It later proved that the time period of the mechanized army's attack was chosen very well. The attention of the German 3rd Armored Division and the newly transferred 106th Infantry Division were attracted by the attack of Rotmistrov's troops. In order to prevent the Soviet attack, the main forces of these two divisions were concentrated in the direction the Soviet army was trying to break through, resulting in a void in their rear.
For the German troops who were already well prepared, Rotmistrov's attack at night was nothing more than killing them. Tiger tanks and Panther tanks placed in important blocking positions continued to kill one after another. The Soviet tanks that appeared in the field of vision exploded, turning them into piles of burning scrap metal.
Weller, who received the report from the 42nd Army, felt that there should not be much problem in annihilating the Soviet tank force before dawn. Although there was still a long time to complete this goal, he did not feel there was anything wrong with reporting the good news to Manstein in advance.
After answering Manstein's call, Weller said excitedly: "Marshal, I have good news for you."
"What good news?" Manstein, who had just been woken up from his sleep, asked absently: "Did the Russian armored forces attack you again?"
"Yes, Marshal, you guessed it right. The Russian tank troops did launch a new attack on us." Weller said proudly: "But during their march, they were attacked by the 3rd Armored Division. Due to head-on attacks by tanks and anti-tank guns, Russian tanks are now being destroyed one after another and become burning torches on the battlefield."
Manstein was still worried about the Soviet tank army two days ago. After all, this unit rescued the Russian troops from the brink of destruction during the Battle of Kursk. But for three days in a row, his troops beat this arrogant tank army to pieces, which made him feel a little contempt for Rotmistrov.
After listening to Wheeler's report at this moment, Manstein said with a relaxed expression: "General Wheeler, if your troops can completely wipe out the Russian tank troops attacking tonight, there will probably be no tank troops left in the following days. It poses a threat to you."
"Your Excellency, Marshal, now I am ordering the troops to speed up the attack." Weller said confidently: "By dawn, we will be able to completely wipe out this invading Russian armored force. Just wait to hear my good news. .”
After ending the call with Weller, Manstein lay back on his bed and continued to sleep. According to his idea, before dawn, Weller should report to him the news of the complete annihilation of the Russian tank troops. He also had A few hours to sleep.
But less than an hour later, Manstein was awakened from his sleep by his adjutant. Manstein, whose dream was disturbed, asked with a straight face: "Is there any news about General Weller?"
When the adjutant heard what Manstein said, he couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, and then nodded vigorously and replied: "That's right, Marshal, it's General Weller who called to see you."
"Let him wait until daybreak before calling again." Manstein said impatiently: "I want to sleep now."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Marshal." Unexpectedly, the adjutant said reluctantly: "I think you should answer the phone. The situation may be different from what you imagined."
Manstein sat up straight and ordered his adjutant: "Bring the phone here."
The adjutant agreed and quickly brought the phone on the table to Manstein.
Manstein reached out and grabbed the microphone and put it to his ear: "Hey, General Weller, I know that your troops should have wiped out all the Russian tank troops by now. Although this is good news, can you wait until dawn? Call me later and don’t disturb my sleep.”
Unexpectedly, after he finished speaking, the receiver was silent for a long time, and then Weller's timid voice came: "Your Excellency, Marshal, the situation may be different from what you imagined."
"Is there any discrepancy?" Manstein asked in confusion: "Did the Russians turn around and run away when they saw that the situation was not good?" Before Weller could answer, he cursed in a low voice, "What a bunch of cowards."
"No, Marshal." Weller on the other end of the phone replied with some lack of confidence: "Our blocking troops were attacked from the rear by the Russians and suffered huge losses. Now the remaining troops are retreating towards the city. .”
Weller's words made Manstein no longer sleepy. He sat up straight and asked in surprise: "General Weller, why is this happening? How come there are Russians appearing behind us? Did they fall from the sky? Came down?"
"Your Majesty Marshal, according to my analysis, this Russian force should come from the bridgehead on the east bank of the Oud River."
