The War of Resistance: My Expedition, My Country

Chapter 332 The Last Madness (1)

On Reichstraße in Berlin, Field Marshal Friedrich Paulus's sedan hurried by. He looked out at the dilapidated streets, the sparse pedestrians, and the ruined buildings everywhere. He felt a deep gloom.

Friedrich Paulus received orders from Army Group A's headquarters in Poznan and rushed back to Berlin to meet the Führer. As commander of Army Group A, he had assumed command of Army Group North following the defeat at Minsk, becoming the primary force defending against Soviet forces from the north. Fighting and losing, Army Group North ultimately retreated along the Finnish line toward Norway and Sweden, while his own Army Group A faced pressure from the Soviet Don Front and the First and Second Belorussian Fronts.

Army Group A had largely retreated to Germany, with the 35th Army at the forefront, defending Warsaw against a Soviet force ten times its size. The 17th Army, the 35th Army's frontline, held the city of Warsaw with fewer than 3 troops, locked in a fierce battle with the Soviet 4th Army of the Belorussian Front, and threatened to be trapped in the city.

The German 17th Army was once renowned for its tank corps. At its peak, it comprised seven divisions, including three tank, two armored, and two armored grenadier divisions, totaling nearly 7 troops. However, the 3th Army now nominally comprised the 2th Panzer Division, the 2th Mechanized Infantry Division, and the 8rd Grenadier Division. None of these divisions had been strengthened, especially the core 17th Panzer Division. This pre-war standing division distinguished itself through its impressive feats, including the blitzkrieg against Poland, the invasion of France, and the four-hour victory over Belgium. It was promoted from infantry to mechanized, then to armored, and finally to tank. Today, while still retaining its armored division designation, it possesses fewer than 17 tanks/tank destroyers and a staff of just over 56.

The current commander of the 17th Army was Lieutenant General Lindemann. Before leaving headquarters and rushing back to Berlin, Field Marshal Paulus personally called him, requesting that he and the 17th Army hold out in Warsaw for seven days before withdrawing immediately. However, within three days, the area surrounding Warsaw had been occupied. Lindemann retreated his troops into the city to prepare for street fighting with the Soviets while simultaneously transferring active forces to the west of the city as a force for a breakout.

At this moment, everyone knows that in order to ensure their own survival, they must not lose their resistance. Lindemann knows very well that only by maintaining a certain combat effectiveness of the troops in hand can he still have a glimmer of hope no matter how the situation changes.

After Field Marshal Paulus's departure, he was succeeded by Field Marshal Ferdinand Schörner, known as the Third Reich's firefighter. He was once again assigned command of Army Group A, preparing to organize a counterattack on the Poznan front. The German High Command assembled approximately 15 corps forces, totaling over 50 divisions. These included 12 tank/panzer divisions equipped with the latest German tanks and tank destroyers, and secretly mobilized a large number of short-range missiles and attack helicopters.

Field Marshal Scherner arrived here just before Paulus left the headquarters of Army Group A. He quickly summoned his main generals and sat them around a huge battle map.

"We must take decisive action to create a false impression for the Soviets, making them mistakenly believe there's a huge hole in our defenses." Marshal Scherner pointed to the front line on the map. "The 1st, 4th, and 35th Armies must gradually retreat, creating a gap and drawing the Soviets deeper."

However, after listening to the Chief of Staff General von Stulpnagel's assessment of the current situation and the enemy's strength, he couldn't help but feel shocked.

General von Stulpnagel continued, "Marshal, the situation on the Warsaw front is extremely serious. Whether the 35th Army can maintain its main force and retreat is indeed a huge problem. The 17th Army is besieged in Warsaw. Lieutenant General Lindemann is desperately trying to break out, but the situation is not optimistic."

Marshal Schörner's brow furrowed, fully aware of the severity of the situation. He cast his gaze on the map, pondering his response.

"The 58th Army of the Soviet First Belorussian Front has captured Proshkow, with its vanguard reaching Grodzisk. The 11th Army has captured Radom, with its vanguard reaching Kamenna and is advancing southward." A hint of worry lingered in General von Stulpnagel's voice. "Their speed caught us off guard."

"The 41st Army of the Soviet 5nd Belorussian Front has captured Tolüne and is advancing towards Bydgoszcz." Marshal Schorner's eyes followed General von Stulpnagel's finger. "Their other forces are rapidly expanding along the coastal area, attempting to capture the Danzig Corridor and cut off East Prussia. Our th Army is deployed in East Prussia. If it is cut off, the consequences will be disastrous."

"The Soviet Don Front has reached the outskirts of East Prussia. Our defense is extremely difficult. The 5th and 11th Armies hope to be allowed to evacuate. If that is not possible, they can only retreat through the strait to Sweden. From Sweden, they will cross the Baltic Sea and return to the mainland."

Upon hearing this, Scherner interrupted Chief of Staff von Stulpnagel and said without a trace of expression: "The Führer will not agree to evacuate from East Prussia. This is the homeland and cannot be lost!"

"It seems this is the only way." Scherner said with a self-deprecating smile: "Let the 78th Army attack north and east. We must protect the Danzig Corridor and ensure that East Prussia's transportation lines are open!"

“命令以218、253、547师同第6集团军组成东翼，阻击苏军白俄罗斯第二方面军的推进速度。第31、75集团军务必死守沿线，等待援军！”

After Scherner decisively issued the order, he turned to Marshal Gemensmann, who had been transferred with him to become Deputy Commander of Army Group A, and said, "Marshal, your troops have no time to rest. I will give you all my mobile forces. Don't attack on two fronts. Concentrate your forces and assault the junction of the Soviet First and Second Belorussian Fronts. Seize this place—Vavek! Cut off the Soviet rear line and encircle the Soviet 41st, 63rd, and 77th Armies. And by the way, be wary of the Soviet Ural Cavalry Army. They don't have tanks, but over cavalrymen are a considerable threat to your logistics!"

After making these arrangements, Scherner turned to von Stulpnagel and continued, "Order all units on the Warsaw front to break out immediately and evacuate as many as possible. Tell General Lindemann that I need him and I believe he can perform a miracle!"

As the new deployment of Army Group A unfolded, the German army's final crazy decisive battle on the Eastern Front also began!