Text volume 2183 The first head-to-head battle was very cruel, both for the Germans and the Russians.
When the Battle of Moscow first broke out, Big Beard issued an order "on the evacuation of Moscow residents."
This order was misunderstood by many people as a sign that Russia was about to abandon Moscow. Within the first day of the order, 779 officials fled Moscow, carrying money and valuables worth 25 million rubles with them, and even used 100 vehicles
Cars and trucks transport families.
This caused chaos within a certain area, and many Moscow citizens fled. The roads leaving the city were seriously blocked. This situation did not disappear until Moscow entered a state of siege.
The bearded man did not want to surrender Moscow to the bearded man.
But we were indeed prepared for the fall of Moscow.
Just before the Battle of Moscow broke out, Russia carried out the largest industrial transfer plan in history, transferring more than 1 million trains of equipment and materials.
This had a serious impact on Russia's industrial production, especially the military industry. In the early days of the Moscow Defense War, the supply of ammunition to Russian frontline troops was severely affected. This situation was not partially alleviated until four months later.
Industrial relocation cannot happen overnight. The construction of factories, the organization of raw material supply, the placement of workers, and the improvement of supporting facilities such as water and electricity necessary for industrial production all take time.
Difficulties need to be faced one by one. The Russians burst out with huge combat effectiveness when they were on the verge of despair. This is clearly reflected in the forward speed of the German Fourth Army.
Ten days before the Battle of Moscow broke out, the German Fourth Army advanced 10 kilometers into the center of Moscow.
In the second ten days, the German Fourth Army only advanced 2.5 kilometers.
By the third ten days, the German Fourth Army's front had only advanced 150 meters.
At this time, the German Fourth Army was at the end of its tether, and the closest German unit to Moscow was only eight kilometers away.
These eight kilometers became an insurmountable chasm for the German army. The tenacious Russians and the severe cold in winter stopped the Germans.
The winter of 1941 was actually not too cold. The coldest period was usually the first few months of the following year. In Moscow in November 1941, the average temperature was only minus 4 degrees Celsius.
For many Russians, winter swimming is not even possible at this temperature because it is not cold enough.
Russians, who have been in the cold zone all year round, have long been accustomed to this kind of temperature, and their clothing is more conducive to keeping out the cold. Even with the same clothing, Russians consume less calories than Germans.
At the same time, the Russians are more fully prepared. Not to mention all kinds of cotton-padded clothes, and even white camouflage uniforms, the Russian side distributes much more quantities than the Germans.
After the first heavy snow arrived, the Russian army's guns and guns had been put on thermal jackets and coated with antifreeze lubricants. Thanks to the assistance from Southern Africa, the Russian soldiers had a sufficient number of cold-proof clothing, cotton coats, and leather jackets.
Boots and ear-protecting winter hats are used to keep out the cold.
To prevent Luftwaffe bombing, the Russians even painted their trucks white.
The Germans on the opposite side were in terrible shape.
As the front became longer and longer, it became increasingly difficult for the Germans to supply supplies.
During the Battle of Moscow, the German army actually had more troops than the Russians. When November came, the German army had 1.7 million men, while the Russians only had 1.1 million men.
However, the German army's front is too long and it cannot use all its troops to attack Moscow. Therefore, in local battlefields, Russia's military strength has an advantage.
Russians are used to the severe cold in winter, but Germans cannot adapt.
In November, it was difficult for German tanks and armored vehicles to start due to the low temperature, and the officers and soldiers did not have enough warm cotton clothes, so they had to gather together and use precious gasoline to warm the fire.
There is no firewood.
When the Russians retreated, they took away everything they could and burned everything they couldn't take away. They didn't even leave the door panels for the Germans.
The German army hopes to occupy Russia's oil producing areas, but this plan has not yet come true. The Russians have made preparations that would rather destroy all the oil production facilities than leave them to the Germans.
When it comes to the task of strengthening walls and clearing fields, the Russians are really determined.
After the city-wide mobilization in Moscow, even the Kremlin built barricades in preparation for street fighting with the Germans.
In order to fight against the Germans, the Russians set up 59 secret arsenals in Moscow to provide support for the resistance forces in occupied areas.
The Russians laid mines in famous buildings such as the Bolshoi Theater, the Central Telegraph Bureau Building, the "Metro" and the "National" Hotel; even the famous St. Basil's Cathedral was decorated with explosives because some people speculated that if the Germans
Capture Moscow and it will be possible for Mustache to visit St. Basil's Cathedral.
