The decisive battle against the Third Reich

To a certain extent, Manstein's idea is correct... The German army is in danger and must break through the Kerch Defense Line as soon as possible. Otherwise, the Soviet army, especially the three armies behind it, will slowly regain its combat effectiveness. All German troops including Manstein, the 1st Infantry Regiment, and of course Qinchuan were wiped out.

Therefore, at this critical moment it is time to use the First Infantry Regiment

On the other hand, the 1st Infantry Regiment seems to be suitable for fighting such a battle... Most of the Soviet soldiers use bolt-action rifles. With the Soviet army's geographical advantage, the German army cannot break through their defense lines and can only attack them in batches. Fall in front of the defense line.

However, the First Infantry Regiment is equipped with a large number of MP43s. As long as the First Infantry Regiment cooperates well, two or three MP43s can suppress an enemy machine gun by firing alternately, and the enemy's bolt-action rifles are even more powerful. is negligible.

Therefore, even if the road is muddy and difficult to move forward, the 1st Infantry Regiment still has a high possibility of breaking through the Soviet defense line and winning the final victory.

But it is conceivable that the First Infantry Regiment also had to pay a heavy price for this.

Colonel Slaine was not willing to let the First Infantry Regiment suffer such casualties, so he said with some hesitation: "General..."

"I know, Colonel!" said Manstein, "but now we have no other choice but to do this!"

As he spoke, Manstein looked at his watch and then said: "There are still five hours until dark. You know what will happen after dark!"

Of course Qinchuan knew that as soon as it got dark, it meant that the German Air Force would not be able to play its role, and the Soviet army would take this time to replenish tanks, troops, etc. After all, the Taman Peninsula and Kerch are only separated by a few kilometers wide Kerch. Strait, it is not difficult for them to do this.

Then, tomorrow's offense would have to start all over again and be even more difficult.

After thinking about it, Qin Chuan asked: "General, you mean... if we can break through the enemy's defense line before dark, it will be no problem, right?"

"You can say that!" Manstein replied: "Because our air power will block the Kerch Strait and the Black Sea, the Soviets in front and behind us will not be able to receive supplies!"

"Then..." Qin Chuan said, "I suggest we wait until dark to launch the attack!"

"What difference does that make, Captain?" Manstein asked in displeasure.

Qin Chuan understood Manstein's attitude. The battlefield often changes rapidly, so if it is possible to win as early as possible, he should make a decisive decision.

But Qin Chuan had other ideas.

"There is a difference, General!" Qin Chuan replied: "Because in the evening, our tanks can advance towards the enemy's defense line. Then we can break through the defense line at a very small cost. Even if there is any accident during this period, it will not change this. result!"

"You mean to use engineers to fill the road?" Manstein said: "But you also saw that the enemy will not let us do this!"

"No, General!" Qin Chuan replied: "Of course we are not asking engineers to fill the road!"

"What is that?" Manstein looked at Qin Chuan in confusion.

"General!" Qin Chuan got closer to Manstein and said, "Our tanks can't move forward because the road is muddy, right?"

"Are you kidding me, Captain?" Manstein's eyes showed a bit of anger, and he obviously lost his patience.

"Sorry, General!" Qin Chuan replied: "Because this is the point, what if we keep stuffing logs under the tank tracks?"

Manstein couldn't help being stunned, and then laughed: "I thought it was a good idea, Captain... Don't you think this idea is stupid? The logs will roll, and there is no way to control them on the tank. The tank will even Running around with logs..."

"No, General!" Qin Chuan said: "We can string the logs together with steel cables. Once the tank tracks roll over, the logs will roll into the mud due to gravity. In other words, we can quickly lay them on the ground. A tunnel that tanks can pass through...in fact, not just one, maybe many if time permits!"

"You think about the problem too simply, Captain!" Manstein objected: "If we do what you said, that is, connect the logs together with steel ropes, then how can we pave it? Go up to the position? Can the enemy allow us to do this? "

"We use tanks to pave the way!" Qin Chuan replied.

"But the tank can't be driven up at all, Captain!" Manstein suppressed his anger. If it weren't for the fact that Qin Chuan's previous suggestions were very useful and had meritorious service, Manstein would have ended immediately. This conversation is over.

Qin Chuan did not explain. He took the notebook and pen from Colonel Slain and explained to Manstein while drawing: "General, some things are not as difficult as we think. We only need to deal with them." Make some small changes and then..."

With that said, Qin Chuan added a few more strokes and handed the notebook over.

Manstein took the notebook and glanced at it, and then his eyes immediately lit up. He looked at the sketch carefully again, and then nodded and said: "Good idea, Captain, this is simply tailor-made for our current situation. "

After a pause, Manstein said apologetically to Qin Chuan: "I should say sorry to you, Captain! I thought you were looking for excuses to avoid fighting!"

"You don't need to apologize, general!" Qin Chuan replied: "Because you guessed right, I did want to escape the battle!"

Manstein did not expect Qin Chuan to answer like this. He glanced at Qin Chuan, and then he and Qin Chuan laughed in unison.

They all understand that if they can win this battle with fewer casualties, why should they do what the Soviets did?

Colonel Slain asked in confusion: "Can I know what it is?"

"Of course, Colonel!" Manstein handed over the notebook.

Colonel Slaine took the notebook and looked at it. There was a vague drawing of a tank on the sketch... The reason why I say "vaguely" is because the so-called tank is just two crooked rectangles. The only distinguishing feature of the tank is that The laughably ugly road wheels below.

This tank is a bit strange. There is a roller on the top, and then a string of logs will roll continuously from the roller to the front of the tank from the car behind it...

"It's indeed a good idea!" Colonel Slaine couldn't help shouting: "In this way, the logs will be laid wherever the tank goes. As long as we prepare enough log strings... it can actually be done. Go anywhere you want!”