Sighs and regrets resounded chaotically in the temporary headquarters. No one expected that with victory in sight, such an unexpected accident would happen. Ivanov stamped his feet anxiously and kept saying: "Only a few minutes left."
, It’s only a few minutes, comrades. If the enemy’s response is a little slower, our tanks and infantry will rush into the enemy’s second line of defense.”
Seeing the tanks and infantry in the distance starting to retreat, Sokov was so angry that he made a fist with his right hand and slammed it into the palm of his left hand. The snap made Golikov, who was watching the battle intently, startled.
Golikov looked at Sokov and asked with some surprise: "What's wrong with you, Colonel Sokov?"
"I really didn't expect that there would be enemies popping up in the communication trenches on both sides of the attacking troops." Sokov said angrily: "It was all my poor thinking that led to the failure of this attack."
"Comrade division commander, I can't blame you for this." Chief of Staff Sidorin heard what Sokov said and said with shame: "As chief of staff, I was not familiar with the situation on the battlefield, which caused our army to seize the second place.
I bear the unshirkable responsibility for the failure of the defense line operation."
"Okay, okay, you two, stop arguing." Golikov waved his hand and said impatiently: "What's the big deal if the attack fails? Just reorganize the attack. By the way, over there at Workers' New Village
What's the situation like, were they also repulsed by the enemy?"
It stands to reason that standing on the commanding heights of Mamayev Hill, one can see the movement in the direction of the Workers' New Village. However, due to the smoke from the shelling and the high temperature generated when the shells exploded, the snow melted and vaporized, so that the horse could not stand.
The distance between Mayevgan and Workers' New Village is blocked by a thick layer of fog.
Since he could not see the situation in Workers' New Village, Sokov signaled Sidorin to get in touch with Lieutenant Colonel Papuchenko to learn about the attack situation of the right-wing troops. Sidorin nodded, walked to the table, picked up the phone, and dialed
After getting through to the headquarters of the 122nd Regiment, he said loudly into the microphone: "Is this Lieutenant Colonel Papuchenko? I am Chief of Staff Sidorin. The division commander asked me to ask you whether your regiment's attack went smoothly?...
What, you have successfully captured the second line of defense and are preparing to attack the enemy's third line? This is great. Just wait a moment and I will tell the division commander the good news."
Sidorin covered the microphone with his hand and reported excitedly to Sokov: "Comrade division commander, Lieutenant Colonel Papuchenko reported that the 122nd Regiment, under the cover of the 1st Tank Battalion, successfully occupied the German second line.
The defense line is preparing to attack the third line of defense."
"Strange," Sokov said with a frown: "Didn't they encounter attacks from the flanking communication trenches as they advanced toward the second line of defense?"
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," Sidorin removed his hand covering the microphone and asked: "The division commander asked, during the attack, were you attacked by fire from the communication trenches on both sides? ...What, you were also attacked.
, but wiped out all the enemies?...Tell me, how did you wipe them out?"
After asking some questions that needed to be clarified, Sidorin stood up straight and reported to Sokov: "Comrade Division Commander, I have inquired carefully. The 122nd Regiment was indeed attacked when it advanced towards the second line of defense.
The enemies hiding in the communication trenches attacked. However, Colonel Bely organized self-propelled artillery to bombard the enemies in time and covered the infantry to eliminate the enemies hiding in the communication trenches. After clearing the enemies on both wings, they were able to successfully occupy the second line of the German army.
Line of defense.”
After Sidorin hung up the phone, Golikov smiled bitterly and said: "I really didn't expect that the two tank battalions we sent from the left bank played almost no role in the battle and were repelled by the Germans.
The improvised tank battalion covered the troops and successfully occupied the German second line of defense."
Sokov was thinking that the troops on the right wing were able to successfully occupy the German second line of defense. It was indeed the first tank battalion commanded by Bely that played a role. But the fact that they were able to achieve such results was probably related to the tactics they used.
If Belly had never fought alongside him before and learned a lot of tactics from him, I'm afraid they would have been defeated in front of the German second line of defense like the two regiments in front of Mamayev Hill.
