Chapter 404: by surprise

Chapter 404 Unexpected

It was the 11th Army that launched the attack on the Kyiv defense line, and the commander was Manstein, known as one of the three famous German generals.

Until then, the 11th Army had been locked in front of the Kyiv line, but this was a blessing in disguise... This made the 11th Army the only German attacking force that was not affected by the cold Soviet winter. They had their backs against the Romanian supply line, Clothes, food, etc. can be brought up without hindrance.

The problem is that the German army locked the main attack direction in Moscow, and at the same time the main armored force was intercepted on the east bank of the Dnieper River, which made them lack the necessary offensive equipment and was unable to break through the Kyiv defense line.

But not now.

This offensive plan was proposed by Manstein to Hitler on his own initiative. This winter, as a "secondary commander" west of the Kyiv line of defense, he was almost isolated from the battlefield, and he could no longer hold back.

It happened that Manstein heard that the supplies to the southern part of the Soviet Union had been intercepted by the British, so he immediately flew to the Wolf's Lair to meet Hitler.

"This is an opportunity for us, Your Excellency the Fuhrer!" Manstein said to Hitler: "When the British have cut off the aid and everyone is focusing on Moscow, we should open up another battlefield!"

At this time, Hitler had lost his vigor due to the successive failures on the front line. He replied with some hesitation: "But, my general... our army is retreating. We need to resist their attack with all our strength. We have no extra troops to transfer. To the South!"

Hitler did not lie to Manstein, and even the four armored divisions newly added to the front line were assigned to Model's 9th Army. If they were transferred from the front line to Manstein, Model would be very afraid It is difficult to prevent the German army from falling like a mountain.

"I only need the Air Force, Your Excellency the Führer!" Manstein said, "Let the 10th Air Force cooperate with our attack, and I can tear through their defenses and launch a surprise attack into their weak depths!"

Hitler was silent.

Because the German army was equally nervous about the air force, the reason why the German army was able to stabilize at this time, or Model's 9th Army was able to stabilize its position, was partly because the air force took a breather and regained part of the air supremacy.

If at this time the air force is transferred to the south to support the 11th Army...

Manstein seemed to have seen through Hitler's thoughts. He pointed to the map and explained: "Your Excellency, if we can tear through the Russian defense line in Kyiv, we can cross the Dnieper River while the river is still frozen. This will directly threaten Get to the Russian flank and re-encircle Kyiv, which means the Russians have to respond, including the Russian Air Force!"

Hitler nodded in agreement.

That is to say, the transfer of the air force will not actually affect the defense of Model's 9th Army, because the German army transferred the air force to Kyiv, and the Russian army must also transfer the air force to the south to fight the German air force... They just changed the battlefield.

As for the direction of Moscow, the main air forces of both sides have been transferred away, so no one will suffer, and of course they will not take advantage.

Thinking of this, Hitler no longer hesitated, he hugged Manstein tightly, and said: "You are right, my general, we should have done this a long time ago! I believe you, you and those who only Knowing that retreating cowards are not the same kind of people, you and your men will use iron will to defeat the Russians, we will regain victory in this war, and the whole world will cheer for our victory!"

Manstein felt sad when he heard this.

He understands the whole battle. Although he has been on the Kyiv defense line, he has been paying attention to the situation on the front line.

So Manstein is very clear that the generals who suggested retreating are actually correct. In that case, even if he commands the troops to fight on the front line, he may only choose to retreat.

But of course, Manstein would not say that, he just saluted Hitler, then turned and left.

After returning to the headquarters, Manstein made some preparations.

In fact, he had already begun preparations before he went to meet Hitler.

The main problem of the 11th Army is the lack of tanks, especially the "No. 3" and "No. 4" tanks.

Light tanks are not lacking for the German army. Although the 11th Army has only one army, it is actually three armies...It also commands the Romanian 3rd Army and the Italian Expeditionary Force.

It's just that because the combat effectiveness of these two armies is relatively weak, they usually don't enter the public's field of vision and are easily overlooked.

Manstein's approach was to mobilize some light tanks from these vassal states and dozens of tanks urgently transported from Germany to form two armored divisions.

"We only have more than fifty 'No. 3' tanks and 'No. 4' tanks!" The staff officer said to Manstein with some concern: "The rest are all 'No. 1', 'No. 2' and '35T' tanks." Wait, we even have Soviet tanks captured from the Russians, use these patchwork tanks to attack the enemy's defense line, I'm afraid..."

"Enough!" Manstein replied: "One thing you need to know, Eric, the Russians are not prepared for our attack. Their main force is all in the direction of Moscow to launch a counterattack from the front. All we have to do is break through the Kyiv defense line. , then all we need is speed!"

As for how to use light tanks to break through the Russian defense line, Manstein has also thought about this.

"We attack in the early morning!" Manstein said to Major General Gott, the commander of the main armored division that carried out the breakthrough: "Don't try to use your tanks to head-to-head with the Russians, adjust your radios, and use them to indicate the enemy's tanks to the air force. position, they will destroy the enemy tanks! And your target is the enemy infantry, understand?"

"Yes, General!" Major General Gott answered.

This can be a helpless move, or it can be said to be the only countermeasure, because the Russian army has heavy tanks such as KV1 and KV2, and even the terrifying T34.

If you don’t rely on the air force and use these tanks pieced together by the German army to break through forcibly, it is almost the same as dying.

Of course, Manstein knew that he could not rely entirely on the air force, because the troops would always encounter some unexpected situations on the way of marching, such as short days and long nights, and the German armored forces would inevitably encounter enemy tanks at night.

So Manstein repeated his tricks, just like he invented the assault gun. He simply welded more than two dozen PAK40 anti-tank units urgently transferred from Germany to the tank chassis, and then incorporated it into the armored force as a weapon. Anti-tank weapons.

(end of this chapter)