Chapter 0812: The Gap is Too Vast

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Less than five kilometers from Epsom, the artillery positions of the German 8th Army Corps thundered with ferocious intensity. The artillery belonging to ten infantry divisions relentlessly bombarded Epsom and its surroundings.

Since Emperor Qin Tian of the Empire assumed command of the 8th Army Corps, he had focused on enhancing the firepower of the infantry, with artillery placed at the heart of his strategy. After the 8th Army Corps' resounding victory on the Eastern Front, the German forces, during their prolonged winter rest, had similarly strengthened their firepower. This overhaul ensured that the German army now boasted artillery firepower unmatched across the globe.

The 8th Army Corps was armed with 180 heavy 150mm howitzers, 360 light 105mm howitzers, and 540 75mm field guns. Excluding mortars and other light artillery, the total artillery count reached a staggering 1,080 pieces. This was an overwhelming force, unrivaled in any other era, with only the United States in World War II capable of such artillery strength in another timeline.

The gunners, bare-chested, moved shells with grim determination, loading them into the gun breeches and firing without concern for accuracy. The German approach to pre-attack artillery preparation was one of saturation—shelling designated areas relentlessly. In such concentrated fire, the chances of survival were minuscule. Even if a few lucky souls escaped the bombardment, their numbers were few, posing little threat.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Explosions shook the British positions, sending debris flying in all directions. Within moments, the British frontlines were transformed into a desolate wasteland, resembling the moon's surface, pocked with craters where shells had landed.

The defensive works the British had so painstakingly constructed were rapidly dismantled under the hammering barrage.

The city of Epsom itself, with its fortifications designed to force the Germans into costly street fighting, became a prime target for the German bombardment. Inflicting maximum damage with artillery was far more efficient than risking infantry casualties.

To ensure the most devastating blow, the Germans had allocated an entire day—September 14th—for artillery preparation. The goal was to expel half of the massive stockpiles of ammunition the Germans had amassed. This amounted to millions of shells.

It was almost inconceivable to imagine what would remain of the British southern defense line after the German barrage subsided. The sheer power of the German artillery was akin to a plow cutting across the British lines, leaving nothing untouched.

"My God! The German shelling has been going on all morning. Do their shells cost nothing?" one British soldier complained, hunched over in a bomb shelter, covered in dust, looking like a mud-covered monkey.

"The Germans are famous for their powerful artillery," an old soldier remarked grimly. "On the battlefield, if they can destroy an enemy with artillery, they won't waste their infantry."

"No wonder the Germans are so formidable! If only we had artillery like theirs, maybe we wouldn't be getting beaten so badly!" a young soldier said, his face full of longing.

"Ha! The Germans can afford such tactics because they have a powerful industrial and logistical system. If any other country tried this, they wouldn't have nearly so many shells. Even if they did, getting them to the front lines would be an impossible task!" an officer added.

"The British Empire's industry may not be on par with Germany's, but achieving this isn't entirely impossible. Especially in home defense. Unfortunately, we lack the resources. After our navy was defeated, our overseas trade lines were severed. Now we have arms factories, but no materials to produce ammunition or weapons, and that's why we're falling behind the Germans," the officer continued.

The shelter fell into a heavy silence as the soldiers understood the grim reality: the British Empire was merely struggling to prepare for its inevitable defeat.

"It's all the navy's fault! Every year, they consume most of the defense budget, yet in the end, they still lost to the Germans. That's how we've ended up in this sorry state," someone muttered bitterly.

"The navy had its troubles too! They did their best. I've heard there were countless casualties among the navy's men. It's just that the Germans were too powerful," someone else defended.

"Enough! Stop complaining. If you have the time to talk, pray to God that the Germans' shells don't collapse our shelter!" the officer snapped.

Immediately, the other soldiers fell silent.

"Boom! Boom!" Two deafening blasts echoed overhead, and cracks appeared in the ceiling of the bomb shelter. Dust and rubble began to fall from above.

"Damn it! We've been hit by German heavy artillery. The shelter's collapsing! Run for your lives!" the soldiers screamed, scrambling toward the exit. But the narrow entrance caused a bottleneck, and only a few near the opening managed to escape. The rest were buried alive under the rubble.

The might of the German artillery was now fully apparent. Not only were the British defensive works being obliterated, but their bomb shelters were collapsing as well, leading to mounting casualties among the British forces on the front lines.

The German gunners were performing their duties with ruthless efficiency, clearing obstacles for the infantry. Compared to the infantry who faced enemy fire on the front lines, the artillerymen were, in many ways, fortunate. Typically, their safety was assured—unless they found themselves in a direct artillery exchange, which was rare. With the strength of the German Army's air force, even that threat was minimized.

To minimize casualties among their own forces during the assault, the Germans spared no expense in preparing the battlefield with overwhelming firepower. Although it would increase the cost of the war, they had little choice. Shells could be replaced, but the lives of soldiers were irreplaceable. Given Germany's relatively small population, every soldier's life was precious.

In contrast, the British artillery remained silent, not out of preference, but due to their inability to match the Germans in firepower. They also wished to avoid drawing attention from the German air force.