novelden Chapter 184: Battle of Salisk (1)
Chapter 184: Battle of Salisk (1)
Zhukov and Timoshenko had already arrived in Elista and were planning to relocate the Southern Front's headquarters there. If the Chinese Third Expeditionary Army broke through Rostov and entered Ukraine, the situation in the south would be dramatically altered, and so would the entire Soviet Union. The German army would be forced to abandon its primary offensive towards Moscow, allowing the First and Second Fronts to seize the opportunity and launch a counterattack on the central line, pushing the Germans out of the Tambov line.
Huang Wei and Lao Peng were in a valley north of Salisbury. Braving the wind and snow, they trudged up the mountaintop, carefully observing the terrain. Lao Peng, gazing at the vast expanse of white in the distance, turned to Huang Wei and asked, "Chief of Staff Huang, the terrain and location we've chosen are quite advantageous for us. However, will the Germans fall for this trap? Will Eberbach take the bait?"
Huang Wei smiled faintly, but was suddenly choked by the cold wind. While the southern part of the Soviet Union was slightly better than the north, the temperature in this cold December still dropped to -12 or -3 degrees Celsius. Huang Wei steadied his breath and confidently replied to General Peng, "Whether Eberbach comes or not is not up to him. Von Kleist will allow him to come. His 14rd Panzer Corps and the th Panzer Corps under his command can only break through here to bypass Salsk and launch an attack in the direction of Elista. I predict that the Germans will arrive here as early as today, or at the latest the day after tomorrow. This will be the site of our first large-scale decisive battle with the Germans!"
Old Peng nodded and added, "The great tank battle of Salisk!"
Huang Wei was surprised by Peng's surprising remarks, and then he couldn't help laughing...
A day later, the German 3rd Panzer Corps under Colonel-General Eberbach and the 14th Panzer Corps under Colonel-General Hans Valentin Hube advanced in two columns, leaning against each other. The Chinese Expeditionary Force's 200th Group Army and the Su-58th Group Army, lying in ambush, nervously watched the Germans gradually entering the encirclement. Various parameters were constantly transmitted to the artillery groups, which, based on the data from the front, nervously adjusted the elevation angles of their guns...
Old Peng stood at the headquarters observation post, calmly observing the German lines and marching formations through his fog-breaking binoculars. It was as if his eyes could penetrate the German lines, seeing the rhythm of each tank's motor and the faces of every soldier.
Huang Wei took the front-line report from the Operations Chief and carefully reviewed the various preparations. His expression was impassive, showing no emotion or change. He nodded to the Operations Chief, who immediately gestured to the operations staff. They immediately picked up the desk phone and connected to the various combat units through the Telecommunications Department.
Huang Wei slowly walked up to General Peng and reminded him in a low voice: "General Peng, I think it's almost time."
Old Peng lowered his binoculars and turned to look at Huang Wei. A barely perceptible smile crossed his face. He knew Huang Wei was reminding him that all preparations were complete and the troops were awaiting his order to attack.
Lao Peng nodded and said softly, "Well, let's get started. You'll give the orders."
Huang Wei saw confidence and trust in General Peng's eyes. Without hesitation, he turned to the combat staff and ordered: "All units, follow the predetermined plan and begin!"
As the order was given, hundreds of cannons roared simultaneously from the back of the valley, and the earth shook violently, as if demonstrating its anger and power to the world. Countless flames roared like giant dragons, determined to destroy everything, and flew towards the German ranks.
"BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM—" The roar of the massive artillery shells resounded through the sky like a landslide. The entire valley trembled, as if it would collapse at any moment. This terrifying bombardment was terrifying, as if the end of the world had come.
Within a radius of tens of kilometers, nearly 300 square kilometers were instantly engulfed in artillery fire, transforming it into a sea of fire. The deafening roar of explosions echoed through the sky, forcing people to cover their ears. The German army had clearly not anticipated such a powerful artillery attack in such adverse weather conditions.
For a moment, the German camp was in chaos. The front and rear were cut off, unable to support each other. Countless tanks, armored vehicles, cars, motorcycles, and even horse-drawn supply wagons were hit by the artillery fire, some exploding, others engulfed in raging flames. Flames shot up everywhere, dyeing the once cold snow a crimson.
The snow evaporated rapidly under the influence of high temperatures, and mist filled the air, forming a vast expanse of low white clouds, giving people a dreamlike feeling. However, behind this beautiful scene was endless death and destruction.
The German army, truly a leader in today's military, reacted immediately, except for the area under fire. Commanders at all levels began to form counterattack formations. Self-propelled artillery, heavy artillery, and mortars were immediately deployed, rapidly calculating ballistics and adjusting parameters. Within 15 minutes, some artillery fire had begun, while lightly armed troops had dispersed. Heavy tanks were assembled, and clusters of Panther tanks were quickly organized. Rapid penetration units, primarily grenadiers, were already in action. German engineers were highly specialized, digging various fortifications on the spot. By the time the Chinese and Soviet artillery fire subsided, the enemy's deep positions had been initially established.
General Eberbach contacted General Valentin Hube, and the two sides had a brief and efficient exchange. A small group of special assault reconnaissance troops had sent back news that there were a large number of Sino-Soviet tank clusters in the surrounding area, rushing towards the 3rd Armored Army and the 14th Armored Army in battle formation!
Without any hesitation, Eberbach and Valentin Hube made the same decision and ordered the tank groups to advance. This marked the beginning of the first large-scale tank battle in the southern part of the Soviet Union, and also the first large-scale tank battle in human history.
The two German armored corps possessed over 1200 tanks and tank destroyers of various types, while the Sino-Soviet 200th and 58th Armored Armies possessed over 2000 tanks and tank destroyers of various types. In the area north of Salsk, the number of tanks on both sides reached a staggering 30 per square kilometer. At this point, the battle wasn't about tank mobility or artillery caliber, but about courage, reflexes, and luck. Often, you'd hit an enemy tank with one shot, only to be hit by another the next.
Wang Weiping was one of those lucky ones. His M4 Sherman tank struck a German tank at close range, 300 meters away, completely blasting it apart. Before he could react, a Panther tank had already hit him. Fortunately, the enemy's round was fired at a high angle, and the reactive armor saved Wang Weiping's crew. Although the turret exploded, it didn't cause them fatal damage.