The 125th Regiment sent by Sokov was able to capture the Red Army Village by surprise entirely because the main force of the German army was attracted by the 1st and 2nd Battalions to the high ground in the east of the city. There were only less than two defenders left in the city.
Hundreds of people. This small force was scattered in the city. Facing the fierce offensive of the three battalions of sailors, they had no ability to resist.
After learning that the 125th Regiment had occupied the Red Army Village, Sokov ordered Vitkov to report the matter to Rokossovsky, and then he prepared to take a guard platoon and rush to the Red Army Village in an armored vehicle. In the German Army
Before the counterattack force arrives, choose a location to establish a defensive position.
Just when Sokov was about to leave, Vitkov reminded him: "Comrade division commander, our large army is coming towards Donetsk. Which unit do you plan to let hold the city?"
After taking a look at the march routes of each division, Sokov said to Vitkov: "I think the important task of defending Donetsk will be handed over to the 67th Guards Division of Major General Jean Merkulov, and then to them
With a tank brigade, even if the Germans send out armored troops, we can fight them."
On the way to the Red Army Village, Sokov encountered Papuchenko's 122nd Guards Regiment.
As soon as he saw Sokov, Colonel Papuchenko said with an aggrieved face: "Comrade division commander, you are so partial. You let Colonel Starcha's 124th Regiment occupy Donetsk, and then let Yersa
Colonel Cove's 125th Regiment captured the Red Army Village. However, our regiment did not receive a single mission. Now the commanders and fighters of the entire regiment are in mood."
"I think the person with emotions is you, Colonel Papuchenko." Sokov said to him after revealing the little thinking of the regiment commander in front of him: "Our division successively occupied Donetsk and the Red Army Village.
, the Germans will never give up. If my analysis is correct, the German counterattack troops are already on the way. Therefore, the enemy does not leave you much time. The first thing you do after entering the position is
Just seize the time to repair the fortifications."
"Comrade Division Commander," Colonel Papuchenko said in embarrassment regarding Sokov's order: "The soldiers have long been exhausted after marching long distances. I am worried that they do not have enough physical strength to build fortifications.
.”
"How to build the fortifications is your business." Sokov said with a serious expression: "If you have not completed the construction of the fortifications when the enemy appears, then there is a possibility of being defeated by the enemy. During the battle to defend Stalingrad, it is
There were many elite troops of our army, so there were no fortifications on the battlefield, and they were easily defeated by the enemy."
Papu thought about it carefully and realized that what Sokov said was very reasonable. The reason for holding Mamayev Hill was that it had complete fortifications. As soon as his troops left the fortifications, it would be difficult to move forward, thus proving that
The enemy was unable to capture Mamayev Hill, not because the enemy's combat effectiveness was insufficient, but because the fortifications on Mamayev Hill were too conducive to defense.
Wanting to understand this, he quickly replied: "Don't worry, comrade division commander, I will immediately pass on your order to the commanders and soldiers, and as soon as the troops enter the defensive zone, they will seize the time to repair the fortifications."
Sokov entered the Red Army Village and came to the headquarters of the 125th Regiment to praise Yershakov and others.
Yershakov, who had just captured the city, was in a state of excitement. As soon as Sokov finished speaking, he immediately expressed his position and said: "Comrade division commander, you can rest assured that as long as our regiment sticks to the city, we will never let the enemy
Take this city."
"I plan to hand over this city to the 75th Guards Division for defense." Sokov rushed here in a hurry because he wanted to deploy defenses as soon as possible and complete the construction of fortifications before the main force of the German army arrived.
Therefore, he told Yershakov: "The task of your regiment is to build fortifications outside the city as soon as possible to keep the enemy far outside the city."
"Comrade division commander, I have one more thing to report to you." Hearing that Sokov planned to order his regiment to withdraw from the city, Yershakov was not upset and made a Russian offer to Sokov: "We are here
When we occupied the city, we discovered a batch of 14.5mm quadruple anti-aircraft machine guns. If we are allowed to defend outside the city, I hope that these batches of anti-aircraft machine guns can be equipped with our regiment."
