The fact that Uman Airport was completely destroyed by Soviet air raids was quickly reported to the commander of the 8th Army, General Voller. After receiving the report, he felt that the matter was of great importance and rushed to the headquarters to report to Manstein.
Because the marshal made a report.
After listening to Worrell's report, Manstein asked in surprise: "General Worrell, according to the information we have, the Russians are moving towards the Uman area, and it seems they want to launch an attack on the city."
"Yes, I thought so too, so I strengthened defenses in the main directions to resist possible attacks by the Russians."
"I know this matter after you reported it to me." Manstein frowned and said: "According to the Russians' combat habits, they can only attack our airport after the battle begins. Why did it happen this time?
It’s so abnormal to mention launching an attack on our airport?”
"Not sure." Worrell shook his head and said, "Marshal, not only was the airport attacked by the Russians, but even the air defense positions suffered huge losses at night."
Manstein knew very well that in order to prevent the Soviet air force from conducting reconnaissance in the Uman area, Voller established a strong air defense system in this area. In the past few days, several Soviet reconnaissance planes tried to break into the sky over Uman.
, either shot down by anti-aircraft artillery or destroyed by fighter jets.
"General Woller," if the Soviet army attacked the airport, it could also be said that it was to destroy its own air power so as to gain control of the air on the battlefield as soon as possible. But the attack air defense reminder made Manstein a little confused.
He asked in surprise: "What happened to your defense zone? Why did the Russians react so strongly?"
"It's nothing." Voller said slowly: "We just sent a battalion of troops to carry out a sneak attack on the Russians in Safran last night. But the Russians were very alert and did not wait for our troops to approach their position.
It was discovered. Then there was a firefight for several hours, and half of our troops were injured or killed, and finally we had to withdraw."
"anything else?"
"No more, Marshal." Worrell shook his head and said, "Besides this incident, I really can't think of anything else that could stimulate the Russians and make them attack us so abnormally."
Just when the two were at a loss what to do, Manstein's adjutant came in from outside.
The colonel handed a document to Manstein and reported to him: "Your Excellency, Marshal, this is a report from the missile force. Yesterday they planned to launch eight missiles to attack the commander of the 53rd Army in Russia.
But three of them were destroyed by the Russians' mysterious weapons before they were launched. Three seriously missed the target, and only two hit the target..."
When Manstein heard this, his heart suddenly moved, and he felt that the question that troubled him and Worrell seemed to have found the answer. He quickly asked: "Wait a minute, Colonel. You just said the target of the missile force's night attack.
where is it?"
"Headquarters of the 53rd Army." The adjutant was standing not far from the map. He quickly stepped forward and pointed on the map with his hand, and said: "Your Excellency, Marshal, this is right here."
After taking a look at the map, Manstein looked up at Worrell and asked: "General Worrell, do you know which part of the Russian troops are attacking you?"
"It should be the Russian troops stationed in Safran." Voller replied: "I guess it was our sneak attack on Safran at night that stimulated them. That's why the Russians took retaliatory actions against us."
"General Worrall, I think I know what's going on."
"Ah, Marshal, do you know?" Woller heard what Manstein said and asked with some urgency: "What on earth happened to stimulate the Russians and make them retaliate against us so crazily."
Manstein curled his lips and said, somewhat dumbfounded: "The answer is because of the night-time attack by the missile force."
"An attack by the missile force at night?" Voller was not too stupid. He only thought for a moment and guessed the answer: "Marshal, you are saying that it was precisely because we attacked the headquarters of the Russian 53rd Army.
Only after carrying out a long-range missile attack will the Russians take crazy retaliation against us?"
"Yes, the truth should be like this." Manstein said bitterly: "Now Sokov is the commander of the 53rd Army. His own headquarters was attacked by our missile force. Do you think he will give up? I
We are worried that his revenge has just begun, and more troublesome things will happen next for us."
"It seems that we have encountered a formidable opponent." By this time, Woller had concluded that the missile force's attack last night had completely angered Sokov, which was why Uman's airport was hit by an unexpected air strike.
