Chapter X: Donbass
Winter's signs
"That's it!" Joseph shouted "That's it! We've done it boys! They're running!"
His men cheered, the Russians were running, all of them. All across the town, and they were going to get cut down by the flanking panzers. They had no hope, infact, they had absolutely no idea what they were doing, just running.
Joseph turned to his squad.
"Ok guys, it's over. This town was our last objective for the Ukraine Campaign!"
More cheers
"Though we will still be advancing, but not as much. However, our main work for this year has been completed!"
He turned to Karl and Max
"You two, round up the rest of the men - now."
They nodded, and ran off into the midst of the battle. It was still raging, but it was only a matter of time before those idiotic Russians who had decided to stay behind were quelled by the overwhelming force of the German Infantry. They had never really tested the Germans through the entire advance, it was as if they had wanted to loose. Joseph concluded that all of the Soviet Generals must have their heads filled with sawdust.
However, things were changing. More ad more now the Soviets received better orders and had better plans. And there was a new threat.
Winter. The one thing which had been lingering in all of their minds had finally happened. Cold weather had arrived. Not snow, of course. That was for North and Central Russia; however, in the south there were reports of increasing rains and muds, or frosts which froze the ground over. Winds as well, which were damned fast and freezing, which could cut through the uniform of the German soldier. Joseph hoped the
Wehrmacht had prepared Winter Uniforms, he hadn't received any yet.
However, he had heard rumours.
And the worst kind of rumours too. The ones which you thought were false, but a voice at the back of your head kept saying "But it's true, it really is true!" and you were torn between them.
There were rumours of a new kind of tank which outmatched the Germans' ones. Of course, Joseph had expected many German Panzers to break down in the bad conditions, but he also expected the inferior Soviet tanks to fare worse. However, this new tank not only seemed cable of working longer than the Panzers, but it was also said to be able to outmanoeuvre and outgun them. What was more, he had heard of the Russian constructing formidable defences which were nigh impregnable in Winter.
***
The truth was, the advances of Army Groups North & South were well and truly over.
In the North, freezing temperatures had brought a stop to all advances, and conditions became reminiscent of World War I as the troops dug in, and advances gave small gains for extremely high costs. However, Progress was good. Murmansk had been surrounded and the Kola Peninsula had nearly been taken. Finish troops had advanced to the edge of the River Svir and had dug in their, and were also marching on Leningrad. Lake Ladoga had frozen over, and the Soviets were trying to drive supply trucks to the city - with little success.
However, Hitler was pleased with this progress and ordered that
Heeresgrüppe Nörd have three objectives. 1) Destroy Russian Forces in the Finish Sector. 2) Capture and Occupy the Leningrad region. 3) Fortify the flanks to prevent Soviet breakout from Moscow if they head north. These plans were very special, because, unlike most of the Führer's plans, these one's were actually attainable. Field Marschall Fedor von Bock, commander of
Heeresgrüppe Nörd was awarded an Iron Cross (Specifically a Knights Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak leaves - please don't make me translate that into German)
However, progress in the centre was not as good, von Kluge was having trouble. Not only trouble with the Soviet Partisans and the intense cold, but sharing command with Ritter von Leeb. The two Field Marshalls were ordered to take command of the Left and Right of
Heeresgrüppe Mitte respectively; but the logistics had been a nightmare, and Operation
Taifun (Typhoon) had degenerated into an attrition grind in which thousands of men were killed every day. The advance could not be sustained.
What was worse was that neither man called it off, risking the wrath of the Führer and even loosing their commands. In addition, Hitler had not even supplied Winter Uniforms, claiming "We do not need them. The war will be won by winter."
Hitler still held a grudge against
Heeresgrüppe Süd for it's slow start compared to the rest of the
Wehrmacht. He had already sent Guderian northwards again, towards Moscow. However, the Panzer specialist had been stalled by an unknown new Soviet general called Koniev ('He won't amount of anything!' cried a frustrated Guderian) and his progress greatly slowed. This had left Kleist with an awful lot of work for his Panzers to carry out, as they tried to work effectively over the wide area of the Donets.
Rundstedt called together the Generals of
Heeresgrüppe Süd and agreed that Winter was here, and advances could no longer be sustained. The men were exhausted, the supply lines were overstretched; they argued (quite rightly) that advances would be suicidal. Rundstedt gave the orders for the Generals. Manstein (commander of the Twelfth Army and allied Axis forces in the Crimea) to dig in and prepare; Kleist and Hoth (his second-in-command) to cleanup any Soviet forces lingering in the Donbass; Paulus (Commander of the Sixth Army and XIX Corps) and List (newly appointed commander of the Seventeenth Army and accompanying XXIV & XXVII Corps) to advance to the Mius River, dig in and hold there. That would be the extent of the German Advance.
For Hitler this was not enough, he wanted more advances. He wanted Rostov and a gateway to the Caucasus now. Rundstedt pleaded with him to see that he could not get it, but Hitler would not listen. Manstein criticised the Führer's plans and offered his resignation because of his inability to listen to his generals. Hitler accepted, and for the whole of the winter no replacement was given, and the forces in the Crimea had to rely upon themselves as divisions and not Corps or Armies. This put the Mj . Generals under a lot of strain and further increased the Logistical Nightmare already facing the
Wehrmacht.
Heeresgrüppe Süd stopped on the banks of the Mius River.
However, everyone involved on the Eastern front new that with winter approaching, there would be little advances anywhere across the whole line. It was time to reorganise and reform. Round One was over, it was seconds out before Round Two.
***
Joseph turned to Karl.
"And you are sure that there a no Winter Uniforms on their way?" he asked
"No sir." Karl answered, shaking his head.
"Is there anything coming?"
"Only a few supplies and ammunition. Not much else."
Joseph paused.
"We will camp here tonight. Tomorrow we will find anything we can and try to make our own winter Uniforms."
"Yes sir."
"Right then, Goodnight Karl."
"Goodnight Sir."
Joseph breathed a sigh of relief and sat down on his sleeping bag (which was more a pile of a few rags in reality). He thought that once the Uniforms were sorted out, they would find an abandoned village where they could sleep properly, because living in tents like this in a Russian winter wasn't going to do anyone much good or give any comfort. There would also be injuries and the like, and they needed warmth. Joseph tried to think of a warm fire as the cold wind bit painfully into the wound on the back of his leg.
Winter was well and truly here.
THE END
Of Part 1
Of course, brilliant writing. This and Myth's Japan AAR give me something to look forward to when I come home from work. Stretch out in front of the computer with a frosty beverage and read some good war stories. 'Til the wife finds me anyway 
