Chapter 111: For The Tsar, Straight To Budapest!
April 30, morning, Rzeszow Train Station, located 55 kilometers directly west of Przemysl Fortress.
Several divisions of Lusha Army, transferred from the fortress area to the east through here, then turned south toward the town of Krosno.
The railway entering Rzeszow Train Station from the east is normally split into two branches: one heading directly west to Krakow, the main route and trunk line; the other heading directly south to Krosno, an extremely inconspicuous minor branch line, also a dead-end road.
Because south of Krosno are the rugged Carpathian Mountains, railways of this era simply cannot extend further. Only advanced railways of later generations, capable of boring through mountain tunnels, could cross such a natural barrier.
But now, all the railway switches at Rzeszow Train Station have been set to the southward-turning branch line. Because further east all the way to the Krakow area is occupied by the Austrian Army, and the Lusha Army is anyway unable to advance, there is naturally no need to connect their controlled area’s railways to the enemy’s railway network.
It is better to direct everything south to Krosno, letting the troops and supplies crossing the Carpathian Mountains travel one more kilometer by rail if possible.
The transportation cost per equal mileage of railway is only a few dozenths of that of mountain mule and horse teams, and one percent of human porter teams.
After arriving at Krosno station, the soldiers all disembark, carrying firearms and accompanying bullets and rations on their backs, and trek on foot over Dukla Pass, a mountain route of about two days, over 40 kilometers total, to Svidnik at the southern foot of the Carpathian Mountains, where they can see a train station again, then take the south slope train to continue south—
Of course, provided the Lusha Army can capture more cities along the railway south of the Carpathian Mountains.
At least from the beginning of this year until a few days ago, the Lusha Army south of the Carpathian Mountains only controlled Svidnik as a single bridgehead, with all other points further south previously in Austrian Army hands.
Because at that time Przemysl Fortress was still in Austrian Army hands, Lusha Army trains from Lviv could not reach positions west of Przemysl Fortress at all, and had to stop and unload cargo and troops 15 kilometers east of the fortress, then proceed entirely on foot.
At that time, the total foot distance for Lusha Army to reach Svidnik town reached an astonishing 120 kilometers（with luck they could also hitch 80 kilometers of donkey carts/carts, last 40 kilometers carts couldn’t go, only foot over the mountains）, so from early March to end of April, the Lusha Army’s furthest advance was only to Svidnik, and supplying further south was really impossible to keep up.
Now, Przemysl Fortress has finally changed hands, Lusha Army trains can go all the way to the last train station north of the mountains, a major logistics bottleneck cleared, no more risk of being attacked from front and rear, finally able to flex their muscles and attack with full force!
Yesterday, the Lusha Army’s southward troops captured Laslavice, another 25 kilometers south of Svidnik.
Now orders from above require advancing another 20 kilometers along the railway line before May 5, reaching the next train station location, Presov city.
Before May 15, push another 40 kilometers south from Presov, reaching Kosice.
After reaching Kosice, they can basically break out of the Carpathian Mountains, further south will be the vast Hungarian Plain, straight line 200 kilometers to the ultimate target Budapest. Moreover, Kosice should be the largest city before reaching Budapest, also the provincial capital of Hungarian Carpathian Province, with large amounts of supplies there; capturing Kosice would provide supplies, sustaining themselves through war to continue advancing.
The black soil great plains region of Southeast Europe, the thaw period caused by spring ice floods and mud, is also just March to May.
Among them, the second half of March is when it starts getting serious, all of April is the worst time. Entering May, the first half is still serious, but the second half gradually improves.
Lusha Supreme Command has a good plan: even if they don’t reach Budapest before the thaw period improves north of the mountains, at least take Kosice before the thaw improves, ensuring exit from the mountains into the Hungarian Plain.
As long as they ensure entry into the plain area, no need to be so all-in, can spend fewer troops on main attack, more on defending rear roads, preventing enemy counterattack from north of the mountains. And the south of the mountains battlefield can even be handed to Cossack Cavalry Units to plunder and destroy everywhere.
Once entering the plains, on vast sparsely populated battlefields, cavalry can easily find weak points to bypass and burn, kill, and loot.
