Xiaomoustache stood up and walked back and forth in the conference room with her hands behind her back, thinking in her mind whether to terminate the Fortress Operation or agree with Manstein's suggestion to put the final reserve into the battle to end the battle at the Kursk Prominence as soon as possible.
Gorene, who was as fat as a pig, sat in his seat and closed his eyes to rest. Last time Paulus's troops were surrounded, he promised Xiaowang confidently that he would use five hundred aircraft to build an air corridor to provide enough ammunition, fuel and military supplies for the trapped troops so that they could continue to fight against the Russians. But he was soon slapped in the face by reality. Although the Air Force did its best, the supplies they provided could not meet the daily needs of the 6th Army, which resulted in the Soviet army being completely wiped out by the Soviet army when the ammunition and food were exhausted.
After the British and American armies landed in Sicily, he also said shamelessly that as long as his air force was dispatched, the landing enemies could be driven into the sea. Who knew that after a day of fierce fighting, not only his air force was defeated by the British and American air forces, but even the Gorene Armored Infantry Division, which was responsible for the ground attack, suffered severe damage.
Speaking at this moment will definitely bring scolding from Xiaomou's beard. He will not do such a fool, so he simply closed his eyes and rested, just because what happened in front of him has nothing to do with him.
Keitel, the chief of staff of the commander, had the same idea as the beard. The landing of British and American troops in Sicily was equivalent to stabbing themselves in the back. If the troops were not drawn to reinforce the Italian front and the invading British and American troops were driven into the sea, the war on the Western Front would become terrible.
Keitel's deputy, Yodel, agreed with Manstein's opinion very much. He felt that if the fortress plan was stopped at this moment, the Russians would have a chance to breathe, and the situation on the Eastern Front would further deteriorate.
He opened his mouth, but the words came to his mouth and swallowed it back. He remembered that Xiaomouzi sent him to the headquarters of the Group A Army last year to investigate the reasons for the failure of the Group Army in the southern section of the Eastern Front, and focused on investigating whether the Group Army commander had implemented the Supreme Command's orders and instructions on the battle.
After a detailed investigation, Yodel reported to Xiaomouzi, saying that the commander of the army carried out the orders of the Supreme Command, but failed due to the increasing resistance of the Russians.
It was precisely because of this investigation that Xiaomou's Beard accused Yodel of intentionally defending the generals in front who disobeyed the order. Yodel was also a little uneasy at the time. During the dispute, he boldly pointed out the mistakes in Xiaomou's command, which induced ruthless revenge.
Yodel thought to himself: Xiaowang was determined to end the Fortress Operation. If he chose to stand aside with Manstein, he would definitely anger the other party, and he would definitely induce crazy revenge.
Chief of the Army General Staff Zeitzler stared at the oak table in front of him with expressionless expression, but thought to himself: a group of people who control the fate of Germany were gathered in this room. If anyone throws a bomb from outside, it might lead to the subsequent history of Germany being rewritten.
In this way, the marshals and generals in the room, with their own ulterior motives, could only hear the sound of the leather shoes and the ground knocking while walking.
Time passed by minute by minute, and Xiaomoustache finally stopped. He stood there for a moment, then quickly walked to the wall, looked up at the map hanging on the wall, and began to think again.
"General Zeitzler," said the bearded man, looking at the Chief of Staff of the Army, and asked aggressively: "I want to hear your opinion, what do you think we should do?"
Zeitzler began to weigh the powerful relationship in his mind because he adhered to principles and supported Marshal Manstein? Or did he agree to him to draw troops from the Eastern Front to reinforce Italy in order not to offend the head of state?
When Zedzelle was reluctant to speak, Xiaomoustache became a little impatient: "Chief of Staff, why don't you speak? I'm still waiting."
Zeitzler pretended to flip the information in front of him, trying his best to gain some time for himself to consider the problem more comprehensively. After putting down the information in his hand, he looked up at the mustache and said respectfully: "My head, I think Marshal Manstein can continue to maintain an offensive against the Russians to eliminate as many Russian troops as possible. As for those two reserve teams, there is no need to invest in the Kursk area, but transfer it to the Western Front to reinforce the Italian front."
Regarding Zeitzler's statement, Xiao Wangzi felt that it made some sense. After nodding, he continued to ask: "Where is Marshal Kruger's Central Army Group?"
