The area that was attacked was the area where the 1st Battalion of the 124th Regiment was stationed. As Sokov's old unit, the regiment leader Colonel Starcha strictly followed a series of standards specified by Sokov when arranging the defense.
Minefields and barbed wire fences were laid out on the surface, and warning mines were deployed in some hidden areas to prevent German sneak attacks.
The German troops who came for a sneak attack used the cover of night to first open a passage in the minefield by engineers, then cut the barbed wire fence, and quietly approached the Guards Division's position, preparing to launch a surprise attack and destroy the fortifications.
The Soviet commanders and fighters who took a rest inside retook their positions.
Unexpectedly, when he was still more than a hundred meters away from the position, an unlucky soldier accidentally triggered a mine. In an instant, the dazzling fire exposed the German officers and soldiers near the explosion point. Now that they were exposed, the German officers and soldiers also
He no longer hid his figure, but stood up and rushed toward the front position, trying to rush into the trench before the Soviet army recovered.
If it were a position held by other Soviet troops, it was entirely possible for the Germans to rush into the trenches. However, the commanders and fighters of the 124th Regiment responded extremely promptly. After just ten seconds, the roar of a machine gun was heard from the position, and a machine gun
Shooting wildly at the exposed German positions, the two soldiers who had no time to lie down were hit with more than a dozen bloody holes in their bodies by the dense bullets.
Before the machine gunner could finish firing a round of bullets, a sharp whistle sounded in the trench, and at the same time two people shouted loudly: "Enemy attack, enemy attack!"
It didn't take long for the firepower on the position to become intensive, suppressing the German troops who tried to get up to charge again. The leader was a German captain. He didn't understand why the Soviet army was able to defeat them in such a short period of time.
Be prepared for defense and use intensive firepower to suppress your troops from advancing.
The German captain quickly ordered the radio operator around him to ask for help from the battalion headquarters through a portable radio. He said that he had been suppressed by intensive firepower from the Soviet army and could not continue to move forward, and requested artillery support.
There is a reason for the Soviet army's timely response. Not long ago, the 126th Regiment encountered a similar situation when it was holding on to Hill 239. However, the location where the German troops struck the mine during the sneak attack was so far away from the position that many commanders and soldiers were unable to do so.
I thought it might be a wild beast in the forest that accidentally hit the mine.
Fortunately, Sokov was not influenced by these people. Instead, he clearly insisted on his own view, believing that the German army was preparing to carry out a night attack on Highland 239, and used artillery to cover the area where the mines exploded. His
This approach has attracted criticism from many people, and even he himself was mentally prepared to be punished.
Fortunately, later facts proved that Sokov's judgment was completely correct. The German troops preparing to carry out a sneak attack accidentally triggered a warning mine while moving, and the target was exposed in advance. After experiencing this incident,
The 41st Guards Division pays special attention to night defense. Two squads of soldiers are on duty every night, so that after discovering the enemy's night attack, they can have enough time to support more commanders and fighters to enter the position.
The sound of gunfire on the position alerted Starcha in the rear regiment command post. He rushed to Major Okunev who answered the phone and asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what happened?"
"Comrade Commander," Major Okunev quickly covered the microphone with his hand and reported to Starcha: "The first battalion reported that a German position appeared in front of their position, and the second company is blocking it."
There were only two companies and one company on Starcha's position at the moment. He was worried that the German army would be too numerous to withstand it, so he quickly ordered Okunev: "Chief of Staff, inform the commander of the first battalion and ask him to send the third company."
Support, be sure to hold your position."
Before Okunev could finish conveying the regimental commander's order, he heard the rumble of artillery fire from outside. He quickly asked the first battalion commander: "First battalion commander, what's the matter with the cannon fire outside?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff," the first battalion commander replied loudly: "The Germans are bombarding the second company position with mortars, requesting artillery support, requesting artillery support."
Upon learning that the Germans were bombarding the Second Company's position with mortars, Starcha felt that the situation was serious and quickly ordered Okunev: "Chief of Staff, let the mortar platoon fight back and be sure to suppress the German artillery fire."
Although the regiment's mortar platoon only had twenty or thirty rounds of shells left, Okunev still did not dare to neglect the order given by the regiment commander. He quickly called the mortar platoon and ordered them to report to the Germans.
