In order to cause the enemy to misjudge, Sokov designated the attack target for the troops, which was Barvinkovo south of Izyum. Popov's rapid grouping was because he was unable to eat the enemies stationed here, which caused Popov to
After receiving the order to rush to Zaporizhia, a considerable number of troops had to be left behind to continue besieging the enemy. As a result, after dividing the troops, they were weak and suffered the fate of being defeated by the German army one by one.
Following Popov's warning, Sidorin and Anisimov were shocked when they heard Sokov's order. They tried their best to persuade Sokov: "Comrade division commander, don't say that we only have
Even with the support of artillery and tanks, it is very difficult for infantry to capture Barvinkovo. Once we delay here for too long, we may fall into a German encirclement."
"Chief of Staff, Political Commissar, I understand what you mean." Facing the two people's persuasion, Sokov said to them: "Barvinkovo is the only way to Izyum, although we can also let this place pass.
, rush directly to Ijumu, but in this case, the enemy will be suspicious of our intention to attack Ijumu.
As long as we launch an attack on Barvinkovo, coupled with the feint of friendly forces in the northeast of Izyum, we can give the Germans the illusion that we intend to take Izyum, join forces with the Voronezh Front, and regain control of Izyum.
Donetsk to Kharkiv.
In order to prevent us from realizing this intention, the Germans will definitely mobilize troops from other places to strengthen the defense of Izyum and send troops to reinforce Barvinkovo. In this way, the pressure on Kharkov will be greatly reduced.
, our friendly forces can take this opportunity to take a breath and redeploy their defenses."
"Comrade Division Commander, your idea is indeed good." After Sidorin agreed with Sokov, he expressed his concerns: "But if you do this, it may lead to the destruction of our entire army. Under the current situation, even if
If our entire army is destroyed, the time we can buy for the friendly forces is very limited. Is it worth it for us to do this?"
Regarding Sidorin's statement, Sokov did not express any opinion, but asked Anisimov: "Comrade political commissar, tell me your opinion."
"From an overall perspective, in order to buy precious time for the Voronezh Front in the Kharkov area, even if our division is exhausted, it is completely worth it." After Anisimov finished these righteous and awe-inspiring words,
He lowered his head and said, "But if I sacrifice myself without even seeing the day of victory, I will not be willing to do so."
"Comrade Political Commissar, don't worry." Sokov raised his hand and patted Anisimov's shoulder gently twice, comforting him and saying, "I believe that we can all see the day of victory."
"Comrade division commander," Sidorin felt that as chief of staff, he had the obligation to remind Sokov, so he said again: "You really don't think about it anymore. With the current strength of our division, there is no way we can defeat Barvinkovo."
of."
"Chief of Staff, don't you understand what I mean?" Sokov said with a smile: "I never thought about taking Barvinkovo, we were just conducting a feint attack on the city."
"Feint attack?!" When Sokov said this, Sidorin's eyes suddenly shone. According to his idea, a strong attack on Barvinkovo would be an act of death; launching a feint attack was another matter.
However, to be on the safe side, he still asked tentatively: "Is it really just a feint?"
"Of course." After Sokov gave the other party a positive answer, he was afraid that he would not pay attention to the matter, so he emphasized: "But we have to put on a real offensive posture, otherwise how can we confuse the enemy."
"But the number of rockets we carry is limited. Once we use them up, I'm afraid the next battle will be difficult." Sidorin asked Sokov tentatively: "Do you think it is possible to send a truck back to transport another batch?
"
"Chief of Staff, your statement is very unrealistic." Sokov shook his head and rejected Sidorin's proposal: "Think about it, now the enemy is surrounding us from all directions, and the convoys sent out can barely escape.
The enemy is surrounded, but can they bring the rockets in again?"
When Sidorin thought about it, it seemed that this was really the case. If the truck transporting the rockets was captured by the Germans, it would have disastrous consequences for his own troops. Launching rockets is very simple, and the enemy only needs a few seconds.
