Chapter 183: Wrapping Dumplings Took Five Days, Eating Them Took Over Ten
As Lelouch’s “Greater Germania” Armored Training Division arrived in Zaporozhye City at dusk on September 28.
The encirclement of the enemy’s 6th Army Group’s main force had already effectively formed.
That same evening, Lelouch took advantage of the strengthened atmospheric ionosphere reflection at night to transmit the latest battle situation developments back to the rear via radio relay.
Upon receiving the telegram, Duke Rupprecht was overjoyed and immediately urged the frontal troops to increase pressure, accelerate the advance, and, as usual, exhaust various propaganda means to strike at the enemy’s morale.
However, this time, the propaganda effect was not very good. Mainly because the encirclement was too large, most Russian Army officers and soldiers had not yet sensed the formation of the encirclement—
If the enemy encircled 50 kilometers behind their own lines, frontline soldiers could easily perceive it. But if the enemy encircled 150 kilometers or even farther behind, frontline officers and soldiers would find it hard to perceive immediately.
Thin filling with big skin, the dumplings were wrapped too loosely; the opponent didn’t even realize they were inside.
At such times, they could only wait a few more days until the encircled troops realized for themselves that supplies were gradually running out, with no more trains bringing ammunition from the rear, and only then would they truly panic.
Rupprecht’s frontal offensive had not yet broken through temporarily, so they could only continue a low-intensity war of attrition for a few more days, first focusing on consuming the supplies of the enemy forces inside the encirclement.
Given the slow advance on the front line, the duke issued new orders to Lelouch: hoping that Lelouch would lead the armored division to continue advancing northeast, bypassing Zaporozhye City, and completely encircle Zaporizhzhia as well.
After receiving the orders, Lelouch accepted them while replying with his concerns: “The enemy forces in Zaporozhye City may be difficult to encircle, and it might end up encircling an empty city. Our forces on the foremost line are too few to prevent the enemy from breaking out once they realize they are about to be encircled.”
The duke immediately replied understandingly: “No need to ensure the encirclement of the Zaporozhye garrison; let them withdraw if they wish. I just need to secure the city first. At this stage, the top priority is to annihilate the enemy forces already inside the encirclement; don’t be too greedy all at once.”
Thus, Lelouch carried out the order and ultimately bypassed the city on the 27th, encircling Zaporizhzhia from the south, east, and north, leaving only the west side unencircled—because the west side of Zaporozhye City was right against the Dnieper River, and Lelouch’s land advance via long-distance raid had no ships available.
Meanwhile, the garrison in Zaporozhye City showed no signs of breaking out or withdrawing even after the encirclement from the south, east, and north closed in. After observing, Lelouch sent another telegram to the duke:
“After the enemy’s land retreat routes were completely cut off by our encirclement, there are still no signs of breakout or withdrawal. Suspected that the garrison in the city has sufficient ferries and may attempt to cross the Dnieper River westward at the last moment to escape.
The only course now is to request that our forces advancing along the Dnieper River North Bank also accelerate forward. If they can advance to the opposite bank of Zaporozhye City, the enemy will surely collapse. Additionally, make full use of our navy advantage by concentrating small warships that can enter the Dnieper River.
The Dnieper River section below Zaporizhzhia has gentle gradients and good navigation conditions, so water and land advances can be appropriately strengthened.”
After receiving this reply, Duke Rupprecht pondered for a long time and finally realized that the other “iron pincer” across the Dnieper River, Federer von Bock, had not yet maneuvered into position.
He immediately called in the staff officers and cipher officers to inquire:
“Have Federer Bock report the latest progress. Where has his ‘Empire’ armored division reached? Are the subsequent infantry divisions filling the line sufficient?”
After a flurry of activity from the cipher and communications officers, more than an hour later, they delivered a reply: “Report to the commander! The ‘Empire’ armored division, after advancing to Krivoy Rog yesterday morning, engaged the enemy in multiple fierce battles.
