The intensive sound of artillery coming from the south of the town alerted Major General Fomenko, who had set up his headquarters in the church. He asked what was going on outside and where the sound of artillery came from; while he picked up the gun on the table.
I walked up the stairs to the bell tower, raised my telescope and looked south.
The outer position held by the 568th Regiment is more than two kilometers away from the town, only 600 meters wide and less than 300 meters deep. Now it is shrouded in German artillery fire.
Fomenko, who was standing on the bell tower, could not help but frown slightly when he saw this scene. According to his experience, the enemy was a precursor to launching a large-scale attack. He knew that when the 188th Division captured the town of Kazachya Compass,
After paying a heavy price, the German artillery fire was so fierce now, and the ground attack would probably be even more fierce later. He couldn't help but worry about Koida, worried that his troops would not be able to hold their position at all.
Fomenko was holding a telescope to observe the battle situation. Suddenly he heard someone calling him from behind. He turned around and saw that it was a staff officer. Seeing Fomenko turn around, the staff officer quickly reported to him: "Comrade Division Commander, your phone number is
This is a call from Colonel Koida, commander of the 188th Division."
Fomenko was worried about the future of the 188th Division. Even if Koida didn't call him, he was going to call him when he went downstairs. Since the other party called him first, it proved that he had something to ask for help.
Without hesitation, he turned around and followed the staff officer downstairs to answer the phone.
Picking up the phone, Koida's anxious voice came from inside: "General Fomenko, the enemy is bombarding the position of our 568th Regiment with fierce artillery fire..."
"I saw it." Before Koida could finish speaking, he interrupted him and asked straight to the point: "Is there anything I can do to help you?"
"Yes, Comrade General, I am calling you to ask for help." The situation was critical, and Koida did not beat around the bush, but said bluntly: "I have now lost contact with the 568th Regiment. Judging from the current situation,
Look, the enemy will launch a ground attack soon, and I hope to get your help then."
Fomenko knew that once the outer positions of the Koida Division were lost, the next target of the German attack would be the Compass Town of Kazachia, so he simply replied: "No problem, Colonel Koida, I can assemble immediately
troops, and as soon as the enemy's shelling stops, order them to enter the outer positions in the south of the town."
"Comrade General, you are mistaken." Koida said: "I called you not because we need infantry to help us defend our positions, but because we hope that artillery can provide artillery support for our defenders."
"What, artillery?!" Fomenko asked in surprise: "Colonel Koida, if I'm not mistaken, do you want my artillery regiment to provide you with artillery support?"
"Yes, Comrade General, you can provide us with artillery support, which is enough."
Regarding Koida's request, Fomenko fell into deep thought. According to the analysis of the situation he just saw on the bell tower, the enemy used at least two hundred artillery pieces, half of which were 105 mm or 128 mm artillery pieces.
Our own artillery regiment only has more than 20 artillery pieces. Except for three 122mm artillery pieces, the rest are 76.2mm artillery pieces. In terms of quantity and power, they are at an absolute disadvantage compared to the German artillery. Once the artillery fire is fired,
I'm afraid it won't be long before our artillery positions will be covered by German artillery fire.
Seeing Fomenko's delay in speaking, Koida guessed the worry in the other party's heart, so he begged and said: "Comrade General, I understand what you mean. Compared with the enemy's artillery, your artillery regiment is not as large as the number or the enemy's artillery.
In terms of firepower, they are all at an absolute disadvantage. Once they provide us with artillery support, they may incur fatal artillery strikes from the German army.
But I have no choice but to make this request to you. Please help us. Otherwise, once the enemy launches an attack, my troops will not be able to resist for long, and the outer positions may be breached."
"Comrade Division Commander," seeing Fomenko's undecided look, Colonel Manokhin, the political commissar of the division standing nearby, interjected: "If the enemy really breaks through the outer positions, then they will rush into the town and fight with us.
The division started fighting. I think in this case, even though we knew that the artillery regiment was in danger of being destroyed, we should help the 188th Division and delay the enemy's attack."
After hearing what Manokhin said, Fomenko did not express his position, but turned to the chief of staff and asked: "Comrade chief of staff, what is your opinion? Do you agree with what the political commissar said and provide help to the 188th Division?"
