Chapter 0817: Fierce Street Fighting

On September 20th, the German assault on London commenced. The German 1st and 2nd Armies launched their offensive from the south, while the 3rd and 8th Armies were tasked with flanking from the west and north, aiming to encircle and annihilate the British forces in the city, thereby ending the war once and for all.

Despite the presence of over 900,000 British troops within the city, and the extensive defensive fortifications meticulously constructed over time, the string of defeats on the battlefield had severely undermined British morale. The soldiers were demoralized, their spirits shattered, and had it not been for the officers' vigilance, the entire force might have already collapsed.

The German assault on London followed the familiar pattern of previous engagements: a relentless artillery barrage followed by a swift infantry advance.

The German artillery unleashed a day-long bombardment on the southern districts of London, reducing buildings to rubble and destroying numerous cultural landmarks, including the Greenwich Observatory, Big Ben, and various museums.

In the eyes of intellectuals, the Germans' actions were akin to those of savages, violently eradicating the very essence of civilization. Yet the German high command remained unfazed. In the heat of war, the safety of their soldiers was paramount, and the destruction of antiquities, though regrettable, was secondary. The lives of soldiers were worth more than historical relics.

The combination of artillery fire and air raids turned the southern sections of London into a vast wasteland. Buildings were obliterated, and the defensive positions constructed by the British were similarly demolished. The British garrison within the city suffered heavy losses, their positions shattered.

On September 21st, the German 1st and 2nd Armies, now bolstered by twelve infantry divisions, split into multiple columns and advanced into the heart of the city. The 3rd Army also deployed four infantry divisions from the west to assault London.

Although nearly 300,000 men were engaged, this force was minuscule compared to the vast expanse of London. Once the German forces spread out across the city, they were like rivers flowing into the ocean—impossible to track, their presence blending seamlessly into the urban sprawl.

The Germans had become seasoned in urban warfare. Their experience was forged in numerous battles, and the 8th Army had developed a comprehensive set of tactics for street fighting. These tactics were later refined and propagated throughout the German military, proving to be highly effective in the field.

In contrast, the British forces were relatively inexperienced. Despite constructing numerous defensive works—street barricades, bunkers, and machine gun positions atop buildings—the relentless bombardment from the Germans turned the city into rubble. The British fortifications were obliterated, and those that had been set up atop buildings suffered heavy losses. The prospect of utilizing these defenses to halt the German advance was now all but impossible.

In this dire situation, the British troops could only rely on their intrinsic combat skills. Unfortunately, their fighting prowess was vastly inferior to that of the Germans, and the outcome of the battle was already apparent.

After penetrating London's outer defenses, the German forces dispersed rapidly, attacking in smaller units. In street fighting, the urban environment precluded large formations from maneuvering effectively; only scattered, mobile units could capitalize on the chaotic terrain, maximizing their combat effectiveness.

"Quickly, quickly! The Germans are here! Open fire!" a British officer shouted.

"Rat-tat-tat! Boom! Boom!"

Dozens of British soldiers, taking cover behind hastily constructed barricades, fired desperately, unleashing a barrage of bullets toward the advancing Germans.

For a moment, the German advance was slowed by the British fire, forcing them to take cover on the ground and halt their forward movement.

"Mortars, grenade launchers, take out the British machine guns! Full firepower, machine guns ready to cover!" ordered a German lieutenant.

Boom! Boom!

A 60mm mortar and three grenade launchers began firing relentlessly, their shells and grenades raining down upon the British positions.

While the 60mm mortar and grenade launchers were not devastatingly powerful, they posed a lethal threat to the vulnerable human body.

Boom!

A mortar shell struck a British heavy machine gun, destroying it in a violent explosion. Grenades exploded within the British barricades, tearing through the soldiers huddled inside, sending bodies flying in all directions.

Rat-tat-tat!

Seizing the opportunity, a German general-purpose machine gun and three light machine guns began their assault, suppressing the British defenders with overwhelming firepower.

"Damn it! Fire, fire!" a British officer yelled.

Snap!

A sharp gunshot rang out, and the British officer's head exploded as if struck by a hammer. A sniper hidden in the ruins had taken the shot.

"My God! The officer's been killed!" a British soldier screamed in panic.

"Advance!" Taking advantage of the moment, the Germans pushed forward, hurling a dozen grenades toward the British barricades.

The grenades landed inside the British positions, causing further carnage.

With the barricade neutralized, the Germans surged in, quickly clearing out the remaining British soldiers.

A German tank rumbled down the street, followed by a group of infantrymen, carefully moving in a crouch, alert for any threats.

Boom!

At the end of the street, a British anti-tank gun lay hidden within the rubble.

"The Germans' tank is here! Aim carefully and destroy it! Machine guns ready to deal with their infantry once the tank is destroyed!" a British officer barked.

Thoom!

The British anti-tank gun fired, and the armor-piercing round struck the German tank. In an instant, the tank's front armor was torn open, and it erupted in a ball of fire.

Rat-tat-tat!

Immediately, the British machine guns opened fire, inflicting heavy casualties on the German infantry trailing behind the tank.