The decisive battle against the Third Reich

It’s the fourth update today, I’m a little tired and want to go to bed early. Brothers, don’t forget to vote for your monthly vote before taking a break!

Everyone thought that the Soviet army would launch an attack immediately and the battle would break out immediately, but the situation was beyond everyone's expectation... Except for the occasional few fighter planes flying from the direction of the Soviet army and dropping a few bombs, the Soviet army did not take any action. .

After waiting for more than half an hour, Qin Chuan suddenly understood something. He said to Colonel Slain: "The Soviets will not attack!"

"Why?" Colonel Slain asked: "They rushed here in a hurry, didn't they just want to stop us?"

"They have blocked us!" Qin Chuan replied.

Colonel Slain was stunned for a moment, then nodded.

After that, the Soviet army did not attack until it gradually darkened.

General Strike held a meeting in the anti-tank trench... The prisoners had been taken to other places, and the guards built a simple headquarters here using logs and soil. Several officers were covering the Inside the room covered with black cloth, a discussion was held over the map on the shell box.

"The situation is like this!" General Strike said: "Our left wing is the Pushor River, and our right wing is a straight railway from north to south. The Soviets are gathering three kilometers away from us, regardless of the tanks. Count, but no sign of attack!”

"Of course they will not attack!" Colonel Olbridge said: "The place we are in is the Kusk Grassland. There is no place to hide except a few highlands. Such terrain is very unfavorable to the attacking side. !”

This is of course, just like the previous battle between the German army and the Soviet 5th Guards Tank Corps, there was an open space in the middle, and the attacking side would expose itself to enemy firepower.

Especially the battle between tanks... The suspension system of tanks in this era was relatively backward, and it was basically impossible to hit the target while shooting.

It is said that only two tanks can do this:

One is the "Matilda", because it has many road wheels and is extremely slow, so it travels relatively smoothly and the gunner can aim at the target.

The other is the Yankee's "Sherman" tank equipped with an advanced suspension system. However, in actual combat, the "Sherman" shooting while moving did not have much accuracy.

Therefore, in a tank battle, the attacking side will have such a problem: it cannot fire when charging, and it cannot charge when firing... No matter which one you choose, you will become the target of the enemy, but the opponent can fire one after another in the same place. Shoot the other way.

Of course, it would be another matter if the enemy breaks into the defense line and fights together.

"The lieutenant colonel believes that there are strategic factors involved!" Colonel Slain said: "The Soviets only need to block us, so there is no need to attack!"

"I think so too!" General Strike nodded: "They are stalling for time. The longer the delay, the better it is for them!"

The officers all understood what this meant.

On the one hand, if time passes, the Soviet troops in the middle area can easily escape.

On the other hand, the Soviet army continued to arrive with troops, and the Soviet army could even surround the German army.

"So!" Colonel Slaine said with a frown, "This time, it's our turn to attack?"

"This seems to be the only option!" General Strike replied.

"No!" Qin Chuan shook his head and replied, "We can let the Soviets attack!"

"Let the Soviets attack?" Colonel Olbridge said: "How can we do it? The Soviets are not fools!"

"Colonel!" Qin Chuan said: "If we retreat to the south bank of the Pushor River, how do you think the Soviets will react?"

"The Soviets will think that we want to use the Pushor River as a line of defense!" Colonel Olbridge said.

"Yes!" Qinchuan replied: "Will the Soviets let us do this? If we use the Pushor River as a defense line, their superior strength will be completely unable to be used. We can even dedicate an armored division to reinforce the SS. The 2nd Armored Division completed the encirclement of the Soviet army in the middle!"

"But the Soviet army will also block our way!" Colonel Olbridge said.

"But the Soviets don't know this!" Qinchuan said: "Indeed, our mission is to go north to outflank Kursk and even rescue Orel, but if there is an enemy tank group in front of us, an army with more than 700 tanks Army group, and we don’t even have two hundred tanks...what else can we do?”

"It is more likely that we will choose to escape!" Colonel Slain said: "Or the next best thing is to choose to join the 2nd SS Panzer Army to outflank the Soviet troops in the middle!"

General Strike nodded and said: "It makes sense. At this time... the Soviets will choose to attack when we are crossing the river!"

"Yes!" Qin Chuan replied: "They will not be willing to let us escape like this. If we escape to the south bank of the Pushor River, they will not even be able to pursue us and can only watch us leave!"

After a moment of silence, General Strike said: "Then, let's do it! Let's see if the Soviets will be fooled!"

Then General Strike formulated a detailed combat plan... In fact, the troops were ready for combat. All that needed to be discussed was the "retreat" time and the "retreat" troops.

The "retreating" unit was a tank battalion. It only needed to circle back and forth along the Pushor River to make a little noise to attract the attention of the Soviet army.

The "retreat" time is somewhat particular.

If implemented too early, the Soviet army would not dare to pursue it even if it wanted to because it would be too dark.

If it is carried out too late to catch up with dawn, it will be easily detected by Soviet reconnaissance planes.

Finally, the officers unanimously agreed and set the time at 5:30 in the morning, which is half an hour before dawn.

In addition, in order to make the "retreat" more realistic, General Strike also asked the artillery to cooperate.

Of course, the entire plan also communicated with the 3rd Armored Corps on the front line, allowing them to create some illusions, such as pulling back the tanks on the front line.

Finally, Strike asked Qin Chuan: "Do we have enough ME63?"

Needless to say why General Strike asked this question, two hundred tanks against more than 700 Soviet tanks... Even if the German tanks have an advantage in performance, even if the Soviet army is fooled and launches an attack, the German army is likely to be overwhelmed. In this steel offensive.

Just like last time on the Kovo Plain, the Soviet army almost broke into the German defense line with only 300 tanks. This time the terrain was more open, and the Soviet army could even launch an attack from the right-wing railway.

Therefore, if there is no ME63, this battle usually has only one outcome...the entire army is annihilated.

"Don't worry, general!" Qin Chuan replied: "We have enough ME63!"