The order of the army commander was very satisfactory to Floride, because he had a bad premonition that this rescue would turn into a bloody battle, just like the previous wars.
At least this time, he can reasonably dispatch a group of policemen. Let the Russians kill each other! When the battle is in danger, the German army can seize the opportunity and retreat. After all, there is still a group of people in the prisoner of war camp.
A large group of Russians hope to serve the German army!
In the evening of that day, after receiving the order, Floride started working non-stop.
He has already thought about who will participate in the attack.
The regiment leader Quetzal was ordered to report back to the division headquarters. In order to welcome him, Floride even prepared red wine.
After some polite remarks, Floride announced the army's orders and told him his instructions in earnest.
"In this battle, you must be careful. Those Russians are more cunning than foxes. In this battle, your only task is to rescue the German children trapped in Loev. Considering that the Russians may be deceitful, for this reason
Your unit’s equipment will also receive some upgrades.”
The Quetzal Regiment was originally a logistics regiment, and its officers and soldiers were mainly responsible for the transportation of grain, grass and ammunition. The technical and tactical levels of the soldiers were naturally inferior to those of the main regiment, but their ability to raise horses and operate trucks was the best.
The logistics regiment has always been regarded as the main regiment to perform offensive tasks. Quetzal and his soldiers were very happy. The entire regiment's officers and soldiers began to prepare for the war in the afternoon. More than two thousand German youths in their early twenties, they
They cherish the attention of their division commanders. As for fighting with powerful enemies, they know the dangers involved, but the desire to gain honor drives them to be willing to take risks.
Now, Florid has made a promise to increase the weapons and equipment of the Quetzal Regiment.
"Considering the relatively weak firepower of your unit, I must enhance your combat effectiveness. I remember your regiment. Many squads are still equipped with the weapons they had a few years ago, right?"
"Yes, our regiment lacks machine guns, and only one squad per platoon is equipped with machine guns. Such weapons and equipment are probably only slightly better than those of the Romanians," Quetzal responded.
"Well, I will arrange for the armory to add a batch of machine guns to you. Although it is impossible to reach the level of front-line troops, at least it is still possible to have a Czech light machine gun for each squad."
The so-called Czech light machine gun is the ZB26. After the Czech Republic was occupied by the German army, it became an "arsenal" for the German army. Not only the police regiments put on Czech military uniforms, but a large number of Czech weapons were also directly used by the German second-line, third-line and even puppet troops.
The large amount of firepower of ZB26 is far inferior to that of MG34, but fortunately it has a large reserve.
Quetzal was very happy: "Thank you so much!"
"You don't have to thank me, and don't be too happy too early!" Florid rolled his eyes at him and continued to circle with his hands behind his back, muttering: "I thought about it, not only the accessory of the machine gun, you also have to carry it
More ammunition. Double the ammunition base. If the Russians attack in a big way, your machine gunners will shoot wildly. I don’t believe it. The Russians are all invulnerable monsters. There is one more thing."
Floride stopped: "We still have some old tanks that are acting as tractors and are now participating in the battle! Yes! No. 3, No. 4, and the captured Russians. I will form an armored battalion in a surprise attack, and it will be yours
command!"
"Armored battalion?" Quetzal was shocked, "Your Excellency, division commander, I..."
"What? Do you think you can't control it? You were the one taking the lead in the emergency meeting in the morning! What? Are you hesitant at this time? Although you are a regiment commander, what you are about to do is the work of a brigade commander. There are still people under your command
With the Fifth Regiment of the Police Regiment, the number of troops you will lead will exceed 5,000.
With so many troops, do you hesitate?"
"No! I have no hesitation!" Quetzal straightened his chest and assured.
"Very good!" Patting the man on the shoulder, Floride said something from the bottom of his heart, "I don't believe how effective the police force will be in this battle. Once the rescue operation does not go smoothly, you can order the police force to
Go and fight the Russians head-on. Just let the Russians kill each other. After the enemy is partially consumed, you can then act on your own initiative. If you can capture Loyev, continue the attack. If you feel that it is not possible, report it immediately. I
We will continue to issue orders."
Having said so much, Quetzal clearly realized that the division commander's attitude was a bit subtle. Even tanks would be used in this battle, but he asked the police regiment to be used as cannon fodder?
Quetzal pursed his lips, but he still couldn't hold it in after all.
He asked stubbornly: "Battal Commander, this is our operation to rescue our comrades in Loyev's garrison. We have a huge force. We might as well attack directly and conduct a small-scale blitzkrieg. The enemy's siege will definitely open a hole. We
Why let the police attack first? This is a waste of time!"
"Bah! There must be a conspiracy in this!" Floride slapped the table, shocking everyone in the division.
Floride looked around and said earnestly: "Quetzal, you are a person who pursues fairness. However, your gentlemanly behavior is only praiseworthy when facing an aboveboard enemy. These Russians are too insidious.
Let the police group go first in this battle and let the Russians kill each other. This will not damage your honor! Do you understand? You must carry out my order!"
"Okay! Master."
Currently, the Quetzal Regiment of the 722nd Division is located due east of the city of Gomel. After receiving the formal order to attack, the entire regiment's officers and soldiers were ecstatic! The order they received was to make final preparations on June 23
, at six o'clock in the morning on June 24, the whole group set off southward.
They only have one day to prepare. It is said that there will be a tank battalion to assist in the battle, but its combat effectiveness is completely unknown. They will also receive a batch of light machine guns, and the machine gunners selected from each squad will be trained immediately. Pure infantry will also be led to replace them.
Plenty of ammunition, and on the last day before the war, conduct final target practice.
The Fifth Regiment of the Police Regiment, which is about to participate in the battle, is based in Klimovka, a small town only 12 kilometers northwest of the city of Gomel. The regiment received an assembly order on June 22 and is about to disperse.
After the team gathered together, they headed toward Lechica in the west along the Mozyr-Gomeli highway the next day, and stood by in the Dnieper River ferry town Donajci south of Lechica.
Lechica is the core defensive city of the German 707th Division, but Loev is not under its control. The 707th Division not only learned about Loev that day, but also received an order from the group army headquarters that this battle was first
As for the 722nd Division, other troops will wait and see for the time being.
However, the 707th Division could not simply watch the show. They had reasons to assist friendly forces, so their logistics troops received orders to transport a batch of food and ammunition to the ferry town of Donajci in the south of the city.
The 722nd Division also determined its marching route on the night of June 22.
Gomel is a riverside city adjacent to the Sozh River. In fact, in order to rescue Loyev, you can go directly south along the Sozh River from Gomel to the east of the city of Loyev. But this route is no longer possible.
It's possible!
Because the railway bridge has been blown up, the Dnieper River, which is more than 200 meters wide, has become an insurmountable obstacle. The rescue team can only go westward to cross the upper reaches of the Dnieper River at Lechica, and then go south along the river.
In fact, it may also be the safest way.
Floride believed that if anything happened to the 5,000-man army he sent, friendly forces would definitely be ordered to reinforce him!
The previous failures were because they took the initiative to attack and had to go deep into the swamp, only to be attacked by the Russians who were familiar with the terrain. Now the German army is just a rescue, and they will retreat once they succeed. As long as they are not willing to fight, the Russians will not take advantage.