As soon as Ponejelin was asked to tell Fomin to stop the shelling of the front of the highlands, Zakharov's phone call came in: "Comrade Sokov, I heard that you asked General Fomin to stop the shelling of the highlands?"
"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army." Sokov explained to the other party: "The defenders on the highlands have rebuilt their fortifications and adjusted their deployment, which is enough to cope with the German attack, so there is no need to waste any more artillery shells for the time being.
.”
After figuring out what was going on, Zaharov said "hmm" and said, "If you need help, just call us. Comrade Commander has already explained that we can provide you with powerful artillery support at any time."
When Sokov was looking at the map, he suddenly had a bold idea. He was trying to find a suitable time to call Zakharov. Since he called Zakharov first, he said in passing: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army
, I have something to ask you."
"what's up?"
"Is there a reservoir on the upper reaches of the Gniloydikich River?"
"Of course there are reservoirs, otherwise the electricity in surrounding towns would have to be transmitted from farther away."
Learning that there is a reservoir in the upper reaches of the Gniloydikich River, Sokov continued to ask: "Is the reservoir now in the hands of our army or the Germans?"
"Of course it is in the hands of our army. In order to prevent the Germans from destroying it, our army first seized the reservoir after entering this area." Zaharov asked in return: "Why do you ask this?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army," confirmed that the reservoir in the upper reaches of the Genilodikich River is now controlled by the Soviet army. Sokov felt that he could implement his next step: "I want to ask, can the reservoir be made
Close the gates and start storing water?”
"Yes." Zakharov reminded Sokov: "It is the dry season in winter. If the gate is closed to store water, although the water level downstream will drop, the water level in the reservoir will not rise much."
Sokov knew very well that the storage of water in the reservoir in winter was definitely not comparable to that in summer, but as long as the water could be stored, his plan could go ahead: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, I implore you to order the troops guarding the reservoir to
Starting now, the gates will be closed to store water, and the water level will rise as much as it can."
Seeing Sokov repeatedly mentioning the reservoir of the Gniloydikich River, Zakharov became a little confused: "Comrade Sokov, can you tell me what the purpose of the water sluice filling in winter is?
"
"Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, if the Germans are lucky enough to break through the defense line of our army group, if they want to completely escape from our encirclement, they will inevitably pass through the Gniloydikichi River. I plan to open the gate and release the water when they cross the river.
The flood swept away the fleeing Germans."
"This is a good idea. Why didn't I think of it?" Sokov's words made Zakharov's eyes light up. He quickly said: "Comrade Sokov, I will report your suggestion to the commander as soon as possible.
Inform the reservoir defenders to close the gate and store water."
As soon as Zakharov put down the phone, he couldn't wait to report Sokov's proposal to Konev.
After listening to this, Konev couldn't help but exclaimed: "Great, Sokov's idea is really great. When the German army crosses the river, our upstream reservoir will open the gate and release water, and the surging water will be able to
The Germans who were crossing the river were swept away. At the same time, the rising water level could also cut off their retreat, allowing us to calmly annihilate them all."
After listening to what Konev said, Zakharov immediately realized that the other party agreed with Sokov's proposal, and asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, since you do not object to Sokov's proposal, then I will immediately notify the reservoir
The defenders closed the sluice to store water. After all, it is winter now. If the water is stored earlier, the water level will be higher."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Konev acquiesced to Zakharov's statement, and then added: "In order to prevent the Germans from being aware of it and sending troops to attack the reservoir, you have to transfer troops from other places to strengthen the defense there.
Defense, ensuring that the reservoir is always in the hands of our army."
…………
In a small town more than ten kilometers away from Highland 239, the top commander of the German army in the encirclement circle, Commander of the 11th Army, Wilhelm Stemermann, was listening to a report from his subordinates in the headquarters.
The Walloon Assault Brigade captured the Soviet Komarovka Highlands and nearby villages, giving William Stemmermann hope of a successful breakout. However, the failure of the attack on Highland 239 made it impossible for Escape to survive.
The hope became slim again.
The total strength of the Walloon Assault Brigade and the 105th Grenadier Regiment that participated in the attack on Highland 239 was close to 4,000. When they withdrew from the battle at dawn, the total number of the two troops was only more than 1,500, and the Walloons
Lieutenant Colonel Lipt, the commander of the Longren Assault Brigade, was seriously injured by Soviet artillery fire while hiding. He died not long after he was brought back because rescue efforts failed, so he could only be temporarily assigned to the task force.