In a short time, you can master the launch of rockets, and then use these rockets to attack your own troops.
"Since we can't send trucks to transport it." Sidorin stopped talking, and Anisimov expressed his thoughts again: "Why don't we let the Air Force airdrop it for us? I think the more rockets we have, the better.
Then our chances of successfully breaking out of the German encirclement in the end will be greater."
"Airdrops are impossible." Sokov shook his head and said, "The rockets are prone to explosion when they fall to the ground, and we won't be able to get even one by then."
"Comrade Division Commander, I have a bold idea." Samoilov, who was standing aside as a guard, suddenly said: "This can help the troops get the rocket supplies they need."
"Come on and tell me what you think."
"Comrade division commander, look." Samoilov pointed to the map Sokov and his friends spread out on the hood of the jeep, and said to Sokov: "I know the terrain here very well. East of Barvinkovo
There is an open area on the ground ten kilometers away, which is conducive to the take-off and landing of transport planes. We can ask our superiors to use transport planes to transport rockets here."
"Comrade Lieutenant," Sokov looked up at Samoylov and said to him: "This place is full of snow at the moment. Isn't it too dangerous for the transport plane to land?"
"Comrade Division Commander, in order to get enough ammunition supplies, I think we should take risks." Samoilov insisted on his opinion: "If you feel that the snow in this area is too deep, we can send people to clear it. All it takes is
In one day and night, we can clear a runway 30 meters wide and 300 meters long."
"Comrade Commander," Sidorin felt that Samoilov's statement made sense, so he said to Sokov: "I think Lieutenant Samoilov's plan has certain feasibility.
We might as well give it a try."
"Political Commissar, what's your opinion?"
"Since the chief of staff said this plan is feasible, I think we should try it."
"Well, since you all think this plan is feasible, Lieutenant Samoilov will be responsible for this matter. You can take people there to clear an open space for a transport plane to land."
Now that he thought of a way to replenish ammunition, Sokov quickly sent a telegram to Rokossovsky and reported his plan to him. He not only expressed the hope that when the troops attacked Barvinkovo during the day, they would get the necessary ammunition.
air support. At the same time, it was proposed to have transport aircraft replenish ammunition for the troops.
After reading Sokov's telegram, Rokossovsky looked at Malinin and asked: "Chief of Staff, do you think we can meet the conditions proposed by Sokov?"
"Comrade Commander," Malinin said with a serious expression: "If Major General Sokov is not lying, he really intends to make some big moves in the direction of Barvinkovo. If there is not enough ammunition and necessary air cover, it will be completely impossible.
. Therefore, it is necessary for us to provide help to him and let him implement a different plan."
"Chief of Staff, what you said makes sense." Rokossovsky nodded slightly after hearing this. "If other troops had made such a request, I might still refuse. But since it was made by Sokov,
Then do as he said, provide him with air cover during the day tomorrow, and send transport planes to transport ammunition for them."
After receiving Rokossovsky's reply and knowing that all his requests had been met, Sokov suddenly felt confident. When he issued the order to Papuchenko, the commander of the 122nd Regiment, he specifically emphasized:
: "Comrade Colonel, the mission of your regiment is to launch a feint attack on Barvinkovo. But in order to reduce the casualties of the troops, the attack you launch will be mainly rocket attacks."
"What, attack with rockets?" Papuchenko still knew how many rockets he carried before setting off this time, and how many were consumed during this period. After hearing Sokov's order,
He hesitated and said: "Comrade division commander, I wonder how many rockets you plan to let us use?"
According to Papchenko's idea, it would be great if Sokov could give them the use of two hundred rockets. Unexpectedly, when Sokov heard his question, he said carelessly: "As long as you can destroy them
The enemy can use up all the rockets we carry without any problem."
