Chapter 909: Encirclement (1)

If in the first round of the attack, the offensives of the Guards Division and the Youth Division were relatively "stalemate" due to the opponent's preset positions, the attacks of the Imperial Division and the Skeleton Division on the second day were devastating. The tactics of the two divisions and Yesterday was exactly the same. It was still a standard wedge-shaped attack formation. However, the ambush position set up by the rapidly retreating Red Army was beaten up by the Germans equipped with night vision equipment at night. The density of mines was not as good as the previous day. As a result, the Red Army tank troops directly It was defeated by two SS armored regiments.

It was past 10 o'clock in the morning, but the battle had only lasted four hours, and more than 200 Red Army tanks and tank destroyers had been destroyed.

Misfortunes never come singly because the Luftwaffe was deployed in full force, with more than 700 aircraft pouring firepower at the main breakthrough. The more than 100 Il-2 attack aircraft mobilized by the Red Army were destroyed or shot down before they could be fully used. The 3rd 5th Guards Mechanized Corps, which was responsible for the defense of the right wing, Most of the artillery regiment was killed by German Ju-188\Fw-190F and other aircraft before it even engaged the enemy. So much so that when the German artillery attacked with Grizzlies, Wasps and Himmler Organs, the Red Army could not find the suppressive force at all.

At noon, the two SS divisions had penetrated more than 60 kilometers into the enemy's positions. If the follow-up troops of the 38th Army had not arrived in time, the entire 5th Guards Tank Army would have faced collapse.

What made everyone at the Red Army headquarters gasp even more was that the 24th and 1st Guards Army of the Red Army, which had just been ordered to attack the Hausser Cluster at night, ran into the Guards Standard Division and the Youth Division who were resting. Pipe and Mei Ye was originally depressed because he could not participate in today's battle. When he found out that someone actually dared to come to Tai Sui to stir up trouble, he was so happy that he led more than 300 newly repaired tanks to fight back.

"You mean the 1st Guards Army ran into the main force of the SS Panzer Army?"

"They encountered at least 300 tanks. Except for the Tiger, many of the tanks were new equipment. They didn't even see a No. 4." Rokossovsky complained to Zhukov almost in tears, "The losses of the troops were too great. , three division commanders and one corps commander were lost in one morning!”

Zhukov frowned and asked: "Comrade Vatutin, the 5th Guards Tank Army also said that it was attacked by the main enemy force, with at least 400 tanks?"

"Yes!" Vatugin's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot. In just two days, the elite Guards Tank Army, which had 80,000 troops and more than 600 tanks (tank destroyers), not only lost its commander, but also lost nearly 100,000 troops. How could he not be annoyed by 500 tanks?

Zhukov slammed the table: "There must be something wrong with this. Either there are new enemy troops, or your subordinates are lying about the military situation!"

Angrily, Vatutin and Rokossovsky called in confidential staff to inquire about details and verify the battle situation. After a frantic investigation, they finally figured out the situation: yesterday's attack was against two SS armored divisions. Division, today's attack is still two SS armored divisions, but they are not the same group of people. Yesterday's attackers have become today's counterattack against Rokossovsky's troops.

Everyone was shocked: Based on this number, this unprecedented SS armored group has more than 1,200 tanks (tank destroyers)? Is it all new equipment? This is so damn scary, more powerful than two Guards tank armies! No wonder the originally relatively neat 5th Guards Tank Army was crippled by its opponents in just 2 days.

"It can't be defeated." Zhukov murmured to himself, "Hoth's troops are also attacking, so let the troops hurry up..."

"Go..." I repeated it three times, but I couldn't tell the exact direction: to the north was the Hausser Group blocking the way, to the west and south was the 4th Armored Group that was launching an attack; to the east was Kress not far away. The main force of the special cluster. Whether escaping back to Stalingrad or joining up with the Chernyakhovsky Offensive Group or joining up with Yereomenko's two armies, there are strong German troops blocking the way. Although the enemy has not launched an encirclement posture, But he is trapped in a trap and there is no way to escape.

"How about?" Rokossovsky whispered, "Let the comrades disperse and break out before the enemy's encirclement is finally formed?"

Zhukov shook his head: There are still more than 100,000 people in the two armies. To break out separately means that heavy equipment must be given up. Facing the mechanized German army or even the Cossack cavalry on the Caucasus grassland is a dead end.

He gritted his teeth and ordered word for word: "Stick where you are, fight to the last man, and buy time for the 38th Army and the 5th Guards Tank Army to retreat!"

Hearing this, Rokossovsky was struck by thunder and was speechless - once these two armies were lost, he would only have 200,000 troops to defend Stalingrad.

Zhukov seemed to have read his thoughts and added: "Let Comrade Vatutin's troops retreat to Stalingrad and help defend the city."

Vatutin was a little anxious, but he did not dare to say anything. These two armies were forced to stay in place to cover the retreat of his troops. If everyone wanted to run away, no one would be able to run away in the end.

