For Tolbukhin, cutting off the German supply lines and retreat routes was nothing more than helping others. In the end, when merit was awarded, the victory he had achieved at a huge cost might be ignored. The immediate thing that can make him successful is to take away Zaporozhye, where Manstein's headquarters is located, and eliminate or severely damage the German 17th Army's retreat.
Bilyuzov, the chief of staff of the Southern Front, said with some concern: "Comrade Commander, is this appropriate? If the enemies in Kharkov are really allowed to successfully withdraw to the Dnieper River, it will be very difficult for us to carry out the next operation." It’s very detrimental.”
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Tolbukhin did not explain anything to Bilyuzov immediately, but asked instead: "If the enemies in Kharkov want to break out, do you think we can stop the enemy by putting all our troops into battle?" ?"
Bilyuzov thought for a while, then slowly shook his head, "I don't think so."
"That's right," Tolbukhin said solemnly: "Once the enemies withdrawing from Kharkov are blocked by us, they will definitely break through desperately and cause huge casualties to our blocking troops. Instead of It is better to use these troops to attack than to waste troops in blocking battles."
Bilyuzov agreed with Tolbukhin's statement. In order to prevent the enemies of Donbas from reinforcing Kharkov in the past few days, four army groups were mobilized. Although they successfully shattered the German reinforcement plan, The troops also suffered heavy casualties. However, he still asked with concern: "If the superiors investigate, how should we deal with it?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, you don't have to worry about this." Since Tolbukhin is preparing to use the main force of the front army to attack Zaporozhye and the German 17th Army, he naturally has his own plan: "Now I am responsible for cutting off the German army. The three armies on the retreat have each deployed one or two divisions. In other words, we have no less than five divisions to cut off the enemy's retreat, so our superiors probably won't blame us."
After the troops of Hoth and Wheeler withdrew from Kharkov, they were intercepted by the Southern Front troops along the way. Just as Tolbukhin expected, in order to open the passage, the German army would launch a desperate attack when encountering obstruction, first bombarding with artillery, then using tanks to cover the infantry charge, and even calling in aircraft to attack the defenders' positions frantically. Indiscriminate bombing.
Of the five divisions deployed by the Southern Front on the road leading to the Dnieper River, two of them were defeated by Hoth and Wheeler's troops in less than half a day, and the casualties exceeded half of the troops.
After Bilyuzov learned that the blocking force suffered heavy casualties, he quickly asked Tolbukhin for instructions: "Comrade Commander, it took the enemy less than half a day to continuously break through the direction of our two divisions. Do you want to send troops?" Go for reinforcements?”
"There is no need." Tolbukhin shook his head and said: "Now our focus is not on blocking the enemy's withdrawal from Kharkov, but on continuing to attack the German 17th Army. Only by severely damaging them can we be more to carry out the next step of combat operations."
The troops that broke out from Kharkov are moving closer to the Dnieper River step by step. This fact really makes Manstein feel happy. As long as the troops reach the designated place, they can escape the fate of being surrounded and annihilated by the Soviet army. But at the same time, he was worried about the 17th Army in the Donets Basin.
He asked his chief of staff, General Busse: "Chief of Staff, now the Russian Southern Front is attacking the 17th Army. What do you think we should do?"
When Busse heard Manstein's question, he immediately replied without hesitation: "A telegram should be sent to the 17th Army, ordering them to hold the Donets Basin at all costs and wait for the reinforcements we send."
"But, General Busse. Judging from the current situation, if we want to defend the Donets Basin, we need at least six armored divisions." Manstein said with a wry smile: "Where can I find six armored divisions for them?"
Manstein's words silenced Busse. As the chief of staff of the Army Group, he naturally knew very well that from the Battle of Kursk to the present, the German army had suffered huge losses in soldiers, but supplies from superiors came very little and very slowly. Today, let alone six armored divisions, even two armored divisions may not be able to piece together.
"Then what should we do?" Busse asked Manstein softly: "Should we order the 17th Army to abandon their defense area and withdraw to the Dnieper River?"
"Based on the current situation analysis, it is obviously unrealistic to continue to hold on to the Donets Basin until a new armored division is obtained." Manstein frowned and said, "The best way is to withdraw the troops from there immediately. come out."