"Yes, that's what I think." After the division chief of staff expressed his opinion, he added: "In addition to providing them with artillery support, Colonel Rusuf's 268th Regiment should be assembled in the shortest possible time.
Get up and be ready to throw them into battle."
After hearing what the Chief of Staff said, Fomenko couldn't help but be happy: "What a coincidence. The one holding the outer position in the south of the town is the 568th Regiment of the 188th Division, and the troops we want to send for reinforcements are the 268th Regiment.
This is too much of a coincidence."
After speaking, he released his hand covering the microphone and said to Koida: "Colonel Koida, I agree with your request. When the enemy launches a ground attack, I will order the artillery regiment to fire on the enemy's tanks and infantry.
Interception. In addition, I will also dispatch the 268th Regiment to the outer positions in the south of the town to provide reinforcements and withdraw the troops stationed there."
"Comrade General," Koida originally just wanted to ask Fomenko to provide artillery support for his troops. Now when he heard him say that he was also preparing to send out an infantry regiment for reinforcements, he was very moved. He said with some choking: "
Thank you so much, and I thank you on behalf of all the commanders and fighters of the division."
"You're welcome, Colonel Koida." Fomenko said politely: "We are friendly forces and we stick to the same place. We should support each other. If you encounter any difficulties, please feel free to call me.
I will try my best to help you."
After Fomenko and Koida reached an agreement, they felt that the matter was of great importance and it was necessary to report it to the army headquarters to see what Sokov thought about it.
Samyko was shocked when he received the call from Fomenko, and quickly reported to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, General Fomenko reported that the enemy is shelling the outer positions south of the Compass Town of Kazachya. See
It looks like they are preparing to launch a large-scale attack."
Sokov walked over and took the phone, and said into the phone with a solemn expression: "General Fomenko, what is the scale of the enemy's shelling?"
"Report to Comrade Commander," Fomenko replied respectfully: "I observed on the bell tower for a while and found that the enemy used at least two hundred artillery pieces, half of which were 105 mm or 128 mm caliber artillery pieces. It seems that,
The enemy wants to use intensive artillery fire to destroy the 188th Division's defenses outside the town so that they can easily break through our defense line after launching an attack."
"General Fomenko," Sokov waited for the other party to finish speaking, then said: "Your division and the 188th Division are both in Kazachya Compass Town. If the enemy breaks through the 188th Division's defense line, then they will
It is inevitable to have a war with you. I wonder if you have taken any measures?"
Fomenko had already guessed that Sokov would ask him this question, so he replied confidently: "Reporting to Comrade Commander, I have agreed to Colonel Koida's request. When the enemy launches a ground attack against them, I will defend the defenders."
Provide artillery support and destroy the enemies rushing towards the outer positions. At the same time, I also ordered the 268th Regiment to start gathering and be ready to reinforce the outer positions at any time."
After Sokov waited for Fomenko to finish his report, he nodded with satisfaction, and then said: "Comrade General, you did a good job. I believe that as long as you and Colonel Koida work together, no matter how fierce the enemy's offensive is,
I can’t even think of breaking through your defenses.”
"Comrade Commander," Samyko said anxiously as soon as Sokov put down the phone: "According to General Fomenko's report, the enemy used more than 200 artillery pieces, and his artillery regiment only had more than 20 artillery pieces.
Artillery, 10:1, I'm worried that as soon as they fire, the artillery regiment's position will be destroyed by the enemy's intensive artillery fire in a short time."
"I know, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov also felt a headache about this matter. Fomenko's artillery regiment provided artillery support to the 188th Division, and it was indeed possible that the entire army would be annihilated under the enemy's artillery fire; but if not
If he wanted to provide support, then the defenders who were being bombarded by fierce German artillery fire at this moment would not be able to support it for long. He could only bite the bullet and replied: "We cannot because the artillery regiment of the 84th Division may be wiped out by enemy artillery fire.
Just let them watch the enemy break through the friendly positions and turn a blind eye. Once the Germans rush into the town, the artillery regiment is also likely to be wiped out..."
Samyko didn't understand what Sokov was talking about, but he couldn't bear to let the artillery regiment carry out such an order despite knowing that it might be wiped out by the enemy as soon as it fired.
