Nexus Deep (Kirov Series Book 31)

by Schettler, John

  “If they really had the strength to do so,” said Speidel, “then they would have advanced towards Poltava.”

  “Not while Steiner was at Kharkov,” said Manstein. “Kuznetsov could not push on with a force that strong on his right shoulder. This is why he tried to envelop the city from the south, but he could not even do that while Steiner was heavily concentrated. The risk of a counterattack, just as we tried on the 1st, was simply too great. So he had no choice but to turn for the city early, and see if he could win the battle against Steiner.”

  “Well, we stopped him,” said Speidel. “A pity Kirchner could not make any progress against the southern shoulder.”

  “The arrival of their 27th Army doomed that attack,” said Manstein.

  “Yes,” said Speidel. “What is strange here is that they sent their Guards infantry divisions out into the center of the breakthrough. They are strong, but slow moving, and that is not the kind of force I would have expected to see there.”

  “I think it was happenstance,” said Manstein. “When the Wiking Division appeared there, it challenged the advance they were making with their 10th Mech Corps. I think they got a bit edgy. The Wiking Division came up very quickly by rail from the Dnieper, and they were not certain what else we had in the cupboard. Their Guardsmen were clearing the Luftwaffe out of the Zimyev area, and they were the closest reserve to call in when the Wiking Division made their spoiling attack. So yes, now that Guards infantry force is holding the center of their breakthrough, and Kuznetsov has not moved all his mobile forces there.”

  “What do we do now?” Speidel’s eyes played over the map.

  “We could do nothing in the clinch near Kharkov,” said Manstein, but now, with Raus in position to hold the city, we can maneuver again. Even though it violates doctrine, I’m going to swing Steiner southwest and then hit the center of their breakthrough. We must not turn too early, because they have interior lines, and fast moving Mech units that could react. Then we would just have the battle we were fighting near the city back again. As we move southwest, the Guards infantry will not be fast enough to interfere, so we can choose any point of attack we might wish.”

  “What if he realizes his dilemma and pulls 1st Guard Tank out to come after us.”

  “That is what he should do, but it would mean he must end his attack on Kharkov from the south.”

  “He could withdraw his guardsmen for that,” said Speidel.

  “True, but that would take them two days, and it’s rather tricky to pull off, especially when facing an aggressive attack by the enemy. In any case, if Kuznetsov attempts that, he is dancing to our tune. Don’t you see? This move by Steiner gives us back the initiative. I will stop his attack on the southern segment of the city, not by fighting to the last man with Steiner, as Efendi might order, but by maneuver, and the indirect approach. This is what we are best at, and how we must fight now.”

  “If we move southwest, where will we turn?”

  “I think we will move through Valki, and them perhaps we can make a push for Novaya Vologda. After that, the ground is better, and note how all the watercourses move southeast, so they will not be obstacles. That will be the direction of our counterattack—to this place, Taranovka. If we get that far, we will have popped their balloon. From there we can threaten Zimyev from the southwest, or simply turn south and smash these forces facing off against the Wiking Division. This maneuver rides roughshod right through the heart of their breakthrough, and challenges Kuznetsov to break off his attack and come down to try and stop us.”

  “What if he does something unexpected? He could attack through Yubotin after we have moved southwest, and continue his envelopment operation.”

  “Let him try. This is why I think we must leave Das Reich behind in the city. It needs rest, and it could stand as a good mobile reserve. I’ll take Grossdeutschland , Leibstandarte and Totenkopf for this operation. Then we will see if they can dance.”

  * * *

  General Kuznetsov could see that something was amiss. The dark uniforms and distinctive insignia of the 1st SS Division he had been battling for days was now replaced with a fresh infantry division, the 7th. They have also pulled many other SS formations off the line and replaced them with infantry they brought down from the north. Wounded or not, this is still a dangerous bear, he thought.

  “Some reconnaissance reports,” said a staff officer. “Artillery, a few tanks, and some recon elements a few kilometers north of Yubotin.”

