It is difficult for a clever woman to cook without rice. As early as the beginning of the “Battle of the Lower Dnieper” at the end of 1943, he had a showdown with the Nazi heads of state:

“Germany wants to abandon illusions. Ukraine will absolutely not be able to hold it unless you give me 12 more fully-staffed German armored divisions with high morale!” But at this time the Eastern Front has entered a full-scale counteroffensive, and the Northern Army Group and the Central Army Group are also struggling, and the German military has bottomed out. This suggestion is obviously unrealistic. Manstein stepped back and asked the head of state to replenish the troops with a large number of tanks, at least 500 new Tiger and Panther. However, the idea that Nazi Germany reduced industrial production due to the British and American bombings could not be realized. The Nazi heads of state put up two fingers and could only guarantee the dispatch of Manstein’s two divisions. Manstein could only sigh helplessly. Soon after, in January 1944, the Soviet Red Army launched the “Korsun-Shevchenkovsky Battle”. The Korsun salient was eaten by the Soviet army. 60,000 German troops broke through tragically, and only more than 30,000 people were evacuated. The southern cluster has not slowed down. The Red Army under the winning position did not give the Germans any chance to breathe, and the second stage of the offensive was already on the line. In March 1944, the Soviet Union launched the “Proskurov-Chernovich Offensive”, that is, the Chernivtsi Offensive, which the Germans called the “Kanemets-Podulsky Pocket Battle”. This battle was part of the campaign for the liberation of Ukraine. The Soviet army intended to divide the German Southern Army Group and force it to the Carpathian Mountains and then encircle and annihilate it. Zhukov and Manstein made the final duel in Ukraine because of the famous pair. The Soviet Union won a strategic victory, while the Germans still won a tactical victory by virtue of their excellent tactical qualities. After the battle, both the Soviets and Germans were dissatisfied with the result: Marshal Zhukov thought that the Soviets had performed too poorly in this battle and let go of their mouths; and Manstein was dismissed by the Nazi head of state because of this battle, and left. The stage of the Second World War. In March 1944, what kind of peak showdown did Manstein and Zhukov staged?

1. The embarrassing German army: Can’t fight, can’t run yet

Throughout World War II, a large number of battles or offensives with circumscribed names appeared on the Soviet-German battlefield, such as the “Battle of Proskurov-Chernovic”, “Battle of Lviv-Sandomer”, and “Battle of Uygur The Swa River-Aud River Battle” and so on. These battles often took place in the second half of the Soviet-German war, and they were basically part of the Soviet Union’s “ten Stalin strikes”. During the Soviet counter-offensive stage in the late Soviet-German War, millions of the Red Army advanced westward almost simultaneously, interspersing and annihilating the German forces on a large scale, killing and injuring the German forces. These battles often do not target specific cities and regions, but rather a range of combat purposes. Therefore, the starting place or ending point of the battle is taken together to form the name of the battle. On February 17, 1944, the Battle of Korson-Shepchenkovsky ended, and the Soviet army swallowed the Cherkasy protrusion of the Dnieper River Bend. 30,000 German troops died in the breakout, and the relief troops also suffered more than 20,000 casualties and lost 500 tanks and destroyers. Manstein looked at the Soviet front. On the long line of defense of the entire southern cluster, the four major fronts of the Soviet army had as many as 2.5 million, and 800,000 German troops were slammed in Denis outside the Carpathian Mountains. Te River and Prut River Basin. One step harder, the Soviet army will regain all the territory and push the front to Eastern Europe. The German army had just gone through a big defeat, and the armored forces of the Southern Army Group suffered heavy losses but could not be replenished. After eating 30,000 German troops, the Soviet army stopped its offensive in mid-February 1944. The German General Staff in the rear sent a message that they believed that the Soviet army would not launch another offensive. The muddy road conditions in Ukraine were not suitable for mechanized troops to march. Moreover, the Soviet logistics line was too long and the supply of materials would be difficult. Wait until the end of spring to act. Manstein smiled bitterly when he got the news. These “generals in the office” always made plausible suggestions, but they didn’t understand the Eastern Front battlefield, let alone the Soviet army.

Manstein believes that the Soviet offensive is on the line, and it may even be tomorrow! Muddy, cold, and tight supplies were not the reason for the armistice, because the Soviets were vigorous and motivated. They wanted revenge and drove the Germans back to Eastern Europe. The Nazi head of state strictly ordered the German army to hold on to the west of Ukraine, defend and counterattack the Soviet army. In his eyes, the Soviet army is still a mob, the loose sand that was captured more than 1 million in 1941. But what he didn’t know was that the Soviet army had long been reborn from the ashes. The Soviet army in 1944 was already the largest and most powerful army on the planet. It was only a matter of time before the German army was defeated.

