24 – In the Quagmire of Galicia
“Those stupid Ivan bastards. They dare to cross into German territory and will pay a heavy price.”
“Let’s pay them back for the damages we suffered in East Prussia.”
The great victories that came from the Eastern Front crushed the Junkers. The two pincers aiming for Königsberg were broken, and the Baltic Fleet was annihilated. The threat of the Russian army to German territory was practically eliminated.
In the war room, they clamored to trample all the way to Warsaw with this momentum. It was Ludendorff’s argument.
Of course, the argument itself had its merits.
While pondering whether to accept Ludendorff’s proposal, the staff officers and officers from the war room moved the unit symbols on the large map here and there.
Looking at the situation from the side, the overall situation on the map had noticeably improved. It was thanks to the overwhelming victory in this battle.
However, there were also places where the situation had deteriorated severely. They had expected it, but the actual result was too poor.
Just looking at the A in Austria made one feel like they had cancer.
“Even if I help them, they sh*t on me. What am I supposed to do?”
After discussing with Binn and Non, I decided to take charge of the defense of Galicia under the Austrian rule.
However, the German army can only take over the front line after the divisions are rearranged, so we agreed that the defense of Galicia would be handed over to the existing Austrian army until early September.
But the Austrian army in charge of Galicia was pushed back all the way to the vicinity of Lemberg and Przemysl fortress by a single blow from the southwestern front. And all this happened in just a few days.
“To think that we have to rely on those useless bastards who can be pushed back another 50 kilometers in the meantime and call them allies.”
In that sense, the Nazi alliance was more useful than the alliance of the eight idiots.
But I couldn’t just leave this pathetic alliance alone.
If Austria falls, Germany will be finished too.
How should I help these scumbags?
For the first time since the war, I felt a headache.
*
Count Konrad von Reichendorf was officially just a staff officer for Duke Friedrich, the supreme commander of the Imperial Army.
However, since Friedrich had delegated all his authority to Konrad, he could act as the de facto leader of the Imperial Army.
Konrad interfered in all the fronts as the head of the Austrian army, but among them, he showed the most interest in Galicia, where the fate of the Empire was at stake.
Originally, Viktor Dantel von Krasznik, the commander of the 1st Army of the A Corps, was supposed to oversee Galicia in cooperation with the German army, but Konrad, who realized that German support was slower than expected, took the command himself.
He wanted to reduce the burden on the German side, which was under attack from the north of Galicia, by launching an offensive from the west and pushing north.
“If we show some favor to those German bastards, we can increase our share in the post-war distribution. If we’re lucky, Poland might fall within our sphere of influence.”
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Konrad also had ambitions to push back the Russian 4th Army as Germany did and secure the entire western side of the Vistula and the Biebrza River.
In that case, they would have to deploy fewer troops in eastern Galicia.
“Your Excellency, we trust only the elite of the Empire.”
“Set your worries aside.”
With this in mind, Konrad positioned the Empire’s elite 14th Innsbruck Corps, commanded by Duke Joseph Ferdinand, in the front lines. They were a force that could be trusted at any moment.
However, this arrangement was inadequate and insufficient.
Konrad’s defense, which he had devoted himself to, was overwhelmed by the overwhelming enemy mass.
“Ura!”
A powerful blow from Russia shattered Konrad’s armor in an instant.
The Russian Southwest Front deployed two field armies and half a million troops to eastern Galicia, completely overwhelming the Austrian army. The difference in troop size was almost twice as large, making it impossible to compete in a field battle.
“Retreat, retreat.”
“Damn it, we have to retreat like this?”
Even the renowned elite divisions had no choice. Once they were hit by the shockwave of the Russian army, they would be surrounded and encircled.
“Ivan’s bastards are using such absurd forces.”
Even the brave Innsbruck Corps had no choice but to hastily retreat to avoid being encircled. The main Austrian forces quickly withdrew to the Carpathian Mountains.
