Arc of Gunfire

Plossen Army Group South Headquarters, 0600 hours on the 24th.

Marshal Ewald von Steiermark had just entered the headquarters when he saw his adjutant looking nervous.

"What's going on?" the marshal asked coldly, "Don't panic! The soldiers are watching!"

The adjutant quickly put on a straight face and said seriously: "The Air Force just sent a report. Aerial reconnaissance found that thousands of tanks were assembled in Yeisk!"

Marshal Aiwad frowned: "Is the news true? Where are the photos?"

"The reconnaissance plane made an emergency landing, so the person who carried the photos had just returned to the air force base and was developing them. Because the military situation was urgent, the observer on the reconnaissance plane wrote a written report." The adjutant replied.

Marshal Evard nodded, came to the map, and quickly found Yeisk. He whispered: "What does Rokossov want to do by gathering so many troops in this position? Didn't he say he was just a lieutenant general?" Will he be able to command so many troops?"

Adjutant: "According to intelligence from the Krat Bureau, which was recently transferred to the Emperor's direct administration, Rokossov has already become involved with His Majesty the Tsar, so even though he only has the rank of Lieutenant General, he has more power than the Commander of the Front Army.

"In addition, according to the information we obtained from interrogating newly captured prisoners on the front line, the commander of the Suhayaveli Front has been replaced by General Gorky. This is a general who has cooperated with Rokossov many times. He serves as the Western Front We were close to Rokosov when we were commanders!”

Marshal Eward's expression became serious when he heard this: "It sounds like a precursor to a large-scale attack, but we can't make a conclusion yet. Let's see what the photos look like first. In addition, send a telegram to the Tenth Army. They have been working with them. Rokosov confronts them and asks them what they think.”

Adjutant: "How to ask? Are they asking if they think Rokossov will attack?"

Marshal Evard thought for a while and said: "Ask them about their judgment of Rokossov's intentions. Since capturing Yeisk, Rokossov has stayed in place for a long time. Although he defeated another infantry division, But overall it’s in a rough state.”

The chief of staff of the Army Group finally spoke: "About this, General, after you fell asleep, the Tenth Army sent a telegram, reporting that Rokossov defeated the 14th Armored Division with overwhelming force, including the division commander Major General Karl. Officers were killed, and the armored division organization was shattered and could not be restored.”

Marshal Eward raised his head and stared at the Chief of Staff: "What?"

"The organization of the 14th Division has been completely broken up and cannot be restored. General Poker of the Tenth Army decided to add the remnants of the 14th Division to the 16th Panzergrenadier Division - mainly tankers without tanks and those who escaped. Auxiliary troops.”

Marshal Aiwad's mouth trembled slightly.

Plossen's armored divisions are not as numerous and complex as Ant's tank divisions. Even after the expansion in the first half of the year, Plossen has no more than 50 armored divisions.

Moreover, the 14th armor is still a veteran unit. Just look at the serial number and you will know that its history can be traced back to the period of His Majesty the Emperor's first military expansion.

Such a force was beaten to the point where it could no longer maintain its structure, and the blow to the Ploson period might be greater than the defeat of the Asgard Knights' Seder Division.

After all, the Asgard Knights are a new force. Although they are all drafted elite soldiers and generals, the collective sense of honor and cohesion of the force itself has not yet been established.

Being defeated can also be said to mean that the new troops have not withstood the test.

Among the veteran Junkers aristocratic officers, there was one more reason for their defeat: there was no proven Junker officer corps to support them.

As a force raised by the emperor to compete with the old Wehrmacht, the Asgardian army uses old officers, but they use the kind of people who have turned their backs on the Junkers officer corps.

So when the Asgard Knights' Said Division was defeated by Rokossov, many people actually celebrated. Just like last year, Rokossov firmly blocked the Asgard Knights led by the emperor's favorite general. That's what happened during the regiment's attack.

The now time-tested 14th Armored Division, which had a grassroots officer system composed of Juncker officer corps, was completely defeated, proving that even the elite troops of the Wehrmacht could not defeat Rokossov.

The Junker officers could no longer laugh at the young juniors of the Asgardian Knights.

That's why Marshal Evard von Steiermark looked bitter: "The 14th outfit was wiped out. My old friend's son is in the 14th outfit. I don't know if he escaped."

The adjutant said: "Is he the son of Marshal Elode? He is in the division headquarters of the 14th Army. If all the senior officers are dead, they should have died for their country."

Aiwad rolled his eyes at the adjutant: "Thank you for the reminder."

After a long silence, Evard said to the Chief of Staff: "Send a telegram to Admiral Poker. The subject is the same as before. I still ask him for his views on Rokossov's strategic intentions and ask for a detailed answer. Please wait for the other photos. Come out and talk about it later.”

————

At 0900 hours on the morning of the 24th, the Tenth Army Headquarters.

