After the breakthrough of Kerch, the three Soviet armies, namely the 45th, 44th, and 51st armies, which were located in the rear of the German army, lost their last hope...... Their only way to survive was to flank the Germans on both sides with Kerch.

If the Germans could be annihilated, they would be able to return to Kerch to echo the Taman Peninsula, in their words, "back to the bosom of the Motherland."

But they couldn't do it.

And with their strength alone, it was almost impossible to capture the German garrison of Kerch.

On the one hand, this was due to the fact that the Germans had plenty of ammunition, while the Soviets, although numerous, were running out of ammunition and food.

On the other hand, it is Kerch that has a geographical advantage...... As mentioned before, Kerch was located on high ground with hard ground, which meant that the Soviets were going to attack in the mud. Anyone knows that such an offensive will not make any sense except to increase casualties.

As a result, the vast majority of the three Soviet armies chose to surrender, except for a small number of high-ranking officers and soldiers who were taken out by transport ships, warships, and submarines.

For the Germans, they achieved such an amazing victory that even they could not believe it...... The troops, who were completely weak in strength and equipment, defeated their seemingly formidable opponents in a matter of days, capturing 170,000 Soviet troops and suffering only 7,588 casualties.

On the one hand, this one-nation victory proved the Germans' confidence in their own capabilities and their contempt for the Soviet army's combat capability, and on the other hand, it proved once again that the Soviet troops were demoralized and disorganized rabble.

Therefore, at the moment of the surrender of the three Soviet armies, the cheers of German soldiers resounded throughout Kerch, and Qin Chuan even knew that Manstein would be promoted to marshal soon after because of this.

However, Qin Chuan thought that this was not necessarily a good thing.

Because it was precisely because of the victory in this battle and the same victory in the Kharkov direction...... In fact, the victory in the Battle of Kharkov seems to have been greater, as the Germans surrounded and annihilated 260,000 Soviet troops there, while losing only 20,000 themselves.

But if you look at the ratio of troops, it is clear that the Battle of Kerch is more proud.

Against the backdrop of these two victories, Hitler began to underestimate the enemy, and originally planned to attack Stalingrad (Army Group B on the left flank and Army Group A on the right flank) with a pincer offensive, or it can also be said that Hitler was still hesitating to divide his troops into two lines...... At this point, he no longer hesitated, and resolutely ordered Army Group A to turn to attack the Caucasus.

Of course, the current situation will be a little different, because Qin Chuan intends to preemptively blitz the Caucasus.

Standing on the side of the Kerch Strait, Manstein confidently looked at the Taman Peninsula on the other side, only a few kilometers away, and occasionally raised his telescope to take a look.

"Captain, with your help, I have the proudest victory ever!" Manstein said: "Thank you, and all the soldiers of the First Steps Corps who participated in this campaign!" ”

"You don't need to thank me, General!" Qin Chuan replied: "This is what I should do, besides, this is indeed the proudest victory in your history, but perhaps...... Not the proudest in the future! ”

As he spoke, Qin Chuan's gaze turned to the Taman Peninsula opposite.

Manstein understood what Qin Chuan meant, that is, as he said before...... Hit the Kerch Strait straight to the Caucasus.

Of course, these are not something that can be discussed in such a public place, and there are Kerch civilians everywhere and the captives who are being controlled.

At Manstein's signal, Qin Chuan and Colonel Slain followed Manstein to his headquarters.

"Captain!" Manstein said: "You may not know how difficult an amphibious landing operation is! ”

"No, General, I know!" Qin Chuan replied: "We have successfully resisted the landing operations of the British and Americans in Sicily!" ”

"Uh-huh!" Manstein said: "But that's just an anti-landing operation, isn't it? Moreover, you should know what the British and Americans threw into that landing operation! ”

Of course Qin Chuan knew.

The British and American forces invested a large number of warplanes, warships, transport ships, ground troops, tanks, and airborne troops in that battle.

What Manstein meant by this was that the British and American forces had failed to land in the face of such a large number of troops and equipment, so how could the German 11th Army win the amphibious landing war?

"I've got to make a statement, Captain!" Manstein said: "It's not that I'm not keeping my word, it's that I'm discussing with you the feasibility of an attack!" ”

"I understand, General!" Qin Chuan replied.

Qin Chuan believed what Manstein said...... In other words, Manstein was no longer bound by Hitler's orders as before, but if the attack itself was not feasible, then Manstein would still refuse to attack the Taman Peninsula because he had to take responsibility for the lives of his soldiers.

"This was captured by our reconnaissance plane!" Manstein handed Qin Chuan a few photos and said: "The enemy has warships, gunboats, and a large number of aircraft, and there are fortifications along the coast, although these fortifications are very crude, but any of these points may become a disaster for our landing!" ”

Qin Chuan took the photo and saw that it was several Soviet Type 1125 gunboats.

In fact, Qin Chuan couldn't tell exactly which type of gunboat it was, because the gunboat models of the Soviet Union were too complicated...... This was associated with the emergency mobilization and industrial relocation of the USSR.

Because of the industrial migration, the military industry of the Soviet army on the front line was basically in a stagnant or primitive state, on the other hand, the Soviet army urgently needed a large amount of equipment and put it on the battlefield.

So the Soviets put together equipment haphazardly.

For example, this Type 1125 gunboat is to move the tank turret to the ship as the main gun, and sometimes even carry the Katyusha rocket launcher to it, so it becomes a gunboat of various types.

Of course, there is no need for Qinchuan to subdivide it, it is enough to know that there is such a thing in the Kerch Strait that will pose a threat to the landing.

"So!" Qin Chuan looked at the photo and said, "I believe that the Soviet army will not be prepared for our landing!" ”

"I agree with that!" Manstein replied.

This can be seen in the crude fortifications of the Soviet troops on the coast of the Taman Peninsula.

However, this seems to be normal, how could they, who have the right to control the sea, believe that the German army will cross the strait and land for a battle? What did the Germans cross? Fishing vessel? Doing so would only leave the Germans at the bottom of the sea.

Manstein continued: "But we can't hope for that, can we? ”

"Yes, General!" Qin Chuan replied: "But it can surprise us!" ”