Looking at the back of the Chief of Staff leaving, William Stemmermann took a deep breath, then stood up and said to Weller: "Your Excellency, Commander, I beg you once again to send troops to search the area where the reconnaissance aircraft pilot disappeared. And strengthen the defense capabilities of corresponding areas."
After Weiler stared at William Stemermann for a while, he frowned and said: "General William, didn't I say that if the Russians want to launch an attack, they must be in the direction of the bridgehead they established, because There was an intact bridge there that carried troops and heavy equipment across the Oud."
He patted the map on the conference table with his palm and said angrily to William Stemmerman: "General William, take a good look at the map. The area where you think the Russians may launch an attack is the Ude River. The widest position, which fool do you think would leave a place with a bridge and not use it, but take greater risks and let his troops carry out a forced crossing?"
"Yes, it would be very convenient for the Russians to transport troops and equipment to the east coast from the bridges they control." Although Wheeler was resolute, William Stemmermann always insisted on his He believed that the Soviet army would launch an attack from other directions, "But don't forget, we are not facing ordinary Russian troops, but the 27th Army commanded by Sokov. Since the Battle of Stalingrad, it has been Our army's nightmare, his elusive tactics, made our army commanders suffer a lot. So far, it has never been heard that that army has ever defeated him.
Facing such an opponent, we must take all possible situations into consideration, lest it be too late to regret when something happens..."
Seeing William Stemmermann arguing with Weller, the division commanders beside him couldn't sit still. Although they didn't deal with William Stemmermann, they had an even less favorable impression of the newly appointed commander Weller. Hearing William repeatedly emphasize that the Russian troops fighting him were commanded by Sokov, the division commanders began to discuss in low voices, studying whether Sokov would actually launch an attack in other areas.
"Quiet, gentlemen, please be quiet!" Seeing that the teachers were actually holding a small meeting below, Weller slapped the table hard several times, "We are still in a meeting!"
When the conference room became quiet again, William Stemmermann said firmly: "Your Excellency, Commander, I strongly implore you: 1. Send troops to conduct reconnaissance where the pilot disappeared; 2. Strengthen the security of the area. Defense force..."
Before William Stemmermann could finish speaking, a German officer broke in from outside. Everyone recognized him at a glance as a combat staff officer from the headquarters.
The combat staff officer came to Weller, raised his hand in salute, pulled out a folder from his armpit, handed a document inside to him, and said: "Report to your Excellency, Commander, the Russians are using intensive artillery fire, shelling the ring fortifications located near their bridgehead, apparently preparing to launch an attack."
Weller took the document from the hands of the combat staff, shook it at William Stemmermann, and said proudly: "General William, what do you think of this battle report? Until now, you still have Do you think the Russians will choose other areas to attack?”
William Stemmermann was stunned. He didn't expect that things would develop beyond his imagination. For a moment, he didn't know how to respond to Weller's question. After Weller saw that William Stemmermann could not refute, he loudly announced that the meeting was adjourned.
Several division commanders of the 11th Army waited for Weller to leave the conference room and then walked out of the conference room one after another. No one looked back at William Stemmermann who was sitting in a daze.
William Stemmermann didn't notice that the others had left. He was still thinking hard: Could it be that I was really wrong? If the Russians want to attack, they can immediately attack Kharkov after seizing the bridge. According to the combat effectiveness of Sokov's troops, troops should have rushed into the city at this moment. But they did not do this. After seizing the bridge, they turned to defense on the spot, as if they wanted to fight a protracted war with their own troops.
"General Weller," the chief of staff walked into the conference room from outside. Seeing that the meeting had ended, and only William Stemmerman was left sitting in his seat in a daze, he walked over and asked with concern: "The meeting has ended. Why are you still sitting here?"
"Ah, has the meeting been adjourned?" The words of the chief of staff awakened William Stemmermann from his meditation. He said with some difficulty: "Maybe I was so absorbed in thinking that I didn't realize that the meeting was adjourned."
