Manstein, who was at the front line, did not know about the schemes and schemes of the international allies.
Even if he knew, he didn't have the time to care.
Because he was faced with a critical choice:
Should he stay in the north and fight this battle, or should he immediately go south to help or even rescue the southern army group?
After he returned to the Army Group Command from Schrüselburg, he immediately received a transfer order and appointment from Bo Lin.
Manstein was a little surprised to learn that he had been promoted to the commander of the Southern Army Group.
According to history, Manstein would take over the Southern Army Group next year, which was 1943. At this time, due to the butterfly effect, his victory in the northern battlefield directly strengthened the Ruler's determination, allowing this appointment to be brought forward by more than three months.
This appointment disrupted Manstein's plan and the plans of the entire Northern Army Group.
"General, Marshal Lebu wants to see you!”
Marshal Leeb was the first one who couldn't sit still!
As the commander of the Northern Army Group, he really couldn't bear to see the Ruler transfer Mansteinn away!
Even if they really wanted to transfer him away, they would have to wait until they finished fighting Lelingrador!
Now that Bolin had suddenly transferred his right-hand man away, how was he going to attack Lelingrador?
"Come, sit!"
Walking into Marshal Leeb's command center, the old marshal's exhausted appearance greeted his eyes.
Marshal Leeb had not slept for several nights.
Manstein's battle in the Death Corridor had made him happy for a few days, and he had slept soundly during those days.
However, after that, when he thought about how to carry out the next phase of the operation, Marshal Leeb couldn't fall asleep anymore!
The German army had two choices:
First, they had to adopt a conservative strategy. They had to take advantage of Manstein's victory in annihilating the 67th Army of the Soviets to expand their front line to the east and defend the supply route to Lelingrador, further depleting the defenders in the city.
Second, adopt a radical strategy and take advantage of the serious damage to the Soviets 'forces to immediately launch an attack on Lelingrador, and strive to get rid of this biggest nail on the northern battlefield!
It was really difficult to choose between these two plans!
If he chose the conservative plan, the military risk would be very small. Therefore, Marshal Leeb was very confident that he could accomplish his goal.
However, if they chose this plan, they would miss the best opportunity to deal with Lelingrador.
This made him somewhat unwilling.
However, if he chose the second option, the military risks would be very high.
Although the Soviets had lost more than 200,000 troops, they were still in the lead on the battlefield. The German army was attacking the Soviets with a weaker force. To be honest, the chances of victory were not high.
Moreover, due to the lack of information, he did not know how many reserve troops the Soviets had.
If the Soviets had a lot of reinforcements, then their operation would be even more difficult to succeed. After all, once the situation was unfavorable to them, the Soviets might send reinforcements. The problem of the German army's insufficient strength would be even more exposed when facing the Soviets 'reinforcements!
However, at the same time, Marshal Leeb clearly knew that the Empire didn't have many reserve troops left.
Therefore, the battle in the north was entirely up to them. They could not count on reinforcements at all.
If there really were reinforcements, the head of state would prioritize sending them to the southern war zone to rescue the southern army group that was currently in deep water.
There were so many factors affecting his decision that he could not make up his mind to take a step forward.
Therefore, Marshal Leeb had been waiting for Manstein's return.
On the one hand, if Manstein wanted to go south, he needed to go through the handover procedures with the other party.
On the other hand, he also needed to seek Manstein's opinion.
"Do you have any opinions or suggestions on the current and future situation of the northern front?”
The head of state's letter of appointment had been officially issued. The other party was no longer his subordinate, but a commander of an army group on the same level as him.
In addition, the two of them had the same military rank. They were both Field Marshals. Other than his slightly older qualifications and age, there was nothing special about him.
Therefore, Marshal Leeb asked him as an equal and didn't put on airs in front of Manstein. Besides, this wasn't his style.
"General, what is your plan?"
Manstein naturally walked to the huge sand table in the command center. This sand table was built with the city of Leningrador as the core.
In fact, the core of the northern front line was indeed here.
Whoever could take down Lingling would win the battle in the north.
"Erich, do you know? I'm already seventy-seven years old this year. The veterans of my generation, except for Rundstedt, have either been dismissed or died on the battlefield. The rest have either retired or have long faded out of people's sight. I don't know where they are!”
The old marshal suddenly felt sad, as if he was recalling the past. For a moment, all kinds of emotions were mixed up, and he sighed endlessly.
Manstein did not interrupt. In fact, he did not know what to say at this moment.
As for Marshal Leeb, who had seen through life and was open-minded, comforting him was unnecessary.
"Ten months ago, Reichenau, who was eight years younger than me, died of illness on the southern front. The head of state was worried about my health and specially called to show concern for me.
Although he didn't say it explicitly, I knew in my heart that he was implying for me to retire, return to the Empire, and enjoy my old age in peace.”
However, at that time, the northern front was engaged in the Battle of Ilmen Lake. At that time, the Soviets were in the midst of a vigorous offensive on the northern front. Two of the 16th Army Corps in the Demeyonkers area were surrounded, and the entire Northern Army Group was desperately trying to rescue them. If I had resigned at that time, it was very likely that these soldiers would not have been able to return home to reunite with their families.”
Although he was no longer in the Northern Army Group at that time, Manstein still had some understanding of the Battle of Ilmen Lake.
Other than the Battle of Khariv, this battle could be said to be one of the few counterattacks that the Soviets fought in early 1942, and it almost succeeded.
" After rescuing the trapped German troops, the situation on the northern front was already very unfavorable. At that time, I already understood that the Northern Army Group might not be able to capture Lelingrador in my hands. So, for the first time, I thought of retiring and submitted my resignation to the head of state half a year ago.
The head of state transferred you over from the southern army group. His original intention was to let either you or Quhillel take over my position and become the new commander of the northern army group.”
" However, in my heart, or rather, in the heart of a veteran who has been in the army for sixty years, I still have a dream. I want to take the following Lingler and stand the last guard for the Imperium!”
"Manstein, can you help me?”
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