223

Episode 223: How to die to live (3)

February 28, 1943

Ukraine Kharkov

"fire."

As soon as Manstein put a cigar in his mouth, his adjutant rushed over and quickly took the lighter.

Enjoying the strong and deep scent of a cigar, Manstein leisurely removed the cards on the map one by one.

The Soviet army attempted to attack Voronezh day after day, but was blocked by German resistance and remained at a standstill.

In the south, they achieved some success and captured Taganrog and Voroshilovgrad, but considering the blood that had to be shed to take the two cities, it was unclear whether this could be called a victory.

Stupid communists will call him Daeseung without hesitation.

Following Manstein's strategy, the German army forced the Soviet army to bleed as much as possible and then withdrew from the city with plenty of time to spare.

The Soviet army was unable to pursue the retreating German army due to heavy damage and lack of fuel.

The German troops withdrew joined the defense line and further strengthened it.

And in the Central Army Group, three SS Panzer Corps were moving south, which would shock and scare the Soviet Army, which fearlessly went on the offensive.

The SS Panzer Corps reversely surrounded the Soviet Army attacking Voronezh, and the 6th and 11th Armies largely bypassed the enemy front and moved straight south to attack Rostov.

If all goes according to plan, the Soviet army will be surrounded in Voroshilovgrad and Taganrog and become trapped rats.

Even these troops are the last elite troops of the Soviet Army. If you take crutches away from someone who is barely holding on with crutches, they will not be able to stand.

In Manstein's view, the Soviet army was in such a state.

The Soviet army, which has lost all its elite troops and armored equipment, and is also short of oil, is nothing more than a scarecrow.

"If our troops launch an attack, the communists who have lost their defense ability will fall like leaves in a cold wind."

Each time Manstein made a gesture, the red cards on the map were removed one by one by his adjutants and guards.

The boards of Rostov, Taganrog, and Voroshilovgrad were cleared, and then Stalingrad.

In addition, as the boards of Krasnodar, Novorossiysk, Grozny, Tbilisi, and Baku were all cleared, southern Russia and the Caucasus were all filled with black.

"It's perfect. Yes, if it were to be a true powerhouse of Greater Germany, it would have to be like this."

The Fuhrer officially declared that he had no intention of annexing Russian territory and would hand it over to Free Russia, so strictly speaking, the occupied territory was to become territory of the Free Russian Republic, not the Third Reich.

But as long as Free Russia remains in Germany's shadow, Germany's actual borders will extend to the Volga River and the borders of Turkey and Iran.

Unless a natural disaster occurs, such as a meteorite suddenly hitting the Earth or aliens living on Mars invading the Earth, there is no way the tide will change.

The President made a habit of saying that we should be careful because the US participation in the war could be an important variable, but it was unlikely that the situation of the war would change in favor of the Soviet Union even if the US declared its participation tomorrow.

If all goes according to plan, the vast expanse of southern Russia will be in German hands before the end of the summer.

The Soviet Union, having lost all its troops, materials, and territory, had no choice but to acknowledge Germany's superiority and beg for negotiations.

Unless you want to be pushed beyond the Ural Mountains.

"The President always told us to be wary of pride, but we have to admit what we have to admit honestly. Germany has already won the war. At least in the war against Russia."

"Your Excellency the Marshal is right!"

"Isn't this all thanks to the excellent resourcefulness of His Excellency the Marshal?"

Manstein's shoulders naturally rose as he received countless flattery from his subordinates.

But he also had concerns.

"After the Soviet Union collapses, the only thing left is Britain... … "I have no idea how these guys will react."

For Manstein, the Soviet Union was no longer a fearful opponent. What has an old tiger with all its teeth fallen out and only one claw left to be afraid of?

His concern now shifted from that of the Soviet Union's Stalin to how Britain's Churchill would react.

"Even the Soviet Union collapsed, will Tommy and others survive? "They will soon recognize the superiority of the Third Reich in Europe and raise the white flag."

"Even if Churchill is an American freak and a warmonger, what can he do when victory and defeat are clear? "There is only a difference in time, and in the end, he will come to a negotiation to save his life."

"hmm."

Manstein's adjutants and staff assumed that if the Soviet Union raised the white flag, Britain, which would be left alone, would soon raise the white flag.

If the Eastern Front disappeared immediately, millions of troops and materials deployed to deal with the Soviet Army on the Eastern Front would pour into the Western Front, but would Britain be able to handle that?

Anyone with at least a modicum of common sense would attempt to negotiate while the German army had not yet crossed the Strait of Dover.

