After Manstein ended the call with Kenff, he stood in front of the map on the wall to study the next steps the Soviet army might take. I watched this for more than half an hour.
Seeing Manstein turn away from the wall, his chief of staff immediately came up to him and asked respectfully: "Marshal, do you have new considerations about the upcoming battle?"
"Chief of Staff," Manstein pointed at the map and said to his Chief of Staff: "Judging from the current situation, the Russians who have occupied Kharkov may launch an attack on Kharkov at any time. Do you think Huot and Kenf’s troops can stop the Russian attack?”
"It's hard to say, Your Majesty Marshal." The Chief of Staff replied cautiously: "There are too many variables. Although the troops of General Huot and General Kenf can use solid fortifications and a complete defense system to Smash the Russian attack, but the enemy has the advantage in strength after all, so even if we were to win, I'm afraid it would be a miserable victory."
Manstein heard the implication of the chief of staff's words, opened a box on the table, took out a cigar from it, cut off the cigarette holder with special scissors, and asked casually: "Then tell me, what are we going to do? What can we do to defend Kharkov?”
"I think troops should be transferred from other areas to strengthen Kharkov's defense." The chief of staff suggested to Manstein: "We should try to shorten the gap in strength between our army and the Russians."
"Then where do you think the troops can be transferred to Kharkov?"
The chief of staff quickly came to the wall, picked up the explanation stick leaning on the side, tapped twice on the map, and said to Manstein: "Your Excellency, Marshal, our troops currently fighting in Donbas are fully capable of To block the Russian attack, I suggest that all the reserves there be transferred to Kharkov to reduce the burden on General Hott and General Kenf."
"Reserve force in the Donbas region?" After listening to the chief of staff's suggestion, Manstein put his right hand under his left armpit, his left elbow on his right arm, his left hand holding his chin, and he looked at the map carefully, and his mind began to Consider whether the reserve teams in Donbass can be mobilized.
"Yes, Your Majesty Marshal." Seeing that Manstein did not veto his proposal, the chief of staff continued: "Although the Russians' attack on Donbas is very violent, our soldiers are fully capable of defeating them. Block it. I think it is completely necessary to transfer the idle reserve troops in the Donbas region to Kharkov to fight."
"Chief of Staff, you have said a lot. The offensive launched by the Russian Southern Front in Donbass looks fierce, but the results achieved are very limited. Our troops defending there are fully capable of blocking their attack. I think troops from the Donbas region can be transferred to Kharkiv to strengthen our army."
After Manstein said this, he paused for a moment and then said: "But even if we transfer the Donbas troops to Kharkov, compared with the Russians, we will still be at a numerical disadvantage. It seems that we We also need to find ways to mobilize troops from other regions to strengthen Kharkov’s defenses.”
After hearing what Manstein said, the chief of staff quickly moved closer to the map and carefully checked the deployment of the troops. After looking at it for a long time, he turned around and shook his head at Manstein, and said with regret: "I'm sorry, Marshal, except for the reserve team in the Donbas area, we really can't find any troops that can be mobilized."
"Why is this so?"
"It's all that damn Sokov's fault," the chief of staff said through gritted teeth: "Any troops who fought with him suffered heavy casualties at least, or were completely wiped out at worst. As a result, our military strength became very tense. . If you want the garrison in Kharkov to be roughly equal to the strength of the Russians, I am afraid you can only ask the High Command in Berlin for help."
Manstein sat in his seat, lit a cigar with a lighter, took a few puffs, put the cigar on the ashtray, and then grabbed the phone on the table: "I called the Chief of General Staff, General Zeitzler. Give us a call and see if he can think of something for us.”
After the call was connected, Zeitzler recognized Manstein's voice and asked with some surprise: "Marshal, why did you remember to call me?"
"Your Excellency, Chief of General Staff," Manstein said politely, "I am in a little trouble now and I hope to get your help."
