In the headquarters of the German 30th Division in the center of Lodz, a hurried staff officer rushed to Major General Hans.
"Reports came from the defenders on several streets, saying that the Polish army had stopped attacking and was even showing signs of withdrawing from the city. In addition, the Polish army's artillery fire had not fallen on our position for a long time." It was still stained on his body.
The dust-covered staff officer stood at attention and saluted with a joyful expression.
Hans nodded and signaled the staff to leave. He turned around and saw that no one in the entire temporary division headquarters of the 30th Division was excited.
The Polish offensive has finally stopped!
Prior to this, the losses of the 30th Division had reached more than 85%. Even if the dense building layout in the city of Lodz offset part of the Polish artillery power, the defenders on various streets were still
Already exhausted.
The plan issued by Army Group South is not to take a step back and to defend the Lodz position. But this requires soldiers!
During this cross-level confrontation with a Polish group army, Hans had the idea of breaking out with his troops several times. Especially when the loss of troops had long exceeded the collapse line and the peripheral defense lines had been completely abandoned.
, Hans actually had the idea of disobeying the order and retreating.
However, several times, the order to break out came to his lips, but he swallowed it hard. Not to mention losing the position, even if he took the risk of taking the troops from under the nose of the Poles, once he encountered the Polish army, he took the opportunity
Even if you pursue them, you will inevitably end up with the whole army destroyed.
Although on the surface Hans was still calmly arranging the firepower deployment for the next street battle, in fact, in his heart, he was already living on pins and needles!
Just when the remaining troops of the 30th Division braced themselves to guard the city of Lodz, facing the street battle with the Polish army with the determination to die, the Poles who had just entered the city seemed to have been seduced.
As if he had lost his soul, he suddenly stopped the tidal attack of the iron gate.
Then, the long-lost roar of fighter planes rang out in the sky, and from time to time the friendly "screams" of German Stuka bombers were mixed in with the explosions in the distance. The 30th Division's fragile defense line in the urban area,
It was so miraculously preserved!
"Ask the Army Group Headquarters, what is going on?" When Hans said this, his face was blooming with joy. It was obvious that he had realized the retreat of the Polish army and the actions of the German Army Group.
There must be quite a connection.
"Yes!" At this time, there were only 8 officers left in the 30th Division headquarters, including Hans. One of the staff officers with the rank of major responded to Hans's order and ran to help him.
The Army Group Headquarters sent a telegram of inquiry.
Ten minutes later, the headquarters of the 30th Division received a personal explanation from Manstein.
"Because the Army Group Headquarters discovered that more than 200,000 Polish troops were concentrated outside the 30th Division of the 8th Army Group. Therefore, the Army Group Headquarters temporarily decided to change the original plan and take the opportunity to encircle all the forces of this counterattack Polish Army.
.In order to ensure the suddenness and confidentiality of the encirclement, the Army Group Headquarters did not send a telegram with a specific action plan to the 30th Division that attracted the Polish Army. Now it seems that the plan was implemented quite successfully."
"This Manstein is quite capable. Not only did he deceive more than 200,000 Poles, but we were also kept in the dark by him." Hans laughed and said: "After I go back, I have to let him
He invited all the living brothers in our division to drink."
There was a reason why Hans was so happy. Although the 30th Division suffered heavy casualties during the two-and-a-half-day defensive battle, it now seems that it was all worth it. More than 200,000 of the main Polish troops were imprisoned.
It was firmly tied around the 30th Division and became the thorn in the urn of Army Group South. Originally it seemed that the German 30th Division was heavily surrounded, but now it is discovered that it is the more than 200,000 Polish troops who are really surrounded.
"The Chief of General Staff also instructed us to immediately switch from defense to offense once we find that the Polish offensive has weakened. At present, the Polish army around our headquarters has no intention to fight and has low fighting spirit. It is definitely no match for the 30th Division." The staff major added.
"Understood. Reply to Chief of Staff Manstein and say that we will organize a tentative attack in an hour. Once we find that the Polish army has really lost its fighting spirit and its combat effectiveness has seriously declined, then I will immediately organize the 30th
All the remaining officers and soldiers of the division launch an attack!" Hans clenched his fists and said word by word.
The current situation could not be better than when it was violently attacked by the Polish army a few hours ago. If the 30th Division had not suffered heavy losses and its troops have been dispersed to various areas in the city of Lodz, Han
Si wished he could take everyone with him immediately to deal with the group of Poles who had been riding on his neck for two days.
"The troops brought by Lieutenant Lyon were left behind by us around the headquarters, and the casualties were not large. Let's leave this first round of probing attacks to their 7th company." Hans slammed his fist on the conference table and decided.
: "Bring me Lieutenant Lyon here now. I will personally give him the mission."
"Lieutenant Lyon has led a platoon and is setting up defense on the next street. Others from the 7th company are also around and can assemble at any time!" a staff officer reported while looking at the urban defense map on the wall of the headquarters.
A few minutes later, another staff officer brought Lieutenant Lyon. After all, they were in a small city center. If there were no obstacles, they could pass through from the next street in four or five minutes.
"The Poles have been surrounded by the army group from the outside. As you can see, the Polish troops on our periphery are now busy with themselves and have suspended their attack on the city." As soon as they met, Hans briefly introduced the situation to Lyon.
"General Hans!" Leon stood at attention and saluted: "The 7th company is now fully organized and can accept any mission. Please give instructions!"
"Okay!" Hans straightened Leon's collar and dusted it off: "Now the headquarters wants me to fight back, so I need a path-exploring force. This task is very dangerous and arduous. I have to thank you for your hard work.
.”
Since temporarily joining the battle of the 30th Division, Hans has not mobilized the friendly troops brought by Lyon except in emergencies.
Lyon and the others were originally a company belonging to the 8th Division of the 8th Army of the 14th Group Army. Due to special reasons, they fell behind. Later, they caught up with the logistics convoy of the 8th Group Army, and then accidentally became the 30th Division.
The only supporting army.
After all, he was temporarily transferred by the Army Group Headquarters. Hans was too embarrassed to throw other people's weapons to the front line to fight them all. If the defense line hadn't been in danger, even he would have gone to the front line with a gun.
It will bring all Lyon's troops to the front line.
Even after he later withdrew into the city of Lodz, Hans placed the 7th Company in an area close to the inner ring. This was to allow the friendly troops who had arrived to survive for a while, and to repay their help.
Already.
But now, Hans really has no organized troops to mobilize. The organization of the 30th Division is in chaos. Some battalions now even have only one platoon, and they are unable to organize an attack at all. The only company with a complete organization is
