On August 2, 914 Jules, at 0430 hours, the headquarters of the Second Armored Division of the Prussian Army.
General Heinz Wilhelm von Mauch glanced at his pocket watch and nodded at a staff member who was on the phone.
The staff member immediately gave the order, "Begin artillery preparation!"
As the staff member hung up the phone, the distant rumble of thunder could be faintly heard—the sound of the artillery from the Armored Cluster Command opening fire.
General von Mauch stood in front of the map, fixated on St. Ye Katerina Fortress on the map.
After a long silence, he said, "In truth, continuing our push to the east does pose a risk. Our supply line will be stretched to six hundred kilometers, and the infantry troops of the Central Army Group will be spread thin along the lengthy supply line, certainly leaving us vulnerable everywhere.
"If the enemy's heavy troops advance north, they could potentially find themselves in a perilous situation."