"A bridgehead built by the Russians?" Manstein's forehead veins popped up and his face turned red: "General Wheeler, are you promising me that the bridgehead built by the Russians on your right wing will not pose any threat to you? .”
"Yes, Your Majesty Marshal." Weller said with a sad face: "It stands to reason that the Russians have limited troops in the right-wing bridgehead. In addition, they occupy a lot of land and need to divide their forces for defense. Where can they mobilize troops to rescue them? friendly forces."
"How many troops do the Russians have?" Manstein still held a trace of luck in his heart. If the Russian troops in the sneak attack were not large, they would only need to mobilize reinforcements from other places to crush their attack.
But Weiler's next words poured cold water on him: "Your Excellency, Marshal, according to the report of my subordinates, the Russians have at least two to three tank brigades, and there is a mechanized brigade accompanying them."
"This is impossible, this is absolutely impossible." After hearing this, Manstein jumped out of bed and said excitedly: "You once reported to me that the Russians' strength on the right bridgehead was only two infantrymen at best. How can a new tank brigade and mechanized brigade emerge if there is a tank brigade outside the division?"
"Really, Marshal, what I said is true." Seeing that Manstein did not believe his words, Weller said excitedly: "The Russians really have two or three tank brigades and a mechanized brigade. "
"Which troop is holding on there?"
"3rd Armored Division and 106th Infantry Division."
"What troops are nearby?"
"The 167th Infantry Division of the 42nd Army."
"Immediately deploy the 167th Division for reinforcements, not only to rescue our troops, but also to block the Russian attack."
"Understood, Your Majesty Marshal, I will do my best."
At the same time, in the headquarters on the west bank of the Ude River, Tsvetayev couldn't help but be overjoyed after receiving the report from his subordinates. As soon as he put down the phone, he said to Sokov: "General Sokov, good news, good news."
Although Sokov knew in his heart that the other party was talking about the mechanized army achieving good results, out of courtesy, he still asked politely: "What's the good news?"
"The 4th Mechanized Army raided the German rear. Since the enemy's main forces were fighting General Rotmistrov's troops, they successfully occupied the German arsenal without any decent resistance. and oil depots. The mechanized brigade also severely damaged the returning German tank units and destroyed many German tanks."
"This is really exciting news." Although the other party did not give specific data, Sokov knew in his heart that due to the intervention of the mechanized army, General Rotmistrov's troops would not be able to achieve greater success. He made progress, but also escaped the fate of being annihilated. He asked casually: "Have the mechanized army and friendly forces joined forces now?"
"Not yet." Tsvetayev replied: "According to reports, there is still a gap of three kilometers between the two armies, and it will take at least half an hour before they can join forces."
Knowing that the two armies were going to join forces soon, Sokov specifically reminded Tsvetayev: "Comrade General, I suggest that you send someone to get in touch with the friendly forces as soon as possible to avoid inconveniences due to the darkness and unclear visibility. A necessary misunderstanding.”
"Don't worry, General Sokov." Tsvetayev said confidently: "My subordinates have experienced hundreds of battles and naturally know what to do. There will never be any misunderstanding with friendly forces."
Sokov considered that Rotmistrov's men were constantly intercepted by various German firepower during the advance, and had long been beaten to the point of being turned around. If Tsvetayev's troops casually stepped forward, they might be attacked as enemies by the other side, so he tactfully reminded the other side: "I think it's better to be cautious. After all, it's too dark at the moment and visibility is limited. Even if there is a misunderstanding, It’s hard to tell.”
Fortunately, Tsvetaev is not a stubborn person. After listening to Sokov's words, he nodded slightly and then said: "You are very reasonable, General Sokov. I will contact my subordinates immediately." , let them send people to establish contact with General Rotmistrov’s tank troops to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.”
