The 2nd Guards Army of the Russian Army simply did not have much time to build positions, so it was only able to build improvised positions. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 info plus the level of construction of fortifications by the Russian army, it is not very good in the first place. This makes it even less possible to expect how strong their fortifications were.

"Boom!" A 155-mm shell fell into the trenches of the Russian army. The trench, which was not even a meter deep, was directly blown down. Those Russian soldiers lying in the trenches were killed on the spot, with stumps and broken arms, and they flew everywhere.

"Oh God! Andrey: They died so miserably. The shelling of the Germans, how could it be so terrifying? A Russian soldier looked terrified.

"If you don't want to die, pray to God. Those Germans were actually armed with large-caliber heavy artillery. This time, we're in big *trouble. An officer reprimanded. His face was full of melancholy. Apparently fearing that under the shelling of the German army's large-caliber heavy artillery, the Russian army would pay great losses. In this case, it will be even more difficult for them to resist the German attack.

"Boom!"

A shell from a field artillery hit one of the machine-gun fortresses of the Russian army. The machine-gun fortress of the civil structure was blown apart in an instant. Machine gun parts, scattered all over the place.

Under the heavy artillery fire of the German army, the positions of the Russian army were bombed in a mess. Everywhere there were destroyed fortifications. Countless Russian soldiers were killed in the shelling and lost their lives.

The rest of the Russian army could only run around under the heavy shelling of the Germans, or lie down in the trenches and pray to God that the shells would not fall on their heads. Otherwise, it's a dead end.

"General, the attack of the Germans began, they concentrated hundreds of artillery pieces and fiercely shelled our lines. Among them, there is no shortage of large-caliber heavy artillery. The soldiers at the front, suffered heavy losses. The fortifications we built were also destroyed a lot. The situation on the entire front line is very unoptimistic. "A lieutenant general reported to Admiral Krapovich.

Admiral Krapovich nodded, he naturally knew that once the Germans attacked, it would inevitably be earth-shattering.

"Order the troops at the front, hold on. In addition, let our artillery, immediately carry out a counterattack, reduce the pressure on the front. Admiral Krapovich ordered.

"Yes, General. However, our artillery is all 76.2 mm field guns, which I am afraid will not be able to beat the large-caliber heavy artillery of the Germans. The general was a little worried. The gap in artillery strength between the two sides is really too great.

"Yes! Checkmate. If we launch an artillery bombardment, it will inevitably lead to the suppression of our artillery by the German artillery. It's hard for us to resist them. Another general also said.

"If the artillery does not fight back, the artillery of the Germans will soon cause heavy losses to our front-line troops. At that time, once the front line is broken through, I am afraid that it will be difficult for us to withstand the attack of the Germans. Admiral Krapovich was worried.

Although the 9th Army was only two days away from them, Admiral Krapovich was also a little skeptical about whether it could hold out for two days. What's more, he believed that the Germans would definitely block the 9th Army. Therefore, the 2nd Guards Army of the Russian Army, I'm afraid, needs to hold on for more time. This is undoubtedly a great test for them.

"Yes, General." The generals didn't hold out any longer.

The German artillery fire was very fierce. They had been preparing for this attack for several days. The large amount of ammunition brought from East Prussia made it impossible for the artillery to be short of ammunition when shelling.

"Fire!"

Twenty minutes after the start of the German shelling, the Russian artillery also launched a counterattack. More than 200 76.2-mm field guns were also pushed to the front in a vain attempt to suppress the German artillery positions.

Although, the 2nd Guards Army of the Russian Army, with ten infantry divisions and four cavalry divisions, had almost five hundred artillery pieces. However, almost all of these cannons were 76.2 mm field guns. Cannons with a caliber of more than 100 mm are very few. This is still the Guards Army, which is known as the elite unit of the Russian army. If it were other troops, it would be conceivable. Even the equipment of 48 76.2-mm field guns of an infantry division cannot be fully equipped.

The Russian army's 76.2-mm field guns not only have a far less rate of fire than the German 75-mm field guns, but also inferior in power and range. As for the comparison with the large-caliber heavy artillery of the German army, it is even more incomparable.

As soon as the German artillery opened fire, it attracted the attention of the German artillery. Those 150-mm heavy howitzers and 105-mm light howitzers, under the guidance of artillery observation balloons, adjusted their shooting elements to suppress the Russian artillery.

In just twenty minutes, the Russian artillery had to withdraw from the battle due to heavy losses. On the other hand, the German artillery suffered very small losses.

After suppressing the Russian artillery, the German artillery continued to fire at the forward positions of the Russian army, repeatedly shelling the positions of the Russian army with powerful firepower, just like plowing the positions of the Russian army with an iron plow. The defensive positions built by the Russian army were bombed into a mess and destroyed a lot under the heavy shelling of the German army.

The Russian soldiers stationed on the front line suffered heavy casualties. Stumps and severed arms, the whole position is everywhere. The whole position was as if it was already a Shura hell.

On the German positions, the commander of the 11th Army, Lieutenant General François, and the acting commander of the 8th Panzer Division, Colonel Guderian, were waiting for the results of the artillery shelling.

"Reports, artillery reports, the positions of the Russian army have been largely destroyed." A staff officer reported.

"Very well, Colonel Guderian, it's up to you next." Lieutenant General François said.

"Yes, General." Colonel Guderian nodded.

In the previous East Prussian campaign, the 8th Panzer Division can be said to have made great contributions, which also made him and Rommel highly praised. Qin Tian had already assured them that after the Polish campaign was over, they would be promoted again. Guderian would be promoted to brigadier general, and the word "deputy" would be removed and he would become the official commander of the 8th Panzer Division. Rommel, on the other hand, will also be promoted from lieutenant colonel to colonel, and will still serve as the deputy commander of the 8th Panzer Division and the commander of the 1st Regiment.

This makes Guderian even more full of expectations for the next battle.

The preparation of the fire of the Germans, which lasted for an hour. Subsequently, artillery fire began to extend to the deep positions of the Russian army. The 8th Panzer Division, which had been prepared for a long time, began to attack again.