Red Moscow

The German army attacked Luhansk twice in a row, but both ended in failure. The news quickly reached Manstein's ears.

"What the hell is going on here? How could our attack on Luhansk fail?" After learning the news, Manstein slapped the table and became furious: "You know, although the troops participating in the attack were only ordinary The Wehrmacht, not the elite SS. But even against the Russians, who outnumbered them, they could still win."

"Your Excellency Field Marshal," the chief of staff of the army group reported carefully to Manstein: "According to our reconnaissance, the troops currently stationed in Luhanskri are the 41st Guards Division of the Russians..."

"What's so great about the Guards Division. A few days ago, our Cave Division easily defeated one of their Guards. Isn't it easier to defeat an army and a division?... Wait, When Manstein said this, he realized that he heard a number that gave him a headache: "Chief of Staff, what is the number of the Russian Guards Division you just mentioned?"

"The 41st Guards Division, Your Excellency the Marshal." After answering Manstein's question, the chief of staff added: "The commander of this division is Colonel Sokov, who led people to capture Paulus."

"It turned out to be him." Knowing that the unit guarding Luhanskri was actually the 41st Guards Division under the command of Sokov, Manstein's eyebrows were furrowed into a knot: "Isn't this unit in Mama?" Yevgang, when was it transferred to Luhansk? Why didn’t I get a report?”

"Your Excellency, Commander," the chief of staff replied with a wry smile, "I think the reason why we didn't know that this army was stationed in Luhansk is that when they entered the city, the situation here happened to be bad, so we didn't have extra energy. To learn about the new movements of the Russians."

"To which Russian front does this division belong?"

"According to the information we have, this Guards Division still belongs to Chuikov's 62nd Army, which belongs to Rokossovsky's Don Front Army."

"Damn, this is really a hell." After listening to the chief of staff's report, Manstein smiled instead of anger: "If I remember correctly, Lugansk should belong to the defense zone of Vatutin's Southwest Front Army. Where is the river front army stationed?"

"Perhaps the Russians were aware of our intentions, so they sent their elite troops to Lugansk." The chief of staff analyzed to Manstein: "To prevent our army from cutting off their retreat."

"How could the Russians be aware of our intentions?" Regarding the chief of staff's analysis, Manstein said disdainfully: "If they had been aware of our intentions, the Russians would not have attacked so recklessly. You haven't seen Vatu Jing's troops are already thousands of kilometers away from their logistics supply base. If it weren't for the long distance of the road and the destruction of the roads and bridges along the way, so that there is no sufficient supply, I am afraid that we would have been driven to the other side of the Dnieper River. .”

"Your Excellency Marshal, what should we do next?" The chief of staff asked Manstein for instructions: "Do you need to send more troops to strengthen the offensive against Luhansk?"

Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Manstein waved his hand and said, "No need."

"Your Excellency, Marshal," the chief of staff saw that Manstein rejected his proposal, and quickly reminded him: "If we cannot occupy Luhansk quickly, then we will not be able to cut off the Russians' retreat, and they may come from us at that time." Escape from the encirclement."

"Flee, just run away." Manstein said disapprovingly: "The rest of our troops can turn around and go north to continue attacking the Russians who occupied Kharkov and Belgorod, and recapture these places. "

Seeing that the chief of staff still wanted to persuade himself, he went on to say: "Paulus' Sixth Army is attacking Stalingrad, and any troops that encounter Sokov have suffered greatly under his hands. Even if we increase our troops to attack at this moment, I am afraid that we will not be able to take Luhansk in a short time, but will disperse our troops. And the Russians deployed Sokov's troops in Lugansk, maybe they want to disperse our forces Forces, so that those Russians who might fall into the encirclement of our army can escape the encirclement calmly."

"However, Marshal, even if we don't send people to attack Lugansk, no one can guarantee that the 41st Guards Division will not stab us in the back when we surround and annihilate the Russian Southwest Front Army."

"Chief of staff, you are overthinking." Regarding the chief of staff's worries, Manstein said confidently: "I am sure that during our attack on the Southwest Front Army, Sokov's troops will never appear behind our rear. "

Seeing that Manstein was so confident, the chief of staff couldn't help asking curiously: "Your Excellency, Marshal, why is this?"

"After several months of fierce fighting, I believe that the 41st Guards Division must have recruited a lot of recruits. With the addition of these recruits, although the number of soldiers has increased, their combat effectiveness has inevitably been weakened "Manstein said with a smile: "This kind of troops can fight defensively. If they fight in the field, they will be defeated by our armored troops in a few hours. Colonel Sokov is a smart man. Never do such a stupid thing.

If I were in his position, I'm afraid I would also choose to rely on the city for defense. And at the right time, take in those defeated stragglers to enrich the city's defense force. "

After listening to Manstein's analysis, the chief of staff gave him a thumbs up: "Marshal, your analysis is really reasonable. After hearing what you said, I feel more at ease. What should we do next?"

"Let's deal with the Russian Sixth Army first." Manstein gritted his teeth and said, "They wiped out our Sixth Army more than 20 days ago, and now it's our turn to take revenge. Within a short period of time, kill the Russian Sixth Army.

After eliminating this group of Russians, the next thing to deal with is the rapid group of Popov, who is alone and deep. I want to wipe out all these damn Russians, and I will be ashamed of the Stalingrad fiasco. "

"Chief of Staff," Manstein issued an order to his chief of staff: "Immediately order our troops to immediately launch a fierce attack on the Russian Sixth Army. We must wipe out this Russian Army within two days."

"Understood, Your Excellency Marshal." Knowing that the Sixth Army of the Soviet Army is now encircled and it is not difficult to eliminate them, the chief of staff replied loudly, "I will immediately issue an order to the troops besieging the Russians. Let them wipe out this Russian army in the shortest possible time."