Chapter 281 Preventing Escape

"Surrender! Hand in your guns and don't kill!"

A battalion of the Russian army was surrounded by a company of the German army at the foot of a hill. Although the German army is much smaller than the Russian army, it is undoubtedly the tanks that followed the German infantry company that really made the Russian army on the hillside throw a mouse.

During the panic retreat, the infantry battalion of the Russian army had lost almost all its heavy equipment, and only two heavy machine guns were left in the whole battalion. With two heavy machine guns, it is obviously impossible to withstand the attack of German tanks.

After receiving a promise from the German army to guarantee their safety, the Russian infantry battalion, led by their commander, surrendered to the German army.

Long before the war started, Qin Tian specially asked the soldiers of the German 8th Army to teach some simple Russian. In particular, the words "surrender" and "hand in your gun but not kill" require every German soldier to be able to master them.

Now, right in the middle of the battle, it is put to good use. Under the call of this slogan, countless Russian soldiers handed over their weapons to the German army and obediently walked into the prisoner-of-war camp.

Throughout the battle on September 12, the Russian 2nd Guards Army once again suffered heavy losses. After two days in a row, they had already lost half of their troops. This made them lose their strength advantage when facing the main force of the German 8th Army. In addition, the Russian army was in chaos, divided and surrounded by the German army into pieces, waiting for the German army to eat them piece by piece. It can be said that the destruction of the Russian Second Guards Front Army is already a matter of time.

"Your Highness, the current situation on the front line is very good. The 2nd Guards Army of the Russian Army has been completely defeated by us. It is only a matter of time before we can completely solve it." Admiral Hindenburg said very happy. If the 2nd Russian Guards Army could be eaten in one bite, then there would already be three Russian Army Groups that were eliminated by the German 8th Army. With the addition of the Russian 9th Army, which is already on the chopping board, this means that the 8th Army has eliminated the Russian army five times its own size and ensured the safety of the Eastern Front of the German Empire on its own. This is undoubtedly a great contribution to the German Empire. Originally, Admiral Hindenburg thought that he would never have the chance to be promoted to Marshal in his life. But now it seems that after the battle on the Eastern Front, with his military merits, he will definitely be promoted to Marshal of the Empire.

This made Marshal Hindenburg more active in fighting. He can't wait to win the final victory.

"Well! After eating the 8th Army of the Russian Guards, it's time for the 9th Army of the Russian Army. How is the situation of the 20th Army? Are they under a lot of pressure?" Qin Tian asked.

"Your Highness, although the Russian Ninth Army launched a fierce attack on the 20th Army's defense line. But overall, it did not pose too much threat to us. General Mackensen reported that the 20th Army, in addition to the greater logistical pressure , there is almost no other pressure." Major General Ludendorff also had a smile on his face. For soldiers, victory always makes them very happy.

"That's good! However, we must prevent the Russian 9th Army from fleeing immediately after the 2nd Russian Guards Army is eaten by us. In order to achieve complete victory on the Eastern Front, we must wipe out as many Russian troops as possible The Ninth Army." Qin Tian said.

"Your Highness, we will do our best. However, the escape of the Russian Ninth Army is almost certain. But the railways in Poland are no better than in East Prussia. The speed of our mobilization of troops is definitely not the same as in East Prussia. Compared." Major General Ludendorff said.

Qin Tian nodded, he was also aware of this problem.

"Gather our trucks and load the troops! I don't believe that the two legs of the Russians can outrun the four wheels of our trucks," Qin Tian said.

"Yes, Your Highness." Ludendorff nodded, which was a solution. But it is undoubtedly difficult to be foolproof.

"Your Highness, I'm afraid we have to use other methods to prevent the Russian army from escaping." Admiral Hindenburg said.

Qin Tian thought for a while, and then said: "Send a telegram to the 8th Air Force and ask them to prepare! If the 9th Russian Army escapes, they will attack the Russian Army and try to slow down the marching speed of the Russian Army. Our main forces catch up with the 9th Group of the Russian Army, annihilate them, and create opportunities!"

"Yes, Your Highness." Admiral Hindenburg and Major General Ludendorff both nodded. Although he wasn't sure if dispatching the air force could hold back the Russian Ninth Army, since Qin Tian was so confident, it might really be effective. Even if it doesn't have much effect, the use of the air force will inevitably cause greater losses to the Russian Ninth Army.

The 8th Air Force has been established for a long time. However, after the outbreak of the war, apart from providing reconnaissance support to the 8th Army, it did not play much role. Because the air power of the Russian army is very weak, the 8th Air Force has little use on the Eastern Front. Unlike the Western Front, the Germans and the British and French allied forces were already fighting and used aircraft extensively.

Of course, because the German army was more fully prepared, after being equipped with the new fighter jets developed by the German Aircraft Manufacturing Company, the air forces of Britain and France were almost defeated.

However, due to improper use, although the German Air Force has achieved considerable results, it has never been able to reverse the situation on the Western Front. On the Western Front, although the German army still has an advantage, this advantage is constantly weakening with the passage of time. As long as the German army cannot defeat France in a short time on the Western Front. Then, this war will inevitably fall into a protracted war. Even the Battle of the Marne just launched by Little Moltke, although in the early days, the German offensive was fierce. But now it seems that there is still a feeling of anticlimax. If the German army wants to take Paris, I am afraid it will still be very difficult.

Of course, to Qin Tian, ​​this didn't seem to be his business. From the current point of view, it is enough for him to command the 8th Army to win on the Eastern Front. As long as Little Moltke is still the chief of staff of the German Army, he will not be able to intervene in the Western Front. Of course, if the Battle of the Marne fails to achieve the result that William II wanted, it is estimated that the chief of staff, Little Moltke, will come to an end. No matter how good his personal relationship with William II was, William II would not tolerate him anymore.