Within the walls of Warsaw, the headquarters of the Russian Northwestern Army operated under a veil of anxiety. Since the near-total annihilation of the 1st and 2nd Armies, General Ivan Zhilinski found himself engulfed in dread, fearing that Tsar Nicholas II would issue an order for his arrest and execution. However, as the days unfolded without such a decree, Zhilinski felt a mix of relief and unease; after all, no one desires death.
Eventually, the Tsar's command arrived, merely rebuking Zhilinski without relieving him of his position. He was also informed of the dispatch of two additional army groups to reinforce the Polish front, now under his command. This gesture filled Zhilinski with gratitude, prompting him to assure Nicholas II through telegrams that he would defend Poland at all costs, even to the point of taking his own life should he fail.
Upon reading Zhilinski's messages, Nicholas II tossed them aside, unwilling to act against him, primarily due to the lack of suitable replacements. Zhilinski, a former Chief of the General Staff, commanded a level of respect that others might not be able to secure. Meanwhile, fellow Russian generals were equally reluctant to assume the burden of leadership in Poland, fully aware of the precarious situation. The German victories in East Prussia heralded an inevitable advance into Poland, and they all feared becoming the next casualty of German might.
"General Letsky and General Krapovich—when can we expect their arrival in Warsaw?" Zhilinski inquired anxiously. With German forces already at the gates, the delay of reinforcements was intolerable. The remnants of the Russian army inside Warsaw were too few to withstand an imminent assault. Following the devastating defeats in East Prussia, Zhilinski had developed a profound fear of the German military.
"Sir, the 9th Army remains in Lublin, and the 2nd Guards Army has just departed from Biała Podlaska," an officer reported.
"Damn it! Weren't they supposed to be en route to Warsaw yesterday? Why are they still on the road?" Zhilinski exploded in frustration.
His unease intensified with each passing moment. The Germans could strike at any time, and if Warsaw fell, his fate would undoubtedly be dire.
"General, the German artillery is preparing for bombardment; it seems they are about to attack Warsaw," an officer burst into the command center to inform Zhilinski.
"Cursed be it!" Zhilinski swore.
Suddenly, the city reverberated with the sounds of explosions as buildings crumbled under the relentless German shelling. The civilian population had fled long before the assault commenced, and the Germans made no effort to stop them. Thus, only Russian soldiers remained in the city, allowing the Germans to bombard without restraint.
A shell detonated near the Russian command post, causing Zhilinski's expression to darken further.
"Send a telegram to Generals Letsky and Krapovich, instructing them to arrive in Warsaw within three days. Failure to comply will result in my reporting their insubordination to His Majesty the Tsar. I shall see if they can bear the burden of defeat," Zhilinski declared ominously.
It was evident he intended to shift the blame. If he could hold them accountable for any impending disaster, he might extricate himself from the situation. The consequences of such actions were the least of his concerns.
"Yes, General," the communications officer promptly replied.
In Zhilinski's eyes, the sluggishness of Generals Letsky and Krapovich was a deliberate ploy to undermine him. If Warsaw fell and Poland perished, Nicholas II would undoubtedly seek retribution. Zhilinski was determined to protect his own life at all costs, even if it meant dragging others down with him.
"Two army groups, numbering over four hundred thousand, including an elite Guards group—surely, even against the Germans, we can hold Warsaw!" Zhilinski proclaimed.
"Yes, General. The Germans are indeed formidable, but the 2nd Guards Army is well-equipped and fiercely courageous. While we may falter in open combat, our defenses can transform Warsaw into a formidable fortress. Even their armored divisions will find it challenging to breach our lines," General Samsonov, commander of the 2nd Army, asserted.
Having narrowly escaped encirclement himself, Samsonov returned to Warsaw, albeit stripped of command. His close relationship with Zhilinski allowed him to retain a position at the Northwestern Army headquarters. Unlike others, he had not betrayed the Russian Empire in dire straits, which spared him the Tsar's wrath for the time being.
Nevertheless, this reprieve was temporary. Should the Russian forces suffer a crushing defeat in Poland, the enraged Nicholas II would not hesitate to hold them accountable. The Tsar had never been one to show mercy to the vanquished.