Arc of Gunfire

On September 29, at the headquarters of the Second Panzer Group in Plossen, General Heinz Wilhelm von Moltke had just entered the headquarters when his adjutant hurried over and said, "It's a call from Marshal von Borg of the Center Army Group."

General Moltke: "I know. Make me some coffee."

After that, he walked to the map table and picked up the receiver: "This is Moltke. What's up, Marshal?"

"It's so refreshing to be able to call your headquarters."

General Moltke's armored forces had been attacking very quickly before, always advancing, so his group headquarters was also constantly moving forward, and there was no time to pull the telephone line.

Now, it's unprecedented that the headquarters is still in the same place nine days after the attack was launched.

General Moltke explained: "We encountered firm resistance on the Duva River. We have been attacking the 51st Ante Army in the front. They suffered heavy losses, but they were reinforced by the 55th Army. In addition, the enemy's army group heavy artillery has been taking care of us.

"If the Asgard First Army can launch an attack and share some of our offensive pressure, I think it is only a matter of time to break through the enemy's defense line."

Marshal von Borg sighed: "Your Majesty is very angry. After all, the offensive on the northern line is very smooth, but you are motionless. Yesterday, a newspaper from the United States was delivered to His Majesty, and then he was so angry that he sent a plane to deliver the newspaper to us overnight.

"I sent a motorcycle to you, it should be here soon. You should urge Giles to launch an attack as soon as possible."

General Moltke: "I will."

"If there is no way to urge the emperor's favorite, you will break through the defense line and then flank Rokossov's division."

"Won't there be political problems in this?" General Moltke asked doubtfully.

Marshal von Borg: "You just need to give the credit to that kid Giles, such as surrounding Rokossov and then marching forward. As long as Yeburg can be captured in the end, the glory belongs to the Wehrmacht!"

General Moltke put his heels together: "Yes. I will try to break through the defense line within a few days!"

The phone was hung up as soon as he finished speaking.

General Moltke put down the receiver and turned to ask his adjutant: "The marshal said there is a newspaper from the United States. Have you received it?"

Adjutant: "Not yet. It takes time to get here from the Central Army Group Headquarters."

General Moltke raised his eyebrows: "Forget it, forget it. Today we will continue to launch the attack-"

At this time, the staff led two officers wearing motorcycle leather jackets into the headquarters.

As soon as they saw General Moltke, they stood at attention and saluted: "General! Marshal von Borg asked us to give you this newspaper."

"Show it to me." General Moltke said, picked up the tweezers, opened the sugar cube jar, picked up a piece of sugar cube and threw it into the coffee cup, and then gently stirred it with a spoon.

The leather-clad officer took out a newspaper from his briefcase and handed it to the adjutant.

The adjutant frowned when he saw the photo on the front page of the newspaper and began to read the headlines.

General Moltke: "What did they say?"

"These prisoners seemed to be not prisoners at all, but came to occupy the city. This is the first group of Proson soldiers to enter Yebao.

"General Rokossov captured them and promised that they would be the last group of Proson people to enter Yebao.

"Our reporter learned that these Proson soldiers came from the Asgard Knights, which was boasted by the Propaganda Department of the Proson Empire. They were eliminated as a whole by General Rokossov.

"During the parade, the prisoners tried to maintain morale, but when they heard the name of General Rokossov, they immediately became like frightened field mice.

"They tried to sing to dispel the fear, but the effort obviously failed. Rokossov destroyed their fighting spirit.

"These soldiers call General Rokossov Surter, the king of the fire giants who destroyed the Aesir in Ragnarok..."

The adjutant couldn't read any more: "The Asgard Knights are composed of people from urban civilians in our army, right? They would never say such words that would boost the enemy's morale and destroy their own prestige!"

General Moltke was shocked: "What's in the newspaper is not necessarily true. Especially the newspapers of the United States. Let me see."

The adjutant unfolded the newspaper and flattened it on the table in front of the general.

The general looked at the photo on the front page: "Huh, the uniforms of the Asgard Knights are clearly photographed."

The adjutant: "A lot of people in the Wehrmacht will be happy, right?"

"How can they be happy? You also said that the Asgard Knights were originally the Wehrmacht. It's our comrades who are being insulted! It's time to launch a decisive attack. We will break through the enemy in front of us today! "

General Moltke raised his head: "Attack, resolutely attack!"

————

On the morning of September 29, Lieutenant General Kashukh's army was attacked fiercely by the enemy.

Of course, the enemy's attacks these days have been fierce.

Yesterday, the Plossons tried to build a pontoon bridge on the river, and Kashukh's artillery finally stopped the enemy's bridge-building operation.

Today, it seems that the enemy is going to repeat the same trick again.

When the smoke came down, Kashukh ordered the chief of staff: "It's another bridge-building operation, let the death squad go."

