Chapter 1432 Armored Assault

The Western Front of the Russian Army, after being reorganized and strengthened, has become the most powerful front in the Russian Army. Under its jurisdiction are 24 infantry armies, two tank armies and two air force armies, with a total strength of more than three million troops.

Marshal Voroshilov, a member of the Russian Politburo, served as the commander of the Western Front. However, for this position, Marshal Voroshilov resisted from the bottom of his heart. If he was facing a weaker opponent, perhaps he would gladly accept this order. However, the current enemy is the mighty Germany! Moreover, the previous fronts were defeated, and even Marshal Budyonny was killed. This made Marshal Voroshilov very worried, fearing that after the defeat, he would follow the example of Marshal Budyonny.

The headquarters of the Western Front is located in Dorokhovo, a small town about 50 kilometers away from Moscow. A road passes through this town, belonging to a gateway to the west of Moscow.

Of course, there is only one important gateway to the west of Moscow, and that is Smolensk. But unfortunately, during the battle last year, the Russian army captured Smolensk.

"Comrade Commander, the German army launched a large-scale bombardment. At the same time, their air force also launched a large-scale bombardment of our artillery. Now, our artillery has been completely suppressed, and the losses are very large! "Lieutenant General Ma Lanjin, Chief of Staff of the Front Army, reported.

"Damn it! The guys in the Air Force are too inexperienced? They lost a lot in one day, and they don't even have the courage to fight the Germans anymore. If this continues, how can we continue to fight the Germans? ?” Before Marshal Voroshilov could speak, Lieutenant General Ponomarenko, the political commissar, began to complain.

Voroshilov sighed. Having served as the People's Commissar of National Defense before, he also knew something about the strength of the Russian Air Force. He is well aware of the strength of the Luftwaffe, and with the strength of the Russian Air Force, it would be too difficult for him to compete against the Luftwaffe.

"The gap between the strength of the Air Force and the Germans is too great. Although the Jacques-1 fighter jets have begun to be deployed, the number is too small to play a big role at all. They suffered a disastrous defeat in the air battle yesterday. It is inevitable. However, even without the support of the air force, we still have to resist the German attack. Behind us is Moscow! Now, we have no way to retreat. If the Germans are attacked again If we are defeated, Comrade Joseph will never forgive us!" Marshal Voroshilov said.

Even though he is a member of the Russian Politburo, he is still a marshal. But if he lost the battle and Joseph wanted to deal with him, he would also die. Through the purge and the political commissar system, Joseph has firmly controlled the army of Bu Russia. Now, no one can defy Joseph's will.

Lieutenant General Ponomarenko and Lieutenant General Malankin nodded again and again. The fiasco of last year has caused many Russian generals to be disposed of. It can be seen that Joseph is serious. If they are defeated by the Germans this time, the consequences can be imagined.

"Order the armies on the front line to defend their positions. The 3rd and 4th tank armies must resist the German armor!" Marshal Voroshilov ordered.

He is well aware of the power of the German armored forces. If they cannot withstand the German armored forces, the Russian army's defense line will be easily broken by the German army like a piece of paper.

The 3rd Tank Army had suffered a disastrous defeat in the previous battle and was almost completely lost. But after supplementation, the strength was restored. However, a tank army of the Russian army has only more than a thousand tanks when it is full. Not to mention that the current Russian army simply does not have enough tanks to equip them. Therefore, under the severe shortage, a tank army of the Russian army has only more than 600 tanks, which is only equivalent to the tanks owned by an infantry army of the German army.

Even the combination of the 3rd Tank Army and the 4th Tank Army is probably not an opponent of an armored army of the German army. Not to mention that the German Army Group B has four infantry armies in addition to one armored army. The tigers and leopards owned = the number of tanks, more than 3,000!

"Yes, Comrade Commander," Lieutenant Generals Ponomarenko and Marankin reported.

Marshal Voroshilov's order reached the front-line armies, but the front-line army commanders were also miserable. Facing the heavy bombardment of the German army and the indiscriminate bombing of the Luftwaffe, their artillery losses were very large. One artillery position after another was destroyed, a large number of artillery were blown into scrap iron, and countless artillery were torn to pieces. German artillery and aircraft are destroying their fortifications. The defensive positions built with great difficulty in the winter are becoming fragmented under the heavy shelling and bombing of the German army.

The fierce attack launched by the five German army groups at the same time caused all the defense lines of the entire Russian army to be hit by fierce firepower. The Russian Northwest Front, Western Front, Southwest Front, Josephgrad Front and Caucasus Front were successively attacked by five German army groups. Only the reserve front army of General Zhukov, with heavy troops in hand, stayed behind the western front army and the northwest front army and used it as a reserve force. Joseph would not easily agree to the front army's participation in the war. Because, if the battle on the front line is unfavorable, this front army will become Moscow's last steadfast force.

"Your Excellency Marshal, with the help of the Air Force, our artillery has completely suppressed the Russian artillery. Moreover, the Russian artillery has suffered heavy losses." Lieutenant General Karl Hilpert, Chief of Staff of the Eighth Army reported.

Marshal Guderian nodded: "Let all the armies get ready. Launch an attack in an hour. Use armored forces to tear apart the Russian defense line, and then implement division and encirclement tactics!"

"Yes, Your Excellency the Marshal!" Lieutenant General Carl Hilpert immediately went to convey the order.

In the next hour, the German artillery and air force worked harder, almost using shells and bombs to repeatedly plow the Russian army's position several times, destroying the Russian army's fortifications and at the same time losing troops heavy.

Afterwards, the 3rd Armored Division, 8th Armored Division, 88th Armored Division, 13th Armored Division, 14th Armored Division, 15th Armored Division, and 12 Mechanized Infantry Divisions under the jurisdiction of Group B Army took the lead to attack the Russian army. The defense launched an attack.