……
“Hurry up! Double time! Try to cross Dukla Pass before nightfall, otherwise you’ll sleep in the narrowest part of the mountain path tonight!”
At Krosno train station, Lusha officers blowing whistles one by one, forcing soldiers to run forward as fast as possible, avoiding delays that would cause an extra night on the mountain.
Don’t think the 40-plus kilometers from Krosno to Svidnik is short; these are treacherous mountain roads in the Carpathians, finishing over 40 kilometers in two full days is already very good, can’t delay.
Any soldier lagging even a bit gets whipped immediately by the supervising officer; beaten soldiers can only grit their teeth and speed up, not daring to resist at all.
And even more grueling than these Lusha soldiers are the Hungarian ethnic prisoners of war（Magyar ethnic） who surrendered from Przemysl Fortress just a few days ago.
The 130,000 captives from Przemysl Fortress, after four or five days of sorting, were roughly divided into three groups.
Some Czechs were pulled to repair roads. The rest, like most Germanic Tribe prisoners of war, were transported a bit further back to Lviv, placed in a prisoner of war camp for a while, then pulled even further back to Siberia to plant potatoes.
While nearly thirty to forty thousand Hungarians were all driven by whips to repair roads near Dukla Pass and porter supplies over the mountains.
Lusha Army made many backpacks from broken burlap sacks, each backpack can hold 6 75mm field gun shells, or 2 122mm shells; these two types of cargo each total over 100 pounds.
So every Hungarian prisoner of war must climb the mountains carrying over 100 pounds of supplies, two days over 40-plus kilometers of mountain roads, from the last train station north of the mountains to the first train station south of the mountains, then load onto trains. What they carry isn’t necessarily shells, could be other military rations of equal weight.
And in Laslavice south of the mountains, for the 122 shells a Hungarian soldier portered over two days, one 122 gun uses them up in two shots, while the Hungarian soldier has to return to the city light two days’ march.
On average, one porter laborer can only transport one and a half 75 shells or half a 122 shell per day to the front line.
Shells so hard to transport, to quickly open the south of the mountains battlefield, can only rely on human wave charges, filling with lives.
Lusha Army threw in batch after batch of divisions, launching day and night fierce attacks in rotation, charging until the Austrian defense line was tottering, victory seemingly in sight.
On April 30, on the defense line between Laslavice and Presov, Lushans attacked fiercely all day without mercy. Although leaving thousands of corpses, they pushed forward several more kilometers; those Austrian Army are just inferior.
The bloody battle continued until late at night, and the wheel of history turned into May 1915.
May 1, 4 a.m., the offensive had not stopped. But in the Laslavice front command post, the telephone was blown up by calls from the rear.
“Ding ling ling”
The piercing bell woke Lusha Southwestern Front Commander, General Nicholas Yudovich Ivanov, who had just fallen asleep not long ago, grudgingly.
“Who? Is the offensive not going smoothly? Then increase the commitment!” General Yudovich Ivanov was in a very bad mood, and without even clarifying the caller’s identity, he shouted loudly.
But this call was not from a front-line general, but from Lusha 8th Army Group Commander General Alexei Alexeyevich Brusilov, guarding north of the mountains war zone.
Both have the rank of general, but there is actually still a level difference.
General Yudovich is Southwestern Front Commander; Southwestern Front commands Lusha 3rd, 8th, 11th and other full-strength army groups, plus some scattered troops.
While General Brusilov is just his subordinate, commanding one of them, the 8th Army Group.
Considering their equal ranks, Brusilov is still quite bold to speak up and advise, only hearing him plead bitterly: “Your Excellency Front Commander, I hear you dispatched another corps from the 11th Army Group south today? Isn’t this too reckless?
Our troops south of the mountains have supply difficulties; committing too many at once means much more fixed daily consumption for food and drink. If fewer personnel are sent, the pressure on military rations transport is much smaller, the spare transport capacity can carry more shells, concentrate firepower for fierce attack; although slightly slower than now, it is more steady and can cherish soldiers’ lives…”
Yudovich rudely interrupted: “Brusilov! Don’t forget your position! Accelerate the offensive, take Presov before May 5, Kosice before May 15—this is a death order personally issued by His Majesty!
