"Quick! Quick! To the positions! The German attack has begun!" the Russian frontline commander shouted hoarsely.
One by one, the remaining gun emplacements were opened, and the Russian soldiers scurried out like frightened mice. Driven by their lower-ranking officers, they entered the positions like cattle, preparing to withstand the German onslaught.
Though these soldiers understood all too well the formidable strength of the Germans, and that combat would likely result in their demise, they had no alternative but to grit their teeth and fight. The only solace they could find was in fervently praying to God for survival on the battlefield.
Amidst the fierce bombardment from the Germans, the Russian forces suffered significant losses, and the defensive positions were rendered increasingly ineffective.
"My God! What is that? Is that the German tanks?"
"I've heard that the Northwest Front was decimated by the German tank divisions. Can we withstand their assault?"
For many soldiers of the Russian 4th Front, it was their first encounter with the German armored divisions. Several turned pale with fear, viewing the rumbling tanks that loomed closer as monstrous beasts poised to devour them. Some were so terrified they wet themselves at the sight.
"Stay calm! In front of our line, there are anti-tank trenches. The German tanks cannot cross them and thus cannot breach our positions!" the Russian officers reassured, alleviating some of the soldiers' anxiety. However, the dread of being consumed by those ominous tanks lingered.
"Open fire!" As the German tanks closed to within five hundred meters, the frontline commander, seemingly unable to bear the mounting pressure, gave the order to engage.
The remaining machine guns and mortars on the Russian positions began to fire.
"Rat-a-tat-tat!"
A hail of bullets swept toward the German tanks like a storm. The rounds struck the armored hulls with a ringing clatter. Yet, aside from the occasional spark, they had little impact, as the tanks continued their advance unimpeded.
Conversely, many of the German infantry following the tanks were hit, collapsing in cries of agony.
"Destroy the Russian machine gun positions! Eliminate them!" Colonel Rommel commanded.
One by one, the tanks began to rotate their turrets, targeting the Russian strongpoints for attack.
"Boom!" A tank fired, its 37mm cannon shell seemingly guided by fate, striking a Russian machine gun position in action.
The explosion obliterated the Russian gun nest, sending debris into the air.
Other tanks quickly followed suit, reducing the remaining Russian positions, which had barely survived the initial bombardment, to rubble under the relentless German assault.
"Boom!" A Russian mortar managed to hit a German tank, the shell striking its frontal armor.
"Long live! We've hit a German tank!" the Russian gunners cheered.
However, their jubilation was short-lived. The struck German tank appeared unharmed, continuing its advance while its turret rotated, seemingly searching for the enemy's position.
In no time, it locked onto its target.
"Prepare high-explosive shells!" commanded the tank commander.
The loader inserted a shell into the breech and closed the breach. The driver halted the vehicle as the gunner seized the moment to fire.
"Boom!"
With the tremor of the vehicle, the shell flew from the cannon. The next moment, the Russian mortar was struck, not only destroying the mortar but also killing the Russian crew.
"Oh God! The German tanks are impervious to destruction! How can we withstand their assault?"
Witnessing this scene, many Russian soldiers felt their hearts sink; the performance of the German tanks was overwhelmingly superior, rendering them virtually helpless. Even some previously steadfast Russian officers felt their confidence waver.
As the German tanks advanced and fired, they systematically eliminated Russian strongpoints, diminishing the threat posed by the Russians.
Soon, the German armored divisions arrived at the Russian anti-tank trenches. The wide trenches prevented the tanks from crossing, forcing them to halt.
Seeing their trenches thwarting the German advance brought a flicker of hope to the Russian faces.
"Have the engineers bring in trucks loaded with dirt and stones to create a path. The other tanks must continue their assault to prevent the Russians from interfering with our engineers!" Colonel Rommel commanded.
Minutes later, a convoy of trucks laden with earth, accompanied by two bulldozers converted from tank chassis, arrived on the battlefield.
The trucks dumped their loads beside the anti-tank trench, while the bulldozers pushed the earth into the trench, creating a passage.
The Russian soldiers watched in disbelief at the Germans' actions. If the anti-tank trenches were filled, how could they resist the German tanks? Their defenses would be easily breached.
"Stop the Germans! Quickly, stop them! We cannot allow them to fill the anti-tank trenches; otherwise, we're doomed!" a Russian officer shouted in panic.
The Russians opened fire with mortars and heavy machine guns at the working German engineers. However, as soon as they began firing, they were met with retaliatory fire from German tanks, resulting in the destruction of a few German trucks and the deaths of some engineers, but little else.
In barely twenty minutes, the German engineers had filled two passages through the Russian anti-tank trench. Tanks rolled through these gaps, charging toward the Russian defenses just a hundred meters away, intent on tearing through their lines and crushing them.
"Oh God! How can we possibly withstand the Germans?" the Russian officers and soldiers exclaimed in horror at the unfolding calamity.