After Manstein ended his call with Kempf, he stood in front of the map on the wall to study the next steps that the Soviet army might take. He looked at it for more than half an hour.
Seeing Manstein turn away from the wall, his chief of staff immediately approached him and asked respectfully: "Marshal, do you have any new thoughts about the upcoming battle?"
"Chief of Staff," Manstein pointed at the map and said to his Chief of Staff: "Judging from the current situation, the Russians who have occupied Kharkov may launch an attack on Kharkov at any time.
Do you think Hott and Kenf’s troops can stop the Russian attack?”
"It's hard to say, Marshal." The chief of staff replied cautiously: "There are too many variables. Although the troops of General Huot and General Kenf can use solid fortifications and a complete defense system to
Smash the Russian attack, but the enemy has the advantage in strength after all, so even if we were to win, I'm afraid it would be a miserable victory."
Manstein heard the implication of the chief of staff's words, opened a box on the table, took out a cigar from it, cut off the cigarette holder with special scissors, and asked casually: "Then tell me, what are we going to do?
What can we do to defend Kharkov?"
"I think troops should be transferred from other areas to strengthen Kharkov's defense." The chief of staff suggested to Manstein: "We should try to shorten the gap in strength between our army and the Russians."
"Then which troops do you think can be transferred to Kharkov?"
The chief of staff quickly came to the wall, picked up the explanation stick leaning on the side, tapped twice on the map, and said to Manstein: "Your Excellency, Marshal, our troops currently fighting in Donbas are fully capable of
To block the Russian attack, I suggest that all the reserves there be transferred to Kharkov to reduce the burden on General Hott and General Kenf."
"Reserve force in the Donbas region?" After listening to the advice of the chief of staff, Manstein put his right hand under his left armpit, his left elbow on his right arm, his left hand holding his chin, and he looked at the map carefully, and his mind began to
Consider whether the reserve teams in Donbas can be mobilized.
"Yes, Your Majesty Marshal." Seeing that Manstein did not veto his proposal, the chief of staff continued: "Although the Russians' attack on Donbas is very violent, our soldiers are fully capable of defeating them.
Block it. I think it is completely necessary to transfer the idle reserve troops in the Donbas region to Kharkov to fight."
"Chief of Staff, you have said a lot. The offensive launched by the Russian Southern Front in Donbas looks fierce, but the results achieved are very limited. Our troops defending there are fully capable of blocking their attack.
I think we can transfer troops from the Donbas region to Kharkiv to strengthen our army."
After Manstein said this, he paused for a moment and then said: "But even if we transfer the Donbas troops to Kharkov, compared with the Russians, we will still be at a numerical disadvantage. It seems that we
We also need to find ways to mobilize troops from other regions to strengthen Kharkov's defense."
Hearing what Manstein said, the chief of staff quickly moved closer to the map and carefully checked the deployment of the troops. After looking at it for a while, he turned to Manstein, shook his head, and said with regret: "I'm sorry, Marshal,
Except for the reserve forces in the Donbas region, there are really no troops that can be mobilized."
"Why is this so?"
"It's all that damn Sokov's fault," the chief of staff said through gritted teeth: "Any troops who fought against him suffered heavy casualties at least, or were completely wiped out at worst. As a result, our military strength became very tense.
.If you want the garrison in Kharkov to be roughly equal to the strength of the Russians, I am afraid you can only ask the High Command in Berlin for help."
Manstein sat in his seat, lit a cigar with a lighter, took a few puffs, put the cigar on the ashtray, and then grabbed the phone on the table: "I called the Chief of General Staff, General Zeitzler.
Give us a call and see if he can think of something for us."
After the call was connected, Zeitzler recognized Manstein's voice and asked with some surprise: "Marshal, why did you remember to call me?"
"Your Excellency, Chief of General Staff," Manstein said politely, "I am in some trouble now and I hope to get your help."
Knowing that Manstein had asked him for help, Zeitzler immediately cheered up and asked: "Marshal, is the situation in Kharkov very bad?"
