After Sokov's intensive deployment, each division entered their respective attack positions.
The night before the offensive began, Sokov summoned all regiment-level commanders in the combat cluster for a meeting at the division headquarters on Mamayev Ridge.
After seeing the notice, all the commanders arrived. Sidorin stood up and said to everyone: "Comrade commanders, please be quiet. We are having a meeting below."
After no one spoke in the room, Sidorin continued: "According to the orders from our superiors, our combat group will launch an attack on the central area where the German troops are entrenched. The attacking force is divided into two groups, and the one responsible for attacking on the right is Melku
The 67th Guards Division commanded by Colonel Love, and an artillery regiment. Their mission is to attack the central railway station. According to our reconnaissance, the one holding the station is the German 297th Infantry commanded by Major General Moritz von Dreiber.
division.
The ones responsible for the left attack are the 23rd Infantry Division, the 321st Infantry Division and the 41st Guards Division. With the cooperation of two tank brigades and an artillery regiment, they will capture the heavily defended department store of the German army."
As soon as Sidorin said this, Colonel Sivakov raised his right hand high. Sidorin pointed at him with his hand and asked slightly dissatisfied: "Colonel Sivakov, I am assigning a task.
Do you have any question?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sivakov stood up from his seat and asked Sidorin; "I would like to ask, at the beginning, the main direction of attack we chose was at the Central Railway Station. But now, only Mel
Colonel Kulov's Guards Division attacked the station, but the rest of the troops were moved in other directions."
Hearing Sivakov's question, Sidorin quickly cast a look at Sokov for help. Seeing Sokov slightly nodding at him, indicating that he could say whatever he wanted, he suddenly felt confident: "Siva
Colonel Koff, according to our recent reconnaissance, the German command headquarters may have been moved to the department store, so we have made corresponding adjustments in our troop deployment. Is there anything wrong with doing this?"
Since Sidorin had already mentioned that the enemy's headquarters might have been transferred and his troops were in the main attack direction, Sivakov naturally did not say anything more and sat down directly.
"Our attack method is different from the ones everyone is familiar with." Sidorin felt that the attack method this time was based on the common attack methods of his own army, so he vaccinated the division commanders and regiment commanders: "
Before we attack, there will be no artillery preparations, but the infantry will directly attack the area occupied by the enemy."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," it was Colonel Merkulov who rushed to speak this time. He frowned and asked: "If we rashly order the infantry to attack the enemy-occupied areas without artillery preparations, will this cause us harm?"
Massive casualties among military commanders and combatants?”
"Don't worry, Comrade Colonel, what you are worried about will not happen." Sokov stood up, raised his right hand and pressed it down, indicating Merkulov to sit down, and said in a calm tone: "Our army is here
Before the attack, the tactics of artillery preparation were already familiar to the Germans and they had mastered the corresponding countermeasures. Every time the artillery fired, the cunning Germans withdrew to the second line of defense. When our artillery bombardment ended, the infantry began to charge.
At that time, they returned from the second line of defense where they were hiding to repel our attack.
The reason why I don't prepare for artillery fire is because I don't want to waste precious artillery shells. Of course, just because our artillery doesn't prepare for artillery fire before attacking, it doesn't mean that they don't participate in the battle. I think everyone should have noticed that all the artillery positions are very close to each other.
On the front line, the artillery commander can directly see the target to be attacked.
My purpose in doing this is to install bayonets on the cannons, use close-in shooting methods, use direct fire to destroy the enemy's fire points, and cover our infantry to launch attacks." After listening to Sokov's explanation, everyone finally understood what he meant.
Intentionally, there was a look of surprise on his face.
"Chief of Staff, please continue speaking." Sokov said briefly, sat down again, and handed over the next words to Sidorin.
"To tell you the truth, the terrain of the Central Railway Station we want to capture first is very complicated." Sidorin walked to the wall, pointed at the map with an explanation stick and introduced to everyone: "The enemy and we have been engaged in a long-term battle to capture the station.
In the tug-of-war, almost all the buildings in the station were turned into ruins. The enemy's fortifications, so among these ruins, our scouts could not find where there were pure ruins and where there were camouflaged firepower points of the German army."