However, Manstein was somewhat skeptical about such speculation. When I met with the Fuhrer the other day, he talked about the war with Britain after the end of the Eastern Front.

'As long as Churchill remains in power, the only way to end the war with Britain will be to plant the flag at Buckingham Palace.'

The Fuhrer predicted that Britain under Churchill would not be the first to request negotiations.

Unless the British people stood up as a group and removed Churchill from the position of Prime Minister, the only way to end the war was to occupy Britain.

Manstein also thought that the Fuhrer's thoughts were correct.

If Churchill had really been a thoughtful leader, he would not have declared war on Germany again.

"Your Excellency, a telegram has arrived from SS Senior General Hauser, Commander of the 1st SS Panzer Corps."

"Say it."

"They have just arrived at the front line and will begin the attack as soon as the equipment is unloaded."

"Already arrived? "It's faster than expected."

Manstein checked his watch. I thought he would arrive this evening at the earliest, but he has already arrived. It's also an instant attack.

It felt a bit fast, but it didn't matter. Currently, the Soviet army is spending a lot of supplies and its troops are exhausted from attacking the friendly defense line in Voronezh.

If I launched an attack now, I didn't know if it would be possible to crush the enemy in one fell swoop without giving them a chance to respond.

"good. "I give permission."

***

"Senior SS Captain Hausser. "Permission to attack has just been received from Marshal Manstein's headquarters."

After receiving Manstein's approval, Hausser looked satisfied.

The goal of the 1st SS Panzer Corps, which he commanded, was to strike the flank of the Soviet army continuing its offensive in northern Voronezh and cut it in half.

"They probably never thought we would counterattack so quickly."

It would not be too late to launch an attack slowly after waiting for the arrival of the two SS Panzer Corps rather than attacking right away, but Hausser decided to launch an attack first.

Wouldn't it be possible to inflict greater damage if you keep pushing the enemy without giving them a chance to respond?

"Anyway, they have no oil right now and their morale is low. "If we attack, it's a fight we will definitely win."

The Tiger and Panther tanks of the LSSAH division, which would spearhead the attack, were unloaded from the train and underwent final inspection. Once the maintenance work was completed, the tank crews started the tank's engine.

"Gentlemen, victory is just around the corner! "Let's show the communists the power of the SS!"

"Heil Hitler!"

Hausser rode his Ketzhen around and encouraged the soldiers going to the front lines. Despite the bitter cold, the Waffen-SS soldiers were full of energy.

Everyone, from soldiers to officers, could not control their excitement at the thought of eradicating the abominable Bolsheviks and offering victory news to their existing god, the Fuhrer.

It was almost like hitting a rock with an egg for the Soviet divisions, which were starving and exhausted from fighting the well-fed, highly trained, and equipped with high-performance equipment, the SS armored divisions.

***

"Sort! Line up!"

"Move quickly, you guys!"

The soldiers who had been sleeping with their heads buried in their knees were forced to sit up as the officers shouted at them.

Unlike the soldiers who walked unsteadily like sleepwalkers, the officers shouted loudly as if they were still full of energy.

Sergei, who was the only one in the company to receive the Red Banner Medal and was also reported in Pravda, was in no different condition than the other members of the company.

No matter how young and strong a person is, he or she must eat to maintain physical strength and survive. In particular, soldiers, who used up more physical strength than ordinary people, had to eat even more well.

However, the Soviet Union could not afford to feed its soldiers even a decent meal.

Because fuel was scarce and Germany had air superiority, supply was not smooth.

The higher-ups decided that it would be more efficient to transport ammunition rather than food with the limited fuel remaining, so trucks only transported ammunition day and night.

Fortunately, the number of those caught by German planes and reduced to dust by air raids was greater than the number that arrived safely on the battlefield.

Because of fuel shortages, the Soviet army even mobilized horse-drawn carriages. However, the wagons were also loaded with ammunition before food.

When trucks or wagons arrived at the base, starving soldiers flocked to them like zombies, hoping that the vehicles would be loaded with food.

However, the moment it was confirmed that what was loaded in the luggage compartment was ammunition, the soldiers dispersed and returned to their respective positions.

The only food Sergei ate for three days was one American Hershey's chocolate.

The chocolate was better than any food he had ever eaten, but it was not enough to fill his stomach.

"Align yourself straight!"

"Are those bastards full of energy?"

"They're probably going around making fun of each other without us knowing. "Fuck you."

"You pigs."