11th Army Group 28th Corps Commander Hoenkoff, 11th Army Group Chief of Staff Major General Brelynuff, were both relieved and sent back to Petersburg for military court for defying orders and delaying the battle! You want to be relieved and sent to court for a good trial too?”
Brusilov was immediately speechless, unable to retort that day, had to let the front commander have his way.
……
In the next five or six days, General Yudovich’s orders were further implemented; on May 6, although one day late than required by Tsar His Majesty, Yudovich at least captured Presov city.
Thus, the last obstacle to breaking out of the Carpathian Mountains and fully entering the open plain area was just the provincial capital of Hungarian Carpathian Province, Kosice.
The dawn of victory is in sight! Although supply lines further stretched, troops more fatigued, casualties increasingly severe, but everything is worth it!
From May 1 to 6, General Yudovich was still drawing forces south at a rate of up to one corps or at least one division per day. Soon, the 11th Army Group’s forces were also basically drawn south by him; he was about to start using the final general reserve and the home-guarding 8th Army Group.
8th Army Group Commander General Brusilov couldn’t hold back again, and called the front commander that day: “Your Excellency Yudovich! You have drawn too many troops to south of the mountains; for the defense line north of the mountains, it has already created big gaps.
Currently in the entire Southwestern Front, you pulled the entire 3rd Army Group south, the 11th Army Group almost entirely too; now you want to draw from my 8th Army Group. My 8th Army Group not only has to handle possible enemy from Krakow direction, but also guard the long rear supply line, dividing troops to guard along the railway from Przemysl to Lviv.
Now the forces I can keep on the Krakow frontal direction are less than half an army group. If Germanias reinforce Austria and attack east from Krakow along the railway, the situation is dangerous! This possibility must be guarded against; we cannot deploy forces top-heavy.”
This time, General Yudovich’s response was slightly more earnest than last time, but his attitude remained resolute and unquestionable:
“Taking Kosice before the 15th is His Majesty’s death order! His Majesty’s decree is very firm: the Empire cannot withstand long-term consumption; Germanias are blockaded at sea by Britannians, but the Empire is also blockaded at sea by Germanias!
The Empire’s Arctic Ocean port Murmansk is still under construction, not completed, unable to import Frankish and Britannian supplies year-round via Northern Route. Baltic Sea route and Black Sea route are basically blockaded by enemies. Rear froze to death many last winter, also starved to death.
Therefore, the Empire must this year thoroughly beat Austria out of the war! This bottom line cannot be delayed; if even Austria this soft persimmon drags past the year, beating Germania takes years? And to resolve Austria this year, must seize entire Hungarian Basin in the summer offensive.
Let Austria’s granary autumn harvest all fall into Empire hands, so Empire won’t famine in winter, Austria will instead. Thus, in the winter offensive, definitely can seize Ollie core homeland, advance into Vienna! This entire plan is unquestionable; we must before thaw period ends, quickly expand victories!
Moreover, I can reveal a bit more high-level news: His Majesty recently had Imperial Preceptor Rasputin prophesy again; Imperial Preceptor says His Majesty’s plan will inevitably succeed, he has seen the future; as long as front-line troops exert full effort to accelerate offensive, summer offensive will definitely seize Budapest! Winter offensive definitely seize Vienna!”
‘That dog priest’s words can be believed?!’ Brusilov was almost exploding inside, but such thoughts he only dared think in his head, absolutely not say aloud.
Hearing “Imperial Preceptor” from General Yudovich’s mouth, he knew this time it was hopeless to reverse.
That dim Tsar, that treacherous Empress Fyodorovna, both extremely trust certain charlatans in the court. One charlatan, said to relieve Crown Prince’s hemophilia, extremely trusted by Empress Fyodorovna, even freely entering rear palace, defiling it. Tsar His Majesty also often has him divine and prophesy military decision fortunes.
As long as the charlatan says all-out offensive is great fortune, Tsar will decisively demand front generals all-out offensive; who defies is relieved to military court.
Brusilov lungs almost exploding, but could only hold it in painfully, finally trying a bit of technical advice: “But… Your Excellency Commander, I always feel you underestimate the possible threat from Krakow direction enemies.