Having said this, Sidorin pointed at Merkulov with his explanatory stick: "Colonel Merkulov, when you attack, you cannot just be quick on the map, but you must attack steadily and destroy every fire point you find."
If there are fire points that cannot be eliminated by the infantry, use the radio to contact the artillery deployed in the rear, and use direct fire to destroy those fire points one by one."
"The chief of staff said a lot." Ivanov waited for Sidorin to finish, and then stood up and added: "After the battle starts, of course, the sooner you can capture the enemy's position, the better, but you can't just be fast on the map.
As a result, our attacking troops suffered too many casualties. If we want to occupy a place, we must consolidate it and keep it firmly in our hands. Even if the enemy launches a counterattack, they will never be able to take it again."
After Sidorin assigned all the tasks to each division, he habitually asked: "Do you have any questions?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sivakov raised his hand again: "I would like to ask, why is the main task of my 23rd Infantry Division to hold its position?"
"It's very simple, Comrade Colonel." Sidorin said confidently: "Because none of us can guarantee that the attack we launch will be successful. Once our full-line attack is frustrated and the enemy launches a counterattack, then we can use
What kind of force will be used to stop them?
Therefore, the task of your division is very arduous. As long as you can ensure the safety of the rear of my attacking troops, you are determined to do your job. Do you understand?"
"I understand, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sivakov replied in a loud voice: "I understand everything this time."
The meeting ended and the commanders who attended the meeting dispersed one after another. Belkin who stayed behind asked Sokov curiously: "Misha, why did you announce at the meeting that the enemy's headquarters might have been moved to the department store?
"
"My comrade political commissar." Since it was a private occasion, Sokov spoke more casually: "Even if the news spreads that Paulus' headquarters is in the department store at this time, other troops will not be able to come.
Joined the war. And I concentrated three infantry divisions, two tank brigades and an artillery regiment to attack the department store. Before our attack fails, I don’t think the superiors will send any troops to take over us."
Belkin was also worried about the attack by other friendly forces. After listening to Sokov's explanation, he suddenly felt more at ease. He nodded repeatedly and said: "Misha, you are more thoughtful. We have made arrangements. Even if the superiors know about it,
The truth is, if we have to use other troops to attack, we won’t be able to keep up with the time.”
Before Belkin could say goodbye, Chuikov called and asked: "Colonel Sokov, I heard that you are holding a military meeting. How is it? What do you think?"
"No, Comrade Commander, I don't have any opinions at all." Sokov replied: "Everyone said that they must resolutely obey my orders."
"It's great that everyone is willing to obey your orders." After Chuikov praised him, he emphasized: "Colonel Sokov, the troops you command now are more than what I can use. Therefore.
, you must not disappoint me, otherwise your work as the group commander will be over."
…………
At dawn the next day, Merkulov's 67th Guards Division launched an attack.
Because before dawn, many Guards soldiers were lurking in the ruins not far from the German positions. As soon as they saw the three red flares rising into the air, they immediately knew that the attack had begun. They came out of their hiding places one after another.
, holding the weapon, bending down, and cautiously advancing towards the area occupied by the enemy.
It may be that there was no artillery preparation before the attack, which successfully confused the enemy. They never dreamed that the Soviet army would suddenly launch an attack on their own position without any artillery preparation, and they were caught off guard.
Standing in the observation post, Sokov saw through his binoculars that the soldiers jumped into the trenches blocked by the ruins and started close combat with the enemies with bayonets and grenades. Since most of the enemies were not prepared at all, they suddenly heard gunfire outside.
There were loud sounds and explosions, and after hesitating for a while, I realized that it was the Soviet army that was launching an attack.
A German battalion commander heard his subordinates report to him that the Soviet army had launched an attack on the train station. He thought the other party was lying about the military situation, so he couldn't help but scolded the other party. Unexpectedly, he just put down the phone and suddenly
The officer with a bandage on his name hurried in and reported to the battalion commander: "Battal Commander, the Russians have broken into our position and are engaging in hand-to-hand combat with our officers and soldiers."