When shooting from mortar positions, be sure to destroy the German artillery and reduce casualties on the position.
After making the call, Okunev reminded Starcha again: "Comrade commander, the Germans' sneak attack on our regiment's position needs to be reported to the division commander immediately so that he can be mentally prepared."
Before Okunev picked up the phone, Sidorin called first. Recognizing that the person who answered the phone was Major Okunev, the regiment's chief of staff, he asked straight to the point: "Comrade Major, I heard you
There were gunshots and explosions there, what happened? Was it a sneak attack by the Germans?"
Seeing that Sidorin had guessed it, Okunev naturally would not hide it, so he answered truthfully: "Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff of the Division. The position of the first battalion was attacked by the enemy. The commanders and soldiers of the second company who held the position were fighting with the enemy.
Start the battle. I have given an order to the commander of the first battalion, asking him to send the third company up for reinforcements."
Sidorin said "hmm" and then asked: "How many troops are there in the enemy who attacked in a sneak attack?"
"I can't see clearly, but it won't be less than one company."
"Are you sure you can hold the position?"
"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff of the Division, we are fully capable of holding the position." Okunev thought that the German mortars were bombarding the position, and the few mortars in the regiment might not be able to suppress the opponent, so he asked tentatively:
"But it would be great if you could provide us with some artillery support."
"Comrade Major, I also want to provide you with artillery support." Sidorin is now a clever woman who can't make a fool of herself. Even if he wants to support the 124th Regiment with artillery fire, the premise is that the division's artillery regiment must have artillery and artillery shells. Today's
The artillery is used as infantry, so how can it provide artillery support to the opponent. "But we don't have artillery at all now, so you can only rely on your own abilities to resist the enemy's attack. Of course, if you can't hold it,
I will send other troops to take over your defense."
Hearing what Sidorin said, Okunev suddenly became anxious: "Comrade division chief of staff, we are capable of holding our position and do not need friendly forces to replace our defense."
After Sidorin ended the call, he first reported to Kurishenko that the 124th Regiment was sneak attacked by the Germans, and then reported to Army Commander Afunin, hoping to get help from him.
Seeing Sidorin put down the phone, Kurishenko couldn't wait to ask: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what did General Afnin say?"
"Let us try every means to hold our position resolutely." Sidorin replied with a wry smile: "He said that after daybreak, troops would be sent to reinforce us."
"If the enemy is stronger than us, our position will probably be lost before dawn." After hearing this, Kurishenko said angrily: "If we can block the enemy, what reinforcements do we need?"
"Comrade division commander, don't be angry." Colonel Afanasi, the political commissar of the division, said: "Although the artillery regiments of the other two Guards divisions can provide us with artillery support, if the artillery bombardment is carried out at night, it is very likely that our artillery will be exposed.
The position of the position allows the German long-range artillery fire to suppress them. If their artillery regiment is destroyed by the enemy, we will not get any artillery support in the subsequent battle."
"The political commissar is right." Sidorin agreed: "The ones currently shelling the 124th Regiment's position are just German mortar units. It would be too much for us to use heavy artillery to destroy them. And once the artillery position is exposed, it will be very easy to
It is possible to attract German artillery fire protection, and then the friendly artillery will be completely lost. How will the next battle be fought?"
When the three of them were at a loss to prepare for the war, the phone on the table suddenly rang. Sidorin thought it was a call from the military headquarters, so he picked up the phone and put it to his ear: "I am Sidorin, where are you from?"
?”
Unexpectedly, Sokov's voice came from the microphone: "Hello, Colonel Sidorin, this is Sokov. I heard that your division's defense area was attacked by the German army?"
"That's right, Comrade Commander." Sidorin straightened his back and replied respectfully: "The position of the 1st Battalion of the 124th Regiment was attacked by the German army, and the battle is continuing now."
"Can you hold on?"
"We can hold it." Sidorin replied in a positive tone: "But the German army is using mortars to bombard the position, causing us some casualties."
"Did you use artillery fire to suppress the enemy?" Sokov frowned and asked, "Are we just going to let our officers and soldiers sit in the fortifications and be beaten passively?"
