Chapter 1,039 A Sad Beginning
Chapter 1039 A sad beginning
"All 12 12-inch L52 and L40 train guns participating in the battle attack have been deployed. We will suppress the main fortress of Lviv and 14 surrounding support points for up to 5 hours. In addition to these heavy guns, , a total of more than 200 152MM heavy howitzers, 122MM howitzers and 107MM cannons will also participate in the attack."
"In order to destroy more than 4,000 bunkers and machine gun bunkers in total, we decided to advance 400 3-inch rapid-fire cannons to the front line. It took us three nights to complete it tonight. We will launch the attack on time at 8 o'clock tomorrow morning. The artillery closest to the Austrian bunker was only about 250 meters away! It was almost firing on the opponent’s head!”
"The total length of the opponent's release line is more than 20 kilometers, and the depth is about 3 to 5 kilometers, so it is impossible to break through one point and tear open the line. So we decided to choose ten breakthrough points to launch the attack at the same time! Each breakthrough point is equipped with an independent engineer company, artillery and sufficient machine gun firepower. There are also automatic pistols, captured submachine guns and other weapons to strengthen the assault firepower. As long as the cavalry on both sides can outflank the Austro-Hungarian Army, they can block the reinforcements of the Austro-Hungarian Army. If so, then no one will have any problems." Alexeyev, commander-in-chief of the Southwest Army, introduced the offensive situation to Nikolayevich and others on the huge sand table.
"Any news from the Romanians?" Nikolayevich asked.
"Ferdinand has taken control of the domestic situation. Although some businessmen and old friends of the kingdom are still confused about the situation, they promised that once we start war, they will declare war with the Allies within 5 days and attack Hungary within 7 days. Launch an attack. And Serbia also promised that once the war breaks out, it will launch several diversionary attacks. We launch attacks on three fronts at the same time. Before the Bavarian Army is aware of it, the Austrians are absolutely unstoppable." Kuro Patkin said.
Just as the Russians were making final preparations for the attack, the Allies were also aware of the approaching attack. With aerial reconnaissance, radio eavesdropping, and information from insiders, Russia had completed the mobilization of troops and the campaign. With supplies in reserve, an attack could be launched at any time, and the prince had already arrived at Mukachevo three days ago. Personally command this battle against Russia and Romania! At this time, the prince had in his hands an Austro-Hungarian Army Group, the garrison of the Lviv Fortress area, and 6 Bavarian and Bohemian divisions already in place. (Four divisions are not yet in place, and the other four divisions are used as reserves to deal with the battle situation on the Lviv front and Romania. Half of the original two Austro-Hungarian armies were transferred to the border with Romania.)
"In general, the Russians have a great advantage in strength. Although in terms of numbers, they are the infantry and 18 cavalry divisions of three armies (the Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Armies), as well as the Russian Army's direct Isn’t it right to train guns and heavy artillery? There are about 30 divisions of infantry units in total, plus other attached troops, there are about 650,000 and 120,000 cavalry. The number of artillery is currently estimated to be like this, 3-inch guns are around 1,800, 100MM There are more than 300 medium-caliber artillery pieces of the above types,
The number of artillery such as train guns and large-caliber howitzers should be around 26. In addition, there are a number of mortars of various calibers. "Major General Hall, Chief of General Staff, introduced.
"Can the opponent's attack direction be determined?" the prince asked.
"The attack directions of the two Russian armies on both sides are uncertain because they have too many cavalry and are extremely flexible. In the Lviv Fortress area, it has been determined that the other side has at least 6 possible breakthroughs! Because They prepared a large number of artillery at the front, and also set up starting positions at the back for temporary assembly of troops." the major general replied.
At this time, a staff officer sent a piece of intelligence. According to the intelligence, a prisoner they captured at noon that day confessed that the Russian army would officially launch an attack at 8 o'clock tomorrow morning (working hours). However, the specific attack direction and combat plan are not clear, and the captured person is only an artillery captain.
"Holy shit. The fight starts tomorrow?!" Most people in the command center were very surprised. After all, the preparation time for the Bavarian Legion is still a bit hasty at this time.
"That's right, the Russians gave us a month to prepare. Use the last few hours today to make adjustments. I need us to fire a shot tomorrow!" the prince ordered!
As a result, something unexpected by the Russians finally happened. It was the Allies, not the Russian Legion, who fired the first shot of the Battle of Lviv. This accident seemed to indicate that the Russians' plan would not go as smoothly as they imagined!
At six o'clock in the morning, when the sun had just risen from the horizon, a black figure flew slowly over from west to east. The Russians were used to these things. This was a K-4 bomber modified by the Allies. Long-range reconnaissance aircraft. Almost every day, these aircraft will cross the front lines of both sides and circle behind the Russian army. For this kind of flying speed, and the whole body is strengthened, like a porcupine-like existence, if they do not carry In the case of bombs, the Russian Air Force does not intend to get into trouble, even after the Russian Southwest Front has deployed 450 aircraft of various types.
But today? There seem to be a lot of these planes? ! When individual Russian officers and soldiers realized this, more people were making final preparations for the war that would start in two hours. The heavy artillery troops in the distance began to allocate targets according to orders, hoard ammunition, and take out heavy artillery shells from the semi-buried ammunition depot at the rear. The close support artillery and the first wave of assault infantry who were only 250 to 400 meters away from the opponent's front line were eating today's breakfast, black bread, vegetable soup, and canned or salted fish. These things are not as good as the rations at the beginning of the war, but they are definitely much better than normal food.
"Let's start! Attack the determined vitality points and infantry assembly points first, then the communication trenches and reinforced bunkers in the rear, and then the military depots, transportation hubs and headquarters in the rear!" Before the German and Austrian artillery opened fire, the man in charge of the front line Lieutenant General Caliput, who was in command, emphasized once again.
A few minutes later, the attack order was conveyed along the telephone line to the Austro-Hungarian artillery positions that were ready to go. There were more than 60 artillery groups in the Lviv Fortress and the support artillery deployed in the rear, and more than 600 artillery pieces were ready to go! The artillery group, which was more powerful than an ordinary army group, finally revealed its terrifying sharp teeth!
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