Guderian's nervousness was not unreasonable. After all, since the German army counterattacked across the board, the Soviet army had basically not had any counterattacks.
Now, news suddenly came of a Soviet raid. Moreover, such a raid also caused serious losses to a division headquarters. A large number of division staff were killed. Even the radio stations were completely damaged, and the only way to rely on communications officers was to deliver the news.
Therefore, Guderian's first reaction was to ask, what was the current situation of the 29th Division? Where was it hit by the Soviet attack? Was there a large-scale retreat?
However, Guderian's worries were obviously unnecessary. Upon hearing his inquiry, the communications officer from the 29th Division immediately raised his chest and reported loudly: "Report, our division has captured the city of Smolensk.
The division commander ordered me to report to the headquarters and request that troops be quickly dispatched to support us and prevent the enemy from counterattacking."
"Has your division captured Smolensk?" Guderian was a little surprised and confirmed again with unconcealed joy: "If you have already entered the city, I can now transfer the 42nd Division to support your defense mission.
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"Yes, we have captured the entire city of Smolensk, but there are still some Soviet remnants in the east outside the city, and they are constantly fighting back, trying to take back this place." Levshitz said loudly and proudly.
I see!
No wonder the Soviet army launched a powerful counterattack with all their strength. This was all forced!
Smolensk, the barrier of Moscow, fell into the hands of the German army, and the Soviet army naturally had to fight hard to take it back. Otherwise, the next position they would fight against the German army would be at the front of Moscow, the capital of the Soviet Union!
Guderian was very happy. Even he himself did not expect that the 29th Division could complete the task so quickly.
Moreover, he learned from the report of communications officer Levshitz that in order to capture the city of Smolensk, the entire 29th Division desperately went into battle. From the division commander General Bolkunsten to every soldier,
They all behaved very bravely.
Such an army deserves such a victory!
During this day, Guderian also received reports from other troops one after another. Without exception, they were all battle reports that made him extremely excited.
The 1st Cavalry Division under his command has already attacked to the southeast of Dastaybychav, the 4th Armored Division is between Chirikov and Molatichi, and the 3rd Armored Division is between Jose and Moletich.
Between coming to Tiqi, the 10th Motorized Rifle Division formed an encirclement on Moginev's Soviet army to the south of Moginev. The 10th Armored Division broke through to Polotsk, and the SS Imperial Division was behind it.
Behind, the "Grossdeutschland" infantry regiment is north of Moginev, the 18th Armored Division has reached the Krasny area, and the 17th Armored Division is in the Dubrovro area.
Several vanguard units advanced almost in tandem, inserting themselves into the rear of Smolensk in multiple ways, and the infantry had already crossed the natural barrier of the Dnieper River, which the Soviet army relied on.
Although the Soviet army soon began to organize a counterattack, the newly appointed Timoshenko tried his best to cobble together almost 10 divisions of troops and violently inserted them into the right wing of Guderian's 2nd Armored Corps, and even fired
The assault on the 29th Division headquarters in Smolensk. At the same time, the Soviet troops trapped in Mojinev Arsha also began to break out.
Timoshenko's intention was very clear. He hoped to drive the German infantry back to the right bank of the Dnieper River, thereby isolating and occupying Smolensk's motorized infantry division and the vanguard German armored division, and rebuilding the Dnieper River defense line.
Timoshenko used almost all the troops in his hands to launch a rapid counterattack, making it possible for the German armored forces in front to be cut off from their supply lines at any time.
This is an adventure. After Pavlov lost the main force of the Western Front, and Stalin destroyed the Great Wall and forced a large number of senior generals of the Western Front to rebel, the Western Front that Timoshenko took over was only worth more than 60,000 defeated troops.
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Even with the five infantry divisions he brought from the rear to supplement the Western Front, the strength was seriously insufficient.
Therefore, Timoshenko took the risk to concentrate his insufficient troops as much as possible, gave up the defensive battle, and launched an all-out counterattack in an effort to recapture the Dnieper River.
It must be said that this tactic is very risky, but it is better than sticking to the original position and waiting to be divided and annihilated by Guderian.
However, Guderian adopted a more risky response method than Timoshenko. He ordered the armored troops that were already forward to advance with all their strength at a faster and faster speed to defeat the area near Smolensk.
The defenders used attack to attack, interspersed and surrounded the Soviet army.
Because Guderian, Manstein and Rommel had one thing in common, they deeply believed in the war principle of "the stronger the attack, the smaller the casualties".
As long as a more violent offensive can be launched, Timoshenko's counterattack organized by the force will be like a creek hitting the sea, not even a wave can stir up.
Guderian himself, like his troops, rushed forward almost desperately. Throughout the entire day of July 7, he and the 44th Armored Corps marched in lightning.
Guderian's almost all-out attack certainly paid a price. Not only did Guderian himself, who took the lead on the front line, be in danger many times, several vanguard divisions also suffered varying degrees of losses, and many of the officers who led the attack were
Sacrificed on the way to the attack, even the brother of General Webb, commander of the 17th Armored Division, was killed in the battle.
But the results in exchange have always shown that it is worth it. The development of the battle has gone as smoothly as he expected. Because the troops moved too fast, most of the counterattacks organized by Timoshenko failed, and behind the Soviet army was
It was constantly attacked by German tank groups.
At this time, Reinhard's commendation order also arrived at the front line, and Guderian was awarded the Oak Leaf of the Iron Cross, which was a special honor. Guderian was ranked first in the Army's list of honors.
In the top five.
On July 9, when Smolensk was still not free from the threat of Soviet artillery fire, Guderian moved his headquarters to Chokov, west of Smolensk.
Perhaps because the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves was more inflated, Guderian ignored the objections of his staff and went into the city to inspect the city that day.
Guderian had long heard that the Orthodox Cathedral in Smolensk was a famous historical building, so he specially prepared to visit the "trophy" he had made in this city.
His convoy saw the onion-like church dome from a distance and headed to the church under the escort of armored vehicles.
Perhaps because of the protection of the Virgin, this church in the war-torn city of Smolensk was actually intact.
But when Guderian entered the church door, he frowned and showed an ugly expression.