Fortunately, Sokov's reminder was timely. After receiving Tsvetayev's order, the commander of the mechanized army immediately sent men on motorcycles to establish contact with friendly forces. When these motorcycles appeared in the field of vision of Rotmistrov's men, they all thought they were small German troops and opened fire one after another. Fortunately, the motorcycles moved quickly, and it was night, so the tank soldiers' skills Being greatly compromised, only two motorcyclists were unfortunately shot dead, and the remaining motorcyclists successfully met the friendly commanders.
After the two parties established contact, they quickly joined forces smoothly. It later proved that the time period of the mechanized army's attack was chosen very well. The attention of the German 3rd Armored Division and the newly transferred 106th Infantry Division were attracted by the attack of Rotmistrov's troops. In order to prevent the Soviet attack, the main forces of these two divisions were concentrated in the direction the Soviet army was trying to break through, resulting in a void in their rear.
For the German troops who were already well prepared, Rotmistrov's attack at night was nothing more than killing them. Tiger tanks and Panther tanks placed in important blocking positions continued to kill one after another. The Soviet tanks that appeared in the field of vision exploded, turning them into piles of burning scrap metal.
Weller, who received the report from the 42nd Army, felt that there should not be much problem in annihilating the Soviet tank force before dawn. Although there was still a long time to complete this goal, he did not feel there was anything wrong with reporting the good news to Manstein in advance.
After answering Manstein's call, Weller said excitedly: "Marshal, I have good news for you."
"What good news?" Manstein, who had just been woken up from his sleep, asked absently: "Did the Russian armored forces attack you again?"
"Yes, Marshal, you guessed it right. The Russian tank troops did launch a new attack on us." Weller said proudly: "But during their march, they were attacked by the 3rd Armored Division. Due to head-on attacks by tanks and anti-tank guns, Russian tanks are now being destroyed one after another and become burning torches on the battlefield."
Manstein was still worried about the Soviet tank army two days ago. After all, this unit rescued the Russian troops from the brink of destruction during the Battle of Kursk. But for three days in a row, his troops beat this arrogant tank army to pieces, which made him feel a little contempt for Rotmistrov.
After listening to Wheeler's report at this moment, Manstein said with a relaxed expression: "General Wheeler, if your troops can completely wipe out the Russian tank troops attacking tonight, there will probably be no tank troops left in the following days. It poses a threat to you."
"Your Excellency, Marshal, now I am ordering the troops to speed up the attack." Weller said confidently: "By dawn, we will be able to completely wipe out this invading Russian armored force. Just wait to hear my good news. .”
After ending the call with Weller, Manstein lay back on his bed and continued to sleep. According to his idea, before dawn, Weller should report to him the news of the complete annihilation of the Russian tank troops. He also had A few hours to sleep.
But less than an hour later, Manstein was awakened from his sleep by his adjutant. Manstein, whose dream was disturbed, asked with a straight face: "Is there any news about General Weller?"
When the adjutant heard what Manstein said, he couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, and then nodded vigorously and replied: "That's right, Marshal, it's General Weller who called to see you."
"Let him wait until daybreak before calling again." Manstein said impatiently: "I want to sleep now."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Marshal." Unexpectedly, the adjutant said reluctantly: "I think you should answer the phone. The situation may be different from what you imagined."
Manstein sat up straight and ordered his adjutant: "Bring the phone here."
The adjutant agreed and quickly brought the phone on the table to Manstein.
Manstein reached out and grabbed the microphone and put it to his ear: "Hey, General Weller, I know that your troops should have wiped out all the Russian tank troops by now. Although this is good news, can you wait until dawn? Call me later and don’t disturb my sleep.”
Unexpectedly, after he finished speaking, the receiver was silent for a long time, and then Weller's timid voice came: "Your Excellency, Marshal, the situation may be different from what you imagined."
"Is there any discrepancy?" Manstein asked in confusion: "Did the Russians turn around and run away when they saw that the situation was not good?" Before Weller could answer, he cursed in a low voice, "What a bunch of cowards."
