BXBX NOVEL Chapter 917: Erosion
Now, it is undoubtedly a good opportunity to win Mumbai. As long as the German army takes Mumbai in this battle, the heavy weapons and equipment of the German army will be able to disembark. In particular, the combat effectiveness of the 8th Armored Division will be fully utilized. This will allow the German army to have a strong attack power even if it leaves the coastline.
"Yes, General!"
"Send a telegram to the Indian Ocean Fleet, asking them to give us greater fire support. However, let them pay attention when shelling, and don\'t blow up the port!" Admiral Ludendorff ordered.
Although, Admiral Ludendorff knew that the British and Indian troops would not let them get the port of Mumbai so easily. However, he still wanted to try his best to fight for it. If the port of Mumbai can be obtained, the loading and unloading speed of the German army\'s logistics supplies will be much faster. Mumbai would also become an important supply base for the German army.
"Yes, General." A staff officer immediately went to contact the Indian Ocean Fleet.
Several infantry divisions of the German 8th Army had landed, and it was too late to clean up the battlefield, so they directly attacked Mumbai. As for the prisoners, they were handed over to the 3rd Division of the Marine Corps to guard them. The work of counting prisoners of war was also handed over to the Marine Corps. They simply don\'t have time for that.
The Indian Ocean Fleet also cooperated very well with the attack of the German 8th Army. They went all the way north along the coastline, shelling the British and Indian troops according to the coordinates provided by the army.
"Sir, the Germans are chasing us, what should we do?" An Indian native reported to a British major.
"What else can we do? Keep running! Flee back to Mumbai, and we will be safe." The British major said.
However, before he finished speaking, there was a howling sound in the sky.
Immediately afterwards, large-caliber naval gun shells fell from the sky.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
A violent explosion sounded, and the shock wave spread around. Many Indian soldiers were swept into the sky like dead leaves. Shrapnel was shot in all directions, easily reaping the lives of these British and Indian army officers and soldiers.
"God! The Germans\' large-caliber naval guns. Surrender, we surrender! Otherwise, we will all die here!" The British major yelled in horror.
When the German army caught up, the hundreds of officers and soldiers of the British and Indian troops who stayed here surrendered directly to the German army.
The British and Indian troops suffered heavy losses in the Battle of Alibag. At the same time, morale hit rock bottom. When they fled to Mumbai, they were even chased by the German army. At the same time, there was heavy shelling by the German Indian Ocean Fleet. This not only further increased the losses of the British and Indian troops, but also caused them to collapse directly.
In order to speed up their escape, many British and Indian soldiers even dropped their rifles and bullets. It can be said that after the disastrous defeat, the essence of the British and Indian troops was nothing more than a group of rabble, completely exposed.
Many Indian soldiers threw away their weapons, took off their military uniforms, and fled directly. They were frightened by the powerful firepower of the German army, and they didn\'t dare to continue fighting at all.
Many Indian soldiers surrendered to the German army when they saw the German army chasing them. On the 20-kilometer road from Alibag to Mumbai, the German army captured at least more than 100,000 British and Indian troops who surrendered.
This directly caused the British and Indian troops to flee back to Mumbai, and there were not many troops at all.
"After the troops are gathered, how many are there?" Admiral Howard asked.
"General, there are too many broken troops. Many people fled directly or surrendered to the Germans. There are less than 200,000 people who can return to Mumbai!"
Admiral Howard almost didn\'t die of anger. When attacking Alibag, he mobilized six main infantry divisions of the 2nd Army, plus the 11th Army and the 12th Army, a total of more than 500,000 people. After a battle, more than half of them were directly lost. What\'s more, the remaining troops have no morale, and they don\'t have much fighting power at all. If you want to hold Mumbai, it is simply impossible.
"Bastard! How is this? Where are the Germans? How far are they from Bombay?" Admiral Howard asked.
"General, the Germans have been following us. Their vanguard has approached Mumbai."
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
At this time, violent explosions sounded in the urban area of Mumbai, and shells exploded in the urban area. Houses were destroyed in the explosion. Countless Indian natives ran out screaming. Then, a shell exploded among the crowd, tearing the native Indians to pieces.
"General, Mumbai has been shelled by the German fleet! Seven battleships are firing on Mumbai." A staff officer reported with a look of horror.
"God! Are the Germans going to kill us all?" Admiral Howard looked aggrieved.
Although, after being appointed as the commander of the 2nd Army stationed in Mumbai, he knew that this battle might be very difficult. But now, he realized that the difficulty of this battle was far beyond his expectations. His troops, under the attack of the Germans, looked so unbearable.
You know, his 2nd Army is definitely considered elite among the dozens of armies of the British and Indian Army. Even his troops are like this, let alone other troops.
Although, it will be dark in two or three hours. However, the German army did not give the British and Indian troops a chance to breathe, and directly attacked the urban area of Mumbai.
At this time, the British and Indian troops in Mumbai actually outnumbered the attacking German troops. However, these British and Indian troops are often defeated at the first touch, and they no longer have the courage to continue fighting.
Admiral Howard saw this and knew that if he continued to defend Mumbai, he would only get himself involved.
So, Admiral Howard issued an order to retreat. Before retreating, however, he demanded that the port of Bombay be destroyed. Even if it is destroyed, the port will not be left to the German army.
However, it is a pity that the British and Indian troops did not fully implement this order when they executed it. Although some of Mumbai\'s ports were bombed, there are still several piers that can continue to be used. Even those docks that were blown up can be easily repaired.
After the German army captured Mumbai, it immediately attacked north along the coastline. At the same time, the German 4th Army also arrived. After landing in Mumbai, it attacked south along the coastline. The British and Indian troops on the entire west coast of India could not withstand the German attack.