Chapter 0342: Caught Off Guard

At six in the morning on November 11th, elements of the German 11th Army and Colonel Rommel's 8th Panzer Division had arrived less than five kilometers from Lviv. In reality, they had reached the vicinity the previous night but had remained in a small town twenty kilometers away to avoid detection by the Russian forces in Lviv, resting until early morning when they set out just before five.

"Colonel Rommel, it seems we have gone unnoticed by the Russians. Our element of surprise remains assured," remarked General François, the commander of the 11th Army, a satisfied smile gracing his face. His positive demeanor was palpable.

Though Rommel held the rank of merely a colonel, François had numerous brigadiers and major generals beneath him; nonetheless, his attitude towards Rommel was notably more favorable. This was partly due to Rommel's esteemed reputation with Qin Tian, and also because of the colonel's considerable personal talents, which had impressed François.

The 8th Panzer Division had exhibited remarkable prowess in this war, leaving other commanders in awe, as they yearned for the inclusion of an armored unit in their own ranks or at least support from one during this campaign. Such assistance would allow them to secure victories at a far lower cost.

"Yes, General. The Russians are unprepared, which is undeniably advantageous for us. It allows us to catch them off guard during our assault," Rommel nodded in agreement.

Although Rommel's rank was relatively low, as the deputy commander of the 8th Panzer Division, he was privy to many critical strategic decisions. The significance of the attack on Lviv was clear to him, and he certainly hoped for a swift victory.

"Order the artillery to deploy within half an hour and commence bombardment. Spare no shells; we must rain down as much fire upon Lviv as possible, obliterating the Russians!" François commanded.

"Yes, sir," replied the artillery commander.

The 11th Army boasted four infantry divisions, thus its artillery count was substantial. The gunners busily positioned their heavy cannons, preparing for the impending bombardment. Vehicles laden with ammunition scurried to the artillery positions, delivering loads of shells.

Elements of Rommel's 8th Panzer Division were likewise gearing up for the offensive. Originally, after replenishment, their tank count had exceeded one hundred; however, after the journey from Huyum to Lviv, only about eighty operational tanks remained. Even so, Rommel deemed this sufficient to breach the Russian defenses at Lviv and secure victory.

Preliminary intelligence indicated that the Russian garrison in Lviv numbered only around seventy to eighty thousand. With the strength of the German 11th Infantry Army, complemented by armored units, they were well-positioned to overwhelm the defenders.

"Fire!" 

At six-thirty, the artillery commander issued the command to commence firing. Instantly, seventy-two 150mm heavy howitzers, one hundred and forty-four 105mm light howitzers, and two hundred and sixteen 75mm field guns unleashed a furious barrage.

The gunners fervently loaded the shells into the breeches and fired, launching the heavy projectiles towards the Russians. Given François' directive to allow only half an hour for artillery preparation, they aimed to maximize the number of rounds fired within this time frame to achieve greater impact.

As the German bombardment commenced, the Russian forces within Lviv remained oblivious, still ensnared in sleep. Even though, following the fall of Huyum, the officers and soldiers of the 4th Army anticipated that Lviv would soon become a target, they had expected the Germans to attack only after seizing Zamość. They could hardly fathom that the Germans would launch a direct assault on Lviv, catching them entirely off guard.

"Boom! Boom!"

As shells rained down and detonated within the city, countless Russian soldiers were jolted awake from their slumber. Some unfortunate souls lost their lives even before comprehending the situation.

Many soldiers, lacking time to don their uniforms or gather their weapons, fled their barracks in a frantic scatter.

However, the ferocity of the German bombardment transformed Lviv into a target, with shells descending like rain, tearing many Russian soldiers apart in their panic.

As the explosions erupted, General Dmitriev leapt from his bed, alarmed.

"What's happening? Where are those explosions coming from? Are the Germans attacking?" Dmitriev inquired, his voice betraying a hint of terror.

"General, it's an artillery bombardment! It's coming from outside the city. The Germans have begun their assault," the aide reported in a flurry of anxiety.

"What? How is this possible? How could the Germans reach us so quickly?" Dmitriev struggled to grasp the reality of the situation.

Yet the continuous explosions within Lviv compelled him to accept the truth: the Germans were indeed unleashing a relentless bombardment upon the city. The inevitable assault was imminent, and the unprepared Russians were bound to suffer significant losses. Dmitriev held no confidence in their ability to withstand the German onslaught.

"Order the troops to take their positions immediately and prepare to repel the German advance. Inform the soldiers that we must withstand their attack, or we face certain death!" Dmitriev commanded fiercely.

"Yes, General."

"Furthermore, dispatch a telegram to the Front Headquarters. We are under sudden attack from the Germans. Their offensive is vigorous, and we require reinforcements," Dmitriev instructed.

Although the German assault had yet to fully commence, Dmitriev instinctively sensed its ferocity and urgently sought reinforcements. However, he remained uncertain whether assistance would arrive. All he knew was that Ivanov likely had few troops at his disposal as well.