The tank's turret turned slowly, swiftly locking onto the Russian machine gun that was firing.
"Boom!"
An orange blaze erupted from the tank's muzzle, and in the blink of an eye, a shell struck the Russian heavy machine gun.
In the ensuing explosion, the machine gun was annihilated, along with the courageous Russian soldier who manned it, reduced to mere fragments.
An increasing number of German tanks breached the Russian defenses, charging onto their positions and commencing a merciless slaughter of the Russian troops with machine gun and cannon fire.
The battle had become utterly one-sided. Confronted by the might of the German armored units, the Russians found themselves powerless to retaliate.
While most Russian soldiers were paralyzed with fear and scattered in disarray, it must be acknowledged that a significant few remained undaunted. Clutching hand grenades, they attempted to destroy the German tanks.
Yet, these valiant Russian soldiers were ultimately doomed to failure, met with a deluge of gunfire from the German tanks.
Many soldiers, armed with hand grenades, were cut down before they could reach the German tanks.
Particularly after the accompanying infantry infiltrated the Russian positions, the Russians had even less chance to threaten the German tanks. Although the cooperation between infantry and tanks was just beginning, they had already discerned effective tactics. The tanks provided cover for the advancing infantry, while the infantry shielded the tanks from suicidal assaults by Russian soldiers. This synergistic strategy allowed the Germans to easily overpower the Russians with a minimal force.
"General, the 8th Armored Division has successfully breached the Russian lines and is currently expanding its gains," a staff officer reported to General François.
"Deploy two additional infantry divisions to support the 8th Armored Division as it continues its advance against the Russians. We must strive to obliterate them in one decisive blow, leaving them unable to organize a formidable defense," François commanded.
If they could completely rout the Russian 2nd Guards Army in this battle, the Germans would secure victory and could then contemplate how to maximize their gains.
"Yes, General," the staff officer promptly executed the orders.
Two infantry divisions, long prepared for battle, swiftly entered the fray, rendering the already breached Russian positions even more incapable of organizing a defense.
Following the assault by the 8th Armored Division, the Russian front lines collapsed within less than an hour. The ground was strewn with the bodies of Russian soldiers, many of whom were horrifically dismembered—either torn apart by artillery fire or crushed under German tanks.
The German tanks rolled over these fallen soldiers, their heavy treads obliterating the remains of the Russian troops. Blood flowed freely, transforming the soil into a quagmire.
After breaching the Russian front lines, the Germans did not pause. The 8th Armored Division continued its relentless advance into Russian territory. Although some tanks experienced mechanical failures during the battle and had to halt, the majority continued their advance, and the combat effectiveness of the 8th Armored Division remained largely intact.
It is important to note that to enhance the reliability of the tanks, Qin Tian had mandated the German munitions company to continually improve existing designs, simplifying components to create a more straightforward and reliable structure. Qin Tian was determined that the tanks they would deploy would not become akin to delicate precision instruments.
In another timeline, the German tanks of World War II were renowned for their exceptional performance. However, their greatest flaw was undoubtedly their excessive complexity, rendering maintenance a nightmare. Furthermore, the intricate construction required significantly more labor hours. The time taken to build a single German tank could yield several T-34s for the Soviets. This disparity meant that although the German Tiger and Panther tanks outperformed the Soviet T-34s, they ultimately succumbed to the overwhelming tide of T-34s.
Qin Tian hoped that in this timeline, the Germans could avoid such a fate. Thus, from the outset, he insisted that once the tanks were developed, subsequent modifications must focus on simplification, reducing manufacturing time, and enhancing reliability.
In response to Qin Tian's demands, the German munitions company began research in this area. Thus far, the results seemed promising. Qin Tian was confident that with the technological prowess of the German Empire, if they avoided missteps, they would significantly outpace other nations in terms of weaponry. After all, with someone like him possessing insider knowledge, it would be unforgivable for Germany not to achieve this.
The continued offensive by the Germans was not a favorable development for the Russian 2nd Guards Army. They found themselves unable to withstand the German assault, allowing the Germans to effortlessly breach their lines one after another.
The command center of the Russian 2nd Guards Army was now in chaos. A relentless stream of bad news from the front instilled fear and panic among the Russian commanders.
"General, the Germans have breached our front lines. Their armored units are too formidable; we are utterly powerless to halt their advance. The losses among the frontline troops are staggering. The Germans are now attacking our second line of defense. Given their offensive capabilities, it is merely a matter of time before they breach it," reported one Russian officer.
"Damn it! We are the mightiest force of the Russian Empire, yet we cannot even mount a modest defense against the Germans?" General Kravovich exclaimed, furious.
"General, it is beyond our capabilities. We are utterly unable to contend with the German armored units and lack the weaponry to counter their tanks. Our defenses are like paper against their onslaught, easily shattered," a despondent officer lamented.
General Kravovich sighed, now fully grasping the meaning of a rout. The Russian 2nd Guards Army found itself in dire straits.