Koida's analysis was correct. Although the troops could not carry landmines when attacking, his regimental commanders could not order the soldiers to throw away such precious materials. Instead, they found a place to hide them and found them again when they were ready to use them.
return.
Lieutenant Colonel Majewo, the commander of the 562nd Regiment who was appointed as the commander-in-chief of the former enemy, immediately ordered people to call the other two regiment commanders over after receiving Koida's order and said to them: "Comrade commanders,
Although the enemy has stopped attacking because of darkness, they will definitely attack again when it gets light, so we must repair the fortifications overnight and lay out minefields in front of the position to prevent the enemy's infantry from approaching."
"Majewo," as soon as Majewo finished speaking, Lieutenant Colonel Kleba, commander of the 564th Regiment, spoke up: "Where should we look for mines to lay out this damn minefield?"
"Lieutenant Colonel Kleba," Majewo said while looking at the other party: "I know that your regiment still has a lot of mines. Before launching the attack on the German 3rd Armored Division during the day, they all found places to hide. If there were no minefields
Once the German army launches an attack, they will rush to our position in the shortest possible time."
In fact, Kleba understood what Majewo meant, but when he thought about the place where the mines were hidden, which was almost ten kilometers away from here, he felt a faint headache: "Majewo, the place where we hid the mines is about ten kilometers away from here.
It's about ten kilometers. If we go back to fetch mines now, and it takes almost a night, then who will repair the fortifications destroyed by enemy shells?"
Before Majewo could answer, Lieutenant Colonel Kashatkin, the leader of the 568th Regiment, who was sitting silently beside him, said: "I think the task of removing landmines should be left to our regiment."
He must have been worried that Majewo would not agree, so he specifically added: "The two regiment commanders, comrades, should know very well that our regiment suffered huge losses when it took over the defense of the 305th Division and resisted the Skeleton Division's attack. Now the entire regiment
There are less than two hundred people left. With such a small number of troops used to repair fortifications, it may be a little less, but for transporting supplies, I think it is still enough."
"Majevo!" Hearing what Kashatkin said, Kleba did not immediately express his opinion. Instead, he turned to look at Majewo and asked: "What do you think?"
"I think it's okay." Majewo nodded after hearing this and said to Kleba: "Now you and I have relatively large numbers of troops, so they are perfect for carrying out defensive tasks. As for transporting mines
I think I’ll leave the job to Lieutenant Colonel Kashatkin’s 568th Regiment.”
After the three regiment leaders reached a consensus, they immediately divided their troops into two groups. One group was led by Kashatkin, and under the guidance of the 564th Regiment's guide, went to the area where the 564th Regiment concealed mines; the remaining people raced against time on the position.
Repair fortifications.
Kashatkin understood the importance of landmines in defensive warfare, so after setting off, he immediately ordered the infantry to march quickly. It took less than two hours to reach the ten-kilometer road.
Under the guidance of the guide, they dug out the mines hidden by the 564th Regiment. When Kashatkin was about to order the troops to return, his third battalion commander said to him: "Comrade Commander, the brothers have traveled such a long way.
, if you don’t take a rest and return immediately, I’m afraid you will be exhausted before returning to the position.”
Kashatkin knew that the third battalion commander was telling the truth. The troops made a sneak attack on the enemy in Kochetovka last night, and launched an attack on the German 3rd Armored Division that was hit by artillery fire during the day. As soon as the battle ended, they rushed to the nearby area without stopping.
The defensive position set up by the 81st Guards Division. Not to mention the exhaustion of the soldiers, even Kashatkin was exhausted.
For a moment, he almost blurted out the order to order the troops to rest in place, but fortunately his reason stopped him in time. He shook his head and said to the third battalion commander: "Comrade Major, I also want the soldiers to have a good rest. But.
No, if we cannot transport the mines back in time and complete the laying of the minefield before the enemy's attack begins. Once the German ground attack begins, they will be able to quickly advance to the vicinity of our position."
After saying these words to the third battalion commander, Kashatkin called the soldiers together again and said to them sincerely: "Comrades and brothers, I know that after successive fierce battles, everyone is exhausted. I also want to
Let everyone have a good rest and then carry things back to the position. But it won’t work, comrades, it won’t work. If we can’t transport the mines back on time and lay out the minefields, then the Germans will easily attack during the day.
