Arc of Gunfire

Jules August 2, 914, at 0430 hours, the headquarters of the 2nd Armored Group of the Prossen Army.

General Heinz Wilhelm von Moltke looked at his pocket watch and nodded to the staff officer who had been holding the phone receiver.

The staff officer immediately ordered: "Start artillery preparations!"

When the staff officer put down the phone, he could faintly hear rolling thunder bursts in the distance - that was the sound of the artillery fire of the armored group.

General Moltke stood in front of the map, staring at St. Catherine's Castle on the map.

After a long silence, he said: "Actually, it will be dangerous if we continue to advance eastward. Our supply line will be extended to 600 kilometers. The infantry units of Army Group Center are scattered along the long supply line, and they must be weak everywhere.

"If the enemy's heavy troop group moves north, it may fall into a dangerous situation."

The chief of staff of the group said: "Army Group South advanced too slowly. It was obviously all over the Great Plains and there was naval support. As a result, the speed of progress was so embarrassing.

"In order to cover up, they also created a white-horse general, saying he was some kind of defensive genius, and delayed the spearhead of the armored cluster many times."

General Mao Qi frowned: "Defense genius? Why haven't I heard of it?"

Chief of Staff: "The superiors suppressed the news and reprimanded Army Group South. The Imperial Propaganda Minister was still very angry and called directly to ask whether Army Group South wanted to overturn the propaganda that Ant was an inferior race."

General Mao Qi originally had a lot of wrinkles between his brows, but now the wrinkles are so deep that they can hide a flea: "Bring me all the battle examples related to General White Horse, preferably the original version with the moisture removed."

Chief of Staff: "This... is not the enemy our army group encountered after all, and then related matters were suppressed by the empire. We don't know the specific situation."

General Moltke scolded: "What happened? Sharing the command style of the enemy's excellent commanders can effectively reduce troop casualties. Don't they know?"

No one in the room answered.

The chief of staff held it in for a long time and said: "Maybe we can meet it, and then you can try it yourself and see how good it is."

General Moltke: "Huh, just right. This war has almost turned into an armed parade like the Carolingian one. If this continues, even if we encircle a million Ant troops in Agsukov, others will say We just beat a bunch of primitive people!"

————

Southern front, 1st Armored Group Headquarters of the Plosen Army, 0430 hours.

"Open fire," said General Evard von Steiermark, commander of the 1st Armored Group.

The staff officer immediately picked up the phone.

After a while, bursts of thunder sounded in the distance.

Steiermark: "Hasn't the intelligence service discovered where General Rokossov's unit is deployed?"

"Telegram just arrived, Commander. The Rabelaisian Agency of the Imperial Intelligence Department reports that Brigadier General Petro Konstantinovich Rokossov is now serving as senior operational staff officer on the staff of the South-Western Front."

General Steiermark frowned: "What? Why should such a general be brought to the staff? Is this transfer in compliance with the rules?"

Others in the headquarters looked at each other.

The chief of staff said, "Could they have the same surname? Brother or something?"

"Well... forget it!" General Styria shook his head, "If such a troublesome guy is actually stuffed into the staff, then our victory is almost certain. The largest encirclement and annihilation war in human history, this battle No matter what, I will leave my name in the history of war!”

————

Ant Army, Agsukov, Southwestern Front Headquarters, Jules, August 2, 914, 0510 hours.

All the phones are ringing, and as soon as the receiver is put back on each phone, the ring will start ringing immediately.

And those microphones that are picked up will, without exception, have a staff officer shouting at it:

"Hello? Louder! Louder!"

Amid the "loud" calls one after another, General Skorobo frowned and looked at the deployment map of the Southwest Front.

On this picture, there are already six signs representing "suspecting that the enemy intends to attack".

It is foreseeable that there will be more in the future.

The Chief of Staff of the Front Army came over: "It is now confirmed that at least ten divisions' positions were prepared for enemy artillery fire, and there must be more places that were actually bombarded. I think the enemy should have really launched a large-scale pincer offensive. "

The chief of staff stopped suddenly, as if he had deliberately blocked what he was going to say.

General Skrobo: "You want to say that the unlearned Rokossov was right? Well, I admit that he did predict the enemy's actions earlier than we did, but his pessimism is totally unacceptable. Pick!

"The enemy's attack is an opportunity! As long as our three tank corps launch an attack during the day today, the situation will be reversed! We will drive the enemy to the starting position, and even regain the territory occupied by the enemy!

"The fortifications set up by Rokossov in Orachi with his patchwork makeshift troops will not have any effect!"

After speaking, General Skorobo punched the table, denting the wooden table.

Because of too much force, the surface of his fist cracked, and blood spread on the table and even dripped along the edge of the table.

The chief of staff looked at General Skorobo's hand and said: "The enemy's air superiority may cause our armor to counterattack..."