William Stemmermann stood up, smiled sadly at the chief of staff, and prepared to walk out of the conference room. But he was stopped by the chief of staff: "General William, do you really think the Russians will launch an attack in other areas?"
Hearing this question from the Chief of Staff, William Stemmermann said hesitantly: "Chief of Staff, maybe I made a mistake. What the Russians can do now is to attack from their bridgehead position. That's impossible. Attack from other directions."
The chief of staff also had the same idea as Kenff and Weller. He felt that if the Russians wanted to attack Kharkov, the best option would be to attack from the bridgehead position, because they could pass more troops and equipment through the bridge. A steady stream of goods were shipped from the West Coast to the East Coast.
"General William, you may be too tired recently." The chief of staff said to William Stemerman in a sympathetic tone: "You should go back and rest quickly. Maybe you can get some sleep and all the problems will be solved."
Before the 299th Regiment of the 98th Guards Division could launch an attack, Lunev hurried back after receiving the news. He asked Sokov in surprise: "Comrade Commander, didn't you say you were preparing to attack from other areas? Launch an attack on the enemy? Why are we now ordering artillery to bombard the circular position on the east bank and sending the 299th Regiment and tank battalion to move towards the east bank?"
"Comrade Military Commissar, since you have raised such a question, I don't want to hide it from you." Regarding his partner, Sokov answered truthfully: "We plan to launch a surprise attack on the Germans from other areas at night. . But a few hours ago, some small accidents happened..."
"What accident?"
"A German reconnaissance plane was shot down by our fighter plane in the area where we were preparing to attack. The pilot of the reconnaissance plane has been captured by our army."
"Caught the pilot?!" After Lunev asked the question, seeing Sokov nodding in affirmation, he asked in confusion: "It's a good thing to catch the German pilot. Why are you still looking so sad?" What does it look like?”
"Comrade Military Commissar, the situation is like this." Sokov explained: "Because the location where the enemy pilots parachuted, it was no more than one kilometer away from the lurking position of the 384th Infantry Division. Once the enemy sends troops to search for the parachuting pilots, then Our latent troops will be exposed, which will lead to the failure of our night attack on the positions on the other side." Looking at the back of the Chief of Staff leaving, William Stemmermann took a deep breath, then stood up and said to Weller: "Commander Your Excellency, I beg you once again to send troops to search the area where the reconnaissance aircraft pilot disappeared, and strengthen the defense of the corresponding area."
After Weiler stared at William Stemermann for a while, he frowned and said: "General William, didn't I say that if the Russians want to launch an attack, they must be in the direction of the bridgehead they established, because There was an intact bridge there that carried troops and heavy equipment across the Oud."
He patted the map on the conference table with his palm and said angrily to William Stemmerman: "General William, take a good look at the map. The area where you think the Russians may launch an attack is the Ude River. The widest position, which fool do you think would leave a place with a bridge and not use it, but take greater risks and let his troops carry out a forced crossing?"
"Yes, it would be very convenient for the Russians to transport troops and equipment to the east coast from the bridges they control." Although Wheeler was resolute, William Stemmermann always insisted on his He believed that the Soviet army would launch an attack from other directions, "But don't forget, we are not facing ordinary Russian troops, but the 27th Army commanded by Sokov. Since the Battle of Stalingrad, it has been Our army's nightmare, his elusive tactics, made our army commanders suffer a lot. So far, it has never been heard that that army has ever defeated him.
Facing such an opponent, we must take all possible situations into consideration, lest it be too late to regret when something happens..."
Seeing William Stemmermann arguing with Weller, the division commanders beside him couldn't sit still. Although they didn't deal with William Stemmermann, they had an even less favorable impression of the newly appointed commander Weller. Hearing William repeatedly emphasize that the Russian troops fighting him were commanded by Sokov, the division commanders began to discuss in low voices, studying whether Sokov would actually launch an attack in other areas.