2. The largest front army coordinated attack in the history of the Soviet army

Manstein guessed that the Soviet army would attack, and they would cut off the German army in order to divide the south into the group. But if he understands the true intentions of the top Soviet army, the marshal may be shocked to drop his jaw—— Comrade Stalin gave orders to the Soviet Belarusian 2nd Front Army and the Ukrainian 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Front Army to wipe out the Southern German Group in the spring of 1944 and let the German aggressors leave their bodies on Soviet soil. The four Soviet fronts attacked across the board. The Ukrainian 3rd Front attacked in the direction of the Bug River in the south. The Belarusian 2nd Front attacked Rivne and broke into the rear of the Central Army Group. The Ukrainian 1st and 2nd Fronts were responsible for directly attacking southern Germany. The front of the cluster rushed to the Carpathian Mountains to prevent the German army from retreating to the north of the Transnistria. This campaign of mobilizing millions of troops to attack together is unprecedented in human history, and Manstein’s pressure can be imagined. After the Battle of Korsun, the German 1st Panzer Army led by General Hubei was under the attack of Ukraine’s 1st and 2nd Front Army. This army was specially dispatched by Manstein to relieve Korsun. However, after the completion of the rescue, the 1st armored group was trapped in the area of ​​Kamenets-Podolski. The 200,000 German troops were trapped in the severe cold, and the periphery was several times their own Soviet troops. Manstein requested that the 1st Armored Army be withdrawn from the iron net to prevent Corzon’s tragedy from repeating itself. But the Nazi Führer refused this request again. He remained the same and ordered the Germans not to retreat and hold their ground. On February 29, 1944, General Vatutin, the commander of the Ukrainian First Front, was attacked by Ukrainian national elements and was severely injured before his death. On March 1, Zhukov was sent to the Ukrainian First Front Army to take over the troops. The “Deputy Commander of the Soviet Command” once again came to the battlefield to command the army. As the commander of the airborne command, General Zhukov must certainly show his talents in the frontline troops. He immediately organized the troops to launch the “Chernovic offensive” after taking office. The four armies of the southern cluster are all on the front, from north to south are the 4th Armored Army, the 1st Armored Army, the 8th Army, and the 6th Army. Almost every German army has to face the pressure of the two fronts of the Soviet Union. The number of opponents and the number of tanks, artillery, and fighters are several times that of its own. There are 200,000 German troops in the poor “Hubei pocket”. There are 7 Soviet Army groups that form the encirclement alone, with more than 600,000 men and more than 700 tanks. Putting this gap in force on other battlefields, the weaker party may directly surrender. .

3. Hubei Pocket: I predicted your prediction

From March 4th to 11th, all the four fronts began to attack. Smoke billowed from western Ukraine and artillery blasted the sky. But as a commander who took over halfway, Zhukov didn’t know much about the situation of the Ukrainian First Front. The army had problems on the first day of the offensive: First of all, the front-line tank troops were in desperate fuel supply. They could only march for three days. The tank troops had to stop and wait for supplies. The spring mud in Ukraine made it difficult for the army to move at any time. Except for the tanks, all the artillery, engineers, and logistics vehicles were all lying down. The soldiers could only push the cars, and the supplies could not be sent to the front line for a while. The second problem is that the Uzbek’s 1st Front Army has a serious shortage of first-line troops. Some infantry divisions have only half of them. Tanks are even more pitiful. Some “tank army” have less than 100 tanks. But the information could not be transmitted to the headquarters for a while, and Zhukov was not aware of it until very late. The Soviet army had already reached Proskurov on March 10, cut off the Osad-Lviv railway, and separated the German 1st Panzer Army from the 4th Panzer Army. However, due to comprehensive factors such as supply and weather, the Soviet army’s subsequent offensive was not smooth. The counter-assault launched by the German army once made it difficult for the Soviet army to move, and the Soviet infantry even showed fear of war. On March 11, the Army Group South began a counter-assault. 10 German armored divisions counterattacked in the areas of Proskurov and Ternopil. German tanks caused huge casualties to the Soviet army. The frontline situation was urgent and the Soviet forward was forced to retreat. Zhukov hurriedly applied to Stalin to stop the offensive and enter a defensive state, and levied a large amount of tank fuel and ammunition on the front line. At the same time, the Ukrainian 2nd Front Army fought very smoothly. The Soviet army defeated the German 1st Armored Army in the Uman area and seized hundreds of tanks and tens of thousands of trucks, which greatly eased Zhukov’s pressure. After the reorganization of the Ukrainian 1st Front Army, it attacked again, and the Second Front Army’s encirclement of the German 1st Armored Army has been sealed off. This is the famous “Hubei Pocket”. The 200,000 German troops were tied up by the smaller and smaller encirclement. Manstein was anxious as the commander-in-chief. Under the threat of his “resignation”, the Nazi head of state transferred one SS Panzer Corps and two divisions. Members of the southern cluster, and strive to relieve Hubei pocket. But when deciding the direction of the breakthrough, Manstein, the Nazi head of state, and General Hubei, the commander of the 1st Armored Army, had a disagreement. Hubei believes that the south is their only chance to break through, because the Soviet defense here is weak, the army can enter the Transnistria area, and then escape into Romania. However, Manstein strongly disagreed with this line of defense. He suggested that the 1st Panzer Army break through to the west and join the 4th Panzer Army.

Man Shuai’s reason is simple: the German opponent is Zhukov, the best Soviet commander is good at fighting siege and annihilation, the defects in the south is impossible not to be aware of, the Soviet army is likely to have set up positions there. General Hubei thought that Manstein was crazy, and he reported the news to the Nazi head of state. The Nazi head of state also felt that Manstein was a fool. The marshal actually flew to Ukraine to summon Manstein himself and scolded him. But Manstein was very resolute. He claimed that he would not allow the 1st Panzer Army to withdraw westward and immediately resigned. In the end, the Nazi head of state had to agree with him.

