"Order all units to advance swiftly; we must not allow those despicable Russians to escape. Their audacity in fleeing under cover of night is utterly shameful—an act of cowards!" General Paul Elmorley, commander of the Austro-Hungarian Second Army, declared with fervor as he issued the pursuit order.
The over two hundred thousand troops of the Second Army surged forward like invigorated warriors, eager to capitalize on the unexpected turn of events. Previously chased and outmatched by the Russians, they now relished the opportunity to turn the tide. Each commander was keen to seize this moment to achieve glory.
The Third and Fourth Austro-Hungarian Armies also commenced their pursuit of the retreating Russians. In a surge of morale, over seven hundred thousand Austro-Hungarian soldiers advanced towards the direction of the fleeing enemy.
Simultaneously, the German Eighth Army dispatched additional forces southward from Lviv to secure vital towns along the route, aiming to intercept the retreating Russians. Despite the daunting task of detaining over six hundred thousand retreating soldiers—far exceeding their own numbers—their objective was to eliminate as many Russians as possible.
Along the roads leading from the Austro-Hungarian East towards Russia, columns of Russian troops trudged forward, their spirits as low as those of defeated roosters.
Although Russia's military might was not the strongest among the great powers, its army had previously relied on numerical superiority and, notably, the once-mighty Cossack cavalry, now challenged by modern automatic weaponry. Yet, in earlier encounters with the Austro-Hungarians, the Russians had regained some confidence, inflicting considerable distress upon their foes. But now, circumstances had flipped; they fled like frightened hounds, while the Austro-Hungarian forces transformed into relentless pursuers.
"General, the Austro-Hungarian army has initiated its pursuit. Although they remain at a distance, our sluggish pace will allow them to close in. Our dwindling supplies pose a grave threat, as without adequate food, the consequences will be dire," a general reported to General Ivanov.
Ivanov's expression darkened; he recognized the truth in the report. However, he found himself devoid of options. The battle had ended in a devastating defeat, and their primary objective was to return as many troops as possible. Regrettably, the Austro-German forces would not permit an easy retreat, and even Ivanov could not predict how many Russian soldiers might successfully escape, though he knew the number would be tragically low.
"Order the troops to accelerate! If our food supplies run low, we will requisition resources on the spot," Ivanov commanded.
"General, requisitioning food within Austro-Hungarian territory might pose fewer challenges, but would we employ the same approach on our own land?" a general questioned hesitantly.
Ivanov pondered for a moment before nodding, "Certainly; we need not show mercy to those Ukrainians. Should they willingly provide their provisions, we will accept. If they dare to withhold, we shall not hesitate to seize what we require."
The Russian Empire was a multi-ethnic state, yet the Russian ethnicity held absolute dominance, leading to the oppression of other groups, particularly the Ukrainians, who, despite their fertile lands, often faced starvation due to exploitation by the Russian government.
"Understood, General," the officer acknowledged.
The Russian retreat was fraught with difficulties. The loss of Lviv had severely hampered their logistical support, leaving them not only short on ammunition but also lacking sufficient food. Moreover, the relentless pursuit and interception by the Austro-German forces compelled the Russians to quicken their pace. Failure to do so could prove fatal. The German Eighth Air Fleet similarly bombarded the retreating Russians, reminiscent of their previous assaults on the Russian Ninth Army in Poland.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Dozens of bombers flew overhead, unleashing a torrent of bombs upon the retreating Russian ranks.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The cacophony of explosions transformed the road into a deadly corridor, littered with severed limbs and blood staining the ground. Countless Russian soldiers perished in the onslaught, while the surviving troops fled in panic, terrorized by the German planes above.
"God! Shoot down those German planes!" a Russian officer bellowed, only to be struck by a hail of bullets from a fighter plane moments later, his body reduced to a mass of flesh.
The air assault by the German Eighth Air Fleet not only inflicted tremendous casualties upon the Russians but also significantly impeded their advance, presenting the Austro-German forces with a crucial opportunity to pursue and intercept.
As the pressure mounted, many Russian units crumbled. Countless soldiers fled toward the east, abandoning order and formation in a singular drive for survival. The escalating panic triggered a domino effect, leading to widespread disarray among the Russian ranks. Hundreds of thousands crowded the road to Russia, desperate to escape. However, as their supplies dwindled, they had to slow their pace to conserve resources. The pursuing Austro-Hungarian forces seized this moment to close in.