Faced with Manstein's question, Kenf replied in a panic: "Marshal, I don't know either. I only learned about this matter just after receiving a report from General Rouse, commander of the 11th Army. The specific situation I'm not so sure either."
"General Kenff," Manstein said with a frown: "As a commander, you reported to me in a panic without even knowing where the enemy came from. Is this appropriate?"
"Your Excellency, Marshal," Kenff replied with some embarrassment: "The people who reported the situation to General Routh were several Italians who escaped from the prisoner of war camp. Things happened very suddenly, from the first gunshot to the prisoners of war. There were Russians in the camp within ten minutes."
“How many Italians were held in prison camps?”
"More than five thousand."
"More than five thousand?" Manstein said in surprise: "General Kenff, I remember you just reported to me that more than two thousand people left with the Russians. Does this mean that there are still some people left in the prisoner of war camp? More than two thousand people?"
"That's right, Your Majesty Marshal!" Kenf replied: "That's exactly what happened. There are indeed more than two thousand people left."
"Why do some people leave and some stay?"
"It is said that after the Russians occupied the prisoner-of-war camp, they summoned all the Italians and sent people who knew Italian to shout, asking the Italians to leave with them." Kenff explained: "Many of them felt that the Russians were not To be so kind and send someone to rescue them, there must be some conspiracy behind this matter, so I chose to stay."
When Manstein heard this, he asked nervously: "General Kenff, how did the Russians deal with the remaining Italians and massacre them?"
"Massacre, how is this possible, Marshal?" Kenff said: "After the Russians shouted for a while, they left the prison camp with the Italians who were willing to follow them. As for those who were unwilling to leave, they are still fine now. Stay in the camp."
Although Manstein felt strange that the Soviet army let go of the Italians who were unwilling to leave so easily, he did not dwell on the matter. Instead, he ordered Kenf: "General Kenf, first Ignore those Italians, your first task now is to find out where the Russians came from and what kind of troops they have. Do you understand?"
"Understood, Your Majesty Marshal." Kenfu replied respectfully: "I have arranged people to work on this matter. Once I have clues, I will report to you as soon as possible."
Kenf's statement did not reassure Manstein. After all, the Italians who came to report the news did not figure out where the Russians who attacked the prisoner of war camp came from, or even what the strength of the enemy's troops were. He couldn't tell a reason. Even if Kenfu sent people to investigate the matter, it would not be possible to figure out the cause and effect in a short while. Maybe by the time they find out the truth, the Russian army has already arrived outside the city of Dergach.
Before hanging up the phone, he ordered: "General Kenff, your attack on the Compass Town of Kazachya must continue, and you must not let the Russians use it as a starting point for their attack."
"Don't worry, Marshal." Maybe it was the smooth progress of the Kursk battle that made Kenf despise the Soviet army. Even though Sokov's troops beat him into a panic, he still felt that it was not enough. It was an accident, so after hearing Manstein's instructions, he still vowed: "My troops are fully capable of taking down the town of Kazachiya Compass."
…
Time goes back to two hours ago,
After successfully attacking the German prisoner-of-war camp and wiping out all the defenders of the 98th Guards Division, and confirming that there was no longer a living German in the camp, the division commander Chuvashov contacted Sokov via the radio: "Commander Comrade Comrade Communist, our division has successfully captured the German prisoner of war camp and rescued the Italians detained there. What should we do next?"
"You can divide your troops into two groups," Sokov told Chuvashov: "The troops wearing German uniforms can continue to move southward, blend into the German defense line, and meet the main attack; while the other group will lead the Italian army with them. People return to the headquarters."
"But only half of the Italians are willing to leave with us. What to do with the rest?" Chuvashov asked Sokov: "Should we put them on the spot..."
When Chuvashov said this, he was worried that there were Italians who knew Russian nearby, so he did not finish his words, but Sokov understood what he wanted to express and said quickly: "No, comrade colonel, even these Italians If people are unwilling to leave with you, don't make things difficult for them. Since they are unwilling to leave, let them stay in the prison camp and wait for the Germans."
"Understood, Comrade Commander." Chuvashov waited for Sokov to finish and then immediately continued: "I will arrange manpower to escort these prisoners back to the group army headquarters."
"Comrade Colonel, let me remind you." Sokov was worried that the troops sent by Chuvashov would mistakenly enter the compass town of Kazachya on the way to escort the Italians back, so he reminded him: "Now Kazachya Yaluo Pan is at war, so be sure to take the Italians around the town to avoid being involved in the battle.”
After Sokov put down his earphones and microphone, he quickly walked to the table and said to Sameko, who was looking down at the map: "Comrade Chief of Staff, Colonel Chuvashov and the others rescued more than 2,000 Italians. Now, They are coming towards us. Take a look, where would it be more appropriate to place them?"
Samyko glanced up at Sokov, then looked down at the map again, and said: "Comrade Commander, I know the Italians. It will take at least two days for them to get to us from Dergach. , regarding their residence, we have enough time to make arrangements."
After Sameko reminded him, Sokov immediately realized that he had made a common sense mistake. He still calculated the time for the Italians to arrive here based on the marching speed of his men. He laughed dryly twice, and then said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you have reminded me more. The Italians' marching speed will definitely not be comparable to that of our soldiers. I think it will not be too late to consider how to place them in two days." .”
"How's the fighting going in the Compass Town of Kazachia?"
"The enemy is still attacking." Samyko picked up a telegram on the table and reported to Sokov: "This is a telegram from General Fomenko. His 268th Regiment has taken over from the 568th Regiment. Defense is fighting against the crazy German attack."
"Can they hold up?"
