The fierce fighting continued for another day and night, and finally the gap between the German 4th Panzer Army and the Kempf Army Group detachment was opened by the Soviet troops, a front more than 50 miles wide. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 ｉｎｆｏ

At the same time, for the sake of security, the Soviet High Command also sent a total of 2 million troops from the four fronts (i.e., the Central, Voronezh, Steppe, and Southwestern Fronts) to Manstein's Army Group South to prepare for a general attack.

As for Moder, their forces were held back by the Soviet Southern Front and a large number of ground reserves, and they were also caught in fierce battles.

In order to solve Manstein's Army Group South in the shortest possible time, the Soviet High Command also mobilized more than 50,000 artillery pieces and mortars; As well as thousands of tanks, and self-propelled guns, as well as up to more than 3,000 aircraft to assist in the attack.

In the face of such a menacing army pressure from the Soviet army, Manstein's mood was also restless.

Although the combined strength of Army Group South and Army Group A of the German army now has about 100 divisions, and there are more than 2,000 tanks and more than 1,000 aircraft.

However, these planes did not constantly come out to assist their troops in air defense operations.

But in any case, most of the living forces of the German army on the Eastern Front were now concentrated in the defensive positions that Manstein was in charge of, and three-quarters of the German armored forces on the Eastern Front were also concentrated here.

In other words, if Manstein's troops were dumplings by the Soviet army and surrounded on all sides, I am afraid that the situation of the German army on the Eastern Front would be precarious.

The decisive role of this battle was more decisive and dangerous than the crushing defeat of the German army at Stalingrad.

"The current situation is not good for us! What do you think? General Holt! ”

On the operational sand table of the headquarters, Manstein turned to the commander of the 4th Panzer Army, General Hoth, beside him, and asked in annoyance.

"Withdraw! Retreat now! And immediately call the Führer and ask him to send a large number of air forces to cover our evacuation! Otherwise, if we continue to fight like this, I'm afraid we will all be wiped out here! Even if it is not completely annihilated by the Soviet army, it will be severely damaged! ”

Admiral Hoult replied without hesitation and decisively.

"But the Air Force doesn't listen to our orders! And I have already called the Führer several times, asking to send aviation units to support us in the operation, or to withstand the air raids of the Soviet aviation units! ”

"But the Führer's call back to me still still asks us to learn to fight fiercely with the enemy without the cover of aviation units!"

Manstein shook his head and continued to speak in annoyance.

"What you have sent to the Führer is a call for help from the aviation units to carry out the battle, not to cover the safe retreat of our troops; So it's not surprising that the Führer didn't approve of you! It's not that you don't know that all of our current aviation units are already stepping up their training of our new fighter groups, ready to get acquainted with these new fighters; Conduct a large-scale air counterattack against the troops of Britain, the United States, the Soviet Union and other countries! ”

Hult replied calmly.

"But one more thing I'm worried about is whether the Führer will really let us retreat? Because if we make a large-scale retreat this time, I am afraid that we will lose all the Orel landing field and the surrounding area to the Soviet army! ”

"You don't know the character of the Führer! He never liked retreat and fighting for land! ”

Manstein said with a sigh.

"I think so, because I feel that the current Führer's approach is very different from what it used to be! And he didn't often tell us that if we couldn't defeat the enemy, we would evacuate immediately! Don't fight the enemy to the death! And we must also find a way to lure the enemy deeper, and then divide the enemy's forces, concentrate our superior forces, and break the enemy troops one by one? ”

Admiral Hult thought for a moment, then cleared his mind before slowly responding.

"That's what I said! But the Führer's personality often changes a lot, so the credibility of his words really dare not add dimension! ”

Manstein said depressedly.

"The current situation is very unfavorable for us, and I really can't think of a better way to fight than to retreat immediately! See for yourself! ”

Admiral Hult replied, insisting on his opinion.

"Hmmm! I know! Then withdraw! Because so is what I really think in my heart! Therefore, even if the Führer is thunderous and angry, my final battle order still requires all troops to retreat immediately! ”

Manstein also said all his inner thoughts.

"Hmmm! Now that you have made a decision, should we go and prepare to retreat now? ”

Admiral Hoult nodded in appreciation.

"Yes! But before I do what you just said, go and ask the Führer for the Air Force to support us in our retreat! Otherwise, even if we can withdraw, we will suffer heavy casualties! ”

Manstein also nodded in agreement.

"I'll go with you too!"

Admiral Hult agreed.

"Good! Let's go! ”

Manstein smiled slightly, with a grateful look in his eyes.

Admiral Hult did not speak, but smiled and stared at Manstein.

After that, the two of them went to the telegraph room, sent a telegram to Chen Yanlong, and made a phone call.

At this moment, the Soviet 15th and 16th Air Armies flew 5,000 sorties in one day, bombarding indiscriminately against the German front-line positions that were still resisting.

Bombshells fell from the sky one after another, making the entire German front; They were densely strewn with the corpses of German soldiers, destroyed cars, tanks and other weapons and equipment.

After the day and night air raids, the Soviet tank army and infantry units also quickly crossed the destroyed German line and stormed the interior of Orel.

It didn't take long for the battle for the Orel landing ground to become the largest and most ferocious large-scale offensive and defensive battle since the beginning of the war.

In such a tragic strangulation battle, both the Soviet Union and Germany suffered a large number of casualties.

The Soviet Army, which originally had an advantage in numbers and the number of weapons and equipment, also had a large air support of aviation units, as well as a large-scale artillery cover attack; The Soviets should be able to easily drive straight into the German positions and slaughter the Germans in all directions.

But because Manstein had already deployed a large number of fortifications and minefields in their defensive positions early in the morning, as well as some new weapons and equipment sent to him by Chen Yanlong; That's why the fierce counterattacks of the Soviet army have been resisted again and again.

But even so, the current situation of the German army is becoming less and less optimistic, if there are no reinforcements, or if they retreat immediately, I am afraid that they will be surrounded by the Soviet army on all sides and make dumplings.