"Retreat! Quickly, take cover in the woods!" shouted the Russian officers, their voices strained with urgency.
Amidst the German air assault, the losses among the Russian artillery were catastrophic. If this continued, their artillery units would be decimated. Once they were completely gone, holding the defensive line would become an insurmountable challenge.
However, they had failed to notice the appearance of the German Air Force until it was too late to evacuate. The German aircraft descended upon the Russian artillery positions like hungry wolves.
The bombers unleashed their payloads upon the Russian artillery, inflicting tremendous damage. Meanwhile, the fighters also joined the fray. Although their wings could carry only small bombs, the fire from their aircraft guns posed a lethal threat to the artillery crews.
"Rat-a-tat-tat!" A fighter jet swept over the retreating Russian gunners, its barrage of bullets claiming the lives of numerous soldiers, while sparks flew as bullets struck the Russian cannons.
"Ah! Ah!" The air was filled with the screams of the dying, as countless Russian artillerymen fell under the relentless fire of the German fighters.
At this moment, the battlefield had devolved into a slaughter of Russian gunners by the German air fleet. A significant number of Russian artillery pieces were obliterated, and many gunners were killed. The artillery deployed by the Russian 4th Army at Khayum was left with almost no survivors. Their effectiveness in the ensuing battles would undoubtedly be diminished.
Once the aircraft of the German 8th Air Force had expended all their bombs and ammunition, they departed in triumphant swagger, leaving behind a devastated landscape and distraught Russian commanders.
"General, our artillery has suffered severe losses. The German bombardment, combined with their air strikes, has decimated our forces by over eighty percent," reported the Russian artillery commander, his expression filled with despair.
General Dmitriev's face darkened, a grim reflection of the situation. The sudden deployment of the German air fleet had delivered a significant blow. They were acutely aware of the prowess of the German artillery. The loss of their own fire support meant that the forward positions would likely be subjected to unrestrained German bombardment, further exacerbating their crisis. It was clear that their hold on Khayum would be tenuous at best.
"The German planes are truly formidable. No wonder the 9th Army was rendered immobile under their onslaught," remarked a Russian general.
"Now, not only do the Germans possess a powerful tank division, but they also have superior artillery and air support. Can we truly hold our ground here?" another general expressed his despondency.
General Dmitriev, too, felt the weight of pessimism. Although the Germans had only deployed a few tens of thousands—approximately half of their own numbers—the technological superiority of the Germans was indisputable. This made it exceedingly difficult to fulfill General Ivanov's orders to hold their position for two weeks.
Nonetheless, as the commander of the 4th Army, General Dmitriev could not allow himself to display such a defeatist attitude. To do so would be detrimental to future operations. If they lost faith, there would be no point in continuing the fight.
"Gentlemen, the Germans are indeed powerful, but we are not devoid of opportunity. Their manpower has always been their Achilles' heel. We can leverage our strong defensive line to repel their assaults. If we can eliminate their active forces, they will be unable to sustain their offensive. I have already decided to call in the 22nd Army for reinforcement. This will give us an additional advantage in numbers. Though defeating the Germans is no small task, holding Khayum should not pose an insurmountable challenge," declared General Dmitriev.
"Yes, General," the officers replied, buoyed by his words, finding some renewed confidence.
Unbeknownst to them, however, their optimism would soon be shattered by the German onslaught.
At the German command post, General Zekt had been observing the aerial display. As they witnessed the systematic destruction of the Russian artillery positions, they could not help but smile.
"General, the Russian artillery is finished. Should we extend our bombardment preparation time?" a brigadier general inquired.
Zekt nodded, "Extend it by another half hour. After that, the armored divisions and infantry will advance to decisively breach the Russian defenses!"
"Yes, General," came the chorus of agreement.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The German artillery continued its relentless bombardment, striking at the Russian positions, causing immense destruction and dismantling the defenses, paving the way for the forthcoming armored and infantry assault.
By the time the German bombardment concluded, the Russian positions lay in utter disarray. Craters dotted the landscape, and scattered corpses and dismembered limbs were strewn everywhere. The Russian defenses had been nearly obliterated, as though plowed by a giant implement.
"Advance!" At that moment, General Zekt issued the command to attack.
Over a hundred tanks from the 8th Armored Division surged forth, charging towards the Russian lines, followed by thousands of infantry.
The tanks formed a dark, unyielding tide of steel as they barreled toward the Russian defenses. Whether the Russian lines could withstand the German armored assault was uncertain; even an intact Russian defense might struggle, let alone these already ravaged positions. The outcome was all but predetermined.
"Charge! Tear apart the Russian defenses, crush them, kill them!" Colonel Rommel commanded from his command vehicle.
The thunderous roar of engines accompanied the advance of the tanks and thousands of infantry as they surged toward the Russian positions.