Chapter 595: Unexpected

After Kerch was captured, the three Soviet armies behind the German army, namely the 45th, 44th and 51st armies, lost their last hope... Their only way to survive was to attack the German army from both sides together with Kerch.

If they could annihilate the German army, they could return to Kerch and echo the Taman Peninsula, in their words, "return to the embrace of the motherland."

But they failed to do it.

And it was almost impossible to capture the city of Kerch where the German army was stationed with their own strength.

On the one hand, this was because the German army had sufficient ammunition, while the Soviet army, although large in number, was out of ammunition and food.

On the other hand, Kerch had a geographical advantage... As mentioned before, Kerch was located on a high ground with hard ground, which meant that the Soviet army had to attack in the mud. Everyone knew that such an attack would have no meaning except to increase casualties.

Therefore, except for a small number of senior officers and soldiers who were taken out by transport ships, warships and submarines, the vast majority of the other three Soviet armies chose to surrender.

For the German army, they achieved a very amazing victory, even they themselves could not believe it... The troops with weak manpower and equipment defeated the seemingly powerful opponent in a few days. They captured 170,000 Soviet troops and suffered only 7,588 casualties.

This victory of one country proved the Germans' confidence in their own capabilities and their contempt for the Soviet army's combat capabilities. On the other hand, it also proved that the Soviet army was a demoralized and unorganized mob.

Therefore, at the moment when the three Soviet army groups surrendered, the whole sky over Kerch was filled with cheers from German soldiers. Qin Chuan even knew that Manstein would be promoted to marshal soon.

However, Qin Chuan thought that this was not necessarily a good thing.

Because it was precisely because of the victory of this battle and the victory in the direction of Kharkov... In fact, the victory of the Kharkov battle seemed to be greater, because the German army encircled and annihilated 260,000 Soviet troops there, while only losing 20,000 people.

But if we look at the ratio of troops, it is obvious that the Kerch battle is more proud.

Against the backdrop of these two victories, Hitler began to underestimate the enemy. He originally planned to attack Stalingrad with a pincer attack (Army Group B on the left and Army Group A on the right), or it can be said that Hitler was still hesitating whether to split his troops into two routes... At this time, he no longer hesitated and resolutely ordered Army Group A to attack the Caucasus region instead.

Of course, the situation now will be a little different, because Qin Chuan intends to take the lead in blitzking the Caucasus region.

Standing on the Kerch Strait, Manstein looked confidently at the Taman Peninsula on the other side, only a few kilometers away, and occasionally raised a telescope to look at it.

"Captain, with your help, I won the most proud victory in history!" Manstein said: "Thank you, and all the soldiers of the First Infantry Regiment who participated in this battle!"

"You don't need to thank me, General!" Qin Chuan replied: "This is what I should do. In addition, this is indeed your most proud victory in history, but perhaps... it is not the most proud in the future!"

As he said, Qin Chuan's eyes turned to the Taman Peninsula opposite.

Manstein understood what Qin Chuan meant, which was as mentioned before... to cross the Kerch Strait and head straight for the Caucasus region.

Of course, these were not things that could be discussed in such a public place, with Kerch people and controlled prisoners everywhere.

At Manstein's signal, Qin Chuan and Colonel Slain followed Manstein to his headquarters.

"Captain!" Manstein said, "You may not know how difficult amphibious landing operations are!"

"No, General, I know!" Qin Chuan replied, "We successfully resisted the landing operations of the British and Americans in Sicily!"

"Uh-huh!" Manstein said, "But that was just an anti-landing operation, wasn't it? And you should know what the British and Americans invested in that landing operation!"

Qin Chuan certainly knew.

The British and American coalition forces invested a large number of fighter planes, warships, transport ships, ground combat troops, tanks and airborne troops in that battle.

What Manstein meant was that the British and American coalition forces failed to land in the face of such powerful troops and equipment, so how could the German 11th Army win the amphibious landing?

"I have to make it clear, Captain!" Manstein said: "This is not that I don't keep my promise, but I am discussing the feasibility of the attack with you!"

"I understand, General!" Qin Chuan replied.

Qin Chuan believed what Manstein said... In other words, Manstein was no longer bound by Hitler's orders as before, but if the attack itself was not feasible, then Manstein would still refuse to attack the Taman Peninsula because he had to be responsible for the lives of the soldiers.

"This is what our reconnaissance plane took!" Manstein handed Qin Chuan a few photos and said: "The enemy has warships, gunboats, and still retains a large number of aircraft. Fortifications are also arranged along the coast. Although these fortifications are very crude, any of them may become a disaster for our landing!"

Qin Chuan took the photos and saw that they were several Soviet 1125 gunboats.

In fact, Qin Chuan could not accurately distinguish what type of gunboat this was, because the Soviet gunboat models of this period were too complicated... This was related to the Soviet Union's emergency mobilization and industrial relocation.

Because of industrial migration, the Soviet military industry on the front line was basically stagnant or primitive. On the other hand, the Soviet army urgently needed a large amount of equipment and put it on the battlefield.

So the Soviet army pieced together equipment randomly.

For example, this 1125 gunboat is to move the tank turret to the ship as the main gun, and sometimes even move the Katyusha rocket launcher on it, so it becomes various types of gunboats.

Of course, Qin Chuan does not need to subdivide it. He just needs to know that there is such a thing in the Kerch Strait that will pose a threat to the landing.

"So!" Qin Chuan looked at the photo and said, "I believe that the Soviet army is not prepared for our landing!"

"I agree with this!" Manstein replied.

This can be seen from the rough fortifications of the Soviet army along the coast of the Taman Peninsula.

But this seems normal. How could they, who have control of the sea, believe that the German army would cross the strait to land and fight? What did the German army use to cross? Fishing boats? If they did so, they would only bury the German army at the bottom of the sea.

Manstein continued, "But we can't rely on this, right?"

"Yes, General!" Qin Chuan replied, "But it can catch us by surprise!"