The decisive battle against the Third Reich

In fact, Colonel Slain had selfish motives in arranging Major Eberhard to serve as Qinchuan's adjutant.

The main reason is that Qinchuan is often unable to exercise command authority in his own position. For example, when Qinchuan served as company commander, he commanded the entire regiment together with Colonel Slain and even participated in the command and combat plans of the entire group army. of formulation.

Colonel Slaine had reason to believe that this situation would continue, so he arranged for the experienced Major Eberhard to serve as adjutant and take charge of the command of the entire battalion when necessary.

The 1st Infantry Regiment waited in Soglione for two hours until the main German troops arrived one after another.

Then Qin Chuan was not in a hurry to let the First Infantry Regiment march towards the Caucasus immediately.

Half an hour later, Manstein and his assistants took a Junkers transport plane and landed in Soglione under the protection of two BF109s.

This surprised everyone, because Manstein did not often come to the front line to command like Rommel.

"Captain!" When Manstein saw Qin Chuan, he couldn't help but happily stepped forward to shake hands with Qin Chuan. When he saw Qin Chuan's military rank, he changed his tune and said, "Oh, maybe I should call you major!"

"Welcome, Marshal!" Qin Chuan said, "But you don't seem to need to come here. What I mean is...it's not safe here!"

"Really?" Manstein replied: "But I think the safest place is where you are!"

Manstein's answer soon won the proud eyes of the officers and soldiers.

Unlike Rommel, Manstein rarely praised anyone directly. He usually stimulated the inner feelings of officers and soldiers in a more subtle way... This may also be said to be a kind of implicitness of the nobility.

In the headquarters, Manstein said to the officers: "First of all, I want to tell you good news. The head of state is very satisfied with the victory we have achieved. At the same time, he believes that it is completely necessary to strengthen the strength of the 11th Army, so he started The Eighth Air Force dispatched 300 fighter planes to reinforce us!”

The officers couldn't help but feel refreshed. They all knew what this meant... Originally, if there were only 200 fighter planes, although they could also gain air supremacy in a certain local airspace, that was all. If they wanted to bomb enemy airports and Ports, warships, and the 200 fighter planes are somewhat stretched.

But if another 300 fighters are added, there will be a lot of room for maneuver.

"In addition!" Manstein pointed to the map and said: "The head of state will also order Army Group A to attack the Soviet Don River defense line to coordinate with our attack on the Caucasus."

After a pause, Manstein looked around and asked: "So, what are we waiting for? We should advance to the Caucasus immediately!"

"Your Majesty Marshal!" Qin Chuan said: "I think we should wait in Soglio!"

"What are you waiting for?" Manstein asked.

"Wait until they come to rescue the Taman Peninsula!" Qin Chuan pointed to the map and said: "We have occupied Soglione, which means we have captured seven inches of the Taman Peninsula. The Soviet 32nd Guards Infantry Division will be destroyed by us. Besieged on Taman North Island, when the time comes..."

Manstein couldn't help but said "Oh" and nodded.

This issue will be left to the Soviets to consider.

At this time, the 47th Group Army headquarters was already in chaos. Telegrams were flying like snow flakes in front of the group army commander, Major General Kotov. Big beads of sweat were slowly dripping from his forehead, because all the information he received was not correct. The good news is that either the Black Sea Fleet was intercepted by enemy artillery, or the reinforcements sent to the Southern Peninsula were missed.

But these were nothing. The most unacceptable thing for him was the loss of Soglione Airport... In less than two hours, less than two hours after the German troops landed on the southern peninsula, Soglione Airport was completely lost from the headquarters. connect.

Major General Kotov knew what it meant to lose contact during combat. He just didn't understand why the Germans could move so quickly, why they could launch such a quick landing battle, and even drive tanks over from the other end... Before Avger When Avdeevich reported this information, he did not believe it, thinking it was a sign of Avdeevich's cowardice. Unexpectedly, it was only after confirmation that he realized that all this was true.

Major General Kotov leaned slumped on his chair, holding his aching head.

He felt a bit unwilling to die in silence, and even had the urge to ask the Germans how to achieve this kind of battle that was even more "blitzkrieg" than "blitzkrieg". It didn't matter even if he was captured by them or died under their guns. , because Major General Kotov wanted to commit suicide at this time...

This battle was different from the battle on the Kerch Peninsula.

Although the losses in the battle on the Kerch Peninsula were much greater, three armies were captured and one army was routed, resulting in the loss of countless troops and equipment.

However, the failure of the Kerch Peninsula was a tactical failure. That is to say, even if the Kerch Peninsula was occupied by the German army, it would not have much impact on the Soviet army's overall plan and the Caucasus region.

The battle on the Taman Peninsula was completely different.

The Taman Peninsula has the Kerch Strait as a natural barrier. The 47th Army has two divisions and two brigades of elite troops (compared to the Soviet army), as well as tanks, artillery, fighter planes, warships... but they are confused. All the units had no time to play their role, and the defeat was already decided.

What's worse is that this failure is a strategic failure because it directly affects the security of the Caucasus region.

"Comrade Kotov!" The staff officer took the phone and said to Major General Kotov: "Comrade Budyonny's call!"

Major General Kotov hesitated for a moment, and then answered the phone.

"Comrade Kotov!" Mikhailovich Budyonny's calm voice came over the phone: "Your staff has reported to me the battle situation in detail. I think your command is not at fault. This The main reason why we will fail in the battle is that the enemy has invested in new equipment that we don’t know about!”

These few words were like a shot in the arm for Major General Kotov, who suddenly became energetic and almost moved to tears.

Marshal Mikhailovich Budyonny is the commander of the North Caucasus Front. He was born in a poor family. He has participated in heavy labor and lived with poor people since he was a child, so it is difficult for him to understand the difficulties of his subordinates.

"The most important thing now!" Marshal Budyonni continued: "It is not to dwell on the current failure, but to minimize our losses. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Comrade Budyonny!" Major General Kotov replied, and then asked: "What should I do now?"

"Continue to guard the northern peninsula!" Budyonni replied.