.
"Colonel Sokov." Golikov watched the frustrated troops retreat to the first line of defense, and then asked Sokov: "When are you going to launch another attack on the enemy?"
"Report to Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army," Sokov thought, thinking that the commanders and soldiers had just retreated to their positions and had not yet taken a breath, so it was obviously unrealistic to order them to launch a new attack. They must be given sufficient time to rest and recuperate. Thinking of this, Sokov
The husband replied: "I think it will take two hours at the earliest before we can attack the enemy again!"
"No, two hours is too long. I can't wait that long." Golikov said in a commanding tone: "I can only give you one hour. When the time is up, I will attack the enemy again."
attack."
"One hour?!" Hearing the time set by Golikov, Sidorin and Ivanov couldn't help but look at each other. As commanders, both of them understood that an hour's rest would be detrimental to a unit that had just lost a battle.
It was simply not enough. But now that Golikov had given the order, even if they knew it was wrong, they had no choice but to accept it. They looked at Sokov for help, hoping that he could come out.
Let me say a few words for you. "Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army, it may be difficult for the soldiers' physical strength and morale to recover in such a short period of time."
"I know that if you are asked to launch an attack in an hour, the troops are not well prepared." Golikov said with a straight face: "But have you ever thought about it? The longer the time is delayed, the more prepared the enemy will be to counterattack us.
The worse it is."
"Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army..." Sidorin wanted to defend himself a few more words, but Sokov waved his hand and interrupted him.
Sokov straightened his body and said to Golikov: "Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army, my troops will launch an offensive attack on the second line of defense occupied by the enemy in an hour. Moreover, we are sure to capture the enemy's
position."
Hearing Sokov speak so confidently, both Sidorin and Ivanov had surprised expressions on their faces. But Golikov smiled and nodded, saying with satisfaction: "Colonel Sokov, I
I guess you will definitely think of a way to deal with the enemy. I hope you will not disappoint me in the next battle."
"Don't worry, Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army." Sokov quickly replied: "We will never let you down."
Golikov raised his hand and looked at his watch, then glanced at the troops regrouping in the first position, and then said: "I didn't sleep all night last night, and now I'm a little sleepy. I'll go back and take a nap first, and wait until I get there."
If you know the progress, please call me to inform me."
After seeing off Golikov, Sidorin said to Sokov anxiously: "Comrade division commander, how can you easily give a guarantee to the deputy commander of the front army? You know, now we have no idea what our soldiers will do next.
In the battle, can we win victory? If the attack fails again, how do you plan to explain it to Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army?"
"Don't worry, Comrade Chief of Staff." Seeing that Sidorin was anxious, Sokov quickly comforted him and said: "Securing the enemy's second line of defense is not a big deal for us. As the division chief of staff,
You can't mess up your position."
"Comrade division commander, I would like to ask, how do you plan to seize the second line of defense in front of our army?" Sidorin asked: "You know, the enemy has deployed a lot of troops in the defense line. Just one of our divisions can
It may not be easy to eat them."
"Based on the strength of the 124th and 125th regiments, it may not be easy to capture the enemy's position." Sokov told Sidorin: "You should call the commander of the third battalion, Captain Andrei, immediately.
Let him transfer Guchakov's ninth company to assist the two Guards regiments in launching the attack."
"Just transfer one company over?" Sidorin asked with a wry smile: "Comrade division commander, are the reinforcements too few?"
"One company is enough." Seeing that Sidorin was still trying to get into trouble, Sokov reminded him: "Especially those troops who have followed us and fought in many places are the most trustworthy."
"Comrade Commander," although Sokov said it with confidence, Sidorin still felt uneasy. He frowned and asked, "Can you explain it to me in more detail?"
"There are many soldiers in the third battalion who are familiar with new rockets. We have mobilized them so that they can use rockets to attack enemy positions and cover the advance of our tanks and infantry." Sokov said.
Remind the other party: "If possible, I also plan to transfer one or two platoons of troops from the barricade factory and let them use rocket launchers to destroy the enemy's fortifications."