"That's right, Your Excellency, Chief of General Staff." Manstein agreed with Zeitzler's statement: "In order to seize Kharkov, the Russians dispatched troops from two fronts. In terms of numbers, they were already far behind.
Far outstripped our defenses in the Kharkov area."
"Can't you allocate forces to strengthen Kharkov's defense?"
"We plan to mobilize the reserve force in the Donbass area to reinforce Kharkov." Manstein said: "But even with this force, our defense strength in the Kharkov area is still far behind.
Go to the Russians. That's why I called you, hoping to get your help."
"Marshal, if you are calling me to seek more troops," Zeitzler said into the phone, "then I can only say sorry to you. The war in Italy is tense now, and I don't have any troops at all."
I'll give it to you."
"Zeitzler!" Before Zeitzler could finish speaking, a shrill voice came from behind him: "Who are you talking to?"
Hearing this voice, Zeitzler suddenly jumped up from his seat as if he was electrocuted. He turned around and stopped while holding the microphone and replied: "My head of state, I am talking to Marshal Manstein!"
"It would be great to talk to Marshal Manstein." Mustache walked up to Zeitzler, stretched out his hand to him, and said, "Give me the phone. I have something to ask Manstein."
Zeitzler did not dare to neglect and quickly handed the microphone in his hand to Mustache.
Mustache took the phone, pressed it tightly to his ear and asked, "Hey, Manstein! I'm the head of state. Do you have anything to call Zeitzler for help?"
"My head of state." A mustachioed voice came from the receiver, causing Manstein, who was sitting in his chair, to stand up immediately and said respectfully: "I called the chief of general staff because we are holding on to Hal.
There are too few troops in the Cove area, and it may be difficult to block the Russian attack, so I hope he can send me some reserves to strengthen the defense of the area."
"Marshal Manstein," when Mustache heard Manstein say that he needed some reinforcements, he thought that it was because he had transferred the opponent's reserve team from the Kursk area that a battle that was in sight of victory ended in failure.
ended, so he was filled with guilt for Manstein. He quickly searched the deployment situation of the troops in his mind to determine which troops could be deployed to strengthen Kharkov. The mustache with an amazing memory could clearly
He remembered the name of the commander of the combat unit above the division level and the location of the unit. In less than half a minute, he said into the microphone: "I can transfer an armored corps to you from Army Group Center to strengthen Kharkov.
defense."
Hearing that Mustache said that an armored corps could be transferred from Army Group Center to strengthen the defense of Kharkov, Manstein couldn't help but be overjoyed. With this force stationed in Kharkov, the Russians wanted to rush into the city, at least
It costs twice as much.
He quickly expressed his gratitude to Mustache: "My head of state, thank you for your generosity. I assure you that with the addition of this army, our army will be able to defend Kharkov."
After Mustache and Manstein chatted for a few more words, he returned the microphone to Zeitzler, turned around and left the office.
Seeing Mustache leave, Zeitzler breathed a sigh of relief and said into the microphone: "Marshal Manstein, you are lucky. The Führer actually agreed to transfer troops from Army Group Center to strengthen Kharkov's defense.
I believe that after this force reaches Kharkov, it will be a pipe dream for the Russians to capture the city."
Manstein's goal had been achieved, but he did not put down the phone immediately. He thought this was a good opportunity to connect with Zeitzler, so he casually asked: "General Zeitzler, how are you doing recently?"
"Not good, Marshal." Zeitzler, who was holding the microphone, glanced at the door guiltily and said in a low voice, "I just had a dispute with the Führer yesterday."
"Can you tell me what the dispute was about?"
"I suggested that the head of state reduce the existing defense line by one-third to ensure that our army has sufficient reserves, but he was rejected by the head of state." Zeitzler said with a wry smile: "He prohibited any form of retreat.
, requiring the soldiers to die on their own positions even if they die."
"Then have you convinced him?"
"No." Zeitzler said, somewhat dumbfounded: "Marshal, you should know that the head of state is a very stubborn person, and it is very difficult to convince him."
"General Zeitzler, I'm a little worried about you."
