Seeing that Mironenko expressed his position first, Vitruk became a little anxious. When he opened his mouth and was about to express his determination to Khryugin, he was stopped by the other party raising his hand: "Two comrades, don't be anxious, I will give it to you now."
Arrange combat missions."
Khryugin called the two division commanders to the wall, raised his hand to open the curtain blocking the map, picked up an explanation stick, pointed to the area where the fighting was taking place and said to them: "The fierce battle is currently taking place in the Red Army City and
As the Beketovka area unfolds, your mission is to provide air support for the offensive forces on the ground, use rockets to destroy the enemy's defenses, and assist our army to quickly break through the enemy's defenses."
"Comrade Commander," Vitruk asked as soon as Khryugin finished speaking, "I would like to ask what kind of fortifications the enemy has in this area?"
Khryugin drew a line on the map with an explanation stick: "Before the enemy attacked Stalingrad, our army had built a large number of reinforced concrete fortifications in this area, but because the troops retreated too quickly, they could not organize effectively.
These fortifications were occupied by the enemy before they could be put to use."
Knowing that they were going to attack reinforced concrete fortifications, the two division commanders couldn't help but frowned. Mironenko said cautiously: "Comrade Commander, we are all attack aircraft. To destroy these solid defense fortifications, I'm afraid we can't do anything."
Its effect cannot be compared with that of a bomber."
"I know." Hryugin had obviously guessed what his subordinates would say, so he comforted them and said: "You don't need to destroy all the fortifications. You only need to attack those fortifications that hinder our army's attack and provide relief for the ground offensive troops."
resistance."
After the two division commanders clarified their tasks, they raised their hands to salute Khryugin, turned around and walked out of the headquarters.
Within forty minutes, hundreds of attack planes took off from more than a dozen field airports and flew toward the Red Army City and Beketovka areas.
While Tanahishin was commanding the tank corps to launch a fierce attack on the German 29th Division, Tolbukhin called Major General Vasilenko, commander of the 15th Guards Division: "Comrade General, the German troops were attacked by Tanachy
Colonel Shen's tank army has been restrained. I now order your division to immediately launch an attack on the Red Army City. According to the information we have, there are only Romanian troops in the city. Regardless of the poor equipment and low morale, how much time do you need?
Can we capture the city?"
After hearing Tolbukhin's order, Vasilenko thought for a moment, and then replied: "Report to Comrade Commander that our division can capture the Red Army City before noon tomorrow."
Tolbukhin was not satisfied with Vasilenko's answer at all: "No, Comrade General, your speed is too slow. If we cannot capture the Red Army City as soon as possible and establish a solid support point, once the German army launches a counterattack
, we will face collapse again."
Now that Tolbukhin has spoken to this extent, Vasilenko can only re-examine the current situation. His eyes are fixed on the Red Army city on the map, and his mind is rapidly calculating the ability of his troops to attack the enemy.
He finally gritted his teeth and said, "We can complete the task of capturing the city after eight o'clock tomorrow morning."
"No." Tolbukhin was still dissatisfied with what Vasilenko said about the incident: "The time I give you is limited. You must capture the Red Army City before dark today. Do you understand?"
Vasilenko raised his hand and looked at his watch and saw that there were less than two hours left before dark. Even if there were no enemies in the Red Army city and his troops were allowed to go in and occupy it directly, it would probably be difficult to occupy the entire city before dark.
city. But since Tolbukhin has issued such an order, he can only bite the bullet and reply: "Understood, Comrade Commander, our division will destroy the enemies in the Red Army city before dark and complete the attack on the city."
occupied."
Seeing Vasilenko's sad face, political commissar Yegorov asked curiously: "Comrade division commander, what task has the commander assigned you to make you so embarrassed?"
Vasilenko smiled bitterly and replied: "The commander ordered our division to occupy the Red Army City before dark today. Now that dark is only two hours away, this is an impossible task."
Yegorov glanced outside the tent and saw that the sky outside was starting to darken. It was obviously impossible to capture the entire city before dark. However, he was not discouraged. After repeated thinking,
A smile appeared on his face: "Comrade division commander, don't be discouraged. I think we still have a chance to complete the tasks assigned to us by the commander."
When Vasilenko heard Yegorov say this, he showed a surprised expression on his face. He asked in surprise: "Comrade Political Commissar, no matter how fast our attack speed is, it is probably impossible to seize the city before dark."
thing."
