The maneuver of the Soviet army at the left landing site on the Oude River attracted the attention of the German army, and this information was immediately fed back to General Wheeler, commander of the 8th Army.
Weller stood in front of the map and looked at it for a long time, then turned around and asked his chief of staff: "Chief of Staff, tell me, the Russians frequently increase their troops at the bridgehead on the right bank of the Oude River. Are they planning to implement a breakthrough in that direction?"
"Your Excellency, Commander, it's hard to say." The Chief of Staff replied with some hesitation: "The Russian troops facing us are Sokov's 27th Army. Sokov is different from other Russian generals. He uses cunning to "The use of troops is often unexpected. Although their right wing mobilizes troops frequently, no one can guarantee that the actions of the left wing are just to confuse us. Their real intention is to attack from the bridgehead on the left wing."
"I think it is extremely likely that the Russians will attack from the right-wing bridgehead." Weller said thoughtfully: "Order the troops of the 42nd Army to strengthen their counterattack in the area and be sure to throw the Russians into the Oude River."
"Your Excellency, Commander," seeing Weller's firm attitude that the Soviet army would attack from the right wing, the Chief of Staff quickly reminded him: "The Russians have established a left-wing bridgehead for two days, and they also occupy the bridge over the Oude River. , can quickly transport soldiers and a large number of heavy weapons across the river. As for the right wing, it was built by the Russians last night. There is no bridge on the river, and according to our air force's reconnaissance, the Russians have no signs of setting up a pontoon bridge."
Speaking of pontoon bridges, the chief of staff thought of the Air Force's reconnaissance report, which also mentioned that the Soviet army had erected two pontoon bridges behind the bridgehead on the left wing, which could cooperate with the original bridges on the Oude River to quickly mobilize troops. Based on various signs, he judged that the possibility of a Soviet attack from the left wing was extremely high, so he continued to persuade: "The Russians set up two pontoon bridges overnight behind the bridgehead on the left wing. This is obviously to allow their large troops to pass quickly. River. Therefore, I judge that the Russians are most likely to launch an attack from this direction, and we should strengthen the defense of this line of defense."
"Chief of Staff, what's wrong with you?" Seeing his Chief of Staff nagging at him, Weller seemed a little impatient: "I know that the Russians have built two pontoon bridges behind the bridgehead on the left wing. But have you ever thought about it? , several divisions of General Wilhelm Stemermann established an arc of defensive positions in front of the bridgehead. The Russians wanted to expand their landing field because they used fewer troops and could not break through our defense lines; if the troops were There are too many and they cannot be used here. We only need to carry out fierce shelling to consume a large amount of the effective forces they have gathered in this area.
As for the right wing, although the 42nd Army is deployed, they not only have to deal with Sokov's troops, but also defend other Russian troops. Once the defense line is breached, it will have catastrophic consequences for us. "
Weller's stubborn attitude silenced the chief of staff.
After a long time, the chief of staff spoke again: "Your Excellency, Commander, the 3rd Armored Division from Berlin abandoned its original position and retreated to the rear. In order to prevent the Russians from outflanking our army, the newly arrived Viking Division A new line of defense was built on the high ground to the west of the Fisky collective farm."
Speaking of the Viking Division's defense line, Weller frowned again: "Chief of Staff, before the Viking Division's defense line was completely completed, it was attacked wildly by the Russians. Now the highlands have fallen into the hands of the Russians again. .”
"Yes, Your Excellency, Commander." said the Chief of Staff: "But the newly arrived troops of the Viking Division are constantly counterattacking, preparing to take back the position from the Russians."
"Do you know the numbers of the Russian troops blocking the Viking division?"
"Yes, Your Excellency, Commander." The chief of staff nodded and replied affirmatively: "The division's designation is the 300th Infantry Division, the division commander is Colonel Atakuz, and it belongs to the Russian 5th Assault Group Army."
"The 5th Assault Army?!" Weller continued to ask: "What is the name of their commander?"
"Lieutenant General Tsvetaev." The chief of staff said quickly: "Before the war broke out, he was a lecturer at the Frunze Military Academy. Many Russian generals we fought against were once his students."
But after hearing this, Weller laughed and said, "It turns out he is a teacher. When it comes to talking nonsense in class, he may do a pretty good job; but when it comes to fighting, I'm afraid he is no match for us."
