Empire in Progress

Chapter 422: Attack on Moscow (3)

Views:

Because according to intelligence, Tula added a position of the 50th Army from the Urals southeast of the city. Soon within the same day he captured Stalin-Norgosk. This opened the door to the target of this attack—Kahelle. At the same time, the 17th Panzer Division began its attack on Vinyov. However, they were attacked by the 173rd Army Division of the Red Army's 50th Army, the 11th and 23rd Tank Brigades, and a tank unit composed of local residents.

Guderian drove his Second Armored Army to continue the offensive, with sufficient supplies. On the 17th, the 29th Motorized Division stationed Verniov. The 10th Motorized Division captured Mikhailov that day. On the same day, the First Division that attacked Weniuf bypassed the southeast of the city. Then they began to advance rapidly. On the same day, they had already approached to a place only ten to fifteen kilometers away from Casilla, and were threatened by being surrounded from the east. For the Soviets, what would be even more serious would be if Guderian killed Casilla. Then we can establish contact with the German Fourth Army on the Oka River. Cut off the railway links between Moscow and the Red Army in the south. And if Guderian continues to move forward. The Ryazan railway linking Moscow with the rear area would also be blocked by the Germans.

The Soviets certainly would not sit back and watch this happen. The Red Army transferred the 1st Guards Cavalry Corps commanded by General Belov from Serpov (this unit is Budyonny's old unit. Its combat effectiveness is very powerful.), the 112th Tank Brigade and the 2nd Independent Tank Battalion. Inside, the troops were unified under the command of General Belov. and was used to neutralize the German threat to Casilla. At the same time, in order to carry out air strikes against Guderian's tank column. The Soviets also established an aviation unit led by Colonel Shcherbakov in this area. The forces under their jurisdiction included part of the 50th Army Aviation Corps, a long-range bomber aviation division, and the Sixth Army.

That night. Belov's troops launched a counterattack against the German 17th Armored Division. Guderian initially dismissed this. He believed that this was only a local action by a small number of Soviet troops. Soon after, he discovered that the number of Soviet troops was increasing, and their incoming force was not small. But it was not Guderian's style to start a battle before fighting. After calmly analyzing the situation, Guderian took the 17th Armored Division of the Wehrmacht as the vanguard and ordered the Wehrmacht's Grossdeutschland Panzergrenadier Division to attack in a flanking attack and engage in a vigorous and dramatic confrontation with the attacking Soviet troops. An offensive battle began. This move further convinced Moscow that this was also the main location for the German army's offensive. Marshal Timoshenko believed that Guderian in the southeast and the Fifth SS Armored Group in the northwest were the two main locations for Germany's attack on Moscow. At the attack point, although the Fifth SS Armored Group Army in the northwest struck preemptively and had reached Moscow with great force, compared with the SS, Marshal Timoshenko still cared about Guderian just now. Without him, he was still the same as in the Battle of France. Derian's fame played a crucial role.

Because of Timoshenko's decision, it also caused controversy in the Supreme Command of the Soviet Union. Budyonny clearly saw the combat effectiveness of the SS troops during the Battle of Kiev, so he was opposed to Marshal Timoshenko's idea of ignoring the SS. Very dissatisfied, he objected fiercely, "Timoshenko, do you think the SS are all ordinary Nazis? At least the seven SS divisions before the Battle of France were very powerful elite troops! Many people It was resources that went into the SS to participate in the war, not conscription! Their leader, General Krupp, was the heir to Krupp's military industry. The mechanization of the troops has almost reached the strongest standards of this era. Didn't you see that during the Battle of Kiev? ?”

"Marshal Budyonny, I believe in my judgment!" Marshal Timoshenko retorted without showing any signs of weakness; "The reason why the SS troops moved south smoothly was firstly because of our misjudgment, and secondly because of Gudry An Zai provided full cover during the march south. Although they fought a few decent tough battles in the later stages of the Kiev Battle, they were no different from ordinary German troops!"

"Oh, my God! Do you think the SS Gendarmerie Division, known as the German Gendarmerie, is just an ordinary unit?" Marshal Budyonny exclaimed, "Or do you think the Imperial Division, the model SS division, is just a show? Are you watching? Look, the Police Division, the Skeleton Division, and the Viking Division, what do they do? They are secret police, concentration camp guards, and foreign volunteers! You actually think they are just ordinary troops? Timoshenko, you are responsible for the Soviet Union!" Buqiong! Marshal Ni's tone was very serious and he was no longer polite when he spoke.

"Okay, Marshal Budyonny!" Stalin said to smooth things over, "Guderian is indeed the biggest enemy of the Soviet Union, there is no doubt about it! Believe in Marshal Timoshenko!" Stalin said to Budyonny after the battle in Kiev The marshal was completely disappointed, so he obviously sided with Marshal Timoshenko. However, what made Stalin very helpless was that among the marshals in the Soviet Red Army, except for Marshal Timoshenko, who briefly let the Central Committee after the Battle of Smolensk The army group stopped attacking, and no one achieved a single victory. Even Zhukov, who once hoped to stabilize the situation in Leningrad, is now surrounded in Leningrad.