It turns out that Manstein was right.

At that time Zhukov had already detected the German retreat, and the large forces began to rush to the south of Hubei’s pocket. If Manstein hadn’t insisted on his own opinion, the 1st Panzer Army might be killed on this wall.

Fourth, the German Wehrmacht on the edge of the cliff

Decided to break through to the west, the German army has tactically beaten the Soviet army, and the rest is the issue of the German army’s ability to execute.

Zhukov was full of self-confidence and laid a defense line in the northern part of Transnistria to wait for Hubei. Unexpectedly, the Germans turned around and turned right before contacting the Soviets and drove west. The soldiers were extremely fast, and the tank units of the 1st Armored Army took the lead, rushing westward at full force, and the remaining troops were divided into three parts to break through.

Manstein took the opportunity to attack the Soviet Union’s western defense line because of the last request of the 2nd SS Panzer Corps and the two infantry divisions to take up the 1st Panzer Army. In the heavy snowstorm in the sky, the morale of the German army was high, and the troops were in strict order. They fought and left with the supply of the air force. They reunited with the relief troops on April 6.

After discovering that the Germans had broken through to the west, the Soviet 4th Tank Army and the 18th Guards Infantry Corps, which were responsible for the western defense, blocked the Germans, but they were quickly defeated. Because these two units only have 60 tanks, it is difficult to resist the offensive of the SS Panzer Army “Tiger Tank”.

As of April 11th, all the 200,000 German troops in Hubei’s pocket had escaped. According to the German statistics, the 1st Panzer Army only paid 16,000 casualties and broke through the encirclement of millions of Soviet troops. This had to be Said it was a miracle. But Marshal Manstein, the creator of this miracle, has been dismissed. He was ordered to be dismissed on March 30, and Model will take his place.

Judging from the performance from the end of 1943 to the beginning of 1944, Man Shuai deserves the title of “famous general”, no wonder he ranked first among the three major German generals. Before this battle, Manstein insisted “ Soldiers’ affairs, the soldiers handle “He applied to set up” Commander-in-chief of the eastern front “The position caused strong dissatisfaction with the Nazi head of state, who believed that this move was to take himself out of the army.

After Manstein’s repeated disobedience, the top of the Nazi Party had lost patience with this general. Although the German troops in Ukraine were wiped out under his command, the Nazis still put the label of “failure” on Manstein. , And used this to kill the chickens and wary monkeys, warning the generals on the front line to obey the orders of the head of state.

But Huber’s pocket’s rescue did not resolve the Soviet offensive. The four major Soviet forces continued to advance and completed their strategic mission in May. Zhukov’s army came to Chernivtsi in front of the Carpathians and divided the German forces. Open. In this campaign, the Soviet army wiped out more than 120,000 German troops, destroyed more than 300 tanks and destroyers, and 600 fighters.

Although the German losses were not great, they almost lost Ukraine, and the Southern Army Group was renamed the “Northern Ukraine Army Group” to fight the beasts on the Uzbek-Polish border.

After May 1944, the Soviet-German war was over. The German Wehrmacht generals already knew that defeat was inevitable, and how to save Germany was a question for soldiers to think about.

In July 1944, some German generals launched an assassination operation, wanting to get rid of the head of state and let Germany dismount from the aggressive chariot. Unfortunately, the assassination failed. After the incident, the Nazi Party purged the generals of the German Wehrmacht, the mastermind was shot, a large number of military commanders were investigated for “loyalty” issues, the frontline generals were imprisoned or replaced, the generals The marshals are also in danger. It can be said that after the summer of 1944, the German Wehrmacht had the Soviet army before and the Nazi Party afterwards, and it had already been forced to the edge of the cliff. Millions of troops on the frontline are in a dilemma. This war has become a chronic death of German soldiers and officers.

Text/Business Field Reference: “Erich von Manstein: Hitler’s Master of Strategy” Wu Tong

The kitchens at the 434th Brigade divided meals close to mealtime so that the soldiers could eat hot and delicious food. The person who directly organized the cooking for the officers and soldiers of Battalion 1 was Army Corps Major Do Van Cuong, the squad leader who raised the troops. He has many years of experience, so it is easy to change the cooking method to suit the taste of soldiers in each locality and region; adjust the time, reasonable force in the squad… for the best service quality. QNCN Major Do Van Cuong confided: “I feel guilty if I feed my troops and let them not eat well. Therefore, we tell each other to regularly change the processing method so that it is both delicious and eye-catching. and ensure food hygiene and safety; divide meals later, do not let it cool, and arrange the tray of rice neatly and neatly, directly affecting the sight, the soldiers will eat more delicious”. , Mr. Cuong reads a few verses, as the “mantra” for the unit’s army rearing department: “Eating well is not for money/ The same standard plus enthusiasm/ Neat, tidy, hygienic/ Raising The army must have the word love and the word heart.” Not only the kitchen of Battalion 1, the kitchens of Battalion 2, Battalion 3 and brigade agencies also always ensure the quality and meet the standards of the army’s rations. The army rearing force always upholds responsibility, actively improves meals, dedicatedly and wholeheartedly serves to make the soldiers eat well and eat all the rations. Each meal is weighed and measured in full quantity, strictly checked for food quality, under the supervision of the unit on duty. The brigade logistics industry is self-sufficient in incubating bean sprouts, making beans, wrapping sausages, pickling salt, etc. to provide units to both ensure food safety and hygiene and save costs about 20% compared market price. As a result, the quality of the soldiers’ meals was improved… Colonel Nguyen Viet Hung, Brigade Commander of the 434th Brigade said: With the effective and creative measures and the service spirit of the dedicated and caring army rearing team, the soldiers’ lives have been significantly improved. , contributing to ensuring the regular strength of the army to reach 99.5%, successfully carrying out the tasks of training, fixed assets, and building a strong and comprehensive unit.

Withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, the US is still concerned about al-Qaeda. (Source: Reuters) In a report to the National Assembly entitled “Strengthening security and stability in Afghanistan”, the US Department of Defense emphasized: “The Al-Qaeda terrorist group still poses a threat to its soldiers and US allies in Afghanistan through ongoing interaction with local Taliban chiefs ”. Earlier this month, US President Joe Biden approved the complete withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan by 9/11. Same day, CNN quoted three US defense officials as saying that some of the US military equipment began to be shipped out of Afghanistan, which were unnecessary equipment and supplies, which were not destroyed or transferred to the force. Afghan security. Meanwhile, outdated equipment will be destroyed. This is the first move by the US military since President Joe Biden last week announced details of a plan to withdraw troops from Afghanistan with a deadline of 9/11, the full 20 years of the crisis. father in 2001 and also the event that sparked the US war in this southwest Asian country. (Reuters)

Earlier on April 22, the Russian Defense Ministry announced the completion of the exercise near Ukraine and ordered the withdrawal of troops back to the base after the mass deployment of troops close to the Ukrainian border. Video: Russian troops withdraw their troops from the border with Ukraine According to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, the troops will return to the base by May 1. Mr. Shoigu said that the military must be ready to react quickly in “unfavorable” situations from large-scale drills led by the US, NATO and its allies, called Defender-Europe. It is not clear whether the order to recall troops back to the permanent base includes all the forces involved in the recent move to the Ukrainian border. In a statement made on April 23, Ukraine confirmed that the withdrawal of Russian troops from the two countries’ borders could ease tensions, but this step alone did not prevent escalation or conflict in the Donbass. Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have increased recently after Kiev accused Moscow of sending tens of thousands of troops closer to the border. Ukraine, Western nations and NATO have accused Russia of deploying “provocative” troops on Ukraine’s eastern border and in Crimea. Russia, for its part, insists its troops pose no threat and that its presence is only defensive and that its presence is only defensive. Moscow simultaneously accused the US and NATO of having “provocative activities” in the Black Sea region.

American B-52 bomber In addition, Minister Austin has also deployed long-range bombers, of which two B-52s have arrived in the area, to protect US forces in Afghanistan during the withdrawal. US and NATO forces in Afghanistan will withdraw ground forces from the country by May 1 and aim to complete the withdrawal of all troops from Afghanistan by September 11. On April 23, US media reported that the United States had begun transporting military equipment out of Afghanistan. Mr. Kirby confirmed the information, adding that the military equipment would be returned to the United States, deployed to other parts of the world, transferred to the Afghan security forces, or destroyed. A Pentagon spokesman said all military equipment would be transported out of Afghanistan by air, but he did not disclose the cost of the US withdrawal. Afghanistan continued to see clashes between the Taliban insurgents and the Afghan army, despite commencing peace talks between the movement and Qatar’s Kabul in Doha in September 2020. CENTCOM Commander Kenneth McKenzie said on April 22 that peace negotiations in Afghanistan are now at a standstill and stressed the need of the US to continue to support the government. Afghanistan to help the government avoid the risk of collapse after foreign forces withdraw.

American soldiers at a training camp in Herat, Afghanistan. Photo: Getty Images According to the VNA correspondent in Washington, speaking during a Senate hearing, General McKenzie stated: “We will add resources to protect forces when withdrawing. This is normal in any event. form of withdrawal “. However, General McKenzie did not give temporary replenishment numbers and said plans were underway. General McKenzie also reiterated the US military’s concern that the withdrawal could facilitate the Taliban increased operations in Afghanistan. He is concerned about the Afghan military’s ability to maintain the current situation without the support it has had for many years. He warns the Taliban are now bigger than 2011, estimated at 50,000 fighters, and control more areas in Afghanistan than they did 10 years ago. Previously, President Joe Biden announced that the US – the country with the largest soldiers stationed in Afghanistan – would withdraw all remaining troops in Afghanistan before 9/11, 20 years after the series of attacks. Al-Qaeda’s father sparked a protracted US war in this southwest Asian country. US allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have also agreed to withdraw their troops from Afghanistan according to the US withdrawal route. The war in Afghanistan left 2,400 US soldiers dead and cost the country an estimated $ 2 trillion. At the peak, the number of US troops in Afghanistan once reached 100,000 people in 2011. Currently the number of NATO troops in Afghanistan is about 9,600 people, of which the US has 2,500 soldiers and Germany has 1,100 soldiers.

