Chapter 0216: Leave Everything Behind

On the evening of August 23, in the temporary command post of the Russian First Army...

Although they had been fleeing for two days, they had yet to escape the Mazury Lake area. The German 17th Army relentlessly pursued them, and they remained oblivious to when their pursuers would close in, leaving the soldiers of the 12th Army filled with dread as they fled.

"General, the 14th Infantry Division has been routed by the Germans, with most of the soldiers captured and only a handful returning. Currently, the German forces are no more than thirty kilometers behind us," reported a staff officer to General Leiningkamp.

"Damn it! Is this the true fighting strength of the Germans? No wonder the Second Army was defeated so badly; their combat capabilities are far greater than we anticipated. We were foolishly deceived by them. They set a trap, and we jumped right in," General Leiningkamp lamented, regret etched across his face.

Unfortunately, it was too late for such reflections, as they had allowed their previous victories to cloud their judgment. Upon careful consideration, the initial weakness displayed by the Germans should have raised suspicions. Regrettably, these Russian commanders believed it was an opportune moment to seize East Prussia and capture the German heir apparent. As a result, they had trapped themselves, and if things escalated poorly, they might face total annihilation. If only there were a remedy for regret, General Leiningkamp believed that both he and General Ivan Ghilinski would exhaust everything to obtain one. Alas, none existed.

"Order the 15th Infantry Division to remain behind and hold back the Germans. We must withstand their assault and buy ourselves more time for retreat," General Leiningkamp commanded.

Faced with the relentless pursuit of the Germans, he could only keep sending troops to delay them, buying precious time. However, this approach continually depleted their strength, akin to quenching thirst with poison. It was a dire situation; without rear-guard forces, they would be caught by the Germans in no time, and then escape would be impossible for anyone.

"Yes, General," the staff officer responded.

"Furthermore, General, we have received a message from Warsaw indicating that the main German forces are conducting a large-scale withdrawal from Tannenberg. Their intentions appear to be directed at us. The commander urges us to withdraw promptly to avoid being encircled by the Germans," the staff officer continued his report.

"Damn! After neutralizing the Second Army, the Germans have indeed set their sights on us," General Leiningkamp cursed under his breath.

"Inform the commander that we are doing our utmost to retreat. However, due to the German pursuit, our withdrawal is painfully slow. If we cannot retreat in time, we will have to fight to the death against the Germans," General Leiningkamp declared, clearly indicating that the First Army had prepared for the worst.

"Yes, General." The staff officer promptly set off to relay the orders.

In Königsberg, after the victory at Tannenberg, Qin Tian and General Hindenburg had returned. In Qin Tian's view, with the destruction of the Russian Second Army, the First Army would have no escape. The Germans were assured of victory in this engagement.

"Your Highness, the 8th Armored Division, the 11th Army, and the 20th Army, along with the 17th Army, have already arrived at the front lines. Meanwhile, the Russian First Army has not yet managed a successful retreat. Tomorrow morning, the 8th Armored Division, the 11th Army, and the 20th Army will launch a three-pronged assault on the Russians, aiming to annihilate the entire First Army. It is all but certain that their destruction is a foregone conclusion," General Hindenburg stated.

The German commanders were nearly jubilant. To annihilate an invading Russian army of five hundred thousand was a monumental honor for all involved. Although there had been some doubts regarding victory before the war commenced, everyone now felt unwaveringly confident. They believed that a tremendous victory was within reach, just an arm's length away.

"Your Highness, after destroying the Russian First Army, the Russian Northwestern Front will have no remaining forces. Should we then consider launching an offensive towards Warsaw? If we delay, more Russian troops may be dispatched to the capital," suggested Major Ludendorff.

East Prussia represented a significant bulwark for Germany, a vital base threatening Russia. Similarly, the Kingdom of Poland stood as a crucial outpost for Russia. The distance from Poland's western border to Berlin was merely a matter of kilometers. Historically, this region had been a focal point of German defense; unless Russia mustered a substantial force to launch an attack, they could not hope to threaten Berlin. Yet, this advantageous bulwark was one the Russians were unwilling to relinquish. If the Kingdom of Poland were captured by Germany, this bulwark would be erased, making it exceedingly difficult for Germany to threaten Berlin thereafter.

Thus, the 8th Army's General Staff believed the Russians would never stand idly by while Poland fell to German occupation. Even if the Northwestern Front was defeated, Russia would dispatch reinforcements to Poland to continue battling the Germans. Consequently, the 8th Army had further engagements ahead.

Despite the abundance of Russian manpower, they were indeed sending troops to their demise.

"After the conclusion of the battles at Tannenberg and Mazury Lake, let the troops rest for a week. Allow the soldiers to recuperate and replenish the losses suffered by various units. Then, we will launch an offensive against the Kingdom of Poland. I am confident that if we can defeat the Russian Northwestern Front, we will be capable of overcoming even more Russian forces. Even if they send reinforcements to defend Poland, the ultimate victory will still belong to us," Qin Tian resolutely declared.

"Yes, Your Highness," both General Hindenburg and Major Ludendorff agreed with Qin Tian's decision. The troops indeed required rest after continuous battles; otherwise, their combat effectiveness would be significantly compromised.

"However, our immediate priority remains to eliminate the Russian First Army. Send a telegram to the front-line commanders, ensuring that every soldier of the Russian First Army is captured. This amounts to hundreds of thousands! If we can eradicate them entirely, it will deliver a profound lesson to the Russians," Qin Tian instructed.

"Yes, Your Highness."