Although Guderian's troops were at a numerical disadvantage, they still performed successfully with the cooperation of the Grossdeutschland Panzergrenadier Division. The two sides engaged in a fierce exchange of fire on the Tula front line. The intensity was no less intense than the battle between the Imperial Division and the Guards Mechanized Army. For this reason, Marshal Timoshenko was convinced just now that Guderian's Second Armored Group and the Fifth SS Armored Group were the two main attack directions of Marshal Bock's attack on Moscow this time. Marshal Timoshenko's guess was not wrong, and even the direction of the attack was not wrong. It's just that the attack prepared by Germany this time was not just completed by two armored armies. The 1st, 3rd and 4th Armored Groups are all preparing to attack at all times. Of course, Guderian, who should have been preparing to attack, is now a step ahead of schedule. I don't know if the next stage of the attack will be effective.

However, Guderian's situation surprised Marshal Bock, because Guderian's mission was a feint attack, and the current situation was obviously beyond the scope of a feint attack. On the night of the 17th, Marshal Bock sent electricity to Guderian. Give Guderian a reprimand, "Your behavior will affect the overall plan. Although you have participated in the plan of Operation Sickle, you cannot act rashly just because you have some understanding of the overall situation!"

Guderian has never been proven to have reprimanded him since the beginning of the war, even Hit? Ledu did not reprimand him so relentlessly. You can imagine what Guderian was thinking. Moreover, his temper was already very famous among German generals. He immediately sent a message to Marshal Bock, "Marshal Bock, please pay attention." , you are talking to a marshal!"

After a while, Marshal Bock's telegram arrived again, "Marshal, you seem to have never commanded an army-level unit!" Marshal Bock's words were very hurtful. Anyone who knows the organization of Germany knows that the organization of the so-called armored group army It is much smaller than the establishment of the Wehrmacht Group Army. Of course Guderian also knew that Marshal Bock obviously said that your Marshal was originally a parallel import who was awarded by William II in the Battle of Britain. His real merits are far from the Marshal. level. (Historically, this did not happen to Guderian, but it happened to Rommel!)

It is true that except for Guderian, the commanders of the other three armored armies are all generals. The commander of the fourth armored group is only a general. If he is promoted according to the regular promotion, Guderian may have to wait until the end of the Soviet-German war to become a general. marshal. This is also the thought of many Wehrmacht generals. In their view, Guderian's achievements are not even as good as those of some senior generals. No wonder Marshal Bock said these words today.

Guderian also knew that the only way to shut up these people was to use the facts of the battle to block their mouths, so he rarely continued the verbal war with Marshal Bock and focused on fighting an offensive war with the Soviet 50th Army. For a time, the battle on the Tula front line was very fierce. The pressure on the Soviet 50th Army increased sharply, and it even seemed to be unable to withstand it. This convinced Stalin and Marshal Timoshenko that the battle in the southwest was also the main point of attack, indirectly sharing the burden. Pressure from the Fifth SS Army.

At this time in the northwest, the 5th SS Panzer Army, which had rested for the night yesterday, started to attack again. The Führer Regiment launched a battle for the Khimki Bridge, and then threatened the Ring of Moscow Highway, while the main force of the Imperial Division attacked Tushino Railway Station. According to the predetermined goal, the connection between Moscow and the Soviet Red Army units in the north was cut off. Since the attack point was cut off by the Khimki Reservoir, the Moscow Canal and the Moskva River, it became a top priority to control the bridge. Each division separated a main force group to compete for the bridge into Moscow. In order to prevent the German army from rushing in, The bridge was blown up before arriving. Göring took a rather risky move. He launched an airborne offensive in the west of Moscow and more than a dozen bridges in downtown Moscow. The main target points were concentrated on the bridge of the Moscow Canal, and on the bridge of the Moscow Bridge. Airborne troops accounted for the majority. The Junkers 52 transport aircraft of the Luftwaffe, under the cover of the escort fighter formation, braved countless anti-aircraft artillery positions and rushed towards Moscow.

The Soviet Air Force, which had disappeared for a long time, reappeared, making the Luftwaffe's airborne plan look more like a suicide plan. The Junkers 52 transport plane was unable to fight back in front of the Soviet fighter jets. After being hit, it was forced to The paratroopers in the transport plane parachuted out before the crash. More than fifty transport planes and nearly two hundred fighter jets were shot down under the joint attack of Soviet anti-aircraft artillery positions and the Soviet Air Force.

But at this moment, nothing can change Göring's determination to continue. Göring has a very obvious characteristic, that is, extreme stubbornness. Under normal circumstances, this characteristic of Göring has a negative effect. It may be that today's character broke out. Because of this, Lin Wei finally waited for a positive effect. Nearly two battalions of soldiers from the Hermann Goering Parachute Armored Division landed around the Moscow Canal Bridge. After the necessary concentration, they immediately launched an attack on the bridge. Although the suddenness is no longer there, it is still much more effective than a ground force attack.