"In view of the current situation of the Central Army Group, we can order Model to command the 9th Army and the 2nd Armored Army to stop the Russian offensive in the Orel area and to work hard to restore the original front."
"Very good, General Zeitzler, you said it very well." Seeing that Zeitzler's proposal was comprehensive and took care of all emotions, the bearded nodded in agreement: "According to what you said, the Central Army Group stopped the attack of the Russians in Orel's protrusion and tried to restore the lost positions; as for Marshal Manstein, the attack on the Russians cannot be stopped, and as much as possible, the Russians' vitality should be eliminated."
Seeing that Xiaowang did not mention his reserve team, Manstein asked tentatively: "My head, the 24th Panzer Army composed of the 23rd Armored Division and the Vikings, how do you plan to arrange them?"
"Transfer them to the Western Front and reinforce the Italian front." After announcing the arrangements for the 24th Panzer Army, Xiaoma looked at Manstein and asked, "Manstein, do you have anything else to add?"
Keitel, who had always remained silent, finally found a chance to speak. He asked Manstein with a smile: "Marson Marshal, do you have any specific arrangements in the next battle?"
Manstein glanced at Keitel, then smiled bitterly, "According to the current situation, I will give priority to the Flag Guard Division and the Skeleton Division, and at the same time, order the Kenfu combat cluster south of Prokholovka to move closer to me.
After completing the meeting, we will achieve three combat goals: one, encircle and annihilate the Russian troops between the 2nd SS and the Kenfu combat cluster;
2. Destroy the 5th Russian Guards Tank Army that blocked the front of our army;
3. Do everything possible to seize Prokholovka from the hands of the Russians."
"My Head," Keitel turned to face the mustache after hearing Manstein's words, and said, "I think Marshal Manstein's plan is completely feasible. As long as General Haussel's 2nd SS Army can join Kenf's battle group, it is entirely possible to wipe out the heavy army group of the Russians and seize Prokhorovka."
In the battle in the Dnieper River Basin at the beginning of the year, the Russians' army and equipment were several times that of their own. At that time, Paulus's 6th Army had just been wiped out, and the morale of the entire army was disintegrated and the morale was low. Everyone thought it was a battle that would be defeated. Even in the General Staff Headquarters, some people suggested that all the troops be retreated across the Dnieper River and seize the time to build a defense line by the river to block the Russians' attack.
Unexpectedly, Manstein not only won, but also won unprecedentedly. The commander of the Russian Southwest Front and Voronezh Front was also removed from his post by Stalin due to failure. Therefore, in Xiaobei's mind, Manstein was an invincible god of war. Since the God of War had formulated a new combat plan, he naturally had no reason to object. Xiaobei nodded and said, "The fortress combat plan can come to an end. The battle in the north is given to Model to command, so that he must block the Russians' offensive to Orel's protrusion. As for the south, according to the plan mentioned by Marshal Manstein, the forces of the Second SS and Kenfu combat cluster were assembled, annihilated the Russian heavy army group, and strive to take Prokhorovka and continue to advance towards Kursk."
When Xiaomou said this, he turned his attention to Kruger: "Master Kruger, once Manstein's troops advance to Kursk, your Central Army Group should still attack from the north again from the north to the Russian defense line, break through their positions, and then rush to Kursk to meet with Manstein, encircle the Russian troops in the Kursk protrusion, and completely destroy them."
"Don't worry, my head of state." Since the beginning of this battle, he felt that the Russians were quite prepared. Not only were they built solid fortifications, but there were also dense minefields in front of the positions, forming a complete defense system. The price to break through such a defense line was huge. At this moment, he learned that he would not have to continue attacking Kursk and could also turn to defense on the spot. Kruger felt much more at ease. "We will definitely block the Russians' attack and restore all lost positions at the right time."
Compared with Kruger's relaxation, Manstein was in a particularly heavy mood. Although he used his skills to convince Xiaowang to agree to continue his offensive on the southern front of Kursk, he knew very well that it would be an unfinished task to defeat the Russians without a new reserve team.
Sitting on the plane back to the front, Manstein closed his eyes and thought in pain: "If the head of state can agree to put the 24th Armored Army into battle, even if it only takes one or two days, he will have a chance to destroy the Russian troops gathered near Prokhorovka. Now, with the ban issued, the victory that is within reach is lost."