Chapter 1121 Annihilating the enemy in motion (4)

After Manstein learned that Balvenkovo ​​had been attacked, his first reaction was to contact Paul Hauser: "General Hauser, the Russians are attacking Balvenkovo. Why didn't Ike's troops launch a counterattack? He also What are you dawdling about?"

"Your Excellency Marshal," Hausser quickly explained upon hearing Manstein's reprimand, "I just spoke to the division headquarters of the Skeleton Division, but the chief of staff, Colonel Shimon, said that General Ike was going to the front for inspection by car. Yes, and haven't come back yet."

"Even if he goes to the front, he can command his troops in the front command post to counterattack the Russians. But up to now, the performance of the Skeleton Division is not as good as their usual performance. Tell me, what is this? what happened?"

"Your Excellency Marshal, I think of the worst possibility." Hausser said cautiously on the phone: "Maybe General Ike has been killed in battle. Only in this way will he lose contact with his division headquarters. "

"What, you said that Ike was killed?" Manstein, who was about to question Hausser, was shocked when he heard the news, and asked cautiously, "General Hausser, do you really think there is something wrong?" Is that possible?"

"Yes, Marshal, I'm very sure." Hausser replied, "If it hadn't been for some accident, I'm afraid he would not have contacted the division headquarters for such a long time. As a result, the entire division lost A unified command cannot carry out an effective counterattack against the Russians."

"Immediately appoint the chief of staff, Colonel Shimon, and connect Ike." Manstein ordered Hausser on the phone: "Let him organize an uninterrupted counterattack and drive the Russians out of Barvenkovo. After the people are driven out of the city, we must find a way to hold them back, don't let them slip away, and order the other two divisions to come over quickly and encircle them."

"Not long ago, the Imperial Division was attacked by the Russians again, and its organizational system was disrupted. I am afraid that it will not be able to reach Barvenkovo ​​in a short time." Hauser reported to Manstein: "But I have given the time to the Banner Guard. An order was given to move quickly towards Barvinkovo. Today the third battalion of the division's 2nd Grenadier Regiment is only a few kilometers away from the city."

"Very good." Knowing that the vanguard of the Banner Guard Division is only a few kilometers away from Balvenkovo, Manstein's heart suddenly felt a lot more at ease, "The Banner Guard Division has never lost a battle since it was formed. I believe they will teach the Russians an unforgettable lesson this time."

  Hausser appointed Colonel Shimon as the acting commander of the Skull Division, and the Soviet Army's telegram interception troops quickly intercepted the telegram. In less than half an hour, the deciphered telegram was placed in front of Zhukov. Zhukov, who had just taken over as the commander of the Southwest Front Army, looked up and asked the director of the communications corps standing in front of him after seeing this telegram: "Comrade director, is this news reliable?"

   "Comrade Marshal," the director of the communications corps quickly replied, "This is a telegram sent by Paul Hauser to the Skeleton Division. I believe it should be true."

"As far as I know, the troops of the 41st Guards Division are attacking Barvinkovo ​​at the moment. It is reasonable to say that under such circumstances, it is taboo to change the division commander, but the Germans still did it. Tell me ,What is the reason?"

   Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Ivanov replied: "Comrade Marshal, according to my judgment, this situation generally occurs, unless the division commander can no longer command the troops, he will be replaced by someone else."

   "Then tell me again, what happened to Ike that made him unable to command the troops?"

"Unless he was injured or killed in battle." Ivanov said thoughtfully: "Even if he was injured, he could lie on the hospital bed and command the troops. Could it be that he was killed in battle? But how is this possible? You know, the offensive Balvenkovo ​​has only one division, the 41st Guards Division, and they don't have any heavy weapons, so how could they kill Ike in battle?"

"If the commander of this army is Sokov, then nothing is impossible." Zhukov looked at Ivanov and asked: "A few days ago, if I told you, there would be a unit of our army going deep into the In the enemy's rear, the three elite SS divisions of the German army were dizzy, would you believe it?"

"I don't believe it, Comrade Marshal." Ivanov replied simply: "Just a few days ago, the two tank corps and three infantry divisions commanded by General Rybalko were encircled by these three German divisions. If General Rybalco hadn't broken out in time, I'm afraid his troops would have been wiped out by the Germans."

"The reason why Rybalko was able to break through in time was because Major General Sokov gave me a warning, and I warned Rybalko through a special channel, so he gave up the idea of ​​standing still and resolutely Taking a breakout action, we took a part of the troops and jumped out of the enemy's encirclement."

  Zhukov's words made the commanders present shine. The three SS divisions that once gave them headaches are now being played around by a Soviet guard division. This thing sounds incredible. Ivanov asked tentatively: "Comrade Marshal, should we do something to help them?"

"Today, the unit with the most complete organizational system in the entire Front Army is the 61st Group Army. They are ordered to assume an offensive posture in the direction of Igyum to attract the attention of the enemy, so that the enemy who is approaching Igyum will not dare to deploy troops casually to strengthen it. Defense of Balvencorvo."

  Ivanov waited for Zhukov to finish speaking, and quickly agreed: "Yes, Comrade Marshal, I will immediately call the commander of the 61st Army and order his troops to move in the direction of Igyum."

   "In addition," Zhukov continued: "Send a telegram to General Rokossovsky to inform him that Ike may be killed by the 41st Guards Division, and make him happy."

  When Ivanov heard Zhukov say this, he immediately guessed his intention, and asked with a smile: "Comrade Marshal, do you want General Rokossovsky to verify the authenticity of this matter?"

  Zhukov nodded with a smile, and urged Ivanov: "Hurry up and send a telegram to Rokossovsky."

Rokossovsky did not receive any report from Sokov, so when he received Zhukov's telegram, he also had doubts in addition to ecstasy, and quickly ordered Malinin: "Chief of Staff, send Sokov a message. A phone call, ask him if he killed Theodore Eck, the commander of the German Skeleton Division, during the attack on Balvencorvo?"

  (end of this chapter)