And was completely destroyed. "However, Marshal, the destruction of Uman Airport means that our air supremacy here is completely in the hands of the Russians. Once a war breaks out, our artillery and armored forces will be destroyed because there is no air
cover and become a target for Russian bombing."
He said angrily: "These people in the missile force are really not good at attacking any target, but they insist on attacking Sokov's headquarters. He has always been a headache for us, but this time we angered him.
We still don’t know what method he will use to deal with us next.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a phone on the table rang. The adjutant quickly stepped forward and picked up the phone and put it to his ear.
After listening for only a moment, he looked at Manstein in embarrassment: "Your Excellency, Marshal, this is the call from the 8th Army asking for General Worrell."
Manstein raised his chin at Worrell and said: "General Worrell, answer the phone quickly and see what's going on in your headquarters."
Worrell nodded and took the microphone from the adjutant's hand: "I'm Worrell, what happened in the headquarters?"
"Your Excellency, Commander," the chief of staff on the other end of the phone reported to Worrell: "Two Russian transport planes, under the cover of more than a dozen attack aircraft, have entered our defense zone."
"With two transport planes, do the Russians want to drop paratroopers?" As soon as the idea came to Woller's mind, he immediately denied it: "Impossible, this is absolutely impossible. A transport plane can only carry more than 20 people at full capacity.
, two transport planes can only carry 50 people. Even if fifty paratroopers are air-dropped to the rear of our army, what effect will they have?"
"Your Excellency, Commander, if it were an ordinary transport plane, I would not take the liberty to make this call to you." Hearing Worrell's disapproving tone, his chief of staff almost cried in anxiety: "Enter our army.
The transport aircraft in the defense area have been modified. They were the aircraft that defeated the Safran defenders last time and could use two 14.5mm anti-aircraft machine guns to shoot from the cabin door."
Woller couldn't help but take a breath after hearing this. Although his troops only suffered 200 casualties in the last flying fortress, the problem is that anyone hit by such a large-caliber anti-aircraft machine gun will basically be beaten.
It was so dilapidated that the people who saw it were frightened to death.
More importantly, after the soldiers who escaped from Safran returned to the new defense line, they took the initiative to mention the terrible Soviet aircraft to their colleagues, which led to a situation where military morale fluctuated. If this modified transport aircraft
, if the area they reach happens to be stationed by these soldiers, the panic may expand indefinitely.
Thinking of this, he asked nervously: "Chief of Staff, where are these Russian planes flying?"
"I think it should be heading to a certain missile launch site." The chief of staff said in an uncertain tone: "At least that's the report I got."
"I understand." Worrell said briefly: "I will rush back to the headquarters as soon as possible."
After putting down the phone, Worrell reported to Manstein: "Your Excellency, Marshal, my chief of staff reported to me that the Russians dispatched two modified transport aircraft and entered our defense zone, most likely to attack missiles.
Launch site."
Manstein had not heard of the Flying Fortress, so he seemed a little careless about Woller's statement: "Don't worry, General Woller. The missile troops and their weapons were hiding in the concealment during the day. The Russians
Even if the aircraft launches an attack, it can only destroy those launchers placed outside. If the launchers are blown up, we can build them in another place, but it will only waste a little more time."
"Marshal, you don't understand what I mean." Seeing that Manstein misinterpreted what he meant, Woller quickly explained: "Many officers and soldiers who escaped from Safran told other officers and soldiers about the Russian equipment.
This kind of modified transport aircraft caused a certain amount of panic in the army, leading to a lack of morale in the army.
If this time the Russian transport plane happens to attack an important target of our army in an area where military morale is unstable, I am worried that it will cause military morale to be unstable and morale to be low. If this is the case, then the next battle will be impossible to fight.
"
"Oh, is the situation really that serious?" After listening to Worrell's words, Manstein realized the seriousness of the problem, "Then is there any solution?"