The task of the death squad is to climb to the river with a telephone and telephone wire, observe the location of the enemy's bridge on the opposite side, and guide the artillery attack.

Kashukh's army's defense front is very wide, and the entire ferry area is suitable for bridge building. If the entire area is covered with artillery, too much ammunition will be consumed.

Considering that he would have to stay here for more than ten days, Kashuhe came up with this plan.

After the death squads set off, Kashuch's chief of staff whispered beside him: "The engines of the enemy tanks on the other side have been sounding. Will there be any big action today? In this section of our defense line, there is no Shostka on the river bank. Breakwater, if the enemy troops use the cover of smoke to cross the river directly... should they follow the method of Rokosov and organize a blind fire net? "

Kashuch thought for a while and shook his head: "No, our ammunition stock is already very dangerous. Prepare for hand-to-hand combat. If the enemy swims armed, the heavy machine gun cannot keep up, and the pressure on us will not be that great."

At this moment, the phone rang, and the chief of staff picked up: "Hello? What? The kamikaze was killed? The enemy infantry came up from the river? Then fire! Fire!"

While the chief of staff roared angrily, firecracker-like gunfire crackled from the defense line.

Just as the chief of staff hung up the phone, the phone rang again. He picked up and shouted: "Hello? Military! 27th Division? You want reinforcements? The reserve team went up yesterday! If you want reinforcements, we will be the only ones!"

After throwing the receiver on the phone, the chief of staff raised his head: "How about calling Lieutenant General Kirinenko? Ask his group army to send a few more divisions up."

Kashuch was still hesitating when the sound of an engine came from outside.

Immediately afterwards, the guards from the division headquarters ran in: "Commander! The reinforcements have arrived, they are tanks!"

Kashuch immediately rushed to the bunker door, pushed the guard aside and went out. When he came to the ground, he saw the smoke and dust of the tanks.

A big-headed T34 stopped in front of Kashuch's military headquarters. The commander opened the hatch and got out: "Your Excellency General! We have the order of Lieutenant General Kirinenko to support you!"

Kashuch: "Why is your tank different from other T34s?"

The commander smiled and said: "This is a secretly produced viewing tank. It is the same as General Rokossov's No. 422 tank! And it has a radio! Although the radio will have troubles from time to time, it is all there! Let's go fight the enemy. Bar!"

Kashuch: "Okay! The enemy is launching an attack on the 27th Division's position. Go and support the 27th Division!"

————

2nd Armored Group Headquarters.

"Report! Our army's attack has been blocked. The enemy has deployed tank troops for counterattack. At present, we only control the river beach position." After the communication staff member finished speaking, he stood there waiting for orders.

General Moltke: "The infantry does not need to forcefully occupy the entire river bank position. It is enough to maintain the beachhead and wait for the bridging troops to complete the task."

Chief of Staff: "What tanks are attacking us?"

Communications staff officer: "It is said to be a model that is not on the identification map. It is suspected to be the Special 34, but the turret is larger."

General Moltke raised his head: "T34 with a bigger turret? Rokossov came in front of us? There was no pressure on Shostka, so he came directly here?"

Communications Staff Officer: "There are no reports from the front lines of seeing red flags. Do you want me to ask them to confirm?"

"Let them confirm."

After Moltke finished speaking, the communications staff officer turned and left.

General Moltke's adjutant said: "Rokossov's troops are in Shostka, and he ran over by himself. Is this reasonable? Could it be that after Rokossov used the cannon Tat 3-4 to achieve results, Ant's side Did you urgently produce some tanks with this kind of big turret?”

General Moltke: "It's possible. Let the 88 gun advance to the river and prepare to fire. The smoke should dissipate soon."

————

By the river, the 27th Division position.

The division commander looked at the enemy troops who were forced back by the firepower of the tanks and laughed loudly: "This is great! Let you have a taste of the power!"

The division chief of staff patted the division commander on the shoulder: "The white smoke is about to dissipate."

The division commander immediately turned the telescope: "Indeed, this way our tanks can use their firepower to completely destroy the enemy's bridging troops!"

As the smoke gradually dissipated, a loud noise suddenly came from the opposite side.

The commander of the 27th Division had never heard the sound of an 88mm gun firing, so he looked confused.

But the oval-shaped light group had already hit a "new" T34.

The tank's turret immediately stopped rotating.

But no tanker ran out of the tank.

The commander of the 27th Division thought that the tank crew was just stunned and breathed a sigh of relief. However, the next moment the tank's engine burst into flames, and then the turret was violently exploded into the sky.

The division commander's eyes widened, but before he could speak, new shells were fired.

As the supporting tanks were blown up one after another, the infantry of the 27th Division also wavered.

Fortunately, at this time, new troops came up from behind.

"We are the 210th Infantry Division! We are here to support you on orders from Lieutenant General Kirinenko!"

The reinforcements stabilized the morale of the troops, and the brutal beachhead fighting continued.