The pilot of the Il-2 attack aircraft in the air discovered the small convoy on the ground and saw a barrel truck sandwiched between the armored car and two trucks. He guessed that there must be an important mission in the car, so he pushed the joystick and dived from high altitude.
Come down.
This is a two-seat IL-2 attack aircraft. The pilot sitting in the front is only responsible for flying. As for the ground attack mission, the attacker sitting in the back is completed.
After the attacker locked the barrel truck that was making a zigzag with a scope, he fired two rockets without hesitation. Unexpectedly, the barrel truck drove too fast and the rockets it fired failed to hit the target. One of the rockets landed on the left side of the barrel truck.
It exploded more than 20 meters to the side, and a large amount of black soil and white snow powder were thrown into the air by the air waves; while another rocket directly hit a truck behind it, blowing it into a ball of fire.
The burning truck used its inertia to drive forward for more than ten meters before stopping. Several soldiers covered in fire jumped out of the truck. They screamed and jumped up and down, sometimes falling down and sometimes standing up, like headless men.
It scurried around like flies until it finally fell motionless in the snow.
Although a German truck was blown up, the pilot was obviously not satisfied with the result. He raised the plane again, circled in the air, and then dived down again, heading towards several vehicles that were quickly escaping into the woods.
vehicles, strafing and firing rockets.
The attacker used a 20mm cannon to penetrate the weak top armor of the armored vehicle, turning it into a burning torch. The two rockets fired again, because of insufficient accuracy, still failed to hit the escaping barrel truck.
But the air wave from the explosion overturned another truck and threw all the German soldiers on board into the snow.
Roski, who was sitting in the car, saw that the armored car and two trucks protecting him were killed by Soviet attack planes. He was so frightened that he kept urging the driver: "Drive faster, drive faster!"
Even though the distance from the road to the woods is less than two kilometers, due to the thick snow and tree stumps buried in the snow, the driver has to carefully circumvent these obstacles, which affects the speed of the vehicle. See
The attack planes in the sky were chasing him relentlessly. The driver thought pessimistically that he was in doom this time, and shouted without looking back: "Master, the situation is not good, you should jump out of the car quickly!"
Roskai saw the Soviet planes chasing him. Although he was nervous, he was still lucky. He felt that his car could rush into the woods smoothly, so he kept sitting in the car without moving.
The division chief of staff on the side wanted to jump out of the car, but saw that the division commander didn't move. As the chief of staff, he couldn't escape by himself. At this moment, when he heard the driver's shout, he hurriedly shouted to Luoskai: "Your Excellency, division commander, hurry up
Jump out of the car, otherwise it will be too late."
When the barrel truck drove less than 50 meters away from the woods, it looked like Roskay and the others were about to be saved, but one of the last two rockets fired by the attacker on the attack plane directly hit the barrel truck. After an explosion,
The rear wheels of the barrel truck, which was covered with fire, flew into the air, somersaulted forward, fell heavily on the snow, and began to burn with all four wheels in the air. Seeing that the barrel truck was destroyed by rockets, the pilot of the attack plane flew the plane in the sky.
After one lap, turn around and fly east.
Five or six German soldiers who fell from the second truck were slightly injured. As soon as they struggled to get up from the snow, they saw the division commander's car being destroyed by a Soviet attack plane. They were frightened to death.
, not caring about rescuing the injured companions, he ran towards the burning barrel truck one step at a time.
They ran to the barrel truck, picked up the snow on the ground, and threw it towards the barrel truck desperately, trying to put out the fire quickly. However, this snow was nothing to the burning barrel truck, and the fire did not weaken.
, but it got bigger and bigger. The scorching air waves made them feel like they couldn't breathe.
"Help!" Just when the soldiers felt desperate, a faint cry came from the snowdrift not far away: "Who come to save me!"
A soldier with sharp ears followed the sound and saw an officer wearing a military coat lying in a snowdrift. He took a closer look and found that the officer was none other than the division commander, Major General Roski.
He quickly shouted to his companions not far away: "The teacher is here."
