There is an hour's time difference between Ukraine and Germany. Manstein knew the habit of the head of state, which was to get up at eight o'clock every morning, take a hot bath, and then have a breakfast of only a glass of milk and two pieces of bread, and then start reading.
Newspapers and magazines would not appear in his own office until noon.
It is precisely because of this that Manstein decided to postpone reporting the news of the Soviet army's invasion of Kharkov and his intention to abandon the city until after 1 p.m. local time, when the Führer should be in his office.
At 12 noon Berlin time, Mustache appeared at the door of his office on time. The generals sitting at the long table covered with maps, seeing Mustache's appearance, stood up and raised their right hands to him.
salute.
Mustache came to the center of the room with his hands behind his back, looking at the Chief of General Staff standing at the table, "Zeitzler!"
When his name was called, the Chief of General Staff stepped forward quickly, straightened his back and agreed: "My head of state!"
"How is the situation at Manstein's place?" Mustache asked casually as he walked towards his seat: "Have they driven the damn Russians away from Kharkov?"
When Zeitzler heard this question, he showed a desperate expression on his face. He looked around at the generals and saw that some people turned their faces to one side, some shook their heads with a wry smile, and some gave him sympathy.
look.
"Zeitzler," Mustache had come to his seat, but still didn't hear Zeitzler's answer. He put his hands on the back of the chair, frowned and said, "Why don't you speak or listen?"
Got my question?"
"I heard it, my Führer." Zeitzler said bravely: "I'm afraid all I can tell you is bad news. The Russian 27th Army, 53rd Army, 5th Army and Rotmistrov
Part of the tank army has broken into Kharkov. Now the troops of General Hott and General Wheeler are putting up a tenacious resistance."
"What's going on?" After listening to Zeitzler's report, anger appeared on the mustache's face, and he asked dissatisfiedly: "Why is this happening? I remember yesterday, when you reported to me, you said that we
The heroic 3rd Armored Division smashed the Russian armored assaults twice in a row in the northwest direction of the city, destroying at least 1,500 of their tanks. In recognition of such a great result, we even gave 3rd Armored Division Commander Weiss
General Thofen awarded the Cross of Merit.
How could it happen that the Russian tank army rushed into the city overnight? And the number of army groups was increased to three? "
Faced with the mustache's question, Zeitzler raised his hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, and said with a guilty conscience: "My head of state, Marshal Manstein's report was not detailed enough, and I don't know why, overnight, Halko
There will be so many numbers of Russian troops in the city."
"Get me through to Manstein's headquarters immediately." Mustache pointed at Zeitzler and said, "I want to ask Manstein personally what happened in Kharkov last night."
Hearing Mustache say that he wanted to call Manstein in person, Zeitzler's legs could not help but tremble. In order to please Mustache, he and the members of the General Staff deliberately exaggerated the results of the 3rd Armored Division and would destroy it.
The results of the battle of nearly 400 tanks were exaggerated to 1,500. If Mustache and Manstein had a phone call, there was a possibility that the matter would be revealed.
Seeing Zeitzler's dilly-dallying, Mustache became even more angry, and urged sternly: "Zeitzler, why are you still standing there? Why don't you quickly get through to Manstein's headquarters?"
The call was quickly connected. Mustache took the phone and asked angrily: "Manstein, tell me why so many Russian troops appeared in Kharkov overnight?"
"My head of state." Manstein did not expect that Mustache would take the initiative to call him. He hesitated for a moment, and then replied: "The strength of the Russians far exceeds ours, although the two generals Holt and Wheeler
They tried their best, but could not stop the Russians from breaking into the city. Now their officers and soldiers are engaged in a desperate struggle with the Russians."
"Manstein," Mustache was not satisfied with Manstein's answer and continued to ask: "You just need to tell me how long it will take you to drive the Russians out of Kharkov?"
"Please forgive me, my head of state." Manstein was very aware of the current situation in Kharkov and knew that if the fight continued, Hoth's Panzer Army and Wheeler's 8th Army would inevitably follow Paulus's 6th Army.
