"In order to rescue us from the Russian encirclement, Marshal Manstein sent multiple armies and simultaneously launched an attack on the Russians from the periphery of the encirclement." Stemerman continued: "The most successful progress is now , none other than the Baker Heavy Armored Regiment. They have broken through the defense line of the Russian 20th Tank Corps and are attacking the 18th Tank Corps defense area in Lisyanka. If we leave some troops to contain the Russians here, the main force rushes over to fight with Baker The confluence of the heavy armored regiments can completely break the Russian encirclement."
Among the officers present, in addition to General Giller, were the division commanders of the 72nd, 112th, 38th and 57th Infantry Divisions. When Stemmerman finished speaking, the commander of the 72nd Division immediately asked: "General, how do you plan to distribute our existing forces?"
Stemerman knew what the other party meant, and he wanted to ask which troops he planned to leave behind to attract the attention of the Soviet army near Hill 239 to cover the main force's smooth breakout.
"The breakout force will be divided into two echelons. The first echelon is the 72nd and 112th Infantry Divisions and the Viking Division. Under the cover of tanks and assault guns, you will open a gap for the besieged troops and cooperate with the rescue forces from outside the encirclement. The troops converge. The commander of the first echelon is General Giller, the commander of the Viking Division."
The officers had no objections to Stemmermann's arrangements. They just stared at him intently, waiting for him to continue to issue orders to break out.
"The headquarters of each division and officers above the regiment level followed the first echelon and participated in the breakout operation. Behind them were our wounded baggage teams and health institutions."
"The second echelon consists of the remaining troops. Among them, the 38th Infantry Division provides cover from the north and east, and the 57th Infantry Division protects the breakthrough group from the south."
After describing the breakout arrangements in one breath, Stemmermann paused for a moment, and then asked: "Do you have any questions?"
"Yes, Your Excellency General." The commander of the 57th Infantry Division stood up and asked with a stern expression: "I would like to ask, who will be the commander-in-chief of the second echelon?"
"The task of the second echelon is arduous. They are not only responsible for containing the Russians near Hill 239, but also serve as the rearguard of the entire besieged group." After Stemermann said these words expressionlessly, he was shocked. Said: "I will personally serve as the commander-in-chief of the second echelon. If we can successfully break through the Russian encirclement, I will work with ordinary soldiers to finally leave this damn encirclement."
Everyone was shocked when they heard that Stemmermann planned to cut off the marriage himself. Giller said even more excitedly: "Your Majesty General, how about I serve as the commander-in-chief of the second echelon, and you command the first echelon to break through the Russian defense line and rush over to join the friendly forces."
Faced with Giller's kindness, Stemmerman still refused: "General Giller, thank you for your kindness. I have made the final decision, and you don't have to persuade me anymore."
After hearing what Stemmerman said, Gille knew that no matter how much he tried to persuade him, he could not change the other party's decision. He could only nod his head and said helplessly: "Okay, General, I will follow your order and lead the first echelon. Break out in the direction of Lixiangka." After a brief pause, he asked, "Then when should we take action?"
"Tonight at 23:00." After stating the time of the operation, Stemmerman explained to Giller: "Because the ground was frozen at that time, it was more conducive to marching, and at the same time, the visibility was extremely poor at night, which was conducive to us concealing our own action.."
"Then do we need to shell the Russian defense lines before attacking?"
"No, we can't carry out artillery attacks." Stemerman shook his head and said: "When the cannon fires, doesn't it mean to tell the Russians that we are going to prepare to break out from there? Therefore, you do not have any artillery fire before the attack. For cover, you can only rely on the tanks and assault guns you have to open a gap in the Russian defense line as soon as possible to ensure that the entire army can break through smoothly."
After the Army Chief of Staff waited for Stemmerman to finish speaking, he asked tentatively: "Your Excellency, Army Commander, since we are about to break through tonight, will the attack on Hill 239 continue?"
"Of course." Stemmermann nodded and said: "In order to prevent the Russians from noticing our strangeness, the attack on Highland 239 must continue. However, except for the Walloon assault brigade remaining, the Viking division's All other units should be reorganized. The task of attacking the highlands should be left to the 167th and 168th Infantry Divisions."