After shouting, the soldier quickly ran to Luo Kai's side and squatted down, carefully helped him sit up, and asked with concern: "Your Excellency, division commander, are you okay?"
"I may have broken a few ribs," Roski said with a painful expression, then asked: "How are the chief of staff and the others doing?"
"The barrel truck was blown up." The soldier replied: "Everyone in the truck was burned to death. Your Excellency, division commander, how did you escape?"
"I was pushed down by the Chief of Staff." Roskay sighed and said with a painful expression: "He may have seen the rockets launched by the Russians flying towards our barrel truck, and he took me out of the car at the critical moment.
Pushed out."
…………
Not to mention that Sokov of Mamayev Ridge did not know about the results achieved by the attack aircraft, even the pilots who carried out the attack did not know. They almost killed a big shot in the German army. They only reported to their superiors in accordance with the instructions on their way back.
, destroyed a German armored vehicle, a barrel truck and two trucks, and the results have been confirmed.
Sokov was in timely contact with the front line via telephone or walkie-talkie to learn about the progress of the attacking troops. Just as three regiments successively occupied the German positions and were clearing out the remaining enemies, Chuikov called.
Sokov thought that Chuikov was calling to inquire about the progress of the troops, so he took the initiative to report: "Comrade Commander, I was just about to call you to report to you on the progress of our division."
Chuikov asked in surprise: "So, you have captured the German third line of defense? What are the casualties of the attacking troops? Can they continue to advance?"
"Comrade Commander, although our division's troops were hit by enemy long-range artillery fire during their attack on the enemy's position, the casualties caused to us were limited due to the small number of artillery they used." Sokov said.
He reported with a normal expression: "After clearing the remaining enemies on the position, they will continue to move forward, choose a suitable location, and build new defenses."
"Colonel Sokov, you did a good job." After hearing Sokov's report, Chuikov first praised him, and then continued: "I'm calling you because I have good news for you."
Good news?! When Sokov heard what Chuikov said, his eyes lit up and he quickly asked: "Comrade Commander, has the Left Bank sent us new reinforcements?"
"Uh, is that true?" Sokov's words made Chuikov silent for a moment, and then he replied sheepishly: "The good news I mentioned has nothing to do with the reinforcements."
After learning that there were no reinforcements, Sokov suddenly lost interest in the so-called good news. However, out of politeness, he still asked politely: "Comrade Commander, I wonder what the good news you mentioned is about?"
"Our communications troops have intercepted the German message. Paulus has ordered the 76th Infantry Division to evacuate its existing positions and move to the Don River defense line..."
Sokov knew that he was facing the German 71st and 76th Infantry Divisions. As soon as he heard that the 76th Division had been allowed to retreat, before Chuikov could finish speaking, he asked: "What about the 71st Division? They
Have you also received an order to retreat?"
"No, the order Paulus gave them was to organize a blockade on the spot so that our army could not pursue their retreat." Chuikov added: "The good news I want to say is related to the 71st Infantry Division.
.”
Hearing that Chuikov's good news was related to the 71st Infantry Division, Sokov immediately aroused Sokov's interest: "Comrade Commander, what kind of good news is it? Please tell me quickly."
"Actually, what I could have said a long time ago is that you kept interrupting me, preventing me from getting to the point." In response to Sokov's urging, Chuikov said helplessly: "According to the intelligence we intercepted, one of our
An attack plane that penetrated deep into enemy lines attacked the moving convoy of the 71st Infantry Division Commander Major General Roskai, destroying an armored vehicle, a barrel truck and two trucks. More than 50 Faxi Temple bandits were eliminated. The division commander
Major General Roski was seriously injured and the division chief of staff was killed on the spot."
"Our pilots are really great." Sokov waited for Chuikov to finish and immediately suggested to him: "Comrade Commander, I think the creative pilots should be awarded medals in recognition of their great achievements."
"What do you need to say? After learning this news, not only the Air Force Group will award the pilots of the attack aircraft, but also the front army headquarters will also award them." After Chuikov said this, he finally got back to the topic: "Since Ross
Kai was seriously injured. Presumably, the command system of the 71st Infantry Division will fall into chaos in a short period of time. Colonel Sokov, what about it, you didn’t consider expanding the results?"