After receiving Sokov's order, Guchakov immediately hurried over with his ninth company. After arriving at Mamayev Hill, he left his troops at the foot of the mountain and rushed up the hill.
Reported to Sokov: "Comrade division commander, Guchakov, commander of the ninth company of the third battalion, has been ordered to come and report to you. I obey your order, please give instructions!"
"Comrade Captain," Sokov led Guchakov to the lookout point, pointed to the position shrouded in gunpowder smoke and mist in the distance, and said: "Because the superiors shortened the time of our shelling, the German second
The fortifications along the line of defense have not been completely destroyed and still have value for continued use. Therefore, you can use rockets to attack these fortifications and burn the enemies to death in the fortifications."
After Guchakov waited for Sokov to finish speaking, he immediately replied loudly: "Comrade Commander, please rest assured, I will not let you down."
"Also," Sokov added: "During the first attack, our tanks advancing towards the enemy's position were attacked by German infantry from both sides. If you want to cooperate with the 124th and 125th regiments, just
The enemies hiding in the traffic trenches must be eliminated."
"Understood." Guchakov answered resoundingly, and then asked Sokov about the rockets: "Where can we get the rockets?"
Sokov called a staff officer and told him: "Immediately take Captain Guchakov and others to the warehouse to get the new rockets they need."
After the staff officer took Guchakov away, Sokov looked at Sidorin and asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I would like to ask, are there any soldiers who know how to use rocket launchers in the troops directly under the division?"
"Yes." Sidorin nodded and replied: "Major Tenev, the commander of the guard battalion, and Lieutenant Seryosha, the commander of the guard company. They all use rocket launchers, and they use them quite well."
Tenev is the commander of the guard battalion, so Sokov naturally cannot send him to perform these assist tasks. Instead, he is going to hand it over to the guard company commander, Lieutenant Seryosha. After a moment of silence, Sokov said: "I think it's better.
Seryosha will lead the soldiers carrying rocket launchers to eliminate the enemy's hidden fire points."
After Sidorin understood Sokov's intention, a smile appeared on his face, and he continued: "Don't worry, comrade division commander, I will call Seryosha immediately and ask him to rush here immediately."
"No need to call." As soon as Sidorin finished speaking, Sidorin's voice rang not far away. He quickly raised his right hand high and walked out of the crowd. He quickly came to Sokov's house.
In front of me, he said with a sincere expression: "Comrade Commander, I am here. If you have any instructions, please give me the order."
"Lieutenant Seryosha," although Seryosha was Sokov's friend, friendship was friendship and work was work. In front of everyone, Sokov still ordered him with a straight face: "You immediately bring ten soldiers with you."
Two rocket launchers, rush to the attack location of the 125th Regiment and cooperate with them to attack the enemy."
With the participation of the Ninth Company of the Third Battalion and the Guard Company, Sokov was full of confidence in seizing the enemy's position. However, just to be on the safe side, he still made a phone call to Bely and said straight to the point: "Colonel Bely, I
Are you going to order the 124th and 125th regiments to attack the enemy positions again? I hope to get your cooperation?"
"Comrade division commander, please give the order on how to cooperate." After listening to Sokov's order, Bely replied readily: "I will resolutely obey your order."
"When the two regiments are fighting the enemy inextricably, you send out self-propelled artillery and a few tanks, as well as part of the infantry of the 122nd Regiment, to attack the enemy from the flanks, causing them to lose sight of each other and unable to look at each other. In this way, our army
The chance of capturing the enemy's position will be greatly improved." After Sokov finished speaking his thoughts, he asked loudly: "Do you understand?"
"Understood, comrade division commander." Bely replied loudly: "I will make the tanks and self-propelled artillery ready for battle. Just waiting for your order, we will launch an assault on the German flank."
The issues that were just considered have been taken into consideration; the tasks that should be assigned have also been assigned. Sokov turned to look at Sidorin and asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff, do you have anything else to add?"
"No, Comrade Commander." Sidorin thought for a moment, shook his head simply, and said, "Your plan is very thorough, and I really can't think of anything to add."