  “Any units identified?”

  “No sir, the cloud cover is very thick this morning and this was all the air recon reported.”

  “It could be a reinforcement, but I doubt that,” said Kuznetsov. The only rail movement spotted was the arrival of this infantry division. I think they need to rest their SS units in the city.”

  “Yes sir, we do know that their 2nd SS is there. That unit was seen clear enough in these photographs. It could not be any other formation.” The officer pointed out the position, showing columns of AFVs moving towards the city from the northeast, and Kuznetsov nodded. He was a heavy-set man, thick cheeked, with short cropped grey hair, receding.

  “General Burkov with 10th Tank Corps has come north,” said the officer, “but there is still nothing in front of him. He reached Fedorovka last night, and wants to know if he should push on to Valki and cut the road.”

  Kuznetsov looked at the map. “He could not do so with any strength. Look—his Corps is spread out on too wide a front. Besides, they are not using that road. All their supplies and reinforcements are coming in by rail, which is something the air force should get after. No, just tell Burkov to watch these three roads as he is now.”

  “Very good, sir.”

  “What is 7th Tank Corps doing?” asked Kuznetzov.

  “Still cleaning up the flank on the left. Their infantry line goes as far as these woods south of Yubotin.”

  “They have been trying to keep this rail line open,” said Kuznetsov. “Otherwise anything coming from Poltava must take this junction west of Yubotin, and go all the way around through Dergachi. Let 7th Corps continue to clean up that flank, and then we will see about pushing on to Yubotin. As for today, we keep hammering their line at the edge of the city. Has the artillery been resupplied?”

  “Two truck columns arrived last night under cover of darkness. More will be expected tomorrow.”

  “Good. Tell them to use it. Let Steiner hear our guns again, even if he is resting in the city.”

  “Will we take it sir? These infantry divisions make for a strong reinforcement.”

  “They do, but don’t forget Katukov in the north. Is he advancing again?”

  “Not yet, sir. He’s still engaged with their 11th Panzer Division.”

  Kuznetsov inclined his head, thinking. He knew that division. It always seemed to turn up at any point of real crisis. Well, he thought, let Katukov worry about it.

  * * *

  Steiner was long gone, but General Kuznetsov did not know that. The thick cloud cover had hindered Soviet aerial recon missions, and the few units they had spotted were dismissed as minor rear area detachments. So taking every advantage of the heavy grey skies, Manstein ordered Steiner to move on the very road, through Valki, that Kuznetsov had dismissed as irrelevant. 3rd SS was through that afternoon. Grossdeutschland Division was moving on a parallel track, overland just a few kilometers to the north. They found the mud had dried up, and the ground was nice and firm for fast cross-country movement.

  General Burkov was very lucky he got those orders to stay put, for if he had pushed out to Valki, he would have discovered what was happening, but much like a bear sticking its paw into a hornet’s nest. Manstein had requested heavy air cover from the Luftwaffe, and their aim was to keep prying eyes from seeing the movement. The column was now 20 kilometers long, three full divisions moving in daylight.

  That afternoon, only a very few low-level recon missions got through, spotting recon vehicles, a company of motorcycle infa
ntry, a regimental sized unit of mechanized grenadiers, and some bridging units. They were all on the main road to Valki, and late in the day, Burkov gave an order to fire off a salvo from his 10th Rocket Regiment, just for harassment. His widely scattered 10th Tank Corps was sitting no more than seven or eight kilometers from that road, but the lay of the land, with thick intervening woodland, masked the German movement. The distant sound of the Army artillery firing against the southern edge of Kharkov also muffled the movement of the long German column.

  Kuznetsov continued to hammer at the city defenses, knowing that the strong 3rd Guards was making slow but steady progress to the north. When troops from the 2nd SS Division had to be sent in to shore up the line again, it only confirmed his assumption that Steiner was still there, his SS waiting unseen behind the infantry front to deliver these well-timed counterpunches. He had what he wanted, a battle of attrition, and was counting on Katukov solving his problem in the north and continuing his advance.