At noon today, with the assistance of our navy combat fleet deep into the Dnieper River, it broke through the confluence of the Inhulets River and Saksagan River, and is now continuing full-speed eastward, having advanced another 30 kilometers since this afternoon. It is currently 80 kilometers from Zaporizhzhia.
Division Commander Bock reports that there are no more river network obstacles further east, and he will speed up. The previous delays were due to numerous tributaries on the Dnieper River North Bank, with the enemy defending layer by layer from advantageous terrain.”
The issues von Bock mentioned were indeed factual. The forces advancing along the Dnieper River North Bank could not rely solely on the enemy’s railway lines but also needed to rely on water transport supplies from the Dnieper River,
and even more on the large number of light auxiliary ships from the Germania Navy entering the Dnieper River estuary from Mykolaiv and Kherson.
With these ships helping transport ammunition, cut off the enemy’s water transport, and, when necessary, detour into Dnieper River North Bank tributaries to assist Bock in repeated river crossings, he achieved the current results.
However, this kind of large-scale, deep-depth water-land coordinated operation was also the first time for the Germania Army, with no experience, so coordination often led to mishaps.
Frequently, von Bock was blocked by a river ahead, but the fleet that could assist his crossing would take detours and arrive late. Or it was von Bock’s own fault for choosing temporary crossing points too far upstream in the tributaries, requiring the navy to detour even farther in and out of the tributaries each time.
Normally, none of this was a big deal; war always has surprises, and smooth advances were already good enough.
But with Lelouch as a reference on the other iron pincer side for comparison, von Bock appeared unprepared and flustered.
Duke Rupprecht, accustomed to geniuses, just felt that talents were merely so-so.
He impatiently ordered: “Telegram Bock again! He must arrive at Tomakivka on the opposite bank of Zaporizhzhia by the morning of October 3, two and a half days from now, to completely cut off the water retreat route of the Zaporizhzhia garrison!
I don’t require him to fully encircle the Zaporizhzhia garrison, but as long as the garrison knows the opposite bank is also threatened, they will surely flee for their lives, and then there will be no need to laboriously siege the city. The three main armies of the enemy inside the southern large encirclement will all be annihilated by then!”
As of September 30, the enemies inside the southern large encirclement were said to be encircled, but there was still one escape route: crossing the Dnieper River northward, which was the same situation as the Russian Army in Zaporozhye City.
Before Bock maneuvered into position, the Germanians could only block the Russian Army’s land retreat routes but could not completely seal off the Dnieper River crossing channel. However, the Germanians had sea control and fleets that could enter the inland river, so the Lushans did not dare to cross easily.
A few days ago, a Lushan division had attempted to cross north to escape, but only half had crossed when the arriving Germania fleet struck midway, cutting them in half, and was bombarded at close range by 76 mm gunboat guns, suffering heavy losses.
After that, the Lushans did not dare to cross rashly nearby when Germania fleets were suspected to be present.
After the duke’s latest orders were issued, von Bock strictly complied, accelerating the advance, and ultimately everything proceeded as the duke required, completing the full water-land all-around encirclement on October 3.
Meanwhile, the Lusha garrison in Zaporozhye City had already learned of the Germanians’ furious advance along the Dnieper River North Bank and thus wavered and withdrew.
……
October 2, early morning, inside Zaporozhye City.
Alexei General Evert, former commander of the Russian Army Romanian Front Army, now demoted to commander of the 6th Army Group, had not slept half the night, with dozens of burned-out cigarette stubs piled in front of him, along with scattered tobacco ash.
“Commander, the Germanians’ armored division on the North Bank has also advanced to Nikopol, less than 40 kilometers from us. If we wait another day, we won’t be able to leave. We should withdraw!”
Those around General Evert pleaded bitterly, unwilling to die in the encirclement or end up in a prisoner of war camp.
But General Evert himself knew full well that his three main armies were pinned down by the enemy, so even if the one army on the Zaporizhzhia side chose to break out, at most only part would escape and would surely lose a considerable portion to the enemy’s land pursuit and river gunboat interceptions.
The so-called breakout was nothing more than abandoning the army to flee, and upon return, he would likely face a military court anyway.
