Chapter 0206: Overwhelming Force

A hundred black tanks gleamed with a cold light under the rising sun, exuding an air of foreboding.

The already prepared German 20th Army began to maneuver, intending to encircle the Russians and cut off their escape routes. Their mission was to impede the Russian forces as much as possible to secure a decisive victory.

Generals François and Mackensen both believed that the Russians would be incapable of withstanding the assault of the 8th Armored Division. Once the Russian troops broke, they would inevitably scatter in disarray. In such a scenario, expanding their victory would become increasingly unlikely. Therefore, the actions of the 20th Army were directly linked to the magnitude of their impending success.

Supporting the 8th Armored Division was an infantry division drawn from the 11th Army. Their task was to consolidate gains after the 8th Armored Division breached the Russian defenses, sweeping away any remnants of resistance.

The operation of the 8th Armored Division was indeed a historic offensive for armored units worldwide. The entirety of the 8th Corps took this endeavor with utmost seriousness. Qin Tian, along with Generals Hindenburg and Ludendorff, had personally rushed from Königsberg to observe the unfolding battle. Despite the inherent dangers of the front lines, the risk had been minimized in light of the German preparations for a counteroffensive.

"Truly magnificent! The sight of so many tanks advancing together is simply unstoppable!" General Hindenburg exclaimed.

Initially, he had thought that Qin Tian's investment in forming an armored division was a reckless expenditure, as the cost of establishing one armored division was sufficient to raise five infantry divisions. However, witnessing the charge of the armored forces transformed his skepticism into profound admiration for Qin Tian's decision.

"Your Highness, will armored divisions become the protagonists of the battlefield in the future?" asked Major General Ludendorff, perceptively recognizing the pivotal role armored units would play in forthcoming conflicts.

"Indeed, armored divisions will wield significant influence in future wars. However, to label them as the protagonists might be a stretch. The mastery of air superiority will ultimately take center stage," Qin Tian replied.

Although the 8th Corps had established its own air unit and developed it further, it seemed rather ineffectual against the Russians, who lacked any substantial aerial capabilities. Consequently, the air unit primarily undertook reconnaissance missions. This limitation was also a reflection of the early stages of the war, during which nations had yet to prioritize the performance of their aerial assets.

"An air unit?" Both Generals Hindenburg and Ludendorff found it hard to believe. Despite having witnessed the power of aircraft, the idea of aviation supplanting the army as the primary force seemed implausible.

Nevertheless, their faith in Qin Tian's judgment dissuaded them from voicing their doubts. Recent events had already validated Qin Tian's foresight regarding the military's evolution.

Qin Tian did not elaborate further, acknowledging that current technological conditions remained insufficient to match future advancements. While the significance of air superiority was becoming increasingly apparent, the air force would require time to develop into a dominant force.

On the ground, the armored assault commenced. The advance of over a hundred black tanks struck fear into the hearts of the Russian soldiers, many of whom were uneducated peasants. Their terror of the unknown was entirely understandable.

"My God! What is that?" 

"Is that the devil? The Germans possess the devil's weapon; no wonder we cannot defeat them!" 

Panic ensued among the Russian soldiers, who began to scatter in all directions despite the desperate attempts of their officers to maintain order. Escape became their sole objective, and even the officers were gripped by fear, trembling at the onslaught.

"Boom!"

One tank fired, sending a 37mm shell crashing into the Russian ranks, instantly launching several soldiers into the air.

"Boom!"

A shell struck a Russian machine gun position, obliterating it in a fiery explosion, killing the gunner instantly.

"My God! How have the Germans devised such terrifying weapons?" A Russian officer, pale with fear, turned to flee, but was struck down by bullets from behind before he could get far.

"Tat-tat-tat!" A tank opened fire with its 12.7mm heavy machine gun, effortlessly splitting human bodies in two with each bullet. Those hit were almost invariably killed, with very few sustaining mere injuries.

"My God! Run! The Germans are too powerful; we are utterly unable to stop them." 

Panic spread like wildfire among the Russian ranks, and faced with the oncoming tide of German tanks, they chose to flee, lacking the courage to continue fighting.

Of course, not all the Russians were cowards; there remained some who exhibited bravery.

"Damn those Germans! Even if you possess the devil's weapons, you shall perish!" A Russian company commander manned a Maxim machine gun, directing fire at a German tank.

"Tat-tat-tat!"

The hail of bullets ricocheted off the tank's surface, barely chipping away at its paint. The tank's armor, though not exceedingly thick, could withstand shrapnel from artillery shells with relative ease—certainly far more than bullets from a machine gun.

"How can this be? The devils! The Germans truly possess the devil's weapons!" The Russian commander was left despondent.

However, the tank had taken note of the audacious challenger, and its turret slowly turned to aim at the machine gun and the Russian commander.

The commander sensed imminent danger and attempted to flee, but it was too late.

"Boom!"

The tank fired, and in the blink of an eye, its shell struck home, reducing the machine gun to scrap and tearing the commander into pieces.

Under the relentless assault of the German tanks, the Russian defenses crumbled. They lacked the courage to intercept the armored onslaught, knowing well that their efforts would be futile.

One tank after another surged onto the Russian positions. Those soldiers who had not managed to escape were directly crushed beneath the relentless advance, leaving behind a gruesome scene of mangled flesh. Even the tracks of the tanks were stained with bits of shredded remains, a horrifying sight.

"My God! This battle is far too easy. Are we here to fight or to enjoy a picnic? Yet, those tank crews are exceedingly brutal, reducing the Russians to mere scraps of meat. After witnessing such carnage, I think I'll pass on beef for lunch today," complained a German infantryman.