After dawn, Zhukov fulfilled his promise and sent bombers and fighter planes from an aviation division to carry out indiscriminate bombing at the area where the German 255th Division was assembled, blowing the enemy's hiding place into a sea of flames.
Uzakov, who was staying in the village, saw that the enemy that had just been repelled by his troops was actually attacked by the air force. He couldn't help but cheered. He said to his chief of staff: "Comrade chief of staff, look at the enemy in the distance.
The bombing was so fierce, it is estimated that after two or three rounds of bombing, not many enemies will be left."
"You can't say that, comrade brigade commander." Unexpectedly, the brigade chief of staff saw that Uzakov was a little distracted and worried that he was underestimating the enemy, so he reminded him: "You also participated in the defense of Stalingrad, and you know the enemy's bombing of the city.
No matter how violent it was, they still failed to eliminate the defenders in the city. The bombing in the distance now looks very fierce, but the enemy is spread over a wide area, and the air force can only inflict heavy damage but cannot completely eliminate them. To solve it completely
We still have to rely on our infantry to fight."
After being reminded by the Chief of Staff, Uzakov immediately realized that he had underestimated the enemy a little too much, and quickly said seriously: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you are right, it is our infantry that will ultimately resolve the battle, and the Air Force can only severely damage the enemy.
"
"Comrade Brigadier." Although the enemy suffered a fierce air attack, for the sake of safety, the chief of staff still said to Uzakov: "Although we have repelled many enemy attacks, the casualties of the troops are not small.
If they launch another strong attack, I'm afraid it will be difficult for us to withstand it."
After thinking for a long time, Uzhakov said to the chief of staff: "I think we need to get in touch with the commander immediately and tell him the situation here, saying that although the enemy has been attacked by the air force, it is still possible to break through our position.
, requesting him to send troops for reinforcements."
After recording Uzakov's order, the chief of staff asked with some concern: "Comrade Brigade Commander, do you think the commander will send troops to reinforce us?"
"Since the air force has been dispatched for support, there is no big problem in sending infantry reinforcements."
Uzhakov was worried about the long night and many dreams, so he picked up the phone on the table and asked the communications soldier to help him connect to the army headquarters.
The call was connected, but the person who answered the phone was Army Chief of Staff Samyko: "I am Major General Samyko, where are you from?"
"Hello, Comrade Chief of Staff." Hearing Samyko's voice, Uzhakov said respectfully: "I am Uzhakov."
"It's Lieutenant Colonel Uzhakov. How is the situation there?" Samyko realized that the caller was Uzhakov, so he didn't waste any time and went straight to the point: "The one who provides you with air support.
Has the air force arrived?"
"Yes, we have arrived and are bombing the enemy indiscriminately." Uzakov said to Samyko: "But I am worried that although the enemy has been attacked by air strikes, they are still capable of breaking through based on their strength.
Our defense. Therefore, I take the liberty of asking you to convey my request to Comrade Commander."
"What request?"
"Of course, send us more reinforcements." From the outbreak of the war to now, Uzakov has experienced many cruel battles. Naturally, he knows that many troops have suffered heavy casualties and it is difficult to continue to persist. When his request for reinforcements to his superiors was rejected, he
Worried that his request would be rejected, he said euphemistically: "Although the commanders and fighters of my brigade performed very bravely in the battle, we are at a disadvantage in terms of numbers."
Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Samyko smiled and said: "Lieutenant Colonel Uzakov, so this is the request. Don't worry, Comrade Commander has said that he will never let you fight alone, except to provide you with artillery support."
, in addition to air cover, we also sent troops to your defense areas in vehicles. I believe it won’t be long before you see reinforcements.”
"Are there reinforcements?" Although Uzakov knew that Samyko could not lie to him about this kind of thing, he still asked: "Is it true, Comrade Chief of Staff?"
"Of course it's true." Sameko said in a positive tone: "Comrade Commander has given orders to the two Marine Corps brigades, asking them to rush to reinforce you by car immediately after completing the replenishment of troops."
Uzakov noticed that the phrase "replenishment of soldiers" appeared in Samyko's words, and couldn't help but curiously asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff, are they recruiting new soldiers?"
Samyko heard what the other party was worried about, and quickly comforted him and said: "Lieutenant Colonel Uzakov, don't worry, the two Marine Corps brigades are not recruiting new recruits without combat experience, but just like your brigade, they are recruiting new recruits."