American soldiers at Kandahar airbase, Afghanistan. (Photo: AFP / VNA) The head of American forces in the Middle East, General Kenneth McKenzie April 22 said the US will temporarily deploy more troops to Afghanistan to protect international forces when withdrawing. According to the VNA correspondent in Washington, speaking during a Senate hearing, General McKenzie stated: “We will add resources to protect forces when withdrawing. This is normal in any event. What form of withdrawal? ” However, General McKenzie did not give temporary replenishment numbers and said plans were underway. General McKenzie also reiterated the US military’s concern that the withdrawal could facilitate the Taliban increased operations in Afghanistan. He is concerned about the Afghan military’s ability to maintain the current situation without the support it has had for many years. Mr. McKenzie warned the forces Taliban is now larger than 2011, estimated at 50,000 fighters, and controls more areas in Afghanistan than it was 10 years ago. Previously, President Joe Biden announced that the US – the country with the most troops stationed in Afghanistan – would withdraw all remaining troops in Afghanistan before 9/11, 20 years after the series of attacks. Al-Qaeda’s father sparked a protracted US war in this southwest Asian country. US allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have also agreed Withdrawing troops from Afghanistan right to the US withdrawal route . The war in Afghanistan left 2,400 US soldiers dead and cost the country an estimated $ 2 trillion. At the peak, the number of US troops in Afghanistan once reached 100,000 people in 2011. Currently the number of NATO soldiers still in Afghanistan is about 9,600 people, of which the US has 2,500 soldiers and Germany has 1,100 soldiers./.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu affirmed that the country’s military has successfully completed “quick tests”, responded well to “unfavorable” situations and has demonstrated “reliable” defense capabilities. “Of this country. Russian Su-34 fighters at the Morozovsk air base of Russia, near the Ukrainian border on March 27. Satellite photo: Maxar However, Mr. Shoigu still asked to keep the heavy weapons, some 160km from the Ukrainian border, in preparation for another major exercise later this year. On Twitter, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy immediately said it welcomes any steps to reduce Russia’s military presence at its border and alleviate tensions in the Donbass. President Zelensky added that Ukraine is very grateful to the international partners who have supported and sided with this country over the past time. Meanwhile, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said that the country was aware of Russia’s withdrawal announcement, but still had to wait for the actual withdrawal, and affirmed that it would always follow the developments closely. situation. The NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization assesses Russia’s steps as important and timely. And like the United States, NATO will continue to be concerned about the Russian-Ukraine border situation. Another development that is expected to ease the situation is that Russian President Putin declares his readiness for talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Zelensky in Moscow. In response to Mr. Zelensky’s earlier invitation to meet and the venue is Donbass, the Russian President said: “The question is what will be discussed at this meeting? If we talk about discussing Donbass issues, Ukraine leaders should first meet the separatist leader, and then meet a third country like Russia. If we talk about bilateral relations, we would like to invite and receive the President of Ukraine whenever it is convenient for him in Moscow. Although the Russia-Ukraine summit may not take place soon, but those are also the statements that help cool the current situation, after a series of previous hard statements by the two sides, such as Ukraine is ready for 1 The war comes together with Russia, and Russia will not “indifferent” if the situation worsens … /.

According to Politico, Pentagon officials have passed intelligence on the suspected attacks to US lawmakers. However, a Defense Department spokesperson told the site that the agency was ignorant of direct energy attacks against US troops in Syria. US military soldiers in Syria. Photo: US Army Even so, according to two former US national security officials involved in investigative efforts, direct energy attacks on US soldiers abroad, suspected of being behind by Russia, are becoming. of such concern that the Pentagon’s Office of Special Operations and low-intensity conflicts began an investigation last year. It is unclear exactly how many US soldiers were injured or how badly they were injured. Direct energy attacks are used to describe directing certain energy sources to a specific target, such as using lasers or microwave energy, to cause total harm to human health. The investigation is part of a broader effort to investigate direct energy attacks on US government officials and agencies, Politico said. Previously, many US officials in Cuba, China and Russia mysteriously fell ill, with the main reasons allegedly being affected by microwave radiation sources.

Russian military weapons appeared in Crimea. Photo: ITN With the above decision, the Russian troops reinforced to reach the Ukraine border will be withdrawn to a permanent base deep inside Russian territory from today (April 23) to May 1, with ground forces. will return to bases in Vladikavkaz, Novosibirsk and troops from air force units return to bases in Pskov and Ivanovo. However, Shoigu said Russia would still keep military weapons and equipment at the Pogonovo firing range in the Voronezh region, some 160 kilometers east of the Ukrainian border for other Russian military maneuvers by the end. year 2021. Both NATO and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky welcomed the step. “The gradual withdrawal of troops from the border between the two countries will cool down tensions. Ukraine remains vigilant, but very welcome any move to reduce its military presence,” the President of Ukraine wrote on Twitter. Since late March 2021, Russia has deployed about 120,000 troops in Crimea and near the Ukrainian border, the highest level since the conflict in eastern Ukraine broke out in 2014, according to NATO reports. Russia did not confirm the increased number of troops, but confirmed that the recent Crimea drills involved 60 warships, more than 10,000 soldiers, about 200 aircraft and 1,200 ground vehicles.