If the natural obstacle of the Carpathians were breached, the next target would be Hungary. It was the worst possible situation for Austria.
“The only things left in Galicia are Przemysl and the Lemberg Fortress.”
Now, the only things hindering the Russian advance towards Budapest were these two fortresses, floating like islands between them.
However, driving the Austrian forces trapped in these two fortresses was by no means an easy task. Just like the French army on the Western Front, these fortresses were almost impregnable obstacles.
The fortresses were protected by outer fortifications and moats, and within them were a series of moats and permanent fortifications forming a formidable defensive line.
Only by breaking through here could they finally reach the river, powerful fortresses, and a city fortified with permanent positions.
The responsibility for the defense of these formidable fortresses fell to Major Hermann Kusmanek von Burgneustetten.
As a military administrative bureaucrat with a strong backbone, Burgneustetten immediately requisitioned all the resources and manpower in the area under his control.
“Adult men and women over the age of 18 must engage in the tasks demanded by the military. The military controls all materials, and a distribution system for essential goods will be implemented.”
In essence, it was a measure equivalent to mobilizing the entire region.
Under the command of General Burneusten, a large-scale workforce was conscripted, digging trenches and erecting iron fences for miles. There were weaknesses here and there due to a lack of time for defense preparations, but it wasn’t too bad.
Just as the defense preparations were starting to take shape, the Russian 3rd Army, commanded by Radko Dimitriev, attacked the fortress.
“Just a fortress. We can overwhelm it with the artillery power of our army.”
When the Russian army began shelling, the Austrian army under General Pshemysl also opened fire.
In the intense exchange of fire from both sides, the area around the fortress turned into ruins in an instant.
On the first day alone, the Russian army fired over 30,000 rounds, and on the second day, they increased the intensity of the shelling. Although the Austrian artillery continued to fight back, they couldn’t match the firepower of the enemy.
The Austrian army trembled under the shelling, eagerly waiting for the bombardment to cease as soon as possible.
After three days of suppressing fire, the Russian army took advantage of the darkness and sent infantry into action.
Pew! Urgh!
As the bugle sounded, the Russian infantry advanced in a dark mass, and the defenders of the fortress lit signal flares.
“It seems those Ivan bastards mean business.”
General Burneusten personally held a telescope on the front line, observing the movements of the Russian army.
As soon as the Russian infantry reached the trenches, they were met with flashing gunfire.
Thousands of soldiers fell victim to the relentless barrage of machine guns and rifles.
Nevertheless, the Russian army pushed forward indifferently, disregarding the sacrifices.
“It’s a frontal assault. Keep pushing.”
The Russian army attempted an unlimited quantity attack.
The defending forces were helpless against the relentless attack, pouring bullets as they pushed forward.
The offensive had enough power to breach the second defense line temporarily.
But that was as far as it went.
After days of ceaseless bombardment, the Russian army ran out of ammunition.
It was at this moment that the Austrian alarm troops launched a counterattack.
Upon receiving the order, Lieutenant Heinrich von Bank, commander of the KUK 3rd Battalion, moved his troops to the ramparts.
To minimize noise, the soldiers had cut up household carpets and skirts to pad their boots. It didn’t have a ‘significant’ effect, but they thought it was better than doing nothing.
“We will start shelling precisely at 12 o’clock. Be mindful of the pre-confirmed positions.”
The officers marched the soldiers, doing their best to suppress the noise.
A staff officer pulled out a pocket watch and announced the time.
It may not seem important, but timekeeping was a crucial action. As a result of a ‘slight’ error in the British army’s watch at Gallipoli, over 250,000 soldiers had to shed blood.
How much had the second hand of the clock moved?
As if waiting for it, the soldiers of the KUK Battalion fired the cannons they had brought over.
“What? The Austrians launching a surprise attack?”
The Russian infantrymen were taken aback as shells suddenly fell. The soldiers on night duty tried to respond, but the Austrian soldiers were faster.
“Charge! Long live the Emperor!”
