artillery arc

Chapter 420 Misjudgment
At this time, Schultz was waiting for the 14th unit to retreat.

However, not only were there no tanks to be seen, but the radio was also in chaos, with only occasional conversations without context being heard.

However, based on these calls, it can be confirmed that the 14th device is most likely in danger.

Schultz's expression became more serious.

The Prosens were generally very confident in their armored forces, and if 14 armored divisions were defeated, then Rokossov would have defeated two armored divisions in the past half month.

This is terrible.

However, Schultz always had a doubt: he could not see clearly Rokossov's strategic intentions.

If Rokossov intended to launch an offensive to push back the Tenth Army, his attack would be too minor.

If Rokossov only wanted to contain the Tenth Army and cover the Ante heavy troop groups in the Borsk and Primorsky directions, then wasn't his force a bit too strong?

Schultz couldn't understand what Rokossov was doing. Although the Ant Army had been winning these days and constantly causing casualties to the Prosen Army, they had done nothing else.

According to Schultz's understanding, Rokossov should do something.

Schultz paced back and forth as he thought.

At this time, someone shouted: "General, look!"

Schultz temporarily put aside the confusion in his mind, raised his head and looked in the direction his men were pointing.

There was dust, and it looked like armored vehicles were running on the grassland.

Schultz: "Call them! Confirm their identities! Anti-tank guns and armored forces ready."

Soon his adjutant reported: "It has been confirmed, it is the 14th unit!"

Schultz: "Ask them what happened to Unit 14... No, ask their commander to come to me! I'll ask him myself!"

A moment later, a barrel truck stopped in front of Schultz and a dusty-looking armored lieutenant colonel got out of the truck.

There were traces of smoke on the lieutenant colonel's uniform, and it was almost certain that he had survived a burning tank.

The lieutenant colonel saluted Schultz: "I am Lieutenant Colonel Vincent, and I salute you, General. Without your smoke support, we would have been destroyed."

Schultz returned the greeting: "Greetings, Lieutenant Colonel Vincent. So how's it going?"

"The enemy deployed two batches of nearly 34 Ts to attack us, and used new assault guns to outflank us from both wings. Major General Karl's command platoon was directly hit by the enemy's assault guns, and the major general should have died for his country.

"We didn't encounter anyone from the division headquarters, but I think more people will come out later."

Vincent replied.

Schultz frowned. "Did you see the red flag? And the command vehicle No. 422 that is said to be blessed by the devil?"

Lieutenant Colonel Vincent shook his head: "No, I am sure that there is no red flag and Rokossov did not come to the front in person. I think this is a fatal thing, which shows that the grassroots officers of the Ante Army are making progress.

“I don’t know if this is limited to Rokossov’s unit.”

Schultz nodded and asked again: "Is the enemy pursuing us?"

Vincent shook his head again: "Our troops are still resisting, and the enemy is encircling them. At least the troops that have maintained radio contact with us have not seen the enemy's pursuit troops."

Schultz pursed his lips, his brows twisted into knots: "He's just stopping after taking away a part of our troops again... What is Rokossov doing? Is he satisfied with taking away such a small number of troops? It doesn't make sense."

Lieutenant Colonel Vincent said: "Is it possible that Rokossov is waiting for the rear troops to gather? If these limited offensives are just to disrupt our offensive and buy time for the follow-up troops to gather, then he has done it very successfully."

Schultz did not answer immediately. After thinking for a long time, he asked Lieutenant Colonel Vincent again: "Did the enemy really deploy nearly 200 tanks?"

"Yes, almost two hundred. There may be some error, but I am very sure it is 'a lot'," Lieutenant Colonel Vincent replied.

Schultz began to pace in front of Lieutenant Colonel Vincent, muttering as he walked: "Having a strong force but only launching a limited attack is not in line with General Ant's general combat habits."

At this time, Schultz's adjutant said, "Could it be that Rokossov is very aware of the gap between his troops and ours, and judges that the number of troops he has is still not enough to defeat us, so he is concentrating superior forces in a local area to launch a limited attack to weaken us while waiting for more troops to arrive?"