Especially since he had a prior record: the Romanian Front Army had been more than half annihilated and disbanded before, which had already displeased the Tsar and military high command. Others might not be shot for withdrawing this time, but if he withdrew, it would definitely be much more severe for him.
Moreover, it was said that Southwestern Front commander General Pavel Pleve was under great pressure, having been directly questioned by phone by His Majesty the Tsar multiple times. If the front army needed a scapegoat, he would likely be doomed.
Whereas entering a prisoner of war camp might not mean death.
As he hesitated, a staff officer beside him urged: “Commander, think of your family in Petersburg, and those colleagues close to you. We must break out, otherwise…”
Heart in turmoil, General Evert was finally swayed by his own people. They further persuaded him, “This defeat is due to the enemy’s advanced armored cars catching us off guard; the front army high command will surely explain for you, at worst just exile.”
General Evert finally believed this rationale and decided to cross the river and break out at dawn.
However, such a large movement could not be completely concealed from the enemy; several divisions crossing the river would take at least several hours and make a big commotion.
Soon, his troops’ movements were detected by Lelouch, who was encircling from the land side.
Lelouch would of course not hold back and immediately ordered an assault on the city, also calling for the Dnieper River fleets to assist in interception as much as possible.
“All artillery units that have arrived at Zaporozhye, immediately commence indiscriminate bombardment of the city! Fire preparation for 20 minutes, then begin the assault! Use satchel charges to breach walls of sturdy buildings held by die-hard enemy forces! Also, at night, have flamethrower soldiers purge the stubborn enemies!”
Soon, the Germanians’ artillery groups roared, with 77 mm and 105 mm artillery shells landing in the main garrison areas inside Zaporozhye City, the momentum scaring the already intending-to-withdraw Lushans into having no will to fight, fleeing in swarms.
Night combat ranges were already close, with poor visibility, perfectly suiting flamethrower soldiers with their 50-meter attack range. Occasionally stubborn Lushan-held buildings were also completely purged under the combined satchel charges and flamethrowers.
Even the troops originally ordered by General Evert to stay behind and block surged to the dock area, scrambling to seize ships to cross first.
Thus, another midway slaughter unfolded on the Dnieper River shore and surface west of Zaporozhye City.
The half-division in the midst of crossing was quickly singled out and sunk by hastily arriving Germania gunboats.
Where the gunboats’ firepower was insufficient, they reported coordinates via radio to friendly forces on shore, letting the encircling artillery units bombard the dock area.
Lelouch’s artillery, receiving precise information, immediately adjusted targets, roughly aiming muzzles at the dock area’s coordinates.
Batches of 105 shells fell, kicking up waves of bloody storms and minced flesh; the several Lusha regiments responsible for the rearguard were instantly blasted into rout by Lelouch.
They were already anxious to wait for ships to cross; under enemy bombardment and pursuit from behind, how could they possibly hold?
In the end, after the midnight fierce battle, General Evert only escaped with less than one division; the rest were lost inside Zaporozhye City and on the river.
The next day at dawn, thousands of corpses could be seen on the docks, and even more floating corpses on the Dnieper River surface—those sunk by Germania gunboats during the night crossing, who bloated after drowning and floated back up.
These thousands of floating corpses drifting downstream would also be seen by the still-encircled Lusha armies downstream, further striking their morale and letting them know that Zaporozhye City, where the Army Group Headquarters was located, had fallen.
After Lelouch concluded the campaign, he waited over half a day more, and Federer von Bock finally arrived at Zaporizhzhia from the west ahead of Your Highness the Duke’s timeline.
But by the time von Bock arrived, the city had no enemy forces left; the entire city was controlled by Lelouch.
Von Bock, looking at the continuous floating corpses on the Dnieper River, was full of emotion.
He soon obtained a ship, crossed to the east bank, and met Lelouch inside Zaporozhye City.
The two were old friends, and now von Bock was completely convinced by Lelouch, with no more competitive spirit. Upon meeting, he complained:
“I thought I was fast enough. Although the Inhulets River and Saksagan River, those Dnieper North Bank tributaries, caused me quite some trouble, detouring and slowing progress, advancing 310 kilometers in 10 days is worthy of the marshal.
