Płock, a quaint town nestled along the banks of the Vistula River, stood as a crucial waypoint for the advancing Russian army. A day's march southeast from Płock would bring them to Lublin, and from there, they could approach the location of the Russian Southwest Front without much distance left to traverse.
However, Płock was now firmly in German hands. The 8th Panzer Division, alongside the 24th Infantry Division of the 11th Army, which had taken a southern detour by truck, had swiftly seized control of this vital city.
The Germans had paid a steep price for their rapid occupation of Płock. By the time the 8th Panzer Division arrived, fewer than a hundred tanks remained operational, a figure salvaged through the painstaking search for intact parts among the wreckage of other tanks. Without this effort, that number would have been halved.
Despite these losses, they had successfully achieved their strategic objective: blocking the southern advance of the Russian 9th Army Group. Now, they only needed to tighten the noose and eliminate the threat.
Just an hour after the Germans took Płock, a troop of Cossack cavalry appeared on the outskirts. However, upon seeing the Germans fortifying their defenses, their faces fell, and they promptly retreated.
The news of Płock's occupation quickly reached General Lezetsky.
"Damn it! How could the Germans move so swiftly?" he exclaimed, unable to accept this turn of events. He had anticipated that even with their nocturnal withdrawal, they had over a day's head start from the main German forces. To Lezetsky, it had seemed entirely plausible that they could escape Poland before being caught. Now, however, it seemed that their efforts were in vain.
"General, the Cossacks have confirmed that Płock has fallen to the Germans," reported a cavalry commander.
"Should we cross the Vistula River and move south along its banks?" someone suggested.
"That won't work. We're only twenty kilometers from Płock. If we cross the river, the Germans will certainly know and follow us, likely intercepting us again. Furthermore, if they attack while we're crossing, the situation will become even more dire," another officer countered.
"Are we just going to wait here to die?" one officer grumbled in discontent.
"General, why don't we launch an immediate attack while the Germans are still establishing themselves in Płock? They're busy digging fortifications, and if we give them time, they will construct formidable defenses. We must act now, while we still have a chance to break through their lines," suggested a cavalry commander.
"Yes! At Siedlce, the Germans demonstrated just how terrifying their firepower could be if we allowed them to fortify their position. We must not give them the opportunity to strengthen Płock's defenses," an infantry general agreed.
This suggestion found favor among the other commanders, who believed that a prompt assault offered their only hope of seizing Płock and escaping. Delaying further would only allow the Germans to entrench themselves, and the pursuing forces would be closing in. If that happened, their chances would vanish entirely.
"General, we cannot hesitate any longer. Any further delay will only worsen our situation!"
Lezetsky pondered briefly before nodding. "Very well, we will launch an attack on Płock immediately. Tell the soldiers that if they wish to survive, they must take Płock. Otherwise, we face certain death!"
"Yes, General."
With Lezetsky's orders issued, the remaining forces of the Russian 9th Army Group began their march south, determined to take Płock by storm.
Lezetsky believed that although the Germans had occupied Płock first, they were likely only a small detachment and not the main forces. Thus, he felt confident that an all-out attack could still reclaim the town.
Two hours later, the Russian troops reached Płock, and the Germans were still engaged in constructing their defenses. Despite their efforts, the Germans had yet to dig proper trenches, and no substantial fortifications had been completed. To the meticulous Germans, such works were unfinished and inadequate. Yet, unfortunately for them, the Russians would not afford them the luxury of time; battle was imminent. The Russians knew that if they allowed the Germans to fortify their position, recapturing Płock would become impossible, sealing their fate.
"Warriors of the Russian Empire, we are trapped between enemy lines and pursuing forces. If we do not fight with all our strength, we will all perish. The Germans are ruthless and will not spare us. Our only chance for survival lies in breaking through their defenses. Ahead lies the German line. We have no retreat!"
The lower-ranking Russian officers fervently urged their frightened soldiers, igniting their fighting spirit and encouraging them to battle fiercely. Only through such valor might they grasp a glimmer of victory; otherwise, they faced certain doom.
Despite their lack of formal education, the Russian soldiers were not fools. After several recent engagements, they understood that they were no match for the Germans. They felt as though they were being systematically consumed. With no other options available, they obeyed their commanders' orders to advance until they were struck down by enemy fire.
"Attack!"
With the command given, twenty thousand Russian soldiers surged into battle.
Their once-numb faces were etched with despair. Any soldier who had participated in the Battle of Siedlce knew that assaulting the German defenses was akin to seeking death.
"Ura! Ura!"
The Russian soldiers shouted their battle cries as they charged toward the German positions, fully aware that this attack was likely a suicide mission, yet they had no other choice.