When Bock commanded Army Group Center to fight Zhukov in the area around Smolensk, and Lundstedt led Army Group South to advance towards Kiev, Army Group North under the command of Marshal Loeb was also dividing its troops and rushing to the Baltic coast, and in Finland
With the cooperation of the army, they marched towards Leningrad.
Leningrad also has a very beautiful name, St. Petersburg.
St. Petersburg is located in northwest Russia, on the coast of the Baltic Sea and at the mouth of the Neva River. It is a central municipality of Russia and the capital of the Leningrad Oblast. It is the central city of the entire northwest region of Russia, the most important land and water transportation hub in the Soviet Union, and the world's population of more than 100 people.
The northernmost city among thousands of cities, it is also known as the "Northern Capital" of Russia. It is also known as the "Second Capital of the Soviet Union".
There are many buildings, colorful paintings, and sculptures here that can be called art treasures. Its historical sites, beautiful parks and museums are also places that the Soviet people yearn for. More importantly, it was renamed in memory of Lenin.
The important city of Ringler occupies an irreplaceable and important position in the hearts of the Soviet people.
As long as this city can be captured, it is of very important significance both strategically and psychologically. Strategically, Army Group North can complete the rendezvous with the Finnish army here and then control the traffic on the Neva River.
Further seize the Soviet Baltic Fleet and free up the armored regiments to attack Moscow.
In this way, there will be one more army group that can be used to attack Moscow. Then taking Moscow will be a piece of cake.
On the other hand, from a psychological point of view, seizing Leningrad is undoubtedly like seizing the second heart of the Soviet Union. If the second heart is lost, the first heart of Moscow cannot be saved.
In July, Loeb, with the cooperation of the Finnish army and a small number of Norwegian expeditionary forces, sent armored troops to advance along the Luga-Leningrad highway. However, they were strongly blocked by the Soviet army in the Luga area.
The 41st Armored Group was pushed back 40 kilometers. The 18th Army that attacked Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, also encountered stubborn resistance from the Soviet 8th Army and was unable to continue advancing.
After that, the Finnish-Finnish Allied Forces surrounded and annihilated part of the main Soviet army in the Lake Ladoga area. However, after the Finnish army obtained the land lost in the Soviet-Finnish War, they began to send only some of the most effective and poorly equipped troops across Lake Ladoga.
Continue to push southeast.
Faced with the Finns' blatant perfunctory response to the tasks assigned to them by the Allied Revolutionary Group, Lebu didn't say much. He was quite honest, and the Finnish Army also sent troops, not refusing to attack, so it was really not good.
What to accuse.
You said that if Finland doesn't send a single soldier, it is impossible to force the Finnish army to send troops. They can use some manpower to share a little pressure, but it is better than watching on the sidelines.
As a result, Army Group North could only continue to attack Leningrad with the smaller Norwegian expeditionary force, supported by a group of Finnish troops with the worst combat effectiveness.
Naturally, Reinhardt was very dissatisfied with the combat situation of Army Group Northern. He personally flew to the front line to supervise the battle, and even found Marshal Mannerheim of Finland and lost his temper: "You promised me that when the war begins,
After that, you will follow us closely and launch the most powerful blow against the Soviet Union. But in reality? Except for the battle at the beginning of the war, you have never paid attention to it. I really doubt that the Finnish army fighting now,
Is it really the army that fought tenaciously in the Soviet-Finnish War?"
"Dear Your Majesty the German Head of State, we have tried our best. This is an undeniable fact. Among the four armies of our Finnish Army, none of them suffered losses less than 15% after the war. We have already sacrificed enough.
I have strength!" Mannerheim did not bow his head, but with the help of a translator, he argued with Reinhardt.
Compared with history, the German army has indeed provided much less support to the Finnish army in this life, which has led to a sharp increase in the casualty rate of the Finnish army in the early stages. But now, under the power of Reinhardt, the Finnish army has also
Instead of refusing to move forward after regaining the lost ground, as in history, some more or less defective troops were used to continue completing the combat arrangements assigned by the Germans.
If the Finns can do this, it stands to reason that Reinhardt should be satisfied. If nothing else, in the early stage of the counterattack, the Finnish army at least captured the entire area west of Vyborg for the Allies. This alone allowed the Finnish army to
Tens of thousands of casualties were incurred.
Originally, Reinhard arranged for the Finnish army to bear the damage in the early stage in order to maximize the use of the Finnish army at once. Later, he did not expect the Finnish army to play a big role. And Mannerheim can still continue to use some Finnish soldiers to continue.
The battle has exceeded Reinhardt's original expectations.
However, things were not as simple as Reinhardt expected.
Perhaps it was because there were too many changes after time travel, or because Reinhardt transferred Manstein, who was supposed to be a pioneer in the Northern Army Group and played a huge role, to the Southern Army Group. This led to the retreat.
There is a shortage of generals who can take on such important responsibilities.
"And you, Marshal Lebu... Look at the other marshals. The armored corps of Bock and Rundstedt completed a lightning advance and captured Smolensk and Kiev. Only
You are still entangled here."
"Führer, our front here is too long, and the Finnish army's offensive has begun to weaken. Moreover, my troops are not as strong as the armored corps of the other two army groups..." Le, who already looks a little old,
Bu counted his difficulties on his fingers.
Reinhard interrupted Loeb in front of Mannerheim: "I don't want to hear about the bad war situation. I gave you two armies and an air force, and gave you a glorious opportunity to occupy the second capital of the Soviet Union.
Is it just to listen to you explain how the Russians are indestructible? You are a German marshal, how can you find reasons to avoid war like the Finns do?"
After hearing what the translator said, the veteran Mannerheim's face couldn't help but twitch.
Who are you scolding?
Although Mannerheim was not wrong and Reinhardt was indeed criticizing, when he reflected on Mannerheim, he couldn't help but think of what he said to Loeb when formulating "Order No. 21".
I am very worried about the appointment.
Although Loeb's level is not low, there is still a gap between Bock and Rundstedt. In addition, Manstein, who was supposed to be in Army Group North, is now in trouble.
However, when things have reached this point, the only thing we can do is to try our best to make amends instead of blaming each other.
The Finnish army must continue to use it. In addition, Reinhardt put on a gentle tone in front of Mannerheim and Loeb and said: "I have decided to free up the troops from the Western Front for the formation of the new Eastern Front Army Group.
In terms of military strength, deploy one armored division and two infantry divisions to strengthen your strength."
He gave a military salute to the two of them and solemnly said: "Two marshals, the next step is up to you!"