Chapter 1458 Encirclement and Annihilation

Grozny at the northern foot of the Caucasus Mountains, the temporary headquarters of the German Army Group E. After the German Army Group E defeated the Russian Caucasus Front Army, the headquarters was established here.

Now, the troops under Army Group E are chasing the remnants of the Russian Caucasus Front along the road north of the Caucasus Mountains. The four armies under the Russian Caucasus Front all suffered heavy losses, and they no longer have the strength to fight against the German Army Group E. Even the three Turkish armies and the three Persian armies under the German Army Group E dared to attack the Russian army alone. It can be seen how weak the Russian army has become.

General Lundstedt, commander of the German Army Group E, is working with Lieutenant General Kurt von Hammerstein, commander of the German 21st Army Group, and Ludwig Baker, commander of the German 22nd Army Group The lieutenant will discuss the current situation.

"After we crossed the Caucasus Mountains, the Russians were no longer able to stop us. It was only a matter of time before the remnants of the Russian Caucasus Front Army were wiped out by us. However, we can't just put our target on With regard to the Russian Caucasus Front, we need to take a longer view!" said Admiral Lundstedt.

"Your Excellency, what is your plan?" Lieutenant General Eckert asked.

"Army Group D is attacking the Russian Southern Front. The strength of the Russian Southern Front is much larger than that of the Russian Caucasus Front. If we immediately rush north after we annihilate the Russian Caucasus Front, cut off Volgodonsk The connection with Josephgrad blocked the retreat of the Russian Southern Front Army. Then, this Front Army will definitely die." Admiral Lundstedt said.

"Your Excellency, Commander, are we going to help Army Group D?" Lieutenant General Ludwig Baker asked.

"No, this is not helping Army Group D, it is helping ourselves at the same time. Our goal in this battle is to take Josephgrad. If the troops of the Russian Southern Front are allowed to flee back to Joseph In the case of Joseph Grad, this will greatly increase the difficulty for us to conquer Joseph Grad. After we eliminate the Russian Army’s Southern Front Army, the Russian Army’s defenders in Joseph Grad will only be left with the Joseph Grad Front Army. For us and As far as Army Group D is concerned, it is relatively much easier to eliminate the Russian Army's Josefgrad Front Army." Admiral Lundstedt explained.

As the last commander of an army group appointed by Kaiser Qin Tian, ​​Admiral Lundstedt also had his own goals. He wanted to be promoted to marshal like the previous four army group commanders. Then, he must have a good record. Therefore, he hoped that the Army Group E under his command could perform better in this battle.

Both Lieutenant General Eckert and Ludwig Beck agreed with the plan. After all, this is also very beneficial to them.

"Now, the remnants of the Caucasus Front of the Russian Army are mainly concentrated in the Pyatigorsk area. I hope that the 21st Armored Division, the 22nd Armored Division, the 201st Mechanized Infantry Division, the 202nd Mechanized Infantry Division, the 211th Mechanized Infantry Division and The 212th Mechanized Infantry Division can form an assault group, rush there as quickly as possible, intercept the Russian army, and then cut and surround them. After the follow-up infantry arrives, the task of eliminating these Russian troops is up to the infantry Come and finish. And the assault group continues to advance northward, cutting off the retreat of the Russian army's southern front in one fell swoop!" Admiral Lundstedt ordered.

"Yes, Your Excellency!" Lieutenant General Eckert and Lieutenant General Ludwig Baker replied.

That afternoon, the German 21st Armored Division, 22nd Armored Division, 201st, 202nd, 211th and 212th Mechanized Infantry Divisions launched an offensive. Although the Russian Caucasus Front has been retreating, the Russian army, which lacks cars and armored vehicles, can only rely on the soldiers' legs to retreat. Therefore, their retreat speed was not fast, and they were easily caught up by the German army. Subsequently, the two armored divisions and four mechanized infantry divisions of the German army launched a fierce attack on the Russian Caucasus Front Army.

In the previous battles, the Russian Caucasus Front suffered considerable losses. The 60th Army, 62nd Army, 64th Army and 69th Army all suffered heavy losses. Facing the torrent of steel composed of thousands of tanks and a large number of armored vehicles of the German army, it was even more irresistible. Their line of defense was easily breached by the German armored forces.

A large number of Russian troops, the will to fight collapsed, began to flee. But how could human legs outrun the tracks of a tank and the wheels of a car? Many Russian soldiers were caught up and surrounded.

The infantry of the German Army Group E also accelerated. The logistics troops did not hesitate to gather a large number of cars and rush the infantry up.

When the infantry of the German 21st Army and 22nd Army arrived at Patigorska, the assault group of the German Army Group E immediately moved north. Although it is a distance of several hundred kilometers from Patigorska to the Don River. However, there are not many Russian troops in this area anymore. What the German army had to overcome was the equipment damage caused by the long march.

With the support of the German Air Force, the assault group of Army Group E advanced at a speed of more than 100 kilometers per day. In just three days, they reached the Don River and cut off the retreat of the Russian Southern Front.

When the commander of the Russian Southern Front, General Tyurenev, was stunned when he learned that the back road was cut off, he couldn't believe that the troops of the German Army Group E would appear here.

Although, Tyurenev immediately sent heavy troops to launch an attack, trying to defeat the assault group of the German Army Group E and reopen the road to Josephgrad. However, in the face of the German assault force's powerful armored forces, their offensive was futile.

After a fierce battle, the Russian army suffered heavy losses, but they still failed to complete their combat intentions.

The siege of the remnants of the Russian Caucasus Front by the infantry of Army Group E also went very smoothly. Especially after the arrival of the Turkish Army and the Persian Army, they have a greater advantage.

When the assault group of Army Group E advanced to the Don River, the Russian Caucasus Front Army was completely wiped out.

The Russian Southern Front Army, under the siege of the two German army groups, also did not last long. At the beginning of May, the Russian Southern Front was completely annihilated. Except for a very small number of troops who fled to Josephgrad, the rest of the troops were wiped out.