On that day, the Caucasus was quiet, including the Kazbek peak.

The Soviets were unable to attack again because they were short of supplies and ammunition, and if they attacked again, they were afraid that they would not even be able to survive on the Caucasus Mountains.

The Germans were also unable to launch a counteroffensive, because the Soviets occupied the fortifications of Kazbek Peak and some supplies, and on the other hand, the Germans were seriously undermanned, including a company reinforced by the First Infantry Corps, which had only more than 500 people left.

In this situation, although the Soviet army was very vulnerable, it was almost impossible for these more than 500 people to counterattack and regain their fortifications.

Colonel Freko considered using helicopters to continue transporting reinforcements to launch a counteroffensive, but eventually gave up...... The Soviets occupied high ground and were armed with anti-aircraft machine guns, so it was undoubtedly very dangerous to send reinforcements by helicopter at Kazbek Peak in this situation, and it was feared that the helicopters would be wiped out before enough reinforcements were sent.

As a result, the enemy and the enemy all stopped fighting, like two exhausted beasts, neither of them dared to strike easily, and each hid in his nest and licked his wounds and waited for next year's battle.

But the nightmare of the Soviet army did not stop there.

It should be said that their nightmare has only just begun...... Because the airport was bombed, the Soviet army has completely lost air supremacy, and German fighters can soar over the Caucasus Mountains unscrupulously, plus the German army has also established radar warfare in the Caucasus Mountains, so the Soviet army does not even dare to take off the fighters that drop supplies.

This made it possible for the Soviets to use manpower to transport supplies for the Soviets in the Caucasus Mountains, but the difficulties of transporting snow-capped mountains were beyond anyone could imagine...... A person carrying a large bag of supplies up the river may run out of supplies before they reach it.

Forced to do so, Zhukov could only order the withdrawal of half of the troops on the mountain. Of course, in addition to carrying a little bit of food with you before going down, bullets, rifles, etc. were left on the mountain.

But it is also not so easy to withdraw, so countless people who froze to death, starved to death, got lost and disappeared on the road, and only about 3,000 people who could withdraw from more than 20,000 people.

On the other hand, the Soviet troops guarding the Caucasus were still unable to continue, and in the words of the Soviet soldiers, there was no hope of survival.

Sometimes they couldn't stand the pain of starvation, and they charged the German positions like crazy...... It is better to either kill the enemy and grab their food, or to die in battle than to starve to death.

In the end, Zhukov came up with a solution, he recruited people from the people and troops who were good at climbing and familiar with the terrain to form a transport team, and built a supply route with ropes section by section...... That is, ropes are left on the side of some cliffs to lift food up, which can save a lot of manpower and material resources.

But even so, the Soviet army was barely maintained, and incidents of starvation and freezing to death still occurred from time to time.

For this victory, Marshal Manstein personally called the headquarters of the 1st Mountain Division to commend Qin Chuan.

"Well done, Major!" "Last night I was still thinking about how to seize air supremacy and how to hold the Kazbek peak, and I was even thinking about what to do if the Soviets broke through the Kazbek peak and went around to the rear of Baku, but today ...... All problems are no longer problems! ”

After a pause, Manstein continued: "You know what? Our Air Force commander, Major General Lorenz, protested to me! ”

"Why?" Qin Chuan asked.

"Because that's their job!" Manstein said: "And now let you do it, you blew up at least 600 warplanes of the Soviets that day...... So, Major General Lorenz and the Air Force he led are going to lose their jobs! ”

Manstein laughed as he spoke.

"Just a joke, Major!" Field Marshal Manstein said: "I think they should be glad to have you as a comrade-in-arms, the 1st Mountain Division, the Air Force, and of course me!" ”

Qin Chuan couldn't help but be a little moved, because he knew that Manstein was different from Rommel, Manstein was a nobleman, and the nobles of this era generally had a sense of superiority in their hearts, especially a capable, talented and high-ranking nobleman like Manstein, especially Manstein was also the former German President von Stein. Hindenburg's nephew.

But Manstein will say that he is glad to have Qin Chuan as a "comrade-in-arms" instead of a "subordinate", which shows that Manstein has a very high opinion of Qin Chuan and can even be on an equal footing with him.

After Qin Chuan hung up the phone, Major General Freko gave Qin Chuan a box and said, "Major, this is the ...... that the marshal ordered me to give you."

Qin Chuan opened the box and saw that it was a set of military ranks, the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Qin Chuan looked at Major General Freko suspiciously, Major General Freko nodded, and said, "You are already a lieutenant colonel, major!" No...... You should be called a lieutenant colonel. ”

Colonel Slane couldn't help but protest: "General, the awarding of the rank of major should be done by the 21st Panzer Division!" ”

"But you're still under my command, aren't you?" Major General Freko replied.

"That's only temporary!" Colonel Slein said, "And now that the battle is over, it will not be soon!" ”

"So......" said Major General Freko, "I'm just going to take advantage of this time!" ”

Then Major General Freko patted Qin Chuan on the shoulder and said, "I am honored to award you the rank of lieutenant colonel, lieutenant colonel. Oh my God, I personally awarded the rank of 'Legendary Sergeant', and it's exciting to think about, and I have another capital to brag about, don't I? ”

Qin Chuan and Colonel Slane couldn't help but laugh a little.

"Oh, and this!" As he spoke, Major General Freko took out an armband from the box and put it on Qin Chuan's right arm.

Qin Chuan saw that it was a black edelweiss, and each of the first mountain divisions wore one.

Qin Chuan knew what this meant...... Edelweiss is not only a symbol of the mountain division, but also a symbol of bravery, it is a brave flower.

The reason for this is that it is usually found in the Alps, at an altitude of more than 1,700 meters, and only grows on very rare rocky surfaces, and those who can get it must have extraordinary courage and perseverance.

Qin Chuan stood up and saluted Major General Freko in a dignified manner.

For Qin Chuan, things like military rank no longer have much meaning, because the prestige or energy he now has far exceeds his own rank or position.

For example, the previous Major General Lex was planted in Qin Chuan's hands.

But this edelweiss, the meaning it contains is different, it seems to mean that Qin Chuan has become a part of the mountain division.