After hearing this, the German battalion commander immediately shouted: "Hold on, hold on firmly. I will call the regiment commander and ask him to send troops to reinforce us immediately."
The German battalion commander called the regiment commander and reported to him the fighting outside the station. However, the regiment was being attacked by Soviet troops from several directions. Where could troops be mobilized for reinforcements, so the regiment commander could only
Neng shouted into the microphone in vain: "Hold on, I order you to keep an eye on me. As long as you resolutely hold your position, you will definitely find a way."
The regiment commander knew very well that such a meaningless order would be of no use even if it were passed down. Therefore, after issuing the order, he immediately ordered the regiment command to transfer. He wanted to hide in a safe place and continue to direct the battle.
According to Sokov's idea, since the train station was once the focus of contention between the two sides, today's attack was bound to encounter stubborn resistance from the German army. However, within a quarter of an hour of the battle, the assault troops successfully broke through the German army.
They rushed into the remaining ruins of the ticket office and waiting hall, and the artillery deployed behind them didn't even have a chance to fire.
"Comrade Commander," Merkulov said excitedly when he saw this scene, "I really didn't expect that the enemy would be so vulnerable."
When Sokov saw the troops rushing into the station hall so quickly, his first reaction was to think to himself: "Could it be that the defenders holding on to the station were not Germans, but Romanian troops or Italian troops who deceived their teammates?"
He put down the telescope, turned to Merkulov and said: "Comrade Colonel, contact the commanders in front and ask them whether the enemies they are fighting are Germans, Romanians or Italians?"
"Understood." Merkulov agreed, walked to the middle, picked up the phone on the table, ordered the communication to be connected to the frontline commander, and repeated Sokov's question.
Soon, the answer came back. When he heard this answer, Merkulov was simply stunned. He came to Sokov's side and replied with some embarrassment: "Comrade Commander, I have verified it. Hold on
The enemies outside the station are indeed German troops and a small number of Hungarian troops."
"Strange, why did the enemy's combat effectiveness suddenly become so weak?" Sokov said to himself: "Could it be that the enemy no longer wants to continue fighting?"
"I don't think so." Merkulov shook his head and said, "I think there might be other reasons."
"Other reasons?" Ivanov, who was watching the excitement on the sidelines, heard what Merkulov said and retorted: "Comrade Colonel, tell me, what other reasons are there?"
"I'm sorry, I couldn't think of it at the moment." Merkulov said with some embarrassment: "Anyway, judging from the German's performance just now, it is indeed a big loss."
"You don't need to guess, I have already guessed the answer." Sokov said confidently: "Due to the increasingly difficult supply of the German army during this period, it is estimated that many soldiers simply do not have enough to eat, so they will not have the strength to fight.
On one side are our well-fed and well-motivated soldiers; on the other are the Germans whose morale is low, their morale is resisting, and they are not well fed or clothed. It is perfectly normal for such a one-sided battle to occur."
"It makes sense, it makes sense." After listening to Sokov's analysis, Merkulov thought about it carefully and felt that it made sense. He quickly echoed: "I think we can solve the problem in the station in less than an hour."
fighting."
"Comrade Colonel, you must not underestimate the enemy." Seeing that Merkulov was getting carried away, Sokov quickly reminded him: "Today's enemies are like wounded beasts, but the more injured the beast, the more powerful its bite will be.
"
Before Sokov finished speaking, everyone heard a series of explosions coming from the ruins of the ticket hall in the distance, and clouds of black smoke rose up.
"Oops." Seeing the rising smoke and hearing the constant loud explosions, Merkulov was a little dumbfounded: "Comrade Commander, it seems that the enemy has set up some kind of ambush in the hall, so that we
The soldiers rushed in and suffered hardship."
"In my opinion, the enemy may have planted mines and explosives in the hall, and when they saw our soldiers rushing into the hall, they detonated the mines and explosives, causing us huge casualties."
"Comrade Colonel," Sokov said to Merkulov: "Let the troops withdraw first and regroup before launching a new attack on the station."