According to the history familiar to Sokov, the 1st German Armored Army, which had withdrawn from the Caucasus direction, is now deployed in the Stalino (Donetsk) area, only more than 100 kilometers away from the Luhansk he was defending. Once they defeated the 1st Guards Army and Popov rapid cluster, it only takes two days to rush outside the city of Luhansk.
Sokov was very self-aware. He didn't think that with his own division, he could easily block the attack of a German armored army. You should know that his troops had just entered the city and had no time to build permanent fortifications. If the German army really launched a fierce attack, even if they received the support of General Krelov, it would be very difficult to defend the city.
Especially in the battle on February 19, the 6th Army commanded by General Kratonov was attacked by the German Second SS Armored Army in the Krasnograd area, and a gap of fifty kilometers wide was torn open. In this gap, the German army successfully defeated the 4th Guards Army of the Soviet Army and established a new offensive starting position.
Sokov stared at the complex enemy-to-we-stage situation in the west of Lugansk, and found that the Soviet army's deployment was scattered and the supply was seriously insufficient. After a long battle, the troops had become unable to comply with the enemy in front of them. The German army's most elite flag guard division, the Imperial Division and the Skeleton Division, have entered this area one after another and are about to launch a thunder strike on the Soviet army.
Seeing Sokov staring at the map and not speaking, Cidolin asked curiously: "Comrade Commander, I saw you staring at the map for a long time. Can I ask, what are you thinking?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov asked Cidolin without looking up: "If our 1st Guard Army and Popov quickly clustered by the German army, how do you think the situation will develop?"
Although Sidolin felt that what Sokov said was unlikely to happen, he still used his hands to draw a circle between the Dnieper River and Lugansk: "Comrade, if what you said really happens, then this vast territory will fall back into the hands of the enemy."
Anisimov, who was standing by, expressed doubts about Cydolin's statement: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I don't think it's possible? You know, our troops are more than the enemy, and our technical equipment also has a numerical advantage. I think even if the enemy launches a counterattack, we are fully capable of repelling the enemy's attack."
"Comrade Political Commissar, you are so optimistic." Sokov knew very well that Anisimov's thoughts would make his troops look down on the enemy, so he refuted him: "General Popov's rapid cluster has now had to ambush and stop advancing in the Red Army City because of exhaustion of fuel. What they were facing was the main force of the 40th Armored Army Army.
Think about it, one side of the tank has lost its combat effectiveness because it has no fuel and ammunition, while the other side of the tank has sufficient ammunition and fuel. Even if we cannot see it with our own eyes, we can guess the final outcome."
Hearing Sokov say this, Anisimov suddenly realized the seriousness of the problem and asked Sokov: "Comrade in the division, what should we do?"
"What we can do is seize the time to consolidate the outer defense line and strive to block the enemy rushing over for longer." Sokov said with a pouting mouth: "Other than that, we can do nothing."
"But," said Anisimov unwillingly: "We should at least warn our friendly forces and rescue them from the current danger."
"I have warned friendly forces through the commander of the front army, but it has no effect at all." Sokov picked up a pencil as an explanation stick, pointed at the location of the Popov's rapid cluster, and said to the two: "Based on my understanding of General Vatujing, he will definitely give General Popov orders to continue to advance westward, assist in attacking Zaporoz's troops and capturing the city where Manstein Command is located."
"If our troops can really capture Zaporoze, will the situation improve?" Anisimov heard Sokov mention Zaporoze and seemed to see a glimmer of vitality. He asked excitedly: "You know that the city where the German command is located is occupied by our army will cause a serious blow to the enemy's morale and morale."
"Comrade Political Commissar, Manstein is not Paulus, he doesn't care whether the city where his headquarters is located will be lost." Sokov sneered and said, "I think he is deliberately using himself as bait to attract our army to attack Zaporoze, so that he will fall into the trap he has set up long ago. Once the time is ripe, he will launch a comprehensive counterattack, first defeating General Vatujin's Southwest Front, then turning north and defeating General Golikov's Voronezh Front."
"Comrade of the Division," Sokov's words shocked Anisimov in a cold sweat, but he still said half-believingly: "Don't German commanders all fear death? Their division-level commands are usually located dozens of kilometers away from the front. How could Manstein, as a German marshal, put himself in danger?"
Sokov pointed at Zaporoze with a pencil and said to Anisimov: "Some time ago, when the German army faced our attack, they did not resist firmly and gave up the back of the position. On the surface, our army had recovered a large amount of territory, but the further we advanced, our troops were farther away from the logistics supply base, and we had to distribute enough troops to guard the occupied areas. However, the enemy was constantly shrinking their troops. Now the troops they gathered near Zaporoze on the left bank of the Dnieper River have already gained an advantage in part. If we don't fight back, it will take only a few days to defeat our army."
After arranging the defense of the tank brigade, Bere returned to the division headquarters. When he entered the door, he heard Sokov's words, and nodded in agreement: "Misha is right. From the current analysis, Manstein set up a trap for our army around Zaporozhe. But the commanders of friendly forces did not realize that this was the trap prepared by the Germans for us. He ordered the troops to continue attacking regardless of everything, thinking that doing so would cut off the German defense line and drive them all to the other side of the Dnieper River."
"Comrade Deputy Division Commander." Sokov knew that the situation he had been talking for a long time was a lot of nonsense. The current priority was to strengthen the defense of the Lugansk region to ensure that the enemy could be blocked. Since Be Lei had returned, he happened to ask about the tank's deployment: "Have the tank brigade been deployed?"
"Yes, Misha." Belle replied: "I deployed the Second and Third Battalions behind the 122nd Regiment, and the First Battalion was placed in the city as a reserve for the entire brigade."
"I remember that the first battalion seems to have a few self-propelled cannons." Sokov said thoughtfully: "Deploy them all on the edge of the city. After the battle starts, you can use artillery fire to intercept the attacking enemies."
"Misa, aren't you going to use these self-propelled artillery against German Tiger tanks?"
Chapter completed!