"Quick! Quick! Take your positions!" The Russian officers, upon receiving the order, began to organize their troops into formation, preparing to defend against the German onslaught. Unfortunately, the German attack was exceedingly abrupt. Under the relentless artillery barrage, the Russian forces suffered heavy casualties, and chaos ensued among their ranks.
Numerous Russian soldiers scurried about like headless flies, desperately searching for shelter. The officers found it impossible to locate their men, let alone organize a coherent defense.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The German bombardment continued, with explosions echoing throughout the city of Lviv. Although Lviv was a sizable city, its permanent population numbered only around a hundred thousand. Once designated as a crucial supply hub for the Russian Southwest Front, the residents had been forcibly evacuated, leaving only Russian troops stationed within.
"Boom!" A series of shells struck a street where a column of Russian soldiers was passing, resulting in catastrophic devastation. Countless Russian soldiers were torn to pieces by the explosions, and the street became strewn with dismembered limbs, creating a nightmarish scene reminiscent of a hellscape.
A 150-millimeter shell struck a six-story building, creating a gaping hole in its facade. While the shell did not completely collapse the structure, it left the building teetering precariously, as if it might fall at any moment. Debris rained down onto the street below, injuring many Russian soldiers who happened to be passing by.
Numerous buildings succumbed to the ferocity of the German bombardment, transforming the city into a wasteland.
The Russian defensive line outside the city was similarly targeted by the German assault. The 75-millimeter field guns, lacking sufficient firepower and range, focused on the Russian defenses on the outskirts of Lviv.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" Shells fell like rain upon the Russian positions, systematically dismantling their defensive structures.
The Russian fortifications proved alarmingly fragile; even the 75-millimeter field guns could easily obliterate them. Trenches and firing points crumbled under the German bombardment, rendering the Russian defenses a wreck. This vulnerability stemmed not only from the subpar construction during the fortification efforts but also from a dire lack of materials like steel and concrete, forcing the Russians to rely on dirt and wood, with a mere sprinkling of stones for reinforcement. Such makeshift defenses could hardly be expected to provide robust protection.
Under the officers' urging, the Russian soldiers who managed to enter the lines could not escape the deluge of German artillery. The incessant barrage claimed countless lives among the Russian ranks.
Yet, no one cared for their lives. The Germans were intent on exterminating the Russian garrison in Lviv, while the Russians themselves were indifferent. To their commanders, these soldiers were merely expendable tools, cannon fodder without value.
As the German bombardment continued, the 8th Air Force arrived as scheduled. Hundreds of bombers targeted the Russian defenses. Although these bombers carried only 25-kilogram bombs, even such small munitions could wreak havoc on the already weakened Russian fortifications, let alone on the fragile human bodies below.
Each bomber could carry up to 500 kilograms of ordnance, allowing them to deploy twenty bombs each. As these bombs rained down, the Russian defenses were enveloped in smoke and flames, claiming countless lives among the Russian soldiers, and collapsing their lines.
"Oh God!" Some Russian generals, sheltering in safer locations, were left stunned by the ferocity of the German assault. Despite years of warfare, they had never witnessed such a scene.
"Damn! The Germans' firepower is overwhelming! How can our defenses possibly withstand this?" The Russian generals could not help but voice their despair.
"We must hold the line, regardless! Lviv is of paramount importance to us. The supplies stored here are critical to the survival of the entire Southwest Front. We cannot allow the Germans to capture it. The general has issued a standing order for us to withstand their advance," stated General Sheremetev of the 34th Infantry Division.
"Prepare the troops to take their positions. Once the Germans attack, we must be ready to repel them!" General Sheremetev commanded.
"Yes, General," the other officers replied, though their faces betrayed their profound lack of confidence.
Especially the commanders from the retreating 22nd Infantry Division were gripped by fear. They had experienced the Germans' assault firsthand outside of Haimu, where the overwhelming advance of the armored divisions had been terrifying.
Even now, the memory haunted them. Facing another German offensive was even more daunting. Had it not been for General Dmitriev's standing order, they might have turned to flee once again.
At Striy, headquarters of the Russian Southwest Front, General Ivanov was abruptly awakened. He had only fallen asleep late the previous night and had hoped to rest a little longer that morning. However, the urgent knocking at his door roused him, instantly souring his mood.
"What's happening?" General Ivanov opened the door, irritable.
"General, we have grave news. Lviv is under fierce attack from the Germans. General Dmitriev requests reinforcements," reported his aide, visibly shaken.
"What? Lviv is under attack? That's impossible!" General Ivanov's expression changed drastically. He found it hard to believe the shocking news and was reluctant to accept such a reality.
The significance of Lviv was beyond question. If the Germans captured it, it would be a catastrophic blow to the Russian Southwest Front.
"Send a telegram to Dmitriev. Lviv must be held at all costs; it cannot fall into German hands!" General Ivanov bellowed.