Even if enemies haven’t reinforced that direction now, as long as you further commit forces south of mountains, enemies will sooner or later reinforce Krakow; I must ensure our north line flank safety…”
General Yudovich rudely interrupted: “Now is thaw period! Giving you one corps to block the railway between Krakow and Przemysl, not enough? Leaving you two more divisions to fill defense lines in wilderness away from railway, total five divisions still not enough?”
Brusilov: “Not enough, I think; not only key defend railway, even the hilly gentle slope areas north and south of railway, each need at least one corps to fill line, one division too few!”
General Yudovich: “You idiot, forgot now is thaw period? Areas away from railway are either rugged or muddy; enemies can only infantry trudge through mud to attack! Such rotten terrain, two divisions to fill line still not enough? Enemies have no heavy firepower—oh, at most some grenade launchers!
And I’m not ignoring north line defense at all; as long as past May 20—fine, give you face, past May 15, once thaw terrain shows relief signs, I’ll rotate some previously blood-battled fatigued troops back north of mountains second line to fill and rest, how about that?”
Brusilov still wanted to argue, but no decisive turning point; ultimately these piecemeal haggles only made General Yudovich slightly concede on rear guard composition proportions:
“You still think rear not safe enough? Fine, I’ll yield more: facing Krakow direction, still leave 5 infantry divisions to fill line. Meanwhile, we currently have 8 cavalry divisions, and south mountains war line not yet broken through Kosice, main army not entered plains, too many cavalry useless anyway, stuck in mountain paths can’t use cavalry.
I can first leave some cavalry divisions for you; you just mobile deploy along rear railway and nodes. You keep only 7 infantry divisions in 8th Army Group, 5 in west, 1 in Przemysl, 1 in Lviv; send others to me, I’ll try to leave cavalry for you.”
After much haggling, the final conclusion is:
Lusha Southwestern Front total 49 divisions of troops, 41 infantry divisions, 8 cavalry divisions.
Leave 7 infantry divisions（west line 5, Przemysl 1, Lviv 1）, 6 cavalry divisions, total 13 divisions, in north of mountains war zone. Under 8th Army Group Commander General Brusilov command, responsible for protecting rear.
Remaining 34 infantry divisions, 2 cavalry divisions, total 36 divisions, successively committed to south of mountains war zone, further tear open Austria’s defense line, break Kosice in coming days, then attack Budapest.
But after May 15, if thaw mud conditions ease, Front Commander Yudovich promises to send 8 combat-fatigued, high-casualty divisions to rear for rest, incidentally for Brusilov to fill line.
Brusilov ultimately could only bargain to such conditions.
In this world war, Lusha Army personnel establishment scale is actually larger than western countries, Lusha never lacks population, one division even reaches 22,000（Germania and Britannia, one division is 18,000）
Just Lusha industrialization too poor, too broke, weapons equipment completion rate extremely low. Often two soldiers share one rifle, wait for front soldier die then rear pick up gun to fight. One company no heavy machine gun, only battalion level has machine gun, one division only one radio.
So Southwestern Front’s 49 divisions, theoretically nearly million-strong army, actually because cavalry divisions half infantry numbers, theoretical total force over 900,000.
But after last year’s Galicia campaign, and this year’s Carpathian campaign first few months’ fighting, even with later supplements, Yudovich’s actual forces still short over 20% from full strength.
Now actual remaining force should still be over 700,000.
He dispatches 36 divisions south, actual about 540,000.
While north line guarding 13 divisions, total about 170,000.
North line’s 170,000, another 80,000 deployed on west front line, 20,000 in Przemysl, 20,000 in Lviv, 50,000 cavalry patrolling along railways etc. as mobile reinforcement.
This deployment plan starts execution May 5, basically completes dispatch by May 9; troops to rush south basically all dispatched.
Moreover, especially on May 11, shocking good news came: under Front Commander General Yudovich’s persistent all-in fierce attack, provincial capital of Hungarian Carpathian Province, Kosice province, finally broken by Lusha Army! Even several days ahead of original plan!
Although in siege process, Yudovich’s troops died fully several tens of thousands, plus previous battles also casualties several tens of thousands, so when breaking Kosice, his 540,000 south mountains troops actually only 450,000 left combat-capable.
Austrian Army and over assisting German Army abandoned Kosice city, but before forced retreat also did firm wall clear wilderness on city supplies, left nothing for Lushans.
