Within the confines of the city of Haiwum, Generals Fyodor and Golovin of the Russian 4th Army convened to deliberate on fortifying the city's defenses. The morning assault by the German forces had inflicted significant losses on their ranks, simultaneously underscoring the might of the Germans and revealing the stark reality that contending with them in open warfare was virtually impossible. Thus, urban combat remained their sole recourse.
"General Golovin, our remaining seventy thousand troops have all entered Haiwum. As a relatively small city, we can adequately deploy our forces along every defensive line. The Germans will find it impossible to defeat us as easily as they did outside the city," General Fyodor declared, a confident smile gracing his face.
"Indeed! The Germans are ultimately outnumbered. In the urban battlefield, their advantage in weaponry will be considerably diminished. The gap between our forces will not be as pronounced. If we execute this engagement well, we might have the opportunity to severely damage the Germans," Golovin responded with equal assurance.
"The crux of our strategy lies in neutralizing their tanks. Once we destroy them, the Germans' advantage will vanish. When our reinforcements arrive, we can launch a counteroffensive. I am eager to see how the Germans will respond to our assault without their armored support," Fyodor asserted.
They believed the Germans had easily breached Russian defenses solely due to their superior firepower and tank capabilities. With these advantages mitigated, the Russians, bolstered by their overwhelming numbers, felt that victory over the Germans was not unattainable.
"If the Germans dare to deploy their tanks within Haiwum, we will destroy them. I have ordered all units to prepare dedicated squads. Once the German tanks navigate the narrow streets, our volunteers will be poised with explosives to obliterate them," Golovin stated.
While such tactics were fraught with peril and brutality, offering little hope of survival for those involved, it was a necessary measure given their lack of alternatives. Fyodor nodded in agreement; while daring tank assaults in open combat had proven ineffective, the prospects in urban warfare were considerably brighter.
"Let us hope the arrogant Germans decide to send their tanks into urban combat!" Fyodor sighed. If the Germans refrained from entering the city, their options would be limited. However, should that occur, they could effectively delay the Germans. The operational directives from General Ivanov would then be easily achievable.
On the afternoon of October 7, 1914, the German 17th Army, part of the 8th Corps, swept aside the Russian outer defenses and launched a direct attack on the forces stationed within Haiwum.
However, the German assault that afternoon did not involve infantry storming the city to engage in fierce street fighting, but rather, a devastating artillery bombardment of Haiwum.
The 17th Army deployed fifty-four 150mm heavy howitzers, one hundred and eight 105mm light howitzers, and an additional one hundred and fifty 75mm field guns, bringing the city completely within their range. A fierce artillery barrage ensued.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Over three hundred German artillery pieces commenced their assault on Haiwum. With thunderous roars, shells whistled down upon the city, obliterating buildings and streets, turning them into ruins.
Haiwum was merely a small city, home to only fifty to sixty thousand residents before the war erupted. This limited area became overcrowded as over seventy thousand Russian troops flooded in, enhancing the defensive strength at every line. However, this increased density also meant that when faced with the Germans' relentless bombardment, casualties would inevitably be higher.
"Boom!"
A 150mm shell struck a three-story building, which collapsed under the intense explosion, entombing a platoon of Russian soldiers within the debris.
A 105mm shell hit a house adjacent to a street, sending bricks and rubble flying. Russian soldiers stationed in the vicinity were left bloodied, with some even killed outright.
Under the relentless German bombardment, the structures within Haiwum began to deteriorate, transforming the once picturesque city into a landscape of desolation.
The Russian forces inside the city experienced a sharp rise in casualties as the bombardment intensified. Yet, this was merely the beginning. The German assault was not limited to artillery fire.
At two o'clock in the afternoon, the German 8th Air Fleet arrived at the battlefield. Over a hundred bombers formed a dense formation and soared over Haiwum from the north.
The swarm of aircraft blotted out the sun, resembling a dark cloud looming overhead. The Russian troops on the ground gazed in stunned disbelief at the sight.
"My God! How many planes do the Germans possess? With this many aircraft, do they intend to erase Haiwum from the map?" one Russian officer exclaimed in horror.
Soon, the bombers began their payload drop. Although each bomber could carry only five hundred kilograms of explosives—limited to twenty 25-kilogram bombs—the sheer number of aircraft allowed for the release of two thousand bombs in one attack. The concentrated strikes devastated the northern district of Haiwum.
The air erupted with explosive detonations, sending plumes of smoke soaring into the sky. The buildings within the targeted area crumbled into ruins amidst the chaos.
As the dust settled, the Russian soldiers inside Haiwum were horrified to discover that the once-vibrant district had been utterly annihilated. All structures lay in ruins; homes, streets, and everything else had vanished as if wiped from existence.
Simultaneously, the Russian soldiers stationed in that area had also been obliterated. This scene instilled sheer terror among the defenders, some trembling uncontrollably, with a few even losing control of their bladders.