Chapter 136 Second Stage
Although Major General Petrov was dubious, he finally conveyed the news and order... After all, this is an order from Moscow, and it is good news to some extent.
It's just that Major Petrov was more conservative when conveying this information: "The reinforcements may arrive in the next two or three days. You know, 70 kilometers, and there are enemies blocking along the way!"
Major Petrov's approach is correct, because if the time is too short, such as one day, although this will give the troops a shot of stimulant, if the reinforcements do not appear after one day, the morale will suffer backlash.
But even so, the morale of the Soviet army in Odessa was boosted. They even launched a counterattack against the Romanian and German coalition forces in some local areas and drove out several Romanian troops that had entered the urban area. The German 22nd Infantry Division also maintained its strength.
When the news reached Lundstedt, it gave him a headache.
On the one hand, it was unable to stop the penetration of the Soviet 9th Army, and on the other hand, it was unable to completely occupy Odessa in a short period of time. This would put the Romanian 4th Army in a double attack from the Soviet Army.
Although the total strength of the Romanian and German coalition forces is greater than the total strength of the Soviet army, it is possible to divide the troops, but Lundstedt knows that the division of troops will not have much effect.
The reason is that a group army in Romania has a strength of more than 100,000 troops. If it is calculated by combat effectiveness, they can only be counted as one army at most.
"How do they solve the problem of water sources?" Lundstedt asked. He remembered that the adjutant once told him that the Romanian army had occupied the cistern in Odessa.
"Rainwater, Your Excellency the Marshal!" replied the adjutant: "They collect rainwater!"
Lundstedt nodded knowingly, and then cursed in his heart: "This **** weather, if it didn't rain, the battle should have ended long ago!"
But the fact is that it is raining now, and it is foreseeable that it will be rainy for a period of time in the future.
So the problem still has to be solved.
Lundstedt stared at the map for a while, then pointed to the map and said to the adjutant: "The outermost line of defense..."
"The total length of the outermost defense line is 80 kilometers!" The adjutant immediately gave the information that Lundstedt needed: "From Transnistria to Lake Tiligur!"
"How far is it from downtown?"
"25 to 30 kilometers!" replied the adjutant.
"That is to say, it is nearly 20 kilometers away from the middle defense line!" Lundstedt said.
"Yes!" The adjutant nodded: "The farthest place should be more than 20 kilometers, and the nearest is 17 kilometers!"
This is a simple subtraction operation.
"Are the outer and middle defenses under our control?" Lundstedt asked again.
"Yes, Your Excellency the Marshal!"
"What's the fortification?"
"Trenches, bunkers, and anti-tank gun emplacements!"
"Then..." Rundstedt said: "Move the troops and logistics troops into the middle of the two lines of defense!"
Lundstedt's idea is very simple, that is, to use the Soviet army's defense lines and fortifications without completely taking Odessa, and then attack Odessa from inside to reject strong enemies from outside.
The adjutant immediately understood what he meant. He looked at Lundstedt in surprise and said, "But General, this also means that the Russians can cut off our connection with Romania!"
Using the defense line certainly has its benefits, but moving the main force between the two defense lines is a kind of self-enclosure, that is, breaking one's own supply line.
"No!" Lundstedt pointed to the Transnistria Bay and said, "This is our supply line!"
The adjutant couldn't help but suddenly realized, and then nodded in agreement.
"Also!" Lundstedt said: "Order General Schobert to rush to Odessa to command this battle immediately. I can't trust the Romanians!"
"Yes, Your Excellency the Marshal!"
Of course, Shulka on the other side didn't know about these arrangements of the German army. They only knew that they were traveling day and night... Everyone knew that Odessa was the key to the whole battle, and the key to Odessa was whether the 9th Army could get it in time. arrived.
Otherwise, if the Romanian and German coalition forces occupy the entire territory of Odessa, things will be a little bad.
Admiral Kirponos also became nervous at this time, and he repeatedly urged by telegram.
According to Major Gavrilov, Admiral Kirponos asked about the location of the vanguard almost every half hour.
So, the only time the 9th Army rested was after disengagement from the Romanian Army.
It was mainly because the tank driver couldn't stand it anymore, and considering that it would be too dangerous for the car to carry the infantry forward without a tank, the whole army rested for two hours.
Infantry is nothing, they sit in the back of the car to rest in the rest of the time except for fighting.
Uncle Alek, who was driving, leaned back into the driver's seat, and immediately snored like thunder.
Car drivers are so tired, let alone tank drivers.
In order not to affect Uncle Alek's rest, the soldiers in the rear compartment consciously lowered the volume.
"Who knows where the destination is?" Leonyev asked in a low voice.
"Odessa!" The veteran rolled his eyes: "What were you doing when the order was given?"
"I might have fallen asleep at that time!" Leonyev replied, and then asked again: "Is it coming soon?"
"Do you want it or not?" The veteran asked again.
Leonyev couldn't help being silent, everyone's subconscious hoped to reach the destination quickly.
But that is the hope in peacetime, and it can also be said to be the hope of high-level military officers or the Odessa defenders.
Arriving at the destination often means the beginning of battle for the soldiers of the 9th Army, that is, blood and death.
After being silent for a while, Leonyev replied: "I hope to arrive soon!"
"Why?" The veteran was a little surprised by the answer.
"I have to face it!" Leonyev replied: "If there must be a bad ending, I would rather end this life as soon as possible!"
"Yes!" Another recruit looked at the continuous rain outside the carriage and said thoughtfully: "If there is hell, isn't this here? If this is hell, what is the difference between being dead and alive? Woolen cloth?"
There was some truth in what he said, so the other recruits also nodded.
"Very good!" Shulka said: "You have entered the second stage!"
The veterans couldn't help but "coax" and laughed.
Shuerka is not joking, but there is indeed such a psychological process: At first, he was terribly afraid and always wanted to leave this ghost place. But I'm afraid... I will soon be exhausted by this kind of fear.
At this time, there will be a phenomenon similar to "returning to the light", which is what Shulka called the "second stage", and simply let go of not being afraid of those useless things.
Of course, not everyone can survive to this stage.
(end of this chapter)
