no major battles remain," General Ludendorff said. 

Though the French still resisted, and the German armies pressed southward, the French were steadily retreating, lacking the will to continue fighting. It was clear that once they reached the southernmost regions of France, with no more ground to give, they would be left with no choice but to surrender. 

The surrender of the British Expeditionary Force at Le Havre was a devastating blow to the French government. It only deepened their lack of confidence in the war's outcome and further eroded their will to fight. 

Within the French government and military, the pro-war faction had seen their influence steadily wane with the unfolding of the war. Even President Poincaré and Prime Minister René Viviani began to question whether it was still worth continuing the war at this point. 

"Gentlemen, the British Expeditionary Force has failed at Le Havre. Over two hundred thousand men have surrendered to the Germans, allowing them to redeploy forces to advance against us. The situation will undoubtedly grow worse for us from here on," President Poincaré stated. 

"Yes, I too have become quite pessimistic about our chances of victory. The current situation is dire, and the Germans hold a clear advantage on the battlefield," Prime Minister René Viviani added. 

"Mr. President, Mr. Prime Minister, I do not deny that the current situation is bleak. The Germans have gained an overwhelming advantage. However, we still have a slim chance of survival. If the Grand Fleet can defeat the German Navy, the situation will shift in our favor. The resources from our colonies and aid from the United States will restore our strength. Meanwhile, the Germans will be weakened by naval defeat and once again face the prospect of a blockade. As their power wanes, the scales of victory will gradually tip in our favor, and ultimately, we will prevail," Marshal Joffre said. 

Although Marshal Joffre himself harbored doubts, as the commander-in-chief of the French army and a leader of the pro-war faction, he had to project confidence. After all, if he lost hope, how could the war continue? 

"Yet, we have already lost half our territory. If we continue, more land will be lost, more cities reduced to rubble, and more lives will be sacrificed. Such losses will be disastrous for the French Republic," Prime Minister Viviani said. 

Indeed, if the war continued to claim such heavy tolls, the country and its people would be irreparably damaged. Even if the war ended, recovery would be a monumental task. 

"Prime Minister, your concerns are valid. However, precisely because of this, we must continue the fight. We have already sacrificed so much. If we end the war now, all our losses will be for naught. The Germans will surely impose harsh terms, and we will pay an even greater price for peace. If we win, however, we will exact vengeance on the Germans. All the suffering we've endured will be repaid, and we will emerge stronger than before. The French Republic will recover swiftly, perhaps even more powerful than it was before," Marshal Joffre said. 

President Poincaré and Prime Minister Viviani were moved by Joffre's argument and, despite their reservations, resolved to press on with the war. 

However, they made it clear that if the Grand Fleet failed to defeat the German Navy in the final confrontation, they would have no choice but to immediately end the war, no matter the cost.