On the German side, Manstein and Lieutenant General Sponek engaged in a heated dispute.

"My order is for you not to retreat even a single step, but you have withdrawn from the Kerch Peninsula!"

"If I don't, our entire army will be doomed, including you, and we will be surrounded, General!"

"Oh, is it? So I want to thank you for your blatant disobedience? Maybe I should also apply for an Iron Cross for you? ”

……

But it didn't take long for Manstein and Sponek to calm down, because as professional soldiers, they knew that it was useless to argue about this at this time, and that the situation in front of them was an established fact, and no one could change it.

"General!" "You may think I'm using this as an excuse," said Sponek, "but I can assure you with the honour I have achieved in the past that the Russians who landed at Feodosia are not as simple as you think. ”

"Give me a reason!"

"The troops stationed there are my old men, General!" "He followed me for five years, fought bravely, and was a very wise commander, but he lost the beachhead in just one hour!" ”

Manstein asked: "Did he provide you with any useful information?" ”

"No, General!"

"Why?"

"Because he has already died in the battle of Feodosia!" Sponek replied, "Before we arrive." They held out to the buildings of Feodosia and fought the enemy until they surrounded them...... None of them made it out alive. They bought us time, and we were able to take the high ground outside the city and build a line of defense! ”

The implication of this statement is that if this line of defense had not been established, then the Russian army at this time would have rushed straight to occupy Khoi.

Of course, Spinek didn't want to argue with Manstein about this anymore, so he didn't say it explicitly.

"I see!" "I will think about it," said Manstein, "but I must remind you: it is not permissible to disobey my orders again, otherwise I will immediately send you to a court-martial!" ”

As he spoke, Manstein snapped the phone hard.

After putting down the phone, Manstein was stunned by the map in front of him.

He knew in his heart that Spinek might be right, but it was only "maybe".

War is a thing that is often difficult to distinguish between right and wrong when making certain decisions, because it has many uncertain factors, such as the 11th Army's long-distance attack on Crimea, which is also theoretically unrealistic...... But who would have thought that the Russian army would be defeated like a mountain.

The same was true of the Battle of Kerch.

Is Sponek right? Who knows that if Manstein's style of play is followed, the Russian army will not be defeated again and driven out of the sea?

In fact, this was exactly what Manstein had hoped for, believing that Feodosia would be lost, but that the subsequent arrival of the Romanian 4th Mountain Brigade would prevent the Russians from extending their gains, and that subsequent reinforcements would drive the Russians out into the sea...... Then it's a foregone conclusion.

But after Sponek's warning, Manstein hesitated.

Because he knew Sponek and knew that he was not a commander who was greedy for life and feared death, this can be seen from his performance along the way, especially in the battle on the Kerch Peninsula against an enemy army several times his size and won a brilliant victory.

If the loss of Feodosia was not due to the timidity and dereliction of duty of the soldiers, then the combat effectiveness of the enemy's landing force was extraordinary.

In this way, Manstein is faced with two choices:

If the enemy is ill-prepared and has few troops to land in Feodosia, then the troops should be ordered to attack as soon as the enemy is not firmly established.

Otherwise, you should take it slow and wait until you have gathered enough strength before attacking.

Whether it is the former or the latter, more intelligence should be relied upon.

But Manstein had no more intelligence, and aerial reconnaissance could not detect this, and at the same time this had to be decided quickly, because if he continued to hesitate, more enemy landings, which would be equivalent to choosing the latter.

At this moment, the adjutant handed Manstein a telegram and reported: "General, our pilots have discovered a large number of fishing boats heading in the direction of Feodosia!" ”

"Fishing boats?"

"Yes!" The adjutant replied: "They should have departed from the ports of the Caucasus!" ”

After thinking about it, Manstein nodded and said, "Very well, so to speak...... The Russians did not have much preparation for the landing of Feodosia! ”

So there is no need to think about it, of course, to choose the former, that is, to attack Feodosia immediately.

And Manstein was only able to use the 4th Romanian Mountain Brigade, which had just arrived in Feodosia.

While Manstein was preparing for the offensive, the 1st Guards Tank Brigade was also preparing.

Of course, naval infantry brigades are also indispensable.

These sailors directly served as infantry in battle, so Romanian uniforms were issued to them.

"It's a strange tactic!" Major General Vladimir expressed his displeasure at the meeting: "Put on the military uniform of the Romanians, which makes my soldiers look like clowns!" We can take those heights and wear our own uniforms! ”

"I absolutely believe this, General!" "However, this may reduce casualties in the naval infantry brigades, do you think the uniforms are important, or the lives of the soldiers?" ”

This can be said to be an insinuation of the Soviet army's rigid ideological education, and they have a natural resistance to putting on military uniforms and disguised as enemies.

"Okay!" After thinking about it, Major General Vladimir nodded and said: "I agree, but if they die in Romanian uniforms......"

"They'll be treated fairly!" Mekhlis interrupted Major General Vladimir: "They will be Heroes of the Soviet Union, and I will put the names of each of them in the book!" ”

"Yes, Comrade Mehris!" Major General Vlakilmi raised an eyebrow at Shulka with a smile in his eyes.

So Shulka understood that the real purpose of Major General Vladimir was actually this.

"If the enemy attacks Feodosia!" Katukov continued: "First of all, they will carry out bombing, artillery from the ground and bombers from the air!" Our artillery observers should try to grasp the position of the enemy's artillery positions, and at the same time the Air Force should provide cover for our counteroffensive! ”

"No problem!" Rear Admiral Vladimir nodded: "They are ready, including warships!" ”

"And then!" Katukov continued: "The moment the enemy attacks, we launch a counteroffensive!" ”