Chapter 1423 Poison Scheme

   "Although from my heart, I hope that General Huot's troops can crush the Russians' attempt to capture Kharkov again, but judging from the current battle situation, the city's fall is only a matter of time."

After hearing what Manstein said, Zeitzler asked in surprise, "Your Excellency, although intelligence shows that the Russians dispatched more troops and possessed more equipment than you, what's the big deal?" You know, at the beginning of the year, the Russians had the upper hand in terms of strength and equipment, and had just won the victory in annihilating the 6th Army in Stalingrad. At that time, everyone saw the disparity between the two sides and thought that we could not escape the failure Fate, but you unexpectedly defeated the Russians and regained Kharkov and Belgorod, which were occupied by the Russians."

"General Zeitzler," if the Soviet troops attacking Kharkov are only the Steppe Front Army and the Voronezh Front Army, Manstein is fully confident that Hoth will hold on for a few months, but there is one more shit-stirring stick Sokov made Manstein feel confused: "You must know Sokov among the Russian commanders, right?"

   "Your Excellency, Marshal!" Zeitzler asked in shock when he heard Manstein solemnly mentioned Sokov's order, "Aren't you afraid of him?"

"Yes, General Zeitzler, you are right, I am indeed afraid of him." Manstein said truthfully to Zeitzler: "Everyone says that the most terrifying Russian is Marshal Zhukov, but I am afraid of him." I think their statement is inaccurate. Although Zhukov is powerful, because of his position, he did not directly fight us face to face, but worked out a detailed combat plan and handed it over to the troops below for execution. You know, the Russian troops Combat strength, even if one of our divisions faces one of their army groups, it may not necessarily be at a disadvantage."

Speaking of this, Manstein sighed: "But Sokov is different. The group army under his command is actually fighting us with swords and guns. Our troops have suffered a lot under his hands. Even The most elite Skeleton Division, Imperial Division, Grossdeutschland Division and 19th Armored Division, etc., have all suffered defeats under his hands.

   Nowadays, as long as our officers and soldiers hear that the troops they are fighting with are commanded by Sokov, their morale will become low and their combat effectiveness will be greatly reduced. For example, the attack on the Compass Town of Kazakhya in the past two days, if it encountered other Russian troops, our officers and soldiers would only need a few hours to take it down, but it has been fighting for two days now, and our troops After finally rushing into the town, they were driven out again by the Russians before they could catch their breath. "

Hearing this, Zeitzler couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. He has been paying attention to the direction of Kharkov recently, so he naturally knows where the compass town of Kazakhia is. "Your Excellency, I remember that the town is not big. Why is your The troops have been unable to dislodge the Russians?"

"Sokov's troops are very good at defending, and they also have new rockets and anti-tank rockets, which make our officers and soldiers look a bit restrained when attacking." Manstein remembered that he had missed something, He hurriedly asked again: "General Zeitzler, I have sent people to send the captured new Russian rifles to Berlin. I wonder when the military-industrial units will be able to imitate them?"

   "Your Excellency Marshal, didn't your subordinates send the STG-44 submachine gun we sent?"

   "Received." When Manstein just saw this assault rifle with the name of submachine gun, he was quite happy, but when his subordinates delivered the captured Soviet assault rifle, his heart suddenly turned cold. Compared with the assault rifles of the Soviet army, the assault rifles developed by our own military industry department are much simpler and rougher. "However, the performance of this submachine gun is still inferior to the Russian assault rifles. This means that on the battlefield, our officers and soldiers who use this submachine gun will be suppressed by the opponent's firepower."

"Your Excellency, Marshal, you are right." Zeitzler agrees with Manstein's statement very much, but he also has a dilemma: "Our military industry department has been researching rifles and submachine guns. A new type of rifle, but this research work was opposed by the head of state, so the military industry department can only name this new type of rifle after the serial number of the submachine gun.

