Chapter 1481:

  Chapter 1481

   It turned out afterwards that the timing of the mechanized army's attack was very good. The attention of the German 3rd Armored Division and the 106th Infantry Division newly transferred there were attracted by the attack of Rotmistrov's troops. In order to prevent the Soviet attack, the main forces of these two divisions were concentrated in the direction the Soviets were trying to break through, resulting in a void in their rear.

For the German army, which had already been in full swing, the attack launched by Rotmistrov at night was nothing more than giving them heads. The Tiger tanks and Panther tanks deployed in important blocking positions kept driving one after another. The Soviet tanks that appeared in sight exploded, turning them into piles of burning scrap metal.

   Weller, who received a report from the 42nd Army, felt that there should be no big problem in annihilating the Soviet tank unit before dawn. Although there is still a long time before this goal is achieved, he does not feel that there is anything wrong with reporting the good news to Manstein in advance.

   After answering the call from Manstein, Weller said excitedly: "Your Excellency Marshal, I have some good news for you."

   "What good news?" Manstein, who had just been awakened from his sleep, asked absent-mindedly, "Is the Russian armored force attacking you again?"

"That's right, Your Excellency the Marshal, you guessed it right, the Russian tank units did launch a new attack on us." Wheeler said triumphantly: "However, they were attacked by the 3rd Armored Division during their march. Tanks and anti-tank guns have been hit head-on, and now Russian tanks are constantly being destroyed, becoming burning torches on the battlefield."

  Manstein was still worried about the Soviet tank army two days ago. After all, this army rescued the Russian army from the brink of destruction during the Battle of Kursk. But for three days in a row, his troops beat this mighty tank army to the ground, which made him feel a little contempt for Rotmistrov in his heart.

After listening to Wheeler's report at this moment, Manstein said with a relaxed expression: "General Wheeler, if your troops can wipe out the Russian tank troops that attacked tonight, surely there will be no tank troops that can attack in the next few days." It's a threat to you."

"Your Excellency, Marshal, I am now ordering the troops to speed up the attack." Weller said confidently: "We will be able to wipe out this invading Russian armored force by dawn at first, just wait to hear my good news." .”

After finishing the call with Weller, Manstein lay back on his bed and continued to sleep. According to his thinking, Weller should report to himself the news of the complete annihilation of the Russian tank force before dawn. A few hours to sleep.

   But less than an hour later, Manstein was awakened from his sleep by the adjutant. Manstein, whose lucid dream was disturbed, asked with a straight face, "Is it news about General Wheeler?"

  The adjutant was stunned for a moment when he heard what Manstein said, and then he nodded vigorously and replied, "That's right, that's right, Your Excellency, Marshal, it's General Weller who's calling to see you."

   "Tell him to call after dawn." Manstein said impatiently: "I want to sleep now."

   "I'm sorry, Marshal." Unexpectedly, the adjutant said reluctantly: "I think you should still answer the phone. The situation may be different from what you imagined."

  Manstein sat up straight and ordered his adjutant: "Bring the phone here."

  The adjutant agreed, and quickly brought the phone on the table to Manstein.

Manstein reached out to grab the microphone and put it next to his ear: "Hey, General Wheeler, I know that your troops should have completely wiped out the Russian tank troops at this moment. This is good news, but can you wait until dawn?" Call me later, don't disturb my sleep."

  Unexpectedly, after he finished speaking, the receiver was silent for a long time, and then Wheeler's timid voice came: "Your Excellency, Marshal, the situation may be different from what you imagined."

   "Something different?" Manstein asked in bewilderment, "Could it be that the Russians turned around and ran away when they saw that the situation was not going well?" Before Wheeler could answer, he cursed in a low voice, "What a bunch of cowards."

"No, Your Excellency the Marshal." Weller on the other end of the phone replied with some lack of confidence: "Our blocking force was attacked by the Russians from the rear and suffered huge losses. Now the remaining troops are retreating towards the city. .”

What Wheeler said made Manstein suddenly doze off. He sat up straight and asked in surprise: "General Wheeler, why did this happen? How could there be Russians behind us? Could it be that they fell from the sky?" down?"

