It was easier to defeat, much more difficult to annihilate, because it prevented the Soviet troops from escaping.

But this was not a big problem for the Germans, since they had five hundred amphibious landing ships in their hands......

The Soviets should have learned a lesson from the German landing in the Kerch Strait, knowing that the sea could not stop the German troops, but they just took it for granted that this amphibious landing ship was used by the Germans to cross the Kerch Strait, and that there would be no role for anyone in other theaters.

So, when the 1st Corps was still two kilometers away from the Soviet defense line, it returned to the sea again in an amphibious landing ship, which was loaded with ammunition.

Twenty "four" tanks were launched along with the flotilla, but these tanks were soon left far behind by the flotilla...... The underwater speed of an amphibious tank differs too much from an amphibious landing ship, and it can only serve as a second echelon.

Then, in order not to let the Soviets discover the sound of amphibious boarding motors in the sea, the Germans in front of them attacked.

First, several flares rose into the sky to illuminate the panicked faces of the Soviet troops on the defensive line, and then shells smashed into the Soviet positions with a whistling sound.

Ironically, most of these shells were captured by the Germans in Soglione.

For these shells, Manstein's order was: "Don't worry that they won't be enough, because there will be more ahead!" ”

Manstein was right that the Caucasus, especially Transcaucasia, was not only strategically important, but was also once considered the safest place in the Soviet Union.

It is not unreasonable to say that it is "the safest", because the Germans had only two routes to Transcaucasia:

One is by sea, that is, through the Mediterranean Sea into the Aegean Sea, through the Black Sea straits to the Black Sea.

But this road is obviously impassable, because there are powerful British and American navies in the Mediterranean, which constitute an impregnable wall, not to mention that the Soviet Union still has a fleet in the Black Sea.

The other is the overland route, from the Don River through the North Caucasus to the Transcaucasus.

Historically, the German army took this road in the Transcaucasia, for which Hitler also trained several mountain divisions to seize the Caucasus Mountains.

The problem is that the Soviet army also trained mountain divisions, and most of these mountain divisions were Caucasians who grew up on this land.

The favorable timing, location, and people, coupled with the superiority of the Seagull low-speed fighter in the air battle in the Caucasus, made it difficult for the German army, which was good at blitzkrieg, to move an inch here, and finally ended in failure.

With these factors in mind, the Soviets relocated part of their industry to Transcaucasia.

This approach should be said to be correct, because once the German army attacked the Caucasus, it would be difficult for the Caucasian Front troops stationed here to get supplies from the north, and the British and American artillery shells, bullets, and equipment were different from those of the Soviet army, so although they could get supplies from Britain and the United States, it was also very likely that there would be supply difficulties.

Therefore, Transcaucasia must be able to produce shells, bullets, guns, artillery, and even tanks in order to be self-sufficient.

A natural barrier and self-sufficient industry, coupled with the warm climate, abundant products, and almost inexhaustible oil in Transcaucasia, made Transcaucasia not a problem even if it was blockaded for several years, but would become stronger and stronger, and the industry here even became an important supply base for the Soviet counteroffensive...... This is also one of the reasons why the German army was defeated in the Caucasus in history.

(Note: The Caucasus Mountains block the cold current from Siberia in the north and gather the warm sea breeze from the Black Sea in the south, so the climate is very warm, with a minimum temperature of no less than 5 degrees.)

It's just that no one thought of it, but Qin Chuan thought of another way: to cross the Kerch Strait and land on the flank of the Caucasus Mountains.

As a result, in front of the German army, there were supply warehouses and even arsenals one after another, and of course there was no need to save such things as artillery shells.

The sound of the explosion of artillery shells immediately alarmed the command of the army group stationed in Novorossiysk.

Major General Sergatskov, commander of the 43rd Soviet Army, got up from the bed with a grunt, cursed, and hurriedly put on the military uniform he had just taken off, opened the door while buttoning and walked into the headquarters of the hall, and asked the staff officer who was busy on the phone: "What's the matter?" ”

"Comrade Sergatskov!" The staff officer reported to the major general with a panicked look: "We are attacked by the Germans!" ”

"How many of them are there?" Major General Sergatskov asked.

"I don't know yet!" The staff officer replied: "But we see a lot of tanks, and the artillery fire is also fierce!" ”

Major General Sergatskov looked at the map, and then ordered: "Order the artillery to return fire and suppress their artillery fire!" ”

"Yes!" The staff officer answered and passed on the order.

"Comrade Sergatskov!" At this time, the commissar Tsygaschev also walked into the command: "Is it the Germans? ”

"Yes!" Major General Sergatskov pointed to the map and replied: "I think the Germans are worried that they will be surrounded by us in Soglione, and in order to gain more combat space, they will attack us first!" ”

Tsigasev nodded in agreement, because Novorossiysk was a mountain pass, and although it was a strong defensive place, it was also a good place for the Germans to intercept it...... The front was only a few kilometers wide, and the forces of several divisions of the Soviet army could not be fully deployed here.

"So!" "The Germans may be just bluffing, and they will not throw too many troops in our direction?" ”

"Yes!" Sergatskov replied: "Because in addition to intercepting us, they have to garrison Soglione, and in addition to detaching at least one unit against two divisions of the army on the North Caucasus side!" ”

Budyonny, under Stalin's orders, could only send two divisions to cooperate with the offensive of the Transcaucasian Army.

"So!" Sergatskov continued: "We are not in a hurry, prepare tonight and wait until dawn to launch a counteroffensive against the Germans!" Then we will make them regret stepping on our land! ”

Tsygaschev had no problem with this, because he also knew that the Soviet army was not good at night fighting...... None of the poorly trained troops seemed unfit for night fighting.

It's just that what Tsigaschev and Sergatskov didn't expect was that the Germans didn't just stop them as they thought, but to annihilate their four divisions in one go.

But it doesn't seem to blame them, who would have thought that the Germans would only have the strength of two divisions, but would want to defeat the Soviet army with four divisions in one go?

Before the battle on the Kerch Peninsula, I was afraid that even the Germans themselves did not dare to have such thoughts, but after that...... The Germans, from top to bottom, did not doubt their ability to do so.