Red Moscow

After answering Manstein's phone call, Hausser asked straight to the point: "Your Excellency, Marshal, the Skeleton Division's attack on the second Russian position ended in failure. A fully staffed infantry battalion was almost wiped out."

"What, the attack on the Russian second line of defense failed?" Hausser's report made Manstein feel very strange: "But an hour ago, didn't you tell me that the Skeleton Division's troops easily took Go down the first line of the Russians, and pay very little casualties? How can they be defeated and suffer huge losses when attacking the second line?"

The reason why Manstein was surprised was that according to his many years of experience in fighting the Soviet army, the Soviet army liked to put the strongest troops on the front line when defending, while those on the second line were those with many recruits and weak combat capabilities. ordinary troops. Since the Skeleton Masters were progressing smoothly when they broke through the first position, they should fight more easily in the next battle. How could they lose?

"According to General Simon's report," Hausser said, "when they attacked the second position, they were not only intercepted by Russian artillery fire, but also attacked by rocket launchers when they approached the Russian position. The infantry battalion that was wiped out was attacked by new rockets."

"Bazooka and new rockets?" Manstein couldn't help frowning when he heard this, "Hausser, aren't the two weapons you mentioned only owned by Sukov's troops? Why were they attacked by you?" Russian troops, will they also have these new equipment?"

"Your Excellency, Marshal, the reason is very simple." Hausser said dumbfoundedly: "The Russians who stick to the second position may be Sokov's troops."

"It's not a mistake, is it?"

"How could it be wrong?" Hauser reminded Manstein: "Your Excellency, Marshal, you should still remember that when Sukov was the commander of the Sixth Army a few months ago, he severely damaged the Skeleton Division. Even General Simon, the acting division commander, was caught by him. Fortunately, on the way to Moscow, some officers and soldiers of the Skeleton Division who were dispersed attacked the transport convoy and successfully rescued General Simon.

Being captured this time was a great shame to General Simon. He was naturally more familiar with the equipment and tactics of Sokov's troops than anyone else. Since he said that the troops on the opposite side were commanded by Sokov, there must be no mistake. "

"Hausser, ask General Simon, what is the firepower of the Russians?" Manstein asked bluntly after a short thought: "How many troops are there on the ground?"

Hausser immediately covered the microphone with his hands, and asked Simon, who was sitting beside him sullenly, "General Simon, the Marshal asked, how many people are there in the second Russian position?"

Simon thought for a while and replied: "Judging by the firepower, there are no more than two battalions holding the position."

"Your Excellency the Field Marshal," Hausser let go of his hand covering the microphone, and replied to Manstein, "General Simon said that judging by the firepower on the ground, the defenders should not exceed two battalions."

"That's right." Manstein nodded after listening to Hausser's report, "According to the information we have, the defenders blocking the front of the Sixth Armored Division are the 188th Army under Sokov. Division. It seems that he has mobilized part of his troops to cover the Russian troops on his right flank, and has become flanked by our army. I believe that the defenders on the second line of defense are at most one regiment, so your offensive cannot Stop, and continue to fight. Although Sokov's troops are stronger than other Russian troops, they are limited in number. If we continue to attack, I believe it will not take long before we can break through their defenses."

Manstein's words are equivalent to reassuring Hausser. No matter how powerful Sokov's troops are, they are now facing the Skeleton Division, the Sixth Armored Division, and the 19th Armored Division that is about to enter the battle. There simply wasn't enough troops. So as soon as he put down the phone, he said to Max Simon: "General Simon, you go back immediately to reorganize your troops and continue to attack the Russian second line of defense."

"Your Excellency, Commander, my troops have just suffered a defeat, and I'm afraid their morale will be affected."

"What is a temporary setback in the attack?" Hauser said disapprovingly: "No matter how powerful Sokov's troops are, after all, there is only one division in front of us, and we have three divisions in the attacking troops in this area." There is no reason why they can't beat him."

Seeing that Simon was still indecisive, Hausser called him to the map, pointed to the Soviet defensive position and said, "General Simon, look, the Russian position in front of us is about five kilometers wide. The strength of a regiment of Cove is a bit too weak here. As long as you concentrate your forces and attack a little bit, you can break through their defense."

He gently pushed the opponent's shoulder with his hand: "General Simon, don't forget that you were captured by Sokov in March. Now is a good opportunity for revenge. You must not miss it." .”

Being captured by Sokov's troops was the most humiliating thing for Max Simon. If it hadn't happened that a scattered army attacked the convoy transporting him, he might be living in a Russian prisoner-of-war camp right now. Hausser's words aroused the fighting spirit in his heart: "Don't worry, Your Excellency Commander, I will go back and redeploy the attack immediately. My troops will break through the Russian defense line in an hour and advance to the Bank of the Pushol River .”

When the Skeleton Division's attack started again, Sokov's position was also attacked by the 6th Armored Division and the 19th Armored Division. The commanders and fighters of the 188th Division and the Guards Division fought fiercely with the enemy, and after suffering huge casualties, they tenaciously held their positions.

But what is unexpected is that the position of the 107th Division, located on the left side of the Guards Division, was broken through by the German 19th Armored Division. The defeated commanders and fighters withdrew to the banks of the Pushol River, so that the seats of the Guards Division were exposed to the enemy. Since the 107th Division did not report to the Guards Division in time when it retreated, General Marankin did not know that his left wing had been completely exposed to the enemy.

The position held by the 658 regiment is not much better. Although the commanders and fighters put up a tenacious resistance, the second position they held was broken by the German army. Part of the defeated troops withdrew to the main position where Sokov was located, while the other part retreated in a panic to the Pushol River.