When I first decided to put this submachine gun into the army, I felt very happy in my heart, because as long as our troops are equipped with this submachine gun, they can overwhelm the Popov submachine gun and Mosin Nagant rifle in terms of firepower and accuracy. Russians, but I didn't expect them to rush ahead of us and put a more advanced assault rifle into the army. "

Because Manstein understood the character of Mustache, he naturally understood Zeitzler's embarrassment, but in order that his army would not be rubbed on the ground by the Soviet army because of backward weapons, he still had a hard heart to face Zeitzler. Zeitzler: "General Zeitzler, I strongly suggest that you greet the military industry department. No matter what, you must imitate the new Russian rifles, otherwise we will suffer even greater losses on the future battlefield."

   Zeitzler is a cautious person. Seeing Manstein show his cards to himself, he fell into a dilemma for a while: "This... this..."

   "General Zeitzler, don't you think you don't know how to speak to the Führer?"

   "That's right, Your Excellency the Marshal." Seeing that Manstein said what was on his mind, Zeitzler quickly said: "I am worried that when I propose this plan, I will be opposed by the head of state.

   You must know that although the new Russian rifle has an advanced design concept, it must use new ammunition. In addition, it can shoot in bursts. The consumption of bullets in actual combat is no less than that of submachine guns. The consumption is very alarming. In order to be able to use this weapon, we must re-prepare a whole new ammunition system to meet the needs of combat.

  However, our country is now in trouble. A lot of equipment and personnel were lost in the tug-of-war on the Eastern Front. It is not easy for us to make up for the losses on the front line. Not to mention, the additional burden of re-adding new equipment and associated new logistics systems. "

After hearing what Zeitzler said, Manstein fell silent. He knew very well in his heart that what the other party said was the truth. Under the current situation, a new ammunition system should be re-established to meet the needs of the battle. is very unrealistic.

  After thinking for a long time, he finally spoke again: "Okay, General Zeitzler, since this matter is embarrassing for you, let's put it on hold for now. Why don't we return to the matter of building the Dnieper River defense line."

"Your Excellency, Marshal, this matter is very important, and I cannot give you an accurate answer immediately." Hearing that Manstein no longer mentioned the matter of preventing Soviet assault rifles, Zeitzler couldn't help but heaved a sigh of relief, and continued He began to complain: "You know, building the Dnieper River defense line is not a small project, and it needs to be demonstrated from all sides..."

"General Zeitzler, I know that the construction of the defense line of the Dnieper River is not a small project and requires a lot of manpower and material resources." Seeing that Zeitzler didn't seem to have much interest in building the defense line of the Dnieper River, Manstein couldn't help feeling a little anxious : "But this matter is imminent and cannot be delayed, otherwise it will be too late to build a defense line when the Russians occupy Kharkov and turn around and rush to the Dnieper River."

   "I can find a way to solve the matter of materials." Zeitzler heard the anxiety in Manstein's tone, and said with some difficulty: "But where can I find so many people to build fortifications for you?"

"Aren't you afraid that you don't have enough people?" Manstein said with a sneer: "In the Battle of Uman and the Battle of Kyiv, we captured nearly a million Russian prisoners. I think it is appropriate to let these prisoners help us build fortifications." But that's all."

Hearing that Manstein mentioned that the Soviet prisoners captured in the Battle of Uman and Kyiv were used to build the Dnieper River Defense Line, Zeitzler said with a wry smile: "Your Excellency, the Battle of Uman and the Battle of Kyiv were carried out two years ago. , After such a long time, how many do you think there are nearly one million captives left now?"

   "General Zeitzler!" Manstein couldn't help but stand on end when he heard Zeitzler say this: "You won't tell me that the nearly one million captives are all dead now, right?"

"How should I put it?" Zeitzler said cautiously after organizing the vocabulary in his mind: "After the two battles, a group died due to serious injuries, and a group were executed in the concentration camp at the rear. Another batch of laborers died. Excluding those captives who were sent back to Germany as laborers, there are probably about 150,000 people left."

