Brusilov Offensive (Codex Entry)

Brusilov Offensive is a Codex Entry featured in Battlefield 1, introduced in the Battlefield 1: In the Name of the Tsar expansion. It is unlocked upon completing a round of the Brusilov Offensive Operation.

Transcript


''General Alexei Brusilov had only recently been appointed commander of the four Russian armies on the southern half of the Eastern Front, but he already planned an offensive against the Central Powers to take place in concert with Britain and France’s upcoming offensive on the Western Front in the summer of 1916. More competent and aggressive than his colleagues, Brusilov hoped to break the battle weary and weakened Austro-Hungarian forces in Galicia with one decisive blow. He ordered his staff officers to supply the artillery with more shells than ever before, to provide meticulously detailed maps and accurate intelligence about the defenses, and he also planned to implement brand new shock troop tactics in the attack. On June 4th, massive concentrated artillery bombardments shook the Austro-Hungarian lines, while diversionary attacks confused the defenders. Equipped with hand-grenades and supported by machine guns, the shock troops broke into and through the demolished trenches, and were immediately backed up by the reserves. There were breakthroughs all along the 250-mile front, and it seemed that Austro-Hungarian resistance would collapse, as their soldiers were in full retreat. Brusilov urged the northern Russian commanders to attack as well, to tie down the Germans before they could be shifted to the south and reinforce the Austrians, but the northern commanders delayed again and again and the Germans were able to send the badly needed assistance to their stricken ally. The Brusilov offensive was a major Russian victory, but with total casualties on both sides as high as two million it was the deadliest battle of the war, and Russia had missed a very real chance to knock Austria-Hungary out of the conflict.''