"Comrade Commander." Although what Chuikov said was indeed very reasonable, Sokov would never risk his troops and Mamayev Heights for safety reasons, so he waited for the other party to finish speaking.
He said cautiously: "If the seriously injured person is not Major General Roskai but Paulus, I can let my troops rush forward desperately, or even rush to the bank of the Don River and choose a suitable location to build defenses.
, waiting for the friendly forces heading south or north to come and join forces.
However, now only one division commander is seriously injured. Even if his unit falls into chaos due to command failure, there is only one division after all." Sokov calmly analyzed to Chuikov: "And once the German troops on the left and right wings notice the attack of our division.
With empty flanks, they are likely to take the opportunity to launch an attack from both flanks, cutting off and encircling our attacking troops. Not only will the attacking troops suffer serious losses, but even Mamayev Heights may not be able to be saved."
The cold water that Sokov poured on Chuikov made him regain consciousness. He thought for a moment, forced a smile on his face, and said to Sokov with some embarrassment: "Colonel Sokov, what do you mean?
It makes sense, even if we are capable of annihilating the German 71st Infantry Division, their overall strength is still strong, and it is not something that one of your divisions can handle. Well, as for where to stop the attack, it is up to you.
good luck!"
After putting down the phone, Sokov said to Sidorin and Ivanov: "Chief of Staff, Deputy Division Commander, let me tell you good news. Our air force attacked the retreating German 71st Division Commander Roskai's convoy, bombing
All the vehicles were destroyed, the chief of staff of the division was killed, and even Roskai was seriously injured." Upon hearing the good news, Sidorin and Ivanov couldn't help but show joy on their faces.
Sokov pointed his hand at Sidorin and ordered him: "Chief of Staff, you immediately notify the three regiment commanders. Except for a few troops left to eliminate the remaining enemies, the rest of the troops will follow the tanks and continue to rush into the depth of the German army. It will be certain.
Before dark, choose a suitable location to stop the attack and build fortifications to prevent possible German counterattacks."
After giving instructions to Sidorin, Sokov said to Ivanov: "Comrade Deputy Division Commander, you are responsible for liaison with the Air Force. Please tell the Air Force commander who is directing the battle so that they can cooperate with the ground troops' attack. In addition to
In addition to helping us destroy the enemy's solid defenses, if we discover the enemy's artillery positions and tank assembly points, we must prioritize the attack. Only by eliminating these technical equipment that pose the greatest threat to our army can we minimize the casualties of our attacking troops.
"
"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Ivanov has been working with Sokov for so long, so he naturally knows that he values the lives of the soldiers and will not let them make unnecessary sacrifices, so he replied confidently:
"I will never let you down."
The news that the German division commander was seriously injured by an attack plane that penetrated behind enemy lines had already spread among the air force pilots participating in the war. They all couldn't wait to establish their own merits in this battle with the Guards Division. After receiving Ivanov
After receiving the order, the pilots adopted a four-machine formation, rushed towards the retreating enemy, and guided the ground troops to launch an attack.
When they saw where the enemy was gathering, the pilots would drop the bombs they carried, blowing the enemy into pieces. When they found the enemy's artillery positions or assembled tanks, they would attack with rockets. This made it impossible for the Germans to rely on the technical equipment they were familiar with.
Continue to resist effectively.
The Soviet commanders and fighters on the ground attack soon realized the intention of the air force, which was to guide them to launch an attack. The tanks immediately accelerated and rushed forward. Often, the tanks would rush forward and destroy the places where the planes had blown up before the smoke cleared.
The remaining tanks and artillery, and the commanders and combatants who followed closely behind, used various weapons to eliminate the fleeing infantry.
In this way, during the coordinated air-ground attack of the Soviet army, the German army's originally unstable front line began to waver. The already panicked soldiers fled from the positions they were supposed to hold and ran wildly towards the west.