Now, the Skeleton Master, who is known for his ferocity and bloodthirsty, bumped into the iron plate. Not only did he not achieve any decent actual results, he also hit his own head and was bleeding, causing considerable losses.
Holt felt that the situation reported by Price had greater credibility. The Russian troops that could block the Skeleton Division must have something worth noting.
"Do you know which Russian force the Skeleton Division is facing? We don't even know the name of the enemy, right?"
Holt was a little worried that the chief of staff would really answer him "I don't know." If that were the case, the situation would be quite embarrassing. Fortunately, this did not happen.
"The intelligence agency has intercepted some valuable Russian telegram communications. Although there is no direct evidence, it is still very likely to make a judgment with the highest probability."
"The Skeleton Division faced not only a Russian Guards Infantry Division that was originally stationed here, but also a brigade-level organic tank unit that rushed to support, designated the Stalin Guards 1st Heavy Tank Brigade. From the Skeleton Division Judging from the number of tanks reported, this tank brigade should have been sent out for reinforcements in its entirety, carrying almost all important technical equipment."
Having said this, the chief of staff paused for a moment and took out a piece of paper from the folder in his hand and placed it on the table. He pressed it with his fingers and scratched it in front of Holt. At the same time, he immediately started explaining again.
"You should be interested in this. The commander of this tank brigade is very famous here, and of course among the Russians as well. It was confirmed that the troops he participated in the elimination were almost formed into an armored army. Many people Everyone is thinking about this Russian guy."
While listening to the explanation, Holt picked up the paper passed in front of him and looked at it carefully. After a moment, he put down the thing in his hand and opened his mouth again. His expression remained unchanged, and he looked slightly stunned.
"Malashenko, the Malashenko in Moscow and Stalingrad? Are you sure they are the same person?"
Facing Holt's slight disbelief, the chief of staff just smiled.
"Do you think the Soviet Union will have a second so-called "tank hero" named Malashenko? If the Russians could produce "Malashenko", we wouldn't have to fight Kursk."
"..."
What was usually a good joke was not funny now. The serious Holt immediately read the report in his hand again after hearing this. After repeated confirmation, he finally gave up and said it.
"If this is the case, then the Skeleton Division cannot be allowed to face this group of Russians alone."
It seemed that he was thinking about how to add support to the Skeleton Division. After careful consideration, Holt stood up and looked at the battle zone map hanging on the wall, and quickly made his own judgment.
"Send a report to the 2nd SS Armored Corps and transfer the SS Division to the combat direction of the Skeleton Division. The enemy's deep defense line must be broken within two days. The SS Division is responsible for the operational defense line and allocate other units. The troops are replenished, and if a breakthrough cannot be achieved, we will have to give up the frontal breakthrough, and there is not much time left for us."
The chief of staff naturally understood what Hott meant. The war situation in Sicily was so bad that the outcome could almost be determined.
Although they are unwilling to face it, the two-front war, which is extremely unfavorable and bad for Germany, is bound to come again, just like it did during World War I.
The Russians on the Eastern Front have not yet been completely solved, and there is even a dangerous possibility of a comeback.
The Yankees on the other side of the ocean couldn't bear the loneliness again, and wanted to make a last-ditch attack just like last time, and reap the benefits.
During the bloody battle, the Yankees would hide far away and watch the fire from the other side. When both sides were hurt, they would jump out to kill and kill, and the team that wanted to kill people would inevitably include a bunch of third-class American soldiers who rolled forward on their own.
It sounds a bit fucked up, but the Yankees are so unpredictable that they always seize precise opportunities.
Once Sicily is lost, it is only a matter of time before the war on the Western Front begins. This is equivalent to breaking the lock on the door to Western Europe, waiting for the final break in.
The Kursk front has gathered all of Germany's elite heavy military groups, and a large part of these troops will predictably be transferred to Western Europe.
If the Kursk war cannot be resolved before all this comes, the German army on the Eastern Front, which is losing offensive energy rapidly, must consider how to withstand the Russians' crazy strategic defense issues in the next stage. The strategic initiative can be expected to change.
Arrived.
So it was not only Holt who was worried about this at the moment, but Manstein, the commander of Army Group South who was stationed in the rear area, was also as worried as if his butt was on fire.
Nearly half of the inquiry telegrams sent out every day are to supervise the offensive, but the actual results are worrying.
The Russians fought like crazy and resisted desperately on the grasslands of Kursk. The German army had to pay a huge price for every step forward.
Even those murderous maniacs of the armed SS were a bit like deflated rubber balls in front of the Russians. The crazy tactics of the Russians on the opposite side were no less than those of the armed SS who were fighting with their lives.
Holth, who originally had high hopes for the Second SS Panzer Corps, is now a little worried. If the Totenkopf Division cannot make a breakthrough after receiving the support of the SS-Leibstandarte Division, and is blocked by the Russians, what will happen next?
How should he issue orders and make decisions?
Holt felt a little unsure, and could only hope that after the divisions and soldiers of the Skeleton Division and the Guardsmen Division, both members of the Waffen SS, could be combined into one place, they could achieve the effect of "one plus one is greater than two" and achieve a breakthrough in one fell swoop.
Furthermore, it is also a matter of final details. The name of the Russian tank commander named Malashenko is really too big! His shadow is found in almost every large-scale battle and campaign, just like a ghost.
They stalked the German troops wherever they went.
There are already rumors among soldiers on the front line that Malashenko leads Stalin's most elite Moscow guard tank unit. German prisoners of war caught by him will be executed and shot, and even stuffed into the tracks of tanks to be used as human lubricants.
, extremely cruel and ruthless.
Holt heard through some gossip that it was this unit led by Malashenko that ruined the Sixth Army's major event in Stalingrad.
Mamayev Kurgan and No. 1 Railway Station are both masterpieces created by Malashenko. Even Paulus was caught by this man in the end and sent to a prisoner of war camp, becoming a historical figure.
The first German field marshal to surrender and be captured.
As the commander of the entire Fourth Armored Group, Holt should not consider matters as small as division-level tactics. He should be responsible for the overall macro strategy and battle situation control.
But his keen war intuition told Holt that this Russian tank commander named Malashenko has caused too much trouble and losses to his own side. From Moscow to Stalingrad and now to Kursk, he is indispensable.
shadow.
The final effect of the small weight has even been related to the position of the entire earth. The key depends on the position of the fulcrum of the seesaw.
The effect of the troops led by Malashenko has far exceeded that of other troops at the same level. If possible, Huot hopes to annihilate the troops led by Malashenko in Kursk to see if they can
What did the man Paulus captured alive look like and how capable he was?
However, the current battle situation is not absolutely favorable to his side. For the time being, Holt can only think about it and cannot put all his efforts into action.
If the war situation develops to a certain point in time and there is an opportunity, Holt vows that he will give priority to killing this extremely special Russian unit.
The legend of the "tank hero" that made the Russians proud was completely swept into the trash can and destroyed forever.