The Germans, who were unprepared for winter operations, were unable to launch a new offensive by November. At this time, the commander-in-chief of the German Central Group took inventory of casualties. The division with the most serious losses in the German Fourth Army had already suffered various combat and non-combat attrition.
More than one third.
According to European military theory, if an army loses more than 30%, it will completely lose its combat effectiveness.
The Russians suffered even greater losses.
The most serious losses in Germany were only 30%.
On the Russian side, the entire division or even the entire army was completely destroyed. When the Battle of Moscow first broke out, the Russian side had 1.25 million people. Now, plus the 250,000 troops transferred back from Central Asia and the Far East, plus the troops who entered Moscow during this period
After a month of fighting, the total remaining strength of the reinforcements was only 1.1 million. The losses were so heavy that it was impossible to calculate them.
On November 7, when the Battle of Moscow reached its most critical stage, Russia held a military parade on time to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the October Revolution. The Bearded Man gave a speech at the military parade: Our country is being invaded, and all citizens and the military must use their weapons at all costs.
Use every drop of blood to defend our land and villages.
After the military parade, Andre Fernandez, the ambassador of Southern Africa to Russia, sent a sincere telegram to Pretoria, hoping that the federal government of Southern Africa could provide Russia with more assistance.
Andrei Fernandez is a descendant of the Belarusian aristocracy. After the fall of the Russian Empire, Andrei and his family immigrated to southern Africa and have no relationship with today's Russia.
Roque did not doubt Andrei's loyalty to the federal government of Southern Africa. He was infected by the determination and bravery of the Russians.
Not to mention Andre, even Stoudemire and Henry, after the outbreak of the Russo-German War, their attitudes towards Russia changed from indifference or hatred to respect and sympathy.
In November, while the Battle of Moscow was ongoing, the German Army Group South was gathering forces in Donbass, trying to launch an attack on Rostov and open a channel to the Baku oil fields.
At the same time, Bulgaria also began to gather troops in Burgas, and the Garibaldi Peninsula was also shrouded in the clouds of war.
In the Blue Harbor Valley, the Bulgarian army stationed here is still the 25th Regiment.
Nearly half a year has passed, and the situation has not changed. The 25th Regiment did not attack, and the troops defending the fortress did not fight back. The southern Africans were confident and had no fear of the fortress falling.
Now the fortress garrison no longer sends trucks out to purchase supplies, and the daily airdrops are enough for the fortress troops to consume.
As the transport aircraft pilots became more familiar with the terrain, no airdrop supplies were accidentally dropped into the 25th Regiment's camp. Occasionally, airdrop supplies fell outside the fortress, and soon League of Nations soldiers wearing blue helmets would drive out.
Take it away and won't leave it to the Bulgarians.
During this time, Colonel Paulus finally realized how big the power gap between Bulgaria and southern Africa was.
Bulgaria does not even have an air force. Southern Africa has begun to use transport aircraft to airdrop light tanks, armored vehicles and other heavy equipment. In August, six strange-looking aircraft flew into the fortress and never came out. The propellers of these aircraft were all gone.
On the roof of the plane, rocket nests were hung under the short wings. When the plane flew into the fortress, the cabin door was open. A 40mm automatic grenade launcher was installed in the cabin door, as well as a 40mm automatic grenade launcher.
Gatlin was eliminated.
Colonel Paulus did not know that this strange-looking aircraft was called a helicopter, and the Gatling installed in the aircraft had been modified to be electric, thus overcoming the shortcomings of heavy weight and poor maneuverability.
For infantry, Gatling is really not easy to use.
But for vehicle-mounted weapons, Gatling is perfect.
In September, southern Africa provided airdrop support to the fortress, and an airborne force arrived at the fortress.
This time it was not League of Nations troops wearing blue helmets, but Southern African airborne troops wearing four-color camouflage. They were easily identifiable.
Half a month ago, Colonel Paulus received an order to increase the level of combat readiness and launch an attack on the "Blue Fortress" at any time.
This order made Colonel Paulus want to die.
The men sitting in the office had no idea what the 25th Regiment was facing.
With the strength of the 25th Regiment, launching an attack on the fortress is no different than risking death.
Therefore, Colonel Paulus refused to execute the order on the grounds of serious shortage of troops.