"Use them all?" Papuchenko was simply stunned. He didn't expect Sokov to be so generous and gave him all the remaining 300 rockets for his own use. He asked tentatively: "Comrade Division Commander
, if we use up all the rockets in the feint attack on Barvinkovo, what will we do in the future?"
Papuchenko knew the power of rockets. Even if a group of enemies were hiding in a trench, as long as one rocket flew over, the enemies there would basically be wiped out. But if they were all used up, they would be attacked again in the future.
The situation can only be filled with human lives.
"This is not your concern." Sokov did not tell him how he planned to replenish ammunition. Instead, he said in a stern tone: "Just because I give you the remaining rockets to use, it doesn't mean that you can do whatever you want.
Use it indiscriminately. Before attacking, you must find out where the enemy is hiding, and then attack these places with rockets in order to achieve greater results. Do you understand?"
"Understood, Comrade Division Commander." Papuchenko quickly assured Sokov: "My scouts have basically figured out where the enemy is hiding on the position. I assure you that our rockets can hit
The enemy doubts life."
Half an hour before dawn, the rocket launchers of Papuchenko's regiment launched rockets towards the selected targets in Barvinkovo City. One rocket after another roared out of the launch tube, dragging a long
The flame tail flew towards the target chosen by the warriors.
As soon as they landed, there was an earth-shattering explosion, and at the same time a dazzling fire was erupted. Many houses, shelters, and tents where the enemies were sleeping were immediately blown into a sea of flames.
The troops currently stationed in Barvinkovo are the German Skeleton Division. In real history, the division commander Theodor Eicke was killed in a plane crash on February 26, but in this time and space, he was killed because of
He survived for some reason. His division headquarters was located in the city of Barvinkovo. When he learned that the southern area had been shelled by the Soviet army, he still didn't believe it and quickly called the front to inquire.
However, the communication lines ahead had been completely destroyed by rocket attacks, so that Ike was unable to get in touch with his subordinates. In order to find out what was happening ahead, he took his adjutant with him
He and a dozen guards took a car to the south side of the city to find out what happened.
But he was unlucky. As soon as he reached the south of the city, another wave of rocket attacks from the Soviet army followed. Originally, the hit rate of the new rockets was not high, and it was not easy to hit a moving vehicle.
Unexpectedly, the driver of Ike drove the car into a nearby building to avoid the bombardment.
Unexpectedly, a rocket that deviated from its position hit the place where they were hiding. After a loud "boom", the house collapsed in the explosion. Ike, his adjutant, and the driver were all killed.
Buried in the ruins. However, the dust rising in the sky covered it all, so that the German troops stationed nearby did not know that their division commander had been crushed by the collapsed house after the explosion just now.
It became meat sauce.
Papuchenko ordered his troops to fire two hundred rockets at once, turning the south side of the city into a sea of flames. After such bombardment, there were not many enemies left on the defensive positions. When Papuchenko saw this,
Immediately order the infantry to attack and occupy those seemingly deserted positions.
But when the commanders and fighters of the 122nd Regiment rushed into the enemy's position, some soldiers who had survived the bombing emerged from the rubble and rushed towards the Soviet army with weapons in hand, trying to drive the Soviet army away from their positions.
Go out. But they have not yet fully woken up from the bombardment just now. They are no match for these wolf-like warriors. After only a few rounds of fighting, they fell to the ground one after another and became cold corpses.
.
After learning that Papuchenko's troops had successfully occupied the south of the city, Sokov was happy and quickly gave him an order to stop the attack and build fortifications on the spot to prepare to resist the German counterattack.
Although Papuchenko saw that his troops easily occupied the south of the city, he knew very well that with his thousands of troops, it was simply impossible to eliminate the defenders in the city and occupy the entire city.
As soon as he received Sokov's order to switch to defense on the spot, he immediately sent out communications troops to inform the battalion commanders to immediately stop advancing and seize the time to repair the fortifications to prevent possible attacks by the enemy.