They are commanders and combatants who have just been rescued from prisoner of war camps. Due to the critical situation there, the commander is worried that your position will be breached by the enemy, so he has incorporated more than 5,000 commanders and combatants into the Marine Corps Brigade without even completing the screening review.
, rushed over to reinforce you."
If before the enemy attacked the outpost, Uzakov still had prejudices against the commanders and fighters from the prisoner-of-war camp, but when Lieutenant Paul led a small force, he withstood the German invaders with more than ten times their strength.
The attack, and even bravely fought the enemy with bayonets, which made Uzakov completely change his view of prisoners of war.
When he heard that the additional soldiers of the two Marine Corps brigades were all commanders and fighters rescued from prisoner-of-war camps, he even said with some excitement: "Comrade Chief of Staff, these commanders and fighters rescued from prisoner-of-war camps are not only skilled in technical and tactical skills.
They are skilled and full of hatred for the German invaders. If they are armed, it will definitely be the German invaders' nightmare."
"Lieutenant Colonel Uzakov, let me tell you another piece of good news." Samyko said into the microphone: "Half an hour ago, the 84th and 254th Infantry Divisions, which were detouring towards the enemy's left and right flanks, had completed their attack on the enemy.
Encirclement. As soon as the bombing ends, they will attack the enemies in the encirclement at the same time."
Uzakov couldn't help but be overjoyed when he learned that the friendly forces had completed the encirclement of the German army without him noticing. But not long after he was happy, he began to worry again: "Comrade Chief of Staff, attack our enemy, the distance is
Belgorod is very close, and if there is danger, the enemies in the city will definitely come out to reinforce them, and then the friendly forces will be in danger of being attacked from both sides."
"You don't have to worry about this." Samyko did not tell Uzakov the truth, but said vaguely: "Friendly forces north of Belgorod are taking some containment actions against the enemies in the city, so that they
We have no choice but to send troops for reinforcements."
"So that's it."
"Okay, Lieutenant Colonel Uzakov." Samyko felt that the call should be ended, so he said briefly: "As soon as the reinforcements arrive, you will launch a full-scale counterattack. You must cooperate with friendly forces to annihilate the German 255th Infantry Division.
.”
If in other armies, the orders issued by superiors to the grassroots troops are to do everything possible to crush the enemy's attack. Only in Sokov's army, the issues that commanders at all levels consider are not just how to crush the enemy's attack.
The enemy's attack, and how to annihilate the enemy.
"Don't worry, Comrade Chief of Staff. As soon as the reinforcements arrive, we will immediately launch a comprehensive counterattack."
Sameko put down the phone, quickly called the chief of staff and the first and second battalion commanders to the front, and said to the three of them: "Comrade commanders, I have good news for you. The commander has sent us reinforcements. Otherwise,
How long will it take to get to us?"
"Reinforcements!" "Reinforcements!!"
When they heard this word from Uzhakov's mouth, everyone present felt extremely cordial. Everyone turned to look at their companions, and saw the look of surprise in each other's eyes.
"Comrades, commanders, don't get excited, there is better news to come." The reaction of the crowd was as expected by Uzhakov. He continued proudly: "We are here to fight against the enemy's attack.
At the same time, the two friendly forces have penetrated the enemy's flanks and completed the encirclement of the enemy. As soon as our army's bombing of the enemy stops, they will launch a full-scale attack on the enemy."
After being briefly happy, the brigade chief of staff was worried about the friendly forces encircling the 255th Infantry Division: "Comrade Brigade Commander, the 255th Infantry Division is very close to Belgorod. Once they are surrounded, won't the enemies in the city not
Come out to greet them? I'm worried that not only will we not be able to defeat the enemy, but our friendly forces will also be under attack from both sides."
What the Chief of Staff said is not unfounded. There were too many similar situations. Every time the Soviet army surrounded the German army with several times its strength, but at the end of the battle, the German army either broke out in an organic form or cooperated with reinforcements to counterattack.
, annihilating the Soviet army that attempted to encircle and annihilate itself. If such a situation happens this time, it will be joy in vain.
"Comrade Chief of Staff, you can rest assured on this." In order to dispel the doubts of his Chief of Staff, Uzakov said to him: "Chief of Staff Samyko told me that the main force of the front army is pretending to be north of Belgorod.
