Chapter 1457 Defeat
Rostov-on-Don, the headquarters of the German Army Group D, the commander of the 2nd Army and the commander of the D Army Group Marshal Brauchitsch, is studying the battle situation with a group of army commanders. Among these commanders, the generals of the German and Ukrainian armies undoubtedly have a higher status. The generals of Yugoslavia and Italy are relatively lower. There is no way, who made their army's combat effectiveness so bad that they didn't have any record? This made them short in front of the German and Ukrainian generals.
"Everyone, through the previous week's battle, we have caused a lot of losses to the Russian Southern Front. Now, almost all the troops of the Russian Southern Front have shrunk to the surrounding area of Volgodonsk. I decided to send the main force to attack Volgodontsk, wipe out the Russian Southern Front in one fell swoop, and open the way for the attack on Josephgrad!" Marshal Brauchitsch ordered.
There is no other way for Marshal Brauchitsch to do this. Through his relationship in the General Staff, he knew that the three army groups in the north were planning a large-scale offensive. Once successful, the situation in the north will be clear. It can even be concluded that the German army will have an absolute advantage. Therefore, Marshal Brauchitsch did not want to fall behind too much.
All the generals of Army Group D nodded their heads in agreement. In this stage of operations, the combat mission of Army Group D is to take Josephgrad. They also don't want to waste too much time. After all, once an attack on Josephgrad is launched, there will be a bloody battle.
"In this battle, the German 2nd Army, 19th Army and 20th Army, as well as the Ukrainian 1st Army, 2nd Army and 3rd Army, are still the main force. Among them, the three German Army Groups launched from the south of the Don River Offensive. The three Ukrainian armies launched an offensive from the north of the Don River. The Yugoslav and Italian armies are responsible for logistical support. Although our current logistical support mainly relies on river transportation. However, land transportation is also very important and must not be used by the Russians. Partisans cut off!" Marshal Brauchitsch ordered.
"Yes, Marshal!" All the generals replied.
"Your Excellency the Marshal, Volgodontsk is located at the big bend of the Don River. The river there is wide and the water is deep. If the Navy can send some warships there to provide us with fire support, maybe we can capture Volgodonsk. Sex will be greatly increased!" A general of the Italian Army suggested.
Marshal Brauchitsch shook his head: "It is too difficult for naval warships to enter the Don River. Especially those warships equipped with large-caliber main guns have a relatively deep draft and it is difficult to enter the middle reaches of the Don River. Besides , We already have very powerful armor and firepower, suppressing the Russian southern front is not a problem at all, there is no need for the navy to join in."
"Everyone, if there is no objection, then act!" Marshal Brauchitsch ordered.
"Yes, Your Excellency the Marshal!" Everyone replied.
After the order was issued, the German Army Group D immediately took action. The three German armies quickly advanced towards Volgodonsk along the road south of the Don River. The three armies of the Ukrainian Army advanced along the road north of the Don River. The two troops echoed each other from a distance.
"The Germans are attacking again, and we must stop them. Otherwise, Volgodontsk will be finished!" General Tyurenev ordered. After learning that the main force of the German Army Group D launched an attack, General Tyurenev and others became nervous.
"Comrade Commander, send the 5th Tank Army to the front line! With their help, maybe we can hold off the Germans." Lieutenant General Zaporozhets suggested.
General Tyurenev hesitated for a moment, but nodded: "Okay, let the 5th Tank Army go. This time, we must resist the German attack no matter what!"
Although the 5th Tank Army is already the most powerful offensive unit of the Russian Southern Front. However, in order to resist the German attack, he had to send this army group to the battlefield. General Tyurenev knew very well that in the face of the powerful armored forces of the German army, it might be difficult for the 5th Tank Army to play any role. But by this time, he had no other choice.
On April 25, the 2nd Armored Division, 11th Mechanized Infantry Division and 12th Mechanized Infantry Division under the German 2nd Army attacked Bestre. The Russian 12th Army stationed here desperately blocked the attack, but was still easily broken through by the German armored forces. The 16th Mechanized Army under the 12th Army of the Russian Army was easily disabled and suffered heavy losses. The rest of the Infantry 13th Army and 17th Army were caught in the encirclement of the German 2nd Army.
At this time, the 5th Russian Tank Army arrived. The Russian 5th Tank Army has under its jurisdiction the 2nd and 11th Tank Corps, the 340th Infantry Division and the 19th Independent Tank Brigade, equipped with more than 600 tanks. It's just that the Russian troops going south did not replace them with advanced T-34 tanks. The tanks equipped by this tank army are all old T-26 tanks and BT-5 tanks. Numerous previous battles have already proved that these tanks of the Russian army are completely vulnerable to the tiger and leopard tanks of the German army.
That afternoon, after the battle broke out, the German 2nd Armored Division took the lead. Dozens of "Tiger" heavy tanks acted as the sharp knives of the whole division, and more than two hundred "Black Panther" tanks outflanked from both wings.
During the fierce battle, the Russian T-26 tanks and BT-5 tanks were blown up by the German Tiger and Leopard tanks at a long distance, and they could not rush to the German tanks at all. The 45mm tank guns equipped with these two tanks did not pose any threat to German tanks at a long distance. Even if it hits a German tank, it cannot penetrate the thick armor of the German tank, just like tickling the German tank.
After half an hour of fierce fighting, the 5th Russian Tank Army lost more than half. The rest of the tanks began to turn around and escape.
And the planes of the cheap Luftwaffe 4th Aviation Group arrived. A squadron of Stuka dive bombers and a squadron of ground attack aircraft rushed to the battlefield and bombed the retreating Russian tank units, destroying hundreds of troops. Russian tanks.
The rest of the Russian tanks were so frightened that they peed their pants, and retreated to Volgodonsk without looking back. The German armored forces are chasing after them.