German soldiers, joining NATO missions in Afghanistan, patrol in the Mazar-i-Sharif area, April 26, 2016. Photo: AFP / VNA

According to the VNA correspondent in Berlin, in his April 16 statement, German Defense Minister Kramp-Karrenbauer emphasized: “If everything goes according to plan, all German forces will leave Afghanistan by mid-August. “. This means German troops will leave Afghanistan by 9/11.

According to Minister Kramp-Karrenbauer, with the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, the deployment of German troops in the country ended “after nearly 20 years for the most lost and heavy duty in German military history”. She emphasized that the primary goal is to bring all soldiers, civilian personnel and international teammates back to their homeland healthy and safe. In addition to the US forces, there are about 7,000 foreign soldiers deployed in Afghanistan, including about 1,300 German soldiers.

Earlier on April 14, the NATO Council decided to join the US to begin withdrawing troops from Afghanistan from May 1. According to US President Joe Biden, the withdrawal lasted until September 11, the 20-year period of terrorist attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York and the ministry. Defense of the US in Washington, the capital, the reason for the US to launch the war later in Afghanistan.

At a previous conversation between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Biden, the two sides agreed to cooperate regarding NATO’s military presence in Afghanistan. According to German government spokesman Steffen Seibert, the German and American leaders emphasized the importance of close coordination and cooperation as well as continued political commitment to the waning Southeast Asian nation. demolition after decades of war.

Despite the planned withdrawal, the United Nations (UN) still wants to continue its political and humanitarian mission in Afghanistan. United Nations spokesman Stéphane Dujarric stressed: “We will study the situation further, but our work in Afghanistan will continue. It is clear that the withdrawal of NATO and the US forces will have an overall impact on the country, he said. According to him, the UN has a long presence in Afghanistan, working in the field of humanitarian development. The United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA) consists of about 1,200 personnel, most of whom are Afghan citizens, and does not include a peacekeeping force.

Australian troops and local forces in Afghanistan. Source: Australian Department of Defense

Since the US launched the war in Afghanistan to defeat the Taliban, along with the US and its allies, Australia has sent more than 39,000 troops to the country to join the war, of which 41 soldiers were killed.

Starting two years ago, when Australia had 1,500 troops, the country began the process of withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan to the current 80 soldiers.

Although from September 2021 there will be no Australian military presence in Afghanistan, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia continues to support the peace process in this country.

“Australia continues to support peace negotiations between the Australian government and the Taliban. We encourage both sides to join the peace process in which many Australians have died for it. While reducing the military’s contribution to this process, we continue to support Afghanistan’s stability and development through our bilateral partnership programs as well as through coordination with other countries ” said Mr. Morrison.

.

This decision is made in the context of the deadline to withdraw troops under the peace agreement that the Trump administration signed with the Taliban last year is about to take effect on May 1 here. A senior Biden administration official told the AP news agency that the September withdrawal deadline was appropriate and would not be affected by domestic security conditions.

Although President Biden’s decision to keep US troops in Afghanistan for four more months than originally planned, it will ultimately end a two-decade war that has left more than 2,200 soldiers. The United States was killed, 20,000 people injured and it cost about $ 1 trillion.

The purpose of President Joe Biden’s 9/11 selection is to highlight the reason why the United States is pouring troops into Afghanistan: to prevent al-Qaeda from turning the West Asian nation into a springboard to attack America. . Photo: AP

Military officials and commanders have once made harsh protests about the Trump administration’s May 1 deadline, saying that the US withdrawal should be based on field security conditions in Afghanistan, including: including Taliban attacks.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Mr. Biden had taken a position on “the next steps to take in Afghanistan, including the plan and timing of the withdrawal”.

Ms Psaki did not provide details, but said President Biden “was consistent in the view that there would not be a military solution in Afghanistan, and that the US military has been there for too long.”

Mr. Biden will also visit Arlington National Cemetery “to pay homage to the brave men and women who have died in Afghanistan.”

According to the Biden administration’s withdrawal plan, the only US force that will remain in Afghanistan is the security force protecting the diplomatic mission. There is no exact figure on the total number of US troops in Afghanistan, but some senior officials have tacitly admitted that the actual number is more than 2,500 people, which will include special operations forces with secret missions. secret or anti-terrorism, intelligence agents.

The timeline set by President Biden will allow the US to proceed with a safer and more orderly withdrawal, with the coordination of NATO allies.

However, it is not excluded that the Taliban will retaliate against US forces in Afghanistan. This could become the risk of escalating tensions again, as well as stemming from further political divisions in the US since the country sank into the “endless war” in Afghanistan.

Mixed reaction

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said: “The withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan is a serious mistake. It is avoidance when faced with an enemy that has not been destroyed and the surrender of American leadership.

Republican Senator Jim Inhofe also rated it as a “reckless and dangerous decision.”

The majority of Democrats support this decision of President Biden. Sen. Jack Reed said the May 1 deadline for former President Donald Trump limited Mr. Biden’s options.

“The United States also has important interests in combating possible terrorist attacks in this region, but other hotspots should also be considered,” Reed said.

Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine said that US military forces in Afghanistan should be returned home and the US must focus on rebuilding national security in the face of more pressing challenges.

