"Oh God! Those damned Germans have breached our anti-tank trenches! Open fire, stop them!" The faces of the Russian commanders turned ashen. Before the battle began, they had been confident in their trenches, believing they could halt the advance of the German armored divisions.
However, they had underestimated the Germans, who effortlessly dismantled their tactics. The ominous black tanks were now advancing toward their defenses, poised to launch an attack.
In the absence of adequate anti-tank weaponry, relying solely on trenches to withstand the onslaught of German armor was nearly impossible; at best, it would only cause minor inconveniences.
"Advance! Break through the Russian lines and crush them completely!" Colonel Rommel maintained an icy demeanor.
After the outbreak of hostilities, the 8th Armored Division had already obliterated countless Russian defenses, and this time would be no different. The fragile Russian lines were utterly incapable of stopping the relentless advance of the 8th Armored Division; the tracks of their tanks would reduce everything to rubble.
"Rat-a-tat-tat!" The machine guns on the Russian positions fired frantically, bullets tearing toward the German tanks. Yet, aside from stripping the paint, they failed to penetrate the thick armor of the vehicles.
"Boom!" The tanks retaliated. A shell struck a Russian machine gun position with pinpoint accuracy, reducing it to a heap of scrap.
"Rat-a-tat-tat!" The forward-mounted and coaxial machine guns of the tanks unleashed a torrent of fire, suppressing the Russian defenders so thoroughly that they could barely lift their heads, let alone mount a counterattack.
Under the assault of the German armored forces, the Russian defenses began to falter, and it seemed only a matter of time before they would be breached.
The infantry following closely behind the armored units advanced under the cover of the tanks, closing in on the Russian lines. They would soon breach the defenses and provide protection for the tanks, as the Russian forces were likely to resort to desperate, suicidal attacks once the tanks penetrated their positions—their only remaining method of countering the German threat.
In the command post within Haum City, the atmosphere grew tense. It was only the first day of battle, yet the situation was extremely dire for the Russians, causing great concern among the generals of the 4th Army.
"General, the current situation is very unfavorable for us. The German assault is advancing rapidly. Their tanks have already breached our anti-tank trenches and are about to attack our forward positions," reported a major general.
"How could it happen so quickly? Did our anti-tank trenches prove entirely ineffective?" Such a result was hard for General Dmitriev to comprehend. He knew that if they could not halt the German tanks, their defenses would be as fragile as paper.
"General, the Germans directly used several trucks loaded with earth and stones to fill our trenches, creating two pathways. We had no means to stop them," the major general grimaced.
"Damn it! How could those Germans come up with such a tactic?" General Dmitriev felt speechless, as if he had thrown a carefully prepared punch only to hit cotton.
"General, our outer defenses may not withstand the Germans for long; they will soon penetrate Haum City. It is no longer safe here. Please, we urge you to retreat before the Germans enter Haum," another major general urged.
Once the Germans stormed into the city and engaged in urban combat, the Russian commanders had little confidence in their chances of victory. Thus, they hoped General Dmitriev would withdraw to a safer location.
Dmitriev considered opposing this notion, but as he thought about the imminent threat of urban warfare, he swallowed his objections.
"Very well, Generals Feodorov and Golovin, the battle here is now in your hands. Although the combat power of the German armored units is formidable, they will be constrained once they engage in urban combat. The narrow streets will limit their weaponry's effectiveness. Therefore, despite the current unfavorable situation, we can withstand the German assault, buying enough time for General Ivanov's victory," General Dmitriev instructed.
Though he was abandoning his troops at the very start of the battle, the thought of his own safety took precedence.
"Understood, General," replied Generals Feodorov and Golovin, nodding earnestly.
"I will expedite the 22nd Army's march; they should reach Haum by the day after tomorrow. With three armies and 150,000 men, we should be able to hold off the German advance," Dmitriev continued.
Generals Feodorov and Golovin shared this view. While the Germans were powerful, urban combat would diminish their advantage. They believed it was feasible to withstand the Germans for at least two weeks, and perhaps even defeat them through numerical superiority. Should that occur, they would achieve significant glory.
Once General Dmitriev finished his orders, he swiftly evacuated Haum, retreating to a safer position.
At that very moment, as General Dmitriev left Haum, the German armored units breached the Russian forward positions.
"Creak! Creak!" The tank treads ground the earth as they penetrated the Russian defenses.
"Run! The German tanks are coming!" The Russian soldiers on the front line, already terrified, bolted at the sight of the advancing German tanks.
"Rat-a-tat-tat!" The machine guns mounted on the German tanks opened fire, unleashing a hail of bullets that mowed down those fleeing Russian soldiers.
More and more tanks breached the Russian positions, their treads mercilessly crushing everything in their path. The Russian fortifications were obliterated, and those who failed to escape were reduced to mere pulp beneath the relentless advance.