They rushed to our position..."
Kashatkin's words made the soldiers realize the responsibilities on their shoulders. A soldier stepped forward and said loudly to Kashatkin: "Comrade leader, don't worry, no matter how tired we are, we will still be here."
Transport all these mines back to the defensive position in the shortest possible time. Give me the order!"
As soon as the soldier finished speaking, a neat voice came from the queue: "Comrade leader, please give the order!"
Kashatkin felt very pleased to see his soldiers being so reasonable. After nodding slightly, he waved his hand and announced loudly: "Let's go!"
While the commanders and fighters of the 188th Division were nervously preparing for battle, Sokov, who was far away at the headquarters on the Pushor River, was not idle. He asked Samyko, who had just received the telegram: "Comrade Chief of Staff, the 182nd and 182nd
When will the 384th Division and the two divisions transferred back from the east arrive at the blocking location?"
"Major General Gritsenko, commander of the 384th Division, reported that his troops are now less than eight kilometers away from the blocking position and can reinforce the 188th Division at any time." After reporting the situation, Samyko hesitantly asked Sokov:
"Comrade Commander, do you really plan to put the 182nd Division into battle now?"
Sokov raised his head and looked at Samyko and asked in surprise: "Chief of Staff, is there something wrong?"
"Comrade Commander, you should remember that we just added a group of old and weak soldiers to the 182nd Division a few days ago, which seriously diluted the combat effectiveness of the unit." Sameko felt that it was not the time to put the 182nd Division into battle yet.
He persuaded: "What we need are people with fighting ability, not just numbers. If these untrained old people and children are thrown into the battlefield, it will be like letting them die."
He was deeply afraid that his reason could not convince Sokov. After thinking for a moment, he added: "Also, Asia is also in the 182nd Division now. Aren't you worried that the last capture incident will happen again?
?"
Asiya's capture last time has always been a thorn in Sokov's heart. Now his existence will play a decisive role in the war situation. Once one day, his role is not as great as it is now, there is no guarantee that no one will take advantage of it.
Things come out to attack him. But if Asiya is captured for the second time, I am afraid that even if he personally endorses her, it may not help.
After thinking about it like this, Sokov couldn't help but become hesitant. He tapped his fingers lightly on the table, thinking quickly in his mind about how to avoid Asiya's fate of being captured again.
"Comrade Commander," seeing Sokov's gloomy look, Lunev came over and said to Sokov with a smile: "I also think the chief of staff is right. The 182nd Division is indeed not suitable to participate at the moment.
Such a battle."
"Why?" Sokov asked.
"Comrade Commander, you should know that what we want to block is Hott's Panzer Army." Samyko cautiously said to Sokov: "He has two armored armies, the 48th and the 57th, and the Grossdeutschland Division under his command.
It was just one of the division-level units, but it caused us such huge casualties. If the Germans pressed the entire army in order to prevent us from cutting off their retreat, let alone the 182nd Division, whose combat effectiveness would be severely diluted.
Troops, even the most elite divisions, cannot stop the enemy's attack."
Seeing that Sokov was deep in thought after listening to Lunev's words, Samyko quickly struck while the iron was hot and said: "Comrade Commander, I think Comrade Military Commissar is right. Even if the 182nd Division enters the blocking position, it will
Their current combat effectiveness cannot stop the German attack at all."
Since both Luniev and Samyko did not agree with putting the 182nd Division into battle, Sokov's insistence was not so firm: "Chief of Staff, what do you think?"
Samyko understood Sokov's character. Since he had given the order to the 182nd Division to enter the battle, if he were to suddenly change his tune, he would probably be unable to step down. So he euphemistically said: "Comrade Commander, the 182nd Division
Even if they are not involved in the blocking battle, there are still other tasks for them to complete. For example, if we use the main force of the group army to block the enemy, and the original defensive areas have become empty, it is better to let Colonel Khokhlov's troops
Come and be responsible for the defense of these areas. What do you think?"
When Lunev heard what Samyko said, he quickly applauded: "Comrade Commander, I think the proposal of the Chief of Staff is good. Why not let the troops of the 182nd Division take over the defense of other troops and do a good job in the defense of these areas."
."
