Chapter 113 Withered Rose

While the flames of war on the ground battlefield are still raging and have not yet been completely burned out, the fight in the sky is still a life-and-death struggle with no clear winner.

The German air commander who led the team, who received clear orders from the commander when taking off from the airport, naturally understood the importance of today's air battle.

The troops mobilized by the Soviet army to besiege the city of Yelnya were not as simple as a dozen divisions. According to the results of aerial reconnaissance, more than half of the entire Soviet Western Front commanded by Marshal Timoshenko was Already gathered here, at least three or more Soviet army groups are storming the city of Yelniya or are on their way there.

On the other hand, the German army on the defensive had stretched the entire front line due to the excessive advance of the offensive. Most of the large units of the German Army Group Center, including Guderian's 2nd Armored Group, were far behind. At the back, both the supply lines for troops and the transportation lines for baggage materials were now stretched to the tightest edge.

The German troops responsible for defending the city of Yelnya only have two fully organized division-level units, the 10th Armored Division of the Wehrmacht and the SS "Reich" Division, plus the Wehrmacht Grossdeutschland Infantry Regiment with 14 combat battalions.

The German troops, which were attacked by the Soviet army from three sides and trapped in the city of Yelnya and its surrounding suburbs, not only had limited materials and shortages of supplies, but the number of troops and ground firepower density they held were also not at the same level as their rival Soviet troops. .

Therefore, although the German troops defending the city of Yelniya are three ace divisions that are highly valued and trusted by Guderian, facing such a massive incoming Soviet force, even the same troops are now in a bitter battle. The commander of the Imperial Division, Hauser, was in a panic and felt half cold.

The degree of mechanization of the troops is far less than that of the U.S. Army at the same period. Although the German army is known as the Blitzkrieg, the vast majority of its grassroots troops under its current system rely on walking or even mules and horses for transportation.

Under such preconditions, it is obviously unrealistic for the German army to support the front line in time before the Soviet army completely flattens the city of Yelnya.

When the overall situation has deteriorated to the most critical juncture, the German Air Force, which has been invincible since the outbreak of the Blitzkrieg against Europe, has obviously become the last hope for the German troops stationed in Yelniya City.

The air commander of the German fleet when he led the team to the battlefield at the airport did not expect that today's mission would encounter a powerful ambush and interception by the Soviet aviation.

It stands to reason that in the face of such a large number of Soviet air superiority fighters that even more than doubled the number of our own fighters, the commander of the German aircraft fleet leading the expedition could order a retreat to temporarily avoid the Soviet aircraft fleet.

After all, the BF109E3 fighter aircraft used by the German Air Force at this time, compared with the MiG 3 and Lager 3 fighters in the hands of the Soviet aviation, even if it has superior performance, it is only limited, and there is absolutely no quality difference that can cause The effect of crushing and defeating is so great, not to mention that the Soviet pilots driving these fighter jets still belong to the elite aviation regiment just transferred from the direction of Moscow.

However, the German air commander who deliberately glanced at the battlefield scene on the ground while making a low-altitude dive could not help but feel nervous. These Soviet heavy tanks that had broken through the first defensive position of the Grossdeutschland Infantry Regiment were simply unstoppable. The Soviet infantry that followed were pouring in like a flood from a broken dam, rushing towards the gap opened by the German position. Their number was almost enough to recreate the wave of human sea tactical group charges during World War I.

Under such circumstances, if the German fighter force fighting for air supremacy in the sky was defeated or retreated, then the Stuka dive bomber group still hovering in the distance waiting for an opportunity would surely have no choice but to turn back. This is the way home.

By that time, even if the pursuing Soviet aviation units did not carry ground attack mounts and only had air combat capabilities, dozens of Soviet fighter jets only needed to make a few dives and strafes at the Grossdeutschland Infantry Regiment position, while being attacked by the Soviet Union. Even if Moltke reincarnated, the Grossdeutschland Infantry Regiment would not be able to command and defend it through a coordinated air-ground offensive.

Realizing that the war situation had deteriorated to such an extent, the German air commander was suddenly overwhelmed. The scenes of humiliation suffered by the German motherland after its defeat in World War I flashed before his eyes like a slideshow. The Führer stood giving a speech. The loud shouts of "Germany will never surrender without a fight again" seemed to echo in his ears again.

"Lilith, my love, please protect me."

The powerful Daimler-Benz DB601 fuel direct injection engine roars out extremely powerful engine thrust. The BF109E3 fighter jet with bullet marks on its wings is shaking. The smiling black and white photo on the dashboard, the war eagle covered with wounds Under the control of the German Air Force major, it climbed straight towards the sky again and surged into the sky.

The ancient Chinese understood the true meaning of war. "When encountering the enemy, you must draw your sword, and those who die in battle will be honored even if they are defeated." This is the true interpretation of a strong person in war.

When the BF109E3 fighter jet with black roses and 21 down marks on its fuselage was attacked by a Soviet MiG-3 and two Lager-3 fighter jets, its wings were broken and it immediately fell into When it stalled and rolled, dragging thick black smoke and flames symbolizing death, it fell towards the incoming earth.

After a fierce battle so far, the Soviet aviation force, which had an absolute numerical advantage, was besieged and beaten until only 8 bullet-riddled BF109E3s were left. At this point, the German fighter force could no longer support it. The loss of the battlefield commander was the last straw that broke the camel's back, and finally forced these German pilots, who were already severely exhausted, to retreat in the direction they came from.

The Soviet aviation, which relied on its numerical superiority and fearless spirit of sacrifice to achieve victory in this air battle, also suffered heavy losses. The "truth of the Patriotic War" that it won the battle and suffered more losses than the Germans was once again fulfilled. A total of 23 aircraft were scattered in the air. The burning wreckage of Soviet fighter planes at various locations on the battlefield are silently telling the story of the blood and hard-won victory.

When the remaining BF109E3 fighter jets of the German army, which had lost their battlefield commander, retreated in defeat together with the Stuka group waiting in the distance.

At this moment, the roar of a powerful engine suddenly sounded again in the direction of the Soviet aviation attack. The wide and strong wings immediately drove the streamlined fuselage to dive straight down towards the ground battlefield where the fierce battle was raging.