But Yudovich felt this already unimportant! Breaking Kosice, Lusha Army finally entered Hungarian Plain area.
Although Germanias and Austrians very likely set another defense line behind Kosice, but these plain area defense lines definitely much easier than mountain ones, and can find one direction for focused breakthrough, no big problem!
At least General Yudovich felt no big problem.
After General Yudovich confirmed breaking Kosice, related news immediately on Petersburg newspapers that evening, propagandized as another epic victory.
Tsar His Majesty very happy, tells everyone: “This proves our all-out offensive strategy correct! Now broken through Kosice, entered Hungarian Plain region, further to Budapest already vast plain! Those temporary blocking defense lines on plains nothing to fear! Great Empire definitely can in this summer offensive thoroughly occupy Hungary!”
And Lusha’s fierce momentum finally inspired his potential allies.
Serbia and Romania as early as April 26, day Lusha Army announced capture of Przemysl Fortress, 130,000 Austrian Army in fortress surrendered to Lusha, were greatly encouraged, began preparing to send troops north, pincer attack enemies in Hungarian region.
By May 11, exactly half month since Przemysl Fortress changed hands, Serbia and Romanian preparations also hastily completed.
Serbia nationwide over 400,000 army, originally just dead defend homeland, sawing with Austria; now seeing Lusha great army kill into Hungarian Plain, they finally dare drill out from mountains south of Belgrade, cross Danube River, go upstream along Danube, straight insert Budapest from rear!
Of course, Serbia impossible take all 400,000 army out, need leave some guard home, but enough sincerity, took out full 330,000 great army, 75% of national army force, all for offensive pincer!
Serbian Army on May 11 that day, crossed border north.
May 12, Romania formally declared war on Austria and Bulgaria, then also drew out nominally 8 divisions army, total 110,000, also upstream along Danube, join with Serbian Army.
Budapest northeast slightly north 200 kilometers Kosice direction, 450,000 Lusha Army like an iron fist, fiercely smashing toward Budapest.
Budapest south 200 kilometers Belgrade direction, 440,000 allied forces（330,000 Serb + 110,000 Roma） also like another iron fist, fiercely smashing toward Budapest.
Two iron fists toward each other, full 900,000 great army, like twin peaks piercing ears; as long as solidly smash in Budapest, German-Austrian Allied Forces seem done for.
……
But same day May 12, long-enduring Germania Army also moved.
Previous evening, in Krakow city, Colonel Lelouch reported latest reconnaissance intelligence to 10th Army Group Commander, Old Marshal Leopold:
“According to aviation reconnaissance evidence before today’s sunset, after Lushans obtain breakthrough at Kosice, hundreds of thousands massively pour into open plain near Kosice, they can’t turn back short term, even turning back would cause huge chaos.
Squeezing back to Dukla Pass, crossing Carpathian Mountains not easy. Pass throughput so low, they took over ten days coming, going at least that long.
North mountains Krakow-Przemysl between now only enemy’s 5 divisions, and 3 divisions on railway line. For Gorlice muddy area north of railway, only 1 division; south of railway also only 1 division.
I suggest, tomorrow morning our army per predetermined plan: focused breakthrough on Gorlice town in muddy area north of railway, tear apart that division stationed there!”
“I approve executing this plan.” Marshal Leopold finally decided.
Lelouch now nominally 6th Army Group staff officer, not 10th Army Group staff officer; strictly shouldn’t manage here.
But who let Baria Royal Family old and middle generation marshals both so trust him, and 10th, 6th Army Group Commanders this uncle-nephew pair, still need close coordination, one envelop enemy rear, one hold front/center bloom.
So Lelouch also had to work hard running both sides, first help north line 10th Army Group coordinate, responsible as global starter.
After Old Marshal Leopold here first step starts, Lelouch then hurry back to Budapest, help Marshal Rupprecht start plan’s second step.
May 12 dawn, hundreds light short-barrel 105mm field guns, pre-hauled by newly equipped diesel engine half-track vehicles, to Gorlice lowland front away from railway.
Just waiting time arrive, these heavy cannons will fire, at position Lushans can’t imagine, blast open Lushans’ defense line.