Sokov secretly pondered in his mind and felt that this was a solution that had the best of both worlds. It would not allow the 182nd Division, which had weak combat effectiveness, to take risks, but it could also solve the problem of empty troops in the original defense area after the troops were transferred. Thinking of this, he clicked
He nodded and said to Sameko: "Chief of Staff, what you said makes sense, then let the 182nd Division be responsible for the defense of the rear. In addition, you can send a telegram to the 84th and 254th Divisions to ask them to speed up and continue.
Move closer to the 188th Division and the 81st Guards Division, and be sure to prevent the Germans from escaping back to Belgorod."
Seeing that Sokov agreed to his suggestion, Samyko happily agreed and got up to send telegrams to several division commanders. As soon as Samyko left, Lunev asked Sokov in a low voice: "Comrade Commander,
, do you think that if we gather all the troops, we can stop Huot's Armored Group Army?"
"Comrade Military Commissar," Sokov looked to the left and right and saw that the staff and communications soldiers were far away. He should not be able to hear the conversation between him and Lunev, but he was cautious and still lowered his voice and said: "I secretly
I can tell you that even if all our armies are wiped out, Hott’s Armored Army will not be able to survive.”
"Ah?!" Although Sokov's answer had long been expected by Runev, when he actually heard Sokov's clear answer, he was still surprised: "Are we just watching the enemy escape?"
Going back to Belgorod?”
"I can let Hot and his troops return to Belgorod." Sokov said shockingly: "But they must be exhausted by our army before they can escape back to Belgorod."
"If the German army launches an all-out attack on us, they will have to mobilize troops from the direction of Oboyan." Based on his limited military knowledge, Lunev began to analyze the possible battles that will follow: "Once the troops in the north become weak,
Then Oboyan's defenders can take the opportunity to launch a counterattack. At that time, we can form a pincer attack with friendly forces against the enemy. As long as our commanders and soldiers are tenacious enough, it is not impossible to annihilate them."
Before Lunev could finish speaking, Sokov shook his head desperately and retorted: "Comrade Military Commissar, although the battle of Kursk has reached the current stage, the balance of victory has tilted towards our army, but we still cannot underestimate the enemy.
I thought the enemy was now vulnerable. You should know that the bite of a wounded beast is very painful."
Runev stayed in the headquarters every day and read the telegrams, so he naturally knew that one German armored division had the ability to compete with a Soviet army group; two armored divisions could defeat a Soviet army group and retreat. Nowadays,
The German troops retreating from the direction of Oboyan were not just one or two armored divisions, but two powerful armored corps. Thinking about it this way, no matter how you look at it, your own troops have no chance of winning.
He hesitated for a while and asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, how do you plan to consume the enemy's effective strength? Is it to fight them in a cruel and protracted positional battle?"
"Positional warfare will definitely be fought." Sokov said solemnly: "But when the time comes, I will take the initiative to open the passage for them and let the enemy pass through our defensive areas."
Even if a cannonball fell and exploded next to him at this moment, it would definitely not be as shocking as Sokov's words. Luniev stared at Sokov dumbfounded. After a while, he finally
He murmured and asked: "Comrade Commander, are you making a mistake by opening the retreat route to Belgorod to the enemy without authorization?"
"Don't worry, Comrade Military Commissar." Sokov knew in his heart that if his strategy is to be implemented, he must first get the support of Lunev and Samyko. Now Samyko is sending telegrams to the divisions, giving priority to
Explain to Luniev: "Let me tell you what is going on. But before I explain the reason, I want to ask you a question."
"What's the question?" Lunev said instinctively: "You ask."
"If an army finds that its retreat in front has been cut off, and there are a large number of pursuers coming from behind, in order to escape the fate of being annihilated, they will definitely break through the defense line blocking the front at all costs." Sokov
He said with this expression: "But if they find that the road ahead has been opened and they don't have to work hard anymore, they can have a chance to return to Belgorod, tell me, what will they do?"
After listening to Sokov's question, Lunev stood in the German's perspective and after thinking about it for a while, his eyes suddenly lit up: "Comrade Commander, I understand. Once the enemy who is desperately trying to find the road ahead will
If it has been opened, their will to fight will decrease. At that time, everyone will think of using the opened channel to quickly escape back to Belgorod. Even if they encounter our army, they will have no intention of continuing to fight."
This chapter has been completed!