Manila, Southern Army Headquarters.
General Southern Army Commander Hitoshi Anami is in a daze. In his hand, he holds the good news from Lanyin Area Army Headquarters. According to the news he had received before, Netherlands East Indies Expeditionary Army suffered a bloody head injury in front of German defensive line and suffered heavy losses. How come they defeated the Germany people in the blink of an eye and established a firm foothold in the east of Borneo? This change is too fast.
"Tsukada-kun, is the news on Telegram true? Did Netherlands East Indies Expeditionary Army really win?" General Hitoshi Anami asked.
"Your Excellency, Commander, it is indeed strange. However, I have confirmed with the Lanyin Front Army Headquarters. They have indeed established a foothold in eastern Borneo." Lieutenant General Tsukada replied.
Hitoshi Anami General frowned, he always felt that there were too many doubts.
"Your Excellency Commander, let me find someone to confirm it!" Lieutenant General Tadaichi Tsukada said.
General Hitoshi Anami nodded.
Lieutenant General Tadaichi Tsukada, as Southern Army Chief of Staff, still has considerable power. He also has his own confidants in the Southern Army. In less than an hour, he knew what this so-called victory was all about.
When Lieutenant General Tadaichi Tsukada reported what he learned to General Hitoshi Anami, General Hitoshi Anami was also speechless.
"Those guys, it was obviously the Germany people who took the initiative to retreat, but they took the credit for themselves." General Hitoshi Anami looked a little unhappy.
"Your Excellency Commander, there is nothing we can do about this. Netherlands East Indies Expeditionary Army suffered heavy losses in the previous battle. Declaring victory at this time may also have the effect of restoring morale!" Lieutenant General Tadaichi Tsukada said.
"No matter what, Netherlands East Indies Expeditionary Army successfully gained a foothold in Borneo, which is beneficial to us. In the next war, we can gradually take the initiative." Tadaichi Tsukada continued.
General Hitoshi Anami still agrees with this. After all, only after Borneo has gained a foothold can Island Nation's Army's large forces be able to continuously land on Borneo and launch attacks against German military entrenched there.
"Send Telegram to the Netherlands East Indies Expeditionary Army and ask them to continue sending more troops to land on Borneo and launch an attack. Try to occupy the entire Borneo as soon as possible!" General Hitoshi Anami said.
Only after the Island Nation's Army completely occupies Borneo can it use this place as a base to launch attacks in other areas.
"Hi, Your Excellency Commander. However, Netherlands East Indies Expeditionary Army suffered a lot of losses in the previous battle. And German military's combat effectiveness is very strong. It may be difficult to defeat German 23rd Army Corps based on the strength of the Netherlands East Indies Expeditionary Army alone." Lieutenant General Tadaichi Tsukada reminded.
German 23rd Army Corps also has more than 200,000 troops, which is no less than Netherlands East Indies Expeditionary Army. The combat effectiveness is far better than Netherlands East Indies Expeditionary Army. In the previous landing operations, Netherlands East Indies Expeditionary Army lost more than 50,000 people. This also means that Netherlands East Indies Expeditionary Army is completely at a disadvantage in front of German 23rd Army Corps.
"Let 14th Area Army also be prepared. After the Netherlands East Indies Expeditionary Army logs in, 14th Area Army also logs in!" General Hitoshi Anami ordered.
14th Area Army is a front army with more troops than Netherlands East Indies Expeditionary Army, and is also the most important main force under the Southern Army. 14th Area Army is also thrown into the battle of Borneo. It can be seen that General Hitoshi Anami attaches great importance to this battle.
"Hi, Your Excellency Commander." Lieutenant General Tadaichi Tsukada replied.
"In addition, send Telegram to the country so that other troops can arrive quickly. Once Borneo is captured, we will have to Kitakami attack Indochina and go south to attack Australia. By then, more troops will be needed." General Hitoshi Anami ordered.
"Hi, Your Excellency Commander, I will send Telegram immediately!" Lieutenant General Tadaichi Tsukada left the office after saluting.
Hitoshi Anami General's eyes fell on the map hanging on the wall. Although, the start of the battle was a bit rough. But overall, it is still developing in a favorable direction for the Island Nation's Army. This made General Hitoshi Anami finally feel a little better.
In addition to the Philippine Area Army, Netherlands East Indies Expeditionary Army and 14th Area Army that have arrived at South Seas, the troops under the Southern Army also include 7th Area Army, 18th Area Army, the 2nd Army, the 18th Army, 37th Army and the 38th Army. When all these troops arrive at South Seas, Southern Army will be strong. General Hitoshi Anami also believes that this time they will be able to defeat the Germany people.
"Although the Germany people are very strong, we can get reinforcements continuously. But the Germany people can't! Therefore, the final victory must belong to us." General Hitoshi Anami said to himself secretly, as if he was cheering himself up.
After General Hitoshi Anami issued the order, Lieutenant General Kawabe Masazō carried out the order truthfully. He immediately ordered Netherlands East Indies Expeditionary Army the remaining infantrymen 53rd Division to be independently mixed into the 24th Brigade, the 72nd Brigade and the 105th Brigade, and immediately set off for Borneo.
By March 7, the entire remaining troops of the Netherlands East Indies Expeditionary Army had arrived at Borneo. Lanyin Front Commander Lieutenant General Kawabe Masazō also moved his headquarters from Zamboanga to Sennah Port.
The entire Netherlands East Indies Expeditionary Army seems to have swept away the previous decline. It was as if they had already won this war. They seem to have forgotten those Island Nation people who were killed by German military during the landing operation. The beaches of Sennah Port and Lahad Datu were filled with the corpses of Island Nation people.
At the same time, 14th Area Army of the Island Nation's Army also began to move from Philippine Islands to Borneo. As the vanguard of the 14th Area Army, 35th Army began loading and setting off.
Lanyin Front Commander Lieutenant General Kawabe Masazō also received the order from General Hitoshi Anami and began to send troops to attack the Borneo hinterland. According to the intelligence collected by the Island Nation's Army, German military 225th Infantry Division who retreated from Sennah Port and 228th Infantry Division who retreated from Lahad Datu have retreated to Kinabatangan.
Therefore, Lieutenant General Kawabe Masazō ordered the main force of the Netherlands East Indies Expeditionary Army to attack Kinabatangan from Sennah Port and Lahad Datu respectively, intending to eliminate all German military 225th Infantry Division and 228th Infantry Division here.
At this moment, German military 23rd Armored Division, 221st Mechanized Infantry Division and 222nd Mechanized Infantry Division are hiding in the jungle around Kinabatangan, waiting for the Island Nation's Army to launch an attack on Kinabatangan. This terrain is open and flat, which is very suitable for Armored Forces combat. Once Island Nation's Army arrives, German military will let them taste the power of German military.