USSR 1941

  Chapter 159 Vulnerable

  The panic of the people sounds like nothing, at least it is much better than fighting.

  But... shops are closed, workers are on strike, various robberies, murders and other crimes are emerging one after another. People with conditions will try their best to escape from the city, and those without conditions will either be bullied by criminals or join the ranks of crimes.

   Then, Kyiv will soon be left with an empty city, or a city waiting to surrender to the enemy.

  Shuerka can understand this phenomenon, especially for crimes... Usually, many people's criminal thoughts are actually suppressed in their hearts because they are afraid of punishment.

   But now, the Germans are just outside the city and soon they will attack, the police are on the battlefield, the city will soon change hands, and the end of the world is coming... When is it not crazy?

  Thus, all the things I wanted to do but were afraid to do before were all put on the agenda.

   Then the whole city went crazy, even ordinary people joined in.

   "But I've got them under control!" Admiral Kilponos poured a glass of vodka for the two: "I formed a security team to punish those criminals severely!"

  What is "severe punishment" needless to say, the "severe punishment" of the fighting nation is by no means just talk.

   Shulka nodded in agreement.

  Urgent means must be used at extreme times, otherwise those people who are about to move will not be shocked at all.

"Our real trouble is on the east bank of the Dnieper River!" Admiral Kirponos got up and led the two of them to the map, then spread his hands and said, "We were ordered to attack the east bank, but the casualties were heavy. There is no progress, which is why I brought you here!

  Shuerka looked at the map, which clearly marked the spheres of influence and unit numbers of the Soviet and German armies.

  Because the German army took the initiative to withdraw from the west bank of the Dnieper River to the east bank, the triangle area on the west bank has been included in the territory of the Southwest Front Army.

  The forces of the Southwest Front are roughly starting from Kyiv, the road and railway all the way south to Odessa on the left, and the triangle area surrounded by the west bank of the Dnieper River on the right.

"Although we successfully interspersed to Odessa and won the victory, we did not achieve our strategic goal!" General Kirponos said, pointing to the map with some helplessness: "At first we thought we could encircle the main force of the German Army Group South." ...We did, but the Southern Front and the Bryansk Front were powerless to prevent the joining of the enemy's two army groups: the Southern Front was defeated and divided into two main parts, one retreated to the Crimea and the other to the North The Bryansk Front Army is surrounded in the Bryansk area!"

  This situation makes people a little speechless, especially the Bryansk Front Army. Its mission was to prevent Guderian's 2nd Armored Group from outflanking Kyiv, but it was surrounded by the Germans in turn.

It is said that Yeremenko thought that the German tank troops would advance along the road as usual, so he deployed the troops along the road. As a result, Guderian's armored troops uncharacteristically bypassed the frontal defense of the Bryansk Front Army from the flanking path. It was surrounded by lightning.

   As a result, a good hand was smashed: the situation that could have surrounded the main force of the German Army Group South became fragmented, which caused the Kyiv area to remain crumbling and precarious.

Admiral Kirponos went on to say: "Kyiv's defense is actually very fragile: on the one hand, the railway and road from Kyiv to Odessa are too close to the front line, and we only pushed a dozen kilometers to the west to get it out of the enemy's way. Artillery blockade!"

  The range of artillery in this era is mostly about 10 kilometers, and pushing more than ten kilometers to the west is the basic requirement to ensure the safety of supply lines.

"But the enemy will launch an attack at any time to break through our defense line and cut off the supply!" General Kirpos said: "Maybe we can rely on the road on the east side, but that means nearly twice the distance, and the road condition is very poor! "

   Needless to say, the fragility of the supply line. Once the rain stops, the German "Stuka" bombers will roar down from the sky and dive down to bomb. At that time, trains and cars are their perfect targets.

   "In this case, we still have to attack towards the east bank..." Admiral Kirponos shook his head and said, "This may be a kind of support for Moscow strategically, but it will make matters worse for the Southwest Front Army!"

"Looks like this!" Major Gavrilov sighed: "The reason why Kyiv's defense line can be held without being surrounded is entirely because the Germans have shifted their offensive target to Moscow. As long as they increase their deployment from Europe Drop an armored unit, even a single armored division, in the west of Ukraine... and we'll be fighting hard again!"

   "Yes!" Admiral Kirponos nodded in agreement.

After a pause, Admiral Kirponos concluded: "We cannot bear the loss of attacking the east bank of the Dnieper River. This will not only reduce the number of troops, but more importantly, consume the few and hard-won supplies. !"

  Shuerka can understand the meaning of Admiral Kirponos' words. It is very difficult to transport supplies from Crimea to Kyiv, but the supplies that have been sent with great effort are consumed in meaningless attacks...

   If it makes sense, it makes sense to Moscow, not Kyiv.

  So, this is the overall and partial, or it can be said to be strategic and tactical choices.

   From the overall situation, it may be correct to do so, but it is different if the one who is sacrificed is himself.

"We lack tools for crossing the river!" Admiral Kirponos casually shared a cigarette between the two, and said while lighting the fire: "Although they have the assistance of the Dnieper River detachment, they suffered heavy losses under the bombardment of the Germans, so We can only attack the enemy with wooden rafts and fishing boats!"

   "Can we use gas masks?" Major Gavrilov looked at Shulka: "Just like we did in Odessa?"

   "The Germans are probably on guard!" Shulka shook his head.

   "Yes, they are prepared!" Admiral Kirponos replied: "They laid stakes in the river, pulled barbed wire, and even hung mines on the barbed wire."

   This is a good solution to the problem of sneak attack from underwater.

  And it is not difficult for the Germans to accomplish these, they have a large number of captives and civilians to use.

   "I think we should stop attacking!" Shulka said: "Judging from the current situation, Kyiv should not attack but should rest!"

   "You are right, but..." Admiral Kirponos did not speak, but took out a document from a drawer and threw it on the table in front of them.

   Shulka took a look, Order No. 270.