After the railway supply was cut off by the Soviet army, the biggest reaction was General Hopner of the Fourth Tank Army.

The supply of the 4th Tank Army was mainly dependent on railways.

There is no doubt that road transport has disadvantages such as small transport volumes, the fuel consumption of cars themselves, and roads are often clogged with snow, while rail transport can be carried in large quantities.

At this time, the Soviets immediately cut off the railway and another road after occupying the Tver bridge, leaving only one road that could barely be transported...... The reason for the use of "barely" was due to the fact that the Soviet Air Force at the same time stepped up the bombing of this only remaining transport line, which made the transportation of the Fourth Tank Army even worse.

Hopner immediately called the Wolf's Den, knowing that there was no point in communicating with Kubil at this point.

"Your Excellency!" Hopner told Hitler: "Our soldiers are heroically resisting the Russian attack, they are holding out in the cold of minus 40 degrees Celsius, they are not flinching, even though people are freezing to death every day." But...... We are going to run out of bullets and shells, cars and tanks do not have enough fuel, they are fighting the enemy with bayonets and teeth, so the casualties are very heavy, and a large number of tanks are abandoned for non-combat factors! ”

Hopner was smart, he knew that he could not say "retreat" or how difficult it was for the troops, and he put it another way, describing the Fourth Tank Army as a unit that was heroically resisting.

In fact, it is true that anyone who insists on fighting at minus 40 degrees can be said to be "heroic", but what Hoppner did not dare to say is that a considerable part of the non-combat attrition is that German soldiers are surrendering to the Soviet army, and the number is still increasing.

It is not surprising at all that such extreme cold, such supplies, and more importantly, many German troops were already convinced by this time that they would not be able to win this battle or even this war.

Therefore, under the prevailing thinking in Europe that "it is not shameful to surrender if you cannot change the situation of the war", surrender is logical.

"I know, General!" Hitler replied: "Don't worry, you will soon get the supplies you need, the Russians will not stay in Tver for long!" No, it should be said, they will stay in Tver forever! ”

Immediately after hanging up the phone, Hitler contacted Kubil.

"You command an army group, but you let a brigade of the enemy penetrate our chokepoint!" Hitler said: "The soldiers of the Fourth Tank Army are fighting valiantly, but they are in danger because of your mistake and lack of ammunition, and you are responsible for this, Lieutenant General!" ”

Kubil felt helpless.

He did command an army group, but the problem was that his opponent was not the only one that penetrated into Tver.

Moreover, it was not only the Fourth Tank Army that was in danger because of the lack of ammunition and supplies, but the entire German army, including Kubil's troops.

But Kubil, of course, could not argue so against Hitler.

"Yes, Your Excellency!" Kubil replied: "I will destroy them and resume transportation!" ”

"What are you going to do?" Hitler asked.

Kubiler did not expect Hitler to ask such a question, because even Hitler would not interfere with the question of specific tactical command at the front until then.

Kubil looked at the map and replied: "I will send the 29th Infantry Regiment to reinforce the Tver Bridge, Your Excellency!" ”

"Just an infantry regiment?" Hitler asked rhetorically.

"We don't have any extra troops!" Kubil replied.

"As far as I know, General!" Hitler said: "Your 6th Panzer Division is not far from Tver!" ”

"But this is a street fight in the city, Your Excellency!" Kubil replied: "Such a battle is not suitable for tank combat, and the Russians have new equipment......"

"Forget their new gear!" Hitler impatiently interrupted Kubiler: "We will have to face one day, Lieutenant General!" We can't stop fighting our enemies just because they have new equipment! ”

Kubil was speechless when he heard this, because Hitler did have a point.

At least it sounds reasonable, but in reality...... You should get more information about this new piece of equipment, try to find its weaknesses and fight it with confidence, rather than pushing the tank unit forward again without knowing anything.

"As for whether it is suitable for armored forces to fight!" Hitler said: "If it is not suitable, why are the Russian tanks suitable?" That's how they took the Tver bridge with armored forces! ”

Kubil was speechless.

This is a military problem, the tank used by the Soviet army is the "Matilda" tank with thick armor and slow speed, this tank does not have much mobility, so although it is difficult to enter the city for street fighting, at least the loss in mobility is not very large.

What's more, the Soviets actually had bazookas to assist their tank units in street battles, so they could have such strong combat effectiveness in street battles, and then they occupied the Tver Bridge all the way.

But if it's the other way around.

It was obviously inappropriate for a German tank with excellent maneuverability and mediocre defense to engage in street fighting, especially if the enemy had new equipment with a long range and a high penetration.

Kubile knew this, but he couldn't explain it to Hitler.

In fact, Hitler was not always completely unaware, but deliberately chose not to see it.

Just as Rommel, who commanded the Afrika Korps, complained to Hitler, Hitler also pretended not to see it, and put on a pile of meaningless data to convince Rommel that he had enough.

"Anyway!" In the end, Hitler came to the conclusion: "It is necessary to restore transport and keep the railroads open, understand?" This is related to the safety of the Fourth Tank Army and even the entire defense line! ”

"Yes, Your Excellency!"

After putting down the phone, Kubil had a feeling of "unspeakable".

He spent a few minutes thinking about it, if he hadn't deliberately delayed the time to allow the Russian army to go deeper, would the situation have become the way it is now?

Kubiler doesn't think the outcome will change.

Because the Russian army will still leave the river to attack any part of the city, and these parts are even random, only one point is fixed, and that is the Tver bridge.

Therefore, it was difficult for the German army, which was empty inside, to block it, at most to buy more time to defend the Tver bridge more tightly.

Kubil felt better at the thought of this, because at least this result was not caused by his own misjudgment.

At this time, the adjutant walked in nervously from outside the headquarters and reported: "General, we know the number of this enemy, it is the 1st Guards Tank Brigade, that is, the 4th Tank Brigade before!" ”

"What? Is it the 1st Guards Tank Brigade? Kubil looked up in surprise.