"There are less than fifty people left in the whole battalion?" Zakharov couldn't help but be secretly surprised after hearing the number Sokov said. He then asked: "How long did this battle with heavy casualties last?
time?"
"Less than twenty minutes." Sokov said: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, based on this, I can conclude that it will definitely not be a small German force attacking Hill 239."
"Yes, I think so too." After Zakharov agreed with Sokov's statement, he asked: "How do you plan to drive the enemy away from the high ground?"
"I have ordered the 126th Regiment to concentrate all its forces to counterattack the German army. At the same time, I have also ordered General Kurishenko, commander of the 41st Guards Division, to have the division's artillery regiment fire and build a line of artillery two hundred meters in front of the high ground.
The wall of fire prevented subsequent German units from entering the high ground."
"You did the right thing." Zaharov asked puzzledly: "Then what is the purpose of calling me?"
"The front of Highland 239 is 800 meters wide. It is difficult to build an insurmountable wall of fire in front of the position just close to the artillery of the 41st Guards Division Artillery Regiment. Therefore, I would like to request the support of the artillery of the Front Army to provide us with enough
artillery cover."
"Comrade Sokov, this matter is of great importance. I need to report to Commander Konev immediately." Zakharov said solemnly: "You can call back in ten minutes."
"Okay." Sokov agreed: "I'll call you in ten minutes."
"Comrade Commander," Smirnov said to Sokov as soon as he put down the phone: "Colonel Sidorin reported that Lieutenant Colonel Krezhiow, the chief of staff of the 126th Regiment, personally led a battalion
and the Third Battalion, to launch an attack on the German troops on the high ground."
When Sokov heard this, he thought to himself that Krezhiow was a very capable person! He was really capable of getting things done! If there was a chance in the future, he could be given a job as a regimental leader. He coughed lightly, and then asked
Said: "Have you figured out the enemy's number?"
"Not yet." Smirnov shook his head and said, "So far, we haven't captured any prisoners, so we can't know which part of the enemy group that attacked the highlands is."
"Is the artillery ready for the bombardment?" Sokov asked. As soon as the words came out, he saw Tsarev standing in front of him looking embarrassed, and quickly added: "I am asking the 41st Guards
The divisional artillery regiment of the division."
"Yes, they are ready for shelling." Smirnov replied: "They can shell the front of Hill 239 at any time."
"Very good." Sokov nodded, and then said to Tsarev: "Comrade Artillery Commander, order the artillery that can bombard the front of Hill 239 to immediately block and fire on the high ground to prevent more Germans from attacking.
Enter our army's position."
After Sokov ordered Tsarev, he said to Smirnov again: "Comrade Chief of Staff, call Colonel Stilitz, commander of the 116th Infantry Division, and order him to mobilize two regiments to reinforce 239
Highlands.”
Hearing Sokov's order, Smirnov said with some surprise: "Comrade Commander, didn't you order the 41st Guards Division two days ago to move the main force to the direction of Highland 239? Why did you order other orders?
Are the troops going to reinforce?"
"The reason is very simple, my comrade chief of staff." Sokov said to Smirnov: "If the German army's attack on the high ground at this moment is a part of their breakout operation, then our German 3rd Armored Corps in the southwest will
There will be changes. If we move the main force of the 41st Guards Division to the position of Highland 239, then the original defensive position will be empty of troops. Once it is attacked by the German troops coming to relieve the siege, there is a possibility of losing it.
"
"So that's it." After Smirnov figured out the situation, he took the initiative to ask Sokov for instructions: "Comrade Commander, except for the 116th Infantry Division, do the remaining troops need to be adjusted?"
"Order the 130th and 214th Infantry Divisions to enter first-level combat readiness." Sokov said: "If the encircled German 3rd Armored Corps really takes action, then they will be needed to reinforce the 41st Guards Division."
Ten minutes passed in the blink of an eye. Sokov was about to order the director of the communications corps to connect the phone to the front army headquarters, but first received a call from Sidorin: "Comrade division commander, I understand, the German troops currently occupying Hill 239
, is the 105th Grenadier Regiment of the 72nd Infantry Division, commanded by Colonel Robert Swift."
Although Sokov knew that Sidorin must have obtained accurate information before reporting to him, but thinking that he was about to report to Konev, he asked uneasily: "Is the information reliable?"
"Completely reliable." Sidorin replied: "Not only did we find the bodies of the officers and soldiers of the 105th Grenadier Regiment, but we also captured two prisoners. This information was obtained after our interrogation."
