The changes in the situation cannot really unfold as Yang Mingzhi imagined. The Chinese website has experienced many failures. How could the German army ignore the Soviet guerrillas in the swamp?
Especially with the increase in German troops, the new 722nd Division is not afraid of tigers. They naturally know the tragic experiences of the German troops in this area before, and many soldiers are afraid. But if the knife is not pressed against their necks, how can they know they are afraid?
The commander of the German 722nd Division, Florid, ordered his troops: "You immediately forget what happened to the 707th Division and the 715th Division. Their defeats were all due to underestimating the enemy. We are in the rear, but the enemies we will face are as good as the frontline
There is no difference between the Soviets. Just to our south, in the Pripet Swamp, the enemies ambushing there must be regular Soviet troops. They are not so-called guerrillas at all, but regular troops who understand what guerrillas are doing!"
These words really made the soldiers of this unit correct their mentality and did not go to the front line of the war. This made this group of young people who responded to Hitler's call very dissatisfied. Their competitive spirit seemed to be suppressed by the order.
It seems that the troops are there to deal with the guerrillas and carry out security warfare.
Now, when they heard that the so-called guerrillas were actually regular troops, the officers and soldiers became excited again. They no longer complained, let alone were afraid. They were eager to fight, and they did not even think about dying in battle.
But before advancing toward the swamps, the 722nd Division also had to sweep the Soviet villages around the road just like the 715th Division and the 7o7th Division did.
According to the words of John Kube, the commander of the Belarusian occupation zone, the entire army must carry out a high-pressure policy against the guerrillas. Therefore, the 722 Division acquiesced that all the villages on both sides of the road were liaison with the guerrillas, from the 80-year-old man to the guerrillas.
From a newborn baby to a newborn baby, everyone is suspected of being a guerrilla.
So, the German soldiers have no humanity and have become complete killing machines?
Maybe some of them still had a conscience, but at that time, a small number of soldiers took it as their bounden duty to obey orders. Superfluous thoughts would only cause chaos in the army's command. These German Wehrmacht troops did indeed complete the orders of their superiors. So after Germany's defeat
, when punishing war crimes, the National Defense Forces were almost exempted from their culpability because they did honestly carry out the orders of the top military officials.
However, the massacre of villagers made these recruits completely unable to feel the glory of victory. Some soldiers even complained to their battalion commanders and regimental commanders. "We joined the army to build a Greater Germany. As soldiers, we should be more harmonious and peaceful."
There is no honor in Soviet soldiers fighting, instead of opening fire on women and children in areas occupied by our troops."
Why don't the soldiers' commanders know these meanings?
Eliminating villages and conducting scorched-earth operations is indeed an effective way to deal with the guerrillas. However, if the massacre is carried out too much, the soldiers will become confused and even gradually forget that they are regular Wehrmacht troops, not auxiliaries of the Gestapo and the German occupying forces in the field.
personnel.
The commander of the 722nd Division, Florid, finally decided to conduct a small-scale military operation, and the goal of the operation was to send a small force to march towards Homnich.
His meaning is similar to that of the 715th Division. The ruins of Homnich are very suitable as a post due to its strategic location. It is very obvious that the Soviet army is also aware of this. In previous battles
, the 715th Division and the Soviet troops in the swamps fought a battle around the city.
In that battle, the German army deployed heavy artillery and two regiments of troops. However, due to the harsh environment, the strong Soviet blockade, and the strategic crisis in Lechica, the German army was forced to choose a tactical retreat.
After careful consideration, Floride decided to send a battalion to conduct a tentative attack first to find out the enemy's strength.
The infantry battalion he selected was led by Holstaufen, who had more than 600 men under his command.
However, the equipment of this unit is not strong. They only have four large-caliber mortars.
In German terminology, the term mortar is granaterfer, which literally means "bomb ejector." The mortar equipped by Holstaufen is Type 67, or granaterfer 67, which is an 80 mm caliber mortar.
Cannon. Its range is very long, reaching 25oo meters.
Due to their duties, the 722nd Division also lacks heavy weapons. For this battalion, four Type 67 mortars are their most powerful weapons. In addition, the German army also has many small mortars with a caliber of 50 mm.
, its range is only four hundred meters, its operation is simple, and its power is average.
In addition, this German army completely followed the war thinking of the German Sixth Army. The infantry unit was organized around general-purpose machine guns. Holstaufen's battalion was therefore equipped with seventy mg34 general-purpose machine guns. The firepower configuration on the table
, already very luxurious.
This makes the division commander very confident. With the current weather conditions, it is starting to snow in the sky, and the harsh environment will definitely have an impact on the Soviet army. If the German army has overcome these adverse natural conditions, and the last battle has just ended
, the Soviet army will definitely think that the German army is weak, and thus lower its precautions. Considering all things considered, it seems that the German army is facing a good fighting opportunity.
Holstaufen's troops are about to leave. All the soldiers in this troop are wrapped in white cloaks. There is no denying that the firearms are also wrapped in cotton to avoid the cold and are also used as tactical camouflage.
