Chapter 253 Tver
"We failed!" Then Kruger called von Bock, commander of the Central Army Group: "It's the fourth tank brigade again! They adopt a tactic. Simply put, they retreat temporarily during the day, and at night... when When our air force was unable to fight, they took advantage of the T34 and fought back, and we are back to square one again!"
There was silence on the other end of the phone for a while, and then he replied: "Do you realize that we are moving too fast?"
"Too fast?" Kruger didn't understand what von Bock meant.
"Yes!" Von Bock said, "You can't follow in the footsteps of the enemy, it will only make you like a puppet controlled by them, you need to disrupt their deployment and pin them down in Volokolamsk ,Understand?"
Kruger couldn't help but suddenly realized when he heard the words: "Yes, Your Excellency Marshal!"
Kruger did know what to do, von Bock said, if he followed the enemy's pace, it would only form a tug-of-war between Volokolamsk and Istria: the German army fought over during the day , At night, the Soviet army fought back. This was of no or no great significance to the German army. It was just consuming the strength of both the enemy and ourselves.
Although the German army has more troops than the Soviet army in the direction of Volokolamsk, the total strength is not much larger. What's more serious is that the German army can't afford to waste time because the weather is getting colder and the German army's logistical pressure is getting worse. It's getting serious.
If there is any way to drag the Russian army at Volokolamsk so that they also have to fight during the day, then the situation will be different.
Thinking of this, Kruger turned his attention to Tver.
It was Major General Anufryevich who commanded the attack in Tver. He commanded the 4th, 27th, and 28th Tank Brigades, the 78th Infantry Division, and the 20th and 50th Cavalry Divisions.
Although there are a lot of designations, the total strength is actually less than 20,000 people... Among them, the main force of the 4th Tank Brigade is actually in Volokolamsk, and there are only 20 T34s in Tver (the others are fake).
But even so, the 20 T34s in Katukov's hands still became the main force of the tank force.
Needless to say, the 27th Tank Brigade suffered heavy casualties when it attacked Volokolamsk. The total number of surviving tanks was only 21, of which 2 were T34.
The 28th Tank Brigade has a total of 51 vehicles, but only 9 are T34.
A tank unit like this, with several vehicles in this brigade and several vehicles in that brigade, should have been all incorporated into one unit, such as under the unified command of Katukov.
But the red-eyed troops on the front line were not reorganized just because they said they were reorganized.
First of all, the commander will have a psychological resistance. Being dismissed for no reason and handing over the troops to others will make them feel insulted and despised, so they can make some outrageous or radical actions that bring danger.
Secondly, soldiers may also be driven by the original commander or refuse to obey the command of others.
This kind of problem is very common in the Soviet army, so Major General Anufrievich can only let it go.
The German army stationed at Tver was an infantry regiment of the 40th Army.
Tver is important because it is full of swamps, forests, rivers, and complex terrain that is difficult for various armored troops to pass through, but it is a junction of railways:
The German occupation here can cut off the connection between Leningrad and Moscow and transport the rear materials to Tver by train and then disperse them to various places.
The occupation of the Soviet army here will not only open up the railway line, but also push back the logistics supply line of the German army in the north by more than ten kilometers or even further.
Everyone knows its strategic significance is very important...Pushing the German logistics supply line back almost means victory in the north, at least it can reduce the pressure on the north of Moscow.
but…
Anuvrievich stared at the map, frowning.
Swamps, forests, and rivers have provided excellent defensive conditions for the German army. The German army relied on terrain to build criss-cross fortifications. Every attack by the Soviet army was repelled by the German army.
In fact, instead of being repulsed, they were surrounded again and again... The German army used the terrain to design one trap after another, encircling and annihilating the Soviet troops who broke into their line of defense.
Anufrievich believes that at least half of the reason why the Soviet army was able to break into the German defense line was that the German army deliberately let them in.
More importantly... the rear of Tver, that is, Volokolamsk, may fall into the hands of the Germans at any time, so Anufrievich does not think this is a thorough and wise plan, although Tver Strategic position is very important.
"Is Volokolamsk safe?" Anufrievich asked.
Katukov, who was beside him, replied: "It's safe, Comrade Major General. After we recaptured Volokolamsk last night, the Germans stopped attacking. The enemy and we are in a confrontation!"
Major General Anufrievich nodded. This may be the only comforting thing. When other fronts have been strengthened or suffered heavy casualties, the 4th Tank Brigade has won again and again and caused casualties to the enemy. heavy.
This is one of the reasons why Major General Anufrievich asked Katukov to assist in command.
"But..." Katukov added: "I think it's a little weird!"
"What's strange?" Major General Anufrievich cast his gaze on Katukov.
Katukov's words stimulated the major general's sensitive nerves.
"The Germans don't attack!" Katukov explained: "Perhaps, they know the new tactics of the 4th Tank Brigade and the 316th Division and have no solution, but they should attack anyway... It won't do them any good to wait like this!"
Anufrievich nodded in agreement, the Germans were racing against the weather, while the Soviet army at this time... at most was just dragging them back and making them lose to the weather.
It is not an exaggeration to think so, because with tens or millions of front-line troops being surrounded and losing a lot of equipment, the Soviet army has fallen into a situation of extremely low average quality and a shortage of equipment. Even the most elite tank fourth brigade... its The number of T34 is also gradually decreasing without being replenished.
But if you think about it from another angle, the German army is not much better: supplies, mud, severe cold, and equipment that is not frost-resistant, etc.
At this time, the Soviet and German armies are actually on the verge of collapse, and it depends on which of the two gets there first. However, based on the current situation, the German army still holds the initiative.
"What do you think will be a problem?" Anufrievich asked.
Katukov sighed and said: "I think we should retreat, Comrade Major General!"
(end of this chapter)
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