With a shout, the KUK infantrymen rushed towards the Russian positions. Shouting at night was foolish, as it revealed their own location, but psychologically, it had a demoralizing effect on the enemy.
With a sudden cry, the infantrymen advanced, firing their rifles, and the Russian soldiers who belatedly rose from their positions were overwhelmed.
“Don’t panic!”
“Flares! Light the flares!”
The Russian army was caught off guard by the relentless counterattack of the Austrian infantry. Their response was delayed. It was a mistake.
Bang.
They turned on their searchlights belatedly, but it was too late. Some of the Austrian infantry had already jumped onto the tanks and were swinging their weapons.
“Aargh!”
The anger of the elite Imperial soldiers, who had been humiliated in Galicia, erupted in an instant.
They leaped into the midst of the Russian soldiers and engaged in a fierce close-quarters battle.
“The Austrians are pushing in?”
Although the Russian army was taken aback by the fierce attack of the Austrian soldiers, they quickly took “appropriate countermeasures.”
“Wipe them out.”
“But what about our own troops?”
“It’s a measure to prevent greater losses. Shouldn’t we immediately send a counterattack unit?”
Soon, the rain of steel split the sky and poured down onto the ground.
It was a deliberate barrage that spared no one.
“It’s shelling!”
The Austrian soldiers, who had been pushing the Russian army with great momentum, suddenly turned the tables alongside the enemy.
With the explosions, people were torn apart and wounded soldiers screaming appeared here and there.
Even amidst the falling shells, both sides continued their muddy struggle.
A vengeful Austrian soldier stabbed the eyes of an enemy soldier, while a Russian soldier bit off the fingers of an Austrian soldier.
“Kill them all! No prisoners!”
The Tyrolean soldiers, who took pride and honor in their units, were ablaze with anger rather than fear of their comrades’ deaths.
From the soldier’s belly, pierced by a bayonet, organs spilled out and brain matter flowed from the head that had lost its firearm.
As the resilient Russian infantrymen finally began to scatter, the Austrian army let out a cry of victory.
“Hurrah!”
Although a delayed counterattack force from the Russian army arrived, this time the Austrian army in the fortress did not simply watch. Austrian soldiers, carrying artillery support from the fortress, fiercely resisted. Despite the gruesome battle that resulted in most of their comrades becoming casualties, they ultimately defeated the Russian army. The Austrians quickly sent reinforcements and strengthened their defensive line.
After repelling the counterattack force, the Russian army command was furious.
“How on earth do you do your job? I want to rush to Budapest, but are you planning on spending your autumn vacation in this Przemyśl? If you have a mouth, explain,” Commander Radko Dimitriyev scolded, and the Russian army seethed with venom.
The Russian army launched another offensive and managed to capture a trench, but that was all. When the Austrian army, armed with machine guns and supported by artillery, counterattacked, the situation turned around, and the Russian army had to repeat the same thing. They even tried bombarding the fortress with heavy artillery, but the solid fortifications, built over decades, remained unshakable.
Even if they managed to capture the Austrian trenches located behind the fortress, they would lose them as soon as a counterattack arrived. To overcome this situation, they needed more supplies than they currently had. Where could they obtain enough materials and personnel?
By the time they realized it, the opportunity had passed.
The resounding victory of the German army in Tannenberg had shaken the foundation of the Russian army’s strategy, which was focused on offense.
Now, the situation was such that even the reserve forces that were supposed to come here were being drawn northward to deal with the aftermath of the Battle of Tannenberg.
Radko Dimitriyev felt anger.
“They are nothing more than a fraction of our forces! This is our last chance! If we succeed in breaking through now, we can lead this war to victory!”
Despite the Russian army’s relentless attacks, the Przemyśl and Lemberg fortresses held out until the end.
Despite the devastating defeat in the previous fierce battles, the Austrians were able to hold on because of their tenacious defense.
Unfortunately, Russia had spent too much time and opportunity in the Galician mud puddles.
Now, it was Germany that held the dice to throw.