Chapter 0818: Relentless Retreat

"Call in air support! Let those fools in the aviation corps give those British across the way a lesson they won't forget!" barked the German major, his face darkened with frustration.

Their area of attack was a small park in London, at the center of which stood a modest hill. The British had fortified this position heavily, digging extensive defensive works and even tunnels deep into the heart of the hill. German artillery had been ineffective against these defenses. In previous assaults, over a hundred German bodies had already been left scattered in the park, which only served to deepen the major's ire. 

With no other choice, he reluctantly sought reinforcement from the Army Air Corps.

"Yes, sir!" the signalman quickly relayed the message to the division headquarters, who instructed them to wait. Soon, contact was made with the Army Air Corps, and it was decided that the Corps would handle the bombing of the park.

Meanwhile, an arrogant British major, content with the temporary reprieve, observed the retreating Germans through his binoculars.

"Hmph! The Germans claim to be the best in the world, yet here they are, beaten by us! It's a pity they are retreating—if they had continued their assault, we could have buried them in this park with their own bodies!" The British major spoke with a self-satisfied grin.

"Sir, we may have pushed them back, but they won't give up so easily. They will certainly launch a stronger counteroffensive," warned a captain, his brow furrowed with concern.

"Hmph! The more Germans come, the better! The more they come, the more we can kill," the British major scoffed, his confidence in their defenses unshaken. The fortifications dug deep into the hill, impervious even to heavy artillery, combined with numerous machine guns placed on the slopes, made him certain that the Germans would be crushed before they could reach his position.

However, the major's confidence was about to be shattered, and his naiveté exposed.

In less than twenty minutes, the German Army Air Corps planes appeared overhead. Eight F2 fighters escorted twenty-four H1 bombers, each armed with a single 500 kg bomb. These bombs were specifically chosen to counter the British fortifications on the hill. 

Had this been a coastal location, the German battleships' large-caliber guns would have sufficed, but the British had strategically planted numerous sea mines in the Thames estuary, preventing the German ships from approaching. Thus, air support was the only option.

"Planes! German planes are coming! Get to the anti-air shelters, quickly!" 

"Damned Germans! Do they think they can destroy our defenses with just planes? What a joke!" the British major cursed from his command post.

The German bombers began their descent. At an altitude of only five hundred meters, they released their bombs.

The 500 kg bombs screamed as they hurtled toward the British defenses.

The British soldiers, hidden within their fortifications, noticed the planes drop a single bomb each, but the sheer size of the bombs made their hearts sink.

"Why are the German bombs so much larger than before? I wonder how much more powerful they are?" Several British soldiers pondered anxiously.

"Boom!"

A deafening explosion rang out, shaking the entire hill. British fortifications, painstakingly constructed, were obliterated. As the smoke cleared, a massive crater had formed on the hill.

"My God! How could this happen?" The British major stood stunned, unable to believe the destruction.

One by one, the other bombers released their payloads.

Explosions reverberated across the hill as British defenses were systematically annihilated. Even those deep within the mountain's core, impervious to ordinary bombs, crumbled under the force of the blasts. Many British soldiers hiding within were either killed or gravely injured.

"Attack!" 

Seizing this opportunity, the German forces launched their assault.

The British, devastated by the aerial bombardment, were powerless to stop the German infantry. The once-sturdy defenses were swiftly overrun, and within half an hour, the park was captured by the Germans.

The German offensive within London was fierce and relentless. Although the British resistance was numerous, most were holed up in their defensive positions, hoping to wear down the Germans. However, with their fortifications shattered by the unyielding bombardment, the British forces were easily defeated.

"Screech, screech!" 

A German tank rumbled down a narrow street, accompanied by a squad of infantry.

At a street corner, a British 'Hound' tank lay in wait, concealed in the rubble.

The 'Hound' tank, while less powerful than the German 1st model, still had a 37mm tank gun capable of easily penetrating the thin armor of the 1st model tanks in close combat.

The British armor corps understood that in open warfare, their tanks would be no match for the superior German forces, so they had deployed them for city defense. The 'Hound' tank's cannon could destroy German tanks, while its machine guns were deadly against infantry.

The German tank, unaware of the impending danger, continued its advance.

"Boom!"

As the two tanks closed to within 100 meters, the British tank fired.

A penetrating round slammed into the front armor of the German tank, easily piercing it. The resulting explosion ignited the tank, turning it into a blazing inferno.

The German infantry, following the tank, quickly dropped to the ground, seeking cover.

The British tank's machine guns began to unleash a barrage, bullets whizzing past the heads of the German soldiers, preventing them from raising their heads.

"Boom!"

Another explosion rang out as the British tank fired again, this time using a high-explosive shell. The blast tore through the German ranks, instantly killing two soldiers.

However, the British tank's moment of glory was short-lived. German anti-tank guns swiftly zeroed in, and one well-placed shot destroyed the tank, ending its resistance.