The German attack launched by the front towards Donetsk was repelled.

But after a brief rest, they launched another attack.

According to the German commander's idea, the city defenders had almost lost the tanks they had in the counterattack just now, and their own troops were fully capable of destroying the Russians' resistance and occupying the city.

But unexpectedly, when the German tanks were three or four hundred meters away from the defenders' trenches, they suddenly exploded one after another. When he saw this scene, his first reaction was that the Russians actually deployed a large number of anti-tank guns in the city to deal with their own tanks.

Just as he was about to order the artillery to bombard the city, the chief of staff next to him suddenly said: "Sir, the shells that destroyed our tanks did not fly out of the city, but were fired from the flanks."

"What, the shells flew out from the flanks?" The German division commander asked in surprise: "Did they deploy a large number of anti-tank guns on both sides?"

"It's not an anti-tank gun, but a tank." The Chief of Staff said with a bitter face: "Sir, please look at the flanks of our army."

The division commander raised his telescope and looked into the distance. He saw that a Soviet tank unit appeared on the flank of the attacking troops. Dozens of tanks lined up in combat formations and were rushing towards him quickly. Some tanks were driving and stopped to fire from time to time. Although many shells fell out, the tanks under his command were still destroyed one by one.

"Hey, where did these Russian tanks emerge?" Seeing the Soviet tanks rushing out from the flank, the German division commander began to roar: "Immediately order the artillery to fire the artillery, and all these Russian tanks must be eliminated."

Although the German chief of staff issued the division commander's order to the artillery at the first time, it was still one step late. Half of the Soviet tanks that rushed over continued to attack the flanks of the German attacking troops, while the other half rushed directly to the German artillery positions.

Although there were guard troops deployed near the German artillery positions, these troops were still doing well to deal with the Soviet infantry. When they saw the rumbling group of tanks, they were all messy like a slaughter. Except for a few soldiers who were still staying in fortifications and shooting at the moving Soviet tanks with machine guns, the rest of the officers and soldiers were scrambling like headless flies.

Soviet tanks rushed into the artillery position like wolves rushing into the flock of sheep. In less than a few minutes, the artillery that was still firing desperately at the Soviet position turned into piles of scrap iron.

The German artillery positions were eliminated, and the tanks turned east and rushed to meet with their comrades who were attacking the German offensive troops. A tank even drove past more than 20 meters from the German division command, scaring the officers and soldiers of the German division so much that they didn't even dare to leave, fearing that they would expose their targets.

After the tank assault, Soviet infantry followed. Seeing the dense crowd, the German chief of staff said to the division commander: "Grand Commander, at least one Russian division has launched an attack on us. I suggest retreating immediately, otherwise we will be in danger of the destruction of the entire army."

The German division commander had long been scared away by the Soviet tanks. When he heard the chief of staff's advice, he nodded quickly and agreed: "Retreat, retreat immediately!"

Half an hour later, Major General Merkulov, who was standing in Donetsk, realized that the German army on the front had retreated. When he ordered the troops to pursue, it was already a step late. The retreating German army left a few troops to block the attack, while the large army slipped away in trucks or armored vehicles.

Merkulov knew very well that his troops had no means of transportation at all, and it was impossible to catch up with enemies with trucks and armored vehicles on foot. Even if they could barely chase after them, when the troops were exhausted, the enemy would suddenly kill a retaliatory attack, which would cause huge losses to him. Therefore, he decisively issued an order to the troops, stop chasing and strengthening the fortifications on site, in preparation for the enemy's possible attack.

The German army retreated for more than 30 kilometers, and it was estimated that the Soviet troops would not be able to catch up for a while. The German division commander ordered the troops to stop retreating and reported to Manstein the news of the defeat in the attack on Donetsk through the radio station.

After hearing this, Manstein frowned and asked, "According to the information we have, the Russians only had a dissatisfied infantry division and a tank brigade in the city of Donetsk. Your troops have far exceeded them. Why are they driven away from the vicinity of the city not only by them?"

"Marson," the German commander replied tremblingly: "Our attack was quite smooth, but when the troops were about to rush into the city, a Russian armored unit rushed over from the flank, causing huge losses to our offensive forces. In order to prevent being wiped out by the Russians, I can only order the troops to retreat first."

"Hisser Commander," while Manstein was talking to the German division commander, a communications officer came over and handed him a newly received telegram: "This is a telegram from our lurkers, saying that the Russians' large forces were moving towards Donetsk."

Manstein received the telegram and saw it read: "There are no less than two guard divisions who approach the city from the south of Donetsk. It is estimated that at most, at noon tomorrow, they will be able to reach the south of the city."

If he had not received this telegram, perhaps Manstein would order the defeated troops to attack Donetsk again. But after seeing the telegram, he realized that the Soviet army was increasing troops towards Donetsk. If he continued to attack Donetsk, it might turn this offensive battle into a tug-of-war.

Compared with Kharkov and Belgorod, Donetsk is just a small place insignificant place, and he does not have to invest so much force here. Thinking of this, he said to the microphone: "General, take your troops immediately and retreat to Zaporoze to prevent the Russians from launching sneak attacks here."

The German division commander was already scared out of his courage in the battle just now, and was thinking about what reason to use to make Manstein agree to him to evacuate the troops from this damn area. Hearing Manstein's order, he heard the sound of nature, and quickly replied: "I understand, Mr. Marshal, I will immediately lead the troops to Zaporoze."

