The Russians definitely wanted to strive for success, but they were fooled by the fierce German offensive. The Russo-German war broke out on June 22, and the bearded man did not announce Russia's general mobilization until July 3.
At the same time that Big Beard announced the general mobilization, the Battle of Kiev broke out. The Southwest Front Army with a total strength of 850,000 faced a huge threat, and the situation was extremely unfavorable to Russia.
Prior to this, on July 6, the Battle of Minsk ended. All the 320,000 Russian troops in the encirclement surrendered. The Western Front Army, with a total strength of 720,000, was defeated within a week. Only less than 200,000 people escaped from the German army.
Encirclement.
Also on July 7, Commander-in-Chief of the Western Front Dmitry Grigorievich Pavlov, Chief of Staff V. Ye Klimovsky, and more than 20 others
The general was arrested and held accountable by a military court.
This Pavlov is the same Pavlov who participated in the Spanish Civil War.
It should be said that the failure of the Western Front had a lot to do with Pavlov.
During the Spanish Civil War, due to the poor performance of the Popular Front armored units, Pavlov believed that the tank units were unable to fight alone and could only support infantry. This led Russia to disband the mechanized units that had been formed until 1940, when the German armored units were deployed in the Blitzkrieg.
After playing a huge role in the war, Russia's armored forces were rebuilt.
Unfortunately, it was too late at this time. The performance of Russian tanks was far behind German tanks at this time, and there was a huge gap in tactics. After experiencing the Great Purge, the quality of Russian frontline troop commanders was compared with that of German officers.
There is also a huge gap, and many reasons combined together eventually led to the complete failure of the Russian Western Front.
Big Beard believed that Pavlov, as the commander-in-chief of the Western Front Army, should be responsible for the failure of the Western Front Army.
Therefore, Pavlov and Klimovsky, as well as the commander of the Fourth Army A. An. Korobkov, were shot for treason at the same time.
This result was unfair to Pavlov.
Pavlov is not without merit.
If it weren't for Pavlov's decisive decision, the entire Western Front Army would have been annihilated by the Germans.
Pavlov reserved at least 200,000 manpower for the Western Front.
At the same time that the Western Front Army suffered a devastating blow, the Southwest Front Army was also facing annihilation.
While the German Army Group Center launched the Minsk Campaign, Army Group South, under the command of Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt, broke into the Russian border from western Ukraine and launched an attack in the direction of Kiev.
Here we will introduce the attack directions of the three German army groups in the Barbarossa Plan.
In the German plan, the 26 divisions of Army Group North, commanded by Marshal Loeb, set out from East Prussia, crossed the three Baltic countries, and aimed at Leningrad.
The 49 divisions of Army Group Center, commanded by Marshal von Bock, attacked from the Warsaw area, passed through Brest-Minsk-Smolensk, and marched directly to Moscow.
The 39 divisions of Army Group South were commanded by Marshal Rundstedt and aimed at Kiev.
After the launch of Plan Barbarossa, the German army made rapid progress in three directions. Army Group North has now invaded Estonia due to the addition of Lithuania.
Army Group Center completely defeated the Russian Western Front through the Battle of Minsk and is advancing towards Moscow.
After Army Group South invaded Russia, it successively captured Lviv, Trop and Vennitsa, and crushed the counterattack launched by four mechanized corps led by General Kirponos in Brody.
At Brody, what was probably the largest, fiercest, and most brutal tank battle in history broke out between German and Russian troops.
In this battle, both the Germans and the Russians showed their full strength.
On the German side, Rundstedt mobilized all 750 tanks of Army Group South.
Kilponos has 3,500 tanks.
The key is that most of the tanks on Kilponos' side are light tanks such as T26 and BT7, which have insufficient protection and attack power.
Most of the German tanks are Type III and Type IV tanks that have just entered service in recent years, and have obvious performance advantages over Russian tanks.
reflected in the results of the battle.
The large number of Russian tanks lost nearly 80% after the battle.
After the Battle of Brody, the Germans continued to advance vigorously.
By this time Army Group Center had concluded the Battle of Minsk, and the Southwest Front's position formed a huge protrusion and faced the risk of being surrounded.
General Kilponos, commander-in-chief of the Southwest Front, was worried that the Southwest Front would repeat the mistakes of the Western Front and requested a strategic retreat.
