General Ivanov, the commander of the Russian Southwest Front, departed from Stavka and hurried back to his forward command post in Strezh. However, throughout his journey, his expression remained grim.
As a front-line commander, encountering a formidable adversary like the German Eighth Army Corps was bound to evoke such a reaction. The Eighth Corps had already demonstrated its might through a series of dazzling victories, leaving Ivanov deeply concerned that his forces might swiftly succumb to their onslaught.
Upon returning to Strezh, Ivanov immediately summoned the officers of the army staff to devise a strategy against the German Eighth Corps. He then relentlessly called for the commanders of the subordinate army groups. The impending attack from the Eighth Corps was a grave matter; they had to withstand the German assault and even find a way to emerge victorious. Otherwise, all their previous efforts would be rendered futile.
"Gentlemen, we face a grave predicament. The German Eighth Corps is advancing southward, and they are targeting us!" Ivanov stated, bitterness etched on his face as he surveyed his subordinates.
"The Eighth Corps? The one that annihilated the entire Northwest Front?" exclaimed General Dmitriev, the commander of the Fourth Army, his face a mask of horror. Situated at the northernmost point of the Southwest Front, his army would likely bear the brunt of the Eighth Corps' attack.
The defeat of four army groups from the Northwest Front at the hands of the Eighth Corps undeniably attested to its formidable combat capabilities. Dmitriev was far from confident that his Fourth Army could withstand such an assault, despite the fact that it boasted over three hundred thousand troops—approximately sixty percent more than the Eighth Corps.
"Oh God! Are the Germans intervening in our battle with the Austro-Hungarians?" other commanders remarked, their expressions reflecting distress.
Previously, the Southwest Front had maintained the upper hand against the Austro-Hungarian army, overpowering them with ease. This had brought great satisfaction to the Russian commanders, as defeating such a well-equipped adversary was a source of pride.
But now that the Germans had entered the fray, everything had changed. If they did not respond effectively, they risked losing the battle, a disheartening prospect for them.
"General, the Eighth Corps is advancing southward. Do they not need to defend East Prussia?" inquired General Rusky, commander of the Third Army.
"The Germans have concentrated their forces in East Prussia and Poland to guard against our advances. The Northwest Front has suffered devastating losses, and our mobilization is far from complete. Consequently, we lack the strength to launch an offensive against East Prussia and Poland. Our most pressing issue now is how to withstand the German Eighth Corps' attack. If we fail to do so, the consequences, as we all know, would be dire," Ivanov replied.
"How can we withstand them? The First, Second, Ninth, and Second Guards Army Corps were all vanquished by the Eighth Corps in just over a month. Their formidable combat power means we would need to deploy the entire Southwest Front to hold them at bay. Otherwise, resisting their assault is utterly impossible," General Brusilov, commander of the Eighth Army, shook his head.
"Indeed, General. The Germans' tank divisions exhibit exceptional assault capabilities, and we have no means to counter them. According to previous intelligence, unless we can deliver direct hits with heavy artillery, our only recourse would be to have soldiers launch suicide attacks with explosives against their tanks," lamented General Serivanov, commander of the Eleventh Army.
After the Northwest Front's defeat, a steady stream of intelligence regarding the German Eighth Corps had reached the Russian commanders, leaving them in awe of its strength. Undoubtedly, the most pressing concern was the Eighth Armored Division, which had garnered considerable fame in this conflict. However, the Russians had yet to devise a countermeasure against the German armored units, putting them at a distinct disadvantage in battle.
"Regarding the German tank divisions, our military factories are working diligently. We are also coordinating with the British and French to procure weapons capable of countering the Germans' tanks. Unfortunately, for now, these resources remain unavailable. Therefore, we must devise our own strategies to confront the German Eighth Corps. I firmly believe that, no matter how formidable the Eighth Corps may be, the Southwest Front is not to be underestimated. We will not be easily defeated as the Northwest Front was," Ivanov asserted.
"Indeed, General," all the Russian commanders replied. Yet, Ivanov could still discern their underlying trepidation through their expressions.
Shortly thereafter, the staff of the Southwest Front proposed two operational plans. One was conservative, while the other was audacious, even bordering on reckless.
The conservative strategy called for the Southwest Front to adopt a comprehensive defensive posture, consolidating two army groups to confront the German Eighth Corps, while the other two would counter the Austro-Hungarian advance. Once the Thirteenth Army arrived, they could contemplate a counteroffensive. However, it remained uncertain whether the two army groups could withstand the Eighth Corps' onslaught.
The bolder operational plan involved using one army group to fend off the German Eighth Corps while the other three launched a full-scale attack against the Austro-Hungarians, aiming to defeat them before the Germans could secure victory. Should the Austro-Hungarians be thoroughly vanquished, the Southwest Front would then be able to concentrate its main force against the German Eighth Corps, possibly creating an opportunity for triumph.