At 3:15 a.m., the German "rumbling" cannon sound opened the curtain of the attack from the gap.

In addition to conventional field artillery, Manstein also invested in the "Katyusha" multiple rocket launchers seized from the Soviet army and the heavy artillery of Sevastopol.

The Soviet defense line was instantly blown to the point of red, just like the sunset was back in the sky above them.

After 10 minutes of artillery bombardment, part of the artillery fire began to extend eastward, lurking on the front line with the German scouts, and infantry and engineers emerged from their hiding place to advance with the artillery fire.

Scouts usually ride on side three-wheeled, armored vehicles or light tanks, such as 35t and 38t tanks... These two tanks are tanks seized from the Czech Republic by Germany in occupation of the Czech Republic (T stands for the Czech Republic). Because of their excellent performance, the German army allowed the Czech Republic to continue to produce and use it widely in the army. However, they were not completely rivals of the Soviet Union on the Eastern Front battlefield, so a considerable part was handed over to the minion country itself and left a small part for use as reconnaissance vehicles.

Their mission is to walk ahead and contact the infantry, engineers and large troops immediately following at any time, such as where engineers need to build bridges, where infantry garrison is needed, etc.... A large part of the reason why the German blitzkrieg can be played is to rely on excellent scouts to reconnaise in front and solve all difficulties for the large troops in a timely manner, which allows the large troops to advance almost without stopping.

The infantry's mission is to build a line of defense at both ends of the gap to block the Soviet soldiers who might arrive and protect as much as possible to support the engineers.

The task of the engineers is to clear obstacles and pave roads... For this reason, they made many mule carts and carts. Compared with transportation tools such as cars and tanks, mule carts are not easy to fall into the mud and unable to move.

These mule carts and carriages are dragged with wood, sandbags, iron plates or road construction tools. Once they encounter a car and the tanks may be stuck in the mud, they will be laid as quickly as possible. If they really don't work, they will be inserted into signs or leave individuals to command the subsequent troops to detour.

The sound of artillery and smoke and the continued suppression of the Soviet defense line made the Soviet army not notice the German movement.

After more than ten minutes, the sound of cannon stopped.

Manstein stood in the command car and waved his hand, ordering: "Go forward!"

The armored vehicles that had been ready for a long time were started, and the cars and tanks were rumbling like a tide toward the gap.

Qin Chuan followed the team with the First Infantry Regiment in a car, half-track armor and side tricycle.

Qin Chuan always felt very strange when he advanced: the sound of the German troops making interspersed through the gaps was not small, the sound of the motors of tanks and cars, the neighing of horses, the sound of tracks, etc. Although it was in the dark at this time, the Soviet army should have reacted, but the Soviet army still did not make any movement until now.

Later, Qin Chuan learned that this was because the Soviet army believed that these voices were made by their own people on the other side... The 47th Army in front thought that this was the 51st Army in the rear was mobilizing troops, while the 47th Army in the rear thought that it was the reinforcement force of the 51st Army.

It was not until the German army penetrated through the gap and walked onto the highway, and then launched a fierce attack on the 44th Army of the Sudi Army that the Soviet army suddenly woke up.

But it was too late at this time... The 44th Army of the Soviet Army did not expect that they would be attacked by the enemy on the second line, and because of the order of the political commissar Mehlis, they did not build fortifications at all.

As mentioned earlier, building fortifications is considered a cowardly act, a waste of time and effort, and soldiers should keep their strength to attack the German army.

So the German army launched a massacre on the 44th Army here without any worries. The soldiers rushed into the camp of the 44th Army under the cover of armored vehicles and light tanks, and they fought fiercely. The Soviet army, who were both bullets and artillery shells, screamed in tears.

Many tanks and armored vehicles even opened fire, directly using tracks to smash the simple tents, including the Soviet soldiers who had no time to escape.

Some Soviet soldiers raised their hands to surrender in panic, but they were not smart enough... The Germans were just intertwined in combat, and taking prisoners with them would only be a burden for them, especially at this time, the intertwined in the moment, so without any hesitation, the Soviet soldiers were knocked to the ground after a row of bullets.

While the battle was in progress, the main force continued to advance deeper along the highway along the Soviet army without any moment.

The German army initially advanced with sequences such as the 50th Infantry Division, the 28th Hunter Division, and the 22nd Armored Division. Qin Chuan's First Infantry Regiment was incorporated into the 22nd Armored Division as a reserve force.

The reason for this arrangement is also exquisite: Manstein estimated that a battle would definitely occur during the interweaving process, either hitting the enemy's reinforcements or hitting the enemy's 44th Army... The fact is hitting the 44th Army.

Therefore, the 50th Infantry Division, which is good at positional warfare, is placed at the forefront, and with the cooperation of an armored battalion, the main force is protected to carry out breakthroughs.

In this way, the sequence will naturally transform into the fastest-speed 28th Hunter Division, which is mostly equipped with light weapons, is at the forefront, and the 22nd Armored Division, which has the strongest combat power, is in the middle, and the 50th Infantry Division, which is slower but has heavy weapons, is suitable for fighting tough battles, follows behind.

Obviously, this is a reasonable arrangement because the troops can be interspersed into the target as quickly as possible.

Then in less than half an hour, the first "romantic encounter" was met. The 28th Hunter Division, who was walking in front, bumped into a Soviet supply team head-on.

Maximilian, the commander of the 28th Hunter Division, excitedly reported to Manstein: "General, there are dozens of vehicles of fuel, which should have been transported from the Caucasus!"

Manstein was very calm when he heard this report.

"I don't know why you are so excited, Major General!" said Manstein. "The Soviet tanks used diesel, but we used gasoline!"

"No, General!" Major General Maximilian reported: "These are gasoline!"

"Are you sure it's gasoline?" Manstein's eyes couldn't help but lit up.

"Yes!" Major General Maximilian replied: "I asked the Soviet Union's car soldiers, and they told me that the gasoline was sent to the front line for cars and 'Valentine' tanks!"

As mentioned earlier, the Soviet army was not only equipped with "T34" tanks, but also with British and American aid tanks, while British and American aid tanks were all made of gasoline.

"Good job, Major General!" Manstein replied: "I feel like we are one step closer to victory!"
Chapter completed!