Perhaps in order to eliminate the unsafe factors in the rear as soon as possible, after the German infantry division arrived at the attack position, it immediately launched an attack on the defensive positions of the 67th Guards Division. Seeing the enemy launching a fierce attack, its forward position was covered with fire and gunpowder smoke.
Surrounded by the situation, Merkulov did not dare to take it lightly and quickly ordered the 138th Artillery Regiment to intercept and fire at the attacking enemy.
Not long after the Soviet artillery opened fire, German bombers swarmed in. Like annoying flies, they swooped down from high altitudes and bombarded the artillery regiment's positions indiscriminately.
After the bombardment lasted for five minutes, all the artillery in the entire artillery position became mute. The German tanks and infantry, which had been intercepted by artillery fire, moved forward again.
"Comrade Commander," seeing his artillery positions wiped out by the enemy's bombing, Merkulov quickly called Sokov for help: "My artillery is dead, please ask for artillery support, please ask for artillery support, otherwise
Our position is in danger of being breached by the Germans."
Sokov did not immediately promise him any assistance, but asked bluntly: "Have the friendly troops on the left entered the position?"
"No." Merkulov replied simply: "I have set up an observation post in the south of the city. If friendly troops arrive, I can know it as soon as possible. But unfortunately, one of us
No reinforcements were seen."
"Don't worry, General Merkulov, you are not fighting alone." In order to appease Merkulov, Sokov specially said to him: "I will send someone to provide support to you soon."
"That's good." Merkulov felt much more at ease when he heard Sokov's assurance to him. But before hanging up the phone, he still pleaded with Sokov: "Comrade Commander, please
You must act quickly, I'm afraid the troops won't be able to hold on for long."
When Vitkov saw Sokov put down the phone, he immediately asked him: "Comrade Commander, how do you plan to support the 67th Guards Division?"
"Once Donetsk is lost, our retreat will be cut off." Sokov said with a serious expression: "I will immediately call the commander of the front army and ask him to dispatch the air force to provide the necessary supplies for the 67th Guards Division.
air cover."
However, Witkov was dubious about whether the Front Army Command would send air force support: "Comrade Commander, as far as I know, the Air Force of the Front Army is facing a shortage of ammunition and fuel. Can they really come in time to support us?
?”
"If they don't arrive in time, it is estimated that Donetsk may fall." Sokov said to Vitkov: "Once Donetsk falls, our retreat will be cut off, and then we will
Like the Sixth Army and Popov's rapid cluster, they will be easily defeated by the enemy. I believe the superiors can see this clearly, and they will never allow this to happen."
When Sokov picked up the phone and was about to call Rokossovsky, he said to Vitkov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please contact General Krylov and ask about the two infantry divisions he promised.
, when can they arrive at the outskirts of Donetsk? If they arrive late, they will have no choice but to collect the bodies of our commanders and soldiers."
Although Sokov's words were unpleasant, Witkov understood that this was a fact. Even though the Guards Division had a scary name, the unit that had just received a large number of new recruits did not have much chance of winning against the powerful German army.
So while Sokov called Rokossovsky, Vitkov also ordered the communications troops to connect to the 21st Army Headquarters.
Vitkov was once Krylov's deputy during the battle to defend Stalingrad. When he called, he was still thinking that based on his friendship with Krylov, the other party might not refuse his request.
So when the phone call came through and he heard Krylov's voice coming from the earphone, he immediately said excitedly: "Hello, General Krylov, I am Vitkov."
"Oh, it's Colonel Vitkov." Unexpectedly, Krylov asked coldly: "What can I do for you?"
"That's it, Comrade General." Vitkov thought that the other party did not know about the German attack on Donetsk, so he introduced him: "A German force is attacking Donetsk. In order to
To seize the city, they not only used artillery and tanks, but also the air force. I would like to ask when the two divisions you promised to send to Donetsk will enter the designated position."