"Immediately call the commander of the Viking Division, General Herbert Giller, and tell him that if the attack does not go well, I can order the 3rd Armored Division to cooperate with them."
"Okay, Commander, I will convey your wishes to General Herbert Giller."
Neither Weiler nor the Chief of Staff realized that their intelligence was out of date. The 300th Division no longer belonged to the Soviet 5th Shock Army, but to the 27th Army of Sokov, which frightened them. Take the initiative to pay a huge price for this wrong information.
…………
As the troops were continuously sent to the other side of the river by hovercraft and assembled at the newly established landing site, Sokov and Tsvetaev began to discuss the next combat plan.
"General Sokov," Tsvetayev saw that his artillery had been deployed, and the infantry divisions and tank brigades had also crossed the river one after another. With enough confidence in his heart, he said to Sokov: "Since our artillery Already in position, I think before the official attack begins, we should carry out regular artillery preparations for the enemy's positions, right?"
"Comrade General," Sokov said with a bit of laughter and tears: "Didn't I just say that every time our shelling starts, the cunning enemy hides in the second line of defense to avoid our army's artillery fire, which makes our The shelling did not have the desired effect.”
"General Sokov, even if artillery preparations cannot destroy many enemies." Tsvetayev seemed very stubborn about whether to implement artillery preparations: "But our artillery bombardment can still destroy a large number of fortifications and provide a solid foundation for the attacking infantry." Clear the way.”
While the two were arguing over whether to use artillery preparations, the phone on the table rang. Sokov glanced at the ringing phone and found that it was the dedicated line that had just been set up. He reached for it and said, "Is it the chief of staff? This is Sokov. What can I do?"
"Comrade Commander, I just received a notification from my superiors." Samyko said on the phone: "General Rotmistrov's 5th Guards Tank Army has reached our left flank, which is the Hal To the northwest of Cove, they plan to attack the enemy's defense lines from there."
"General Rotmistrov's 5th Guards Tank Army has arrived?!" Sokov couldn't help but be overjoyed when he heard the news from friendly forces. Since this unit can shine on the Kursk battlefield, it must be In the battle to liberate Kharkov, he will definitely perform well. He asked emotionally into the microphone: "Comrade Chief of Staff, did your superiors tell you when General Rotmistrov's troops will launch an attack on the enemy?"
Samek paused for a moment and replied: "Comrade Commander, according to the report from superiors, they will launch an attack on the enemy from the sunflower field area at nine o'clock in the morning." The mobilization of the Soviet army's left landing site on the Ude River caused Attention of the German army, this information was immediately fed back to General Wheeler, commander of the 8th Army.
Weller stood in front of the map and looked at it for a long time, then turned around and asked his chief of staff: "Chief of Staff, tell me, the Russians frequently increase their troops at the bridgehead on the right bank of the Oude River. Are they planning to implement a breakthrough in that direction?"
"Your Excellency, Commander, it's hard to say." The Chief of Staff replied with some hesitation: "The Russian troops facing us are Sokov's 27th Army. Sokov is different from other Russian generals. He uses cunning to "The use of troops is often unexpected. Although their right wing mobilizes troops frequently, no one can guarantee that the actions of the left wing are just to confuse us. Their real intention is to attack from the bridgehead on the left wing."
"I think it is extremely likely that the Russians will attack from the right-wing bridgehead." Weller said thoughtfully: "Order the troops of the 42nd Army to strengthen their counterattack in the area and be sure to throw the Russians into the Oude River."
"Your Excellency, Commander," seeing Weller's firm attitude that the Soviet army would attack from the right wing, the Chief of Staff quickly reminded him: "The Russians have established a left-wing bridgehead for two days, and they also occupy the bridge over the Oude River. , can quickly transport soldiers and a large number of heavy weapons across the river. As for the right wing, it was built by the Russians last night. There is no bridge on the river, and according to our air force's reconnaissance, the Russians have no signs of setting up a pontoon bridge."
