Reincarnated as Nikolai II

In this Great War, as befitting its grand name, casualties in the tens of thousands had become daily occurrence, but looking closely at the clashes happening here on the Eastern Front, it was nothing short of a maelstrom of madness.

While Russian forces advance like living corpses even as their flesh is torn away, German forces let these corpses eat away at their own flesh.

As a result, it became impossible to tell who were the living corpses and who were the dead ones.

Just two unyielding commanders.

"15th, 24th, and 26th Corps under Lieutenant General von Flug advance on Posen again."

"Have Max von Fabeck lead all remaining elite divisions from 5th Army to block Posen."

"Elite divisions remain? Is this your final struggle? If that’s all you have, I could sweep them away."

"Come. I’ll show you the difference in quality, not numbers."

They only expressed their wills murderously.

Like chess pieces capturing each other under their kings’ strategies, breaking front lines and revealing victory and defeat.

Until early winter past autumn, the two commanders devoured each other’s armies like insatiable demons.

However.

Gradually.

"They say the government signed a non-aggression treaty with the Japanese Empire, and the Far Eastern Army has arrived in Warsaw!"

"OHL says they won’t stand for any more waste of troops! Commander, it seems there’s talk of replacing command from the rear!"

Very gradually.

"The Special Army (13th Army) has arrived! 31st, 39th, 44th, and 46th Corps. Warsaw General Staff has sent a newly formed army organized with 1st TC and 4th, 6th Cavalry Corps!"

"No more... reserve divisions. All mobilized forces have been consumed and now we lack troops to support behind the front lines. OHL says they can’t send troops immediately either."

Hindenburg with no more Landwehr to pull in.

Meanwhile Roman, backed by Kuropatkin who surpassed 50 infantry corps in 1914 and now assigns numbers in the 60s to new corps.

Though both men boldly bet everything.

"Now let’s slowly start using our reserves too. 57th Corps to Posen first."

"...We must counterattack. Though difficult, we must raise our guard and throw punches to avoid being hit."

"Attach 58th and 59th Corps behind 57th Corps and probe the area below with the Barbarian Division (CNCD: White Native Division). If they react well to this too, let’s return to orthodox moves and send Kovno Fortress Army, Dvinsk Fortress Army, and Warsaw Fortress Army to Posen."

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The result becomes clear.

"Jäger Regiment, Pavlovsky Regiment, Izmailovsky Regiment, Moscow Regiment. All from the Guards, totaling 89?"

"We must prevent the front line from collapsing at all costs. If we must retreat, allow it after rebuilding trenches behind..."

"General Mensmontan. Lead the remaining Finnish troops to Posen. I mean all of them, without a single exception."

"Damn it, we can’t show them even a slight gap, so stop them somehow!"

Cities including Posen, which had changed hands countless times, slowly stop slipping from Russia’s grasp.

Like sand inevitably leaking between fingers.

Like fallen leaves flying away in the wind no matter how much you gather them.

Hindenburg’s will was being bent, not by choice but by force.

And news bringing despair to such Hindenburg.

[Southern Front defeated due to Russian-Romanian allied forces’ junction. Ivanov’s Southwestern Army Group enters Austro-Hungarian territory.]

[OHL judges simultaneous execution of Third Battle of Artois and Second Battle of Champagne impossible.]

It was bad news from the Western and Southern fronts.

Looking at just the outcomes, there seemed little change with German victory on the Western Front and German-Austrian defeat on the Southern Front, but looking at troops killed in just three months from September to November, such words couldn’t come out.

Just like Roman and Hindenburg now.

In any battle, you take wounds even in victory and aren’t annihilated even in defeat.

There are no battles without casualties and no perfect victories.

And the German army. They no longer had the capacity to handle simultaneous casualties occurring on three fronts.

While Hindenburg faced only Roman, Germany faced France, Britain, and Russia.

Even at this moment, Roman was replenishing troops and hammering at Hindenburg’s line.

Though they had never met face to face, it seemed that Tatar bastard was looking down and mocking him.

While Roman’s line was well defended for the past year.

How could Hindenburg’s line not even last three months?

Saying this was his defeat and Roman’s victory.

So acknowledge it and withdraw.

His molars clenched. Blood rushed to his eyes and his fists tightened.

Nevertheless, Hindenburg could no longer answer Roman’s orders like before.

"Commander..."

What were these damned OHL general staff bastards doing?

Where did they sell off all those troops and what were they doing with this impossible three-front war?

Powerlessness about himself, sense of defeat he didn’t want to acknowledge.

He would rather die here than issue orders breaking his will with his own hands.

No, in fact, Hindenburg still thought he hadn’t been wrong.

If he had been given troops like Roman’s.

If he had received rear support like Roman’s.

If he had reputation and command ability like Roman’s.

If so...

However, such numerous assumptions weren’t even excuses he could make before his many staff officers.

He had lost.

And a defeated general.

"...Pull back the line. While maintaining engagement with the enemy, rebuild trenches in the rear as quickly as possible."

"New orders from the Commander! From now on, the longer we delay, the more severe our casualties become! Don’t waste the time our forces buy! Hurry and prepare to retreat!"

Didn’t even have the right to make excuses.

Was Hindenburg’s strategy, Hindenburg’s gambit really.

From the start, seen through by the enemy’s insight and like Cao Cao at Red Cliffs, vainly losing a million-strong army?

Or.

Was it implementing a 20th century Pyrrhic victory, where whoever wins only suffers losses in the end?

"Don’t be satisfied with Posen! The enemy is clearly preparing to retreat!"

"There won’t be any counterattacks so everyone pursue! Don’t give the enemy time to build trenches!"

"You Boche bastards, think you can escape easily?"

No one can know history that didn’t happen.

But one thing is certain.

"Hmm, I won."

That Roman had won.