After receiving Hitler's call, Manstein finally put down a big rock hanging in his heart. As for whether to be promoted to marshal, Manstein didn't care at all.

This is another difference between Manstein and Rommel.

Rommel did not hide his pursuit of reputation and power, and sometimes even refused to do anything.

Manstein, perhaps because he was born into aristocrats, he had been accustomed to these so-called honors, so he did not take them seriously. Especially Manstein knew something clearly... At this time, the Soviet-German War had entered a critical stage, and if he was not careful, Germany would have the same mistakes as war One. Compared with these, personal life was even insignificant, not to mention military rank and honor.

From this we can also know that Manstein is actually pessimistic about this battle.

But now he seems to see hope: if he can march into the Caucasus region to occupy the Caucasus Mountains, it will not only allow the German army to obtain the Baku oil field to cut off the Soviet energy channels, but also cut off the British and American military aid to the Soviet Union to a considerable extent, which will obviously greatly reduce the Soviet Union's strength.

There were five routes for the Allied forces to aid the Soviet Union, two of which were in the Caucasus region: one departed from Egypt through Turkey and entered the Black Sea to reach the Caucasus. The other entered the Persian Gulf from the Indian Ocean and landed in Iran to reach the Caucasus. The capacity of these two transportation lines accounts for about one-third of the total aid materials.

The largest transportation line was actually a US transport ship that entered the Japanese sea and transported to the Soviet Union with the Soviet flag. Since Japan and the Soviet Union signed the Treaty of "Soviet and Japan's Non-aggression", Japan did not dare to stop these materials from landing in Soviet Siberia through the Japanese sea. Therefore, this route is very safe, accounting for 47.1% of the total transportation volume, which is equivalent to Japan's guarantee of the United States' aid to the Soviet Union. (It is difficult for Germany to be unbeaten with a teammate like Japan like pigs)

Then, Manstein thought of Qin Chuan.

Then he couldn't help but sigh. It was not his own credit for opening up such a good situation for this battle, but this captain.

After looking at the map for a while, Manstein stopped hesitating and ordered the correspondent: "The 28th Hunter Division took over the defense of the Taman Peninsula, the 1st Infantry Regiment, the 51st Regiment of the 22nd Armored Division and the 1st Mountain Division continued to advance towards the Caucasus!"

After thinking about it, Manstein continued: "Call Slein, given Captain Flick's outstanding performance in the battle, it is recommended to promote him to the rank of major!"

When Colonel Slain saw this telegram, he couldn't help but smile and handed the telegram to Qin Chuan.

"Captain, you are the major now!" said Colonel Slain.

"Is there any difference?" Qin Chuan asked.

"I think the difference is..." Colonel Slain said: "You can become a battalion commander!"

Qin Chuan couldn't help but cast doubtful eyes at Colonel Slein. It was the time for marching and fighting. In order to maintain the stability of the troops, the replacement of commanders should be avoided unless necessary, because this requires a familiar process.

"You have the ability to command, right?" said Colonel Slain.

"But I have no experience, that's a battalion!" Qin Chuan replied.

There were 708 people in a battalion of the German army in World War II, and this command was no longer the same as a company with more than 100 people.

"Don't worry!" said Colonel Slain: "No one in the First Infantry Regiment doesn't know you. I believe they will be willing to be your subordinates!"

Colonel Slain guessed correctly, Qin Chuan's concern was actually unnecessary.

On the one hand, as Colonel Slain said, Qin Chuan had already gained his prestige in the First Infantry Regiment, and all the officers and soldiers of the battalion were convinced by Qin Chuan... This made it much easier to command. It could even be said that Qin Chuan did not need to command them. They could arrange everything in an orderly manner, even in battles.

On the other hand, Colonel Slein made some arrangements for Qin Chuan:

The battalion commander of the Second Battalion was injured during the Battle of Kerch and was unable to fight here with the troops... He was a very young major. Qin Chuan had met him several times at the meeting. His relationship with Qin Chuan was lukewarm and hot, and it seemed that he was a little uncomfortable with Qin Chuan's position in the First Infantry Regiment.

This should be said to be very normal, especially those officers from noble families in the army who have a very serious hierarchy concept, but each major and lieutenant colonel are not as good as the captain Qin Chuan, so they will inevitably feel a little unbalanced.

The poor major had a problem during the march. A carriage dragging cannons was driving on the muddy road. The major saw it waved and took the lead to help push the carriage forward.

Unexpectedly, when the cannon truck was going uphill, the horse of the tow fell to the ground. The cannon truck lost its drag force and slid back a few meters on the muddy slope... It was just these few meters that the major's left calf broke.

The initial rash of the medical staff was a comminuted fracture, and the major may never be able to go to the battlefield again.

The major's position is that the battalion commander of the second battalion has been temporarily replaced by an adjutant.

Now, because of the new battalion commander, Colonel Slain took advantage of the rest of Solione to make personal adjustments: transfer Bazer to the Second Battalion as battalion commander, and then let Qin Chuan be the battalion commander of the first battalion.

This can also be considered an exceptional promotion in the German army, because under normal circumstances, the adjutant who has not been a long time learns how to deal with the affairs of the battalion, and is not allowed to be the chief officer directly.

In order to allow Qin Chuan to adapt to the position of battalion commander as soon as possible, Colonel Slein also arranged a staff officer named Eberhard to be Qin Chuan's adjutant.

"Major Eberhard served as battalion commander for two years before becoming a staff officer!" said Colonel Slain. "He is familiar with everything the battalion commander has to do!"

"Maybe..." Qin Chuan turned his eyes to Eberhard, who had two beards.

After all, Major Eberhard is already a regiment staff officer. He once served as the battalion commander for two years, but now he wants to be Qin Chuan's adjutant...

Major Eberhard seemed to see Qin Chuan's concerns, and happily stepped forward to shake hands with Qin Chuan and said, "Sir, you don't need to worry about these things. I am honored to be your adjutant. In fact... I believe that if other staff members knew that there was this vacancy, they would definitely steal the blame for this position!"

Colonel Slain couldn't help rolling his eyes and quipped, "Eberhard, do you just want to leave my staff?"

"No, Colonel!" Eberhard replied: "It's not that 'thinking', it should be said that 'wanted very much'!"

Colonel Slain couldn't help but shrugged helplessly. Several people laughed knowingly.
Chapter completed!