Speaking of pontoon bridges, the chief of staff thought of the Air Force's reconnaissance report, which also mentioned that the Soviet army had erected two pontoon bridges behind the bridgehead on the left wing, which could cooperate with the original bridges on the Oude River to quickly mobilize troops. Based on various signs, he judged that the possibility of a Soviet attack from the left wing was extremely high, so he continued to persuade: "The Russians set up two pontoon bridges overnight behind the bridgehead on the left wing. This is obviously to allow their large troops to pass quickly. River. Therefore, I judge that the Russians are most likely to launch an attack from this direction, and we should strengthen the defense of this line of defense."
"Chief of Staff, what's wrong with you?" Seeing his Chief of Staff nagging at him, Weller seemed a little impatient: "I know that the Russians have built two pontoon bridges behind the bridgehead on the left wing. But have you ever thought about it? , several divisions of General Wilhelm Stemermann established an arc of defensive positions in front of the bridgehead. The Russians wanted to expand their landing field because they used fewer troops and could not break through our defense lines; if the troops were There are too many and they cannot be used here. We only need to carry out fierce shelling to consume a large amount of the effective forces they have gathered in this area.
As for the right wing, although the 42nd Army is deployed, they not only have to deal with Sokov's troops, but also defend other Russian troops. Once the defense line is breached, it will have catastrophic consequences for us. "
Weller's stubborn attitude silenced the chief of staff.
After a long time, the chief of staff spoke again: "Your Excellency, Commander, the 3rd Armored Division from Berlin abandoned its original position and retreated to the rear. In order to prevent the Russians from outflanking our army, the newly arrived Viking Division A new line of defense was built on the high ground to the west of the Fisky collective farm."
Speaking of the Viking Division's defense line, Weller frowned again: "Chief of Staff, before the Viking Division's defense line was completely completed, it was attacked wildly by the Russians. Now the highlands have fallen into the hands of the Russians again. .”
"Yes, Your Excellency, Commander." said the Chief of Staff: "But the newly arrived troops of the Viking Division are constantly counterattacking, preparing to take back the position from the Russians."
"Do you know the numbers of the Russian troops blocking the Viking division?"
"Yes, Your Excellency, Commander." The chief of staff nodded and replied affirmatively: "The division's designation is the 300th Infantry Division, the division commander is Colonel Atakuz, and it belongs to the Russian 5th Assault Group Army."
"The 5th Assault Army?!" Weller continued to ask: "What is the name of their commander?"
"Lieutenant General Tsvetaev." The chief of staff said quickly: "Before the war broke out, he was a lecturer at the Frunze Military Academy. Many Russian generals we fought against were once his students."
But after hearing this, Weller laughed and said, "It turns out he is a teacher. When it comes to talking nonsense in class, he may do a pretty good job; but when it comes to fighting, I'm afraid he is no match for us."
"Immediately call the commander of the Viking Division, General Herbert Giller, and tell him that if the attack does not go well, I can order the 3rd Armored Division to cooperate with them."
"Okay, Commander, I will convey your wishes to General Herbert Giller."
Neither Weiler nor the Chief of Staff realized that their intelligence was out of date. The 300th Division no longer belonged to the Soviet 5th Shock Army, but to the 27th Army of Sokov, which frightened them. Take the initiative to pay a huge price for this wrong information.
…………
As the troops were continuously sent to the other side of the river by hovercraft and assembled at the newly established landing site, Sokov and Tsvetaev began to discuss the next combat plan.
"General Sokov," Tsvetayev saw that his artillery had been deployed, and the infantry divisions and tank brigades had also crossed the river one after another. With enough confidence in his heart, he said to Sokov: "Since our artillery Already in position, I think before the official attack begins, we should carry out regular artillery preparations for the enemy's positions, right?"
"Comrade General," Sokov said with a bit of laughter and tears: "Didn't I just say that every time our shelling starts, the cunning enemy hides in the second line of defense to avoid our army's artillery fire, which makes our The shelling did not have the desired effect.”
While the two were arguing over whether to use artillery preparations, the phone on the table rang. Sokov glanced at the ringing phone and found that it was the dedicated line that had just been set up. He reached for it and said, "Is it the chief of staff? This is Sokov. What can I do?"
"Comrade Commander, I just received a notification from my superiors." Samyko said on the phone: "General Rotmistrov's 5th Guards Tank Army has reached our left flank, which is the Hal To the northwest of Cove, they plan to attack the enemy's defense lines from there."
