**Chapter 853: Aiding the Soviet Union (10)**

Near every crossing point where the German 21st Panzer Corps had forded the river, the wrecks of numerous Soviet tanks lay scattered. The Wehrmacht had not even engaged in direct tank-on-tank combat; relying solely on 88mm gun positions hastily arranged during the brief cover of smoke screens and the support of Stuka dive-bombers, they had neutralized the Soviet armored units attempting to intercept them.

After crossing, the Germans fought as they moved. The heroic attacks of the Soviet infantry failed to yield significant results. The panzer units under Rommel's command easily breached the field positions established by the infantry and continued their northward drive.

Rommel's unit was not the only one advancing north along the Volga; Army Group South had also dispatched forces along the opposite bank. News of the twin German advances reached Moscow, leaving the generals of the Red Army General Staff in a state of extreme tension. The Volga lay east of Moscow; if the Germans were allowed to continue this advance, not only would the link between Moscow and the southern USSR be severed, but the Germans would form a massive encirclement around the capital.

Marshal Zhukov was undoubtedly the most composed among the Soviet high command, directing the war methodically and remaining unmoved. Even when Stalin urgently summoned him to the Kremlin, Zhukov's expression remained calm.

Seeing Zhukov's composure, even Stalin felt his agitation subside somewhat. However, his tone remained stern: "Chief of Staff Zhukov, the German offensive has become a grave threat to national security. The Red Army must immediately launch a counter-offensive to crush the German arrogance."

Stalin used such a fierce tone because he knew the difficulties the Red Army faced. Without sufficient pressure, they would not launch a powerful counter-attack. Just as Stalin was about to erupt in rage at an expected refusal from Zhukov, the Marshal replied: "General Secretary, the Red Army will launch a counter-offensive in the Volga basin on October 16th to deal the Wehrmacht a head-on blow."

Although Stalin had demanded a counter-attack, hearing Zhukov speak so calmly actually made him worry for a moment. At the start of the war, he had repeatedly ordered frontline units to hold or counter-attack, and they had resolutely obeyed. The results had been disastrous, causing many unnecessary losses.

Now, with Stalingrad lost, Stalin feared a counter-offensive forced by pressure might be too hasty and lead to another failure.

In this state of uncertainty, Stalin paused before asking, "Chief of Staff, do you believe the time for a counter-offensive has arrived?"

Zhukov replied steadily, "If the Red Army does not counter-attack the southern Germans now, their thrust will severely impact the entire front. Furthermore, it is entirely possible the Germans will drive south to sabotage the Baku oil fields. A powerful counter-attack will ease the pressure on the units defending Baku."

This answer met Stalin's expectations, and his tone finally softened. "When will the counter-attack begin?"

"Today is October 6th. The counter-attack will begin on October 15th," Zhukov replied.

"It must begin on October 13th!" Stalin immediately upped the ante.

Although Zhukov felt Stalin's attitude disregarded military common sense, he committed nonetheless: "The counter-offensive will begin on the 13th."

On October 7th, the German forces on the left bank of the Volga were checked by Soviet troops occupying high ground and were forced to halt and engage. Rommel, on the right bank, did not wait but continued his advance north. Ahead lay the last small tributary of the Volga blocking his path to Samara. Once across, his 21st Panzer Corps could drive straight for its objective.

On the morning of October 8th, Rommel successfully crossed the river again. This time, the Red Army showed no sign of retreating, engaging the Germans in fierce combat from fortifications built over the last three days.

By noon, inside the 21st Panzer Corps headquarters, Rommel's brow was deeply furrowed. The terrain here was undulating hills; even without a solid urban complex like Stalingrad for support, the Soviet troops held every height and refused to budge.

The Germans tried to pass through the gaps between the hills, but the Soviets had laid numerous mines in the passages, causing significant losses to the panzer crews. Multiple attempts failed to find a path for the offensive.

The 21st Corps Chief of Staff couldn't help but sigh: "General, has the USSR placed its main force here?"

Rommel did not answer. He knew the Chief of Staff was subtly warning him of a potential threat. Previous German campaigns had involved full coordination between units in pincer movements. Rommel's current operation was not a full campaign but a raid to destroy a railway hub. Thus, the 21st Panzer Corps was a lone unit striking deep. The Red Army likely viewed it as the spearhead of a massive encirclement and was naturally doing everything possible to stop it.