"Your Excellency, Marshal," Busse waited for Manstein to finish speaking, then carefully reminded him: "Would you like to report this matter to the Führer and get his opinion?"
In fact, even if Busey didn't say anything, Manstein planned to report the matter to Mustache. Although he is the marshal of the empire, ordering an army group to abandon its defense zone requires Mustache's permission.
The call was quickly connected to Mustache's office. After hearing Manstein's voice, Chief of General Staff Zeitzler asked with some expectancy: "Your Excellency, Marshal, are all our troops who broke out from Kharkov... Already reached the Dnieper River?”
"Not yet, Mr. Chief of General Staff." Manstein responded politely: "But based on the speed of their current attack, they will reach the Dnieper River by tomorrow night at the latest."
"Oh, that's it." Zeitzler then asked, "What's the reason for your call?"
"That's it, Your Excellency, Chief of General Staff." Manstein did not talk in circles, but said straightforwardly: "The Russians have now broken through the defense line of the 6th Army of Hollett and are launching an attack on the 17th Army in the Donets Basin area. Attack. I ask you to allow this force to withdraw from the Donets Basin and retreat to the Dnieper River."
Although Zeitzler is the Army Chief of Staff, he still dare not give an order to a group army to abandon its position and retreat casually. He glanced at Mustache sitting not far away, and began to wonder how to reply to the other party.
Mustache noticed something strange about Zeitzler and asked first, "Zeitzler, who called?"
"It's Marshal Manstein."
Mustache stood up and came over, took the microphone from Zeitzler's hand, put it to his ear and said loudly: "Manstein, it's me. Is there anything you need to report to me?"
"Yes, my head of state." Manstein heard the mustache's voice coming from the receiver and said quickly and respectfully: "I have something important to report to you."
"Say it." Mustache said briefly.
"That's it, my head of state." Manstein said cautiously: "I plan to withdraw the 17th Army in the Donets Basin to the Dnieper River area. They are currently being attacked by the Russian Southern Front. If they continue to hold on, , there is a possibility of being annihilated.”
"No, Manstein." Mustache rejected Manstein's request without hesitation. He had just agreed to let the garrison in Kharkov withdraw two days ago. If he agreed to the withdrawal of the 17th Army stationed in the Donets Basin today, it would not be a mess. "The 17th Army cannot retreat."
"My head of state." Although his proposal was vetoed by Mustache, Manstein said reluctantly: "If you want to continue to hold on to the Donets Basin, then you must provide them with at least six armored divisions. If If these troops cannot be provided, the exposed salient on the Mius River cannot be held.”
Hearing that the problem was so serious, Xiao Hu couldn't help but fell silent. For Tolbukhin, cutting off the German supply lines and retreat routes was nothing more than helping others. In the end, when merit was awarded, the victory he had achieved at a huge cost might be ignored. The immediate thing that can make him successful is to take away Zaporozhye, where Manstein's headquarters is located, and eliminate or severely damage the German 17th Army's retreat.
Bilyuzov, the chief of staff of the Southern Front, said with some concern: "Comrade Commander, is this appropriate? If the enemies in Kharkov are really allowed to successfully withdraw to the Dnieper River, it will be very difficult for us to carry out the next operation." It’s very detrimental.”
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Tolbukhin did not explain anything to Bilyuzov immediately, but asked instead: "If the enemies in Kharkov want to break out, do you think we can stop the enemy by putting all our troops into battle?" ?"
Bilyuzov thought for a while, then slowly shook his head, "I don't think so."
"That's right," Tolbukhin said solemnly: "Once the enemies withdrawing from Kharkov are blocked by us, they will definitely break through desperately and cause huge casualties to our blocking troops. Instead of It is better to use these troops to attack than to waste troops in blocking battles."