Sokov saw Samyko's dilemma, but Ci did not control the troops. Even if he knew that the artillery regiment would be wiped out, Sokov could only let them provide artillery support for friendly forces. He thought for a while and picked up the table.
After dialing a number, he said into the phone: "I am Sokov, pick up General Konev."
Konev, who was mobilizing troops and generals, heard Chief of Staff Zakharov say that Sokov had something urgent to ask of him. He could not help but frown slightly, walked over and took the phone: "I am Comrade Konev. Sokov
,What's matter?"
"Reporting to Comrade Commander of the Front Army," the war was critical. Sokov did not be polite to the other party, but spoke very quickly: "The enemy used more than two hundred artillery pieces to bombard our army outside the Compass Town of Kazachya.
Position, it seems that they want to launch a large-scale attack."
"Comrade Sokov, isn't this normal?" Konev waited for Sokov to finish speaking, then began to express his opinion: "Your troops occupied the town of Kazachya Compass, which is equivalent to the German army.
There is a fatal nail wedged into the defense line of the battle group. In order to ensure the stability of the defense line, they will definitely launch a counterattack to drive your troops away from the town and restore their original position."
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I am very aware of the enemy's intentions." Sokov replied in a moderate tone: "But our army's artillery is limited in number and cannot engage in an evenly matched artillery battle with the enemy's artillery, so I called you for help.
.”
"Help?" Konev repeated the word and said with a wry smile: "Comrade Sokov, although I have artillery in my hands now, they are too far away from Kazachya Compass Town. Wait until they arrive.
By the time you reach your destination, I'm afraid the enemies who have finished their shelling have already broken through your outer positions and rushed into the town."
Sokov's call to Konev was not to ask him for artillery. Not to mention the artillery commanded by the front army headquarters, which is hundreds of kilometers away from the Compass Town of Kazachya. Even his own artillery could not reach it at all.
We arrived at the battlefield within two or three hours. And the battle that took place there would obviously not last that long. By the time the artillery arrived at its destination, the day lilies would probably be cold.
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov continued into the phone: "I am calling you to ask you to dispatch the air force to bomb the German artillery positions. Only by doing so can the German offensive power be weakened and
Our army has greater confidence in holding the town of Kazachia Compass."
"What, do you need air force support?" Konev raised his voice intentionally after hearing Sokov's request, and at the same time cast a meaningful look at Zakharov, who was standing not far away.
When Zakharov saw Konev turning his gaze towards him and heard what the other party said, he nodded understandingly, picked up another phone on the table, and called the headquarters of the 5th Air Force Group Army, which was affiliated with the front army.
Telephone.
Two minutes later, Zakharov put down the phone in his hand, walked up to Konev and reported to him: "Comrade Commander, I have asked Air Force Lieutenant General Goryunov, and he said that his Air Force Group
We can arrive near the Compass Town of Kazachia in twenty minutes at the earliest and bomb the enemy artillery positions that are shelling our positions."
"Comrade Sokov, did you hear everything?" Konev waited for Zakharov to finish speaking and then said to Sokov: "Our air force will arrive on the battlefield in twenty minutes to bombard Kazachi.
German artillery bombed the town of Yaluopan."
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army, thank you so much." Sokov learned that the air force would arrive on the battlefield soon, and his heart in his throat returned to his stomach again, "This way we will be more confident in holding Kaza.
Chia Compass Town.”
Unexpectedly, after listening to this, Konev said with a straight face: "Comrade Sokov, you can't just be sure to defend the town, but you must defend the town unconditionally. Do you understand?"
Perhaps he was worried that his tone was too strong. After finishing this sentence, Konev softened his tone and said: "Comrade Sokov, due to the active actions of your department, the original defense system of the German army has been destroyed. As long as you
If we continue to stick to the current area, it will be very helpful for our next attack on Kharkov."
Sokov knew in his heart that what Konev said was true. As long as his troops firmly defended the Kazachya Compass, the German defense line would become fragmented. By then, the main force of the Steppe Front Army and the Voronezh Front Army would
Once the offensive begins, it will break through the German defense system faster than ever before and reach the gates of Kharkov.
In order to reassure Konev, he assured the other party: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I assure you that no matter how fierce the German offensive is, my troops will never abandon the town of Kazachya Compass."