Chapter 0919: A Battle of Blood

"General, the situation is rather peculiar! We have advanced a hundred kilometers and have now reached Amudaba, yet we still haven't encountered any British Indian forces. It's as if they have vanished into thin air," reported Major General Balfuss of the 71st Infantry Division to General Ludendorff.

General Ludendorff furrowed his brow, "Any other news?"

"According to the local Indian natives, the British Indian forces began retreating a week ago," replied Major General Balfuss.

"A week ago? It seems the British and Indian forces are deliberately consolidating their strength! Order the 3rd Marine Division to send two regiments to Baroda and establish a logistical base there to shorten our supply lines. The army will continue its advance toward Delhi!" commanded General Ludendorff.

"General, the British are clearly pulling back to concentrate their forces against us. If we press forward, might we fall into their trap?" asked Lieutenant General Lundestadt, Chief of Staff of the Army Group, with concern.

"I am well aware of their malicious intent. We shall face a bloody battle on the road to Delhi. However, I believe that, even if they mobilize more troops, we possess the strength to defeat them. Don't we, General Guderian?" General Ludendorff asked.

"Yes, General. The 8th Panzer Division will crush all enemies!" said Major General Guderian, commander of the 8th Panzer Division. As one of the youngest generals in the German Army, Guderian and his armored forces had shone brightly in the previous major battle, which is why he was promoted to major general at the age of only 28. The only other person in the German Army comparable to him was Major General Rommel, commander of the 4th Panzer Division.

"Excellent. I am confident we will defeat those British and Indian forces," General Ludendorff said confidently.

The other generals nodded in agreement. As commanders of the German Army, they were immensely proud, for they had long been the most powerful land force in the world. The British were merely their defeated subordinates, with their homeland already fallen. Even if they had enlisted many Indian natives to fight for them, it would not change the reality of their defeat. The German generals believed that in this battle, they would likewise overcome these forces.

The 8th Army continued its advance toward Delhi, though the pace had slowed, with an emphasis on safeguarding the supply lines. After all, the vast expanse of Indian territory made it difficult to sustain, with Delhi far from the coast. Without fleet support, the army had to rely solely on its own strength.

On March 28, the vanguard of the 8th Army reached Jaipur, less than two hundred kilometers from Delhi. However, after launching a probing attack, the 71st Infantry Division failed to break through the British Indian forces. Meanwhile, reconnaissance units discovered the British Indian forces were present everywhere around them.

Major General Balfuss immediately reported this to General Ludendorff.

General Ludendorff ordered Major General Balfuss to fall back to Ajmer and fortify the position while awaiting reinforcements. He also ordered the 72nd Infantry Division to rush to provide support. Other units were to continue their advance at the current pace.

General Ludendorff was confident that even if they were surrounded by British Indian forces ten times their number, the two infantry divisions could easily hold their ground. He hoped to use the 71st and 72nd Infantry Divisions as magnets to draw the bulk of the British Indian forces to Ajmer, and then, with the 8th Panzer Division as the main force, launch a decisive attack to defeat them.

After retreating to Ajmer, Major General Balfuss immediately began constructing defensive positions. Though Ajmer was a small town, it could easily accommodate the two German infantry divisions.

Lord William Nicholson, personally commanding the decisive battle, did not abandon the engagement despite the German retreat. He ordered the British Indian 1st, 4th, and 6th Armies to march toward Ajmer. The British forces stationed in India, along with several other corps, also pressed toward Ajmer, though they did not engage in battle. Lord Nicholson was keenly aware that the main strength of the German army had not yet been revealed.

On March 31, three British Indian armies, comprising six hundred thousand troops, launched an attack on Ajmer. Their numbers were nearly twenty times that of the two German infantry divisions stationed there.

However, unfortunately for them, the Germans' firepower during defensive operations was extraordinarily formidable. The attacking forces paid an unimaginable price as they faced the relentless firepower of the Germans.

The two German infantry divisions had over two hundred artillery pieces. In terms of artillery, they were not at all inferior to the three British Indian armies. Apart from the British Indian 1st Army, which had over a hundred large guns, the other British Indian armies were equipped with only a small number of artillery pieces, some with as few as dozens. Especially after the German Navy had blockaded the Indian coast, they could no longer resupply their artillery.

Intense combat ensued, and with no advantage in artillery, the British Indian forces resorted to using human wave tactics, repeatedly launching assaults. Yet, against the overwhelming firepower of the German Army, they gained no advantage, leaving countless dead behind.

For five consecutive days, the British assaults grew fiercer, but the German defenses held firm like a rock. The British suffered heavy losses, and apart from exhausting much of the German ammunition, they failed to inflict significant casualties on the German forces.

When Lord Nicholson learned that the British Indian 1st, 4th, and 5th Armies had suffered nearly 50% casualties, he had no choice but to call in two more armies to attack Ajmer. With only three remaining armies at his disposal, alongside the twenty thousand British forces in India, he was rapidly running out of options.

"General, the Germans' firepower is overwhelming, and we have no artillery advantage. We can only rely on the soldiers to charge to the death. Such tactics result in immense casualties. The morale of the troops is severely affected," an English general said.

"I know all this! But what can I do? The Germans have blocked the coastline; we are receiving no supplies. Apart from our men, we have no other advantages. In such circumstances, do we have any other choices?" Lord Nicholson asked darkly.

Indeed, other than relying on sheer numbers, the British Indian forces had no other advantage.