"I don't know either." Worrell spread his hands and said helplessly: "I just can't think of a good way to solve this troublesome problem."
I wanted to say a few more words, but the phone on Manstein's desk rang again. When the adjutant answered the phone, he thought it was another call from Worrell. Unexpectedly, the call this time was from the German Chief of Staff, General Zeitzler.
of.
The adjutant quickly covered the phone with his hand and said to Manstein respectfully: "Your Excellency, Marshal, this is a call from the Chief of General Staff, General Zeitzler. He said he has something important to talk to you about."
Manstein walked over, took the phone and put it to his ear, but he did not speak immediately. Instead, he waved to Worrell, indicating that he could leave.
After Woller and his adjutant left, Manstein asked slowly: "Your Excellency, Chief of General Staff, I am Manstein. I wonder if you have anything important to tell me today?"
"Your Excellency, Marshal, our General Staff held a meeting today." Zeitzler said: "The content of the meeting was about the overall issues on the Eastern Front. You advocated a flexible mobile defense strategy. You were prepared to give up territory in an attempt to force the Soviet Union to
The corps were either too spread out, or the advancing armored spearheads could counterattack on both flanks to achieve the goal of encircling and annihilating them.
The head of state rejected your point of view and continued to insist on implementing static warfare. That is to say, on all positions, our officers and soldiers must fight to the last man."
Manstein was not interested in Zeitzler's clichés at all. He asked anxiously: "Then I suggest that the head of state give up command of the army and hand it over to professionals who are familiar with war to manage it, and establish a moving battlefield.
What did the head of state say about the headquarters?"
"It's a pity, Marshal." Zeitzler said in a regretful tone: "The Führer rejected your proposal because he was worried that if he did so, it would weaken his rights in Germany."
Knowing that his proposal had been rejected by Mustache, Manstein couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. He said dejectedly: "Well, that's such a pity."
"Also, at the meeting today, someone proposed a motion." Zeitzler may have guessed that Manstein would ask for that person's name, and quickly added: "Don't ask me who I am, I can't tell you.
of."
Since Zeitzler didn't say anything, Manstein didn't force it, but asked politely: "Your Excellency, Chief of General Staff, can you tell me what the new proposal is?"
Zeitzler's voice suddenly became quieter, as if he was worried about being heard by others: "Your Excellency, Marshal, someone pointed out that since the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge (Battle of Kursk), you have frequently made mistakes in your command, not only
Belgorod, Kharkov, Kremenchug and other places were lost one after another, and even the carefully deployed Dnieper River defense line was broken through by the Russians. You are now an idealist and a defeatist, and you are not suitable anymore.
Continue to command the troops. The best way is to find someone to replace you."
Manstein was silent, and his heart could not help but feel cold. He never dreamed that he had worked hard to serve Germany, but now he was facing the end of being dismissed from his post.
After a long time, he asked in a voice hoarse with excitement: "Your Excellency, Chief of General Staff, I would like to ask who the head of state plans to send to take over my position?"
"Model, Walter Model." Zeitzler said: "Your Excellency, Marshal, after you are officially dismissed, General Model will take over your position and continue to command Army Group South."
"I understand, Your Excellency, Chief of General Staff." After Manstein confirmed the news, he seemed to have aged ten years. He said breathlessly: "Isn't Berlin planning to remove me from my post?"
"Marshal, I'm really sorry. I don't know the specific time." Zeitzler said politely: "But I heard the tone of the head of state and the time for your dismissal should be April this year."
Perhaps because he was worried that Manstein would be lost, he asked politely: "Marshal, what are your plans next?"
"My eyesight has been getting worse and worse recently. The doctor told me that my cataracts are getting worse and I should have surgery as soon as possible." Manstein said with a grimace: "I plan to use this time to treat the cataracts.
The operation is complete.”
"Oh, that's it." Seeing that Manstein had made certain plans for the coming days, Zeitzler felt much more at ease: "Marshal, I wish you a successful surgery in advance and a speedy recovery and discharge from the hospital."
This chapter has been completed!