Chapter 782 Strategy
"Let's put it this way!" Grisdorf said while walking with Qin Chuan to the river: "We are almost certain that after the ice and snow melt next spring, the head of state will order the troops to attack the Soviet Union again. He is even preparing for the attack now. Prepared. However, the preparations made by the Americans and British in the UK require us to be on the defensive. We should transfer the main force to northern France. How will you solve this..."
"Please, colonel!" Qin Chuan said, "I'm just a lieutenant colonel, these are not things I need to think about!"
Qin Chuan was not telling the truth. He had actually been thinking about similar issues. He just didn't want to continue the discussion with Grisdorf.
"Oh, really?" Grisdorf stared at Qin Chuan angrily and said, "So, you told me that I was wrong from beginning to end. I thought you were doing it for the interests of Germany, but you told me that you Just for your own life?”
"Why not?" Qin Chuan asked.
"Remember the last time you led your troops deep into the enemy's defense lines to capture prisoners, and then used this as evidence to persuade the head of state to shrink the defense lines?" Grisdorf asked.
"Of course!" Qin Chuan replied.
"Have you ever thought about what would happen if you failed to convince the Führer?"
Qinchuan was speechless for a moment. Grisdorf was right. At this time, Hitler controlled and interfered too much with the army. Not only that, he also made wrong strategic plans again and again... This was because Hitler still had a secret in his head. It is determined by outdated ideas years ago or deep-rooted racist ideas.
Hitler firmly believed that Germans were inherently better than other countries. In the early days of World War II, Germany was able to gallop across Europe with weak equipment and few troops. This is clear evidence of this.
Therefore, Hitler stubbornly believed that the German army could still attack the Soviet army and annihilate hundreds of thousands or millions of Soviet troops as easily as when it first attacked the Soviet Union during the war, that is, the Battle of Barbarossa.
Therefore, even if the German army on the Eastern Front was defeated at Stalingrad and the German army on the Eastern Front was in urgent need of rest and recuperation, Hitler would launch the Kursk offensive...
Of course, none of this happened under Qin Chuan's influence, but Hitler's stubborn character and wrong perceptions would not change.
He simply did not consider one thing: the Soviet army has continued to grow and improve itself in battle, while the combat effectiveness of the German army has declined due to the large loss of experienced and high-quality soldiers who cannot be replaced.
As a result, the situation that occurred during "Barbarossa" is no longer possible. The gap in combat effectiveness and quality between the Soviet and German armies has narrowed. The Battle of Kursk initiated by the German army ultimately ended in failure. This became The beginning of Germany's rout on the Eastern Front.
"The problem is that we withdrew!" Qin Chuan replied.
"Oh, yes!" Grisdorf smiled disdainfully: "This time, you did it. But what about next time? You have been to the 'Werewolf' and had several contacts with the Führer. You should know him. He has a mysterious greed for the enemy's land. He will only keep occupying the enemy's land and then defend every place. It is a miracle that you can successfully persuade him to shrink the defense line. Do you understand? It’s because the Führer realizes the importance of Baku, otherwise you won’t succeed!”
This is true, because it is indeed the case. Even if Qinchuan put the real evidence in front of Hitler, Hitler knew that the Soviets had a counterattack plan and would surround the 6th Army in Stalingrad, but he still hoped to rely on the evidence to prove it. Some forces blocked the enemy's attack or held on to Stalingrad instead of withdrawing.
"The head of state has lost his mind!" Grisdorf said: "Everyone knows what he will do, attack, hold on, not take a step back, and then repeat this, without considering whether we have enough troops to support it. We know this, and the enemy also knows this. Do you think you can change everything with your wit and bravery? No! The 21st Armor will eventually become one of the defeated troops. "Branch, you can't escape the fate of failure, and the same goes for Lieutenant Colonel, or 'Legendary Sergeant'!"
Qinchuan had to admit that what Grisdorf said made sense. There was a saying that "tactical victory cannot make up for strategic mistakes."
Everything Qinchuan did was tactical, but the strategic decision-making was always in Hitler's hands... No matter how hard Qinchuan tried, as long as Hitler stubbornly made a wrong decision, all victory would be in vain.
Just like before, Qinchuan achieved many victories in Stalingrad, and even captured the sandbar and successfully captured Stalingrad, which changed history. However, if Hitler had not changed his mind and chose to retreat, the German army would still be in for a huge defeat.
"But what can I do?" Qin Chuan emphasized again: "I am just a lieutenant colonel!"
"You can choose your own path!" Grisdorf said: "Either be loyal to the country or be loyal to the Führer!"
"The problem is that it is not in Germany's interest to overthrow the Führer either!"
"Then find a feasible plan!" Grisdorf said: "We can't go on like this!"
"Do you know where the focus of the problem is, Colonel?" Qin Chuan replied: "We cannot overthrow the Führer, because that will divide Germany and let others slaughter it, but the Führer's wrong strategy will make the situation worse. What do you think we can do? What to do? We can only take one step at a time!”
Grisdorf thought about it and nodded in agreement: "Maybe you are right, the Führer himself is a contradiction. But it is precisely because of this that we need your plan..."
"I have already told you that I don't have any plan, Colonel!" Qin Chuan replied: "Even if I have a plan, what can I do? Put the plan in front of the Führer for him to approve? Forget it!"
"We can influence him!" Grisdorf replied.
"How?" Qin Chuan asked back.
"Influence on staff, intelligence, and other aspects!"
Grisdorf did not elaborate, but Qin Chuan understood what he meant... The rebel organization has someone in the General Staff, and even Canaris, the director of the Military Intelligence Bureau, is one of them. If there are some biased words in the intelligence or the documents provided to Hitler, or even some fabricated intelligence that has not actually been detected, it is indeed very likely to affect Hitler's decision.
Thinking of this, Qin Chuan nodded.
At this point in the war, Qin Chuan should indeed make some changes at the strategic level, otherwise it is very likely that nothing will be changed in the end, as Grisdorf said.