Eastern Gamble
1600 August 23rd 1944
Stryj, Poland
Rommel faced more and more troubles in keeping firm the attack on Stryj. As time went on, the Soviets were turning the odds in their favor and the attackers were soon becoming the attacked.
His only hope was in those twenty badly mauled divisions heading for Lvov. That was all his hope.
2200 August 23rd 1944
17. Armee, Zamosc, Poland
Von Küchler was riding this gamble to the East and many were the obstacles that could possibly halt his progress, and that of Rommel, and perhaps that of Germany.
Five Soviet divisions now stood between him and Lvov. They weren't ordinary divisions, but some of the finest Armored divisions among the Soviet ranks.
0200 August 24th 1944
Stryj. Poland
As von Küchler now faced five divisions blocking his path, Rommel now found that the Soviets had exactly five less divisions to defend Stryj with. Field Marshal Malinovskij attempted a delaying action as he was now facing this defense without some of the most powerful and equipped armored divisions he had at his disposal.
The odds were once again very unclear for both sides.
In all response to Malinovskij's delay, Rommel performed yet another brilliant encirclenent at the expense of his enemy; it was now clear to all that he was the uncontested master of the local encirclement doctrine.
1100 AUgust 24th 1944
Stryj, Poland
Either the Soviets now feared a possible German victory in Stryj, or they did not want to defend Lvov, they called back two of their five divisions in Lvov to Stryj.
Two more divisions made little difference to Rommel, as they had been battle-tested in the battle of Lvov, but it was of great help to von Küchler.
1200 August 24th 1944
17. Armee, Zamosc, Poland
Twenty-two divisions now feared little to face three Armored divisions. They could've been as adamant as diamond in Stryj, but alone they could not stand a chance.
One hour later, they would suffer defeat.
3. SS Panzerkorps would be the first to enter Lvov, and they would have to wait for the infantry to catch up.
The Soviets greeted their arrival with only three divisions. Even if the Soviets weren't using their whole force to evict the new inhabitants of Lvov, three divisions were still enough to cause severe trouble to Rommel's plans to encircle Stryj. 3. SS Panzerkorps would have to wait till the very early hours of August 25th: that is, less than twelve hours.
2000 August 24th 1944
Stryj, Poland
As the Soviet divisions were now undersupplied and with three less divisions in Stryj, the Soviets had made staggering progress to maintain the upper hand, and soon after their resistance was starting to falter.
Rommel was all of a sudden leading his divisions to an incredible progress in the battle.