News of the German retreat soon reached Sokov's ears.

Witkov looked at him and asked, "Comrade Commander, although the enemy's attack has been repelled, they may still attack the city again. Look, will we send reinforcements to Donetsk again?"

"No need," Sokov waved his hand and said, "We have transferred all the power we can use to Donetsk. If we send troops, the defense in the Red Army Village will become weak. You must know that once the war begins, we will be subject to crazy attacks from the German army."

"But if Donetsk fails, our retreat will be cut off."

"Don't worry, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov said to Vetkov: "The two divisions sent by General Krelov are now approaching Donetsk. If necessary, we will not only not have to increase troops to Donetsk, but on the contrary, we can also draw all the troops there to the Red Army village and fight to the death with the main force of the German army heading south."

When Sokov reported to Rokosovsky that the enemy attacking Donetsk had been repelled, Rokosovsky asked cautiously: "Misha, do you think the Germans are still likely to attack Donetsk again?"

"Comrade Commander of the Front Army, based on my judgment." Sokov said on the phone: "Even if the enemy wants to attack Donetsk again, they will probably have to wait until they eliminate our army's forces in Kharkiv and Belgorod areas before they can draw enough troops to siege us."

"Oh, so, the enemy will not attack Donetsk again in a short period of time." After receiving the news he wanted to know, Rokosovsky then asked: "But if the enemy concentrates its efforts to attack the Red Army Village, do you have the confidence to defend it?"

"I will do my best, Comrade Commander of the Front Army." Sokov did not give the other party a positive answer, but said directly: "I am sure to restrain the enemy's main force in this area for a long time."

"Well, if we can restrain the enemy for one more day, our friendly forces will have one more day of preparation." Rokosovsky said to Sokov: "It depends entirely on you whether we can save the Voronezh Front."

After finishing the call with Sokov, Rokosovsky decided to contact Golikov in person to find out the real situation there. After the call was answered, he hesitated for a moment and then said, "Comrade Golikov? I am Rokosovsky. I want to ask, do you have the ability to fight against the German attack?"

"I'm afraid it's very difficult, Comrade Rokosovsky." Since it was a call from his acquaintance, Golikov did not conceal the difficulties faced by the Voronezh Front: "We are not only seriously inadequate in supply, but also severely reduced troops. At present, the infantry divisions in Kharkov and Belgorod areas have no more than two thousand men. Tell me, with such troops and equipment, how can I block the enemy's attack?"

"Sokov's combat cluster has tried every means to help you restrain enough troops." Rokosovsky said on the phone: "Do you still have to hurry up and transfer troops from other places to strengthen your defense in this case?"

"Comrade Rokosovsky, I'm already doing this," Golikov said helplessly: "But my troops are too dispersed, and it's a big problem to gather them together. In addition, the transportation line has been destroyed, and it will take a long time to send these troops that have completed the assembly to a critical area."

"Didn't you ask for help from the base camp?" Rokosovsky asked in surprise: "If you don't have the base camp's help, it would be difficult for you to get enough supplies and soldiers."

"As far as I know," said Golikov: "Now the base camp is worried that the Southwest Front will be wiped out again by the German army, so the recent additions have been given to Vatutin. The supplies given to me are very little and they come very slowly. If Sokov's troops had not restrained the main force of the German army, we would probably have been completely destroyed at this moment."

"General Golikov, you can't do this." Rokosovsky said anxiously: "Since your troops are already facing such danger, why not raise the difficulties to the base camp? You must know that it is precisely because you have not raised the difficulties that the base camp has misjudged your strength, thinking that you still have enough troops to block the enemy's attack, so you will give priority to the Southwest Front Army of Vatutin."

"What should I do now?" Golikov, who has always been cautious, couldn't help panic when he heard Rokosovsky say this. "If we raise our difficulties to the base camp at this moment, the superiors will not blame me, right?"

"General Golikov, don't consider whether the base camp will blame you." Seeing that at this moment, Golikov was still calculating personal gains and losses, he reminded him: "If your troops are destroyed by the enemy, I am afraid that the fate of the former commander of the Western Front General Pavlov is your lesson."

Rokosovsky's words were enlightened, which made Golikov completely awaken. He thought of him because he was worried that Stalin thought he was incapable, so when facing insufficient supplies and military strength, he considered using his own strength to overcome these difficulties. But now it seems that he was very wrong: "Comrade Rokosovsky, you are right. My previous practices are indeed inappropriate. I immediately report the actual situation here to the base camp, hoping that they can provide us with supplies as soon as possible."

Antonov, who served as Chief of General Staff, received a call from Golikov, was stunned for a long time before asking in surprise: "General Golikov, is your army really in the absence of sufficient troops and ammunition?"

"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff." Golikov replied awkwardly.

"But you have never reported to me the situation of your front army, and I thought your strength was enough to compete with the German army." Antonov explained to Golikov: "It is precisely because of this situation that when the logistics department negotiated the order of supply with me, I ranked the southwestern front army of Vatutin first."

When Golikov heard this, he was a little panicked. He asked quickly: "Comrade Chief of Staff, can you adjust the supply order? To be honest, if you don't get supplies again, our tanks and cannons will turn into a pile of scrap iron due to lack of ammunition. In the end, they will either be blown up or fall into the hands of the Germans."
Chapter completed!