Due to the role of paratroopers, the Soviet Red Army finally did not blow up the bridge over the Moscow Canal. On the morning of the 17th, the tanks of the National Leadership Corps of the Gendarmerie Division rumbled through the bridge and entered the Volokolamsk Highway. As for the paratroopers on other bridges, their fate was tragic. Due to their small number, the mission they went to perform was almost a one-way suicide mission, and it was impossible to survive. Some of the bridges were indeed occupied by paratroopers, but no troops passed through them. Only three bridges were controlled by the SS.

Stalin once thought that the river west of Moscow could block the SS advance, but he did not expect that the geographical advantage would be offset by a cruel German order. Now Stalin finally began to pay attention to the danger of the SS, comparing Guderian and Lin Wei. Stalin believed that although Guderian was dangerous, he was still relatively far away from Moscow, but the SS was different. Their tentacles had already extended into Moscow.

On the 17th, the main defense location of the Soviet Supreme Command changed again. Stalin ordered the 50th Army to still defend Guderian, and the focus shifted to the 5th SS Panzer Army. In Moscow, the mobilized troops and militia began A steady stream of positions were purchased in the northwest. At the same time, the Soviet 16th Army and the 26th Army, which were already behind the 5th SS Armored Group, were once again preparing to cut off the SS's retreat and began to resolutely implement Stalin's orders. All actions began to revolve around the SS, but this move now feels like a last resort, because the canal line, which is most suitable for defense, has been easily broken through by the SS.

Moscow, which used to be prosperous in the past, has now become an out-and-out battle fortress, and it is still world-class. Women and children have been evacuated, but men are strictly prohibited from leaving the city. At this time, every man is a soldier defending Moscow. People who did not escape are even a little envious of the people who followed the factories to move east some time ago. At least they don't have to. Fight at the cost of your life. No one knew how many men had to be sacrificed to stop the SS attack, or if it could be stopped at all.

The fierce battle began after the SS crossed the river. Among them, the police division was the first to encounter stubborn resistance at the stadium. However, these soldiers with secret police background immediately showed their ruthless side. They and the soldiers of the Skeleton Division It was also the unit that carried out Lin Wei's orders most thoroughly. Anyone they saw would be shot dead, and a battle would end. Even the number of soldiers who died at the hands of the police division was less than that of ordinary people.

Lin Wei's merciless order allowed the SS soldiers not to worry about the situation where they were just ordinary people and would immediately become your murderers. But it made the battle more difficult because no one would trust the German army. This situation had already been expected by Lin Wei. There were gains and losses. If it happened again, Lin Wei would still issue such an order.

At two o'clock in the afternoon on the 17th, the surrounding area of the October Stadium, which was close to the Moscow Canal, had been completely occupied by the police division. Lin Wei gained a stable bridgehead. As long as he stood firm, Lin Wei's SS did not have to worry about being driven back. Go to the Moscow canal. At this time, Lin Wei announced to the outside world for the first time, "The urban area in northwest Moscow has been occupied, and now we are only one step away from victory! At this time, I believe that the trend of the war has been completely destined, soldiers, this is The last battle, work hard! The heads of state are watching us!" This is not only a mobilization for war, but also an accurate message released to the country. Although the area occupied by the SS is far from the northwest urban area mentioned by Lin Wei, it is undeniable that the SS troops are already in Moscow.

Lin Wei's message full of victory was immediately uploaded to Marshal Bock. At this time, Marshal Bock finally breathed a sigh of relief at Lin Wei's adventurous action. This was finally a good start. Marshal Bock knew that the next plan was about to begin. It was about to expand, so an order was issued immediately, "The Second and Third Armored Group Armies will immediately retreat and recuperate, and their positions will be replaced by the First and Fourth Armored Group Armies respectively. The Fourth Group Army and the Ninth Group Army will follow up and must do so within a week." Prepare for a big war within the next few days, prepare to launch an assault on Orekhovo according to the established plan, and surround all the Soviet Red Army around Moscow. This battle will lay the cornerstone of victory in the war. Generals, work hard!" Marshal Bock's telegram was doubled Encrypted, and then accurately conveyed to the hands of the commanders of each group army. Under the strict order, even Guderian did not question it too much. Now it is crucial to maintain the authority of the entire plan. Guderian naturally knows to take the overall situation into consideration.

At this time, as the SS broke into Moscow, Ribbentrop in Berlin also benefited. The most important thing is that the Turkish government has expressed full goodwill towards Ribbentrop and expressed its willingness to immediately join the axis. Among the ranks of the country of heart. This duplicitous behavior made Ribbentrop very contemptuous, but as a professional diplomat, Ribbentrop naturally would not show it. He expressed good words of comfort to Turkey and made a big splash about the friendship between the two countries during World War I, and there was no further explanation. In fact, Ribbentrop has decided in his heart that Germany will never give Turkey even a small share of the cake. How much benefit Turkey can gain depends on whether his army lives up to expectations. However, knowing the strength of the Soviet Union's two fronts in the Caucasus, Bentrop has no hope at all for Turkey's strength. Today's Turkey is no longer the Ottoman Empire that frightened the whole of Europe in the 16th century. Can Turkey, which has long declined, take advantage of the Soviet Red Army on both fronts? , is still unknown.