Knowing that Manstein had asked him for help, Zeitzler immediately cheered up and asked: "Marshal, is the situation in Kharkov very bad?"
"That's right, Your Excellency, Chief of General Staff." Manstein agreed with Zeitzler's statement: "In order to capture Kharkov, the Russians dispatched troops from two fronts. In terms of numbers, they were already far behind. Far outstripping our defenses in the Kharkov area."
"Can't you allocate forces to strengthen Kharkov's defenses?"
"We plan to mobilize the reserve force in the Donbass area to reinforce Kharkov." Manstein said: "But even with this force, our defense strength in the Kharkov area is still far behind. Fuck the Russians. That’s why I called you to ask for your help.”
"Marshal, if you are calling me to ask for more troops," Zeitzler said into the phone, "then I can only say sorry to you. The war in Italy is tense now, and I don't have any troops at all." Transferred to you."
"Zeitzler!" Before Zeitzler could finish speaking, a shrill voice came from behind him: "Who are you talking to?"
Hearing this voice, Zeitzler suddenly jumped up from his seat as if he was electrocuted. He turned around and stopped while holding the microphone and replied: "My head of state, I am talking to Marshal Manstein!"
"It would be great to talk to Marshal Manstein." Mustache walked up to Zeitzler, stretched out his hand to him, and said, "Give me the phone. I have something to ask Manstein."
Zeitzler did not dare to neglect and quickly handed the microphone in his hand to Mustache.
Mustache took the phone, pressed it tightly to his ear and asked, "Hey, Manstein! I'm the Führer. Do you have anything to call Zeitzler for help?"
"My head of state." A voice with a mustache came from the receiver, causing Manstein, who was sitting in his chair, to stand up immediately and said respectfully: "I called the chief of general staff because we are holding on to Hal. There are too few troops in the Cove area, and it may be difficult to block the Russian attack, so I hope he can send me some reserves to strengthen the defense of the area."
"Marshal Manstein," when Mustache heard Manstein say that he needed some reinforcements, he thought that it was because he had transferred the opponent's reserve team from the Kursk area that a battle that was in sight of victory ended in failure. ended, so he was filled with guilt for Manstein. He quickly searched through troop deployments in his mind to determine which troops could be mobilized to reinforce Kharkov. Mustache, who has an amazing memory, can clearly remember the names of commanders of combat units above the division level and the location of the units. In less than half a minute, he said into the microphone: "I can transfer an armored corps to you from Army Group Center to strengthen Kharkov's defense."
Hearing Mustache say that an armored corps could be transferred from Army Group Center to strengthen the defense of Kharkov, Manstein couldn't help but be overjoyed. With this force stationed in Kharkov, the Russians wanted to rush into the city, at least It costs twice as much.
He quickly expressed his gratitude to Mustache: "My head of state, thank you for your generosity. I assure you that with the addition of this force, our force will definitely be able to defend Kharkov."
After Mustache and Manstein chatted for a few more words, he returned the microphone to Zeitzler, turned and left the office.
Seeing Mustache leave, Zeitzler breathed a sigh of relief and said into the microphone: "Marshal Manstein, you are lucky. The Führer actually agreed to transfer troops from Army Group Center to strengthen Kharkov's defense. I believe that once this force reaches Kharkov, it will be a pipe dream for the Russians to capture the city.”
"Yes, Chief of Staff."
After Manstein ended the call with Kenff, he stood in front of the map on the wall to study the next steps the Soviet army might take. I watched this for more than half an hour.
Seeing Manstein turn away from the wall, his chief of staff immediately came up to him and asked respectfully: "Marshal, do you have new considerations about the upcoming battle?"
"Chief of Staff," Manstein pointed at the map and said to his Chief of Staff: "Judging from the current situation, the Russians who have occupied Kharkov may launch an attack on Kharkov at any time. Do you think Huot and Kenf’s troops can stop the Russian attack?”
