[Latest Broadcast] Tomorrow is 515, the starting point anniversary, the most benefits day. ○In addition to gift bags and school bags, this time, you must check the 515 red envelopes. There is no reason to not grab the red envelopes. Set the alarm clock~

After the battle of the Dahequ tribe, the two sides fought one after another. This time, the Red Army learned a lesson and did not engage in single cavalry or split troops to attack. Instead, they honestly hugged themselves and rolled forward, gnawing on the German defense line inch by inch. Manstein no longer used scalpel tactics and gave the overall defense battle to Gothard Heinrich's command. Under the layers of blocking of his mobile and elastic defenses, the Red Army's offensive had little effect.

In more than half a month of battle, the Red Army only pushed the overall defense line forward for 30-50 kilometers, but the losses were astonishingly great. The three fronts in the southwest, Don River and Stalingrad lost more than 100,000 troops and nearly 300 tanks, while the Southern Army Group lost less than 20,000 and less than 100 tanks. Based on this loss, the three Red Army Fronts had to bleed when they hit the city of Rostov, so the internal combat direction of the Red Army changed again. Huasilevsky once again made a suggestion on behalf of the General Staff: first separate the Hot cluster from the Manstein cluster, and then use the Southwest Front and the Bryansk Front to eliminate the Hot cluster together.

The suggestion not only received strong support from Zhukov, but also expressed recognition from the commanders of the Southwest Front and the Bryansk Front. In particular, the commander of the Southwest Front, Vatutin, was almost a prisoner when the defender was besieged last time and he was always considering revenge. The intelligence department also figured out that the Hot cluster was not purely German troops - there were a large number of Italians and Romanians in it, and they all thought it was a good opportunity to use. Faced with the situation where all parties agreed and could not fight in person, Stalin was also thinking about a different offensive idea.

While communicating, Molotov suddenly came in and brought a strange message: "Comrade Stalin, the British ambassador called me just now, hoping that we would launch a large-scale restrained offensive battle as soon as possible, and said that he wanted to see you tomorrow morning. In view of the urgent situation, I came to report immediately."

"What happened? Montgomery was beaten up by Goodrian again?"

"No, it's worse than this! This morning, the Germans landed behind Montgomery, namely the Port of Martruck and Alahman. The main force of the landing was the Great German Division. Supporting and ensuring the German landing was the German fleet active in the Black Sea some time ago."

"Great German teacher..." Stalin smiled slightly. He knew the name of the division, and he said unconsciously. "No wonder he couldn't find this division for a long time on the Eastern Front. So that's it. Montgomery is feeling uncomfortable now."

After hearing the news, Zhukov and Vasilevsky's faces instantly turned pale. Stalin keenly read more from their uneasy eyes. Although these two excellent commanders only fought on the Eastern Front, it does not mean that they knew nothing about the situation in North Africa. On the contrary, the General Staff of the Red Army also held a discussion meeting on the North African campaign and related impacts. The original conclusion was that even if the Germans were replaced by Guderian, they could not beat the British. Unexpectedly, the situation deteriorated suddenly.

After listening to the explanations of the two, Stalin realized that the Eighth Army was not only double-teamed by front and back, but also the supply line was broken. Zhukov carefully used the words: "The situation is even worse than we think. If the Germans were determined enough and fast enough, they could continually capture Egypt, seize the Suez Canal, and then threaten the entire Middle East - our channels for obtaining materials through Iran will be directly damaged."

"Is there such a thing? Isn't it just one division..." Stalin was skeptical. He knew that the British could not beat him, but he believed that the British navy and air force had the advantage on the battlefield in North Africa, and the number of troops was several times that of the Germans. There should be no problem in maintaining the situation of the war.

"The landing troops may have more than one German division, because I think of the Vikings disappearing..." Huasseyevsky added, "Although this division may not necessarily go to Egypt, or may return to China to rest, the division has disappeared for 3 months. In theory, it should be supplemented and restored its offensive capabilities."

"Didn't it mean that Montgomery has 300,000 troops? It also said that the more than 100,000 troops of Operation Torch would also land in Egypt." Stalin asked, "It shouldn't be lost, right?"

"The Eighth Army now has more than 200,000 people, but he has Guderian stared at it, and it is difficult to get out. The key is that there are only 50,000 British troops standing in front of the Great German Division, but they are still weak in combat power and have 50,000 people with weak fighting will." Molotov was not optimistic about this, "If the Germans go up 1-2 divisions, the British will not be able to withstand it. The Germans are likely to rush to occupy Cairo and Alexandria in the British and American support forces."

It's Stalin's turn to sit still. He doesn't care whether the British in North Africa die or live, but once the Iranian loan licence law supplies transport channel is threatened, it will be painful for the Red Army - both Britain and the United States say that aid is already on the coast of Africa.