Following in his footsteps, he said euphemistically: "The Russians have an absolute advantage in terms of military strength and weapons and equipment. If they continue to fight, our troops may be completely annihilated. Therefore, I suggest
Abandon Kharkov, withdraw the city's defenders to the Dnieper River, and build a new line of defense there to resist the Russian attack."
"Manstein," Mustache raised his voice: "In February this year, the Russians also had an advantage in troops and equipment, and even occupied Kharkov and Belgorod for a time, but they still didn't
Escape the fate of being defeated by you. What happened to you now that you actually plan to hand over the city to the Russians? "
"My head of state." Facing the angry mustache, Manstein felt weak for a while, but he still said bravely: "The situation today is very different from that at the beginning of the year..."
"what is the difference?"
"After the Russians annihilated Paulus' troops at the beginning of the year, their morale was high. I knew that I would suffer from a head-on confrontation with them, so I chose to voluntarily give up some places to lengthen the Russians' front and keep them away from their logistical supply lines." Manstein
Explained: "We can concentrate our superior forces and attack the Russians in the situation area, thereby wiping them out one by one. Although we have achieved a series of victories and completely defeated the Russians, we should also see the suffering we have suffered.
huge loss."
"The huge losses suffered?" Mustache frowned and asked, "Marshal Manstein, what are you referring to?"
"Sokov's troops are our army's nightmare." Seeing that Mustache seemed to have forgotten that several SS divisions were beaten to pieces, Manstein reminded him tactfully: "The 21st Infantry Division he commanded at the time
The Army Group once caused our SS division to suffer huge losses. If he had not been transferred later, it would have been basically impossible for us to capture Kharkov."
After Manstein reminded him, Mustache immediately remembered that the Imperial Division was completely wiped out and later rebuilt, so he gritted his teeth and asked: "Is this defeat related to him?"
"That's right, my head of state." Manstein quickly replied: "I personally called General Westhoven, the commander of the 3rd Armored Division, and asked about what happened early this morning. Only then did I find out that originally they were targeting Luo
Tmistrov's tank unit had already gained the upper hand, but unexpectedly a unit suddenly shot out from behind, catching them off guard. After this unit merged with the remnants of Rotmistrov's troops, they followed
Our retreating troops rushed into the city..."
"Who is commanding this Russian force that suddenly appeared?"
"Based on the corpses left on the battlefield, General Westhoven said they were troops of the Russian 5th Assault Army."
"Does the Russian 5th Assault Army have any connection with Sokov?"
"Of course there is a connection." Seeing that Mustache did not understand the connection between the two, Manstein quickly explained to him: "Sokov's troops have established two bridgeheads on the east bank of the Oud River. One of them is on the right wing of our army.
In the bridgehead, half of the troops belong to the 5th Assault Army. It is said that Sokov and Lieutenant General Tsvetaev, the commander of the 5th Assault Army, are directing the battle there."
"Marshal Manstein, are you saying that the reason why the Russian troops attacked the rear of the 3rd Armored Division was entirely because of Sokov's instigation?"
"Yes, my head of state." Seeing that Mustache's guess coincided with his own, Manstein continued: "It is precisely because of Sokov's instigation that these troops who were originally too timid to attack took the initiative.
The attack was launched in an area where our army's defenses were empty, resulting in the city's defense being breached."
Although Manstein had made it very clear, Mustache was unwilling to give up Kharkov easily. He frowned and said: "Marshal Manstein, I beg you to hold on to Kharkov. Because of this
The fall of this city will have a serious impact. The Turks' position towards us depends entirely on whether this city is in the hands of our army. The Romanians will also be affected. If Kharkov is abandoned, we will
Big shame in Ankara and Sofia."
Although it was the first time that Mustache was so humble to his subordinates, Manstein said resolutely: "My head of state, I think it is completely necessary to abandon Kharkov. Otherwise, Huth's Armored Group Army and maintenance
Le's 8th Army is in danger of being annihilated. I would rather lose a city than two elite armies."
Faced with Manstein's tough attitude, Mustache was helpless. After a fierce ideological struggle, he chose to compromise with Manstein: "Marshal Manstein, I agree with your request to abandon Kharkov.
.But I ask you to withdraw more troops from the city."