After reflecting, Rommel ordered his Chief of Staff: "Organize the demolition engineers from all units and have a brigade protect them as they skirt the very edge of the Soviet lines to carry out a full demolition of the railway bridge."

The Chief of Staff's face looked grim; he felt the plan was too risky. He suggested, "Should a full division be responsible for the thrust?"

Rommel shook his head. "No. We must make the Soviets believe our goal is to capture Samara and control the rail line, rather than retreating after destroying it. Therefore, our main force must project such an offensive posture."

Tactical deception was an essential tool for the Wehrmacht. The Chief of Staff finally agreed and began arranging the battle. Rommel, as was his custom, went directly to the front, observing the Soviet defenses from a forward post.

The Germans launched another attack. Planes roared overhead, relentlessly strafing and bombing the Soviet positions. Smoke rolled over the Red Army lines amidst constant explosions. After the aerial bombardment, German artillery struck Soviet strongpoints to clear obstacles for the advance.

As Rommel lacked a solid supply line and relied on carried ammunition, the barrage was brief. As soon as it ended, the infantry in position moved forward, crouching low as they charged the Soviet lines. After an exchange of fire, the Germans took out the machine gun nests and finally breached the defenses.

Through his binoculars, it was hard to see clearly, but from the shifting figures and violent movements, it was clear hand-to-hand combat had begun. Ten minutes later, word came from the front that they had captured the Soviet position.

Before long, another report arrived: the Soviets had organized a counter-attacking force to retake the ground. No sooner had the news arrived than the Soviet artillery began its barrage. The Luftwaffe immediately struck the Soviet batteries. Yet the suppression failed to stop the counter-attack; the Soviets paid a heavy price, charging onto the position and engaging in fierce combat. The German attacking force, having lost over half its strength, was driven from the heights and retreated in disarray to its starting point.

Watching this, hope rose in Rommel's heart. The Red Army was fighting so desperately that its attrition must be enormous. If their strength wasn't at least triple that of the Germans, the 21st Corps, with its absolute air superiority, could potentially fix the Soviets onto the frontal defense of Samara, creating an excellent opportunity to destroy the railway.

Furthermore, Rommel had an even bolder idea. But whether to execute it depended on the Soviet unit designations and numbers he could obtain—which meant seeing how many prisoners were taken and how much intelligence could be squeezed from them.

By 3:00 PM, Rommel finally received the intelligence he sought. The opposing Red Army consisted of three corps, two of which were units being rebuilt in the Samara area after being heavily damaged in the first phase of the war. One was an armored corps that had been fully replenished with tanks.

Having determined the general situation of his opponent, Rommel finally issued his orders. He generally disliked head-on battles, but this time he acted against his nature, ordering a powerful push. Simultaneously, he ordered his 88mm guns moved forward. Though puzzled, the troops obeyed.

Near dusk, clouds of dust rose behind the Soviet lines. German reconnaissance planes reported that the Soviet armored corps had begun a counter-attack from the west.

Only then did Rommel breathe a sigh of relief. Based on his experience on the Eastern Front, he judged that while the Red Army often performed well initially, as the battle continued, their commanders would begin doing strange things.

If Rommel were defending with superior numbers, he would have done so rigorously, enduring normal losses until the opponent made a mistake, then striking a decisive blow. But the Soviet commanders thought only of how to defeat the enemy more quickly, rather than adjusting based on the battlefield situation.

As with this counter-attack: although Rommel hadn't expected it so soon, he felt it was likely they would do it. Even if they hadn't, he would have used various feints tomorrow to draw them into it.

The Soviet tank charge was actually well-conceived, utilizing the sunset to strike from the west. This took full advantage of the poor visibility for the Germans. And being dusk, they could retreat smoothly if things went poorly, preventing pursuit by German panzers.

But Rommel hadn't prepared a tank counter-attack for them; he had prepared a trap of 88mm guns. Sure enough, as the Soviet tanks charged unimpeded toward the German lines, the 88s fired their first shots. At such close range, the turret of the first Soviet tank struck was sent flying into the air.