Who knew you kid advanced 260 kilometers in 5 days, making me look like a clown by comparison! In the end, as I was about to reach the west bank, the east bank garrison panicked and fled on their own, letting you pick up the bargain and claim sole credit for capturing Zaporozhye City! Couldn’t wait one more day to share some merit with me!”
Lelouch knew the other was just joking and amiably punched Bock’s shoulder: “If I waited one more day, wouldn’t the enemy garrison escape with one or two more divisions? At such a time, of course I couldn’t wait.
However, when I report to the marshal, I’ll clearly state ‘it was because your division was about to arrive on the west bank, completely closing the all-around encirclement of Zaporizhzhia, so the east bank garrison panicked and fled, giving me the chance to pursue and intercept.’
Also, when the tanks arrive in November, I’ll return all my division’s armored cars to you, and my troops will reequip with tanks. Fair enough? You’ve been fighting so long; those 120-plus armored cars probably don’t have many operable left. By then, I’ll repair and patch up to gather over 100 more for you, so you can form three full-strength companies of 84 armored cars each.”
Von Bock hadn’t seen tanks yet, but he knew tanks were surely better than armored cars.
But what could be done? Von Bock had no military industrial resources at hand. Whether tanks or armored cars, they were produced by Lelouch investing some money and resources, assembling a team for military industry research and development, with funding supported by the Baria Royal Family.
Since the tank project was something Lelouch had built up, whoever he gave them to use was a favor, and keeping them all for himself was only right.
With so many generals in the 6th Army Group, Lelouch could have chosen other brigadier generals or major generals to command the armored division. Choosing the relatively young Bock, who accepted new things quickly, to lead the armored car troops was already a great favor.
“Alright, the merit for annihilating the enemy at Zaporizhzhia ends here.” Von Bock went along with it and said no more.
……
In the following days, the combat tasks of the Germania 6th Army Group’s various units fully shifted to “how to quickly consume and digest the dumpling filling clean.”
The encirclements on both north and south banks of the Dnieper River had completely closed; the troops inside could not fly out even with wings.
Starting from October 3, the Lusha armies inside the encirclement had entire regiments or even divisions collapsing in morale daily, directly surrendering after being pursued by the Germanians.
The supply cutoff starting from September 28 was finally exerting its power by now; as more and more troops ran out of bullets and artillery shells with no resupply from the rear, the chain collapses accelerated daily.
The infantry divisions advancing on the frontal battlefield along the Kherson-Yevpatoria line also sped up from just over 10 kilometers per day to over 20 or 30 kilometers per day.
Ultimately, on October 9, all Lusha armies in the entire large encirclement were completely annihilated.
Including the Zaporozhye City garrison, plus the garrisons at Troitske, Melitopol, and elsewhere defeated en route by Lelouch, as well as the portion of Lusha forces defeated by von Bock on the Dnieper River North Bank.
The entire Lusha 6th Army Group totaled over five armies and 16 divisions annihilated, 310,000 men.
Additionally, over three Cossack Cavalry Divisions were nearly wiped out, and five Cossack Cavalry Divisions were severely mauled in ongoing harassment offensives attempting to cut the Germanians’ railway lines.
Including Cossack casualties, the Lusha Army total annihilated was 350,000.
Moreover, the land along the Dnieper River south of Zaporizhzhia all the way to the Sea of Azov coast was seized by the Germania Army.
The entire area was approximately 200 kilometers north-south and 180 kilometers east-west, roughly trapezoidal, though narrowing near the Crimean Peninsula on the south side. In total, about 30,000 square kilometers of land were seized.
In the entire campaign, Lelouch’s side took 5 days to close the encirclement, Bock’s other “pincer offensive” side took another 5 days, and digesting the dumpling filling after full encirclement took 6 days.
From September 23 to October 9, a total of 16 days, annihilating 350,000 enemies and seizing over 30,000 square kilometers of land.