Although he agreed to Manstein's request, the seeds of distrust towards Manstein were also planted in Mustache's heart.
As soon as Manstein ended the call with Mustache, he said to his chief of staff, General Busse: "General Busse, immediately send a telegram to Hott and Wheeler, asking them to hold on for 48 hours, and on August 22
Evacuate Kharkov at ten o'clock in the morning."
At the same time, after Zhukov reported the situation on the front line to Big Beard, the happy Big Beard immediately gave him an order: "Comrade Zhukov, immediately send effective troops to cut off all major routes from Kharkov to the Dnieper River.
Passage, cut off the rear lines of communication between Hoth Armored Group Army and Wheeler's 8th Army, and strive for another victory like the Battle of Stalingrad."
After listening to the order given by Big Beard, Zhukov showed an embarrassed expression on his face. However, since it was the order given by Big Beard himself, even if it is difficult to complete, he must bite the bullet and execute it: "I understand, I will arrange it immediately
Troops to cut off the road from Kharkov to the Dnieper River and the German rear transportation and supply lines."
Putting down the phone, Zhukov said to Vasilevsky sitting beside him: "Comrade Vasilevsky, the Supreme Commander himself has just given us a new combat order..."
Before Zhukov could finish speaking, Vatutin looked over and asked, "What order?"
Zhukov stared at Vatutin for a while, then shook his head and said: "Comrade Vatutin, I think this order from the Supreme Commander himself has nothing to do with you."
After saying that, he ignored the disappointed Vatutin, but continued to say to Vasilevsky: "Order us to cut off the road from Kharkov to the Dnieper River, cut off the Hoth Armored Group Army and Veredi
The rear supply line of the 8th Army."
After Vasilevsky waited for Zhukov to finish speaking, he said with a relaxed expression: "Comrade Marshal, I think this task can be handed over to General Tolbukhin's Southern Front."
"In the past few days, Tolbukhin also used troops from four armies to prevent the enemies of Donbas from reinforcing Kharkov." Regarding Vasilevskiy's proposal, Zhukov agreed: "Let them do it.
I think it is very appropriate to complete the task personally assigned by the Supreme Commander himself."
After receiving the order conveyed by Vasilevsky, Tolbukhin and Chief of Staff Bilyuzov gathered around the map and repeatedly studied it, and finally decided: Lieutenant General Starikov's 8th Army, Gorbato
Lieutenant General Polenov's 5th Army was responsible for cutting off the road from Kharkov to the Dnieper River; while Lieutenant General Polenov's 5th Army was responsible for cutting off the later supply lines of Huth Armored Group Army and Wheeler's 8th Army, leaving them without ammunition.
and shortage of supplies, and were annihilated by the Steppe Front and Voronezh Front that attacked Kharkov.
Manstein's order to Hott and Wheeler was to start retreating at ten o'clock in the morning on August 22. However, due to Tolbukhin's Southern Front moving quickly and completing the task of cutting off communication lines ahead of schedule, the German army's retreat was delayed.
, invisibly evolved into a breakthrough.
The German army's breakout sequence opened the way with Huth's Armored Army, followed by Wheeler's 8th Army. The direction they chose to break through was to the south of the city, which was the weakest point of the Soviet army. They only needed to advance south
More than thirty kilometers away, we can meet up with friendly forces.
Just when the German army began to implement the breakout operation, Tolbukhin, after completing the task of cutting off the communication line, commanded the remaining troops to launch an attack on Hollett's 6th Army. After successfully crossing the Mius River, he broke through
The enemy's solid defense line opened the passage to the Donets Basin.
Tolbukhin stared at the map in front of him, thinking in his mind that as his troops successfully broke through the German defense line, Zaporozhye, where Manstein's headquarters was located, had been threatened. And he only had to continue to move forward.
, can successfully cut off the 17th Army located at the Crimean and Kuban bridgeheads.
In order to achieve this strategic goal, he issued an order to the troops who were cutting off the lines of communication. For the German troops withdrawing from Kharkov, while consuming the opponent's effective strength, they should pay attention to preserving their own strength so that they could concentrate too much.
