Chapter 0769: Landing

"General, the German artillery bombardment has been relentless, and our frontline fortifications have suffered severe damage. If this continues, it won't be long before the Germans completely flatten them with their overwhelming firepower. The commanders at the front request that we deploy artillery to counterattack!" a staff officer reported to General Ian Hamilton.

"Fool! Engaging in an artillery duel with the Germans now is tantamount to seeking death! Their naval guns are far more formidable than our artillery. Furthermore, their aircraft continue to bombard us. Ordering our artillery to fire now would be nothing but a death sentence!" Hamilton scolded.

Although the British Army placed great importance on artillery, each full-strength infantry division was equipped with 18 114mm howitzers and 54 83.8mm field guns. This firepower was undeniably strong, though not on par with the Germans, who had bolstered their artillery. Nevertheless, it remained formidable by global standards.

Additionally, British artillery received support from the Navy's coastal defense batteries. Numerous coastal defense gun emplacements lined the frontline, with guns ranging from 155mm to 305mm in caliber. These emplacements were reinforced with steel and concrete, providing formidable defense.

Even so, Hamilton was not confident that their artillery could rival the might of the German Navy. The main guns of the German battleships were no mere opponents. Furthermore, Hamilton did not see it as prudent to waste precious artillery ammunition in a battle of attrition with the Germans. Their true purpose, he believed, lay in supporting the defense against the German landing forces, where their effectiveness would be maximized.

Under Hamilton's orders, both the Army's artillery and the coastal defense guns remained concealed. While some of the coastal defense guns had been destroyed, many were still intact.

The German naval bombardment on the British defensive positions lasted throughout the entire day, only withdrawing at dusk when the gunners, exhausted, could fire no more. Though the main guns had semi-automatic loading systems, saving considerable effort, the secondary and rapid-fire guns still required manual loading by the soldiers.

By the end of the day's bombardment, much of the British defensive works had been reduced to rubble. Many positions had been repeatedly shelled by naval guns, with the exception of those carefully concealed artillery emplacements. The fortifications that the British Army had spent months constructing had been all but destroyed.

In London, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Secretary of State for War Richard Haldane discussed the situation.

"The Germans have spent the entire day bombarding our defensive positions with their naval guns and aircraft. The defenses at Margate, Dover, and Folkestone are nearly obliterated. All our efforts over the past months have been in vain!" Haldane said, his voice heavy with the weight of the situation.

"The Germans have certainly invested heavily in their attempt to defeat us," Churchill replied gravely. "But we have no other choice. If we cannot withstand their assault, the British Empire will fall."

Haldane nodded resolutely. "Rest assured, Prime Minister. The men at the front will give their all. The Germans will have to pay an unimaginable price if they wish to land on British soil!"

"May God bless the British Empire," Churchill murmured.

Despite the concentration of the British Army's elite forces in the southeastern sector, both Churchill and Haldane felt uneasy.

Of the more than four million British Army troops stationed at home, 500,000 were in Ireland, 500,000 in Scotland, and the remaining three million were concentrated in England and Wales. The southeastern region, particularly London, was the focal point of their defense. Three of the five army groups were stationed in the southeast, with two in the London area. It was clear that the British Army's strategy was to prevent a German landing, hoping to eliminate the enemy forces on the beaches.

Following the conclusion of the German naval bombardment, General Hamilton immediately ordered the front-line troops to repair the positions overnight. While it was nearly impossible to restore the fortifications to their previous state in just one night, any repairs would be valuable for the upcoming battle. At the very least, they could reduce casualties.

Hamilton knew, however, that the Germans would continue their bombardment the following day. How many of their defenses would survive was uncertain, yet Hamilton did not surrender hope.

As expected, at 7 a.m. on the 21st, the German naval bombardment resumed. Refreshed after a night's rest, the gunners began once again to demolish the British defenses. 

Each shell that fell, destroying the fortifications the British had spent all night repairing, filled Hamilton and his officers with frustration.

This time, the Germans refrained from deploying their army air forces. Although the planes were ready for takeoff, their mission was to provide fire support for the imminent marine landings, not to destroy the British defensive works. The naval guns alone were sufficient for that task.

"Marshal, the Navy has been bombarding the British defenses for two hours now," an aide reported to Marshal von Falkenhayn.

"Are the Marines ready?" Falkenhayn asked.

"They are ready."

"Then let them begin the landing operation," Falkenhayn ordered without hesitation.

"Yes, Marshal!"

Upon receiving the command, the German naval ships extended their firepower toward the British positions, while the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Marine Divisions launched their landings at Margate, Dover, and Folkestone.