It was the 11th Army that launched the attack on the Kiev defense line, and its commander was Manstein, known as one of Germany's three most famous generals.
Prior to this, the 11th Army had been blocked in front of the Kiev defense line and was unable to advance, but this was a blessing in disguise... This made the 11th Army the only unit among the attacking German forces that had not suffered from the cold Soviet winter. They had their backs against the Romanian supply line.
, clothing, food, etc. can be transported up without any obstacles.
The problem is that the German army has locked its main attack direction in Moscow, and at the same time the main armored force is intercepted on the east bank of the Dnieper River. This makes them lack the necessary offensive equipment and have been unable to break through the Kiev defense line.
But it's different now.
This offensive plan was proposed to Hitler on his own initiative by Manstein. During this winter, as a "secondary commander" west of the Kiev defense line, he was almost isolated from the battlefield, and he had long been unable to restrain himself.
It happened that Manstein heard that the Soviet Union's southern supplies had been intercepted by the British, so he immediately flew to Wolf's Lair to meet Hitler.
"This is an opportunity for us, Your Excellency the Führer!" Manstein said to Hitler: "When the British have stopped aid supplies and everyone is focusing their attention on Moscow, we should open another battlefield!"
At this time, Hitler had already lost his spirit due to the successive defeats on the front line. He replied hesitantly: "But, my general... our army is retreating. We need to resist their attack with all our strength. We have no extra troops."
Moved to the south!"
Hitler did not lie to Manstein. Even the four armored divisions newly reinforced to the front line were assigned to Model's 9th Army. If they were transferred back from the front line and handed over to Manstein, Model would probably be in trouble.
It was difficult to prevent the German army from being defeated like a mountain.
"I only need the air force, Your Excellency the Führer!" Manstein said: "Let the 10th Air Force cooperate with our attack, and I can tear apart their defense line and launch a surprise attack into their weak depths!"
Hitler remained silent.
Because the German army was equally nervous about the air force, the reason why the German army was able to stabilize at this time, or in other words, Model's 9th Army was able to stabilize its position, was partly because the air force took a moment to regain some air supremacy.
If the air force is transferred south to support the 11th Army at this time...
Manstein seemed to have seen through Hitler's thoughts. He pointed to the map and explained: "Your Excellency, if we can tear open the Russian defense line in Kiev, we can cross the Dnieper River while the river is still frozen. This will be a direct threat.
To the rear of the Russian army and re-encircle Kiev, which means the Russians have to respond, including the Russian air force!"
Hitler nodded in agreement.
In other words, the transfer of the air force will not actually affect the defense of the Model 9th Army. Because the German army transferred the air force to the direction of Kiev, the Russian army also had to transfer the air force to the south to fight the German air force... They just changed the battlefield.
.
As for the Moscow direction, the main air forces of both sides have been transferred away, so no one suffers and certainly does not take advantage.
Thinking of this, Hitler no longer hesitated. He hugged Manstein tightly and said: "You are right, my general, we should have done this a long time ago! I believe you, you and those who are just
Knowing that retreating cowards are not the same kind, you and your men will defeat the Russians with iron will, and we will regain victory in this war, and then the whole world will cheer for our victory!"
When Manstein heard this, he felt as if a rabbit had died and a fox had died.
He understands the entire battle. Although he has been on the Kiev defense line, he has always been paying attention to the situation on the front line.
Therefore, Manstein knew very well that the generals who suggested retreat were actually correct. In that case, even if he commanded his troops to fight on the front line, he would have no choice but to retreat.
But of course, Manstein would not say that. He just saluted Hitler and then turned and left.
After returning to the headquarters, Manstein made some preparations.
In fact, preparations had already begun before he went to meet Hitler.
The main problem of the 11th Group Army was the shortage of tanks, especially the "Pzf III" and "Pzf IV" tanks.
There is no shortage of light tanks for the German army. Although the 11th Army has only one army, it is actually three armies... It also commands the Romanian 3rd Army and the Italian Expeditionary Force.
However, because the combat effectiveness of these two armies is relatively weak, they usually do not enter the public's field of vision and are easily ignored.
Manstein's method was to mobilize some light tanks from these slave countries and dozens of tanks urgently transported from Germany to piece together two armored divisions.
"We only have more than 50 Panzer III and Panzer IV tanks!" The staff officer said to Manstein with some worry: "The rest are all 'Number 1', 'Number 2' and '35t'
Wait, we even have Soviet tanks captured from the Russians, and we can use these pieces of tanks to attack the enemy's defense lines, I'm afraid..."
"Enough!" Manstein replied: "You have to know one thing, Eric, the Russians are not prepared for our attack. Their main force is launching a counterattack from the front in the direction of Moscow. All we have to do is break through the Kiev defense line.
,then all we need is speed!”
As for how to use light tanks to break through the Russian defense line, Manstein also thought about this.
"We attack in the early morning!" Manstein said to Major General Gott, the commander of the main armored division who implemented the breakthrough: "Don't try to use your tanks to confront the Russians head-on. Adjust your radios and use them to indicate to the air force the enemy tanks.
Position, they will destroy the enemy's tanks! And your target is the enemy's infantry, understand?"
"Yes, General!" Major General Gott stepped forward and answered.
This can be a helpless move, or it can be said to be the only countermeasure, because the Russian army has heavy tanks such as KV1 and KV2, and even the terrifying T34.
If we do not rely on the air force but use these tanks cobbled together by the German army to force a breakthrough, it will be almost the same as death.
Of course, Manstein knew that he could not rely entirely on the air force, because the troops would always encounter some unexpected situations on the way, such as short days and long nights, and German armored units would inevitably encounter enemy tanks at night.
So Manstein repeated his old trick, just like he invented the assault gun. He simply welded more than two dozen Pak40 anti-tanks urgently transferred from Germany to the tank chassis, and then incorporated it into the armored forces as a