Speaking to TIME magazine, Mr. David Sedney – a former Pentagon official under President Barack Obama, called this a “foolish strategy, a humanitarian disaster and worthy of moral condemnation.” virtue.

An Afghan official said the US administration’s decision to unconditionally withdraw troops was a shock to the Ashraf Ghani administration, as well as causing the Kabul government to lose its leveraged negotiating card with the Taliban. .

According to the Washington Post, the decision to unconditionally withdraw troops after a series of short but unsuccessful diplomatic efforts has raised concerns.

“This move will likely reverse the economic, political – social progress that the US has fought to protect during the past two decades in Afghanistan,” according to the editorial board of the Washington Post. “This is the tragedy for the 39 million people of the West Asian nation when the US chooses to give up the people here who once hoped to build a democracy, guaranteeing basic human rights”.

In addition, the withdrawal of all US military forces will likely allow al-Qaeda to restore its bases in Afghanistan.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed told the Associated Press that the force is waiting for official announcement from the US administration to give a suitable response. The Taliban had previously issued warnings of “consequences” if the US extended its withdrawal period on May 1.

In a February 2020 deal with the administration of former US President Donald Trump, the Taliban agreed to stop the attacks and hold peace talks with the Afghan government, in exchange for US commitment. on full withdrawal by May 2021.

Over the past year, US military commanders and defense officials have said that attacks on the country’s military have largely ended, but Taliban’s attacks on Afghan people have increased.

They argue that the Taliban have failed to meet the conditions of the peace deal by continuing to attack people and have not completely severed ties with al-Qaeda and other extremist groups.

When he took office earlier this year, Mr. Biden was well aware of the upcoming withdrawal deadline and consulted with defense security advisers and his allies.

In recent weeks, US President Joe Biden’s views have become clearer. “It will be very difficult to meet the May 1 deadline,” he said in March. “If the US withdraws its troops, it will be done safely and in an orderly manner.”

As expected, today (April 14), the administration of President Joe Biden will announce plans to withdraw all US forces stationed in Afghanistan in stages and end before September 11, full 20 years. after the horrible terror that started the war in Afghanistan.

Accordingly, thousands of US troops will continue to be stationed in Afghanistan after May 1, the deadline that former President Donald Trump’s administration has agreed with the Taliban. There are now 2,500 US troops stationed in Afghanistan, though the difference in fact could be as high as 1,000. The coalition in Afghanistan also has the presence of more than 7,000 troops, mainly NATO troops.

The administration of President Joe Biden is expected to announce plans to withdraw all forces from Afghanistan before 9/11/2021. (Source: EPA)

The above decision was made in the context of the unsuccessful peace negotiations. An unnamed US official revealed that the announcement of the plan was necessary because if the US did not make a clear roadmap of the May 1 deadline, Washington would have to fight the Taliban again.

For Joe Biden, this clearly does not serve the national interest of the US administration.

However, while withdrawing troops from Afghanistan will help the Americans end their presence in Afghanistan after two decades and help Mr. Biden score in the eyes of voters, it could also be a step backwards to Joe Biden’s foreign affairs.

first, this decision will go against what Mr. Joe Biden committed before becoming President. He once thought that Washington needed to maintain an anti-terrorist force in Afghanistan to ensure that Islamic extremist groups like Al-Qaeda would not be able to attack the United States.

However, his views changed after only two months in office. On March 17, interviewed by radio station ABC News, President Biden admitted having “difficulty” in withdrawing US troops from Afghanistan before May 1 under the agreement of his predecessor.

Now, the plan to withdraw troops is becoming clear, but the promise of anti-terrorist forces in the South Asian country has yet to be fulfilled.

Monday, the withdrawal of all US forces from Afghanistan leaves a great void for the Islamic extremist forces.

Speaking before the National Security Committee of the Afghan Parliament, National Intelligence Director Ahmad Zia Saraj said the number of Taliban attacks had increased by 24% since the peace agreement with the United States in February 2020. , with a total of 20,600 targeted attacks and bombings of all kinds.

According to him, this figure shows that the Taliban are not showing any change in Turkish ideology and the upcoming peace conference in Turkey may not yield any results.

Tuesday, the civil administration proved ineffective in ensuring security and political stability for development. On April 12, Afghanistan recorded 122 new cases of Covid-19, bringing the total number to 57,364 cases.

However, it should be remembered that the Covid-19 testing procedure in this country is limited and the actual number of cases may be much higher, while the health system is gradually overloading.

According to the World Bank, Afghanistan’s economy declines by 1.9% in 2020. Food prices increase rapidly because Covid-19, sometimes up to 17% in April 2020 alone, while tax revenue decreased by 7 , 6%.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s economic growth in 2021 is expected to reach 1%, but only possible if foreign aid and security are secured, two factors increasingly uncertain with Kabul’s governance capabilities. and after the withdrawal of US President Joe Biden’s administration.

Because of that, Washington may end its presence in the South Asian country after two decades and help Biden score points with voters, but the price will be political stability and security of Afghanistan.

According to Reuters, Mr. Biden decided to withdraw his troops from Afghanistan before 9/11/2021, exactly 20 years after the terrorist attack by Al-Qaeda sparked the prolonged war of the US and its NATO ally in the country. This southwest Asia.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin officially announced the decision to allies in the NATO bloc in Brussels during the meeting on April 14.

