"Charge! For our lives, break through the German lines! Annihilate them!" The six thousand Russian cavalrymen shouted fervently.
With their whips cracking against the flanks of their steeds, the horses, stung by the pain, began to accelerate.
More than six thousand warhorses meant nearly twenty-five thousand pounding hooves. The earth trembled beneath their might, echoing with a thunderous sound that seemed to shake the very ground itself.
As the Russian cavalry surged forth, the German forces were immediately alerted.
"General, our forward line is struggling to withstand the infantry assault from the Russians. If their cavalry attacks, we may find it exceedingly difficult to hold our ground," a concerned staff officer reported.
"The Russian cavalry is likely their final reserve. If we can withstand their charge, the outcome of this battle will be assured," a colonel on the staff remarked.
General François nodded, understanding that the ability to repel the Russian cavalry's advance would be crucial to their success. If they held firm, the encircled Russian forces would face utter annihilation and, given their heavy losses, would be unlikely to break through the German lines again. Conversely, if they faltered, the current operation could be irretrievably compromised, allowing the encircled Russian main force to escape. The German casualties would likely rise even further. Although they had already inflicted significant losses upon the Russians, General François desired to conclude this battle with a resounding triumph.
Moreover, while the Russian combat effectiveness was lacking, their standing army had proven capable. If these soldiers were allowed to return, rearmed, they could pose considerable trouble for Germany. General François was determined to prevent such a scenario.
"Hmph! Do the Russians truly believe their cavalry represents a formidable assault force? They must understand that our armored units are the real striking power," a staff officer scoffed.
Suddenly, a spark ignited in General François's eyes; indeed, the combat effectiveness of the 8th Armored Division had been demonstrated during the Battle of Tannenberg. It was an undeniable striking force, surpassing any previous formations.
"Order the 8th Armored Division to engage immediately. If the Russians wish to use their cavalry to breach our defenses, let them clash with the 8th Armored Division. We shall see whether their cavalry is superior or our armored units," General François commanded.
"Yes, General."
The 8th Armored Division had been poised for battle since the onset of hostilities, merely awaiting orders. With the command now issued, the armored troops fired up their tanks and sped toward the battlefield.
Having recently upgraded their tanks, the 8th Armored Division now fielded over two hundred vehicles. The newly produced tanks featured numerous enhancements, particularly in reliability, alleviating concerns that a tank might stall mid-battle, leaving the crew helpless as enemies slipped away.
"Ura! Ura!"
"Annihilate the Germans!"
On the battlefield, the Russian infantry cheered as they witnessed the cavalry charge. They had suffered countless casualties in front of the German defenses, beaten down and demoralized.
Now, the appearance of the cavalry rekindled their spirits. For the average Russian soldier, their cavalry represented the pinnacle of strength; none could withstand their advance. Any adversary would be shattered by the cavalry's onslaught.
Amidst the resounding cheers from the infantry, the Russian cavalry launched a fierce attack, seemingly brimming with confidence as they believed they could easily penetrate the German defenses.
However, at that moment, an array of iron monsters emerged along the German lines. Gleaming under the sun, these metallic behemoths radiated a chilling aura. Even in the heat of August, the sight sent shivers down the spines of the Russian soldiers.
"What are those?" the charging Russian cavalrymen wondered, spotting the slow-moving iron giants approaching them.
"What trickery are the Germans employing? Do they think they can withstand the charge of our valiant Cossacks?"
Uncertain of what lay ahead, the cavalrymen were oblivious, but the Russian commanders observing from the rear grew pale. Reports from Warsaw had already alerted them to the Germans' possession of a secret, invulnerable weapon. The devastating defeat of the 2nd Army was largely attributed to this formidable contraption.
"Can our cavalry defeat those iron monsters?" No Russian commander harbored any illusions about their cavalry's capabilities. The previous failures of the 2nd Army had laid bare the grim reality.
"Boom! Boom!"
The tanks of the 8th Armored Division opened fire, their shells raining down upon the ranks of Russian cavalry, toppling numerous officers from their mounts.
"My God!" The Russian cavalry gasped in shock.
As the tanks continued their advance, the distance between them and the Russian cavalry diminished.
"Rat-a-tat-tat!"
As the coaxial and bow machine guns began their relentless barrage, the dense hail of bullets struck the charging Russian cavalrymen like an invisible wall.
Brave Russian cavalrymen and their steeds were mercilessly shattered against this unseen barrier.
"Machine guns! Those German iron monsters are equipped with machine guns!"
"There are too many guns, their firepower is overwhelming; we cannot break through!"
The confidence that once adorned the faces of the Russian Cossacks evaporated, replaced by sheer terror.
Faced with the formidable firepower of the 8th Armored Division's tanks, they could not advance.
A significant number of Russian cavalry suffered catastrophic losses in the face of the 8th Armored Division's might. As the cavalry fell, those who followed were gunned down mercilessly.
The remaining Russian cavalry, gripped by fear, pulled on the reins of their mounts, unwilling to advance further.
Meanwhile, the tanks of the 8th Armored Division continued their relentless approach, employing cannon fire and machine guns to harvest the lives of Russian cavalrymen.
Under such relentless assault, the Russian cavalry quickly crumbled, their remnants fleeing in disarray.
As for the Russian infantry, they had long since retreated. If the Cossack cavalry could not withstand those iron monsters, what hope did they have?
The last opportunity for the Russians was extinguished by the 8th Armored Division. They had no escape left.