"Gentlemen, according to the intelligence we have obtained, the Russians are indeed planning a counterattack against us. And it will not be a small one. Therefore, in the time ahead, we must remain on high alert!" Marshal Guderian said.
Based on the intelligence that had been gathered, General Guderian could now almost certainly confirm that the Russian military would launch an offensive.
"God! Launching an attack in weather this cold? Aren't the Russians afraid their soldiers will freeze to death?" Lieutenant General Sakel, commander of the 1st Polish Army Corps, cried out.
The commanders of the other army corps nodded repeatedly as well, deeply agreeing. In everyone's understanding, unless one had gone mad, no one would ever issue such an offensive order.
"No matter what the Russians are thinking, perhaps they really do want to die. Then we shall send them to meet God. I hope that from this moment onward, all frontline units will prepare for battle. Once they encounter a Russian attack, they must hold their positions!" Marshal Guderian ordered.
"Yes, Your Excellency!" everyone answered.
"Where will the Russians focus their attack?" General Bock, Commander of the 3rd Army Corps, asked.
Marshal Guderian shook his head. "That is still unclear at present. However, we can tentatively judge that it will be the northern line of defense."
At once, the Polish and Belarusian generals' expressions turned solemn. Though they had mocked the Russians earlier, saying that launching an attack at such a time was no different from courting death, if their own troops came under Russian attack, the situation would likely be extremely dangerous. If things went badly, their losses could be staggering.
"Gentlemen, can your troops withstand a Russian attack?" Guderian looked toward the commanders of the 1st Belarusian Army Corps, the 3rd Polish Army Corps, and the