As he was speaking, new urgent military information was sent: "The SS Panzer Army appeared in Alexandrovge. The 3rd Army was repulsed by the enemy and suffered losses of more than 30,000 people. Requesting urgent reinforcements..."

Another SS Panzer Army? Vatugin's face turned pale: The 3rd Army was one of the earliest group armies established. In terms of combat effectiveness, it was second only to the 5th Guards Tank Army in the Southwest Front. How could it be defeated by the enemy in one morning?

"Did you find out the serial number?"

"According to incomplete statistics, including SS-5 Wiking Division, SS-6 Northern Division, SS-7 Florian-Geyer Cavalry Division, SS-8 Hohenstaufen Panzer Division, SS-9 Flensburg Panzer Division and other units... the total number of tanks exceeded 1,500."

Unlike Hausser's cautious strategy of wheeled attack and wave advance, Guderian let Dietrich go with the Viking Division in the center, two Tiger 2 heavy armored battalions as the spearhead, and an armored division and an armored grenadier division on each wing, creating a grand momentum of five armored divisions advancing together and pushing forward on the front line. By the time Zhukov received the telegram, the grenadiers of the German divisions had already spread out in a fan shape and reaped the victory.

Zhukov seemed to be hit hard from top to bottom. He felt dizzy and almost fell to the ground. The staff around him exclaimed. Vatutin and Rokossovsky quickly supported him. He whispered: "Hurry up and prepare the plane for me. I want to go to Moscow to find Comrade Stalin."

"What should I do now?" Rokossovsky was the most anxious just now, but now it was Vatutin. His two best army groups were in danger, and his right wing was defeated. The rear was facing the German army's copying. There was almost no way out.

"What else can we do? Prepare to shrink the whole army and retreat." Zhukov's tears fell, "Prepare to give up Stalingrad."

"Ah?" Everyone was stunned.

Zhukov struggled to stand up and walked to the map. He took the red and blue pencils from the staff and began to outline. Following his outline, a large net surrounded by eight sides began to take shape on the map.

Southwest: German troops landed in Poti and Batumi;

Southeast: Iranian troops and German troops attacked;

South: Kleist's group stood still;

West: Hoth's group attacked;

Northwest: Guderian's group attacked;

Northeast: Eastern Army Group attacked Uralsk;

Heart: Hausser's group attacked from both sides.

According to the intelligence obtained, the Axis Army had at least 3 million troops (actually 2.7 million, German troops just over 2 million), 7,000 tanks (actually 6,200), and 8,000 aircraft (actually 7,200). The Red Army in the encirclement had only 2.1 million (only 1.95 million after today's losses), 2,800 tanks and less than 3,000 aircraft. No matter in terms of experience, combat effectiveness, advanced equipment or material supply, it was far from being an opponent.

Only the north and east of this impenetrable net seem to have some gaps, but everyone knows that the central battlefield is further north, and they will collide with the 2nd and 3rd Panzer Armies of the German Central Army Group.

"Can some troops be withdrawn from Moscow for rescue?" Vatutin mentioned it, and then he denied it.

There are still 4 fronts in the Moscow direction, with a total of more than 1.6 million troops, but the three Axis Army Groups they are facing have more than 1.5 million troops. To rescue, at least 2 fronts must be withdrawn to ensure the main force. Not to mention how much loss will be suffered if they break through the interception of the Central Army Group, what if they really break out? Doesn't Moscow want it?

"From this point of view, there is only a glimmer of hope in the east... Cross the Caspian Sea and retreat to Central Asia!" A young staff officer said timidly, attracting a circle of angry eyes around him, and immediately lowered his head and dared not speak.

Zhukov, Rokossovsky and Vatutin smiled bitterly at each other: Is there a way in the east? There is a road on the map, but there is no road in reality - the rugged terrain of Central Asia makes it extremely difficult for the Red Army, which is short of food and clothing and is being pursued by heavy troops, to retreat. 1.8 million troops went in, and it was good enough for 180,000 troops to retreat.

The two knew what he meant by going to Moscow: the Soviet Union had already lost the war, and he wanted to persuade Comrade Stalin to cease fire - which was almost synonymous with surrender.

"But..."

"I am sorry to the Party and Comrade Stalin. There is nothing to hide now." Zhukov forced a smile, "It was originally agreed that the ceasefire would be reached after this battle. This is good. It can sacrifice fewer comrades and I will commit less sins."

At 15:00 on the afternoon of May 27, Zhukov boarded the plane to the north in a hurry. One hour ago, all orders to retreat or hold had been issued; 15 minutes ago, news came from Orenburg that the city had fallen, and 40,000 defenders (including more than 5,000 female soldiers) had either died or surrendered. Marshal Weichs's first force, the 6th Panzer Army, quickly attacked Uralsk, which had only less than 50,000 second-line troops...