Red Moscow

"Your Excellency the Marshal," Holt couldn't help being stunned when he heard that Manstein ordered his troops to break through overnight. After a long time, he said cautiously: "Our garrison in Belgorod has five divisions, including two armored divisions and artillery units. If a breakout operation is carried out at night, I am afraid that tanks and Cannons are hard to take away.”

"Since you can't take it away, throw it all away." Manstein said on the phone: "Except for the weapons and ammunition that the infantry carried with them, and the necessary military supplies, all the rest of the baggage was thrown away. The artillery used by the artillery, After dismantling, bury it deep on the spot, anyway, you still have enough artillery in the Kharkov area; the tank soldiers threw away all the tanks, and moved to Kharkov with the troops..."

Listening to Manstein's arrangement, Holt's brows could not help but twitch. He thought to himself: If the tanks, artillery and supplies were abandoned according to Manstein's deployment, then the troops who had been withdrawn from Belgorod Troops, all that remained were infantry, the weakest fighting force.

He couldn't bear to have his troops dismantled like this, so as soon as Manstein finished speaking, he retorted: "Your Excellency, I think that instead of discarding so many tanks, artillery and baggage during the night breakout, it is better to wait until tomorrow." Continue to fight the Russians after dawn, and it’s not too late to break through when it’s getting dark. At least we can consume the Russians’ vitality to the maximum. This will also be very helpful for our defense in Kharkov. .”

"General Holt." Seeing that Holt questioned his decision, Manstein said displeasedly, "Do you really think that the defenders in Belgorod can hold out until tomorrow before dark?"

"I think there should be no problem." Manstein replied with a serious expression: "You must know that the Russian troops attacking from the northwest and north today have fought for a whole day, and the distance they have advanced is very limited. I plan to wait for tomorrow. After dawn, if we organize troops to counterattack in these two directions, we may be able to drive them out of the city completely."

"General Huot, theoretically speaking, your idea is correct." Manstein said calmly: "I also believe that with your ability, you can stop those who rushed into the city from the northwest and the north." Russians, drive them all out of the city."

Holt didn't expect Manstein to agree with his point of view. He was very surprised, so he asked tentatively: "Your Excellency, Marshal, since you think I have the ability to drive the Russians out of the city, why did you let us break through overnight?" ?”

"If you were dealing with ordinary Russian troops, I would never give you such an order. After all, with your strength, you can rely on Belgorod's fortifications to resist the Russian attack." Manstein said When I got here, I couldn't help sighing, and repeated what I said not long ago: "But now you are facing Sokov's troops. During the daytime battle, he not only captured the entire west of the city, but even controlled A part of the south of the city. If he gets replenished tomorrow and intensifies his offensive against you, do you think the defenders in the city can hold the city? If their retreat is cut off, how many troops can they have after the city is lost? Evacuate safely to Kharkov?"

Manstein's words made Holt fall into deep thought. Don't look at the two Russian troops who attacked from the northwest and the north, and achieved very limited results, but the offensive of Sokov's troops was frightening. They not only took themselves out of the city The headquarters of the center rushed out, and even controlled most of the west of the city and parts of the south of the city. If they were replenished tomorrow, they would surely continue to expand their victories. By then, the southward retreat of the defenders in the city might really be cut off.

"General Holt, are you still there?" Manstein noticed that there was a sudden silence in the receiver, and quickly tapped the receiver twice with his fingers, and at the same time raised his voice and asked, "Are you still listening?"

"Yes, Marshal, I'm still listening." Huot asked a little unwillingly: "I'm considering whether Sokov's troops can be replenished. After all, after the early fortress operation, the Russians' vital forces have been severely damaged. A big weakening, I feel that in a short time, I am afraid that we will not be able to send troops to reinforce Sokov..."

Before Holt could finish speaking, Manstein interrupted him: "Have you forgotten Katukov who fought with you in the Oboyan area? According to our reconnaissance, the First Tank Army under his command is heading towards the Drive into Belgorod, and at noon tomorrow at the latest, you will be able to reach the outside of the city."

The name of Katukov made Holt breathless. He knew very well that Katukov was a great tank general in the Soviet army. The troops he commanded were more powerful than other Soviet troops. Otherwise, his troops It won't be blocked for so long in the Oboyan area.

"I understand, Your Excellency the Marshal." The coming of Katukov's tank army became the last straw that broke the camel's back. Huot put away his luck and said into the microphone with lingering fear: "I will immediately Follow your order and give the troops the order to retreat and break out of the encirclement, and we must quickly withdraw from Belgorod and retreat to Kharkov before the Russians discover our intentions."

"General Huot, I think some troops may not receive your retreat and breakout orders. For these troops, don't worry about them anymore." To withdraw to the south, you must leave some troops to contain the Soviet troops: "In order to ensure that your main force can retreat to Kharkov, you must leave some troops as bait to contain the Russians and make them confused about our intentions." .”

Huot gave retreat orders to all the troops he could contact. He warned the commanders of the troops that if the troops were discovered by the Russian troops during the retreat, they must decisively adopt breakout tactics and tear apart the Russian blocking positions. , so that more troops can successfully withdraw from Belgorod.

But what Holt and Manstein feared did not happen during the retreat.

When the German army began to retreat, both the Steppe Front Army in the northwest and the Voronezh Front Army in the north were aware of the enemy's movements. But the judgment of the Soviet commanders made a huge mistake. They never dreamed that the Germans would withdraw from Belgorod overnight, thinking that the enemy was going to counterattack at night.

The Soviet commanders made wrong judgments, and naturally the instructions given to the troops were completely wrong. They ordered all the troops in the city to enter combat positions and prepare for the German counterattack.

The commanders and fighters who received the order were awakened from their sleep, hurriedly entered the position they had just occupied, and prepared for battle, ready to meet the counterattack that the German army might launch at night.

Seeing that the Soviets were not aware of their intention to retreat, the German commanders heaved a sigh of relief. While leaving some troops to stick to their original positions, they made some noise from time to time to attract the attention of the Soviets; Belgorod was quietly withdrawn from the south of the city.

The Soviet troops in the northwest and north did not perceive the true intentions of the Germans, but the 332nd Division, which retreated first, moved south of the city, but it alarmed Sokov's troops.