If we move, they will create a false situation for the Germans and make the enemy think that we are about to launch an attack on Belgorod. In this case, the enemy will definitely not send troops to reinforce the 255th Infantry Division. Then we will
If you have the chance, work with friendly forces to annihilate this German army."
After hearing that Uzakov said that his superiors had already considered this issue, the Chief of Staff did not continue to worry about the safety of friendly forces. Instead, he asked: "Comrade Brigadier, when should we participate in the counterattack? It will also wait until the bombing stops.
Start?"
"As I just said, our superiors have sent us reinforcements. As soon as the reinforcements arrive, we can immediately launch an attack on the enemy."
"Comrade Brigade Commander, I would like to ask." A battalion commander interrupted and asked: "Which troop is the reinforcement sent to us by our superiors? As far as I know, after more than ten days of fighting, the attrition of each division has been very serious.
, I’m afraid it will affect the combat effectiveness of the troops to some extent.”
"First Battalion Commander, don't worry." Uzakov said to the First Battalion Commander: "The superiors sent us two Marine Corps brigades. Before they set off, they had just added more than 5,000 soldiers.
A new force that cannot be underestimated.”
"Comrade Brigadier, where did these five thousand people come from?" A battalion commander asked with concern: "If they are soldiers who have just put on military uniforms, not only do they have no combat experience, but they will even become confused when they hear the sound of gunfire.
If you panic, no matter how many people there are, they probably won't be of much use."
"First Battalion Commander, you can rest assured on this." Uzakov said: "The newly added soldiers to the two Marine Corps brigades are not newly recruited soldiers, but prisoners of war rescued from prisoner of war camps."
Everyone was immediately relieved when they figured out that the additional troops from the friendly forces were from prisoners of war. Not long ago, they also added more than two thousand prisoners of war who had been rescued by themselves. Through the whole night of fighting, several commanders clearly saw that those
The commanders and fighters who were looked down upon by them in the past not only had rich combat experience, but also performed extremely bravely on the battlefield. Even when they were outnumbered, they did not take a step back.
"This is really great." The first battalion commander said: "The Marine Corps Brigade has added such a combat backbone, which will definitely improve the combat effectiveness of the unit. In the next battle, I believe they will achieve good results."
…………
The Soviet bombing had just ended. The 84th Infantry Division, which was already ready to attack, moved from east to west, and the 254th Infantry Division moved from west to east. At the same time, it launched an attack on the German 255th Division.
As the battle progressed, the commander of the German 255th Infantry Division no longer had the arrogance of last night, but was replaced by frustration, loss and a sense of being at a loss.
Why do you feel overwhelmed?
That's because he found that the continuous attacks were frustrated and capturing the town of Yakovlevo had become an impossible task. Originally, he found that his troops were surrounded and suffered a fierce air attack by the Soviet Air Force, so he proposed to his superiors to withdraw.
Unexpectedly, his superiors told him that the defensive positions in the northern suburbs of Belgorod were being bombarded by Soviet artillery fire. It seemed that the Soviet army would soon launch an attack on the city. So he was ordered to continue to execute the original order.
, to seize the town of Yakovlevo, and form a dichotomy with the garrison in Belgorod.
When the German division commander received the task of capturing the town of Yakovlevo last night, he thought it was a good job, because according to reconnaissance, the Soviet army only deployed one infantry brigade in the town, and it was not full of infantry brigade.
.Compared with our own 255th Infantry Division, not only is the opponent's strength at a disadvantage, it even lacks any decent heavy weapons. Using our own troops to deal with such an enemy is simply overqualified.
Unexpectedly, the German division commander was soon slapped in the face by reality.
When he sent his most elite troops to attack the outpost, it was clear that there was only one Soviet company on the position. Facing an attack with ten times his own strength, not only did he not escape, he even launched a desperate charge and started a hand-to-hand battle with his own soldiers.
.
When the main force of the infantry brigade arrived, the German division commander was even more stunned. He felt dizzy and his eyes were black.
Now that the request to return to Belgorod has been rejected, the only way is to continue to execute the original order and launch an attack on the Soviet troops in the front, hoping to break through their positions and successfully occupy Yakov
Levo Town, so that our troops can have some hope of turning the tide of the war.