"A quadruple anti-aircraft machine gun?" Sokov's eyes suddenly lit up when he heard the weapon Yershakov mentioned. Therefore, this kind of anti-aircraft machine gun can not only be used to shoot enemy aircraft, but when it shoots levelly at infantry, it is simply infantry.
nightmare, and quickly asked: "How many are there?"
"There are twelve of them, and they need to be pulled by cars or horse-drawn carriages."
"Is there enough ammunition?"
Yershakov nodded vigorously and replied: "I think these anti-aircraft machine guns should be in the inventory of our army. Since the city fell, they have fallen into the hands of the enemy. I personally went to the warehouse to check, and every anti-aircraft machine gun
The machine gun can be equipped with no less than 10,000 rounds of ammunition, including many armor-piercing incendiary bombs, which can be used not only to deal with enemy aircraft, but also to deal with enemy tanks and armored vehicles at close range."
"Comrade Colonel, in addition to the aircraft, tanks and armored vehicles you mentioned, this anti-aircraft machine gun can also be used to shoot infantry with level fire." When Sokov thought of the German offensive troops, during the shooting of the 14.5 mm quadruple anti-aircraft machine gun,
After being beaten to pieces, the corners of his mouth could not help but raise slightly. "For the troops, this kind of anti-aircraft machine gun is simply their nightmare."
"Understood, comrade division commander." Seeing that Sokov agreed to hand over these anti-aircraft machine guns to his troops, Yershakov quickly replied: "There is still a small group of enemies, about one company's strength, that is shrinking.
In the direction of the western suburbs, I tried to use the terrain there to carry out a stubborn resistance. I plan to use that place as a defensive position for our regiment after destroying them."
"Comrade Colonel, take action immediately." Sokov learned that there were still enemies in the western suburbs and quickly told Yershakov: "I will give you two hours to capture the enemy's position."
"Two hours?" After hearing the time Sokov gave him, Yershakov showed a troubled expression on his face: "Comrade division commander, are two hours too little? You know, our
It takes more than half an hour for the troops to move to the vicinity. It would be a bit too hasty to have an hour and a half left to attack."
"Comrade Colonel, don't you know that orders from superiors can only be executed and not used for discussion?" Sokov did not want to bargain with Yershakov, so he ordered him in a stern tone: "I will take you with me now.
Let the troops set off."
Faced with Sokov's strong tone, Yershakov did not dare to refute. He could only agree and lead his troops to the western suburbs to eliminate the enemies entrenched there.
In the fortifications on the western outskirts of the city were the remnants of the leading troops of the Imperial Division. After realizing that the city was occupied by the Soviet army, they decisively chose to retreat and retreated to the fortifications on the western outskirts. They planned to rely on the fortifications to defend here and wait for the Imperial Division.
The main force has arrived.
When the troops of the 125th Regiment appeared in the distance, they were immediately spotted by the German sentries in the fortifications. After a while, the German battalion commander came to the trench, raised his binoculars and looked towards the place where the Soviet troops were gathering in the distance.
The opponent only had infantry and no tanks, so he felt much more at ease.
The German battalion commander said to his men: "Don't worry, the Russians don't have tanks. If they want to break through our defensive positions, they will have to pay at least two thousand lives. Everyone stick to their posts."
Yershakov assigned the offensive task to Shamrih's third battalion. He called Shamrih in front of him, pointed to the German fortifications in the distance and said: "Comrade Major, have you seen the enemy's fortifications?"
?In addition to the criss-crossing trenches and communication trenches, there are also many civil fire points. It is very difficult to attack. Can your battalion take them down?"
"Don't worry, comrade commander." The third battalion is the main force in capturing the Red Army Village. The morale of the entire battalion commanders and soldiers is high. Naturally, they will not find it difficult to capture a position with only one or two hundred enemies holding firm: "
Our battalion promises to complete the attack mission you assigned us."
Just as the third battalion was getting ready to attack, Sokov came to the front. After he raised his telescope and looked across the way for a while, he turned to Yershakov and said: "Comrade Colonel, order a unit to attack the enemy's position."
Carry out a feint attack. Once you receive counterattack fire, immediately lie down. No one is allowed to stand up until the signal flare is seen."
"Don't ask so many whys." Sokov didn't want to explain to him, and said to himself: "You only need to pass on my orders. This can reduce the casualties of the troops during the attack."
