Dmitriev is nominally the artillery commander of the Southern Group, but he only has two battalions of artillery under his command, and the total number of artillery pieces of various calibers is only thirty, most of which are 82
mm caliber mortar.
After hearing the artillery attack order issued by Chuikov, he immediately ordered the Guards mortar battalion that had withdrawn from the front line with him to open fire, bombarding the German machine gun or mortar positions on the south bank of the Aksay River with all its strength, and covering the German troops on the pontoon bridge.
Troops fighting fiercely can retreat to their positions smoothly.
Although the number of Soviet mortars was not large, they had already locked the target of the artillery attack. However, they had not received the order from their superiors, so they had not fired the artillery. At this moment, they received the order from Dmitriev to fire the artillery.
, the gunner who was already ready to fire fired at the fastest speed.
Shells roared towards the German machine guns and mortars. In a series of explosions, the German machine gun fire points were blown into the sky, causing huge damage to the Soviet army. The mortars were also blown into pieces.
Parts covered in smoke were scattered on the river bank. The German troops who tried to rush across the pontoon bridge saw the Soviet army firing, and hurriedly stopped the melee with the Soviet army and retreated hastily off the pontoon bridge. The Soviet army was unable to pursue it due to heavy casualties.
, also took the opportunity to retreat.
The leader of the forward regiment and other troops retreated to their positions. When they counted their numbers, they almost cried. When the attack was launched, there were more than 800 soldiers in the entire regiment. The number of soldiers who could retreat to their positions, including the wounded, was only about 70.
Seeing the sparse commanders and fighters returning to their positions, Sokov let out a breath, and then suggested to Chuikov: "Comrade General, the battle cannot be fought like this, otherwise all the commanders and fighters of the 157th Division will be killed before nightfall.
It’s all gone.”
"Comrade Chief of Staff, I know you are very good at fighting." Chuikov looked at Sokov and asked: "Then tell me, how should we fight?"
"At present, our troops are limited and we lack anti-tank weapons." Regarding Chuikov's question, Sokov said cautiously: "We can consider letting German tanks pass through our defense line, and then concentrate our forces to destroy the German troops following behind.
Infantry. Tanks without infantry cover are nothing to fear and our soldiers can easily destroy them."
"No, we can't take risks." After listening to Sokov's suggestion, Chuikov shook his head and said: "You have to know that the 157th Division and the 138th Division were both troops defeated by the German army.
Full of fear. Even though they performed well just now, once the enemy tanks break through their defense line, they will become panicked. There may be a large number of soldiers who will abandon their positions and run away because of fear.
The situation is now difficult to control."
Hearing what Chuikov said, Sokov understood that his tactics must not be adopted by him. He could only sigh softly and asked: "Comrade General, can we get tanks from somewhere? Maybe ours
When soldiers see our tanks, they will be inspired to fight with courage."
Sokov's words reminded Chuikov. He frowned and thought for a while and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you reminded me. Last night, our superiors sent us a tank company with four T-34 tanks. Maybe we can let them
To support the 157th Division."
Seeing that the Soviet army retreated to its defensive position, the German tank troops were dispatched. Eight Panzer IV tanks, with black smoke from the start-up, their tracks rattling at high speed, drove onto the pontoon bridge one after another. The commanders and soldiers hiding in the trenches
Looking at the huge steel body approaching them and the ferocious gun barrels on the vehicle, many of them were frightened. The machine gunners hurriedly picked up their machine guns and aimed at the approaching tanks and fired wildly. The machine gun bullets were like hailstones.
Hitting the tank body did not slow down its movement at all.
Seeing the soldiers in the trenches becoming panicked, a second lieutenant stood up bravely. While tying bundles of grenades to his body, he said to the soldiers around him: "Comrades, there is nothing to be afraid of."
Yes, with just a few grenades, the enemy tanks will collapse. If you are not afraid of death, come with me."
However, after he finished speaking, he did not get any response. The second lieutenant sighed softly, rearranged the grenades tied to his body, climbed out of the trench on his hands and knees, and crawled towards the approaching tank. But
When a tank approached, he pulled the string suddenly, rolled on the spot, lay on his back, and let the tank drive over him.
The soldiers in the trench watched helplessly as the lieutenant lying on his back got into the bottom of the tank. Then there was an earth-shattering explosion, and the tank was enveloped in raging fire. Not long after, two German soldiers covered in fire
The tank crew climbed out of the tank turret, lay down for a while, got up again, and stumbled towards the back. The soldiers who recovered had picked up their weapons, aimed at the German tank crews who were trying to escape, and shot them.
Killed next to the tank.
With the second lieutenant as an example, many soldiers in the trenches, including some of the wounded, tied grenades to themselves and scrambled out of the trenches towards the approaching tanks. Although the German tank crews
Seeing a lot of Soviet troops crawling out of the position, they also fired with machine guns, but unfortunately the targets they hit were very limited. Seeing that these soldiers were going to die together with their tanks, the tank crews became a little panicked. Some
Some increased the accelerator, trying to rush over quickly; while others started to reverse, trying to get rid of these anti-tank fighters. For a while, the scene seemed particularly chaotic.
The infantrymen who were following far behind saw that their tanks were threatened by Soviet anti-tank fighters. They hurriedly took a short leap forward and rushed here quickly. They tried to eliminate the anti-tank fighters who had left the trenches and cover their own tanks.
The tanks successfully broke through the Soviet positions.
The soldiers crawling out of the position had no other weapons except grenades strapped to their bodies. Facing the rushing German infantry, they became lambs to be slaughtered. Several soldiers were wounded several times.
After the bomb, with the last bit of strength, he suddenly pulled the grenade on his body, trying to kill the tank passing by him.
But their blasting effect obviously cannot be compared with the blasting effect of the second lieutenant under the car. Except for one tank whose tracks were blown off, the rest of the German tanks were still intact. However, the surviving soldiers still risked the enemy.
Under the hail of bullets, he bravely crawled towards the German tanks, hoping to kill these nasty tanks with grenades strapped to his body.