"Worried about me?" Zeitzler asked in surprise: "What are you worried about me for?"
"You keep contradicting the head of state like this, and he might fire you directly one day. You have to be more careful."
"There is no way, Marshal." Zeitzler said: "As the chief of the general staff, if you see the head of state has made military mistakes, you must point it out to him. If he really fires me because of this kind of thing,
Then there is nothing I can do."
While the two were chatting, Manstein suddenly remembered something important and quickly asked: "General Zeitzler, what is the situation in Italy now?"
"Not good, Marshal." Zeitzler said cautiously: "According to the intelligence we have, Mussolini was removed from office and imprisoned on the top of the Gran Sasso in the Abruzzi Mountains. The Italians and the British and American troops
The peace talks have reached a consensus and will be published in written form soon."
Knowing that Mussolini was imprisoned and that the Italians surrendered to the British and American troops was a certainty, Manstein took the initiative to ask about the Italian prisoners of war: "General Zeitzler, in my defense area, there are a total of 80,000
There are many Italian troops. Two days ago, I ordered people to disarm all of them and imprison them in prisoner-of-war camps. Now that Italy will surrender soon, what should we do with these Italian soldiers?"
After hearing what Manstein said, Zeitzler said with embarrassment: "Your Majesty Marshal, the Italians used to be our allies. Although they made private peace with the British and American troops, things are not without improvement. The head of state has been studying these two days.
As for sending people to rescue Mussolini, as long as Mussolini can escape safely, the Italians will be on our side again."
"So, we can't just deal with those disarmed Italian soldiers?"
"That's pretty much what it means." Zeitzler reminded Manstein, "The head of state is currently preparing to send people to rescue Mussolini. How to deal with the Italian army depends on the final outcome of the negotiations between the two parties."
Although Zeitzler did not say the best way to deal with them, Manstein knew in his heart that the imprisoned Italian prisoners of war had now become hot potatoes. They could neither kill nor release them, so they could only keep them there for the time being.
As soon as Manstein put down the phone, the chief of staff came over and asked: "Your Excellency, Marshal, I wonder if the chief of general staff has said what to do with the imprisoned Italian soldiers?"
Manstein sighed softly, picked up the cigar placed on the ashtray, took a puff, and said to the Chief of Staff: "Chief of Staff, things are not easy to handle. General Zeitzler just said that the head of state was preparing to rescue Mexico.
Solini's matter and how to deal with the Italian troops imprisoned by us still need to wait for the final results of negotiations between the two parties."
"Your Excellency, Marshal, the number of Italian soldiers imprisoned in our defense area alone has reached 80,000." Seeing that Manstein had no way to deal with it, the Chief of Staff was a little anxious: "Although their weapons have been confiscated, but so
Many people are locked up in prisoner-of-war camps, and the soldiers responsible for guarding them do not dare to be too harsh on them. If this continues, I am worried that problems will arise."
"Let's maintain the status quo now," Manstein said helplessly: "We will discuss how to resettle these Italian soldiers after Mussolini is rescued."
While the two were talking, the phone on the table rang without warning.
After the chief of staff picked up the phone and listened for a while, he immediately covered the topic with his hand and said to Manstein in a panic: "Marshal, something big has happened."
"whats the matter?"
"The call came from General Kenff. He said that our army's prisoner-of-war camp in the forest outside Dergach was attacked by the Russians. The troops guarding the prisoner-of-war camp were all wiped out. Among the imprisoned Italian soldiers, there were
More than two thousand people left with the Russians."
When Manstein heard this, he immediately slammed the cigar in his hand to the ground and asked sternly: "What's going on? How could the Russians suddenly appear outside the city of Dergach and occupy the prison?"
Italian POW camp?”
The chief of staff shrugged his shoulders, indicating that he didn't know.
Manstein went over to take the microphone and asked sternly: "General Kenf, tell me, aren't your troops attacking the Compass Town of Kazachya? Why did the Russian troops appear in Dergach and occupy it?"
The prisoner of war camp there?”
This chapter has been completed!