"Comrade Division Commander," Yegorov replied with a smile: "The commander only asked us to occupy the Red Army City before dark, but did not let us control the entire city. I think this task can still be completed."
"How to complete it?" Vasilenko asked, looking at Yegorov blankly.
Yegorov asked: "Have you forgotten the traditions of the Russian army?"
The words woke up the dreamer. Vasilenko let out an ouch, slapped the table with his hand, and said excitedly: "Comrade political commissar, you are right, how could I forget such an important thing? According to the tradition of the Russian army
, as long as a red flag is raised over the city’s Civic Center building, the city will be considered occupied.”
"That's right." Yegorov nodded and said: "When we launch an attack on the city, we can send a force directly to the municipal building in the city. After occupying it, we can plant a flag on the top of the building to represent that we have
After occupying this city, I believe Comrade Commander will not be able to find anything to say."
After making up his mind, Vasilenko called the commander of the 44th Guards Regiment and said straight to the point: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, our division will soon launch an attack on the Red Army City. I now have an important task for you to complete."
.”
The regiment leader quickly said: "Comrade division commander, please give us the order."
"The commander ordered us to occupy the Red Army City before dark." In order to make the other party aware of the seriousness of the problem, Vasilenko did not hide anything, but told the truth: "You should know that this is not at all
possible. Therefore, after discussing with the political commissar, I decided to send a force to directly penetrate into the center of the city when the main force was attacking the city, seize the municipal building from the enemy's hands, and plant the red flag on the roof. I planned to
This glorious mission is entrusted to your regiment to complete. Do you have any questions?"
"Comrade division commander," the regiment commander hesitated for a moment after hearing Vasilenko's order and said, "I would like to ask how my troops can break through the enemy's defenses?"
"It's simple. I'll call the 43rd Guards Artillery Regiment later and ask them to support you with artillery fire and blast a gap in the enemy's defense line." In order to give the other party confidence, Vasilenko also added: "
Don’t worry, according to our intelligence, the city is full of Romanian troops. Not only are they poorly equipped, but the morale of the soldiers is low and their combat awareness is not strong. You only need one charge to rush into the city."
"Comrade division commander," after listening to Vasilenko's assurance to himself, the regimental commander replied: "I will send Major Serdyukov's third battalion to carry out this task. I believe they will be able to complete it successfully before dark.
This mission.”
"Remember, let Major Serdyukov bring a radio so that the news that the red flag is planted on the municipal building can be sent back in the shortest possible time." Vasilenko also emphasized: "When they are attacking, I
The artillery will be ordered to provide them with necessary artillery support to ensure that they can smoothly rush into the city."
Vasilenko was also a man of his word. After the attack on the Red Army City began, he asked a battalion of the 43rd Guards Artillery Regiment to provide artillery cover for the Serdyukov battalion that was responsible for the assault mission, and successfully escaped from the Romanian army's defense line.
Seeing that a gap was opened in the enemy's defense line, the commanders and fighters of Serdyukov's battalion jumped from their hiding places and rushed towards the enemy's defense line with weapons in hand.
Seeing the Soviet troops rushing over, the surviving Romanian soldiers fired desperately, trying to keep them out of their defense lines. Although some of the soldiers charging forward were constantly shot and fell, the remaining ones did not suffer any damage.
Slowing down, they jumped over the wounded and the bodies of their comrades on the ground, and rushed forward without hesitation.
Seeing that the Soviet troops were so heroic, the Romanian soldiers had no courage to fight anymore. They jumped out of the trenches and fled towards the city. Major Serdyukov, who led the charge, saw that the enemy had fled. He only ordered a few soldiers to occupy the enemy and give up.
position, he and his men chased after him.
The Romanian soldiers who were fleeing in front tried to hide in the barricade fortifications, but when they saw the Soviet commanders and fighters following closely behind them, they jumped over the fortifications and continued to flee towards the city. The soldiers hiding in the fortifications were worried about accidentally injuring their own people.
They didn't dare to shoot casually, and could only watch helplessly as the Soviet commanders and soldiers rushed into the fortifications as their own soldiers rushed into it.
As the Serdyukov battalion advanced into the city, although there were sporadic fighting, it did not slow down their advance. They were rushing towards the city center behind the Romanian soldiers.
Seeing that they were approaching the municipal building in the city center, the fortifications outside the building may have received orders from the commander inside the building. In order to prevent the Soviet troops from occupying the building, regardless of whether the people running in front were their own people, they opened fire without hesitation.
