On the evening of September 12, at the headquarters of the Russian Guards' 2nd Army Corps, the assault by German forces ceased as the sun set, granting the beleaguered Corps a momentary reprieve.
"General, the situation is increasingly dire for us. We must devise a plan," suggested a lieutenant general.
"I am aware! It is unimaginable how formidable the German onslaught has been. Perhaps our alliance with the Entente against Germany was a grave mistake," lamented General Kravopovich.
Yet, which side Russia fought for was beyond his control. Even as a high-ranking general, he held no sway over such national matters, especially when Tsar Nicholas II was not one to heed counsel. The plight of the Russian Guards' 2nd Army Corps was indeed dire, having suffered nearly half their forces while the German army steadily encroached, shrinking their options for survival. The remaining troops were mostly encircled, and should the Germans eliminate their remaining strength, the fate of the Corps would be sealed.
Initially, Kravopovich had pinned his hopes on the Russian 9th Army Corps, wishing for a timely breakthrough to their aid. However, the 9th Corps was firmly stymied at Shedeltse, unable to advance northward, extinguishing Kravopovich's hopes.
Moreover, he grasped the overwhelming might of the Germans; even when engaged with an enemy force twice their number, the Germans maintained a solid advantage, swiftly nearing victory. Under such circumstances, how could they possibly triumph over the Germans?
"Cursed Ivan Jilinski! It is all his fault. If he had not coerced us towards Warsaw, we would not have fallen into the Germans' trap. None of this would have occurred," Kravopovich seethed. Had Jilinski dared to appear before him, he would have shot him without hesitation.
Seemingly aware of his blunder, Jilinski had retreated to Warsaw, refusing to send further telegrams. Nevertheless, the predicament of the 2nd and 9th Corps remained unchanged.
"General, should we attempt a breakout?" proposed one officer.
"A breakout? With how many troops left in the Guards' 6th Army?" another officer scoffed.
The first officer fell silent. Indeed, although half of the Guards' 2nd Corps still fought, those remaining were largely surrounded by the Germans. Amidst the chaos, communication was nearly impossible, rendering any coordinated effort to regroup futile, let alone attempt a breakout.
"What shall we do then? Shall we simply await our demise?"
No one wished to wait for death, but alternatives were scant. With no capacity for a breakout, their only option was to hold their positions and wait for the German assault.
"General, a telegram from General Letzsky," an aide announced, handing Kravopovich a message.
After reading the telegram, a bitter smile crept across Kravopovich's face.
"What does General Letzsky say?" the gathered officers inquired.
"He states that the 9th Corps has exerted every effort, yet the German defenses are formidable. They have suffered grievously, with losses exceeding fifty thousand," Kravopovich reported.
"Is the 9th Corps considering retreat?" one officer asked, though they found the notion hard to accept.
"Then what shall we do now?"
With the 9th Corps seemingly prepared to give up, they had lost their last chance.
"Send telegrams to all accessible units, instructing them to break east at dawn tomorrow. As for the chances of success, we shall leave that to divine providence. May God bless us!" Kravopovich declared.
"May God bless us!" the other Russian officers echoed.
Indeed, their only recourse was to pray for divine intervention.
On September 13, the encircled troops of the Russian Guards' 2nd Army Corps commenced a large-scale breakout. Their eyes were vacant, faces numb as they staggered forward, rifles in hand, urged onward by their officers against the German lines.
What awaited them was a torrent of German gunfire.
"Rat-tat-tat!"
German machine guns raked the advancing Russians down.
"Boom! Boom!"
Various artillery, mortars, and grenade launchers relentlessly bombarded the Russians, claiming their lives in droves.
"The Russians are making their final struggle; the pressure on the 17th Army is immense," reported Major Ludendorff to QinTian.
"Ask General Zeckert if the 17th Army can withstand the Russian assault," QinTian instructed.
"Yes, General," Ludendorff nodded.
Both understood that the 17th Army's ability to resist the Russians would determine whether they could entirely annihilate the Guards' 2nd Army Corps in this battle.
Fortunately, while the 17th Army faced substantial pressure, it was not insurmountable. Despite the fierce Russian assault, the lack of unified command rendered their efforts disjointed, merely causing minor inconveniences for the Germans.
The massive Russian counteroffensive continued for most of the day before finally tapering off. The severe losses incurred left the Russians unable to sustain their attack.
When the Russians had to cease their breakout, it signified their failure. From that point onward, they awaited their doom.
On September 14, the fighting drew to a close. The Russian Guards' 2nd Army Corps had only a handful of soldiers escape the encirclement; the rest were annihilated or captured by the Germans, including General Kravopovich himself.