"What? Rundstedt told us, together with the 3rd Panzer Group, to flank the Soviet troops in the vicinity of Vavkavysk? ”

"Yes, General Guderian, this is the order of Marshal Wheel Destet. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ”

On a road 20 kilometers east of Slonim, Guderian, commander of the 2nd Panzer Group, received an order from Army Group South.

Intent on advancing to the east and capturing Moscow, he did not pay attention to the main forces of the Soviet army to the west and north, because the Soviet troops of these three armies would not block his way to Moscow.

"Bastard! Why Us? And what about the 4th Army? And what about the 9th Army? Where did they go? Our goal is the capture of Moscow, not Belarus! From Guderian's tone and diction, it is clear that he was dissatisfied with this order.

This armored expert who was in a hurry to advance only wanted to advance east with his armored forces, and had no intention of destroying the enemy forces behind.

"Sir, this is not only an order from Army Group South, but also from the Army General Headquarters." Guderian's aide-de-camp Kramer reminded his commander in all seriousness.

Guderian's expression became solemn and he asked, "Army General Headquarters?" Is this an order of the Führer? ”

"Yes, Your Excellency." Kramer stood as straight as a pen, but his head was lowered, apparently trying to avoid Guderian's gaze.

"Give me the telegram!" Guderian did not want to accept this fact, so he planned to find loopholes in the orders from the telegrams sent by his superiors.

Adjutant Kramer, following Guderian's orders, handed the telegram from Army Group South Headquarters to his commander.

Guderian frowned, word for word, studied the contents of the message, and soon found a flaw.

"The 46th Panzer Corps was ordered to wait for the order and prepare to launch an attack on the enemy forces in the north in conjunction with the 3rd Panzer Group. The 24th Panzer Army and the 47th Panzer Corps continued to advance eastward, avoiding the main enemy forces, and our goal was Moscow! ”

"Yes!"

"Whew! Call! Call! "At this moment, several Soviet planes suddenly appeared in the sky.

……………………………………………………

By July 1941, with the heavy damage and disintegration of the 1st Tank Group, the Wehrmacht's Army Group South had been greatly weakened and was no longer capable of moving forward.

The Soviet Southwestern Front, after Operation Suvorov, had already managed to fill the gap between Lutsk and Brody and defend along the section of the Strye River between Lutsk and Brody.

In this way, the Soviet and German armies began to confront each other in the vicinity of the Strye River, neither side launched a large-scale offensive, and the Soviet defense line gradually stabilized.

However, in Belarus and the Baltic states, the situation of the war was tilted in favor of the Germans.

In Belarus, the German Army Group Center, with its superior strength of 50 divisions, attacked the Western Front, which had only 26 divisions. Under the fierce attack of the enemy's superior forces, the Western Front of the Soviet Red Army was defeated and retreated.

The German 3rd Panzer Group had rapidly advanced on the northern flank of the Western Front, and the 2nd Panzer Group had also occupied the southern flank of the Western Front, and by the beginning of July, the Germans had semi-surrounded the main forces of the Western Front from the west, south, and north, leaving only a narrow strip 60-75 km long on the eastern flank of the Western Front.

In the event that the Germans blockade this narrow area, the three armies of the Western Front, with more than 400,000 troops, would be completely surrounded by the Germans, and it would be very likely that they would all be encircled and annihilated as in history.

The situation of the North-Western Front was no better than that of the Western Front, which was subjected to heavy attacks from the German Army Group North and was gradually retreating to the east.

July 5, 1941, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Rivne.

"Comrade Military Commissar, just now our reconnaissance plane spotted traces of enemy armored units in Pruzhany. Judging from the 'K' mark on the tank, as well as the location of the troops, it should be the units of the enemy's 46th Panzer Corps. ”

Manturov, political commissar of the Southwestern Front of the Soviet Red Army, looked at the map and analyzed the movements of the German army, "Comrade Potapov, it seems that the enemy army is about to launch a new offensive against the Western Front.

It is highly likely that the 2nd Panzer Group, together with the 3rd Panzer Group, will flank the 3rd, 4th, and 10th armies of the Western Front between him from the south and north, respectively.

At that time, the situation of the Western Front will be very dangerous, and it seems that we must act as soon as possible. ”

Major General Potapov, commander of the 5th Army of the Soviet Red Army, nodded and said: "Yes, the German army deployed troops on the western, southern, and northern flanks of the Western Front.

It is highly likely that they will attack simultaneously from three directions, and even encircle the 3rd, 4th and 10th armies in the Lida-Slonim area. If they succeed, the consequences will be unimaginable. ”

Manturov recalled the historical situation in which the Western Front was encircled west of Minsk, "and if they succeeded, our 3rd, 4th and 10th armies could have been annihilated." At that time, we will lose more than 400,000 troops, and the enemy will be able to easily open a gap in the Minsk area, break through the Manturov Line, and then occupy the whole of Belarus, and even enter the western regions of Russia, opening the gateway to Moscow.

Therefore, we must attack Guderian's troops on the southern flank of the Western Front as soon as possible, contain their forces, prevent them from launching a flanking attack on the main forces of the Western Front in coordination with the 3rd Army, and prevent the Germans from encircling our troops in the Lida-Slonim area. How's the preparation progressing now? ”

Potapov stood up straight and reported to Manturov about the current situation, "Comrade Military Commissar, now the designated units of the 9th and 19th Mechanized Corps have arrived in advance of the predetermined positions; The 16th and 17th Mixed Aviation Divisions, as well as the 44th Fighter Division and the 62nd Bomber Division, are ready to launch a large-scale air attack on the target. ”

Manturov pulled down his sleeves and asked: "How many troops did the two mechanized armies put into it in total?" ”

"The 9th and 19th Mechanized Corps each committed 2 tank divisions, a total of 470 tanks, 250 armored vehicles and 45,000 troops.

Two mechanized corps, respectively responsible for pinning down the forces of the enemy's 46th and 47th Panzer Corps. The action can be launched in as little as two hours. ”

Manturov patted Potapov on the shoulder and said with appreciation: "Comrade Potapov, I have always considered you an excellent general, and I hope you will be able to complete this important task." ”

"Rest assured, I will complete the task."

"Very well," Manturov reminded, "remember that the purpose of this operation was to contain the enemy's forces and prevent them from moving north to join the encirclement, not to destroy the enemy." As long as the 46th Panzer Corps can be pinned down in the area of Kobrin-Pruzane, the goal has been achieved, and the ground forces should not clash with too many enemy forces.

If you are not sure enough, do not try to retake Pinsk, so as not to pay unnecessary casualties. ”

? (To be continued.) )