The soldiers who still had the strength to swear swore in low voices that the officers could not hear.

But Sergei didn't even have the strength to curse. Now, even opening my mouth and speaking out required tremendous strength and effort.

"A new order has just been issued from regimental headquarters."

A company political officer was acting as a temporary company commander in place of the company commander who had passed away due to artillery fire during the last battle.

It was only temporary, but there was no way the rear, which could not even send a piece of bread or butter, would send a 'new company commander' in time.

"Today, the order is to occupy the village no matter what happens. If you fail again, all your comrades will be sent to the penal unit. "There is no one who does not know what treatment is like in the punishment unit."

The political officer knew well that words such as "for the sake of the country" or "to protect the family back home" no longer gave any inspiration to the soldiers.

Therefore, instead of appealing to the soldiers' emotions, he turned to methods that stimulated warning and fear.

"Think of this as your last chance and fight to the death. Now, everyone move forward!"

Sergei forced his shaking legs to move and keep pace with the other soldiers. He felt like he was turning yellow at the thought of having to go out and fight without even being able to eat properly.

"Comrade Sergeant!"

"… … why."

A child soldier who often followed Sergei asked. Perhaps because he is young, he may not have been able to eat the same food, but he still seems to have the stamina to ask questions. He seems like an envious guy.

"Is that true what you just said?"

"Then it must be fake?"

Sergei spoke briefly to conserve as much stamina as possible. Each step seemed daunting.

The child soldier was worried that he would lose again this time and be sent straight to the punishment unit, but Sergei wanted to die after eating as much as he could until his stomach exploded, even if it meant dying.

"Prepare to charge!"

It has been a while since artillery support has been gone for a while, perhaps due to a lack of artillery shells (maybe because the artillery was destroyed).

The soldiers, who had lost all their weight and were left with nothing but skin, lined up in a row, wishing to die. And then they waited for the political officer's order to charge.

However, the order to attack was not given.

Before the order to charge was given, an eyeless shell landed and tore to pieces a political officer who was trying to shout for a charge with his pistol drawn.

-Quaang!

The soldiers, who instinctively sensed that it was artillery fire, fell to the ground without any orders. Several more shells flew, shaking the ground and tearing the bodies of the unfortunate soldiers to pieces.

After the bombardment ended, Sergei finally raised his head and stared at the soldiers who were once political officers scattered all over the place.

Then, he reflexively moved his hand to pick up a piece of slippery red flesh and brought it to his mouth.

The order to attack the village was canceled. Because the German counterattack had begun, it was impossible to continue the offensive any longer.

In this way, Sergei was able to survive once again.

***

News that the German army's elite SS Panzer Corps had launched an attack soon reached Tymoshenko's headquarters.

"Shit! Why! just now… … !"

Tymoshenko, who was already having a hard time with his offensive attack, lost his courage.

The counterattack of the brisk 1st SS Panzer Corps against the Soviet Voronezh Front, which had been forcibly continuing the offensive by squeezing out resources that were not available, was like a lightning strike.

"Spread it to all units immediately. The offensive is stopped. "Immediately stay at your current location and prepare for the Fasho Army's attack."

"All right!"

If the Secretary found out, there would be an uproar, but for now, there was no other way than this. The direction from which the German army counterattacked was to the north.

The offensive in southern Voronezh was still underway, so if the offensive was stopped and a defensive posture was established, even if the German army counterattacked, it would be possible to prevent it to some extent.

"Wouldn't it be better to retreat to before the offensive and build a defensive line?"

Tymoshenko shook his head at Chernyakhovsky's advice.

"If I retreat even 1 meter from my current position, Comrade Secretary General will immediately execute me."

"… … ."

Tymoshenko feared being branded a defeatist if he retreated his troops without Stalin's permission.

How many generals were executed for retreating instead of advancing? Tymoshenko had no desire to be one of them.

But at the same time, I knew that doing as Chernyakhovsky said was the only way to delay the predicted disaster even a little.

But Tymoshenko did not have courage, and although he felt disgusted with himself, he consoled himself that there was no other way.

If we are going to strengthen with Germany anyway, it would be better to strengthen right now. Then wouldn't we be able to save at least one more soldier's life?

"Fine, Comrade Commander!"

"It's a Nazi bomber! Evacuate quickly!"

The German fascists did not even allow him time to think. Tymoshenko took refuge in an underground bomb shelter with his staff.

A short time later, a Do 217 squadron with the Iron Cross painted on its wings flew in and dropped bombs, devastating the headquarters area.