Shooting. The dense bullets immediately knocked aside the Romanian soldiers who were pouring in like a tide.
The Romanian soldiers who were suddenly intercepted by their own fire suddenly became a mess. Some of them continued to run forward until they were knocked down by bullets fired by their own people; some of them were smart enough to find a suitable hiding place on the spot.
Some stood up, hoping to wait for the machine guns in the fortifications to stop firing before escaping; some simply leaned against the buildings on both sides of the street and surrendered to the Soviet troops with their hands raised high.
After Serdyukov rushed up, he saw the fierce firepower in front, and quickly ordered the soldiers to drive the surrendered soldiers into the alley next to them to clear the firing range for the troops. Seeing that his soldiers were hiding, Serdyukov
Shouting loudly to the back: "Mortar, where is the mortar team?"
A captain ran to Serdyukov and squatted down beside him, and reported loudly: "Comrade Battalion Commander, because our infantry rushed too fast, the mortar team fell behind."
Serdyukov pointed his hand at the captain and ordered him: "Take a few people to respond and ask them to come over as soon as possible."
"Yes!" After the captain agreed resoundingly, he pointed at the nearby soldiers and said loudly: "Follow me, all of you!" After saying that, he crouched close to the building on the street.
Run towards the back.
After the captain ran away, Serdyukov ordered the machine guns set up to fire at the German barricades to cover the soldiers who were suppressed by the fire and could not raise their heads, so that they could find a better place to hide.
Before the mortars arrived, the roar of aircraft engines came from the sky. Hearing this sound, Serdyukov's heart couldn't help but rise to his throat. He knew that if a German aircraft came from the sky, his troops would be in trouble.
You may suffer huge losses.
He carefully raised his head and looked in the direction of the sound, and saw two four-plane formations appearing in the sky. "Comrade Battalion Commander, this is our plane, it is our plane." A soldier next to him had a good eye.
It soon became clear that what was appearing in the sky was a Soviet attack plane, and he couldn't help shouting excitedly.
Serdyukov raised his head and looked up into the sky. The plane was flying at a low altitude, and the red star logo on the fuselage was clearly visible. "It is indeed our plane," Serdyukov said with a smile on his face. He thought to himself: "What if
It would be great if you could help us eliminate the enemies outside the municipal building." Just as he thought this, he saw the formation of aircraft in the sky disperse, circle in the air, and then swoop down in the direction of the municipal building.
The swooping aircraft dropped not bombs, but rockets. The targets of the rocket attacks were not only the sandbag fortifications outside the building, but some rockets even directly hit the windows of the building. After a series of earth-shattering explosions,
Thick smoke billowed out from the windows on several floors.
"Comrades!" Seeing that the barricades outside the building were destroyed by assault planes and thick smoke billowing from the building, Serdyukov jumped up from the ground, raised his pistol high, and shouted: "Come on!"
Seeing that the battalion commander was taking the lead in the charge, the commanders and soldiers hidden everywhere also stood up, shouted "Ula", and rushed towards the municipal building like a tide.
According to Serdyukov's idea, the remaining enemies in the building would definitely put up a stubborn resistance. Unexpectedly, he and his men had just rushed to the front of the building when they saw a white flag sticking out of a window on the second floor. The people hiding in the window were trying their best to
They waved white flags and shouted loudly in Russian: "Stop fighting, we surrender, we surrender!"
Seeing the enemy surrendering so easily, the commanders and fighters of Serdyukov's battalion showed expressions of contempt. A soldier standing next to Serdyukov said: "It's really useless. We haven't even rushed into the building. They
So I surrendered.”
When Serdyukov saw the enemy surrendering on his own initiative, he thought it was a conspiracy at first, but after thinking about it, he understood what was going on. After all, he was fighting a Romanian army with low morale and unsteady will to fight. If it were the German army,
I'm afraid it will take a fierce battle before my troops can capture this building.
Now that the enemy has surrendered, the only thing left to do is to plant the red flag on the roof of the building to announce that the city has been occupied by the troops of the 15th Guards Division. Serdyukov called a sergeant and ordered him:
"Comrade Sergeant, take two soldiers and a red flag and rush to the roof immediately to put the red flag up."
As soon as the sergeant left, Serdyukov ordered the radio operator who followed him: "Send a report to the regimental commander, saying that our battalion has successfully occupied the municipal building and will soon plant the red flag on the roof."