In Lublin, at the temporary headquarters of the 8th Army Corps, General Ludendorff engaged in conversation with General François.
"General François, His Highness has issued orders. At the break of dawn tomorrow, the 11th Army will depart from Lublin and undertake a long march to Lviv. To facilitate this, the Corps has arranged for the dispatch of two thousand trucks from the rear. By the morning of the day after tomorrow at the latest, the 11th Army must reach Lviv and launch an assault," Ludendorff announced.
"Yes, Chief of Staff," François replied.
Although covering over a hundred kilometers in a single day posed a formidable challenge for any army, General François remained confident in their capability. After all, the soldiers would be traveling by truck rather than on foot, rendering their journey significantly less arduous. Despite the poor state of the roads, predominantly dirt paths, traversing over a hundred kilometers in a day should not pose a substantial obstacle.
"Colonel Rommel will lead part of the 8th Panzer Division to assist you. The logistics department will replenish his forces to over a hundred vehicles. With armored support, the assault on Lviv should pose no significant challenge for you," Ludendorff added.
François nodded, aware that the Russian forces in Lviv comprised only two infantry divisions, one of which had recently suffered a crushing defeat from the 51st Infantry Division of the 17th Army on the route to Haim. This meant that the Russian forces in Lviv would not significantly outnumber the 11th Army, which boasted four infantry divisions and a total strength exceeding sixty-five thousand, making it the strongest formation among the three infantry divisions under the 8th Army Corps.
"Chief of Staff, if possible, I would appreciate support from the air corps," François requested.
"Not an issue; I will liaise with the air corps for you," Ludendorff assured.
"Then there is no problem at all," François affirmed.
The performance of the 8th Air Corps during this conflict has been nothing short of astonishing. Before the war, few could have anticipated the immense power wielded by what were previously considered mere toys. The earlier bombardments against the Russian 9th Army and the current strikes against the 4th Army have left the German commanders in awe, fostering a strong desire for air support in upcoming operations to minimize casualties.
At dawn on October 10, the 11th Army, comprising over sixty thousand troops, departed from Lublin, all aboard trucks, racing toward Lviv over a hundred kilometers away.
Simultaneously, part of the 8th Panzer Division, led by Colonel Rommel, departed from Haim, also heading for Lviv.
The main forces of the 17th Army advanced toward Zamość to assist the 20th Army in besieging the location. Eliminating the Russian forces in Zamość would effectively incapacitate the 4th Army.
At the headquarters of the Russian 4th Army in Lviv, General Dmitriyev found himself in a state of anxious agitation, as if anticipating a significant event.
The current battlefield situation was decidedly unfavorable for the Russian 4th Army. General Ivanov had hoped they could hold out for more than two weeks, but after merely three days of combat, they had already suffered the loss of half their forces. This left Dmitriyev increasingly alarmed and fearful of the Germans.
"Damn those Germans! How can they be so formidable? Our forces are simply on different levels compared to theirs!" lamented Dmitriyev. Only through direct engagement with the Germans could one grasp their terrifying prowess.
"The fools Feodor and Golovin actually surrendered to the Germans! Where is their spirit? Are they not generals of the Russian Empire?" The mere thought of Generals Feodor and Golovin's capitulation the previous day ignited fury within Dmitriyev. Though he understood their choice was made in desperation, it nevertheless incensed him, particularly Ivanov, who would certainly take action once the immediate fighting subsided.
If the Russians triumphed, it could be excused, but if they were defeated, the repercussions would be dire.
"General, General Boris is here," the aide reported to Dmitriyev.
"Hmm!" Dmitriyev nodded. He felt equally incensed by General Boris and his 22nd Infantry Army's failure against the Germans. Had they arrived on time, Haim might have held out, and Feodor and Golovin would not have surrendered. Everything would be different now.
In many ways, the chief culprit behind this predicament was General Boris. If possible, Dmitriyev would have wished to see Boris executed on the spot, but regrettably, he lacked the authority to execute a general directly.
"General!" Upon encountering Dmitriyev, Boris bowed his head, acutely aware of the trouble he had stirred.
"General Boris, I assigned you to lead the 22nd Army to reinforce Haim, yet what have you done?" Dmitriyev bellowed in anger.
"General, I did not wish for this to happen! The Germans were simply too powerful. We were caught in the crossfire of their aircraft, tanks, and heavy artillery. Their assault far exceeded our expectations, which is why my forces were overwhelmed," Boris explained.
Dmitriyev recognized the truth in Boris's words; any Russian unit would likely have crumbled under such circumstances. Yet, he could not swallow the bitterness brewing within him.
Dmitriyev unleashed a tirade of vehement reproach upon Boris, venting his anger before finally relenting. He then instructed Boris to prepare for an opportunity to redeem himself.
Naturally, Boris dared not utter a word of complaint.