Guderian's nervousness was not unreasonable. After all, since the German army counterattacked on all fronts, the Soviet army basically did not have any counterattack action.

Now suddenly news of a surprise attack by Soviet troops came. Moreover, such a raid also caused serious losses to the division headquarters, a large number of division staff officers were killed, and even the radio stations were completely damaged, and the communications officer had to come and deliver the news.

Therefore, Guderian's first reaction was to ask, what was the situation of the 29th Division first? What position was hit by the attacks of the Soviet troops? Has there been a massive retreat?

However, Guderian's worries were clearly unnecessary. Hearing his inquiry, the communications officer from the 29th Division immediately puffed up his chest and reported loudly: "Report, our division has conquered the city of Smolensk, and the division commander ordered me to report to the headquarters and request that troops be quickly sent to support us and prevent the enemy from counterattacking." ”

"Did your division take Smolensk?" Guderian was a little surprised, and with unconcealed joy, he confirmed again: "If you have already entered the city, I can transfer the 42nd Division over to support your deployment mission now." ”

"Yes, we have captured the entire city of Smolensk, but there are still some remnants of the Soviet army in the east outside the city, and they are constantly counterattacking and trying to retake it." Levschitz said proudly and loudly.

I see!

No wonder the Soviet army desperately launched a strong counterattack, it was all forced!

Smolensk, the barrier of Moscow, fell into the hands of the Germans, and the Soviets naturally had to desperately recapture it. Otherwise, the next position they are desperately fighting with the Germans should be at the front of Moscow, the capital of the USSR!

Guderian was very happy, even he himself did not expect that the 29th Division would complete the task so quickly.

Moreover, he learned from the report of the communications officer Levschitz that in order to capture the city of Smolensk, the entire 29th Division was desperate to enter the battle, from the division commander General Polcunsden to every soldier, who behaved very bravely.

Such an army deserves such a victory!

During the day, Guderian also received reports from other troops. Without exception, it was all the battle reports that made him excited.

The 1st Cavalry Division under his command had reached the southeast of Dastai Baichav, the 4th Panzer Division was between Chirikov and Molitebeg, the 3rd Panzer Division was located between José and Molitebeg, the 10th Motorized Rifle Division was south of Moginev and formed an encirclement of Moginev's Soviet troops, the 10th Panzer Division broke through to Polotsk, the SS Reich Division was behind it, the "Greater Germany" Infantry Regiment was north of Mogenev, and the 18th Panzer Division reached the Krasny area, The 17th Panzer Division was in the Dubrofro area.

Several avant-garde units advanced almost in unison, multiple lines of flank and rear of Smolensk, while the infantry had already crossed the Dnieper River, on which the Soviets depended.

Although soon the Soviets began to organize a counterattack, the newly appointed Timoshenko used all his strength to cobble together almost 10 divisions and violently inserted into the right flank of Guderian's 2nd Panzer Corps, and even launched a surprise attack on the headquarters of the 29th Division in Smolensk. At the same time, Soviet units besieged in Moginev Arsha also began to break through.

Timoshenko's intentions were clear: he hoped to drive the German infantry back to the right bank of the Dnieper, thereby isolating the motorized rifle divisions and the avant-garde German armored divisions that occupied Smolensk, and rebuilding the defense line on the Dniper.

Timoshenko used almost all of his forces to launch a swift counteroffensive, so that the German armored forces in front of the bulge could be cut off from the supply line at any time.

This was an adventure, after Pavlov lost the main force of the Western Front, and Stalin self-destroyed the Great Wall forced a large number of senior generals of the Western Front, the Western Front army inherited by Timoshenko was worthy of more than 60,000 defeated troops.

Even with the five infantry divisions he brought from the rear to supplement the Western Front, it was seriously under-strengthened.

Therefore, Timoshenko took the risk of concentrating his already insufficient forces as much as possible, abandoning the defensive battle, and counterattacking with all his might, trying to recapture the Dipin River.

It has to be said that this tactic is risky, but it is better than sticking to the position and waiting for Guderian to continue to divide and destroy it.

But Guderian took a more risky approach than Timoshenko, and he ordered the armored forces that had already been raised to advance with all their might at a faster pace, at the fastest speed, to crush the defenders near Smolensk, and to attack against each other, interspersed with the encirclement of the Soviet army.

Because Guderian had one thing in common with Manstein and Rommel, they deeply believed in the principle of warfare that "the harder the attack, the fewer casualties".

As long as he can come up with a more fierce offensive, the attack organized by Timoshenko's counterattack force is like a stream hitting the sea, and it can't even turn up a little wave.

And Guderian himself, like his troops, rushed forward almost desperately. All day on July 7, he made a lightning march with the 44th Panzer Corps.

Guderian's almost desperate attack, of course, paid a price. Guderian himself, who took the lead in the front line, was in danger many times, and several avant-garde divisions also suffered losses of varying degrees, and many officers who led the attack died on the way to the attack, and even the younger brother of General Webb, the commander of the 17th Armored Division, was killed in the battle.

But the results have always shown that it was worth it. The tide of the battle went as he expected, as the troops moved too fast, most of the counterattacks organized by Timoshenko failed, and the Soviets were constantly attacked by German tank clusters behind them.

At this time, Reinhardt's commendation order also reached the front, and Guderian was awarded the Iron Cross with an oak leaf, a special honor. Guderian was in the top five in the list of army honors.

On 9 July, when Smolensk was still not free from the threat of Soviet artillery, Guderian moved his headquarters to Chokrov, west of Smolensk.

Probably because of the swelling of the Iron Cross with oak leaves, Guderian went into the city to inspect it that day, despite the opposition of his staff officers.

Guderian had long heard that the Orthodox Chapel in Smolensk was a famous historical building, so he was ready to visit the "trophies" of the city.

His convoy saw the onion-headed dome from afar and went to the church in armored vehicles.

Perhaps because of the patronage of Our Lady, the church in the war-torn city of Smolensk was left intact.

But when Guderian entered the door of the church, he frowned and showed an ugly expression.