Red Moscow

After the attack of the German 168th Infantry Division failed, the division commander immediately reported the bad news to the commander of the army, General Rolls: "Your Excellency, my troops attacked the town of Compass in Kazakhia, due to the bombing and attack by the Russian Air Force. The strafing, unfortunately ended in failure."

General Laws quietly listened to his subordinates' reports, and after thinking for a while, he said slowly, "Mr. Commander, temporarily stop the attack on Kazakia Compass Town and wait for my new order."

The German division commander had expected Rouse to order him to regroup and launch a new offensive against the Russians. Hearing this order at this moment, I immediately let go of the boulder in my heart, and quickly replied: "Understood, Your Excellency, Commander, I will resolutely carry out your order."

After Rouse put down the phone, he felt that the matter was of great importance, so he called the commander of the battle group, General Kenff, and told him the news of the failure of the attack on Compass Town in Kazakhya: "...General Kenff, because the Russians With air supremacy on the battlefield, if we continue to attack Kazakhya Compass Town without air cover, our offensive may be crushed by the Russian air force."

"General Rolls, I know that the Russians have mastered the air on the battlefield, and their planes pose a great threat to our attack." Kenff said firmly: "But our attack on the Russians must go on, and we must do so in the shortest possible time." Drive them out of Kazakia Compass Town within a short period of time."

"However, General Kenff." After hearing Kenff's order, Rouse became a little anxious: "If my troops attack Compass Town of Kazakia without any air cover, once they are attacked When the Russian air force attacks, the troops are bound to suffer heavy casualties."

"General Rouss, I think it is necessary to remind you that the troops occupying the town of Compass in Kazakhia today belong to Sokov's 27th Army." Kenff reminded Rouss in a stern tone: "The Russians have always Use his troops in important places, now that the town of Kazakhya Compass is in their hands, and if it is not recaptured soon, the Russians may use it as a starting point for an attack. You think, with what you have Strength, can you stop them in Jergachi?"

"It can't be stopped." Rouss replied rationally: "If we encountered other Russian troops, the chances of winning would be very high. But now the enemy we are facing is the 27th Army under the command of Sokov. The record of this army has always been more victories than defeats, if they attack my defensive position, I don't think my men can stop them."

"General Laws, your answer is correct." Kenff continued: "It is precisely because our soldiers cannot stop their attack that we need to launch an attack with all our strength, and take them out of the town while they are not stable. Get out."

"General Kenfe," Rouse said in embarrassment, "Let my troops continue to attack. I firmly obey your orders, but I implore you to provide air support to my troops no matter what."

As a senior senior officer, Kenff didn't know the importance of air supremacy in war, but he is also a clever woman who can't live without rice. The troops under his command only have armored troops besides infantry, and there is no air force at all. If it is necessary to provide air support to the attacking force of the Routh Army, Field Marshal Manstein can only be asked for help.

According to the recent actions of the Soviet army, Manstein had already calculated that Kharkov would be the next target to be attacked. Regardless of the Soviet army's superiority in strength, he was not worried at all. At the beginning of the year, the Soviet army had an advantage in strength and equipment, and once occupied Kharkov, but in the end they were beaten all over the place by themselves.

For the two commanders of the Soviet Army, he looked down on Vatutin the most. Although this person is now a general, he is of the kind with great ambition and talent. This can be seen from the battle at the beginning of the year. It is with such a manager that Manstein is confident of beating Vatutin again in Kharkov.

As for Konev, after the outbreak of the Soviet-German War, his performance has been mediocre, and there is no remarkable record at all. It is said that when the German army advanced to Moscow, Konevde, the commander of the Western Front, was defeated. If Zhukov hadn't defended it, he would have been court-martialed long ago.

It is precisely because of this mentality that Manstein is not concerned about the battle in the direction of Kharkov, but is doing his best to manage the Dnieper River defense line to prevent possible Soviet crossing operations.

After receiving a call from Keff, Manstein asked casually, "General Keff, are there any movements by the Russians in your defense zone?"

As the commander of the battle group, Kenf lost such defeats as October Town and Kazakia Compass Town. For him, it was a trivial matter, so he didn't report it to Manstein at all.

Now when he called Manstein for help, he could only truthfully report: "Your Excellency, Marshal, I have some sad news for you. October Town and Kazakia Compass Town have fallen."

"What, what did you say?" Manstein couldn't believe his ears: "General Kenff, what did you just say, both October Town and Kazakia Compass Town fell? When did this happen? ?”

"yesterday."

"It fell yesterday?" Manstein's blood rushed to his head, and he almost dropped the microphone in his hand, but in order to find out what was going on, he suppressed his anger and tried to ask in a calm tone: " Why didn't you report it in time."

Kenfu hesitated for a while, and replied: "Your Excellency, Marshal, I think the Russians are not strong enough to fight. Even if they occupy the town, as long as we counterattack, we can drive them out. But today's attack failed. and ended."

After waiting for Kenfe to finish speaking, Manstein asked, panting: "When did the Russians become so powerful?" He asked this because during the Battle of Kursk, Kenfe's combat group had The Soviet Army's several armies were defeated. Now he has not received a report from Kharkov, proving that not too many troops will be invested in this battle.

"Your Excellency, Marshal, it's Sokov." Kenfu gritted his teeth and said, "It's Sokov's troops that successively captured October Town and Kazakia Compass Town."

Manstein picked up a piece of information he had just received not long ago, which said that the Soviet army was mobilizing in full swing, and that he might not be able to launch an attack within a day or two, but at this time, he learned from Kenff's report that the defense line The two towns on the left flank were occupied by the Soviet army. This is really unbelievable. He asked in puzzlement: "Damn it, why did Sokov's troops suddenly attack your defense zone?"