"Quiet, gentlemen, please be quiet!" Seeing that the teachers were actually holding a small meeting below, Weller slapped the table hard several times, "We are still in a meeting!"
When the conference room became quiet again, William Stemmermann said firmly: "Your Excellency, Commander, I strongly implore you: 1. Send troops to conduct reconnaissance where the pilot disappeared; 2. Strengthen the security of the area. Defense force..."
Before William Stemmermann could finish speaking, a German officer broke in from outside. Everyone recognized him at a glance as a combat staff officer from the headquarters.
The combat staff officer came to Weller, raised his hand in salute, pulled out a folder from his armpit, handed a document inside to him, and said: "Report to your Excellency, Commander, the Russians are using intensive artillery fire, shelling the ring fortifications located near their bridgehead, apparently preparing to launch an attack."
Weller took the document from the hands of the combat staff, shook it at William Stemmermann, and said proudly: "General William, what do you think of this battle report? Until now, you still have Do you think the Russians will choose other areas to attack?”
William Stemmermann was stunned. He didn't expect that things would develop beyond his imagination. For a moment, he didn't know how to respond to Weller's question. After Weller saw that William Stemmermann could not refute, he loudly announced that the meeting was adjourned.
Several division commanders of the 11th Army waited for Weller to leave the conference room and then walked out of the conference room one after another. No one looked back at William Stemmermann who was sitting in a daze.
William Stemmermann didn't notice that the others had left. He was still thinking hard: Could it be that I was really wrong? If the Russians want to attack, they can immediately attack Kharkov after seizing the bridge. According to the combat effectiveness of Sokov's troops, troops should have rushed into the city at this moment. But they did not do this. After seizing the bridge, they turned to defense on the spot, as if they wanted to fight a protracted war with their own troops.
"General Weller," the chief of staff walked into the conference room from outside. Seeing that the meeting had ended, and only William Stemmerman was left sitting in his seat in a daze, he walked over and asked with concern: "The meeting has ended. Why are you still sitting here?"
"Ah, has the meeting been adjourned?" The words of the chief of staff awakened William Stemmermann from his meditation. He said with some difficulty: "Maybe I was so absorbed in thinking that I didn't realize that the meeting was adjourned."
William Stemmermann stood up, smiled sadly at the chief of staff, and prepared to walk out of the conference room. But he was stopped by the chief of staff: "General William, do you really think the Russians will launch an attack in other areas?"
Hearing this question from the Chief of Staff, William Stemmermann said hesitantly: "Chief of Staff, maybe I made a mistake. What the Russians can do now is to attack from their bridgehead position. That's impossible. Attack from other directions."
The chief of staff also had the same idea as Kenff and Weller. He felt that if the Russians wanted to attack Kharkov, the best option would be to attack from the bridgehead position, because they could pass more troops and equipment through the bridge. A steady stream of goods were shipped from the West Coast to the East Coast.
"General William, you may be too tired recently." The chief of staff said to William Stemerman in a sympathetic tone: "You should go back and rest quickly. Maybe you can get some sleep and all the problems will be solved."
Before the 299th Regiment of the 98th Guards Division could launch an attack, Lunev hurried back after receiving the news. He asked Sokov in surprise: "Comrade Commander, didn't you say you were preparing to attack from other areas? Launch an attack on the enemy? Why are we now ordering artillery to bombard the circular position on the east bank and sending the 299th Regiment and tank battalion to move towards the east bank?"
"Comrade Military Commissar, since you have raised such a question, I don't want to hide it from you." Regarding his partner, Sokov answered truthfully: "We plan to launch a surprise attack on the Germans from other areas at night. . But a few hours ago, some small accidents happened..."
"What accident?"
"A German reconnaissance plane was shot down by our fighter plane in the area where we were preparing to attack. The pilot of the reconnaissance plane has been captured by our army."
