The German Ninth Army basically completed the defeat of the Soviet 39th Army east of Smolensk. The Soviet army suffered heavy casualties and the German army was in a very bad situation.
The German army did not suffer serious casualties, but the consumption of supplies was huge. For any army, logistical constraints will not cause big trouble at the beginning. Once the reserves of supplies are exhausted, the enemy will not be able to attack.
Self-destruction is also a matter of time.
The man who commanded this German army was the famous general Model. He was a general who was good at defensive warfare. He withstood the endless Soviet attacks with the strength of a group army, and was highly regarded by Hitler.
However, any operation requires supplies, especially defensive operations. "Only artillery and machine guns, as well as deep trenches, supplemented by the pursuit of victory by armored corps, can maintain the stability of the current front. To complete this strategy, we must use a large number of
ammunition, and a large number of reinforcements.”
When Model sent a telegram to Berlin, he would definitely request logistical reinforcements.
He is called Hitler's firefighter because he always appears in very dangerous battlefields and has made many beautiful defensive counterattacks. However, the battle situation in this time and space is even more dangerous than that of the original plane.
The "guerrilla republic" in that dimension is more like a collection of a large group of guerrillas, and its comprehensive combat effectiveness is weak due to the lack of heavy weapons and food.
Everything has changed in this plane. In the German-occupied area, a battle launched by the guerrillas that started in late June has lasted for a full month. The German army's large-scale encirclement and suppression operation fell short, and its consequences were even greater for the entire German army.
The Meili region is plunged into war.
As a result, the logistical support and transportation lines that Model relied on for a living were abruptly weakened by 46%.
Model had a hunch that his defeat of the Soviet 39th Army was just a tactical victory. According to various intelligence facts, the Soviet commander Zhukov was actively deploying troops.
Every day, every hour, new troops are massing towards the edge of the war zone.
The Soviet army is bound to launch a massive battle. At this critical moment, a railway line that is related to whether the defensive war can be a complete victory, together with important cities on the route, was actually occupied by a group of guerrillas?!
Yes, Model believed that it was the guerrillas who occupied the city. After receiving pessimistic reports on logistics, he couldn't believe it for a while.
It was not until follow-up reports came out that it was determined that it was the Soviet 284th Infantry Division who commanded the guerrillas to occupy Lechica.
At the beginning of the war, General Kun of the 7th Armored Division died suddenly in battle. His death was confirmed to have been committed by the 284th Division of the Soviet Army. Later, the unit was wiped out, and as a result, it mysteriously emerged from the vast swamp.
Knowing all this, Model finally understood the reason for the fall of Lechica.
He had been commanding the troops to fight a counterattack a few days ago and had not paid attention to logistics for the time being. Now his logistics staff were reporting to him the poor prospects of warehouses in various places, and he was furious with General Wagner.
However, what's the use of scolding? He could only lament: If there is a major crisis in the empire one day, it will be caused by this group of mediocre people.
To count on Wagner to recapture Lechica, that guy is now unable to protect himself. He was so frightened by the guerrillas that he hid in Bobruisk, suspected all the citizens in the city like a frightened bird, and even ordered the execution of some of those suspected.
Model was a military expert, and he had no interest in how to govern the city. He only cared about whether enough ammunition and food could arrive, and whether the rear troops could eliminate interference from the guerrillas.
On July 23, he called Hitler himself. In addition to informing him of his situation and the upcoming Soviet counterattack, he also requested to mobilize troops from the mainland to regain the communication lines in southern Belarus.
For several days, the German Army's General Staff Headquarters had full confidence in the southern German army's rapid advance in southern Russia. The frontline of the army was almost reaching the Don River. As long as the Soviet army in front of them was defeated, the Stalingrad railway hub would be within easy reach.
The top German military leaders were filled with joy, including Hitler. Everyone believed that the occupation of southern Russia would be completed before October. As long as this was completed, the defeat of the Soviet Union would be a matter of time.
Hitler received Model's telegram with joy. He congratulated the general on his victory. When he learned that the problem of Lechica had not been resolved, Hitler did not get angry.
Yes, for a few days, Hitler had received only messages of victory, with very few tragedies of defeat.
The Lechitsa problem still needs to be solved.
When the time came to 1942, Hitler, Goebbels, Himmler, etc., these senior Nazi personnel, as the war progressed, gradually discovered that the policies they had formulated at the time were no longer suitable for the current war. The original plan was to occupy the Soviet Union
Later, Gobert and Himmler, who wanted to eliminate the Slavic people, realized that continuing this policy would only turn all the people in the occupied areas into guerrillas. However, completely changing this policy was completely contrary to its original intention.