"It's hard to say, Your Majesty Marshal." The Chief of Staff replied cautiously: "There are too many variables. Although the troops of General Huot and General Kenf can use solid fortifications and a complete defense system to Smash the Russian attack, but the enemy has the advantage in strength after all, so even if we were to win, I'm afraid it would be a miserable victory."
Manstein heard the implication of the chief of staff's words, opened a box on the table, took out a cigar from it, cut off the cigarette holder with special scissors, and asked casually: "Then tell me, what are we going to do? What can we do to defend Kharkov?”
"I think troops should be transferred from other areas to strengthen Kharkov's defense." The chief of staff suggested to Manstein: "We should try to shorten the gap in strength between our army and the Russians."
"Then where do you think the troops can be transferred to Kharkov?"
The chief of staff quickly came to the wall, picked up the explanation stick leaning on the side, tapped twice on the map, and said to Manstein: "Your Excellency, Marshal, our troops currently fighting in Donbas are fully capable of To block the Russian attack, I suggest that all the reserves there be transferred to Kharkov to reduce the burden on General Hott and General Kenf."
"Reserve force in the Donbas region?" After listening to the chief of staff's suggestion, Manstein put his right hand under his left armpit, his left elbow on his right arm, his left hand holding his chin, and he looked at the map carefully, and his mind began to Consider whether the reserve teams in Donbas can be mobilized.
"Yes, Your Majesty Marshal." Seeing that Manstein did not veto his proposal, the Chief of Staff continued: "Although the Russians' attack on Donbass is very violent, our soldiers are fully capable of defeating them. Block it. I think it is completely necessary to transfer the idle reserve troops in the Donbas region to Kharkov to fight."
"Chief of Staff, you have said a lot. The offensive launched by the Russian Southern Front in Donbass looks fierce, but the results achieved are very limited. Our troops defending there are fully capable of blocking their attack. I think troops from the Donbas region can be transferred to Kharkiv to strengthen our army."
After Manstein said this, he paused for a moment and then said: "But even if we transfer the Donbas troops to Kharkov, compared with the Russians, we will still be at a numerical disadvantage. It seems that we We also need to find ways to mobilize troops from other regions to strengthen Kharkov’s defenses.”
After hearing what Manstein said, the chief of staff quickly moved closer to the map and carefully checked the deployment of the troops. After looking at it for a long time, he turned around and shook his head at Manstein, and said with regret: "I'm sorry, Marshal, except for the reserve team in the Donbas area, we really can't find any troops that can be mobilized."
"Why is this so?"
"It's all that damn Sokov's fault," the chief of staff said through gritted teeth: "Any troops who fought with him suffered heavy casualties at least, or were completely wiped out at worst. As a result, our military strength became very tense. . If you want the garrison in Kharkov to be roughly equal to the strength of the Russians, I am afraid you can only ask the High Command in Berlin for help."
Manstein sat in his seat, lit a cigar with a lighter, took a few puffs, put the cigar on the ashtray, and then grabbed the phone on the table: "I called the Chief of General Staff, General Zeitzler. Give us a call and see if he can think of something for us.”
After the call was connected, Zeitzler recognized Manstein's voice and asked with some surprise: "Marshal, why did you remember to call me?"
"Your Excellency, Chief of General Staff," Manstein said politely, "I am in a little trouble now and I hope to get your help."
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Knowing that Manstein had asked him for help, Zeitzler immediately cheered up and asked: "Marshal, is the situation in Kharkov very bad?"
"That's right, Your Excellency, Chief of General Staff." Manstein agreed with Zeitzler's statement: "In order to seize Kharkov, the Russians dispatched troops from two fronts. In terms of numbers, they were already far behind. Far outstripping our defenses in the Kharkov area."
"We plan to mobilize the reserve force in the Donbass area to reinforce Kharkov." Manstein said: "But even with this force, our defense strength in the Kharkov area is still far behind. Fuck the Russians. That’s why I called you to ask for your help.”