This request was rejected by Big Beard, who completely ignored the danger of the Southwest Front Army being surrounded and asked the Southwest Front Army to defend on the spot and wait for an opportunity to counterattack.
Fight back!
After the outbreak of the Russo-German War, the Russian army was routed thousands of miles away with few victories. Rather than looking for opportunities to counterattack, Big Beard wanted to abandon the entire Southwest Front to buy time for Russia's next defense plan.
When the Russo-German War broke out, the total strength of the Russian Southwest Front was 850,000.
Odessa is the most important city on the Black Sea coast, with a pleasant climate and moderate temperature. Since Odessa port is a natural ice-free port, it plays an important role in water transportation and is known as the "Pearl of the Black Sea".
More than 60 percent of trade between southern Africa and Russia passes through Odessa.
After the outbreak of war in Europe, in order to win Russia's accession, trade between southern Africa and Russia became more frequent, and Odessa became the busiest city on the Black Sea.
Compared with cities in southern Africa, Odessa is not advanced. There are only a few high-rise buildings in the city, and there are more ancient buildings with a history of hundreds or even hundreds of years, giving it a bit more profound historical heritage.
The Embassy of Southern Africa in Odessa is located on Shevchenko Street not far from the port.
Shevchenko Street was named in memory of the famous Ukrainian poet and artist Taras Shevchenko. After joining the CCCP, the Russians renamed this street Lenin Street, but the locals in Odessa still used to use the old name.
title.
There are only 46 staff members at the Southern African embassy and consulate in Odessa, of which only 35 are truly Southern Africans.
After the outbreak of the European War, some southern African staff evacuated early, leaving only 16 people who continued to work in Odessa.
After the outbreak of the Russo-German war, the embassy and consulates were once again evacuated. The only southern Africans who remained in the embassy and consulates in Odessa were Ambassador Chen Mingen and the embassy attaché Ivan Mihailo.
Ivan Mikhaylo is a Cossack, of Ukrainian and Russian descent, a senior mercenary of the Umbrella Company. He has been serving in the Umbrella Company since the end of the last world war. This time, after the outbreak of the European War, he returned to the southern African army and was
Appointed as military attaché at the embassy in Ossad.
The day after the Battle of Brody, Chen Mingen called Ivan and hoped that Ivan and his family would leave Ossad and return to southern Africa.
"The Russians lost the Battle of Brody, Uman has become a war zone, the connection between Odessa and Kiev has been cut off, the Southwest Front is doomed, and the Harvest cargo ship is parked in the port. You and Elena can travel as quickly as possible
Heading to Cyprus at a fast speed." Chen Mingen handed an envelope to Ivan, which contained the travel expenses for Ivan and his family.
The situation in the Valley is extremely unfavorable to Russia. Once the Germans capture Uman, aid from southern Africa will not be able to reach Kiev through Uman. The Southwestern Front has already lost almost all its armored units in the Battle of Brody. The Bearded Army is not allowed to
Retreating, this is clearly looking at the death rhythm of the Southwest Front Army.
"What should you do?" Ivan is a pure soldier, without so many tricks.
"I have received the transfer order and will go to Moscow soon. I have been promoted!" Chen Mingen had a smile on his face, but there was no hint of sweetness in it.
"I will put Elena and the children on the boat first, and then go to Moscow with you. I also want to see how magnificent the Red Square is." Ivan didn't want to leave Odessa.
In other words, Ivan wanted to stay and Chen Mingen would share everything he was about to face.
"Don't be stupid, this is not your responsibility. I am a diplomat, and the Germans will give me treatment that matches my status." Chen Mingen spilled the beans in excitement.
Ivan had a serious expression and pursed his lips tightly without saying a word. Russian blood was flowing on his body.
Russians are really not afraid of death!
I'm just afraid that my death is worthless.
"Don't be stubborn Ivan. Cyprus has the Second Army and the Fifth Army, the Cyprus Squadron, and Lord Cyprus. Security is absolutely guaranteed. Haven't you been worried about Andre's education? Cyprus has the best in Europe.
With public education, Andre will definitely become a qualified pilot." Chen Mingen said earnestly. Andre is Ivan's son and Chen Mingen's godson.
"Elena can take good care of Andre. I want to be with you. Either we go together or we stay together." Ivan's tone was firm and unquestionable.
"Why are you doing this?" Chen Mingen was emotional and a friend in need is a friend indeed.