You can attack if you want, but you must give Colonel Paulus more support.
Colonel Paulus estimated that after reinforcements, there were at least 3,000 defenders in the fortress, so to capture the fortress, at least 30,000 men would be needed.
This requires the help of large-caliber artillery.
Otherwise, the seventy-five young ladies of the 25th Regiment would definitely not be able to break through the solid turtle shell of the Blue Fortress.
Bulgaria still attaches great importance to the Blue Fortress. If it wants to launch an attack on the Garibaldi Peninsula, it must remove the Blue Fortress, otherwise the Blue Fortress will always threaten the transportation lines of the attacking troops.
The desired assistance arrived quickly, and it was not Bulgarian troops, but a pure German army.
Unfortunately, the number was a bit small, only about 3,000, not the 30,000 requested by Colonel Paulus.
And the most important thing is that the Germans did not send armored troops. This German army was pure infantry.
There is no particularly accurate measure of the German army's combat effectiveness.
For German army divisions that are generally equipped with armored units, the combat effectiveness is mainly reflected in the armored units. Once the armored units fail, the combat effectiveness of the German infantry is not much stronger than that of the servant army.
This German army must have just participated in the Battle of Kiev. Their faces were dusty and weathered, and they looked a little embarrassed after a long journey.
But the morale is pretty good.
After all, Germany captured 660,000 Russians in Kiev.
"The Blue Fortress defenders have at least 30 tanks and armored vehicles. I don't know how many artillery pieces there are. There must be a lot more than they look. If we want to attack the Blue Fortress, we must first go through the minefield and then cross an endless road.
It is a wide but fast-flowing river, and there are minefields on the other side of the river, and then there are anti-tank trenches, and fire points throughout the fortress." Colonel Paulus was not optimistic, and this German unit did not carry heavy artillery.
"Do you have a plan for the fortress?" Colonel Gomez from Munich frowned. This battle was not easy to fight.
"No," Colonel Paulus said calmly.
"This fortress is surrounded by mountains. You have been stationed here for half a year, haven't you sent people to investigate?" Gomez was very angry. It is estimated that Colonel Paulus spent the past six months traveling around the mountains and rivers.
"There is a bunker on the mountain ridge. The terrain is difficult and the road is narrow. It only takes two people and one machine gun to withstand the attack of a battalion." Colonel Paulus was not exaggerating. If there is enough ammunition, it will be useless to add another battalion.
The terrain is not open enough, and the troops cannot deploy at all. Only a very small number of troops can be invested to participate in the attack. Otherwise, how can one man guard the barrier and ten thousand others cannot open it.
"Whether you can handle it or not, you have to give it a try." Colonel Gomez said with a cold expression. No matter how hard the Southern Africans can fight, how much better can they be than the Russians?
Just try it.
Anyway, Colonel Gomez would not send his German soldiers to test the firepower of the Blue Fortress.
It is not easy to attack. Gomez is very experienced. Without the cooperation of heavy artillery, attacking a fortress with strong defenses will mean death.
Fortunately, there is no shortage of artillery now. The Germans have captured nearly 3,000 artillery pieces, more than half of which are heavy artillery pieces with a caliber of more than 120 mm.
Against the Blue Fortress, the 120mm caliber was not enough. After Gomez's efforts, a German artillery unit arrived in the Blue Valley a week later. This unit carried eight 150mm.18 howitzers.
The actual caliber of the 150mm.18 howitzer is 149.1mm, the barrel length is 4.43 meters, the diameter is 30 times, and the maximum range is 13,250 meters. The accuracy and power of this artillery can be regarded as world-class nowadays.
The 150mm.18 howitzer also has shortcomings. This type of artillery has insufficient range and is not convenient to move. On the Russian-German battlefield, the A-19 122mm howitzer mainly equipped by the Russian army has a maximum range of up to 20 kilometers. The disadvantage in range makes the German artillery
When facing Russian artillery, it was impossible to respond effectively.
In order to solve this problem, German engineers specially designed a rocket-extended range projectile for the .18 howitzer.
The use of rocket extended-range ammunition only increased the range of the .18 howitzer to 18,000 meters, which was still unable to compete with the Russian A-19 122mm howitzer.
Fortunately, in Blue Valley, there is no problem of insufficient range.
On November 19, the German army shelled the Blue Fortress, and the battle finally broke out.
This was the first head-to-head confrontation between the southern African army and the German army.