After receiving Rokossovsky's order the day before, Krylov immediately issued a combat alert to the troops of the two divisions, but because the troops were too scattered, it took a long time to assemble.
As a result, the assembly had not been completed by this time. Hearing Vitkov's inquiry, he could only reply with a grimace: "I'm sorry, Colonel Vitkov, I estimate that our troops will not be able to gather until noon tomorrow at the earliest."
Arriving at the outskirts of Donetsk.”
"What, we won't arrive until noon tomorrow?" Hearing Krylov's reply, Vitkov almost smashed the phone in his hand: "General Krylov, can our troops holding on in Donetsk be able to support
It will be a problem until tonight, but you actually have to arrive at noon tomorrow. By the time you arrive, all the commanders and fighters in the city will probably be turned into cold corpses."
"Colonel Vitkov, I understand your feelings very well." Krylov is now too smart to make a fool of himself. The troops cannot be assembled, and it is useless no matter how anxious he is. He can only say euphemistically: "But I have done my best.
Despite our best efforts, my troops will not be able to reach Donetsk until noon tomorrow at the earliest. You can only rely on your own strength to block the enemy."
When Vitkov put down the phone, Sokov had also just finished the call. From the expression on his face, Vitkov knew that Rokossovsky would definitely agree to send aircraft for support. But he thought that there were no reinforcements on the ground, just some
I'm afraid it will be difficult for the aircraft to turn the tide of the war. He said with a grimace: "Comrade Commander, General Krylov said that his troops will not be able to reach the battlefield until noon tomorrow at the earliest. What should we do now?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov pointed to the map and said to Vitkov: "In addition to Merkulov's Guards Division, the troops holding Donetsk also have the 148th Tank Brigade. We can order the Tank Brigade
, launch a counterattack against the enemy."
"The tank brigade only has more than thirty tanks left," Vitkov said solemnly: "Will the counterattack they launched be effective?"
"As long as their assault can destroy the German artillery positions, it will be a huge support for the defenders." Sokov said to Witkov: "The German army's combat effectiveness will be greatly reduced if it loses artillery support.
By then, the 67th Guards Division’s confidence in defending Donetsk will become even greater.”
"There are still two tank brigades in the Red Army village." Sokov continued: "Colonel Bely's 84th tank brigade is our last assault force. It cannot be used easily until the last moment. And the other tank brigades
The 246th Brigade is now only twelve kilometers away from Donetsk. I think we can let them and the 219th Guards Regiment launch an attack on the German flank."
After listening to Sokov's deployment, Vitkov nodded vigorously and said: "Comrade Commander, you are still thoughtful. The Germans probably never dreamed that our army would launch an attack from their flank at this time.
, we will definitely be caught off guard. That’s it!”
While Vitkov was conveying his combat orders to the troops, Sokov made a special phone call to make Merkulov feel at ease: "General Merkulov, let me tell you some good news. The front army
The aircraft dispatched by the headquarters will be able to sense the sky above Donetsk in ten minutes at most, and they will provide you with the necessary air support."
"This is really great." Merkulov was overjoyed when he heard what Sokov said. He thanked him repeatedly and said, "Comrade Commander, on behalf of the commanders and fighters of the entire division, I would like to express my gratitude to you."
"There is no need to thank you." Although he knew that the other party could not see it, Sokov waved his hand and said: "As long as you do your best to defend Donetsk, that is the best thank you to me."
Merkulov knew Isokov's order. In addition to requesting air support from his superiors, there must be other backup plans. He quickly asked: "Do you have any specific arrangements?"
"I will order the 148th Tank Brigade in the city to immediately launch a counterattack against the German army and strive to destroy the enemy's artillery positions at all costs to reduce the pressure on you."
