"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Both sides' artillery units exerted themselves to the utmost, unleashing shells with fervor. The Russian forces aimed to obliterate the German defenses, clearing a path for their infantry's advance, while the Germans sought to suppress the Russian artillery positions with heavy bombardment, preventing significant damage to their own lines.
Although the artillerymen could not see one another, the intensity of the battle was undeniable. The ferocity of the shelling meant that a single hit could result in utter annihilation.
"Boom!" A 150mm shell struck a Russian artillery position, creating a crater in its center, sending several 76.2mm field guns flying, while the artillerymen were reduced to mere fragments.
The German bombardment was precise, guided by observation balloons that enabled them to accurately hit Russian artillery placements, resulting in a sharp increase in Russian casualties.
Within merely half an hour of combat, Russian artillery had to cease fire, for fear of total annihilation.
"Order the infantry to advance!" Reluctantly, General Rytseski commanded an early assault. He had intended to conduct a prolonged artillery preparation, but that would risk losing all their artillery—a significant disadvantage for subsequent operations.
"Understood, General," replied a lieutenant general with a nod.
Moments later, over thirty thousand Russian soldiers surged towards the German positions. The emaciated troops brandished bayoneted rifles, rushing chaotically toward the enemy lines without any semblance of formation. Though they shouted "Ura!" with fervor, the actual impact of their advance was questionable.
Observing the frontline through his telescope, the commander of the German 20th Army couldn't help but chuckle at the Russian charge.
"To be honest, I envy the Russians," remarked General Mackensen.
"Why is that, sir?" inquired one of his bewildered officers.
"Their vast population allows them to disregard the lives of ordinary soldiers, sending them into battle with reckless abandon. For us in the German Empire, each soldier's life is invaluable. We must painstakingly train them and equip them with the best weaponry to ensure their survival in combat. It's far more cumbersome than simply throwing wave after wave of men into the fray as the Russians do!" sighed Mackensen.
The other German officers chuckled in agreement. Indeed, the vast Russian population afforded them a surplus of troops, making them indifferent to the losses of ordinary soldiers. Germany, however, had to value each life, resulting in a focus on training and equipping every soldier to be elite.
Of course, it was clear that Mackensen was mocking the Russians; had they not possessed such a population and military force, they might have been defeated long ago, and their status as one of the world's great powers would be unthinkable.
"Relay orders to the frontline: prepare for battle! With such overwhelming numbers, we will not hold back—eliminate them all!" Mackensen commanded, his expression cold and devoid of regard for the Russian lives at stake.
"Yes, General."
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The Russian assault had scarcely begun when it was met with a ferocious counter-barrage from the Germans. The artillery battalions of the infantry divisions had previously withheld fire, reserving their shells for the advancing Russian infantry.
The German 75mm field guns, a modified version of the French 75, had been lightened and made more reliable, yet retained a maximum firing rate of fifteen rounds per minute.
Over a hundred 75mm field guns unleashed a torrent of shells upon the advancing Russian forces, creating a rain of destruction that tore through their ranks.
With each explosion, a wave of carnage swept through the Russian lines, claiming countless lives. However, the sheer number of Russian troops rendered this devastation largely ineffective. Ignoring the threat of death, the soldiers pressed onward, heads down, until they, too, were engulfed by the explosion.
"Damn those Germans! How could they have prepared so many cannons? It's infuriating!" General Rytseski cursed, witnessing the heavy toll taken on his troops.
"Sir, there is little we can do. The Germans have superior artillery power to begin with, and now they've equipped their infantry with heavy 150mm guns—we're left far behind," the Russian artillery commander lamented.
Rytseski nodded, feeling helpless. The disparity in national resources was evident, and as soldiers, they had no means to alter their fate.
"Fire!"
Soon, the mortars from the German positions joined in, raining down shells into the Russian ranks, harvesting more lives.
Although mortars lacked immense power, the Germans deployed a significant number of these rapid-firing, high-arching weapons. They had become one of the best forms of infantry support for the German forces.
"Rat-a-tat-tat!"
After enduring horrendous casualties, the Russians managed to close within two to three hundred meters of the German lines. Yet, the multitude of general and squad machine guns unleashed a hail of fire.
The barrage created an impenetrable curtain of bullets; the Russian forces crashed into it. However, mere flesh could not withstand steel. The outcome was grim—those advancing soldiers fell like wheat before the scythe, cut down en masse by the concentrated German fire.
"The slaughter has begun! Watching these Russians march to their doom is quite a spectacle!" Mackensen sighed.
"Indeed, General, as you've pointed out, the sheer volume of Russian troops makes such a slaughter feasible. Without it, how could we hope to achieve victory?" a brigadier general remarked.
"Ha! Let the Russians smash against our defenses until they're bloodied and broken!" Mackensen laughed heartily.