Chapter 166
< World War II - The Accelerating War (4) >
January 20, 1941
Central Poland, near Siedlce - Contested Area
“Damn it, those bastards learned a good lesson from us!”
General of the Panzer Troops Oswald Lutz spat out a curse.
Using anti-aircraft guns as anti-tank guns in defensive positions—the experience of having the Soviet Army use the very tactic started by the Condor Legion, which had become a core doctrine of German defensive warfare, was truly terrible.
Not only the Panzer IV (Early Model) with its weak armor, but even the new model Panzer IV with its sloped armor would not survive a direct hit from an over-8cm anti-aircraft gun.
He hadn't launched the attack thinking it would be easy, but Lutz had suffered unexpectedly significant damage against the defense line established by Líster, getting tied down for a day.
It was a good thing he coordinated with the infantry and received air support; it was obvious what horrific losses he would have suffered if he had underestimated them and just pushed the tanks forward.