His deputy, Lieutenant Colonel Degrelle, temporarily took over the command of the assault brigade.
Looking at Lieutenant Colonel Degrelle and Colonel Swift, the commander of the 105th Grenadier Regiment standing in front of him, William Stemmerman asked with a straight face: "Did you all conduct the sneak attack on Hill 239 last night?"
They are participants. Please tell me how the Russians became aware of our actions and even launched a violent bombardment of our army's latent areas."
"Your Excellency, General," Swift was the first to speak. He said cautiously: "There are many people who know about this operation. I think some of the officers and soldiers involved in the operation may have leaked information to the Russians."
"This is impossible." Degrelle retorted: "Our brigade was in radio silence all the time when it was operating. Even if there were Russian spies, they had no quick way to pass on the news."
"So, there is a problem in other aspects." William Stemmerman asked: "Mr. Lieutenant Colonel, where do you think there is a flaw?"
Degrelle thought for a long time, and then said cautiously: "When we were approaching the Russians' 239 Hill, a soldier accidentally stepped on a landmine. Maybe it was the landmine that exposed our intentions."
"How far is that mine from Hill 239?"
"About five or six hundred meters."
"Why did the Russians place mines five or six hundred meters away from their positions?"
"Your Majesty General, I'm not sure about this." Degrelle said: "I think it may be a landmine accidentally left by the Russians."
William Stemmerman felt that this possibility was very high, so he did not pursue the matter further, but said regretfully: "Unfortunately, it was because a landmine exposed our whereabouts, otherwise 239 Highlands would have been occupied by our army at this moment.
Occupied."
"Your Excellency, General," Swift's troops once occupied Highland 239. If the Soviet army had not blocked the road with artillery fire, making it impossible for follow-up troops to follow up, I am afraid that a gap had been opened in the encirclement by now, and the troops who came to respond would have opened a gap.
The troops gathered together. When he thought of this, he said reluctantly: "As long as you can provide me with artillery support, my troops will definitely be able to take down Highland 239."
"Colonel Swift, I admire you very much for your fighting spirit." However, his request was rejected by William Stemmerman: "However, after a night of fighting, only the remaining members of your regiment are
We have hundreds of people. With such a force, even with the support of artillery and tanks, it may be difficult to break through the Russian defenses. I think this offensive task should be completed by other units of the 72nd Infantry Division."
After sending Swift and Degrelle away, William Stemmermann asked his chief of staff: "Chief of Staff, who is the commander of the Russian 53rd Army?"
"Major General Tarasov." The chief of staff immediately replied: "This person's commanding ability is average. He was defeated by us in several confrontations with our army."
"Mr. Chief of Staff, to be precise, it was not us who defeated the 53rd Army, but the Viking Division that was most trusted by the Führer. In front of them, no Russian troops can take advantage. Even the former Sokov was also
After suffering the defeat of the Viking Division." When William Stemmerman said this, a terrifying thought suddenly came to his mind: "Tell me, it's not Sokov who is commanding the 53rd Army now, right?
"
"No, Your Excellency General." Chief of Staff comforted William Stemmermann and said: "According to the information we have, Sokov is still studying at the Frunze Military Academy. Before completing his studies, he is
He won't appear on the battlefield."
But William Stemmermann looked at his chief of staff and said quietly: "Before we attacked Russia, the Russians also believed that we would not fight on two fronts at the same time, at least until we defeated the British.
It was possible to launch a war against them. But as a result, it was precisely because of this kind of thinking that they were caught off guard by us."
The Army Chief of Staff heard what William Stemmermann said and asked tentatively: "Your Excellency, General, do you mean that the commander of the Russian 53rd Army has been replaced? It may even cause us the biggest headache.
Sokov?”
"Yes, that's how I think about it." William Stemmerman sighed and said: "If he really takes over the command of the 53rd Army, then our plan to break out from the 239th Heights will be completely destroyed.
It’s all in vain. Not only will we not be able to break out of the Russian encirclement, we may even be completely annihilated.”
"This is unlikely." The military chief of staff said with luck: "I think it will take at least half a year or even longer for Sokov to return to the battlefield."