   "150,000 people?" Manstein couldn't help but gasp when he learned that there were only 150,000 people left among the nearly one million prisoners. However, having 150,000 people to help him build fortifications was better than nothing. Thinking of this, he said to Zeitzler: "General Zeitzler, please issue an order to assign these captives to my troops. I will use them to build a military camp on the Dnieper River in the shortest possible time. Sturdy and reliable fortification."

"Himmler is responsible for the custody of these Russian prisoners of war." Zeitzler said cautiously: "But don't worry, Marshal, I will communicate with him as soon as possible, and let him agree to hand over these prisoners of war to you. "

   "General Zeitzler, I leave it to you to communicate with Himmler." Manstein didn't like Himmler, so he didn't want to deal with him, so he handed over the matter to Zeitzler. However, considering the time constraints, he specifically urged the other party to say: "I hope to see these Russian prisoners of war who are still alive in three days' time."

Seeing that Manstein put down the phone, the chief of staff asked him tentatively: "Your Excellency, Marshal, to build a long defense line on the Dnieper River, only 150,000 people are far from enough. We still need to find ways to recruit more people." workforce."

  Manstein took out a cigar from the wooden box, looked up at his chief of staff, and asked, "Chief of staff, where do you think we should recruit new labor?"

   "Your Excellency Marshal, our construction of the Dnieper River defense line means that the left bank of the river will completely fall into the hands of the Russians."

   "Yes, that's right."

   "The left bank is in the hands of the Russians, and they will surely recruit recruits from the city or the country to replace what they have lost in battle."

   "That's right, that's right." Manstein asked a little puzzled: "Chief of Staff, is there any difference between what you said and our recruitment of enough labor to build the defense line?"

   "Your Excellency, Marshal, what I mean is to recruit people from the cities and villages on the left bank to build a line of defense."

"Recruit people from the cities and villages on the left bank to build a defense line?" Manstein cut off the cigarette holder of the cigar with scissors, put it in his mouth but did not light it immediately: "Aren't you worried that some of these people will attack the Russians?" Whistle off the news and leak our defense deployment?"

   "Your Excellency Marshal, you don't have to worry about this, I have already thought of a solution."

"any solution?"

"We can move all the Russians on the left bank of the Dnieper River to the right bank before the Russians capture Kharkov, blow up factories, bridges and culverts, take away their livestock and poultry, set fire to villages, Poisoning wells. When we do this, the Russians will not be replenished with men and supplies even if they occupy the places we have abandoned."

  Manstein felt that the plan proposed by the chief of staff to fortify the wall and clear the country was very effective in dealing with the Soviet army, but it was a pity that it was too vicious. If I agree with his plan, once Germany is defeated in the future, I may be sent to trial for this matter.

   Seeing that Manstein did not speak, the chief of staff just silently lit his cigar, smoked it unhurriedly, and quickly asked, "Your Excellency, Marshal, do you agree with me?"

"Chief of Staff," Manstein put down the cigar in his hand, squinted his eyes and looked at the Chief of Staff: "Have you ever thought that once Germany is defeated, the decision we made today can be directly sent to the gallows?" ?”

"You are right, Your Excellency the Marshal." The chief of staff did not deny Manstein's words, but continued: "But if we cannot build the Dnieper River defense line in time, the Russians can successfully cross the river." Dnieper, then our troops in Ukraine would be in danger."

The chief of staff looked at Manstein with both eyes, and said solemnly: "If we lose Ukraine, then our fate is waiting for us, either dismissal or being sent to a military court. In order to hold the Dnieper River, I think we can try this method .”

   Manstein thought about what the chief of staff said for a long time, but still felt that his hands should not be stained with the blood of innocent people. But in order to be able to hold the Dnieper River, he felt that it would be more appropriate for his chief of staff to bear the infamy, so he said to him: "Okay, chief of staff. Since you have proposed this plan, then you will be responsible for the specific implementation. Bar."

  The Chief of Staff knew that Manstein was going to use himself as a scapegoat, and a miserable smile appeared on his face: "Okay, Your Excellency, Marshal, as long as you have no objection, then I will start to arrange this matter immediately."

  (end of this chapter)