Sokov's order was quickly conveyed to the third battalion responsible for the attack. Although everyone did not understand the meaning of Sokov's order, they still carried it out unconditionally.
After the attack began, Captain Aglanov, the company commander of the Eighth Company of the Third Battalion, which was responsible for the feint attack, walked at the front of the troops with a pistol raised. As he walked, he shouted to the soldiers at the top of his lungs: "Brothers, once
When the Germans start shooting, you immediately lie down on the spot and fire back at the enemy. No one is allowed to stand up until the signal flare is seen."
The enemy's position was silent until the Eighth Company was still 150 meters away from their trenches, when the German machine guns opened fire. Some sailors fell down after being shot, and the remaining commanders and soldiers quickly followed the order and lay down on the spot, raising their guns.
Fight back at the exposed German firepower points.
"Comrade Division Commander," seeing the enemy's position on the other side opening fire, Yershakov quickly reported to Sokov: "The enemy has opened fire. What should we do next?"
"Comrade Colonel," Sokov said to Yershakov with a smile: "Let your twelve anti-aircraft machine guns shoot at the enemy's positions at the same time to eliminate those exposed fire points."
Only at this moment did Yershakov understand the meaning of Sokov's order. He nodded quickly and issued a firing order to the temporarily formed anti-aircraft machine gun company.
Following an order, twelve quadruple 14.5 mm anti-aircraft machine guns began shooting at the German positions. Fire points were exposed on the position, and they were fatally hit in an instant. They were immediately silenced. Even those hiding in the civil fire points
The enemies here did not escape the bad luck, and were still beaten to pieces by the steel bullets that rained down like a torrential rain.
After just a few minutes, all the exposed fire points on the German position became mute.
"Comrade Colonel, all the enemy's firepower points have been almost eliminated." Seeing that the enemy's firepower points were all mute, Sokov nodded with satisfaction, turned to Yershakov and said: "Order the anti-aircraft machine gun company to stop firing and send out flares.
Let the troops begin the attack."
"Understood, Comrade Commander." Yershakov saw that the German firepower was giving him a headache, and he was inadvertently beaten to ashes by dense anti-aircraft machine gun bullets. He quickly agreed excitedly and began to follow Sokov's order.
Issue instructions to your troops.
As a red signal flare representing an attack rose into the air, the soldiers who were originally lying on the ground jumped up and rushed towards the enemy's position. The enemy suffered huge damage from the round of anti-aircraft machine gun bullets just now.
Their resistance seemed so feeble in the face of the swarming Soviet commanders and fighters.
Seeing the Soviet commanders and fighters rushing into the opposite position one after another, Yershakov raised his hand and looked at his watch and found that only one hour had passed since receiving Sokov's order. Only then did he understand in his heart,
It turns out that the time Sokov set for himself was not too short, on the contrary, there was still a lot of room for it.
Yershakov looked at Sokov and said with admiration: "Comrade division commander, you are really amazing. You were able to capture the enemy's well-defended positions in such a short period of time. I really admire you."
Already."
"Okay, stop flattering." Although Yershakov's words made Sokov feel very comfortable, he understood better that the German reinforcements were coming. If the defense line could not be built as soon as possible, the next step would be to
The next battle was not going to be easy. He urged Yershakov: "Now that the position has been taken, hurry up and take your men to build fortifications there. Remember, you must be in the German army
Complete basic defense work before reinforcements arrive."
After Yershakov left with the personnel of the regiment headquarters, Sokov turned to the telegraph operator behind him and said: "Send a telegram to Colonel Vitkov and ask your superiors if there are any latest instructions?"
Soon, the radio operator handed a telegram to Sokov and told him: "Comrade division commander, Colonel Vitkov, chief of staff of the group, has forwarded an order from the front army, asking us to stop in the Red Army Village - Donets
Build a new line of defense in the Croatian area to resist possible German attacks."
After reading the telegram, Sokov looked ahead and thought for a while. He felt that it was a fool's errand to block the German counterattack with only two regiments approaching the 41st Guards Division. The other divisions must arrive as soon as possible.
Thinking of this, he ordered the telegraph operator again: "Send a telegram to the 71st and 75th Guards Divisions, ordering them to speed up their march and reach the Red Army Village in the shortest possible time."