Chapter 1037 Empire Skeleton

Although they suffered huge losses due to the sudden artillery counter-preparation, thousands of German soldiers and fully prepared armored units were blasted into the sky by artillery fire.

The Soviet field artillery cluster, which has both ultra-long range and devastating destructive power, even destroyed the ammunition distribution points on the German starting position and the artillery preparation positions deployed in front.

But Manstein, who was sitting at the rear headquarters, did not think this was a bad sign. If the attack was canceled just because of such a setback, the German army would no longer be the victorious army with the Prussian spirit.

"The attack continues according to the original plan, and the Fourth Armored Group is ordered to rush forward, tear apart the Russian positions, and eat away the last courage of those Russians to resist! Tell Holt not to stop unless ordered! Crush all those who dare to resist. The enemy in front of you!"

Following Manstein's orders, Hermann Hotth, known as the "second man under Guderian" in the Wehrmacht, began to mobilize his powerful Fourth Armored Group to launch a fierce attack. , the top armored warfare expert in the German Wehrmacht, is determined to make the Russians on the opposite side suffer and see who is the real armored elite.

The huge force in the hands of Holt is by no means an ordinary person, and is far beyond what the ordinary German Wehrmacht troops can compare with.

The 1st "Führer Guard" Division, the 2nd "Reich" Division, and the 3rd "Skull and Bones" Division of the Waffen-SS, three elite units representing the strongest combat capabilities of the German Waffen-SS, are all gathered here. This armed group composed of fanatics has a devilish style and a hellish fighting will. It is also the ace elite unit that Huot relies on most.

The ferocious German Zoo with its claws and teeth braved the artillery bombardment and forced its way through the minefield. After emergency repairs and replacement of new spare parts, the elite panthers of the German Zoo have once again revealed their frightening and terrifying combat power.

The Black Panther, who was the first to rush through the minefield, led the armored grenadiers behind him and opened fire violently at the Soviet 67th Guards Infantry Division guarding the front of the southern line. Those bloodied SS soldiers seemed to have no fear of death. They lay directly behind the Panther's turret with one hand, violently shooting and throwing grenades at the Soviet soldiers who were already close at hand.

More and more groups of tigers and leopards rushed through the minefields under the cover of No. 3 and No. 4. The 67th Guards Infantry Division, which was attacked with all its strength by three fully loaded German divisions, quickly became overwhelmed.

Only three hours after the battle broke out, the Soviet 67th Guards Infantry Division, which was originally fully equipped, declared more than half of its casualties and was forced to retreat. Immediately, it ushered in a complete rout of the entire front. The first strategic line of defense, which was originally planned to be able to withstand the Germans for at least two to three days, was breached less than half a day after the war started.

Vatutin, who was astonished by his opponent's powerful attack power, did not dare to neglect. He immediately picked up the phone at hand and began to mobilize the reserves directly under the front army to the front line, hoping to stabilize the second strategic line of defense and stop the Germans who were fighting with blood. continues to advance rapidly.

There were many reserves sent to the front line by Vatugin's order, almost the entire reserve force directly under the front army.

However, only one of the most elite ace troops was missing from the list of many troops: the 1st Stalin Guards Heavy Tank Brigade. The chief of staff, who could not understand why the commander did this, finally couldn't help but ask.

"Our defense line is in danger. Comrade Commander, why haven't you transferred the 1st Stalin Guards Heavy Tank Brigade to the front line?! Now is the time. If it is later, it will be too late!"

Vatugin, who was lying on the table studying the battle situation on the map, didn't even have the time to raise his head. He measured the current distance between the enemy and ourselves with one hand and then spoke back.

"If you use up all the reserves on the first day of the war, how are you going to fight tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, and the next week and month?"

"The Germans are in the spotlight right now. Their armored forces are at their strongest. The planes in the sky are bombing endlessly. Our air force guys bravely rush forward again and again, but they are all annihilated!"

"There is no point in moving the 1st Stalin Guards Heavy Tank Brigade up at this time. The German planes will arrive before they arrive and destroy Malashenko and his troops during the movement."

"The second line of defense must hold its position. If the Germans penetrate the second line of defense again, we will be finished! All troops must stay on the position. Even if they die, they must contain the offensive edge of the German tanks. !”

The overwhelming air support of Army Group South really shocked Vatutin. Several times, Vatutin couldn't help but want to pick up the phone and order the dispatch of the 1st Stalin Guards Heavy Tank Brigade. In the end, Vatutin finally Under the influence of reason, I forced myself to give up this unrealistic idea.

"We just need to wait a little longer. The German air strikes are too fierce. It will not help to send Malashenko in now."

Malashenko, who was waiting around in the brigade headquarters, wandered around for a whole day. Until the sun went down and the daylight time of the day was about to end, he did not wait for the order to attack.

On the front line, artillery fire was raging and loud noises were made, but he was sitting on the back of the defense line, watching others play lively and sitting on the bench.

Not to mention Malashenko's feeling of discomfort, the group of tank soldiers below, who had long wanted to chop the Germans alive into the frying pan, also had nowhere to vent their grievances and complaints. .

Almost all the soldiers spent the entire day on July 5 relying on their cars, holding the weapons they carried with them, waiting anxiously, nervously, and finally in despair for the order time.

Malashenko knew very well the meaning of the "strategic reserve" and knew that no matter how anxious he was, he would not be able to mobilize immediately and it would not help. However, the anxiety in his heart, which was spinning back and forth like ants on a hot pot, was unquestionable and real. of.

"Malashenko! Is there no order yet? Kulbalov's battalion is about to start a quarrel! A group of people gathered at Kulbalov's battalion headquarters to go to the front to fight the Germans. Don't you ever think about it again? Kulbalov can’t handle it!”

Malashenko was already impatient and angry, and several communications staff officers who had a slightly dull reaction had just been severely criticized in front of the brigade commander.

Lavrinenko suddenly raised the curtain and rushed in, picking up whatever pot he didn't want. With a twitching brow, Malashenko turned around in an instant and was about to explode on the spot when he saw the situation.

Unexpectedly, at this moment, the dedicated phone line of the Front Army Headquarters behind him, which was specially brought out and manned by a dedicated person, suddenly rang quietly again.