"No problem." Sameko said confidently: "According to your tactics, they deliberately let the enemy tanks pass through the defense line, destroying the infantry following them, and then the anti-tank fighters destroyed the enemy tanks."
Knowing that the commanders and fighters of the 84th Division were using this tactic, Sokov asked with some lack of confidence: "What was the result?"
"Excellent, simply excellent," Samek reported. "They destroyed no fewer than twenty tanks, but no member of the anti-tank team suffered more than five casualties."
"Five people were exchanged for twenty German tanks." Sokov was very happy when he heard this data: "This is really a good deal."
"Comrade Commander," Samyko reminded Sokov: "Our army has no problem guarding the town of Kazachya Compass. Do you think the main force of the group army should be gradually transferred to this area?"
"I think it's okay." With the bold attacks in the past few days, October Town, which was originally blocking the way of the troops, has become a rear area. Sokov said with a lot of confidence: "Tomorrow, the group army will Headquarters to October Town, where I will direct the attack on Kharkov."
"Move to October Town tomorrow?" Sameko asked in surprise: "The town is only a few kilometers away from the defense area of Huote's troops. Once the enemy knows where our headquarters is, I'm afraid they will send troops to attack. Then we will We have to deploy troops from other directions to defend October Town."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, you are worrying too much." Sokov replied confidently: "Even if Holt knew that my headquarters was in October Town, I don't think he would dare to send troops to attack easily. Because in this way, It will inevitably weaken his frontal defense strength. Facing the intensive mobilization of the Steppe Front Army and the Voronezh Front Army, he does not have the guts to regard my headquarters as his offensive target."
Sameko was very convinced of Sokov's judgment. Since he said that Hott did not dare to send troops to attack October Town, he certainly would not send troops to attack. So he nodded, walked to the side and called a staff officer. He gave a few instructions in a low voice and arranged for him to go to October Town to check the terrain and find a suitable place to serve as the new group army headquarters.
…………
Early the next morning, Manstein called Kenf and asked straight to the point: "General Kenf, have your troops captured the town of Kazachiya Compass?"
"No, Your Excellency Marshal." Kenf replied with great embarrassment: "My men have tried their best, but the Russians still have not been driven out of the town by us."
Manstein, who had already learned about the fighting situation in Kazachiya Compass Town through other channels, waited for Kenfu to finish speaking, then sneered and said: "General Kenfu, if I am not mistaken, your troops are still there until now." Without being able to enter the town, how do you drive the Russians out of the town?”
Seeing Manstein telling the truth, Kenf murmured: "Marshal, you should know that the enemy we are facing is not an ordinary Russian army, but the 27th Army commanded by Sokov. They are not only He is good at attacking and is also very capable on defense.
Our artillery fire exploded their position into a sea of flames. In that case, not even a mouse could survive. But when our soldiers launched a charge, those damn Russians appeared out of nowhere and shot at our soldiers from all directions to repel our offensive. "
"General Kenf, Sokov is indeed our most troublesome opponent, but he is not without any weaknesses." Manstein waited for the other party to finish speaking, and immediately added: "You have to find ways to find his shortcomings. This will defeat him completely."
"Five people were exchanged for twenty German tanks." Sokov was very happy when he heard this data: "This is really a good deal."
"Comrade Commander," Samyko reminded Sokov: "Our army has no problem guarding the town of Kazachya Compass. Do you think the main force of the group army should be gradually transferred to this area?"
"I think it's okay." With the bold attacks in the past few days, October Town, which was originally blocking the way of the troops, has become a rear area. Sokov said with a lot of confidence: "Tomorrow, the group army will Headquarters to October Town, where I will direct the attack on Kharkov."
"Move to October Town tomorrow?" Sameko asked in surprise: "The town is only a few kilometers away from the defense area of Huote's troops. Once the enemy knows where our headquarters is, I'm afraid they will send troops to attack. Then we will We have to deploy troops from other directions to defend October Town."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, you are worrying too much." Sokov replied confidently: "Even if Holt knew that my headquarters was in October Town, I don't think he would dare to send troops to attack easily. Because in this way, It will inevitably weaken his frontal defense strength. Facing the intensive mobilization of the Steppe Front Army and the Voronezh Front Army, he does not have the guts to regard my headquarters as his offensive target."
Sameko was very convinced of Sokov's judgment. Since he said that Hott did not dare to send troops to attack October Town, he certainly would not send troops to attack. So he nodded, walked to the side and called a staff officer. He gave a few instructions in a low voice and arranged for him to go to October Town to check the terrain and find a suitable place to serve as the new group army headquarters.
…………
Early the next morning, Manstein called Kenf and asked straight to the point: "General Kenf, have your troops captured the town of Kazachiya Compass?"
"No, Your Excellency Marshal." Kenf replied with great embarrassment: "My men have tried their best, but the Russians still have not been driven out of the town by us."
Manstein, who had already learned about the fighting situation in Kazachiya Compass Town through other channels, waited for Kenfu to finish speaking, then sneered and said: "General Kenfu, if I am not mistaken, your troops are still there until now." Without being able to enter the town, how do you drive the Russians out of the town?”
Seeing Manstein telling the truth, Kenf murmured: "Marshal, you should know that the enemy we are facing is not an ordinary Russian army, but the 27th Army commanded by Sokov. They are not only He is good at attacking and is also very capable on defense.
Our artillery fire exploded their position into a sea of flames. In that case, not even a mouse could survive. But when our soldiers launched a charge, those damn Russians appeared out of nowhere and shot at our soldiers from all directions to repel our offensive. "
"General Kenf, Sokov is indeed our most troublesome opponent, but he is not without any weaknesses." Manstein waited for the other party to finish speaking, and then immediately added: "You have to find ways to find his shortcomings. This will defeat him completely."
