USSR 1941

  Chapter 99 Retreat

   This is the strategy of the German voice attacking east and west.

  When everyone thought that it was Guderian's troops of the Central Army Group that outflanked Kyiv's rear, no one would have thought that it was the Southern Army Group that had always been strong and strong that actually completed the encirclement.

  Guderian's 2nd Armored Group was outflanking on the bright side. He attracted all the attention and troops that could be mobilized in Moscow: an army group led by Budyonny, and a front army led by Yelimenko.

  From this point of view, there is no problem with Moscow's command.

   First of all, Kyiv's geographical location is very important, and it should not be given up lightly.

  Secondly, it is to use a front army and a group army to attack from left to right. Even if the German 2nd Armored Group can continue to outflank its actions, it will not be fast.

   This gives Kyiv more time to react.

   That is to say, if it is really unstoppable in the end, the Southwest Front Army and the Southern Front Army still have time to retreat.

   It is precisely because of this that Moscow has repeatedly rejected the retreat requests of frontline officers.

  If the battle situation really develops like this, then Moscow may be right, and the battle situation may even be reversed. After all, Guderian's 2nd Armored Group is fighting deep into the Soviet Union, and its logistics supply line is too long.

  The problem is that…

  The 1st Armored Group commanded by Kleist suddenly crossed the Dnieper River and drove Romne from another direction to complete the encirclement circle without the Soviet Army knowing... This made the Southwest Front Army too late to retreat and was completely surrounded.

  The reason why the 1st Armored Group was able to cross the river without the knowledge of the Soviet army was because of the cover of heavy rain:

  First of all, as Shulka said, the laying of mines on the river prevented the Soviet shallow-water heavy gunboats.

  Secondly, let the infantry attack the east bank first.

   This is very common, because all over the Dnieper River, German and Romanian troops tried to cross the river, some positions were defeated and some positions were successful.

  After success, they occupied a place on the east bank without expanding the results of the battle. The Soviet army didn't care about it, thinking that it was just a small group of infantry, and they could be driven down the river to wipe them out at any time.

   Then, on a rainy night with extremely poor visibility, the German army built a pontoon bridge on the Dnieper River. The tanks crossed the river at the risk of danger, and crossed the 1st Armored Group across the river overnight.

   Shulka is not predicting things like a god, but this is how this battle was fought in history.

   But of course, these details Shulka cannot say.

   "How can you be sure of that!" Major Gavrilov asked, "I mean, think that the German 1st Panzer Group will cross the river?"

   "I can't be sure, Major!" Shulka replied: "Because I don't know, I just guess they will!"

  Admiral Kirponos was silent for a while, then nodded and said: "There is no threat of tank breakout in Kyiv, and at the same time, the outflanking of Army Group Center is blocked...then it is indeed possible for the Germans to do this!"

   "If the German 1st Armored Group really crosses the Dnieper River!" Major Gavrilov said: "That means that there is basically no opponent on the West Bank that can match the 9th Army!"

   This is of course justified.

First of all, it is the German infantry left on the West Bank, and even the authentic German army is rare... Among the three German armies: the 17th Army is stationed in the Pripyat Swamp, which can basically be ignored; the 1st Armored Group crosses the river to outflank, In the past, it was easy to come back and difficult; the Sixth Army must be the main force to attack Kyiv, and it is not difficult for the Southwest Front to hold them back.

  The next ones are the German and Romanian 11th Army and the Romanian 3rd and 4th Army.

  Secondly, all these armies have advanced to the line of the Dnieper River. When the 9th Army penetrates out, it will face the rear of the German and Romanian armies, that is, its logistics forces.

   Thinking of this, Admiral Kirponos no longer hesitated.

   "Just do it!" Admiral Kirponos said. "The Germans have come all the way here, and I'm sure they'll do it!"

Shulka agrees with this statement. This is a very normal thing in the eyes of the Chinese. Simply put, the German army will have the mentality of underestimating the enemy more or less all the way, so the probability of falling into the trap is very high, but Kilbo It was not easy for Admiral North, as a Soviet, to explain this truth clearly.

  Due to the tight schedule, the plan started quickly.

This made Shulka a little surprised, because at least further detailed plans should be made, such as first setting up an absolutely secret tank and car hiding spot in Kyiv, and then setting up a similar stop on the east bank, and then arrange Transport ship, return route, etc.

  Although these are not difficult, the key point is to keep them secret, absolutely confidential, otherwise, as long as there is a little bit of wind leaked out, the Germans know that the Ninth Army may still be in Kyiv, then the situation may not be as expected.

   This is an issue related to the life and death of Kyiv and even the Southwest Front Army, so of course we must be careful.

   But all of this was unplanned, and the retreat of the 9th Army to the east bank began almost as soon as Major Gavrilov and Shulka returned.

   "Do you know?" When Shulka entered the barracks, Pukarev shouted to Shulka: "We are going to retreat!"

   "Retreat? Where to?" Shulka asked pretending not to know.

   "Never mind where to retreat!" Pukarev said: "Pass on the order and let them get ready!"

   "Yes, Comrade Dashi!" As Shulka said, he turned his attention to the actors and others.

   "You heard it!" Shulka said: "Get ready to retreat!"

  The soldiers were silent for a while, and then suddenly cheered:

   "Great, retreat!"

   "Does that mean we don't have to fight?"

   "Not necessarily, but at least not now!"

  …

   It doesn't seem like a "corps of heroes" should be, but it's true.

  Because no one really likes war, and the 333rd has been on the front line for so long under the threat of war, they rarely really have time to relax.

  However... Shulka did not comment, because only he knew that this so-called retreat was just an appearance.

  After half an hour, the 9th Army really entered the retreat procedure: the 131st Motorized Division was the first echelon, followed by the 20th Tank Division and the 35th Tank Division.

  Under a sharp whistle, groups of soldiers in raincoats climbed into the car and followed the tank regiment to the Kiev Bridge.

Before that, the troops had to pass through Kyiv first. Shulka, who was sitting in the back of the car, looked out and saw the people of Kiev on the side of the road casting suspicious glances at them one by one... The people don’t think that the Kyiv defense line will fall, so they don’t worry about war will hit this.

   But if that's the case, why are there armies retreating?

   Could it be that the situation of the war was not good for the Soviet army and the army did not tell them?

  (end of this chapter)