Chapter 1,359 Difficult Choice
Chapter 1359 Difficult Choice
"Look here, we are moving troops from the St. Petersburg area to Poland. Then, look here, the Bavarian Army is moving troops and transporting supplies from East Prussia and Galicia to the front line." Borusinov held a putter in his hand. I made a few false points on the huge sand table.
He didn't have to discuss the details of how many troops the Russians could mobilize, how many artillery pieces they could carry, and their combat effectiveness with the other people present. He only had to let people see that the Russians had supply lines that were several times longer than the Germans, and that the Russians were as dense as the Germans. There are vascular railways and two or three small railway lines on our side. Everyone knows that if this army reaches the east side of the encirclement, the scene of fighting between the two sides will happen! If the Germans take the initiative to attack, then this battle will be impossible to fight!
Is Russia’s St. Petersburg Military District strong? Of course it's strong! Although there is only one army in name, its scale and equipment are better than those of the Fourth Army, and this is only the number of field armies. Don't forget, it includes fortress garrison troops in the Gulf of Riga, along the Baltic Sea coast, and the Gulf of Finland, as well as garrisons of various natures! After all, this is the capital of an empire. You must know that even in history, when Russia collapsed, the German army still did not advance to the city of St. Petersburg! As for the specific number of troops, no one here may be able to tell clearly, because these troops are directly controlled by the Russian Emperor. They don't know.
However, the strength of the St. Petersburg Military District troops is willing! They want to surround the capital and resist the northward offensive that the Germans may choose! If it were before, the Germans would definitely not have this ability. but now? When the five armies of the Polish Military District are about to be destroyed, the Russians may actually come up with a plan to attack Huanglong! Because, for nearly half a year, these troops are probably the only ones the St. Petersburg Military District can rely on!
The replenishment rate of Russian industry and soldiers can no longer keep up with the rate of consumption! What's even more terrible is that the coal mines and grain that the St. Petersburg area needs must go from the Ukraine area, through the Moscow area, and then diagonally upward to reach St. Petersburg! This **** requires thousands of kilometers of railways or land routes! During the war, with Russia's World War I transportation capabilities, the pressure was too great! Even if the rear mobilizes troops from Siberia, the Ural Mountains, and the Transcaucasus to reach St. Petersburg, it will be a very long process! Therefore, in Borusinov's view, unless you are prepared to abandon the capital and let the Germans walk in the palace, the troops of the St. Petersburg Military District really cannot move lightly. And even if it is moved, it may not be useful!
War is so cold-blooded! Cold to the core, mechanical calculations and plans are strictly prohibited! Sometimes it’s even a simple death order! Just to win the so-called turning point in the eyes of those in power! And this is especially true for the Russians! Look at those commanders who were liquidated in World War II because they clearly had no choice but to carry out the stupid orders above. The Germans were able to progress so smoothly at the beginning of World War II. The top Russian officials, including Stalin, must bear at least 30% of the responsibility!
"It's not fair! You can't do this. I can't face my men. I can't tell them that we have been abandoned and there will be no more reinforcements. Let's all die together!" Kuropatkin insisted. road,
He no longer looked at Borusinov, but looked at Nikolaev!
"We can try to mobilize some troops and transport teams from Ukraine. Reach General Kuropatkin at a suitable range. If I were a German, after this battle is over, I will consider attacking St. Petersburg, but Ukraine will not It’s the next target, because the value here is much lower than that of St. Petersburg.” At this time, Alexeyev said again.
"Your Excellency Kuropatkin, I think you should know that we have tried our best!" After Nikolayev glanced at Alexeyev, he did not refute, which was regarded as acquiescing to the latter.
In fact, the Russians are eager for the German army to attack Ukraine! It is true that Ukraine is very important and is the breadbasket of the entire Eastern Europe. There is also a large amount of coal in Donetsk, which provides more than 40% of Russia's current coal burning. But it's still a little worse than the capital. And according to the Russian logistics concept, it is absolutely impossible for Ukraine to fall within one year because it is quite deep. The Russians can retreat in large strides and then use their cavalry to harass the opponent. For Russia, which cannot defeat the German army head-on, the only option is to delay!
Of course, even so, the number of troops the Russians can mobilize is still very small. Even if the militias are included in the entire Ukrainian region, they cannot form an army. Not to mention the transportation problem, so Nikolayev’s words contained more comforting elements.
That night, Kuropatkin prepared to respond. On the one hand, he asked the remnants of the First Army to hinder the Mackensen Army's attack at all costs. The remnants of the Fourth and Fifth Armies continued to block Prince Leopold on the southern front. On the other hand, except for the most basic troops remaining on the front line, the first and second armies all began to shrink towards Warsaw.
"The best result I can do at the moment is to withdraw part of the First and Second Army from the German encirclement network before it is completed. Once the German encirclement network is closed, then the possibility of our breakthrough will be It has become very low. I think it is almost impossible for reinforcements from the direction of St. Petersburg to arrive." Kuropatkin wrote in his field diary that night.
However, just as the entire Russian military hierarchy was not very optimistic about the encircled Polish theater, Tsar Nicholas II who was far away in St. Petersburg did not think so, just after the day's battle report was sent up. In the imperial meeting held by the tsar, the tsar pounded the table and demanded that the Russian army must find ways to relieve the main force in Poland!
"Your Majesty, we no longer have enough troops to relieve the siege. There is only one army group in the entire Baltic Sea coast and St. Petersburg area, and there is simply no time." The Russian Prime Minister said.
"No troops? Then pick up your rifle and charge me!" Nicholas II said: "Do you know? If the empire loses millions of troops in this battle, then the government will Will lose prestige! Millions of families will leave their fields and factories and stand on the roads and squares to demonstrate and protest against us! And the opposition will take the opportunity to rise! Russia has never been afraid of foreign enemies, no matter how big the losses are, we can do it Keep going, but we are afraid of civil strife!"
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