"Your Excellency, Army Commander," the Army Chief of Staff was shocked when he heard Stemmermann's order: "Today, the total strength of these two divisions is only more than 6,000 people. If they are allowed to carry out such an order, I’m afraid it will turn them into an empty number.”
Stemerman stared at his chief of staff and said earnestly: "Chief of Staff, if we don't find a way to attract the attention of the Russians, then the main force will not be able to complete the breakout at all. All the airports we have in contact with the outside world have been occupied by the Russians. If we continue to occupy all of them, I'm afraid we will repeat Paulus's mistake in Stalingrad. By then, no matter how many remaining troops there are, they will be canceled by the high command."
The Army Chief of Staff thought about it carefully and found out that what Stemerman said was very reasonable. If the troops were allowed to stay in the encirclement, it would be a matter of time before they were annihilated by the Soviet army. If you want to escape this fate, you must break through the Soviet encirclement at all costs, and containing the 53rd Army near Highland 239 is the key to breaking through.
Seeing that no one was speaking, Stemmerman waved his hands to everyone and said: "Everyone go back to their respective units to prepare. Next, we will face a fierce battle that affects our survival."
…………
Two hours later, the German army launched another attack on Hill 239.
Kirillov soon discovered something strange. When the Germans attacked this time, they did not prepare for artillery fire and launched a charge directly. Covering the infantry attack were tanks and assault guns that had not been seen for a long time.
Seeing this situation, Kirillov couldn't help but frowned. He didn't understand why the Germans suddenly changed their offensive tactics. You must know that before the German attack, they carried out violent artillery bombardments, which could also destroy the fortifications on the highlands and cause certain casualties to the defenders. And this kind of attack that relies on tanks and assault guns as cover is obviously much less effective.
After observing with a telescope for a while, Kirillov also noticed that the attackers now were ordinary Wehrmacht troops, not the SS just now. He couldn't help but frowned and thought about what was going on. But after thinking for a long time, he still couldn't figure out the answer, but he felt that he should report the situation to Sokov, so he picked up the phone on the table.
"Comrade Commander, the enemy has once again launched an attack on Highland 239, which our division is holding on to." As soon as the call came through, Kirillov said straight to the point: "But I feel something is wrong with this attack."
"Something's wrong?" Sokov asked in confusion: "What's wrong?"
"It's hard to say," Kirillov said with a complicated expression as he looked at the enemies approaching the position, "I can't tell you exactly, but I always feel that these enemies are somewhat different from the enemies in the first two rounds of attacks."
"In order to rescue us from the Russian encirclement, Marshal Manstein sent multiple armies and simultaneously launched an attack on the Russians from the periphery of the encirclement." Stemerman continued: "The most successful progress is now , none other than the Baker Heavy Armored Regiment. They have broken through the defense line of the Russian 20th Tank Corps and are attacking the 18th Tank Corps defense area in Lisyanka. If we leave some troops to contain the Russians here, the main force rushes over to fight with Baker The confluence of the heavy armored regiments can completely break the Russian encirclement."
Among the officers present, in addition to General Giller, were the division commanders of the 72nd, 112th, 38th and 57th Infantry Divisions. When Stemmerman finished speaking, the commander of the 72nd Division immediately asked: "General, how do you plan to distribute our existing troops?"
Stemerman knew what the other party meant, and he wanted to ask which troops he planned to leave behind to attract the attention of the Soviet army near Hill 239 to cover the main force's smooth breakout.
"The breakout force will be divided into two echelons. The first echelon is the 72nd and 112th Infantry Divisions and the Viking Division. Under the cover of tanks and assault guns, you will open a gap for the besieged troops and cooperate with the rescue forces from outside the encirclement. The troops converge. The commander of the first echelon is General Giller, the commander of the Viking Division."
The officers had no objections to Stemmermann's arrangements. They just stared at him intently, waiting for him to continue to issue orders to break out.
"The headquarters of each division and officers above the regiment level followed the first echelon and participated in the breakout operation. Behind them were our wounded baggage teams and health institutions."
"The second echelon consists of the remaining troops. Among them, the 38th Infantry Division provides cover from the north and east, and the 57th Infantry Division protects the breakthrough group from the south."
After describing the breakout arrangements in one breath, Stemmermann paused for a moment, and then asked: "Do you have any questions?"