"The mortar platoon of the 124th Regiment is fighting back at the moment." Sidorin replied hesitantly: "But they don't have many artillery shells. Whether they can effectively suppress the enemy is still unknown."
"Then did General Afnin order the artillery regiment of the Airborne Division to provide you with artillery support?"
"No, the friendly forces did not provide us with any artillery support." Perhaps because he was worried that Sokov misunderstood what he meant, Sidorin added after saying this: "Commander Afnin did not ask the friendly forces to provide us with any artillery support."
Artillery support is absolutely correct. What the Germans used to bombard our positions was just a small mortar squad. If our army used heavy artillery in order to destroy these fragmented combat units, it would be too wasteful. At the same time,
, using heavy artillery at night will also expose the location of our artillery positions, thereby inviting retaliation from the Germans."
In any case, the 41st Guards Division is his old unit, and Sokov will naturally not see it suffer. After thinking for a moment, he made a decision: "Colonel Sidorin, you immediately send a few capable
My subordinates, come to my forward headquarters, I have something to tell them."
"Your forward headquarters?" Sidorin didn't know that Sokov had established a forward headquarters near the army headquarters, and he said with a confused face: "I don't know where it is?"
"It's right next to your military headquarters. After the people you send come, they can find my location by asking." Sokov said into the microphone: "Remember, you must find someone who is familiar with the terrain and is particularly reliable.
People come here."
When Sidorin heard this, he secretly thought that Sokov was planning to provide something for his troops, otherwise he would not have given such an order. He asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, can you tell me something?"
"Don't ask so many questions," Sokov did not reveal what was going on. He just urged: "Send someone over as soon as possible. I will wait for them here."
After Sidorin put down the phone, he reported to Kurishenko: "Comrade division commander, the commander informed me that we should send someone to his forward headquarters to tell him something important."
"Forward headquarters?" Kurishenko frowned and asked, "Where is it?"
"It's near the army headquarters." After Sidorin finished speaking briefly, he asked: "Comrade division commander, who do you plan to send to the headquarters?"
Kurishenko thought for a while and replied: "The 122nd Regiment is currently deployed at the rear of the division. I think we should let the deputy commander and chief of staff of the regiment go see the commander."
After receiving Kurishenko's instructions, Sidorin dialed the phone number of the 122nd Regiment Command Post. When he heard someone speaking, he immediately said straight to the point: "I am Colonel Sidorin, chief of staff of the division. Your regiment commander is here."
Not here?"
Originally, Commander Papuchenko had already rested, but the sound of gunfire from the front position woke him up. Although the regiment's defense area was far away from the front line, the fighting was fierce in the front. Naturally, he, the leader of the regiment, could not sleep. Who could
He knew whether the division commander would suddenly issue an order to move him up for reinforcements, so he sat at the table, drinking strong tea, and waited for the possible order from the division.
When he heard the staff officer say that Sidorin was looking for him, he quickly stood up and took the phone: "I am Papuchenko!"
"Comrade Colonel," Sidorin did not talk to him in circles, but said bluntly: "I just received an order from the commander, asking me to send a few reliable people to his headquarters to accept the task.
I discussed it with the division commander and decided that your regiment would send men to carry out the mission."
"Are you going to rush over there overnight?" Papuchenko asked: "Can you wait until daybreak before going there? You know, the front line has already exchanged fire with the enemy, and it is somewhat unsafe to rush there at night. Besides, it is more than 100 kilometers from here to the headquarters.
,No one can guarantee that we will not encounter enemy scouts on the road..."
"The forward headquarters where Comrade Commander is currently located is located next to the army headquarters." Sidorin interrupted Papuchenko: "It's only a few kilometers away from you. Let alone taking a car or even walking, within an hour.
We can all make it there.”
Papuchenko was shocked to learn that Sokov's headquarters was actually next to the army headquarters. He hurriedly asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Division, do you know what tasks the commander has to assign?"
Since Sokov had something to tell him, Papuchenko naturally did not dare to neglect him. He quickly called the deputy commander Victor and the chief of staff Sukhalev, and said to them: "I just received the instructions from the division headquarters.
Order, let us send people to the forward headquarters to accept the order from Comrade Commander."
Before the two of them asked, he took the initiative and said: "The commander's forward headquarters is located next to the corps headquarters. You two will know it once you go over and ask."