“After careful policy review, President Biden decided to withdraw the remaining number of troops in Afghanistan and eventually end the US war after 20 years,” said a State Department official.

US forces in Afghanistan.

Thus, this new decision shows that the previous withdrawal plan (May 1), which was signed by the administration of former President Donald Trump with the Taliban, could not be implemented. In response, a Taliban spokesman warned there would be consequences if the United States did not comply with the said deadline.

The Taliban are said to have been largely in compliance with their promise not to attack troops from the United States and other countries since the deal was signed, but stressed that things will change as the US pulls back from 9/11.

The Afghan peace process has already fallen to a standstill as peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban forces in the Qatar capital, Doha, stalled.

The US advocates to promote peace negotiations between the governments of Afghanistan and the Taliban before the last 2,500 troops of the country’s army must leave Afghanistan.

Washington wants the Afghan and Taliban governments to strike some power-sharing arrangements. Recently, the Taliban rejected the proposal of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to hold elections this year.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the process had pushed the nation on the brink of crisis. Any decisions regarding Afghanistan’s future need to be reached in bilateral negotiations.

Assessing the decision to withdraw all US forces from Afghanistan on September 11, experts said that this decision will put NATO in a difficult position.

When the US administration under President Trump decided to withdraw troops from Afghanistan by May 1 deadline, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned that Afghanistan was in danger of becoming a defeated IS base. Syria and Iraq.

Although admitting that NATO has been fighting in Afghanistan for too long, Stoltenberg said that it is not time to leave, while the withdrawal needs the coordination of the parties. American forces make up a small number of NATO troops in Afghanistan, but the alliance is heavily dependent on the United States for air transport, logistics and support.

The US withdrawal also raises questions about the possibility of the remaining countries pulling out. NATO began operating there in 2003, two years after the US-led coalition came to deal with the Taliban following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

But it is hard to say that NATO has fulfilled its original goal of “ensuring that it will never be a safe haven for international terrorists”. In the future, the continued stay of NATO will also face many difficulties, while withdrawal is undesirable by many parties, when the goal is not reached and the risk of terrorism will become even more haunted.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has rejected the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan before ending talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. Maas also criticized the early US unilateral withdrawal of troops from the South Asian country that could jeopardize peace negotiations.

Considering that peace negotiations are very complicated and cannot be ended as scheduled, Minister Heiko Maas stated: “If the US withdraws its forces while other NATO allies cannot take over security in in the short term, the situation will become extremely volatile. “

On April 14, The Guardian quoted US President Joe Biden officials as saying that the withdrawal would begin before May 1-5. These officials stressed the US sending of troops into Afghanistan to “enforce justice against those who caused the September 11, 2001 attacks, to prevent terrorists from trying to make Afghanistan a safe haven.” and that goal “was achieved a few years ago”. “We evaluate the current Afghanistan threat to the United States as manageable without the need for Washington to maintain a military presence or maintain war with the Taliban here,” one American officials stressed. On the same day, German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will join the United States with the withdrawal of all troops from Afghanistan next September, because “we always say they I will come together and leave together ”.

US soldiers in Afghanistan Photo: Reuters.

According to the AP, the above decision also means that the US will not meet the deadline for the withdrawal of all troops from Afghanistan on May 1-5 under the peace agreement that the former administration of President Donald Trump had. signed with the Taliban last February. The Taliban have warned that they will resume hostile actions against foreign forces in Afghanistan if Washington does not withdraw as agreed.

In fact, although Mr. Biden once committed to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan when running for the presidency, the White House boss himself admitted that withdrawing by a deadline of May 1-5 was “very difficult”. A US official confirmed, on September 11, 2021, would be “the absolute deadline” and would not be affected by the security situation in Afghanistan, because “conditional withdrawal of troops means staying in Afghanistan forever.” far away ”. AP said that “absolute deadline” shows the determination of the US administration to end the longest war in American history. The costly and costly war in Afghanistan has left more than 2,200 US soldiers dead, 20,000 injured and costing more than $ 1 trillion.

US intelligence agencies have warned the Biden administration about the danger that the Taliban could control much of Afghanistan within the next two to three years, if Washington withdraws all troops from the southwest Asian country. Along with that, this will facilitate the rise of al-Qaeda terrorist network in Afghanistan. According to The Guardian, the Biden administration’s plan to withdraw troops from Afghanistan immediately met with opposition from many MPs from both Democrats and Republicans. Sen. Mitch McConnell of the Republican Party said that foreign terrorists will not leave America “just because our politicians are tired of fighting them.” Mr. McConnell asked President Biden to explain to the American people “why giving up allies and withdrawing in the face of the Taliban makes America safer”. Meanwhile, according to Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of the Democratic Party, the withdrawal “undermines our commitment to the Afghan people, especially Afghan women”. “I urge the Biden administration to do its best from now to September to protect progress has been made, as well as to assist our partners in forming a transitional government,” said Thuong. MP Shaheen wrote on the social networking site Twitter.

Since Washington signed a peace deal with the Taliban, the number of US troops stationed in Afghanistan has dropped from 12,000 to 2,500, according to the Pentagon. However, The New York Times quoted US officials as confirming the number of US troops currently stationed in Afghanistan was 3,500.