On the banks of the Dnieper, the positions of the Soviet troops opposite the city of Cherkasy were completely covered with artillery fire and gunsmoke. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

As a key breakthrough section, the positions of the Reich Marshal's armored divisions under the command of Mandolfer were reinforced by artillery brigades belonging to the group army.

105-mm howitzers and 150-mm howitzers, plus 210-mm howitzers unique to the artillery of the army group, sent death and destruction across the Dnieper.

On the Soviet positions on the east bank of the Dnieper River, clouds of green smoke rose from time to time, and the soldiers of the Blackwater Special Reconnaissance Regiment used the smoke bombs in their hands to expose the hidden Soviet positions to the observation posts of the German artillery.

The FI-282 Hummingbird helicopter, approaching the other side of the river step by step, directs the artillery in the rear, and accurately fires the shells at the position where the green smoke rises.

The accurate and ferocious shells of the German army turned every place where the green smoke rose into the surface of the moon, and large and small craters were all over the ground.

On the river, the infantry of the Imperial Marshal's Division rushed to the opposite bank in rubber boats and assault boats.

The sappers were divided into two groups, and the boat bridge company erected a pontoon bridge over the river.

The bridge across the river had long since been blown up by Soviet troops, leaving only the piers standing on the river.

Another group of sappers cooperated with the reinforced group army sappers to rebuild heavy bridges by using the piers of the bridge across the river.

On the banks of the river, anti-aircraft gunners fired strings of anti-aircraft shells into the sky, cooperating with Air Force fighters to protect their comrades from Soviet bombardment.

German bomber groups penetrated deep behind Soviet lines to bombard targets outside the range of the artillerymen.

North of the city of Zolotonosha, in the underground headquarters of the 37th Army.

Lieutenant General Vlasov shouted into the phone: "Without my order, you are not allowed to retreat, at least until it is dark today, otherwise you will wait for the trial of the military court." ”

Hanging up the phone, Vlasov took another call.

"It's me, what, you can't stand it, the troops of the Ninth Mechanized Army didn't support you?"

Vlasov was stunned by the bad news from the 295 Infantry Division.

Just as he was about to speak, a series of earth-shattering explosions were heard outside the underground headquarters, and Vlasov's body shook along with the earth, and clouds of dust fell from the roof and hit Vlasov's face and shoulders.

"Puff ・・・・・・" Vlasov spat out the dust from his mouth.

"Our entire line of defense is under attack from the Germans, I have no extra reinforcements for you, you are not allowed to retreat a step, even if the whole army is annihilated, you must defend it for me."

"Give me the front command right away." Vlasov said.

After talking to his immediate boss, Admiral Kirponos, about the pressure he was under, Vlasov heard a familiar answer.

"The entire front is under attack from the Germans, and I have no spare forces to send you. You must hold out until the Ninth Mechanized Army and the Steppe Front destroy Rommel's troops. After defeating Rommel, they would rush to the river in one go, driving the enemy who crossed the river down the river. This is a battle plan drawn up by the High Command, and I have no right to change it, do you understand? ”

Hanging up the phone, Vlasov depressedly pulled over a chair and sat on it weakly.

"The steppe front, Rokossovsky・・・・・・ our fate is pinned on him."

The chief of staff saw Vlasov's weak appearance and said hesitantly: "There is news from Colonel Bnyachenko's troops. ”

Vlasov jerked his head up, saw the gloomy face of the chief of staff, and asked tentatively: "Their offensive failed?" ”

"Yes, in the town of Karisfoka they were defeated by the Germans, the tank battalion was almost completely annihilated, the infantry was better, the losses were less than half, but there was no basic loss of attack capability, Colonel Bunyachenko asked for a retreat."

"Since they are going to retreat, let them retreat, let them go to the river, to deal with the Germans who crossed the river・・・・・・ although there are fewer people, it is better than nothing." Vlasov said weakly.

Vlasov's depression infected everyone in the command, and the staff officers' voices were no longer full of enthusiasm when they answered the phone.

"Whether you can hold the Dnieper or not, now it depends on the steppe front." Vlasov said.

On the other side of the battlefield, Rommel received a telegram from the 24th Panzer Corps.

"The enemy offensive in the north is fierce, and the pressure of the 10th Infantry Division is very high, so I ask the 4th Panzer Division to go back to help."

Rommel covered his mouth, and the joy of a small victory before was swept away.

The 10th Motorized Infantry Division faced the 4th and 8th Mechanized Corps, and the 3rd Panzer Division, which was divided nearly half of its troops, had to fight against a 9th Mechanized Corps.

Even if these three mechanized corps were all remnants, relatively speaking, the troops of the 24th Panzer Corps fought behind enemy lines for days and days, and suffered heavy losses.

General Schwebenburg was able to send a telegram asking for help from the 10th Motorized Infantry Division and the need for support from the 4th Panzer Division, indicating that the 10th Motorized Infantry Division really could not support it.

It seems that the task of getting the 4th Panzer Division and its own battle group to go straight to the Dnieper River may not be able to continue, and it is impossible to see the collapse of Schwebenburg's troops, so they can only temporarily change their tactics.

"Order, let the 4th Panzer Division continue to advance in the direction of the Dnieper, and the battle group turns, go to Lubne, and support the 10th Motorized Infantry Division."

"General, if you go to Lubne, we don't have enough oil." Helmut said cautiously.

"What?" Rommel asked in surprise.

"You asked me to remind you at all times of the reserves of fuel and ammunition for the battle group, from here we are only thirty kilometers to the river, but back to the ruble it is about fifty kilometers. This is still a straight distance, and we have to avoid the 4th Panzer Division in the middle, so we need to take a longer detour. I'm afraid that before we get to the ruble, we will run out of fuel first. Helmut said.

Rommel then remembered that his troops were different from Schwebenburg, who had taken advantage of last night's rest to obtain a batch of air supplies, but he himself led his troops to attack and did not receive replenishment.

"Thirty kilometers to the river, we still have this oil. Well, we changed the task, the 4th Panzer Division turned back to support Lubne, and we went to the river to assist the troops of the 11th Army in crossing the river. Send another telegram to the 4th Panzer Division and ask them to send a convoy and send us a few barrels of oil. ”

After issuing the new order, Rommel said angrily: "Damn the Russians, what diesel engine is used, it is impossible for us to use the captured oil." ”

With Rommel's order, the 4th Panzer Division and Rommel's battle group, which had just routed the Soviet 295th Infantry Division, parted ways again ・・・・・・ (to be continued. )