"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Less than five kilometers away from Epsom is the artillery position of German 8th Army Corps. Ten artillery units belonging to Infantry Division are firing fiercely at Epsom and its surroundings.
Since Emperor Qin Tian of the Empire took over as 8th Army Corps Commander, it has focused on strengthening the infantry's firepower. Cannons are even more important. After 8th Army Corps won a big victory on Eastern Front, German military also strengthened the firepower of each unit during the winter-long rest. This makes German military now possess the most powerful artillery fire in the world.
8th Army Corps has a total of 180 150mm heavy-duty Howitzer, 360 105mm Light Howitzer and 540 75mm Field Gun. Not counting mortars and other light artillery, there are a total of 1,080 artillery pieces. This number of artillery pieces is already very terrifying. In another time and space, only Americans in the World War II period could compare with it.
The artillerymen carried the shells naked, stuffed the shells into the breech, and then fired them. They didn't care whether the shells they fired hit the target. German military's fire preparation before attacking often involves covering fire, that is, firing artillery shells into a certain area. Anyway, under the intensive artillery fire, there are very few people who can escape. Even with the blessing of God, I was lucky enough to escape. But the number is also very limited, and it no longer poses much of a threat.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The artillery shell exploded on British positions, earth and rocks flew everywhere, and there was a burst of flying sand and rocks. Soon, British positions became like the surface of the moon. There are craters left by shell explosions everywhere.
The fortifications built by the British army are being continuously destroyed under the fierce bombardment of German military.
Epsom urban area is also the target of German military's bombardment. After all, the Britain people have built a lot of fortifications in the city, trying to make German military pay a heavy price through street fighting. It's better to use as many artillery shells as possible to cause losses to the Britain people than to use infantry to destroy them!
In order to hit the British army as much as possible and also damage their morale, German military's firepower preparation time was very long. The entire day of September 14th was filled with fire preparations. The artillerymen need to fire at least half of the shells German military has stored during this period. You know, those are millions of cannonballs.
It may be difficult to imagine what is left on the British southern defense line after the German military bombardment ends. German military's powerful artillery fire was enough to plow British positions down several times.
"God! The Germany people's shelling has been going on all morning. Are their shells free?" A British soldier complained. At this moment, he was holding his head and huddled in the shell-proof hole. The falling dust above his head made him look like a mud monkey.
"The Germany people have long been famous for their powerful artillery fire. On the battlefield, they will never let the infantry fight for the enemy they can kill with artillery shells." A veteran said.
"No wonder the Germany people are so powerful in combat! If we also had such powerful artillery, maybe we wouldn't have been beaten so badly by the Germany people!" A young British soldier looked longingly.
"Hmph! The Germany people dare to do this because they have strong industrial and logistics system support. In other countries, how could there be so many artillery shells? Even if there are so many artillery shells, it will be difficult to transport them to the front line!" said an officer.
"British Empire's industry is inferior to Germany's. But it is not impossible to achieve all this. Especially when fighting in the local area. But it is a pity that Empire's local Insufficient resources. After the defeat of the navy, our overseas trade lines have been cut off. Now we have an empty arsenal but no raw materials to produce those ammunition and weapons. Naturally, we are far behind the Germany people!" the officer continued.
There was silence in the anti-bomb cave. Everyone knew very well that British Empire was just struggling to make preparations.
"It's all the navy! The navy accounts for the majority of the annual military expenditures. But they eventually lost to the Germany people. This brought Empire to where it is today." Someone complained.
"It's not easy for the navy! They have tried their best. It is said that countless people in the navy have died in battle. It's all because Germany people are too powerful!" someone said.
"Okay, shut up. If you have the time to say this, why not pray to God that the Germany people's shells will not collapse our anti-gun caves!" the officer scolded.
Suddenly, the other soldiers had no choice but to say nothing more.
"Boom! Boom!" Two loud noises rang above the heads of these British soldiers. In between, cracks appeared on the ceiling of the top of the gun cave, and dust mixed with stones fell from above.
"Damn it, we were hit by Germany people's heavy artillery. The anti-gun cave is about to collapse. Run away!"
The British soldiers hiding in the shell-proof cave ran desperately towards the cave entrance, trying to escape from here. However, the cave entrance was too small, causing overcrowding, so that except for a few people who stayed at the cave entrance and managed to escape, the rest were buried alive inside.
German military's powerful artillery fire began to exert great power. Not only did it destroy the British defense fortifications, but it also blew up the British artillery holes, causing the losses of the British troops on the front line to continue to rise.
German artillerymens are faithfully fulfilling their responsibility, which is to clear obstacles for the infantry attack as much as possible. Compared with infantry who have to attack the enemy's bullets, artillery is undoubtedly happy. At least, under normal circumstances their safety is guaranteed. Unless a fierce Artillery Battle breaks out between the two sides, the safety of the infantry will be threatened. However, such situations are generally rare. Especially after German military has the powerful Army Air Corps, it is even more difficult for the enemy to threaten German artillerymen.
In order to reduce the losses of one's own troops when attacking as much as possible, German military will carry out fire strikes regardless of the cost before attacking. Even if this will increase the cost of the war, German military will not hesitate. After all, cannonballs can be made after they are polished. But if a soldier is killed, there is nothing left. The population of Germany is not large to begin with, which makes the lives of these German military soldiers even more precious.
In contrast, the British artillery remained silent. It's not that they would rather be like this, it's that they are not as strong as others! At the same time, they don't want to be bombarded by German aircraft.