"Rat-a-tat-tat! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The German air force, with its fighters and bombers, unleashed a relentless assault on the Russian troops. For them, it was a bloody feast of slaughter. The exposed Russian soldiers became easy prey, and nearly every pilot emerged from the fray stained with the blood of their adversaries.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Meanwhile, the German artillery continued its barrage, further inflicting devastating losses on the Russians. Under the intensity of the German onslaught, Russian casualties soared, while their morale plummeted to devastating lows.
"Oh God! How can the Germans attack with such ferocity?" General Boris exclaimed, his face a mask of despair. Though he had long been aware of the Germans' strength, experiencing their assault firsthand revealed a might far beyond his expectations. The chasm between the German and Russian forces was vast; the Russians were no match for their foes' combat prowess.
"What should we do, General? Our troops are in utter disarray. A counteroffensive is no longer possible," a brigadier general lamented. After suffering the German surprise attack, the Russians had sustained heavy losses, and their morale was in shambles; organizing a counterattack was simply out of the question.
"How severe are our losses?" General Boris rose, surveying the panicked Russian soldiers scattering around him, his expression dark as coal. They had yet to reach Haum when they were struck by the Germans' thunderous blow. This left him with little confidence in the mission's success.
"It's difficult to gauge, General, but our losses are likely considerable."
Boris frowned, contemplating whether to press on. To do so would require breaking through the German blockade. Could the 22nd Infantry Army accomplish this? It seemed highly improbable. Yet, retreating would bring complications with General Dmitriev; thus, Boris found himself in a quandary.
However, his indecision was soon rendered moot, as the Germans made the choice for him.
After the conclusion of the 8th Air Force's bombardment, the 8th Armored Division's fifty tanks, along with three infantry regiments from the 51st Infantry Division, launched an assault on the Russians.
Fifty tanks led the charge, supported by thousands of infantry. Although the Russians still held a numerical advantage, confusion reigned, and their morale had suffered a catastrophic blow. In such a state, how could they withstand the German advance?
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The German tanks fired their cannons as they advanced, further wreaking havoc on the Russian ranks.
"What is that?" Amidst the chaos, some Russian soldiers spotted the approaching tanks. Many had never seen such machines before, and the sight of those menacing metal behemoths sent a chill through their spines.
"Tanks! The Germans are coming!" a terrified Russian officer shouted.
The tank treads crushed the earth beneath them, advancing relentlessly toward the Russians, with the accompanying infantry exhibiting remarkable fighting spirit. The sight instilled fear in the hearts of the Russian troops.
"Damn it, the Germans are here! Open fire, stop them!" an officer commanded.
"Rat-a-tat-tat! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
A portion of the Russian forces opened fire, their heavy machine guns and rifles attempting to fend off the German armored units. However, they quickly discovered that neither their machine guns nor rifles could inflict any damage on the formidable tanks. Conversely, the German tanks suppressed the Russians with their cannons, targeting their firing positions with deadly precision.
A tank's cannon was aimed at a Russian heavy machine gun in action. The driver abruptly halted, and the gunner fired.
"Boom!" In an instant, the shell exploded, obliterating the Russian machine gun into a heap of debris.
As the German tanks continued their assault, they advanced to within a mere hundred meters of the Russian defenses. The Russian soldiers, now thoroughly terrified, fled in disarray.
"Rat-a-tat-tat!" The machine guns mounted on the tanks began their deadly sweep, mowing down Russian soldiers in droves.
"Mortars, take out the German tanks!" a Russian officer bellowed.
A mortar was quickly set up and aimed at a German tank, then fired.
"Boom! Boom!"
Two shells soared from the mortar toward the German tank. The first shell exploded beside it, causing no damage. The second struck the frontal armor but, unfortunately, lacked the necessary power to penetrate.
"Oh God!" The Russian officer stood aghast, unable to believe the German tank had emerged unscathed from the bombardment.
"Run! The German tanks are invulnerable!" The Russian soldiers fled in panic.
Yet, the Germans quickly retaliated. The coaxial machine guns unleashed a furious barrage, cutting down the fleeing Russians.
"General! The German assault is overwhelming; we're sustaining catastrophic losses. The front cannot withstand the German tank offensive. Our troops are disintegrating; we must retreat!" a brigadier general reported to General Boris.
"It's over! All over! An entire infantry army, defeated in a single encounter with the Germans. How can we fight now?" Boris murmured, his confidence shattered in that moment.
The Germans, with a numerically weaker force, initiated their assault but, backed by superior technology, easily defeated the numerically superior Russians. This left the Russian commanders, adept at outnumbering their foes, at a loss for how to respond.
Under the relentless assault from the 51st Infantry Division and a portion of the 8th Armored Division's tanks, the 22nd Infantry Division of the Russians suffered catastrophic losses and collapsed. Frightened, the Russian troops scattered in all directions, with some surrendering outright to the Germans.