What Colonel Leonid did was not really important.

Mekhlis, or Shulka, had no hope of a successful counter-offensive...... It was almost impossible, the Germans attacked under the cover of armored forces, and the improvised Soviet troops, they did not even have basic anti-tank equipment.

So it is conceivable that they charged under enemy bullets and artillery fire, and then fell under the enemy's guns one after another.

It is significant that this attracted the attention of the Germans, especially the transfer of the Air Force in the direction of Kerch......

However, this was indeed a threat to the German army, because the Soviet army organized a counteroffensive and also put more than 200 fighters and bombers to cover it.

If these equipment were in the hands of the Germans with good quality and good coordination, they would have already defeated the vanguard of the German army, because they could completely use the tactics of the air force to suppress the tank and the infantry charge.

It's a pity that the Soviet Air Force and infantry do not have such qualities, they are almost fighting on their own, and if there is coordination, it is just to launch an attack at the same time.

However, Manstein was still fooled, and he immediately ordered the main forces of the Air Force to rush to the sky over Kerch.

"You have to take Kerch as fast as you can!" Manstein ordered Lieutenant General Sponek: "So that we can put our forces in a more useful place!" ”

"Yes, General!" Sponek replied.

Sponek was the commander of the 42nd Army, and he commanded the 20,000-strong troops of the 46th Division and two reinforced battalions attacking Kerch.

Stentek felt a little strange as he put down the phone.

As soon as he came down from the battlefield, he knew that the counteroffensive launched by the Soviet army did not pose much threat to the German army, and it only slightly slowed down the German offensive, even if the Soviet army had fighter planes to cooperate...... To be exact, Sponek thought that it was not a coordination at all, and the enemy air force even found the wrong direction to bomb Zhaniko.

So? Why did the Soviets launch such a counteroffensive?

But Sponek quickly put the issue behind him.

Because he thought that the Soviets might not have any "conspiracy", they simply wanted to repel the Germans and save their lives or hold Kerch, but it didn't work.

As he looked at the map, Sponek occasionally worried about his flanks, especially Feodosia, where the 46th Division's rear would be cut off if captured by the enemy.

But the idea was only fleeting...... It's almost impossible, and no one can make a beachfront landing in these temperatures.

What Spinek didn't expect was that what he thought was impossible was happening.

Just as the Luftwaffe was being transferred to Kerch to engage in a melee with the Soviet troops, more than 100 planes suddenly appeared over Feodosia, and immediately after flying over it, they split into several groups and flew at the position of Feodosia's shore defense guns and launched indiscriminate bombardment.

Garrisoned here was a reinforced battalion of the German army, numbering about six hundred men, commanded by Major Weber.

Amid an air raid siren and explosions, he loudly reported to Lieutenant General Sponek: "General, we are being bombed by the enemy's air force!" ”

"So do we!" Without thinking about it, Sponek replied: "There are Russian planes everywhere, let them blow them up!" ”

This should be said to be a manifestation of the numerical superiority of the Soviet Air Force, because of the small number of German fighters, so it can only guarantee air supremacy in one or a limited number of airspace at the same time, and the airspace in other places can be said to be completely liberalized.

"But I think their bombing was purposeful!" Major Weber said: "They bombed our shore defense guns with great precision! Why shore defense artillery? I mean, does this mean that their navy is going to attack us? ”

Feodosia was flanked by German troops, Kerch on one side and Sevastopol on the other, and both Germans had the upper hand.

Therefore, if there is an enemy attacking here, it must be from the sea, and the Russian Air Force is bombing shore defense artillery, so it is normal to worry about the Russian Navy attacking.

Spenek was stunned for a moment, and then he said, "Don't worry, Major, no one will attack Feodosia with the navy at this time, unless they want to be frozen into ice!" ”

"I stand by my opinion, General!" Major Webber pleaded, "I hope you can send a few reconnaissance planes to search the sea!" ”

"Alright, Major!" Sponek replied, "I'll know how!" ”

After hanging up the phone, Sponek casually said to the adjutant: "Send two reconnaissance planes to reconnoiter near Feodosia, so as to dispel Major Weber's doubts!" ”

"Yes, General!"

What Vice Admiral Sponek did not expect was that in less than half an hour, the air force came with the news: "A large enemy fleet has been spotted and is heading for Feodosia at full speed!" ”

"Stop them!" Sponek immediately ordered: "Don't let them get close to Feodosia, turn all the planes over!" ”

"It's too late, General!" The Air Force replied: "Maybe you didn't notice that it was already dark, and we couldn't stop them at night!" ”

Sponech looked out the window, and sure enough, it was getting dark.

"No, it was planned by them!" Sponek couldn't help but be surprised: "We've been fooled! ”

In the next second, Sponek made contact with Manstein.

"We've been fooled, General!" "It's a trap they have set!" ”

"What trap?"

"Kerch's counteroffensive!" "That's what they're trying to get our attention to," Spinek explained, "and their real target was Feodosia, and their air force bombed the shore defense guns there, and there's a fleet heading there...... They will carry out a landing on Feodosia! ”

Manstein immediately found the location of Feodosia on the map and asked: "Are you sure?" Landing in Feodosia in these temperatures? ”

"I'm sure, General!" Sponek replied, "It's dangerous, but it puts us under siege, so it's worth the risk, isn't it?" ”

Then Spinek suggested: "I think the 46th Division should retreat immediately and retreat to Feodosia with all its might, otherwise there is a danger of being surrounded in Kerch!" ”

"No, General Sponek!" Without thinking about it, Mansch rejected Spinek's idea: "You should continue to attack Kerch, there will be other troops to reinforce Feodosia, and at the same time order Feodosia's troops, at any cost, must hold it!" ”

"But the general ......"

"This is my order!" Manstein interrupted Sponek.

"Yes, General!" Sponek hung up the phone reluctantly.