   "Your Excellency Marshal, according to my analysis, this Russian army should come from the bridgehead on the east bank of the Ud River."

"The bridgehead built by the Russians?" Manstein's forehead was bulging with veins and his face was flushed red: "General Weller, didn't you promise me that the bridgehead built by the Russians on your right wing will not pose any threat to you .”

"Yes, Your Excellency the Marshal." Weller said with a sad face: "It stands to reason that the Russians have limited forces in the right-wing bridgehead, and they occupy a lot of places, so they need to divide their troops for defense. How can they deploy troops to rescue themselves? Allies."

   "How many troops do the Russians have?" Manstein still had a little bit of luck in his heart. If the Russian troops in the sneak attack were not strong, they only needed to mobilize reinforcements from other places to crush their attack.

  But Weller's next words poured cold water on him: "Your Excellency Marshal, according to the report of my subordinates, the Russians have at least two to three tank brigades, and there is also a mechanized brigade accompanying them."

"It's impossible, it's absolutely impossible." Manstein jumped off the bed when he heard this, and said excitedly, "You once reported to me that the Russians' strength on the right-wing bridgehead was at best two infantrymen. How can a new tank brigade and mechanized brigade emerge if the division has a tank brigade?"

"Really, Your Excellency Marshal, what I said is true." Seeing that Manstein did not believe his words, Wheeler said excitedly: "The Russians really have two or three tank brigades and one mechanized brigade. "

   "Which army is standing there?"

   "3rd Armored Division and 106th Infantry Division."

   "Which troop is nearby?"

   "167th Infantry Division of 42nd Corps."

   "General Wheeler, you immediately send the 167th Division to rush over for reinforcements. Remember, not only to rescue our trapped troops, but also to resolutely block the Russian attack. Do you understand?"

   "Yes, I understand. Your Excellency Marshal, I will do my best."

   At the same time, in the headquarters on the west bank of the Ud River, Tsvetayev couldn't help being overjoyed after receiving the report from his subordinates. As soon as he put down the phone, he said repeatedly to Sokov: "General Sokov, good news, good news."

  Although Sokov knew in his heart that the other party said that the mechanized army had achieved good results, but out of politeness, he asked politely: "What good news?"

"The 4th Mechanized Corps raided the German rear and, since the main body of the enemy was engaged with General Rotmistrov's troops, they met no decent resistance and managed to capture the German arsenal and oil depots. The mechanized brigade also severely damaged the returning German tank units and wiped out many German tanks."

"This is really exciting and good news." Although the other party did not say specific data, Sokov knew in his heart that due to the intervention of the mechanized army, even if General Rotmistrov's troops could not achieve greater However, he also escaped the fate of being annihilated. He asked casually: "Have the mechanized army and the friendly army joined forces now?"

   "Not yet." Tsvetayev replied: "According to reports, there is still a three-kilometer difference between the two armies, and it will take at least half an hour to join forces."

Knowing that the two troops were about to join forces soon, Sokov specially reminded Tsvetayev: "Comrade General, I suggest that you send someone to get in touch with the friendly army as soon as possible, so as to avoid accidents due to the darkness. Necessary misunderstanding."

   "Don't worry, General Sokov." Tsvetayev said confidently: "My subordinates are experienced in many battles, so they naturally know what to do. There will never be any misunderstandings with friendly troops."

   Sokov considered that Rotmistrov's subordinates were constantly being intercepted by various German firepower during the march, and they had already been beaten and turned around. If Tsvetayev's troops stepped forward casually, they might be attacked by the opponent as an enemy, so he reminded the opponent tactfully: "I think it is better to be cautious. After all, it is too dark at the moment and visibility is limited. Even if there is a misunderstanding It's hard to tell."

Fortunately, Tsvetayev is not a stubborn person. He nodded slightly after listening to Sokov, and then said: "You are very reasonable, General Sokov. I will contact my subordinates immediately Let them send someone to establish contact with General Rotmistrov's tank unit, so as to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings."