The establishment of a large number of police groups composed of civilians in the occupied areas and the achievement of "suppressing bandits" is not ideal.
To solve the Lechitsa problem, we still have to send out regular troops composed of Germans.
After a brief discussion in the "Wolf's Lair", Hitler said contemptuously to his subordinates: "That Wagner is a waste. But considering that he has been stationed in Belarus for a long time, withdrawing him hastily will collapse the current situation. This person will continue to be indifferent to the present.
Duties. As for the recovery of Lechitsa, three divisions were sent to solve the Lechitsa problem."
The three divisions Hitler mentioned were actually sent to reinforce Model's Ninth Army.
Germany has formed a large number of infantry divisions. Due to the relative lack of supplies, it is difficult for these troops to form an elite force. If they are allowed to fight offensively, their combat effectiveness worries all generals, but if they are to carry out defensive warfare, they are perfect.
Germany has a deep love for mules and horses, and the newly formed infantry divisions were organized according to the 1942 standards. Regardless of the objections of the generals, Hitler forcibly reduced the nine infantry battalions of each infantry division to six. As a result, almost
To reduce the establishment of an infantry regiment.
Such an organization makes the new infantry division have only about 14,000 troops on paper. Not only the number of soldiers, logistics personnel, but also the number of horses is weakened.
The best trucks are used by armored divisions and motorized infantry divisions. Logistics support for general troops almost relies on mules and horses. The German army recruited a large number of horses. During the whole year of the war, a large number of horses died. On average, an infantry division's
The number of horses was reduced to just over 3,000. Therefore, the mobility of the infantry division was also weaker than in 1941.
In terms of combat effectiveness alone, they are more powerful than the 634th Division that supports the operation.
The German army will send three infantry divisions to reinforce the Ninth Army deployed east of Smolensk and the Fourth Army deployed east of Bryansk.
Hitler received Model's request for reinforcements, and also received a request from Fourth Army Commander Ludwig. Moreover, because the fall of Lechica would have the greatest impact on the Fourth Army, Ludwig's request was more serious than Model's.
of eagerness.
Let’s talk about the Fourth Army. When the war broke out, von Kluge commanded this unit. Due to his brilliant achievements in the early days of the war, von Kluge was promoted and the position was taken over by General Ludwig.
This army group has six corps, which can be said to be strong. This army surrounded Sychovka, east of Bryansk, and fought fierce battles with the Soviet army for nearly a whole year.
In fact, Yang Mingzhi led his troops to attack the Mozyr-Gomel road and railway, which frustrated the logistics of the German Fourth Army!
It was just that Model had contradicted Hitler in person and had excellent defensive warfare abilities, which made Hitler admire him with admiration. Therefore, in terms of allocating materials, in addition to considering the actual military situation, in terms of personal feelings, Hitler was more willing to use Poland.
The strategic reserves stationed there are limitedly transferred to the command of Model.
The German army dispatched the 370th Infantry Division, 371st Infantry Division and 771st Infantry Division.
These three infantry divisions have actually been deployed in France. As France became more peaceful, a large number of troops on the Western Front were continuously put into the "meat grinder" on the Eastern Front.
Before arriving in Poland, these three divisions conducted a large-scale reinforcement in France. They recruited tens of thousands of horses locally and a total of more than 200 trucks.
In terms of personnel, they have also made certain additions. The newly added personnel are not front-line combat soldiers, but logistics troops composed of French people, but their number is not large.
As a result, each of the three infantry divisions has a strength of nearly 16,000 people. In terms of weapons and equipment, especially artillery, it is also better than other units. For example, heavy howitzers with a caliber of up to 150 mm are equipped with two heavy howitzers each.
Ten pieces, and the rest of the artillery are stronger than the average infantry division.
Because they all broke away from the original army establishment and arrived in Poland with their colleagues. The German army directly gave the three divisions the designation of the 100th Army. Of course, the designation was temporary at first. They arrived in Poland in March, and then
Since then, they have been stationed in the camp, and the designation of the 100th Army seems to have become permanent.
While stationed, the three divisions carried out some tasks of exterminating guerrillas, and also detached a small number of troops to supplement the losses of frontline troops. The most they paid was to deliver 3,000 horses to the frontline to meet the logistics needs.
Because of its high artillery ratio, these heavy weapons and part of the artillery were also allocated to frontline troops, especially to the Ninth Army. It can be said that the artillery from the 100th Army provided all the defensive battles organized by Model after he took office.
Some help.
