"Let us hope that this time, we can decisively defeat the Austro-Hungarian Empire! Otherwise, the entire Southwestern Front will be doomed," General Ivanov said, his gaze fixed on the map.
The German offensive was too formidable, forcing Ivanov to resort to such desperate measures. He knew all too well that mere defense would lead to their gradual annihilation at the hands of the Germans. Only through proactive assault, aiming to vanquish the Austro-Hungarians swiftly, could they hope for a slim chance of survival. Yet, this strategy was perilously bold; failure to achieve their objectives would mean utter defeat.
The commanders of the Russian 3rd Army, General Ruzski, the 8th Army, General Brusilov, and the 11th Army, General Seryanov, all felt a heavy weight in their hearts upon receiving Ivanov's telegram. As loyal subordinates, they understood that such words were spoken only in the direst of circumstances.
"Order all units to prepare for battle! At the break of dawn tomorrow, we will launch our assault. Before sunset, we must breach the Austro-Hungarian lines and crush them utterly!" commanded General Ruzski.
"Yes, General," replied the various division commanders of the 3rd Army in unison.
Brusilov and Seryanov echoed similar orders, viewing tomorrow's attack as a pivotal clash, a battle where success was the only option, failure not permitted. They were acutely aware that should they fail, the repercussions would be catastrophic. The Russian forces could very well be routed, and the frontline commanders would not escape unscathed.
On October 8, as dawn broke, the Russian positions bustled with activity. Soldiers queued for their meager breakfast while quartermasters distributed ammunition. Indeed, the Russian rations were the most dismal among the great powers' armies: two potatoes and a hunk of hard black bread constituted their breakfast. Dairy and meat were luxuries reserved for officers; the common soldier had to settle for such sparse fare.
On the Russian artillery line, the 76.2 mm field guns were rolled into position, and artillerymen hurriedly transported shells to prepare for firing. Though these field guns had limited power and range, they were the only artillery the Russians could rely upon.
Across from them, the Austro-Hungarian troops also prepared under the urging of their officers. However, many soldiers displayed lingering fear, a psychological scar from their previous defeats at the hands of the Russians.
Compared to the Russians, the morale of the Austro-Hungarians was low, yet their weaponry was far superior. They boasted a greater number of machine guns, and their artillery was unmatched. Skoda's heavy artillery was renowned worldwide, and they were equipped with not only 75 mm field guns but also numerous 105 mm howitzers, and even 150 mm heavy artillery. While they might not rival the Germans in total number of cannons, they certainly outclassed the Russians in quality.
The previous night, Baron General Staff Hindenburg had summoned the commanders of the 2nd Army, General von Boehm-Ermolli, the 3rd Army, General Boroevic, and the 4th Army, General Dankl. He insisted that they devise every possible means to withstand the Russian offensive; it was imperative that the Russians did not breach their defenses.
Considering the varying combat capabilities of these three armies, Hindenburg designated the stronger 2nd and 3rd Armies as the primary forces, while the weaker 4th Army served as reserves. Although this meant a reduction in numbers on the front lines, defensive forces often gained an advantage, particularly when bolstered by superior firepower. The attackers typically bore a greater burden of loss.
The 4th Army comprised primarily Czechs, Slovaks, and Slavic soldiers, their spirits flagging, movements sluggish, and training lacking. Hindenburg feared that if this army were thrust into the fray, they might crumble under the Russian onslaught. Thus, he intended for them to remain as a reserve, ready to fill gaps should danger arise.
Qin Tian raised no objections to Hindenburg's arrangements. Even though Hindenburg had pledged full support, Qin Tian understood the necessity of not overstepping his bounds as an outsider. After all, certain limits must not be crossed, even among allies. Moreover, given his lack of familiarity with the Austro-Hungarian command, it was far better for Hindenburg, the experienced general, to orchestrate the deployment.
Although the combat capability of the Austro-Hungarians was questionable, Qin Tian believed that if they committed fully to defense, they should be able to withstand the Russian advance.
"Fire!"
At 8 AM, the three Russian armies launched their assault along a 200-kilometer front against the Austro-Hungarian defenses. Thousands of cannons opened up in a furious barrage, intending to shatter the morale of the enemy and prepare for the ensuing battle.
However, before the Russian artillery could fully engage, they were met with a counterattack from the Austro-Hungarians. Although the Austro-Hungarian front comprised only two armies, numbering over 600,000—two-thirds the strength of the Russians—they matched the Russians in artillery. In terms of firepower caliber and performance, the Austro-Hungarians had the upper hand. Both sides boasted equal proficiency among their artillerymen, but the Austro-Hungarians suffered slightly lower morale.
Thus, when the artillery duel commenced, both sides found themselves evenly matched. Under strict orders from their officers, the Austro-Hungarian gunners utilized their heavy artillery to launch suppressive attacks on the Russian positions, inflicting significant damage on the Russian artillery.