   Fortunately, Sokov's reminder was timely. After receiving Tsvetayev's order, the commander of the mechanized army immediately dispatched men to establish contact with friendly troops on motorcycles. When these motorcycles appeared in the sight of Rotmistrov's subordinates, they all thought they were small German troops and shot one after another. Fortunately, the motorcycles moved quickly, and it was night, so the tank soldiers' skills Being greatly discounted, only two motorcyclists were unfortunately shot and killed, and the rest of the motorcyclists successfully met the commanders of the friendly forces.

  After the two parties established contact, they quickly joined forces smoothly.

   Not long after the two troops joined forces, reinforcements from the German 167th Division appeared in their field of vision.

   Enemies are extremely jealous when they meet each other. The attacks of Rotmistrov's men in the past few days have all ended in disastrous defeats. Seeing reinforcements appearing at this moment, and they were all infantry, how could they let go of this opportunity for revenge and immediately continue shelling the enemy.

   After a bombardment, the German officers and soldiers of the 167th Division who had just arrived on the battlefield did not expect to be hit head-on by the Soviet army. They were immediately beaten to pieces, and the rest fled in a hurry. Seeing that the German army was beaten and collapsed, the tank soldiers immediately launched an assault. The machine guns on the vehicle kept firing, knocking down the soldiers who entered the range one by one.

  The German army that came to reinforce was the 331st Regiment of the 167th Infantry Division. Seeing that his troops had lost control, the commander of the German army knew that no matter how he tried to stop the soldiers from retreating, it would have no effect. Therefore, he decisively chose to retreat with the soldiers.

   Less than half an hour into the battle, the 331st Infantry Regiment was completely defeated by the Soviet army, and the remaining soldiers fled to the city in a panic, while the Soviet tank troops followed closely behind.

  Wyler learned that the reinforcement troops were also defeated by the Soviet army, so he dared to send troops to die, so he could only give orders to the 11th Army and 42nd Army to hold their positions. However, due to the fierce fighting, the 42nd Army, which had just been transferred to the new place, had not had time to set up the antenna, and it was impossible to receive Wheeler's order in time.

  The German army who stood firm, saw their troops routed, and their comrades were still followed by Soviet tanks. How could they have the courage to continue fighting. The soldiers left the trenches one after another and fled towards the rear. They just wanted to run faster than their companions, so that the chances of surviving would be higher.

  Sokov learned that the German army was being defeated, and quickly said to Tsvetayev: "Comrade General, order your troops to slow down the attack speed, and try to let more German officers and soldiers escape from the defensive position."

   "Let more German officers and soldiers escape from the defensive positions?" Tsvetayev asked puzzledly: "Why?"

  Sokov smiled slightly and said: "If there is no enemy to open the way for our tanks in front, how can we successfully break through the enemy's defense line?"

   After Sokov explained this, Tsvetayev immediately understood what was going on, and he said with a smile: "That's right, those enemies running in front of our tanks, aren't they just opening the way for us?"

After finishing speaking, he called a radio operator and told the other party: "Send a telegram to the mechanized army, order their tanks to slow down, and drive the fleeing enemy to the direction of the German army. Remember, all tanks must not cross the route." Soldiers, so as not to become the target of the enemy's anti-tank fire attack."

  After the mechanized army and Rotmistrov's troops joined forces, they began to advance towards the city. Sokov felt that he could not stand still, and should launch an attack in time before the Germans recovered.

  Thinking of this, he ordered someone to connect to the group army headquarters. Hearing Sameko's voice, he casually asked, "Comrade Chief of Staff, have you stayed up late again?"

Sameko, as Sokov's deputy, naturally knew that the other party's call was definitely not because he was concerned about whether he stayed up late, so he quickly asked: "Comrade commander, are you planning to let me call at this time?" What military action is being taken by our troops on the right?"

"That's right, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov replied: "Now that the troops on the left have launched an attack on the city, I think our troops on the right must not be silent. So, you order the troops in the city to start immediately." Attack and expand the area occupied by our army. At the same time, transfer another division into the city to strengthen the strength of the troops in the city."

"Comrade Commander, we finally got this day." After listening to Sokov's order, Sameko said excitedly: "The commanders and fighters in the city can only defend, not attack these days. Suppressing my anger, I believe that after your order is issued, the troops will be able to go into battle immediately."

  (end of this chapter)