Admiral Pork looked at the telegram in his hand and shook his head repeatedly: "Rokosov's intention? I'm not the roundworm in his stomach! Maybe Rokosov just wants to keep you annihilating us, and cuts the ham with a knife. Cut it bit by bit until the dozens of kilograms of large ham are completely eaten!”

Chief of Staff: "Isn't this too slow? If he eats like this, it will take at least ten years to wipe out all the Prosen troops!"

A staff officer in the room laughed, but was glared at by Admiral Poker: "What are you laughing at? Now Rokossov is blocking us, making us unable to move! Not only are we unable to move, but the sixth man who is preparing to follow up is also The same goes for the army group! This guy blocked two of our army groups with hundreds of thousands of troops!

"Even if he blocked it, he bit us several times! Even if he doesn't have any big goals, he can be considered a famous general if he can do this! Damn famous general!"

Admiral Pork sighed: "We are like the conqueror back then, looking down on the Ant people, and as a result, famous generals appeared one after another."

Chief of Staff: “But the question is, we want to reply to the Army Group Headquarters, what should we say?”

Admiral Poker was silent.

Everyone was waiting for him to speak again.

The tent became quiet for a while, and you could even hear the chirping of insects in the distance.

Finally, Admiral Poker said: "Report according to the worst case scenario in order to obtain more reinforcements. Write the battlefield assessment beautifully!"

For an army-level commander like General Poker, he does not need to consider the overall battlefield situation. All he considers is that his front line should not be penetrated and his combat missions should be completed as much as possible.

Therefore, it is very common to portray the situation faced in a serious direction like this. In fact, in Proson's military academy, students are also hinted to do this - this can at least ensure that the war zone they are responsible for does not Get out the basket.

As for judging from a large number of exaggerated reports where reinforcements are really needed, it is the responsibility of the commander at the army group level.

This is what the entire Plosen military academy teaches its students.

Admiral Poker doesn't want to break this tradition - not to mention he really needs reinforcements. The armored division in his hand has been beaten down to one. If Rokossov attacks again, he must play this last trump card. .

Admiral Poker felt that in order to be safe, at least one more armored division should be obtained from above.

In order to obtain this armored division, it makes sense to paint the situation a bit grim.

————

At 1130 noon on the 24th, the headquarters of Army Group South of Plossen.

Marshal Eward finally received a detailed assessment of the battle situation sent by the Tenth Army.

His brows knitted into knots just halfway through reading: "Is the situation so bad? The Tenth Army has suffered casualties to this extent? How did Rokossov inflict heavy losses on so many of our troops in defensive operations?"

Chief of Staff: "It may be an exaggeration on purpose, but I have to exaggerate the enemy's threat at the risk of lowering my own evaluation. I think they really need reinforcements now."

Marshal Aiwad scolded: "When will the officers below not pour water when reporting the results of the battle, and not strengthen the enemy when reporting the battle situation?"

The chief of staff just smiled bitterly.

Marshal Evard sighed: "But, I agree with your judgment. The Tenth Army was indeed hurt by Rokossov. What do you think of devoting an armored division from the Army Group Reserve 55 Armored Corps to reinforce the Tenth Army? ?”

"I think it's okay." Just when the chief of staff agreed, an air force brigadier general came in with a document bag and an unusually serious expression.

Marshal Aiwad: "The photos are out?"

"It's out, and we have carefully evaluated it. The situation is very bad." The air force commodore took off his hat, revealing his bangs that were wet with sweat.

Marshal Evard: "Calm down, you are an air force officer. Even if Rokossov has an army of millions, it will not be you who can carry it."

The chief of staff stepped forward, took the document package from the brigadier general's hand, opened it and took out the photos.

Air Force Commodore: "The clearest photo is at the top. There are tanks outside Yeisk, all tanks!"

The chief of staff's expression also became solemn. While looking at the photo, he muttered: "When did such a huge tank force be assembled?"

Marshal Eward took out his monocle, put it in his eye socket, and then stretched out his hand to the chief of staff.

The chief of staff hurriedly handed the first photo to the marshal.

The next moment, Marshal Aiwad's hair stood on end.

Although the photo is obscured by thick smoke, numerous tanks can still be seen in the gaps between the thick smoke.

He shouted to the adjutant: "Quick! Bring out the aerial reconnaissance photos from the day before yesterday!"

Brigadier General: "This is the first time this tank cluster has been photographed! And look at this!"

He stepped forward and took the stack of photos from the Chief of Staff's hand, quickly found a photo numbered 133, and handed it to the marshal: "Look! The Anters are disguising these tanks, let's take pictures before they complete the disguise! You Look at these wide-angle photos! Rokosov has at least a thousand tanks!”

Evard looked at all the photos silently and said with a solemn expression: "Rokossov's plan is very big! It must be reported to the high command immediately!"