Blood and Iron Germany[Part Two]

"General, we have defeated the British Indian forces, and a large number of their retreating troops are fleeing towards Mumbai!" reported a Major General to General Ludendorff.

"Excellent. Immediately initiate the pursuit. We must take Mumbai in one swift stroke!" ordered General Ludendorff.

Now was undoubtedly the perfect opportunity to capture Mumbai. Should the German forces succeed in this battle, they would be able to unload their heavy weaponry. Particularly, the combat capabilities of the 8th Panzer Division would be fully unleashed. This would allow the Germans, even if they departed the coastline, to retain formidable offensive power.

"Understood, General!"

"Send a telegram to the Indian Ocean Fleet, requesting further fire support. However, remind them to be careful with their bombardment and avoid destroying the port!" General Ludendorff commanded.

Although Ludendorff knew that the British Indian forces would not surrender Mumbai's port without a fight, he still sought to secure it if possible. Acquiring the port would dramatically speed up the logistics and supply operations for the Germans, transforming Mumbai into a crucial supply base.

"Yes, General." A staff officer immediately set off to contact the Indian Ocean Fleet.

The 8th Army's infantry divisions, already landed, wasted no time cleaning the battlefield and advanced directly toward Mumbai. The prisoners were entrusted to the 3rd Marine Division, who were tasked with guarding and registering the captives. There was simply no time to concern themselves with anything else.

The Indian Ocean Fleet supported the German 8th Army's advance by shelling the British Indian forces along the coastline, using the coordinates provided by the Army.

"Commander, the Germans are closing in, what should we do?" an Indian native reported to a British Major.

"What else can we do? Keep running! Head back to Mumbai, and we'll be safe there!" replied the British Major.

Before he could finish, the sky was filled with the deafening roar of artillery.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The violent explosions sent shockwaves through the air, and many Indian soldiers were swept up like dry leaves, torn apart by shrapnel as it rained down. The pieces of metal effortlessly claimed the lives of countless British Indian officers and soldiers.

"My God! The Germans' heavy-caliber naval guns! Surrender, we surrender! Otherwise, we'll all die here!" the British Major screamed in terror.

As the German forces closed in, the few hundred remaining British Indian soldiers stationed there immediately surrendered to the Germans.

The British Indian forces had suffered catastrophic losses at the Battle of Alibag. Their morale had plummeted, and as they fled towards Mumbai, they were relentlessly pursued by the Germans, with the Indian Ocean Fleet providing a constant barrage. This only deepened their losses and shattered their resolve.

In their desperate flight, many soldiers discarded their rifles and ammunition, seeking only to escape. The true nature of the British Indian forces, a disorganized and craven mob, had been fully revealed in the wake of their defeat.

Numerous Indian soldiers discarded their weapons, stripped off their uniforms, and fled in fear, utterly terrified by the overwhelming firepower of the Germans. Others immediately surrendered upon encountering the German advance. Along the 20-kilometer stretch from Alibag to Mumbai, the Germans captured over 100,000 British Indian soldiers who had surrendered.

This decimated the British Indian forces attempting to return to Mumbai, leaving them with little to resist the German assault.

"After regrouping, how many do we have left?" General Howard inquired.

"Sir, the retreating forces are too fragmented, many have fled or surrendered to the Germans. Less than 200,000 are making their way back to Mumbai!" replied an officer.

General Howard nearly collapsed in fury. When he had ordered the advance on Alibag, he had called up six main infantry divisions from the 2nd Army, alongside the 11th and 12th Armies, totaling over 500,000 men. Yet, after the battle, more than half of them had been lost. Worse still, the remaining forces were demoralized and lacked any fighting spirit. Defending Mumbai now seemed an impossible task.

"Damn it! What now? Where are the Germans? How far are they from Mumbai?" General Howard demanded.

"Sir, the Germans have been trailing us, and their lead units are already closing in on Mumbai," came the response.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

At that moment, the deafening explosions rang out within the city of Mumbai, as shells rained down on the district. Buildings crumbled under the bombardment, and terrified Indian civilians fled from their homes, only to be torn to pieces by subsequent explosions.

"General, Mumbai is under fire from the German fleet! Seven battleships are shelling the city!" an officer reported with a face full of dread.

"My God! Are the Germans trying to wipe us out completely?" General Howard exclaimed, his face twisted in frustration.

Although, as the commander of the 2nd Army tasked with defending Mumbai, he had anticipated a difficult battle, he had not fathomed just how dire the situation would become. The forces under his command—regarded as elite among the British Indian armies—had been shattered by the German onslaught. If his troops were in such a state, what could be expected from the others?

Despite the looming nightfall in two or three hours, the Germans showed no mercy, relentlessly pressing their attack on Mumbai's city center.

At this moment, the British Indian forces within Mumbai outnumbered the attacking Germans, but these forces were mostly incapable of holding their ground, as their resolve had already crumbled.

Seeing the situation, General Howard realized that continuing to hold Mumbai would only result in their annihilation.

Thus, he issued the order to retreat. However, before doing so, he ordered the destruction of Mumbai's port. Even if it had to be leveled, he could not leave the port in German hands.

Regrettably, the British Indian forces did not carry out the task thoroughly. While parts of the port were destroyed, several docks remained intact and could easily be repaired.

After capturing Mumbai, the Germans immediately pressed their advantage, advancing north along the coastline. Meanwhile, the 4th Army arrived and, after landing, began pushing south. The British Indian forces along India's western coast could not hold back the German onslaught.