When a large number of personnel and weapons and equipment are sent to the front-line troops for combat, Army Commander William Hunter smiles on the outside, but curses Scheisse in his heart. He knows that sooner or later his troops will be involved in front-line operations. Although combat is accompanied by huge dangers, it is also
His only chance for promotion.
If the brothers stay in France all the time, the soldiers will inevitably have to hang out with French women every day, wash their intestines with red wine every day, and fall into endless tenderness, and the soldiers' fighting enthusiasm will also be quickly worn away.
"A young man is strong and strong, but if his spirit is broken by a French woman, a good German man will also be ruined."
As a result, the troops were transferred to Poland, and the young men bid farewell to French women and quickly mixed up with Polish women. Even if relatively strict military discipline management measures were adopted, the number of people imprisoned every day could reach three digits.
They must go to the battlefield quickly to make contributions to the Third Reich.
Finally, Army Commander Hang Te's long-awaited military transfer order was finally issued.
The 100th Army is currently stationed in Lublin, Poland. The order they received is to reinforce the Ninth Army. But before heading north to Smolensk and reporting to Model, the troops must help friendly forces by the way and rescue the lost Lechica.
Take it back.
In fact, Hangte has always been concerned about the situation on the front line. Although the German army was advancing vigorously in southern Russia and made some breakthroughs in the north, the German army in Belarus launched a failed liquidation operation. The loss of troops was huge, and Lechicha was actually captured by the guerrillas.
Took it.
What does the fall of Lechica have to do with the 100th Army? Hunter only knew this fact and was surprised by the amazing combat effectiveness of the Soviet guerrillas' defensive counterattack. Otherwise, he was indifferent until he received such an order.
It turns out that the 100th Army will get on the train in Lublin bound for Smolensk. They should turn northeast after Brest, arrive directly at Minsk, and then pass through Orsha to Smolensk. The journey
The total length is 800 kilometers. The soldiers of the three divisions of the army, as well as all the equipment and horses, will travel by train. The first troops to move will be the first to arrive at the destination within 48 hours.
However, they are going to participate in the battle to recapture Lechica. The whole army will still take the train, but after arriving in Brest, they will keep heading east until they get off at Mozyr. They will then start an eastward attack and battle to recapture Lechica.
After inspection, walk directly to Gomel, and then drive to Bryansk.
It seems that the entire operation is more like a reinforcement of the Fourth Army. In fact, the troops will take a short rest after arriving in Bryansk, and then take a train north to Smolensk.
The 100th Army was ordered to launch an operation on July 24. Before the operation began, this German army, which was ready to go, first spent a lot of money with Reichsmarks and PPK vouchers.
The peaceful life is about to be bid farewell, and the officers also intend to indulge in military discipline a little. A large number of soldiers poured into Lublin's bars to spend money, and some special places also sang all night long. The soldiers couldn't wait to spend all the money they had, and they purchased
A considerable number of daily necessities, such as razors, mirrors, lighters, etc.
Because what came from the front line was not only the news of the German victory, but also the complaints of a large number of soldiers. For example, the living materials on the front line were very scarce, and Russian civilians were much poorer than the Poles. Fighting on the front line, if you were not careful, you would be killed. Who
I don't even know if I will die or when.
Besides, by reinforcing the Ninth Army, you can reunite with the brothers who went there before. To get to the final destination, the troops still need to deal with the enemies occupying Gomel.
Various rumors claim that the so-called guerrillas are not stragglers. The heavy losses of the 7th Armored Division were caused by the Soviet 284th Division. They have been entrenched in the Pripet Swamp as a guerrilla, and it was this division that occupied Lechica.
for.
Rumors have cast a shadow over the progress of this operation. Although retaking Lechica from such a force will be a major achievement of the 100th Army. However, doesn't this also mean that the army will face a tough battle? Okay
The only legend among soldiers is that the RUHE operation launched by the German army failed, and there is no legend about how many casualties there were. There is a saying that the German army suffered as many as 40,000 casualties. Who would believe this number? The answer is no. It is too
It's so bizarre, so unbelievable.
The German army did not make an official report on how many casualties there were, so the soldiers naturally had no way of knowing.
So, in the early morning of July 24th, the first infantry regiment under the 370th Division of the 100th Army, with their large and small equipment, was stuffed into the iron carriage like a large herd of bulls.
There were no comfortable carriages at all, and the soldiers were forced to crowd into the carriages pulling goods. For the fastest speed, everyone had to be patient. According to the plan, the first unit will arrive in Moji around noon on the 25th.
How long will it take for the troops to enter the battle? The soldiers estimated that it would be the 26th at the earliest. They would leave Mozyr on foot and advance towards Lechica.