There were gunshots, shouts of death, and grenade explosions.
The moment the Soviet amphibious landing ship washed ashore, the outcome was decided.
If it were other troops, they would probably flee or surrender immediately.
Because as the Europeans say, if the situation of the war cannot be changed, then there is no shame in surrendering or escaping.
This was the time when the situation of the war could not be changed: the German army was actually surrounded by the Soviet army, and it was a small and close encirclement.
To be precise, the German army near the Don River was surrounded at first. There were not many German troops, only about one regiment.
The front of this siege is a Soviet tank regiment, the left is the Don River, and the rear is the 8th Infantry Regiment that has just crossed the river from the Don River.
If there is any way out, it is that the encirclement to the west has not yet been closed.
But in fact there is no gap at all.
The reason is as mentioned before, this is a small-scale, close-range encirclement.
Although a large-scale, long-distance siege is also terrifying, it at least has reaction time.
For example, Paulus's 6th Army, whose entire army was surrounded in Stalingrad, could still use the Don and Volga rivers to open up an open space as a defensive depth and even build an airport for transportation.
And in a small-scale, close-range encirclement, there is almost no chance to take a breath. Often, the enemy's bullets and bayonets have already appeared in the rear before you realize what is going on.
This is how the 8th Infantry Regiment encircled the German 7th Regiment.
So on the surface, there is still a way to survive in the west, but this way is completely under the control and blockade of Soviet firepower and even cross-fire. Even if the encirclement is not actually completed, it has been encircled in terms of firepower, not to mention that the German soldiers have no reaction at all.
time.
However, the German 7th Regiment showed extraordinary combat effectiveness. They were attacked from two sides by the Soviet army but still resisted desperately. Relying on buildings, darkness, and hiding in corpses, they continued to sneak attack on the Soviet army.
Shurka actually didn't pay much attention to it. He led the troops all the way to the west.
Since the 8th Infantry Regiment was located on the German second line and on the flank of the enemy's defense line, the penetration was very smooth... Attacking on the flank of the defense line and attacking frontally on the defense line are two different things.
When attacking from the front, both the enemy and our forces are fully deployed, with swords against swords and guns against guns. It is easy to fall into a tug-of-war.
When attacking from the flank, our troops are fully deployed, while the enemy only has a small group of people on the edge within the same unit of time. The strength and firepower are completely unequal. The Soviet soldiers can directly break into the trenches and fight at close range as soon as they charge.
In terms of close combat, the Soviet "Poposa" submachine gun obviously has the advantage.
As a result, the German defense line fell one after another like dominoes.
It wasn't until they hit the defense area of the German 8th Airborne Division that they felt the pressure and the offensive momentum slowed down... The German Airborne Divisions are usually well-trained elite troops. At the same time, in order to better complete the airborne mission, they have a lot of equipment.
A submachine gun, which gives it an advantage comparable to that of the "Poposa" in close combat.
Only then did the news reach Manstein.
Major General Moritz reported to Manstein with a pale face: "I'm sorry to tell you, Marshal, we can't hold it any longer!"
Manstein did not understand what Major General Moritz meant, and thought that Major General Moritz had just lost confidence, so he comforted him: "Cheer up, General! As long as we hold on until dawn, our air force will soon...
…”
"No, Marshal!" Major General Moritz interrupted Manstein: "Our position has been lost, you must organize a retreat immediately, otherwise the entire Don Army will be surrounded, including you, Marshal!
"
"What? The position was lost?"
"Yes!" Major General Moritz said: "They penetrated our defense lines from the Don River, amphibious landing ships! We can't stop their attack, everything is over! Karachi, Stalingrad! Retreat, Marshal. We
Lost!"
Manstein was stunned for a moment, but only for a moment.
He knew that if the war situation went like what Major General Moritz said, it would be hopeless.
So Manstein no longer hesitated and immediately ordered the adjutant: "Order all units to retreat in the direction of Miloway!"
Then Manstein said to Major General Moritz: "And you, general! Retreat!"
"No, Marshal!" Major General Moritz replied: "If we also retreat, then no one will be able to evacuate Karachi!"
Although Manstein did not want to admit it, it was indeed the case, so he gritted his teeth and said: "Yes, General! I salute you and I will take good care of your family!"
"Thank you, Marshal!" Major General Moritz replied: "I am honored to fight with you!"
The battle continues.
Since the 8th Airborne Division temporarily blocked the attack of Shulka's 8th Infantry Regiment, and Major General Moritz did not leave his command post until the last moment, the German army successfully organized a temporary defense line in the chaos.
This temporary defense line blocked the Soviet army for more than three hours, until dawn.
As soon as it got dark, the Soviet fighter jets were dispatched to intercept and intercept the German fighter planes... Needless to say, the German army would definitely send fighter planes to provide full cover for Karachi.
The German air power may have an overall advantage, but the Soviet army focused all its hopes on Karachi, so the Supreme Command concentrated all the air power it could mobilize here, a total of more than 200 fighters and more than 100 attack aircraft.
The fighter plane was so dark that when it flew over Karachi, the entire sky was blocked, as if it was dark again.
Under the interception of such a large number of air forces, the German Air Force had no choice but to engage in fierce air battles with the Soviet Air Force on the periphery.
As a result, the Soviet army temporarily gained air superiority over Karachi.
What the Soviet army needs is only temporary air supremacy...
This is the importance of being first.
If air supremacy falls to the Germans first, then most of the 51st Army's tanks will probably be destroyed by the German air force, and it will take a long time for the deadlock to be broken.
But at this time, air supremacy fell into the hands of the Soviet army first...
So the Soviet tanks "clacked" to the front of the infantry, and the artillery fire bombarded the front. The infantry used the armor of the tanks as cover, and used the firepower of the tanks to clear the way. The German defense line was broken through with just one charge.
Sokolov led the Second Battalion to rush into the enemy's defense line. They found a headquarters in a basement, where they found a German major general who committed suicide with a pistol. (To be continued)