"General Haussel, based on the information we have, the Russians' large forces are constantly advancing towards Prokholovka." Manstein did not get angry, but said slowly: "Wait for two more days, do you feel confident that you can use the forces of two divisions to break through the new defense line composed of Russian new forces?"
After listening to Manstein's words, Hauser thought carefully in his mind: Although he only had one division in his hand at this moment, with the combat effectiveness of the Skeleton Division, it should not be much problem to break through the positions held by one or two incomplete infantry divisions. But once the opponent's reinforcements arrive, even if he adds another flag guard, he will probably pay a heavy price to break through the opponent's position.
After understanding this, Hauser said to the microphone: "Marson Marshal, I understand. I immediately ordered the troops to attack the Russian defense zone."
As soon as he put down the phone, Haussel said to Max Simon, commander of the Skeleton Division sitting in his command: "General Simon, Marshal Manstein ordered our army to attack the Russian positions immediately. I will hand over this task to your division to complete, and I hope you can break through the Russian defense before dark."
"Mr. Commander," said Max Simon hesitantly at the order given by Haussel: "We only have one division, and the one who stood in front of us was a Russian army."
"General Simon, you're too worried." Seeing Max Simon so much, Hausel was full of displeasure. But he said patiently: "Although the Russians have an army, their forces have been severely dispersed due to the multi-point attacks carried out by our army. Now the Russians are just one or two infantry divisions with incomplete structures. With your strength, you can completely break through their defense."
"Can't we wait for the Flag Guard Division to arrive before launching an attack on the Russian positions?" Max Simon continued: "When our strength becomes stronger, we can easily destroy the resistance of the Russians in front of us."
"General Simon, I think the same as you, and I want to wait until the flag guard division arrives before launching an attack on the Russians, so that I can be more confident of winning." Haussel said to Max Simon with great sincerity: "But a large number of Russian reinforcements are coming towards the Prokhorovka region. If the attack is delayed longer, the more Russian troops we will face in the future. Therefore, we must quickly destroy their defenses before the Russian reinforcements arrive, and detour to the flank of Kursk, and encircle these Russian troops deployed in the protruding parts."
Hauser's words made Max Simon realize that if he really had to wait for the Flag Guard Division to arrive, the resistance his troops would face would be more tenacious. He should attack decisively before the Russian reinforcements arrived and destroy the defenses of the Russians in front.
"I understand, Master Commander, I will go back immediately to prepare for the attack."
An hour later, the 3rd Armored Regiment of the Skeleton Division, covering the two battalions of the 5th Grenadier Regiment, launched a fierce attack on the defense line of the 305th Division of the Soviet Army. The tactics used by Max Simon were tanks assaulting at the forefront, while a large number of armored vehicles followed closely behind, and infantry followed from a distance.
The commanders and fighters of the 305th Division who were standing on the position were not equipped with rocket launchers that could destroy enemy tanks from a distance like Sokov's troops. Faced with the galloping tanks, the commanders and fighters on the position could only climb out of the trenches and suddenly stood up from the ground when the enemy tanks approached them.
However, what they did not expect was that the armored vehicles that followed were responsible for covering the tanks. Once they saw the Soviet army climbing out of the trenches and trying to blow up the tanks that were opening the road in front, the machine guns on the armored vehicles began to shoot wildly, knocking down the commanders and fighters who tried to blow up the tanks in batches.
The enemy tanks quickly crossed the first trench of the Soviet army and rushed forward. Part of the armored vehicles that followed continued to advance, while the other part stopped in front of the trench. The soldiers in the trench flocked to fight with the Soviet army in the trench.
The commander of the 305th Division was stunned when he learned that his defense had been broken, and then ordered all the personnel of the division headquarters to pick up weapons and join him in the counterattack, trying to block the gap opened by the Germans.
During the battle, the commanders and soldiers acted extremely tenaciously, but when the troops and equipment were at a disadvantage, this courage became a meaningless sacrifice. When the division commander took the lead in charge with a submachine gun, a shell fell beside him and exploded, and the air waves overturned him to the ground.
Seeing the division commander fall, several soldiers immediately stepped forward to check. But the division commander quickly struggled and stood up staggeringly. A wisp of blood flowed from his helmet, but he didn't bother to bandage it and shouted at the soldiers around him: "Brothers, don't stop, rush forward! Drive the enemy out of our defense."
But as more and more German soldiers poured into the breakthrough, the counterattack organized by the Soviet commander failed. When he was shot again, several soldiers immediately came over, put him on a stretcher, carried him back and retreated to the rear.
The stretcher bumped for a moment and woke the commander up from his coma. He opened his eyes and asked loudly, "Where am I?"
"Comrade Commander," a staff officer gathered up to the stretcher and said loudly to him: "The position has been lost, and we will take you back to the rear for treatment."
"No, let me go back." The division commander shouted angrily: "Even if we fight to the last person, we can't take a step back."
Hearing the commander's order, the soldiers carrying the stretcher became hesitant. They didn't know whether they should carry the commander to retreat backwards or return to the battlefield immediately. Fortunately, the staff officer relieved them of the siege: "Continue to retreat to the rear, and carry the commander back to the position at this moment, just to let him be a prisoner. We must not let this happen."
On the battlefield, who would be willing to be a prisoner? Since it was the staff of the division headquarters who ordered him to retreat, the soldiers carrying the stretcher did not hesitate and continued to carry the stretcher and trot all the way. The division commander lying on the stretcher knew that the situation was hopeless, even if he forced himself to return to the position, he would probably not be able to turn the situation around. He could only sigh and close his eyes tightly, intending to wait until the army headquarters to explain to the commander the loss of the defense line.
Chapter completed!