  But he was wrong….

  3rd Panzergrenadier Division had just arrived to bring Knobelsdorff up to proper strength. With that division, and the infantry Model had sent, the Germans had sewn together their shattered front, and had continuous lines again, all the way back to Kharkov.

  Hitler came to the map room at OKW for a situation report late in the day, still weary from his travel. Zeitzler had good news for him.

  “My Führer,” he said. “This is the latest situation report, and as you can see, the redisposition of forces ordered by General Manstein has closed the front up and eliminated the gap in the north.”

  “What about this!” Hitler could not help but see the massive gap in the center. “What is to stop them from going all the way to Poltava?”

  “Steiner,” said Zeitzler.

  “What? Steiner is defending Kharkov. What are you saying?”

  “No longer,” said Zeitzler. “Korps Raus has taken over the outer defense, and that line is holding. Steiner began pulling out last night. His divisions should be about here, passing through Valki.”

  “Steiner has been sent to defend that frontage? What if they get through the infantry. Kharkov would be lost, and that must not happen!”

  “Das Reich remains in the city on reserve. They will not get through, and Steiner has not gone to take up defensive positions. He is attacking.” Zeitzler looked at his watch. “It will be dark there soon, and Steiner will make good use of that. We believe his movement has largely gone undetected thus far. Manstein now has three strong divisions, and we believe he is bringing the Korps here, to attack the enemy breakthrough south of Novaya Vologda into this gap. My Führer, Operation Donnerschlag should begin at tonight.”

  “Operation Donnerschlag?” It was obvious that Hitler liked the sound of that—Thunderclap —and it would come with thunderclap surprise to Vasily Kuznetsov, a major counterattack, prepared and assembled without detection, and aimed at his widely expanded breakthrough zone, but 50 kilometers south of all his principle mobile assets.

  The miracle worker had performed one more strategic trick, and now it remained for his troops to do the job they had before them. If one had to give such a mission to any three divisions in the army, Grossdeutschland , Leibstandarte , and Totenkopf would be excellent choices, and they would be driving into the operational zone of one more fabled division, the 5th SS Wiking .

  Chapter 23

  Kuznetsov was awakened at 04:00 with the news. The recon battalion and assault gun regiment of 10th Tank Corps had been hit near midnight by German Panzer troops.

  “Panzers? What division? Has anything been identified?”

  “Yes sir,” the staff officer looked confused. “It says they were SS troops from the 1st Division, and others from their Guards Division. How did they get there? We thought they were still in the city.”

  “Apparently not,” said the General, leaning heavily as he got up off the bed in the burnt-out hotel at Zimyev. He had set up his headquarters there to avoid German Stukas , finding a few rooms on the lower floors still intact. Minutes later he was heading for the radio, needing to know more. He soon learned that Burkov had reacted to the incident by pulling his tank corps together and moving through the village of Fedorovka, where he ran into SS troops from the 1st Division, confirming the reports.

  There were still too many unanswered questions in his mind. Troops from two German mobile divisions had been identified, but soon he had a report from the 60th Guards Rifle Division. It had been posted on the extreme left of his infantry in the breakthrough zone, and it had moved one regiment to the sound of the fighting that night. The only thing they found were a few companies of German recon units, with some engineers. Tanks had been reported moving further northwest, but no one had encountered them.

  What was going on here? Was this what it seemed to be, a movement of two German mobile divisions to his flank? Was it merely a feint, a spoiling attack? Then he got news that small detachments of German troops had been harassing the lines of his infantry much further south, and that the German Wiking Division had suddenly pulled out if its defensive positions and moved into a night action against 4th Guard Army further south. The 3rd Guard Tank Corps reported heavy casualties, and they had pulled back two kilometers to regroup. He would be making a good many calls that morning.

