"Keep Rzhev at any cost!" This was what Hitler said.
The reason is very simple. In Hitler's eyes, Rzhev was a sharp knife extending from the German defense line to Moscow... The armored forces starting from here can attack Moscow in only three hours, and the transportation is convenient.
Hitler, who had not given up the attack on Moscow, certainly did not want anything to happen to Rzhev.
Unlike Hitler, Model also did not want anything to happen to Rzhev, but he used Rzhev as the cornerstone of the German defense line and the guarantee for encircling the Russian army.
"Yes, Your Excellency the Führer!" Model replied, but he stood still.
Hitler was stunned for a moment, and then he knew what Model was waiting for... Since "no matter the cost", it was time for Hitler to fulfill his promise.
Hitler did not hesitate at this time, because he knew that as soon as Rzhev lost his last hope of counterattacking Moscow, he would lose it, even if he still had a few armored divisions in his hands, it would be of no avail.
So Hitler nodded and said: "You got the troops you wanted, my general! I believe you will lead them to create another miracle!"
As he spoke, Hitler opened the folder, signed his name on the document and handed it to Model.
"I'm waiting for news of your triumph!" Hitler said.
"Yes, Your Majesty the Head of State!" Model left the commander with satisfaction.
Looking at Model's leaving figure, Hitler said to the staff officer beside him: "Did you see that man's eyes and persistence? I trust him, but if I were a soldier, I would not be willing to fight under him!"
Model, of course, did not hear these words, and even if he had, he would have taken them as a compliment.
At this time, Model only cared about one thing: Rzhev.
"What's the situation?" As soon as the plane took off, Model contacted the 9th Army headquarters through the plane's communication device: "I've only been away for two hours, and you told me that there is danger in Rzhev?"
In fact, at this time, Model did not quite believe how dangerous Rzhev would be, because he had personally seen the terrain of Rzhev and believed that as long as enough artillery was deployed there and provided with enough artillery shells, the garrison could
An infantry regiment there can block any enemy attack on Rzhev.
Even Model was a little lucky, because this "crisis" came at the right time. If it hadn't been for this "crisis", the great head of state would not have entrusted the reinforcements to his command.
At this time, Del was a little annoyed... Why didn't he think of this earlier? All he had to do was come to Rzhev for help when discussing the problem with the head of state, and the problem that had been bothering him would be solved. Then the 9th Army had just arrived a few days ago.
Can get these four elite armored divisions.
But Model soon discovered that the problem was far more serious than he imagined.
"Your Excellency General!" Chief of Staff Colonel Krebs reported: "The enemy bypassed our frontal defense line, climbed from the cliff into the rear of our army and directly attacked our artillery unit. Rzhev will not be able to hold it...
"
"What?" Model was taken aback, and then ordered: "Order them to hold it and hold it at all costs! Immediately transfer troops from the 23rd Army and the 27th Army to reinforce Rzhev!"
"I have already done this, General!" Colonel Krebs replied: "I mean to send reinforcements, but let him hold Rzhev... We have lost contact with Rzhev! I think the enemy will send reinforcements
Seize it before we get there!"
Of course Colonel Krebs was unable to contact Rzhev.
Because the headquarters of the 201st Infantry Regiment and the 317th Artillery Regiment stationed in Rzhev have been occupied by the Soviet army, and the artillery regiment headquarters was occupied by Shulka... This puts no pressure on the infantry at all. After all, the artillery
It's artillery. They are usually trained to calculate how to fire. Land warfare is simply an amateur. Even the Germans can only fire. They can't cooperate with the various firepower of the 1st Infantry Battalion to attack.
"Professional" infantry confrontation.
The German artillery headquarters is located in a small three-story building. The guard company is still stationed with sandbags piled at the windows as before. A group of officers and Colonel Ellen are hurriedly sorting documents and information in the building...
Even if some things cannot be taken away, they cannot be left to the enemy, especially the artillery, because they have a lot of information about friendly forces' defense plans and coordinates, and even a ten-kilometer radius.
Needless to say, this is why we worry about artillery accidentally injuring friendly forces, but we can also accurately provide fire support to friendly forces when necessary.
If these things fall into the hands of the enemy, they will put their friendly troops under the enemy's cannon. Ironically, the shells fired at the friendly troops will also be their own shells.
But these officers and guards made a mistake. They underestimated the Soviet army attacking them. They thought they could resist it for a while and then had time to take away the information... They should have poured gasoline on it immediately and lit it.
Matches will burn these things.
By the time Colonel Ellen realized this, it was already too late, because the battle started with a piercing scream and explosion.
There was a "boom" and an explosion came from downstairs.
"What's going on?" Colonel Ellen asked the adjutant: "What is that sound?"
This is indeed a bit strange, at least to the German army at this time, because before this the infantry had nothing to bomb buildings like this, especially this enemy who climbed up from the cliff to sneak attack.
Mortar?
Mortars are fired from the top down, and their shells should blast the roof instead of the downstairs.
Grenade?
That was not the explosion of a grenade, and it was not easy for the guard company to let the enemy enter the grenade throwing range... There was an open space of about 70 meters around, which was one of the reasons why this three-story building was chosen as the headquarters.
Infantry artillery... This is impossible, they climbed up from the cliff and launched a sneak attack!
So Colonel Ellen really didn't understand what could attack them like this.
With doubts, Colonel Ellen put down the documents in his hand, took out his pistol and walked to the window, carefully sticking his head out and looking towards the building opposite.
I saw a flash of fire outside, another "chirp", another explosion from the first floor, and a burst of screams from the soldiers of the guard company... The walls of the building could not withstand this kind of bombing at all.
"New equipment from the Russians!" Colonel Ellen realized this immediately. He had only heard of them being used in Tver before.
The next second, Colonel Ellen shouted an order: "Quickly, destroy those documents..."
But before he finished speaking, a rocket roared over, followed by a "boom".