"This request can be agreed, but the aid that Britain and the United States promised to give us, especially the tanks, must be accelerated." Stalin turned his head and said to Huasilevsky, "I have adopted your suggestion on prioritizing the attack on the Hot cluster. Please ask the General Staff to formulate an offensive plan immediately, and the faster the initiation time, the better."

Molotov knew that Stalin had different considerations: because the lower reaches of the Don River would freeze in another 10 days. His original intention was to wait until that time came before launching a siege against the Manstein cluster. Now, based on the coordinated position of the allies and in order to protect the Iranian material channel, he could only make up his mind to change his course.

Zhukov and Wasseylevsky looked at each other and nodded in agreement. The plan to encircle and annihilate the Hot cluster was passed by such a coincidence.

At 3 a.m. on December 11, Colombo time, the main force of the huge Japanese joint fleet completed the second supply point operation under the leadership of the general flagship "Musashi" - located about 1,200 nautical miles south of Colombo. 7 days ago, according to the overall plan of the Indian Ocean strategy, the main force of the joint fleet set off from Singapore, passed through the Sunda Strait between Jawa Islands late at night and secretly sneaked into the Indian Ocean.

At the first supply point, some of the replenishing tankers accompanied by the fleet's operations have replenished fuel for each warship. At the second supply point, the remaining tankers have to replenish all heavy oil to the joint fleet and return to Singapore. The remaining Indian Ocean combat itinerary can only count on each warship itself.

The evening before yesterday, the United Fleet, which kept radio silent, received news that the main force of the US Pacific Fleet reappeared in the waters near Guadalam. Intelligence showed that there were at least 10 battleships, 5 aircraft carriers, dozens of light and heavy cruisers and a large number of destroyers, and a total of 2 fleets were formed. What is surprising is that traces of the British fleet were also found, including George V-class battleships and Glory-class aircraft carriers. Before the Japanese side could react, the fierce attack of the British and American fleets began, with the target aiming directly at Monta Island.

In order to vent their anger and retaliate for the last shelling of the joint fleet on Guadalam defenders, the British and American fleets also bombarded Monta Island and also boasted Japanese shelling. In addition to direct bombarding of large-caliber naval guns, nearly 300 aircraft were taken off from each aircraft carrier and Guadalam Airport to bombard the entire island. The shelling and bombing lasted for 4 hours. By the evening, Monta Island was captured and more than 1,000 Japanese defenders were destroyed.

This is the result of Hori Teiki and others insisting on retreating from the islands. If 5-6,000 people were placed according to the original plan, the result would not be improved.

The joint fleet received another telegram at noon yesterday. The British and American fleets, who were still unsatisfied, launched a full-scale attack on Bougainville Island north of Monta Island. It was also a routine of shelling and bombing. The defense system of Bougainville Island is more complete than Monta Island, and its defense forces are also stronger. In addition, the aviation forces in Labaul and Bougainville tried their best to resist. The island's battle continued, but the battle situation was still not optimistic. Whether it was the performance or number of aircraft, the Japanese army was at a disadvantage. The aircraft to attack the fleet was strongly intercepted by the US F4F carrier-based fighter jets. The losses were very large but the results were minimal. Only the Guanghui armored aircraft carrier was created, and even its take-off and landing capabilities were not destroyed.

In the afternoon, the Bougainville defenders, whose overall defense situation was in critical condition, used secret weapons and released more than 20 Sakura man-controlled missiles, and rushed towards the USS** ships by flying by sea. The caught-off British and American artillery fleet did not expect Japan's suicide attack. The battleships of Corodora and Maryland (all repair ships after the Pearl Harbor attack), and the heavy cruiser Indianapolis were hit by the waterline and sank. In addition to these three main battleships, there were 2 transport ships and 3 landing crafts were sunk. Because they could not figure out the number of weapons and the performance of the virtual and real, the fleet commander Lieutenant General Halsey ordered a temporary retreat.

After reading the war report, the senior executives of the United Fleet were in a heavy mood. The US military was so powerful, the offensive was fierce, and the battle situation was far beyond imagination. Some people proposed to give up the Indian Ocean strategy and return to rescue, but Hori Teiki refused without hesitation. Even though the Sakura missile temporarily stopped the US military's offensive, the situation was still not optimistic. This time, the results were achieved through surprise attacks, and it may not be so lucky next time. Moreover, relying on suicide attacks to save the situation is a very painful choice to face the naval elite.

When the last refueling ship left, the entire Musashi Commander Tower fell silent. Everyone was thinking about what to do in the future. Suddenly, a combat staff member pointed outside and shouted: "Sir, look, the opponent is sending us a signal..."

Cao Lu Renyi saw it very clearly. The lights on the oil replenishing ship were bright and extinguished. He used the light signals to convey messages. He read one by one: "United-United-Ship-Team-Wu Yun-Long-Long-Long-Long-Long-Long-Long-Long-Long-Long-Long-Lin!"

"Use lights to send them back the signal."

"What's back?"

Hori Teiki said lightly: "Qi is dead in battle!"
Chapter completed!