"Comrade Colonel, send the prisoners to the army headquarters immediately." Sokov felt that only by interrogating the prisoners personally could he get more useful information: "I want to interrogate them personally."
"Okay, I'll send someone to send the prisoners over immediately."
"Have the Highlands been retaken?"
"The battle is still going on." Sidorin said: "Although our commanders and fighters behaved very bravely, due to the large number of enemies and their occupying favorable terrain, our counterattack was not going smoothly.
It will take some time to regain the position."
"If that's the case, why haven't you arranged for the divisional artillery regiment to open fire!" Sokov said with some annoyance: "If the connection between the German troops on the highlands and the follow-up troops is not cut off, more German troops will continue to enter the highlands.
By then, let alone the 126th Regiment, even if your entire Guards Division is filled in, it will not be enough."
The call between Sokov and Sidorin lasted for five minutes, which delayed the time agreed with Zakharov.
As soon as he put down the phone, Zakharov called over. He said angrily: "Comrade Sokov, didn't I ask you to call me in ten minutes? Why not? It's really
I have no sense of time at all.”
"Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army," hearing that Zakharov was angry, Sokov quickly explained to him: "I was just talking to the Chief of Staff of the 41st Guards Division to learn about the situation at Highland 239, and I did not talk to you in time.
, I’m really sorry.”
When Sokov said that he didn't call him in time because he knew about the situation on Highland 239, Zakharov's anger was half gone. He asked with some urgency: "How is the situation on Highland 239? Find out about the enemy."
Which part is it from?”
"Yes, we have figured it out. The German army that attacked Hill 239 was the 105th Grenadier Regiment under the 72nd Infantry Division."
"This is impossible." As soon as Sokov finished speaking, Zakharov on the other end of the phone shouted: "The German 72nd Division is still in Komarovka, and there are our close ones in front of them.
The 5th Airborne Division, how did the enemy bypass our defenses and appear on Highland 239? Did it fall from the sky?"
"You can't be wrong, Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army." Sokov said: "Not only did the bodies of officers and soldiers of the 72nd Infantry Division appear on the battlefield, there were even two officers and soldiers captured by our army. I have ordered the Chief of Staff of the Division to
Colonel Dorling sent someone to send them to me, and I plan to interrogate them myself to find out where the enemy came from."
"Comrade Sokov, once there are new interrogation results, remember to inform me in time."
"That's no problem." After Sokov agreed to Zakharov's proposal, he changed the topic to more important matters: "I would like to ask, can the artillery of the front army provide us with artillery support?"
"General Konev is in my artillery," Zakharov said, "If you have any requests, you can tell him directly."
Soon, Sokov heard Konev's familiar voice coming from the receiver: "Hello, Comrade Sokov, I am Konev. How can I help you?"
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov said cautiously: "Although I still don't know how many enemies are attacking Highland 239, according to my judgment, the scale must not be small. In order to prevent Highland 239 from being occupied by the enemy, I plead
You can ask the artillery to provide us with the necessary artillery support."
"Comrade Sokov," Konev asked without comment after hearing Sokov's request: "Are you really sure that the German troops attacking Hill 239 are qualified to use the artillery of the front army to deal with them?"
"I'm very sure, Comrade Commander of the Front Army." Ever since he heard Sidorin mention the number of the 105th Grenadier Regiment, Sokov remembered that in the history he had seen, those who acted with this unit, and
The 5th Walloon Brigade, which belongs to the Viking Division, has a combined force of almost 4,000 people. The only thing that can prevent them from entering Highland 239 is powerful artillery fire: "If artillery fire interception is not implemented, I am worried that once more
If more German troops enter Hill 239, the situation will become unfavorable to our army."
Sokov's next words made Konev realize the seriousness of the problem. He pondered for a moment, and then said: "Okay, Comrade Sokov, I will call General Fomin immediately and ask him to block 239 with artillery fire."
In front of the high ground, prevent more enemies from entering the position they just occupied."
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army, thank you very much." Hearing that Konev agreed to let the Front Army's artillery support the 239 Highlands with artillery fire, Sokov was overjoyed. He knew in his heart that as long as the Front Army's cannons fired, they would be able to fire on the highlands.
An insurmountable wall of fire was built in front, blowing the German troops trying to enter the high ground to pieces. "With the artillery support from the front army, I believe we will be able to firmly hold the 239 high ground."
After putting down the phone, a beaming Sokov asked Smirnov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, have the reinforcements of the 116th Infantry Division set off?"