"Yes, Your Excellency General." The commander of the 57th Infantry Division stood up and asked with a stern expression: "I would like to ask, who will be the commander-in-chief of the second echelon?"
"The task of the second echelon is arduous. They are not only responsible for containing the Russians near Hill 239, but also serve as the rearguard of the entire besieged group." After Stemermann said these words expressionlessly, he was shocked. Said: "I will personally serve as the commander-in-chief of the second echelon. If we can successfully break through the Russian encirclement, I will work with ordinary soldiers to finally leave this damn encirclement."
Everyone was shocked when they heard that Stemmermann planned to cut off the marriage himself. Giller said even more excitedly: "Your Majesty General, how about I serve as the commander-in-chief of the second echelon, and you command the first echelon to break through the Russian defense line and rush over to join the friendly forces."
Faced with Giller's kindness, Stemmerman still refused: "General Giller, thank you for your kindness. I have made the final decision, and you don't have to persuade me anymore."
After hearing what Stemmerman said, Gille knew that no matter how much he tried to persuade him, he could not change the other party's decision. He could only nod his head and said helplessly: "Okay, General, I will follow your order and lead the first echelon. Break out in the direction of Lixiangka." After a brief pause, he asked, "Then when should we take action?"
"Tonight at 23:00." After stating the time of the operation, Stemmerman explained to Giller: "Because the ground was frozen at that time, it was more conducive to marching, and at the same time, the visibility was extremely poor at night, which was conducive to us concealing our own action.."
"No, we can't carry out artillery attacks." Stemerman shook his head and said: "When the cannon fires, doesn't it mean to tell the Russians that we are going to prepare to break out from there? Therefore, you do not have any artillery fire before the attack. For cover, you can only rely on the tanks and assault guns you have to open a gap in the Russian defense line as soon as possible to ensure that the entire army can break through smoothly."
After the Army Chief of Staff waited for Stemmerman to finish speaking, he asked tentatively: "Your Excellency, Army Commander, since we are about to break through tonight, will the attack on Hill 239 continue?"
"Of course." Stemmermann nodded and said: "In order to prevent the Russians from noticing our strangeness, the attack on Highland 239 must continue. However, except for the Walloon assault brigade remaining, the Viking division's All other units should be reorganized. The task of attacking the highlands should be left to the 167th and 168th Infantry Divisions."
"Your Excellency, Army Commander," the Army Chief of Staff was shocked when he heard Stemmermann's order: "Today, the total strength of these two divisions is only more than 6,000 people. If they are allowed to carry out such an order, I’m afraid it will turn them into an empty number.”
Stemerman stared at his chief of staff and said earnestly: "Chief of Staff, if we don't find a way to attract the attention of the Russians, then the main force will not be able to complete the breakout at all. All the airports we have in contact with the outside world have been occupied by the Russians. If we continue to occupy all of them, I'm afraid we will repeat Paulus's mistake in Stalingrad. By then, no matter how many remaining troops there are, they will be canceled by the high command."
The Army Chief of Staff thought about it carefully and found out that what Stemerman said was very reasonable. If the troops were allowed to stay in the encirclement, it would be a matter of time before they were annihilated by the Soviet army. If you want to escape this fate, you must break through the Soviet encirclement at all costs, and containing the 53rd Army near Highland 239 is the key to breaking through.
Seeing that no one was speaking, Stemmerman waved his hands to everyone and said: "Everyone go back to their respective units to prepare. Next, we will face a fierce battle that affects our survival."
…………
Kirillov soon discovered something strange. When the Germans attacked this time, they did not prepare for artillery fire and launched a charge directly. Covering the infantry attack were tanks and assault guns that had not been seen for a long time.
Seeing this situation, Kirillov couldn't help but frowned. He didn't understand why the Germans suddenly changed their offensive tactics. You must know that before the German attack, they carried out violent shelling, which could also destroy fortifications on the highlands and cause certain casualties to the defenders. And this kind of attack that relies on tanks and assault guns as cover is obviously much less effective.
After observing with a telescope for a while, Kirillov also noticed that the attackers now were ordinary Wehrmacht troops, not the SS just now. He couldn't help but frowned and thought about what was going on. But after thinking for a long time, he still couldn't figure out the answer, but he felt that he should report the situation to Sokov, so he picked up the phone on the table.