"We have the newly replenished destroyer group! Let them cover our boys! The enemy will definitely be reduced to ashes before the torrent of steel!"

Chief of Staff: "Yes."

Front Army Bishop: "There is also an option to retreat the tank army to Orachi. From the information I have received, Major General Rokossov has built a lot of fortifications in Orachi."

General Skorobo: "Don't you know the result of the Carolingian Battle? Fortifications are useless! Now the air force's bombs can destroy bunkers, and heavy artillery can also destroy minefields! The era of relying on fortifications has passed; now it is The era of head-to-head confrontation between armored corps!

"There is no need for tank troops to defend!"

Front Army Bishop: "Major General Rokossov fought very well. The church believes that he is an expert in using armored forces for defensive operations."

"He has achieved results only because our tanks have armor advantages, not because of how capable he is! After today, no one will take his results seriously, because as long as we have advanced tanks, those results will be like picking something out of a bag." !”

General Skorobo stopped and took out a handkerchief to wrap his bleeding hand: "Let the three tank armies in the north enter a state of combat readiness! Be ready to launch a counterattack at any time!"

————

Shepetovka, Jules August 2, 914 at 1030 hours.

Lieutenant General Chesnokov, commander of the Sixth Tank Corps, personally jumped on a tank and said to the commander: "Come out! Let me, an old tank driver, drive this tank!"

The commander came out immediately. Chesnokov once served as the principal of the Armored Forces School. Many of these people were his students and would carry out his orders without hesitation.

Chesnokov stood on the tank, turned around and announced loudly to the entire tank army: "Everyone! The time has come to make contributions! A large number of battle examples on the front line show that the enemy cannot deal with our T34 tanks! They can only rely on the air force! And today! "

While he was talking, 15 Lager-3 fighter jets in a flying goose formation flew across the sky!

Chesnokov saluted these aircraft and waited until the aircraft completely flew over before continuing: "This is only part of the Fifth Air Force of the Air Force that supports our operations. There are more fighters to join. Today is the first time since the war started that many days ago, It's a rare day when our army doesn't have to worry about the enemy's air force!

"Without air support, our tracks will crush the enemy's heads! Today is the time to counterattack! Let's go!"

After speaking, Chesnokov jumped into the tank, put on his tank cap and headset microphone, and ordered: "Driver, move forward!"

With a bang, Chesnokov's tank drove onto the road, roaring towards the north.

They would soon encounter the enemy's newly arrived armored divisions head-on.

————

Amphora Armored Division of the Asgard Knights, division headquarters, 0830 hours.

Division commander William Dietrich told forward commander Lieutenant Colonel Muller: "According to the intelligence we have received so far, we have at least one enemy tank corps in front of us, and they are equipped with T-34 tanks that everyone finds very troublesome.

"So our plan is very simple. After breaking through the enemy's first-line defense, we will immediately deploy the 88mm anti-aircraft guns. The anti-aircraft gun positions are arranged here."

Wilhelm Dietrich tapped a hillside on the map with his riding crop.

"There is a good firing range here, but the bad news is that there are not many obstacles to hide our heavy anti-tank guns, so after you lure the enemy armor to the front of the 88 gun position, you can't just stop and watch the show. You guys. The enemy must be bypassed from both sides.

"You are responsible for attracting the enemy's attention and allowing the 88mm cannon to destroy the enemy in large numbers.

"Of course, under normal circumstances, the enemy tank troops have been blown to pieces by the air force before they meet us. But be careful.

"Don't underestimate this tactic. When we were in the Carolingians, we used a similar method to deal with the charging B1 heavy tanks.

"This is a simple, yet very effective tactic!"

William Dietrich stopped and looked at Lieutenant Colonel Mueller: "Do you understand? If you understand, just repeat it again!"

Lieutenant Colonel Mueller nodded: "When encountering the enemy's armored counterattack, we will find a way to lure them to the ambushed 88-gun. When the 88-gun annihilates the enemy, we must detour to both wings to attract attention for the 88-gun!"

William Dietrich nodded and continued to do simple mobilization: "You are all carefully selected elites. Look at the Zeus holding a lightning bolt on your collar badges! You are the guardians of the Kingdom of Asgard. ! You should fight till the end!

"Of course, this attack may not allow us to fight to the last soldier. Let's go!"

Lieutenant Colonel Mueller saluted, turned and walked towards the command room door.

William Dietrich followed and continued to warn: "The weaknesses of the enemy's two new tanks are marked in the atlas. It is no problem to paralyze them and hand them over to the infantry."

The two walked out of the headquarters and entered the yard outside. They happened to hear the soldiers of the division's armored platoon preparing for the departure of the tanks, while singing:

If fate abandons us again,

If we can no longer return to our hometown,

If bullets are fired at us,

End your destiny,

life stops,

At least our loyal tanks,

Will give us a tomb of steel.