Marshal Rommel did not return to headquarters until 9 a.m. on June 18. By the time he rushed back to 9th Army Corps headquarters, Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Erich Hoepner had already led the army's two Armored Divisions and four Mechanized Infantry Divisions into action. Their target was Joseph. Whether they captured Joseph or killed him, they could not allow him to remain alive.
Marshal Rommel had entrusted the task to Lieutenant General Erich Hoepner, and he believed that Hoepner would certainly complete it. He no longer worried about that.
After returning to headquarters, Marshal Rommel summoned the other Army Group Commanders of Army Group C, including those from the puppet states. This time, the German military would no longer fight the Russians in Moscow at low intensity. They were preparing to bring the Battle of Moscow to an end in the shortest possible time. Therefore, Marshal Rommel was about to issue new operational orders.
"Gentlemen, we originally planned to wear down the Russians' living strength in Moscow. Over the past month, our troops have fought well and completed their designated objectives. But regrettably, the Russians have seen through our plan. They are no longer sending reinforcements to Moscow. Therefore, there is no need for us to continue carrying out the previous operational plan!" Marshal Rommel said.
The commanders of the various army corps knew this perfectly well. They understood that, with the Russians no longer pouring living strength into Moscow, the German military naturally would not allow the Russian forces to remain entrenched there. The German military would wipe out the Russian troops here in the shortest possible time and end the war as soon as possible.
"His Majesty the Emperor has issued an order for us to intensify our attacks and seize Moscow in the shortest possible