The defense line of the Kagalnik River extends from the Black Sea in the west to the Manech River in the east, with a total length of about one hundred and twenty kilometers.

From west to east, the 56th Army, the 51st Army, and the 18th Army lined up.

After Marshal Budyonny and Lieutenant General Malinovsky reached a consensus and decided to take the Romanians under their control, Lieutenant General Malinovsky entrusted this honorable task to the 18th Army.

After receiving this task, the 18th Army, from the commander of the army, Major General Kamkov, to the group was excited, especially the head of the political department of the group, Colonel Leonida Ilyich Brezhnev.

"We're finally going on the offensive and I've had enough of the days of retreat. We withdrew first from the Mius to the Don, and from the Don to the Kagalnik, and I thought we were going all the way to the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea. Well, now we're finally going on the counteroffensive. ”

Colonel Brezhnev's square face was flushed, and he asked Major General Kamkov: "How many troops have the superiors transferred to us?" Where do we start? How big is the battle? ”

Major General Kamkov had just returned from the Southern Front Headquarters, and when he saw his old partner asking, he said patiently: "The Front Command has transferred the 347th Infantry Division and the 5th Guards Tank Brigade to us, plus our own 64th Tank Brigade, a total of two tank brigades and an infantry division for the attack. The higher authorities gave us this task because our line of defense was located between the source of the Kagalnik River and the Manech River. Unlike other troops, we launched an attack, we did not need to cross the river, and we could rush directly to the enemy's position.

I decided to place the attack here, the far right flank of our position, the town of Weasley on the Manech River. From here, our troops attacked west along the road and encircled the Romanians in the area of the town of Red Kut opposite. Fight to destroy an infantry division on the opposite side and capture thousands of prisoners. ”

Hearing Major General Kamkov say that the scale of the battle was small, Colonel Brezhnev was a little disappointed, but he quickly picked himself up.

In any case, the troops are no longer retreating, and it is a good omen to take the initiative to launch a counteroffensive.

Colonel Brezhnev found the location of Weasley Town on the map, nodded and said: "This location is very good, the Manech River is on the right, don't worry about the attack from the right flank, just focus on the front and the left flank." ”

Major General Kamkov said: "Two tank brigades can just launch a pincer offensive to encircle the town of Red Kut, and if I am not mistaken, the enemy should have a division headquarters here." ”

Colonel Brezhnev took out a ruler and measured it on the map, and found that the town of Weasley was very close to the town of Red Coot, less than five kilometers.

Putting down the ruler, Colonel Brezhnev said: "I will take people to the front to see and cheer up the comrades." ”

Major General Kamkov said: "There is also good news for you, the command of the Front received reports from air force reconnaissance planes that they had spotted a large number of cavalry in the ranks of the Romanians, part of which was stationed in the town of Pozenevka, west of the town of Red Kut. ”

At this, Major General Kamkov grinned at his teeth, and then continued: "When we attack, we may be able to meet the Romanian cavalry counterattack, and I can't wait to see the Romanian cavalry brandishing their sabers and shouting at our tanks." ”

Colonel Brezhnev said with a smile: "Then we will soon be able to improve the lives of our comrades with horse meat." ”

Half an hour later, Colonel Brezhnev appeared at the focal point of the battlefield with four of his men, the town of Weasley, as the starting position.

Walking up to a two-story house on the west side of Weasley Town and climbing on the roof, Colonel Brezhnev took a telescope and clearly saw that there was already a continuous trench on the periphery of Red Coot Town to the west, and barbed wire was pulled up on the periphery, but it seemed that the time to reach the front line was too short, and the construction time was also short, and the barbed wire was not very dense.

The Romanians seemed to be satisfied with their work, and Colonel Brezhnev saw that there was no sign of construction on the unfinished project opposite.

"The Romanians are so careless, and soon, they will pay for this carelessness."

Unbeknownst to Colonel Brezhnev, when he was peeking at the Romanian positions opposite, a dozen cavalrymen rushed out of the town and ran all the way into the town of Red Kut in the town of Pozeneyevka, west of the town of Red Kut.

The dozen or so cavalrymen were wearing camouflage uniforms and German M35 steel helmets.

Under the neck of one of the cavalrymen at the head, a glittering Iron Cross with oak leaves glittered in the sun.

The owner of this medal was none other than the commander of the 8th Cavalry Division of the SS, Major General Otto Hermann Figlein.

After the military reform, in order to strengthen the unity between Germany and Romania, and also to enhance the combat effectiveness of the Romanian troops, Chen Dao strengthened the 11th Air Force Field Division, the SS 8th Cavalry Division and the 4th Mountain Division to the Romanian Third Army.

In Operation Captain Hook, which had already been launched, the easternmost part of the front, adjacent to the Manech River, was the main breakthrough site selected by Chen Dao.

The reason is simple, this is between the cradle of the Kagalnik River and the Manech River, and it is possible to go directly behind the enemy's positions without crossing the river.

The troops of Army Group C, many of whom had just participated in the Crimean campaign, entered the battlefield through Rostov-on-Don, which Army Group A occupied, and arrived at the front in a state of near full strength after suffering basically no losses on the march.

Major General Figlein led his men and entered the battlefield in two parts.

The cavalrymen of the 8th Cavalry Division of the SS followed him, mingled with the cavalry of the Romanian troops, and drove to the front with swagger during the day.

Armored units in cavalry divisions, such as assault gun battalions and armored reconnaissance battalions, enter the battlefield at night.

Major General Figlein knew what he was about to do, and when he arrived in the town of Pozenevka, he went with a retinue to the town of Red Kut, the most front-line position, to survey the terrain.

A dozen cavalrymen entered the town of Red Kut unhindered and headed straight to the east of the town.

To the east of the town, Major General Figlein saw the outlying positions, which Colonel Brezhnev called unfinished works.

Unlike Colonel Brezhnev, Major General Figlein did not consider this to be a finished project, he clearly knew that this was not a defensive position, but a starting position for the troops to attack, and it did not need to be repaired too strongly.

Major General Figlein saw some 88-mm anti-aircraft guns hidden behind the Romanian infantry positions on the outskirts of the town of Red Coot, and the gunners behind the anti-aircraft guns were wearing the same camouflage uniforms as himself.

Glancing at the anti-aircraft gunners, Major General Figlein withdrew his gaze.

They should be the men of the Air Force Field Division, a group of pure violent elements who basically do not use guns to fight.

To the east of the town of Red Coot, Major General Figlein quickly found a small high ground with a good view, hid behind a bush, and concentrated on spying on the Soviet positions in Weasley to the east.

After the battle began, the first transportation artery to be taken was this town.

This town is adjacent to the Manech River, and after taking this town, the troops can advance in a wild way.

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