USSR 1941

  Chapter 102 Fiction and reality

Then, what Shulka and the soldiers had to do was to wait for the right time in the dark warehouse. They were not even allowed to talk, especially the troops guarding them... Only then did Shulka know that the troops guarding them were also Not knowing what happened, they were also ordered not to talk, and if anyone tried to escape from the warehouse, they were allowed to be shot dead.

   This kind of life is like a vacation for the soldiers, because they haven't lived such a leisurely life for a long time:

   During the meal, someone brought bread and other food, such as mashed potatoes, and if you were lucky, there would be a small piece of sausage... This is definitely a rare benefit for Soviet soldiers.

  Sleep on the floor in the warehouse, and the problem of convenience is solved in a row of toilets temporarily built in a corner of the warehouse. As for taking a bath, the Soviet army generally does not consider this issue.

   On the other side, Admiral Kleist, the commander of the German 1st Armored Group, also received relevant information.

  The adjutant handed a telegram to Admiral Kleist, reporting: "Good news, general, the Russians have withdrawn their tanks to the east bank, which will save us a lot of trouble!"

The adjutant is right, although Kleist does not think that the Russian tanks can prevent the Germans from breaking through the Kyiv defense line, but he still has to admit that the enemy's tanks are a problem... Especially the enemy's heavy tanks: KV1, KV2, etc. .

Among them is the KV2 tank, whose 110MM thick front armor makes it fearless of any anti-tank gun: the German 37MM anti-tank gun became a "stepping stone" in front of it, and the short-barreled artillery of the No. 4 tank was scolded by the soldiers as "Schüzenmeyer" (wooden stake).

  The 152MM caliber artillery of the KV2 tank can destroy everything in front of it... If it weren't for the mobility and failure rate of this thing, Kleist wouldn't even know how to face it.

  So, the withdrawal of the Soviet tank troops across the Dnieper River is indeed good news for the German army.

But…

   Admiral Kleist took a glance at the telegram, and asked suspiciously: "Why did they withdraw across the Dnieper River? Are they going to abandon Kyiv? But Moscow's order to them is not this!"

  If Moscow hears this, it will definitely be shocked: the German commander actually knows the order Moscow sent to the front line.

   But this is actually not surprising at all, as I said before, with the support of the guerrillas in Brandenburg, Ukraine and other regions, coupled with the chaos within the Soviet Union... very little information can be hidden from Germany.

   "It is Admiral Kirponos who is stationed in Kyiv!" said the adjutant: "He has asked Moscow to retreat several times, but has been rejected. I think...Kilponos may intend to disobey Moscow's order!"

   Admiral Kleist did not speak.

Although what the adjutant said is very reasonable, and in the current situation, as long as anyone can see that the Southwest Front Army stationed in Kyiv should retreat, at least it should retreat to the east bank of the Dnieper River, otherwise the bridge will be blown up before thinking about crossing the river It is not so easy to break through, especially tanks and cars.

  From this point of view, it is reasonable for the Russians to withdraw their mechanized troops across the Dnieper River instead of defending Kyiv. If the Russians plan to break out, then this mechanized army will be the vanguard and pillar of the breakout.

but…

  At this time, Kleist is not so confident in his and his adjutant's judgment.

   This is affected by the war during this period.

  First of all, it is the "log cabin camouflage" that I don't like at all.

  Who would have thought that simply doing some camouflage could cause such heavy losses to the armored forces.

  The second is the encirclement of the enemy on the "Stalin Line of Defense"... Kleist knew from the intelligence department that the Russian army was the 333rd regiment, and it is said that the planner was a sergeant called "Escape Hero".

   This siege battle made Kleist feel frustrated. He originally thought that he had surrounded the 333rd regiment tightly and could not escape, but the fact was that they easily passed through the defense line and escaped back.

  Thinking of this, Admiral Kleist couldn't help secretly applauding in his heart... This is a respectable opponent.

First, the captured German tanks were used to disguise themselves as German troops to break through from the flanks, and then a small number of troops were used to attract the firepower of the German troops on both wings to make them "misunderstand", but the main force broke through quickly at another position... A series of plans can be said to be ring-to-wall Interlocking.

   Admiral Kleist could hardly imagine that this was done by a Russian whom he despised, especially a Russian staff sergeant.

   What surprised General Kleist even more was that immediately after the German army faced heavy defenses from the Soviets: every ten kilometers, they broke through one layer after another, as if there was no end.

  Although these lines of defense could not stop the advance of the German armored forces, in many cases the Soviet army was even beaten and fled all the way.

  However, Admiral Kleist had to admit another fact: the momentum of the German army's advance was hindered. It was only 160 kilometers from the "Stalin Line of Defense" to Kyiv.

Time is only one aspect. The German army, including the 1st Armored Group, had become a tired army when it arrived in Kyiv under continuous high-intensity combat. It also consumed more ammunition and supplies. It was a nightmare for the difficult German army.

   This series of misjudgments made Kleist even doubt himself.

   "Could this be a Russian trap?" Admiral Kleist asked.

  The adjutant hesitated for a while, and then asked: "General, if it is a Russian trap, what is their purpose?"

This question made General Kleist question. If the Soviet tanks stay in Kyiv, in the eyes of the Germans, there is indeed only a dead end... Their individual tanks may be better than the German tanks, but they cannot be integrated into a force, so It will eventually be defeated under the tracks of the German armored group.

  This has been proven in previous battles.

   "I don't know, David!" Admiral Kleist said: "I only know that we can't easily believe what they tell us. These Russians we have to face are not simple!"

   "So, what do we do, General?" the adjutant asked.

   After thinking for a while, Admiral Kleist said: "Rest!"

"rest?"

   "Yes!" Admiral Kleist said: "Take a day off, let the soldiers replenish their strength, and then... attack Kyiv with all their strength, I want to see if they really transferred the tank troops to the east bank!"

  Then the adjutant understood that General Kleist wanted to use a powerful attack to find out the truth.

  (end of this chapter)