Before setting off, Florid inspected the troops. He saw this group of young men, each 1.8 meters tall, all standing like statues. Their spirits were very good, and their weapons and equipment were reassuring.
He faced the soldiers and lectured: "Children! This will be your first time on the battlefield. Your mission is to capture Homnich. This area was originally occupied by us, but it was taken away by the Soviets.
, your task is to capture it. Turn the city into a sentry post. In the future, when our army goes south to sweep the swamps, this city will become an important stronghold! The enemy must still hold on there, and what awaits you will most likely be difficult.
Fight. Are you afraid?"
"Don't be afraid!" all the soldiers replied in unison.
"Okay! You come out immediately, I am waiting for news of your victory. After this battle, all of you will receive the Iron Cross Medal 2nd Class. Those who perform bravely in the battle will receive the Iron Cross Medal 1st Class."
The temptation of military glory and the honor of being a member of the National Defense Force drove these soldiers to the battlefield.
They carried a large amount of dry food and field tents, which were pulled by horse-drawn sleighs. Under the leadership of battalion commander Holstaufen, they fought all the way to Homnich.
Perhaps because of their high morale, the bad weather could not stop them at all. Therefore, the Soviet sentries outside Homnich suddenly spotted a team moving towards the city.
The bad information was immediately notified to the 284th Division Headquarters via the radio, the day after Yang Mingzhi and Yevlov's late night conversation.
When the messenger knocked on Yang Mingzhi's door urgently, he was still holding his wife in his arms, dreaming of spring and autumn dreams.
"Why are you so anxious? Did the Germans attack the village?" Yang Mingzhi was in a daze and didn't want to get up yet.
"The deputy division commander guessed correctly, the German army is attacking Homnich!"
"What?!" Yang Mingzhi sat up like a spring. It was a true prophecy. The German army would indeed attack the swamps in the south sooner or later. Who thought they would do it now?!
Yang Mingzhi immediately got dressed and rushed to the division headquarters. Here, Yevlov and Yelentina obviously got up in a hurry, and their sleepiness was written on everyone's faces.
Yevlov yawned and said: "Our people in Homnich discovered the movements of the German army. They seem to have a battalion-sized force approaching Homnich, and war seems to be imminent!"
"In other words, the war may break out as soon as today? So, which part do these guys belong to? Are they the 715th Division or the new 722nd Division? Have the militiamen made it clear?" Yang Mingzhi asked nervously.
Yevlov and Yelentina shook their heads. Instead, Yevlov asked: "Berekov, with your wisdom, can you determine the attributes of these enemies? Is it the 715th Division or the 722nd Division?"
"It should be the 722nd Division," Yang Mingzhi said.
"You are so sure, why?" Yelentina asked.
The reason why Yang Mingzhi made this judgment is very simple. A German infantry division has three main infantry regiments, and the others are various special operations forces, such as artillery and logistics troops. In previous battles, two regiments of the 715th Division suffered heavy losses and almost lost their combat capability.
, the remaining regiment still has to be stationed in Lechica, and the combat effectiveness of the other troops is very low. The 722nd Division is new, there is no problem with the troop organization, and only they can carry out this attack
"That's right! I hope the Germans won't be so impulsive and give us some time to react," Yevlov said with a sullen face.
This really echoes the Soviet proverb: The enemy will not sleep. Yang Mingzhi asked: "Since they are definitely going to attack, war is inevitable, unless they are fools and can deliberately indulge their fighters. We are in Homnich
How many militiamen are there now who are demolishing houses?"
"There are only about two hundred people." Yelentina said, "What's worse, their weapons and equipment are very average. The soldiers are mainly equipped with rifles and grenades, as well as a small number of submachine guns and light machine guns."
This is very bad. Yang Mingzhi believes that his troops, even the militiamen, have a strong will to fight. But the inferiority of the equipment will greatly affect the results of the battle. Furthermore, if the German army has a battalion, it will have 600 people.
Up and down, it is not even ruled out that this is a reinforced battalion with a strength of close to a thousand men. As for the 200 people in our military district, there are only a very small number of regular soldiers, and the rest are militiamen.
Although Yang Mingzhi was unwilling to do so, he still said weakly: "If possible, I really hope they all withdraw. If we had known that the German army would launch today, the militiamen would have been replaced by our regular troops."
"It doesn't have to be like this!" Yevlov again showed the real meaning of the militiamen. "Those people are eager to fight. They are militiamen. I think that as a division commander, I should not deprive them of their fighting opportunities. Besides, I personally don't
I think their combat effectiveness is very poor, so I think we can let them hold on first to buy time for our counterattack."
Yang Mingzhi nodded: "This is the only way. I am also very worried that this action of the German army is to force our army to dispatch. In this way, their 715th Division, 722nd Division, and even the occupying forces will also follow.
Our army will encounter tens of thousands of German troops. I hope this will not happen."
"Who knows? But Homnich is so important to us, how can we just sit back and do nothing." Yevlov stood up. "Now we will start formulating an aid plan immediately!"
Yang Mingzhi let out a long sigh. Maybe the battle will break out in a few hours. Maybe not long after, everyone will be greeted by a bloody dawn! (To be continued.) 8