Beiyang 1917

() Chief of Staff Emil Hell's analysis is clear and logical. Of course, this is based on the battle summary report given by Major General von Neuhaus to the Kiev Army Group Command. It was reported to the group army less than a day after the battle ended. In the report, Von Neuhaus did not emphasize the difficulties he encountered at that time, but only pointed out that if he did not have air supremacy, or effectively check and balance the air superiority of the coalition forces...

There are not many chances for the German 10th Army to defeat the Allied Southwest Front Army. If the light and heavy machine guns and mortars of the three Type A divisions of the Japanese Third Army are all like the third division that appeared on the Kharkov battlefield, If you have replaced the Chinese-made Browning light and heavy machine gun and m60m81, two excellent infantry mortars... . .

"Everyone, according to Neuhaus' report, the remaining forces of the 29th Infantry Army have a high probability of defending Yekaterinoslav, but it is almost impossible to counterattack and recover Kharkov. The disadvantage is that the brigade's first-level long-range artillery has insufficient firepower, and its caliber is not as good as that of the German artillery. Although the breakthrough of the Chinese armored forces is sharp, the wheeled armored combat vehicles are not tracked vehicles, and they cannot cross trenches and anti-tank trenches. The large caliber on their armored vehicles Although the firepower of the machine gun is fierce, the armored force also lacks the support of long-range artillery. As long as the grenade of our 7.6cm light infantry mortar hits the opponent's armored vehicle, it can also injure or even destroy the opponent's vehicle..."

"Chief of Staff, the 29th Infantry Corps currently has 2 intact infantry divisions left, and the 47th Infantry Division can be used as at least 2 semi-infantry divisions. According to your calculations, the coalition forces in Kharkov have only one Japanese Third Division with heavy casualties. How can they hold Kharkov?! Why can’t the main force of the 29th Infantry Army be engaged in a counterattack? , instead of hiding in Yekaterinoslav and being beaten passively?!" . .

The commander of the 27th Infantry Corps, von Kussmanny, still held on to the 29th Infantry Corps and Major General von Neuhaus. In his opinion, since the coalition forces on the attacking side suffered heavy casualties, why did they have more than 2 infantry divisions and did not invest in it? The 29th infantry army on the battlefield retreated all the way to Ekaterinoslav and dared not fight back?

"Well... In Von Neuhaus's report, he believed that although the Japanese Third Division suffered heavy casualties in the battle for the occupation of Kharkov by the coalition forces, the Chinese armored forces suffered few casualties, and the Third Division's The two artillery regiments were also unscathed. On the contrary, the artillery of the 47th Infantry Division suffered all casualties, and the 1st Army of the Ukrainian National Army not only lost almost all the artillery, but also nearly half of the infantry casualties. In this case, unless the coalition forces He did not invest in the reserve team to reinforce Kharkov, otherwise the result of his rash counterattack must not be optimistic!"

Emil Herr lowered his head and quickly glanced at the report sent by von Neuhaus, then raised his head to answer von Kusmani's question.

"Reserve? Von Neuhaus thinks that the coalition forces will continue to invest in the reserve in the direction of Kharkov?! Could it be that the troops in the direction of Tsaritsin will be redeployed to Kharkov?" Chief of Staff of the 27th Infantry Army Major General Parus von Baloui stood up and asked.

"That may not be the case... The opponent is determined to win the Donbas coalfield. According to our analysis, the opponent will not easily give up the plan to take down Eastern Ukraine with a two-pronged attack. Don't forget that the Japanese Third Army has three main divisions. If the coalition forces If one main division is deployed in the direction of Kharkov and one in the direction of Glukhov, then at least there will be a third division as a reserve! Since going south from Kharkov can directly threaten Yeka, an important town on the Dnieper River Terinoslav, there is no reason to think that the coalition forces will not send the third Japanese division to fight in the direction of Kharkov!"

When Major General Emil Hell said this, his expression was a bit dignified. The division commanders and division chiefs of the 27th Infantry Army who were present were also silent when they heard the words. The fall of Kharkov provided the best opportunity for the attacking coalition forces. There is no German heavy defense within at least 200 kilometers to the south. It would be strange if the opponent did not kill Ekaterinoslav in one go... If the Japanese Third Division needs to rest and replenish after taking Kharkov, it will be difficult If they are dispatched quickly, it will be logical for the coalition forces to join the reserve team to continue fighting!

"All this information comes from Berlin? It's a joke. When did the German Army cross the river in the dark like it is now? Captain Goering, why can't your reconnaissance plane cross the border to reconnaissance and find out the deployment of the coalition forces?" Feng Lieutenant General Kusmani thumped the table and pointed the finger at Herman William Goring in the corner again, the captain of the 1st Fighter Wing!

"Cross-border reconnaissance? I would like to, but do you know how big the risk is? The most important mission of the 1st Fighter Wing is to defend the air supremacy over Kiev and Western Ukraine. When the enemy is strong and we are weak, one aircraft and one No pilot can be wasted on cross-border reconnaissance... The coalition air force has deployed at least two flying wings across the border, with more than 250 fighters. The number of fighters in the first fighter wing is now only one-third of the opponent's. We didn't win half of the time, how can we easily cross the line and fight for consumption now?"

Herman William Goering replied disdainfully. He can only defend Kiev first, otherwise, if the bomber fleet of the coalition forces does not know when it will come out and successfully attack Kiev, let alone Goring, the fighter wing leader, just I'm afraid that General William Greiner will not be able to explain to Berlin...

"Okay, Captain Goering, although the first task of the fighter wing is to keep Kiev and Western Ukraine's air supremacy, I hope you and your people are always ready to appear on any battlefield that requires your presence... Will, I have my own discretion regarding the use of the air force! Chief of Staff, you continue to talk!" General William Greiner once again quelled the dispute between Goering and von Kusmani!

"If Major General Von Neuhaus's judgment is correct, the coalition forces, relying on the well-developed railway and road transportation capabilities in the Volga Federation, will deploy a third division to join the attack in the direction of Kharkov within one to two days. For one thing, the 29 semi-infantry divisions of the 2th Infantry Army have to contend with the opponent's 3 infantry brigades, plus 2 Chinese armored regiments, in addition to 34 federal infantry divisions. Kharkov must hit a nail and kick it on the iron plate!"