"The Turkish allies have started to fight back, and their 3rd Army has already rushed to the battlefield. With their current strength, it should not be a big problem to eliminate the 44th, 45th and 46th Russian Army. In this case, we don''t have to Forget about those Russian armies. Just get rid of the 47th and 51st Russian armies. Then, the Russian Caucasus Front Army ispletely wiped out!" Admiral Lundstedt smiled.
Admiral Lundstedt is still very satisfied with the current development of the war situation. The Turks were terrible initially, but at least they were able to face the situation and react quickly. In this case, it is undoubtedly very beneficial to eliminate the Russian Caucasus Front Army.
"Your Excellency, Commander, the troops of the 22nd Army will arrive tomorrow. In order to prevent the Russians from running away, we''d better implement our n as soon as possible!" Lieutenant General Eckert,mander of the 21st Army, suggested.
Lieutenant General Lundstedt nodded: "Let the 21st Armored Division, the 211th Mechanized Infantry Division and the 212th Mechanized Infantry Division start tonight. Go around to the back of the Russian 47th Army and 51st Army , blocking their retreat. After the 22nd Armored Division, the 221st Mechanized Infantry Division and the 222nd Mechanized Infantry Division arrived, theyunched an attack from the front and defeated the Russian army in one fell swoop. Several other motorized infantry divisions of the 21st Army Group, then Advance from both wings to ensure that these Russian troops will not escape. This time, we will eat all of these Russian troops in one bite!"
When the Russian Caucasus Front went south, almost all of its troops were invested. This will also make them basically have no troops in the Caucasus region. If the main force of the Caucasus Front Army is eliminated by the Turkish army and the German army in eastern Turkey and northern Iraq respectively, then the German army will be able to easily take down the Caucasus in the next battle. Including the Baku oil fields. Bu Russia will have little power to stop the German attack.
"Yes, Your Excellency Commander!" Lieutenant General Eckert and Lieutenant General Baker replied.
On the night of November 13, the 21st Armored Division, 211th Mechanized Infantry Division, and 212th Mechanized Infantry Division under the German 21st Army, under the leadership of Lieutenant General Eckert, themander of the German Army, left Baghdad and made a detour. Block the retreat of the Russian 47th Army and 51st Army.
At this time, the 22nd Armored Division, the 221st Mechanized Infantry Division and the 222nd Mechanized Infantry Division under the German 22nd Army were not far from Baghdad. In addition, the 21st Army and several motorized infantry divisions also rushed to Baghdad. Although, the troops of Army Group E have not yet arrived. But the arrival of these troops alone is enough to wipe out the Russian 47th Army and 51st Army.
Perhaps because of Joseph''s death order, the top brass of the Russian Caucasus Front knew that the German troops were gathering towards Baghdad. However, they have no other way. Joseph has ordered them not to retreat and must continue toplete the task. This made them know that they would die if they continued to go south, but they could only bite the bullet andunch an attack.
On the morning of November 15th, the 22nd Armored Division, 221st Mechanized Infantry Division and 222nd Mechanized Infantry Division of the German 22nd Army, which had already arrived in Baghdad and had a rest overnight, were ready for battle.
The 21st Heavy Artillery Brigade under the 21st Army and the 22nd Heavy Artillery Brigade under the 22nd Army established artillery positions early in the morning. A pair of 210mm self-propelled heavy howitzers raised their muzzles high.
"Fire!"
Following themander''s order, one hundred and forty-four 210mm heavy howitzers began to roar.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Apanied by the deafening shelling sound, the shells, under the action of kic energy, roared and smashed into the Russian army''s position.
When there was a sharp whistling sound in the sky, the faces of the Russian officers and soldiers were pale. Some Russian officers and soldiers fled in all directions, trying to escape here. But more Russian officers and soldiers lie on the ground, trying to escape the shelling in this way.
It''s just that they underestimated the power of the 210mm shells.
"Boom! Boom!"
The shells hit the ground one after another, causing a violent explosion.
It was as if the whole earth was shaking, and the shock wave wrapped shrapnel and shot around. Countless Russian soldiers were swept into the air like leaves.
Many Russian officers and soldiers were even torn to pieces in the explosion.
"My God! This is definitely a heavy artillery with a caliber of more than 200 mm. Even our B-4 heavy howitzer is not so powerful!" A Russian artillery officer was dumbfounded.
In addition to the use of 210mm heavy howitzers by the German army, other cannons also joined the shelling. The fierce shelling caused heavy losses to the Russian 47th Army and 51st Army.
"Comrade Commander, it looks like the Germans'' general offensive is about to begin!" said Major General Torbukhin, Chief of Staff of the Caucasus Front Army.
Lieutenant General Kozlov nodded. He had known this day woulde. However, the general attack of the German army seemed to be faster than he expected.
"What should we do now?" Political Commissar Major General Shamanin asked.
"Let all the ministries stand firm! Comrade Joseph, I hope we die heroically!" Lieutenant General Kozlov said.
Indeed, Joseph did not want the troops of the Caucasus Front to flee, rather they would all die on the battlefield.
After the heavy German bombardment ended, the 22nd Armored Division, 221st Mechanized Infantry Division and 222nd Mechanized Infantry Divisionunched an attack. Hundreds of tanks formed a torrent of steel and rushed towards the Russian defense line.
The Russian army, which suffered heavy losses, was simply unable to resist the torrent of steel from the German army.
Countless Russian officers and soldiers were overwhelmed by the German steel torrent.
Some Russian officers and soldiers wanted to escape, but they soon discovered that there were also arge number of German tanks behind them. This is the German 21st Armored Division, 211th Mechanized Infantry Division and 212th Mechanized Infantry Division that went around behind the Russian army.
In desperation, some Russian soldiersunched a suicide attack, preferring to die and dragging German tanks or soldiers to be buried with them. But there are also some people who havepletely lost confidence. Under such circumstances, they raised their hands and surrendered to the Germans.
However, Lieutenant General Kozlov, themander of the Caucasus Front Army, Major General Shamanin, the politicalmissar, Major General Torbukhin, the chief of staff, and the generals of the 47th Army and the 51st Army all chose Swallowed himself. There is nothing they can do. If they surrender, their families will die.