As the Russian 9th Army found itself stymied by the German 20th Army at Shiedelzai, the situation for the Russian Guard 2nd Army grew increasingly dire. The core forces of the German 8th Corps—the 11th Army, the 17th Army, and the 8th Armored Division—launched a more ferocious assault against them.
Leveraging the formidable striking power of the 8th Armored Division, the Russian Guard 2nd Army struggled to mount an effective defense; they often set up a defensive line only to have it obliterated by the 8th Armored Division. The entire 2nd Guard Army had descended into utter chaos, with its formations in complete disarray.
"Colonel Guderian, His Highness the Crown Prince has ordered the 8th Armored Division to continue its assaults and to sever the Russian forces. The infantry will follow closely behind to encircle and eliminate them," Major General François stated.
"Indeed, General. However, our tank losses are mounting rapidly. At this rate, if we maintain our current pace of attack, we will have no operational tanks left within three days," Colonel Guderian replied, a frown creasing his brow.
Although the reliability of their current tanks had vastly improved from the initial models, frequent combat often led to mechanical failures.
"The Crown Prince's directive is clear: as long as there is even one functioning tank, the offensive must not cease. Reinforcements have already arrived at the border. For every battalion you lose, you can immediately replace it," Major General François reassured him.
"Understood, General," Guderian nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over him.
The German 8th Armored Division fully executed Qin Tian's orders. They relentlessly assaulted the Russian forces, keeping the Guard 2nd Army under constant pressure and inflicting continual losses.
"Tat-tat-tat!"
A dozen tanks provided cover for an infantry battalion as they attacked a Russian infantry division's positions. This was not a fully staffed division but rather one that had already suffered severe losses. Despite their numerical superiority, they were unable to withstand the German tanks.
"Oh God! The Germans' tanks are here—run for your lives!" shouted a Russian soldier as he attempted to flee. However, bullets fired from the German tanks struck him in the back, piercing his body.
The tanks' treads invisibly pressed upon the Russian positions, sending Russian soldiers scattering amid their screams. The German tanks followed closely behind, machine guns blazing, causing Russian soldiers to collapse in droves. The tank treads rolled over the fallen, turning them into mere pulp.
German infantry trailed the tanks, safeguarding their flanks while eliminating any remaining enemies in the area.
Within half an hour, the battle concluded. The German forces captured the position, and the stationed Russian troops were once again defeated, suffering heavy casualties. More than two thousand Russian soldiers were taken prisoner, with at least a thousand killed.
"Oh God! This battle was far too easy. We just needed to follow behind the tanks and keep pressing the attack. Once we breached the Russians' positions, we merely had to wait to capture prisoners," remarked a German captain, a cigarette dangling from his lips, his face lit with satisfaction.
"Indeed! Under the brilliant leadership of His Highness the Crown Prince, our 8th Corps has become the most formidable division in the Imperial Army. The Russians dare to attack us? They are simply courting disaster," another German soldier proclaimed, his face awash with admiration for Qin Tian.
As the German forces continued to secure one victory after another, Qin Tian's influence within the army steadily grew. Such personal adulation often developed gradually under these circumstances.
"Everyone, take a moment to rest. In half an hour, we resume the assault!" called a major battalion commander as he approached.
"Yes, sir," the two men replied promptly.
"I truly envy those tankers; all they need to do is charge through in their tanks while we must trail behind them. By the end, if we're not shot by the Russians, we might just die from exhaustion," the captain lamented.
"Indeed! Those fellows are tucked away in their tanks, free from worry about Russian bullets," a lieutenant chimed in, his expression one of envy.
Certainly, armored troops had become the envy of the army, not only for their formidable presence in battle but also for the relative safety they enjoyed compared to infantry.
The German 8th Armored Division had now fragmented into battalion-sized units, aiding the infantry in their offensives. With their support, the Germans could mount assaults against the numerically superior Russian forces and achieve victory after victory.
Under the relentless tactical pressure from the Germans, the Russian Guard 2nd Army was continuously weakened. While this was a promising path to victory for the Germans, it was an agonizing ordeal for the Russians. Witnessing their forces gradually diminish and approach annihilation was profoundly distressing.
"Damn it! These cursed Germans have thrown the entire battlefield into chaos. What on earth are they doing?" General Krapovich found himself gripped by a profound sense of helplessness.
The Russian army's lack of radio communication exacerbated the confusion across the battlefield, rendering command exceedingly chaotic. General Krapovich's orders could only reach the division level, leaving lower units completely unmanageable. Such a situation was undeniably detrimental to effective command.
Yet, General Krapovich had no alternative. The entire Guard 2nd Army was in utter disarray under the onslaught of the German 8th Armored Division, with commanders unable to locate their troops and soldiers unable to find their superiors.
"General, the 18th Guard Infantry Division reports that aside from the division headquarters, all subordinate units have been completely overrun by the Germans," a staff officer reported.
"Damn it! Send a telegram to the subordinate infantry divisions, demanding they consolidate their forces immediately. We cannot allow the Germans to continue this unchecked!" General Krapovich commanded.
"Yes, General."
However, saying it was far easier than doing it! In the midst of such chaos on the battlefield, gathering troops was nearly impossible. German tanks were rampaging everywhere, and many Russian units were forced to surrender under these dire conditions. The Guard 2nd Army had long since found itself in a state of despair.