"Immediately send someone to conduct reconnaissance." William Stemmerman said solemnly: "I have read the report of Lieutenant Colonel Degrelle. Their latent force detonated a mine several hundred meters away from the position. According to common sense,
, the defenders on the position will send personnel to check. But the actual situation is that the other side did not send people to check, but directly shelled the area where the mine exploded. When did the Russians' artillery reserves become so abundant?
"
After hearing what William Stemmermann said, the Army Chief of Staff also realized the seriousness of the problem and quickly said: "Understood, General, I will immediately send personnel to conduct reconnaissance to find out whether the Russian 53rd Group Army has changed its commander.
official."
After a brief pause, he asked cautiously: "Your Excellency, General, which troops do you plan to send to capture Highland 239?"
"Let the Viking Division go forward." William Stemmermann said without hesitation: "If you want to break through the Russian encirclement, you must put this powerful force into battle. The performance of this division on the battlefield has always been impressive.
The Russians have a headache, and I hope this performance will not disappoint me."
As the order was issued, the 9th Panzer Grenadier Regiment of the Viking Division, under the cover of the 5th Assault Artillery Battalion, launched an attack towards the 239 Heights where the Soviet troops were stationed.
When the defenders on the high ground saw the beginning of the German attack, they immediately used the 12 Bofors field guns that had just been deployed on the position to bombard the German tanks below and the infantry following behind.
The shells landed in the German ranks and exploded. With each explosion, several or even a dozen soldiers were knocked over by the blast of air. The shells hit the tank, causing dazzling fireballs to rise on the armor plate of the car body.
But because the distance was too far, the tank could not be destroyed, so the tank that was shot could still continue to move forward with flames.
The German tanks and assault guns stopped more than 500 meters away from the position, raised their muzzles and fired at the position on the top of the mountain, suppressing the Soviet firepower on the position and covering the charge of the infantry following behind.
The officers and soldiers of the Viking Division jumped over the tanks and assault guns that were shelling, and rushed towards the position on the top of the mountain. After advancing to a position of 300 meters, the machine gunner found a suitable position and immediately established a machine gun position, using the intensive firepower of MG42
The artillery fire from behind was shooting at the position filled with smoke and riddled with holes.
At this moment, the 1st Battalion of the 248th Regiment of the 116th Division was holding the high ground. The battalion commander was staying in the observation post, holding a telescope through the smoke to see what was going on at the foot of the mountain. Suddenly, someone beside him shouted: "Battalion Commander, be careful!"
Throw him to the ground.
Just as the battalion commander was knocked down, a series of machine gun bullets came in from the lookout port. A correspondent who had no time to dodge was shot and fell to the ground.
The battalion commander sat up, glanced at the correspondent lying in a pool of blood, and shouted outside: "Healthman! Healthman!!"
Following the battalion commander's shout, a female health worker carrying a medical kit rushed in from outside and loudly replied: "Comrade battalion commander, I am here."
The battalion commander pointed at the correspondent who fell on the ground and said, "Hurry up and bandage him."
The female health worker squatted next to the correspondent, put her finger to the correspondent's nose to check if he was breathing, then raised her head and said to the battalion commander: "Comrade battalion commander, he has died."
The battalion commander didn't believe it, and stretched out his hand to check the correspondent's breathing, and found that the correspondent indeed had no signs of life. He waved to the soldiers next to him sadly, and ordered them: "Carry him out."
After saying this, he stood up and walked to the wall, took off the phone hanging on it, and said into the phone: "I am the commander of the first battalion, please pick up the commander of the regiment."
As soon as the phone call came through, he reported bluntly: "Comrade commander, the enemy tanks stopped at the foot of the mountain and shelled our battalion position. There are several German machine gun positions three hundred meters away from the position. They are powerful.
The firepower was so suppressed that our commanders did not dare to raise their heads. I requested artillery support."
The regiment commander knew in his heart that the artillery support requested by the first battalion commander definitely did not refer to the 12 Bofors field guns on the position. Those guns could only hit far away, and it was difficult to defeat the enemy at the foot of the mountain. Only regiment mortars could
Only the mortars of the artillery battery can destroy the machine gun positions several hundred meters away from the position.
"Don't worry, First Battalion Commander." The regimental commander replied: "I immediately ordered the mortar company to fire at the German machine gun fire points in front of you and destroy them all."