Bilyuzov agreed with Tolbukhin's statement. In order to prevent the enemies of Donbas from reinforcing Kharkov in the past few days, four army groups were mobilized. Although they successfully shattered the German reinforcement plan, The troops also suffered heavy casualties. However, he still asked with concern: "If the superiors investigate, how should we deal with it?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, you don't have to worry about this." Since Tolbukhin is preparing to use the main force of the front army to attack Zaporozhye and the German 17th Army, he naturally has his own plan: "Now I am responsible for cutting off the German army. The three armies on the retreat have each deployed one or two divisions. In other words, we have no less than five divisions to cut off the enemy's retreat, so our superiors probably won't blame us."
After the troops of Hoth and Wheeler withdrew from Kharkov, they were intercepted by the Southern Front troops along the way. Just as Tolbukhin expected, in order to open the passage, the German army would launch a desperate attack when encountering obstruction, first bombarding with artillery, then using tanks to cover the infantry charge, and even calling in aircraft to attack the defenders' positions frantically. Indiscriminate bombing.
Of the five divisions deployed by the Southern Front on the road leading to the Dnieper River, two of them were defeated by Hoth and Wheeler's troops in less than half a day, and the casualties exceeded half of the troops.
After Bilyuzov learned that the blocking force suffered heavy casualties, he quickly asked Tolbukhin for instructions: "Comrade Commander, it took the enemy less than half a day to continuously break through the direction of our two divisions. Do you want to send troops?" Go for reinforcements?”
"There is no need." Tolbukhin shook his head and said: "Now our focus is not on blocking the enemy's withdrawal from Kharkov, but on continuing to attack the German 17th Army. Only by severely damaging them can we be more to carry out the next step of combat operations."
The troops that broke out from Kharkov are moving closer to the Dnieper River step by step. This fact really makes Manstein feel happy. As long as the troops reach the designated place, they can escape the fate of being surrounded and annihilated by the Soviet army. But at the same time, he was worried about the 17th Army in the Donets Basin.
He asked his chief of staff, General Busse: "Chief of Staff, now the Russian Southern Front is attacking the 17th Army. What do you think we should do?"
When Busse heard Manstein's question, he immediately replied without hesitation: "A telegram should be sent to the 17th Army, ordering them to hold the Donets Basin at all costs and wait for the reinforcements we send."
"But, General Busse. Judging from the current situation, if we want to defend the Donets Basin, we need at least six armored divisions." Manstein said with a wry smile: "Where can I find six armored divisions for them?"
Manstein's words silenced Busse. As the chief of staff of the Army Group, he naturally knew very well that from the Battle of Kursk to the present, the German army had suffered huge losses in soldiers, but supplies from superiors came very little and very slowly. Today, let alone six armored divisions, even two armored divisions may not be able to piece together.
"Then what should we do?" Busse asked Manstein softly: "Should we order the 17th Army to abandon their defense area and withdraw to the Dnieper River?"
"Based on the current situation analysis, it is obviously unrealistic to continue to hold on to the Donets Basin until a new armored division is obtained." Manstein frowned and said, "The best way is to withdraw the troops from there immediately. come out."
"Your Excellency, Marshal," Busse waited for Manstein to finish speaking, then carefully reminded him: "Would you like to report this matter to the Führer and get his opinion?"
In fact, even if Busey didn't say anything, Manstein planned to report the matter to Mustache. Although he is the marshal of the empire, ordering an army group to abandon its defense zone requires Mustache's permission.
The call was quickly connected to Mustache's office. After hearing Manstein's voice, Chief of General Staff Zeitzler asked with some expectancy: "Your Excellency, Marshal, are all our troops who broke out from Kharkov... Already reached the Dnieper River?”
"Not yet, Mr. Chief of General Staff." Manstein responded politely: "But based on the speed of their current attack, they will reach the Dnieper River by tomorrow night at the latest."
"Oh, that's it." Zeitzler then asked, "What's the reason for your call?"
"That's it, Your Excellency, Chief of General Staff." Manstein did not talk in circles, but said straightforwardly: "The Russians have now broken through the defense line of the 6th Army of Hollett and are launching an attack on the 17th Army in the Donets Basin area. Attack. I ask you to allow this force to withdraw from the Donets Basin and retreat to the Dnieper River."
Although Zeitzler is the Army Chief of Staff, he still dare not give an order to a group army to abandon its position and retreat casually. He glanced at Mustache sitting not far away, and began to wonder how to reply to the other party.
