Chapter 1456 Operations on the Southern Front

The German troops fighting in Russia mainly consisted of five army groups. It's just that, compared to Army Group A, Army Group B, and Army Group C that besieged Moscow, Army Group D and Army Group E, which are responsible for operations on the southern front, are in a secondary position. After all, these two army groups add up, and the German army has only five army groups, only one million people. Including the army of the slave country, the total strength is only 3.8 million, which is less than half of the German army and the slave army that attacked Moscow.

Of course, there are not many troops deployed by the Russian army on the southern front. Apart from the southern front, there is only the Caucasus front. And, the Josephgrad Front Army hastily formed in Josephgrad. Generally speaking, the Russian army does not have an advantage in terms of military strength. In terms of combat effectiveness, it is even at a disadvantage. Even, the logistical support of the German Army Group D and Army Group E is more sufficient than the troops attacking Moscow.

Turkey is now also joining the Allied Powers, which allows the German logistics department to use merchant ships to transport large quantities of supplies to the Black Sea coast. Even some small ships can go upstream along the Don River, thus providing more supplies to the German army. This also made the German army's operations on the southern front more smooth.

When the main force launched a fierce attack on the Russian Western Front, Southwest Front and Northwest Front. The German Army Group D also launched a fierce attack on the Russian Southern Front.

Army Group D of the German Army, under the jurisdiction of the 2nd Army, 19th Army and 20th Army of the German Army, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Army of Ukraine, the 1st and 2nd Army of Yugoslavia, and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Italian Army Army Group. Although the combat effectiveness of the Yugoslav and Italian armies is very unreliable, the combat effectiveness of the Ukrainian army is still guaranteed. Therefore, Marshal Brauchitsch, commander of the German Army Group D, placed the main task of the offensive on the German and Ukrainian troops, while the Yugoslav and Italian troops were responsible for the secondary tasks.

On the other side, the German Army Group E fought against the Russian Caucasus Front Army in the Caucasus region. Although in the early days of the war, the Russian Caucasus Front Army was able to use the terrain to resist the German attack. However, as the German offensive became more and more fierce, the Russian army suffered more and more casualties. The Caucasus line of defense was still broken through by the German Army Group E. At will, the German Army Group E began to drive straight in, and fought fiercely with the Russian Caucasus Front Army in the north of the Caucasus Mountains.

The Russian Caucasus Front was almost completely lost in the last war to attack the Middle East. The current Caucasus Front Army was reorganized later. There are only four army groups, and it is undoubtedly very difficult to resist the more than one million troops of Army Group E. Although Army Group E has only two German armies, the three armies from Turkey and the three armies from Persia cooperate with them. Although the combat effectiveness of the Turkish army and the Persian army is not strong, the several armies of the Russian Caucasus Front Army are also formed later, and their combat effectiveness is not the same. Without the obstruction of the natural barrier of the Caucasus Mountains, it is almost impossible for the Russian army to resist the attack of the German Army Group E.

At the end of last year's battle, the German Army Group D captured Rostov-on-Don. After the attack restarted this time, the German Army Group D attacked eastward along the Don River.

Although, the Russian Southern Front deployed a large number of troops to intercept the German army. But in the face of the elite troops of the German army, the interception of the Russian army seemed so weak that it was easily broken through.

A week after the battle broke out, the forward troops of the German Army Group D had already approached Volgodonsk. If this place also falls into the hands of the German army, then Josephgrad will almost be exposed to the German army. The next step for the German army is to launch an attack on Josephgrad.

The Southern Army Command of the Russian Army was also established in Dontsk, Volgo.

Facing the ferocious offensive of the German army, the generals of the Russian Southern Front Army were also frowning. Commander General Tyurenev, Political Commissar Lieutenant General Zaporozhets, and Chief of Staff Major General Shishenin have tried their best, but none of them can get out of the current predicament.

When the war just broke out, the Russian Southern Army entered Ukraine under the order of Joseph. But as a result, it was surrounded and wiped out by the German and Ukrainian troops. After a winter, the Southern Front was rebuilt and a lot of troops were replenished. However, in the face of the more powerful German Army Group D, they are still not opponents.

The current Russian Southern Front, in addition to the original 9th ​​Army, 18th Army, and 9th Independent Infantry Army, also includes the 6th, 12th, 24th, 28th, 37th, 51st, and 57th Army, and the 5th Tank Army . A total of 9 infantry armies and a tank army, with a strength of more than 1.5 million people. However, facing the German Army Group D, they were still at a disadvantage.

"Comrades, the German forward troops are less than 50 kilometers away from Volgodontsk. According to the advancing speed of the German army, they will be able to reach Volgodonsk in at most two days. What should we do now?" General Tyurenev frowned and asked.

"Comrade Commander, in the previous battles, three of our armies have been disabled. The troops that can be gathered in Volgodonsk are also very limited. It may be very difficult to resist the German attack here. Difficult," Lieutenant General Zaporozhets, political commissar, said.

General Tyurenev nodded. The three German armies had three armored divisions and six mechanized infantry divisions. With a powerful armored force, their line of defense was directly destroyed. So much so that the Russian army didn't even have the ability to rebuild the line of defense. It was almost chased and beaten by the German army, and one army after another was defeated.

"Comrade Commander, if possible, we simply abandon Volgodonsk and retreat to Josephgrad to strengthen the defenders of Josephgrad. In this way, the possibility of us defending Josephgrad will be greatly improved." Staff Officer Major General Chang Xishenin suggested.

General Zaporozhets shook his head: "I have already asked Moscow for instructions. The battle situation near Moscow is also very unfavorable. Comrade Joseph ordered us to stick to Volgodontsk and buy more time for the Josephgrad Front Army !"

Hearing these words, the faces of Lieutenant General Zaporozhets and Major General Shishenin suddenly became very ugly.