  A tickle here, a punch there, he thought. The Germans have finally realized we have been slowly expanding that bridgehead, and now they are trying to do something about it. But how strong will this counterattack be if one comes. I will likely not learn enough about the situation until morning. In the meantime, it may be wise to create a mobile reserve, but with what? Everything at hand is on the line. If I pull anything off, it would have to come from my left, otherwise I will weaken my attack on the city.

  Seleikov’s 7th Tank Corps is there, and it is just screening that sector. I could detach it and send it south to join Burkov…. That will be the order.

  It was a logical first response to a situation that was not yet understood, but it would not be enough. Two hours later Kuznetsov learned that Burkov’s probing maneuver through Fedorovka had run into fire and brimstone, and the leading half of his corps was suddenly attacked by the entire 1st SS Division. At the same time, the 60th Guards, a few kilometers to the south, were swarmed over by the fast moving Grossdeutschland Division. Still farther south, 44th Guards was being hit by 3rd SS.

  Three divisions, he thought with great alarm, and the sudden realization of what his crafty enemy had done. They must have pulled out completely, and marched all day and night to reach those positions. Now they are smashing into the outer frontier of our breakthrough along a 20-kilometer front. All this other action in the south is meant only to tie up those forces and prevent them from reacting to this counterattack. 10th Tank Corps is unsupported. I must get a mobile force together at once, and the 7th Tank Corps will not do the job by itself. All my good infantry is spread out on a wide front. We must fall back and concentrate!

  Reports that the Germans had launched a spoiling attack against his near left flank were more frustrating than serious. The German 36th Infantry division, which had been on defense for days, suddenly advanced against that flank, and some fast-moving Luftwaffe flak units actually made it as far as the main road and rail line leading southwest to Alexandrovka and on to Novaya Vodolaga. This meant that the assault on Kharkov could not be continued that morning, as it was now necessary to secure that flank. 2nd Mech would have to go defensive, and allow 1st Mech to intervene, with 1st Guards Tank providing the necessary muscle.

  The General would get no breakfast that morning, nor would a good many men of the 1st Guards Army. Before the sun would rise, the 60th Guards Rifle division would sustain 70% casualties, and virtually cease to exist.

  * * *

  So it has begun, thought Manstein, a cold lump of fear in his chest in spite of his outer air of confidence. The movement was superb, the timing perfect, and we have achieved complete surprise. Yet they are only three divisions, wh
ich is why Kirchner must jog left and the Wiking Division must punch hard as well. Their Guards infantry will fight, and I have no doubt that they will fall back to consolidate and strengthen their lines. They will be the first hard shield to crack, but our lances are still sharp.

  Steiner relayed reports in a flurry back to Manstein at his HQ in Kharkov. Totenkopf had smashed the 60th Guards, but was still fighting through remnants and small pockets of resistance. Grossdeutschland had engaged 44th Guards, driven it back and surrounded a brigade, but enemy tanks had appeared and they were trying to break through to rescue the trapped Guardsmen. Now third in the column as the attack swung south, Leibstandarte also reported the enemy was counterattacking with massed armored brigades.

  The 7th and 10th Tank Corps had finally moved down through Novaya Vodolaga and charged to the attack. Kuznetsov had pulled his shield in tight, and now he struck out with a sword. Manstein did not want his attack to broaden out too much and loose concentration, and he radioed Steiner to maneuver, reform, and hit along a narrower front further south. He wanted to get the SS Korps closer to Kirchner’s 57th, where the two mobile groups could support one another and become one massive counterpunch. The breakthrough was too large to attempt a pincer operation. He had to hit, move, hit again, and slowly beat the Soviet incursion back.

  Near dusk stragglers from a lost battalion of the 60th Guards reached the area where 10th Tank Corps was operating, with tales of woe. This prompted Burkov to post two battalions of motor rifle infantry on that flank, and he sent out patrols to make certain he would not be ambushed from that direction in the coming darkness.