"Brother, I know you are ready to sacrifice for your country, and so am I." Ivan smiled sincerely. As long as the southern embassy in charge of Ossad is not revoked, the Ossad embassy will be the territory of southern Africa. Ivan must protect the embassy.
violated.
After the outbreak of the European War, the cohesion of southern Africa reached a new level.
During the last world war, there were ethnic Germans in southern Africa who donated money to German organizations, so they were suppressed by the southern African federal government and all illegal organizations were banned.
After the outbreak of the European War, southern Africa became united, and many second- and third-generation Germans signed up to join the army to fight for human democracy and freedom.
This slogan sounds a bit middle-of-the-road, but in the excitement of the crowd it is quite popular. In another time and space, Americans were obsessed with freedom and democracy. Others may seem to be middle-of-the-road, but that is indeed what many Americans think.
It has to be said that the brainwashing of democratic governments is still very effective, and the same is true in southern Africa.
During the two world wars, Southern African Film Companies produced many war films related to World War I.
With the popularity of the movie, democracy and freedom have been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. Many southern Africans really think this way. They have a strong ownership mentality and have considered themselves the leaders of this planet since childhood.
Now is the time for them to deliver on their promises, and almost all southern Africans are doing their part.
When all Southern African embassies and consulates in Ossad were evacuated, more and more supplies from Southern Africa arrived at the port.
The Allied Atlantic route was seriously threatened by German submarines. The road from southern Africa to Ossade was unimpeded, and there were very few Axis submarine activities.
This is thanks to the powerful deterrence of the Cyprus Squadron.
Even though the Cyprus Squadron does not have a single battleship, its anti-submarine capabilities far exceed those of the British Mediterranean Fleet.
When Italy controlled the Twelve Islands, there were sporadic German submarine activities in the Aegean Sea.
After Southern Africa occupied the Twelve Islands, the Aegean Sea has become a restricted area for German submarines and Italian submarine forces. Southern African merchant ships passing through the Aegean Sea to the Black Sea do not need warship escort.
On July 11, the cargo ship "Giant" with a displacement of 8,000 tons transported 60 "Crusader" tanks to Ossad. This batch of tanks was originally intended to support the Russian Southwest Front.
The "Crusader" is an improved version of the "Pusman" tank, but its overall performance is not as good as that of the "Pusman". With the same firepower as the "Pusman", its defensive power is greatly reduced due to the reduced armor thickness.
There is no way around it.
After the outbreak of the Russo-German War, the Russian armored forces suffered heavy losses and were in urgent need of tanks to fight against the powerful German armored forces.
Russia has always paid insufficient attention to tanks, and it has not paid enough attention to the training of tank pilots. Therefore, tanks are not decisive weapons for Russia, but consumables. Therefore, compared with performance, Russia needs a cheap tank that is easy to produce.
.
Even if the tank's defense is sacrificed for this purpose, it will be fine as long as it facilitates mass production.
So the "Crusader" came into being.
Southern African military industrial enterprises have always met customer needs unconditionally.
So even if the performance of the "Crusader" has huge flaws, the Russians just don't dislike it.
Like the Crusader, there is the Type 41 fighter jet.
The Type 41 fighter is also an expendable fighter produced in a short period of time to make up for the huge losses of the Russian Air Force.
Compared with the "Cheetah" in service in southern Africa, the Type 41 aircraft has insufficient range, insufficient firepower, insufficient climbing and diving speed, and insufficient flying altitude. The only thing worthy of praise is speed.
The "Cheetah"'s top speed reaches 700 kilometers per hour, which is almost the limit of a propeller fighter.
The maximum speed of the Type 41 aircraft reaches 750 kilometers per hour, which is faster than the "Cheetah". You can imagine the shrinkage in other aspects.
But since the Russians insist.
Well, engineers in southern Africa have nothing to say.
After it was finalized, the engineers in southern Africa didn't even bother to think of a nice name and just named it based on the era.
Although the "Crusader" and 41 have various shortcomings, the Russians do not dislike them.
After the outbreak of the Russo-German War, the Russians ordered 15,000 Type 41 aircraft and 25,000 Crusader tanks.
Don't be too happy. Although the Russians have a big appetite, they have no money, so the Russians hope that these weapons can arrive in Russia as aid.
ps: Suddenly I remembered that today is the first day of 2022, so I sat up in shock while dying of illness, two updates