After hearing Sokov's order, Merkulov fell silent. After a long time, he said: "Comrade Commander, your order is tantamount to asking our tank soldiers to die. You also know
, Tanks without infantry cover cannot deal with the enemy's anti-tank fighters. I'm worried that they will be completely destroyed before they even see the enemy's artillery positions."
"This possibility exists." Sokov was originally prepared to let the tank brigade launch a desperate attack. Even if all was lost, he could bear it in his heart: "But in order to defend the city, some sacrifices must be made.
inevitable."
Merkulov knew very well that if the German artillery positions were not destroyed, his officers and men in the trenches would continue to pay the price of casualties under the enemy's fierce fire.
Sokov sensed Merkulov's thoughts and promptly changed the topic: "Of course, letting the 148th Tank Brigade attack is a last resort. If you can hold on for a while, the 246th Tank Brigade can defeat the infantry."
Under the cover of the enemy, they launched an attack from the flank of the German army and inflicted heavy losses on them."
This plan of attacking from the flank of the German army was the best for Merkulov. In this way, not only could the entire 148th Tank Brigade be prevented from being destroyed, but it could even ensure that the German army suffered a heavy blow. He hurriedly
He assured Sokov: "Comrade Commander, I assure you that our division will do its best to hold the enemy back long enough to buy valuable time for reinforcements."
"Very good, General Merkulov," Sokov said with satisfaction after listening to Merkulov's words: "If you can really do this, I believe that the enemy will not only be unable to capture your city, but also
There is even a possibility of being completely wiped out or severely damaged by our army."
The air force dispatched by Rokossovsky arrived over Donetsk a quarter of an hour later and started a fierce battle with the enemy planes hovering over the city. After a fierce battle, the Germans lost six bombers and were injured.
Two of them, and the rest withdrew from the battlefield. The Soviet army also lost three fighters and injured three. After driving away the enemy planes, they also returned to the airport one after another.
The battle in the air is over, but the battle on the ground continues.
The position held by the Soviet army had long been turned into a dark scorched earth due to the enemy's artillery shelling and bombing. The soldiers fired at the German officers and soldiers who rushed up from the incomplete position. Although some companies were left in the battle, only
There were seven or eight people, but the remaining commanders and fighters were still resisting tenaciously.
Seeing the tragic battle ahead, Merkulov sighed softly, called the commander of the 148th Tank Brigade, and said politely: "Comrade Commander, our forward position can no longer withstand it.
, please send your tanks out immediately to drive the enemy away from our position."
The tank brigade commander knew that attacking at this time would be tantamount to committing suicide, but after hearing Merkulov's order, he still obliged and said: "Don't worry, General Merkulov, even if we all die, we will definitely
We will not let the enemy rush into the city. In five minutes, we will launch a full counterattack against the enemy."
The tank brigade commander picked up the microphone and said to all the tank soldiers: "Brothers, due to the fierce enemy offensive, our infantry brothers can no longer withstand it. We need to attack immediately to save the immediate crisis. We will attack later.
At that time, my tanks will charge at the front, and the tanks of the deputy brigade commander and battalion commanders will follow us. I will personally command you to crush the enemy's attack on the city."
A few minutes later, the remaining thirty-five tanks of the 148th Tank Brigade launched and attacked the German armored forces in a wedge-shaped formation. The Germans never dreamed that the Soviet army would launch an armored assault at this time.
Time was caught off guard. Many tanks close to the Soviet trenches were destroyed at the first opportunity. Seeing that the situation was not good, the remaining tanks quickly turned around and fled back.
The battle ended after an hour, and there were only ten Soviet tanks left that participated in the assault. The tank the tank brigade commander was riding in was destroyed not far from the trench. Three charred corpses were lying next to the tank.
There is a brigade commander here.
When Merkulov heard the news of the sacrifice of the tank brigade commander, he couldn't help crying. He quickly ordered the commander who called him: "Immediately send someone to collect the body of the tank brigade commander, find a place to bury it, and
Make a mark. After this battle is over, we will build his grave."