Schultz thought for a few seconds and nodded: "It's possible."

Lieutenant Colonel Vincent: "When he defeated the 190th Division before, he deployed a large number of tanks. Now he has deployed another . The maintenance unit of the Ante Army is weak and cannot repair many tanks. This must be a newly deployed tank unit.

"I participated in the summer and winter campaigns last year and fought the entire campaign. I know how fast the Ants can gather their forces! Last year, the 14th Army defeated one Ant army after another, and then new armies came to fill in! New numbers appeared one after another and attacked us! "I vaguely felt that the Ants were about to launch an attack."

Speaking of last summer and winter, Schulz was also somewhat moved. Last year, the 16th Armored Grenadier Division also fought throughout the entire process, facing the Ant troops' violent offensive.

The Ants were indeed not good at fighting and their fight was a mess, but their courage was still shocking.

Major General Schultz took a deep breath and said to his adjutant, "Send a message to the Army Group Headquarters. The Ante people may have a major action. It is recommended to fully strengthen the Army Group's defense line and be on high alert for possible pincer attacks."

----

At the same time, Yegorov looked at his watch: "There has been no artillery fire for five minutes. Is the battle over?"

Brigadier General Eugene: "It should be. Go to the front and take a look? Or wait for the smoke to clear?"

Yegorov: "Let's wait for the smoke to clear. If we move forward rashly, the troops will have to protect us. Communicator, have the telephone lines been repaired?"

"It's working, General!"

"Take over the division headquarters - the army headquarters!" Yegorov looked at Brigadier General Eugene awkwardly, "I'm still used to treating the general as our division commander."

Eugene: "After all, you are an old comrade who fought with him in Peynière."

The communicator handed the receiver to Yegorov: "The army headquarters is connected!"

As soon as Yegorov put the receiver to his ear, he heard Pavlov's voice: "Yegorov? What's the situation?"

Yegorov: "Tell the division commander that we have defeated the enemy's 14th Armored Division. Quite a number of enemies have escaped. I did not send troops to pursue them."

"You should chase them and stop when you encounter the enemy's defensive position. At least you can find out where the enemy's defense line is," said Pavlov.

Then Rokosov's voice could be heard faintly over the phone: "No, that's all. Let the division's artillery bombard the enemy's escape route. Chasing them would only expose our force composition."

Pavlov: "The commander told you not to pursue. Forget what I just said."

"I've heard it," Yegorov said. "Tell the general that we are counting the results of the battle and the casualties. I think we should be able to achieve the exchange ratio the general requires."

As soon as he finished speaking, Rokossov's voice came from the other end of the receiver: "Let me tell you."

The next moment, Rokosov's voice became clear: "Egorov, you did a great job. Treat the wounded and tow back all the damaged tanks that can be repaired. Combine the tanks with lost personnel... In short, there is no need to pursue them anymore. And remember to count those who performed heroically in the battle... That's it."

"Yes!" Yegorov answered and subconsciously put his feet together.

----

At the same time, Vasily looked at his masterpiece with satisfaction.

T34 made of mud!

In fact, under the mud is the wreckage of the destroyed Plossen tank, which became like this after being covered with a layer of mud.

Of course, there are still many flaws when looking closely, but for aerial reconnaissance, these flaws are equivalent to non-existent.

Around this tank, there were a lot of wreckage. Because there was not enough manpower, these wreckages could not be covered with a complete mud shell, but only slightly covered.

Even aerial reconnaissance could reveal that they were fake, so these "fake tanks" would be covered with camouflage nets.

Thus, a passable mud tank and a bunch of real wreckage covered with camouflage netting made up a hidden tank unit.

If the enemy saw these during aerial reconnaissance, they would probably be shocked.

The team led by Vasily has prepared a lot of camouflaged tank groups like this from last night to now.

The only question now is when the enemy's aerial reconnaissance will arrive.

Vasily raised his head and looked at the sky.

The sky was cloudless, without even a bird.

The enemy's reconnaissance plane has not arrived yet.

Vasily picked up the rag hanging around his neck, wiped the sweat off his face, and continued to "play in the mud".

(End of this chapter)