"I don't know, Marshal." Kenfu said helplessly: "When General Rolls reported to me that the Russians began to attack, half of the compass town of Kazakhia had already fallen into the hands of the Russians. To regain the town, he used artillery to bombard the outer positions in the south of the town today, and then more than 30 tanks covered a regiment of infantry to attack the town."

Although Manstein already knew that the attack had failed, he still couldn't help asking: "You used such a strong force to attack the town, why did it end in failure?"

"Originally, the vanguard of the 168th Infantry Division has already approached the Russian trenches. They only need to rush forward a few steps, and they can rush into the Russian trenches." Kenff reported regretfully to Manstein: "But in At this time, a large number of Russian planes appeared in the sky, and they bombed and strafed our ground troops, causing us huge casualties. Under such circumstances, the commander in command of the operation could only order the troops to stop attacking and withdraw temporarily. Out of battle."

"Oh, what a pity." Manstein said with a sigh, "If the Russian plane had arrived a minute or two later, our troops might have rushed into the Russian position."

"Yes, Your Excellency the Marshal." Kenff continued, "I called you just to request the air force to dispatch to provide the necessary air support for our ground attack force. If there is no air cover, no matter how much we use The troops and equipment involved in the attack may also be smashed by Russian planes."

Hearing this, Manstein understood the target of Keff's call, and said quickly: "General Keff, so you called me because you hoped to get air support?"

"That's right, Marshal." Seeing that Manstein had guessed his intentions, Kenf said with a feeling: "As long as you can provide us with the necessary air support, we will definitely be able to save Kazakhia Compass Town from the Russians. Take it back."

"General Kenff, I can provide you with air support." Manstein asked cautiously: "But do you think your troops can break through the defense line of Sokov's men?"

Manstein's words silenced Kenff. That's right, it's really not difficult to get air support. But when our troops are attacking, with air support, will they be able to break through the Russian defenses and rush into the compass town of Kazakhia?

"General Kenfe," Manstein asked after hearing that Kenfe hadn't spoken for a long time, tapped the microphone a few times with his fingers, and then blew twice, "Are you still there? "

"Yes, Marshal, I'm still here."

"Why didn't you answer my question?"

"Your Excellency, Marshal, it is difficult for me to answer your question." Kenfu said cautiously: "According to the information I have, Sokov's troops are not only good at attacking, but also good at defending. Even if our troops are attacking At that time, with the cover from the air, it is still unknown whether it can break through the Russian defense line."

"Even if you can't break through the Russian defense line, you have to try a few more times." Manstein said on the phone: "Once Sokov's troops gain a firm foothold in Kazakhya Compass Town, they can directly threaten Holt. If Hoth wanted to ensure the safety of his flank, he had to mobilize troops, but strengthened the defense in this direction. If the two fronts of the Russians attacked at this moment, the weakened defense line would be broken by the Russians. The danger is greatly increased."

After listening to Manstein's words, Kenf understood what he meant, and asked cautiously: "Your Excellency, what you mean is that even if our army cannot take down Kazakia Compass Town, we must continue to launch counterattacks." , so that the Russians cannot build new fortifications there and turn them into a starting point for an attack?"

"That's right, that's what I meant."

Kenff heard the implication from Manstein's words, and then asked: "Your Excellency, Marshal, do we have to attack without interruption even though we know that our troops cannot take down the town?"

"Of course, only if you continue to attack, Sokov will not be able to mobilize strength to attack Huot's left wing." Manstein explained to Kenff: "Your approach is to relieve the pressure on General Huot. .”

...

Manstein explained the combat deployment to Kenf, and Sokov was also in his headquarters, discussing with Sameko how to resist a possible new German attack: "Comrade Chief of Staff, we can repel the enemy's attack, It is entirely up to General Konev to send the air force to support us. But we must also see that in order to capture the compass town of Kazakhia, the enemy will definitely send the air force to compete for air supremacy on the battlefield, and the battle will become extremely cruel. "

"Comrade Commander, Major General Fomenko just called and said that his 268th Regiment is ready to switch defenses and can replace the heavily damaged 568th Regiment at any time."

"Wait a minute, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov looked at Sameko and said, "Please tell General Fomenko that the change of defense will be postponed. I think the next battle will be even more cruel. The troops of the 84th Division are also fighting, and I am afraid that the organizational system of the two divisions will be destroyed."

"Then what shall we do?"

"Tell Major General Fomenko and Colonel Koida." Sokov pointed to Sameko and told him, "First, the 188th Division will fight the enemy, and when the casualties are too large, it will be withdrawn and replaced by the 84th Division." Defense. Let them rest assured that the 188th Division and the 84th Division have lost many commanders and fighters in this battle, and when the battle is over, I will replenish them one by one."

Sameko agrees with Sokov's statement in his heart. In battle, what the commander is most worried about is that after his troops suffer heavy casualties, they will not be replenished as they should be. , will cause the combat effectiveness of the entire army to be diluted. And Sokov's promise is to tell the other party, don't worry about losses, I am your strong backing, and I will fully support you.

After Sameko finished recording, Sokov said to him again: "One more thing, whether it is the 188th Division or the 84th Division, you must stick to the Compass Town of Kazakhya with all your strength. Take the town from us."

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Sameko said to Sokov with a smile: "I think the two division commanders will definitely command the troops to fight the German attack with all their strength after seeing your order, and they will never let the Germans attack." The enemy has easily entered the town."