guncrazy: Very complimentary if it hooked you for an hour
Inevitable Conflict? The British Fight the Great War
October 1917 - February 1918
The siege of Hanover officially began in November, as several German artillery units began pounding the British garrisons on the 11th. These were repelled with fast counter-attacks by infantry units, but the defence of the city would be forced to continue throughout the winter months. There was little hope of reinforcements reaching the city, as the bulk of the army attack Bremen was now moving to retake Cologne, and all reinforcements from Britain itself were also ordered to retake the city.
Currently, the real battle in western Europe was in the air, as both German and British forces were reaching equal status. Fighters in Hanover continued to launch skirmish after skirmish against approaching German forces, preventing the enemy from basing squadrons in Cologne. This lack of protection allowed additional RAF Squadrons in northern France to attack the garrison there, giving at least some impression that Britain intended to retake the city as soon as possible.
A British aircraft factory near Dublin
This recent boost in aircraft strength was thanks to the year's redevelopment programmes in Britain. Ireland in particular now produced hundreds of planes a month, and they were quickly shipped over to France where they could be brought into action. Likewise, northern England had become a powerhouse for producing the mechanised arms of the ground forces. Tanks and artillery were produced in high numbers and at a fast pace, meaning that the first tank unit arrived on the continent by the end of the year.
In Turkey, High Command authorised a small offensive into eastern Asia Minor. It was hoped this would draw the Ottomans attention away from Romania or, better still, force them to weaken the garrison at Anatalya. Regardless, the British fleets in the region continued to bombard any Ottoman coastal city they could reach, further bringing home the realities of war to the Turks.
The rest of the Allied Powers also continued its attempts to push forward, though to little avail. The Battle for Konigsburg was lost by the Russians, who were forced to withdraw in January 1918. Further south, the French sent direct military aid to the Italians in their battle to regain Veneto - a move that angered several British Commanders as they continued to defend Reims and wage offensives to protect French soil. However, High Command did officially announce that Britain was quite capable of continuing the fight alone, while the Italians were threatened by a major Austrian invasion that could go on to threaten the French southern front. What High Command
unofficially said about the French was another matter.
The Americans land in France
The American Expeditionary Force meanwhile, landed near Brest in late December. With additional forces due to arrive soon, their immediate duty was to garrison the local area before beginning any major offensives. Not to mention it was the middle of winter, which was halting any plans for military action. Despite their inactivity, the British were happy to have them guard the flanks as they prepared for their Spring Offensive, which they had been preparing for until February.
With production and troop training at an all-time high, British forces were able to reinforce the continental armies at a rapid pace. The military and industrial reforms of 1917 were now showing their worth, as thousands of troops and equipment were shipped over to France, allowing for the push to retake Cologne to begin earlier than expected.
Thanks to continuous recon missions by the RAF, it was established that the Germans had not had time to properly garrison the city with machine gunners. However, Intelligence did warn that the defences were prepared to deploy mustard gas to deter any attack. Poison gas had been developed by the British for military use early in the war, though had not been produced in any great number, nor had it been reported in any battlefield to date. High Command took it as a sign that the Germans believed their situation to be desperate - particularly with the open deployment of tanks in France (Romania also reported they had produced their own design) and the arrival of the Americans. As such, serious discussion began regarding how the offensive should continue - a push for Berlin, despite the risks, could actually save more lives than prolonging the war over 1918.
The Third Battle of Cologne begins
Regardless, it all depended on the upcoming fight to take Cologne, and ultimately the reports on the effectiveness of the British tank against fortified positions. The battle itself began on the 15th February, as light artillery units began bombarding the outskirts of the town
Actually I've been thinking over that, and it will feature in the next update.
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