The German army, which had lost its fighting spirit, could not organize any decent resistance, but was defeated by the Soviet army. The Soviet army, which was in charge of the offensive, took turns to go into battle, following the German army and rushing and fighting, which accelerated the chaos of the German army.
The first to enter the battle was the 188th Division of Koida. This division paid a heavy price in the battle to defend the town of Kazachya. Therefore, after they attacked and advanced five kilometers, Major General Fomenko
The 84th Division took over the attack.
When the 84th Division attacked and reached fifteen kilometers away from Dergach, it encountered enemies who relied on fortifications to resist stubbornly. The defenders here were not broken troops who had been beaten by the Soviet army and fled in panic, but were responsible for the city's defense.
The tenacious defense of the 320th Infantry Division shattered Fomenko's intention to seize the German outer positions during the offensive.
However, the attack of the 84th Division had just been frustrated, and the 254th Division, which followed closely, took over the attack. The division commander, Colonel Shechtman, personally came to a place less than 800 meters away from the German position and found a place with a wide view to establish a
Observation post, where the troops' offensive was directed.
First there was a round of rocket attack, and before the smoke cleared, the commanders and fighters of the 254th Division followed the tanks, spreading like a tide towards the German outer positions.
Shechtman originally thought that the fight for the outer positions would be an extremely brutal war of attrition, but what he did not expect was that his troops rushed into the trenches, and the enemies in the trenches actually retreated after a brief resistance.
Seeing that his troops easily occupied the German outer positions, Shechtman couldn't help but be overjoyed. However, his political commissar, Colonel Billing, said to him with a puzzled look: "Comrade Division Commander, I feel something is wrong.
"
Schechtman, who was still immersed in the joy of victory, casually asked: "Comrade Political Commissar, is there something wrong?"
"Did we seize the enemy's peripheral positions too smoothly?" Colonel Billing expressed his doubts, "Is there any conspiracy in this?"
"What kind of conspiracy can there be, my comrade political commissar?" Shechtman replied with a smile: "Didn't you see that we hit the enemy with a rocket and knocked them stupid? You saw our tanks and infantry rushing up.
, the only thing they can do is turn around and run backwards."
Perhaps because he was too excited, Shechtman laughed a few times after he finished speaking. Shechtman's optimism inspired the emotions of the officers and soldiers in the observation post, and everyone's faces showed
Joyful smile.
"Comrade division commander," Colonel Billing, although he couldn't explain exactly what happened, but he always had an ominous premonition in his heart. He reminded Shechtman: "I think it's better to report the information here to the group army headquarters.
Report it and let Comrade Commander determine what is going on."
"Comrade Political Commissar, what's wrong with you?" Seeing that Colonel Billing had been struggling with this issue, Shechtman was a little unhappy. He said with a straight face: "The enemy retreated so quickly, I think it may be our army's
Their combat power and equipment far surpassed theirs. They knew that if they held on any longer, they would be destroyed, so they had no choice but to retreat."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," after Shechtman said this, he turned to call his Chief of Staff and ordered him: "Order the 762nd Regiment to hold on to the occupied outer positions, and the other two infantry regiments continue to move toward Dergach.
Push forward.”
"Comrade division commander," after hearing Shechtman's instructions, the chief of staff reminded him: "According to the intelligence we obtained in advance, the enemy may have one or two divisions in the city, so we will use two regiments to attack.
Nothing will go wrong, right?"
"What can go wrong?" Shechtman said displeasedly: "Comrade Chief of Staff, don't forget, there are two divisions, the 84th and 188th, and two tank brigades behind us. Even if we can't annihilate them,
The enemies in the city will not be in any danger."
"Comrade division commander," Colonel Billing intervened when he saw that the chief of staff was at a loss for how to respond to Shechtman's words: "You are right, we do have two infantry divisions and two tank brigades behind us. But you
Don't forget, these two infantry divisions have been severely weakened after a long battle. To put it bluntly, their combat effectiveness is probably only equivalent to one of our regiments. If our attack is frustrated
, when the enemy counterattacks, they can't help us at all."
Seeing that Colonel Billing was on his side, the chief of staff quickly continued: "Comrade division commander, I think we should hand over the outer positions to friendly forces, and then launch an attack on the city with the whole division. This way we can have a greater chance of winning."
When Shechtman heard this, the chief of staff said that it made sense. Using three regiments to attack the city would definitely achieve better results and advance speed than using only two regiments.
Wanting to understand this, he nodded and said: "Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff, I agree with your suggestion. Immediately notify our troops and hand over the occupied peripheral positions to the 84th Division, and then the entire division will launch an attack on Gyor."
Gach’s Attack.”
While the chief of staff was calling to inform the troops, Colonel Billing once again asked Shechtman: "Comrade division commander, I feel that the war has reached the current level and our offensive momentum has begun to weaken. It is necessary to request reinforcements from our superiors."
Shechtman originally did not want to share the credit for capturing Dergach with other troops, but when he thought about it carefully, it was very difficult to capture the entire city with just one division. Because of this
, he reluctantly agreed to Colonel Billing's proposal: "Okay, Comrade Political Commissar, it's up to you to send a telegram to the Army Headquarters and report our situation here to the commander."
A few minutes later, Samyko handed the telegram he had just received to Sokov, and said excitedly: "Comrade Commander, good news, our troops have occupied the outer positions of Dergach, and now
The 254th Division is continuing to advance, and they are preparing to rush into the city before dark."
When Sokov saw the telegram in his hand, he also had a smile on his face. He also said with emotion: "Colonel Shechtman's troops performed well. In the first attack, they easily captured the enemy's
Peripheral position."
"Comrade Commander, are our three divisions outside Dergach now a little too weak?" Samyko cautiously reminded Sokov: "Do you think we should send troops for reinforcements?"
"The 384th Division has now moved near the Compass Town of Kazachya. I think they can be allowed to participate in the siege." After Sokov said this simply, he ordered Samyko: "Chief of Staff,
Immediately send a telegram to the commander of the division, ordering them not to stop at the Compass Town of Kazachya and to go straight to Dergach."
"Okay, I will immediately send a report to the 384th Division and ask them to rush to Dergach as soon as possible." After recording Sokov's order, Samyko asked tentatively: "Chuvashov's 98th Guards Division
The division is still on standby deep in the enemy's defenses. I wonder when we can let them go into battle?"
"Wait a moment, Comrade Chief of Staff." The surprise force Sokov placed deep in the enemy's depth has not yet been used, so he reminded Samyko: "Tell Colonel Chuvasov to let them all grow old."
Stay where you are and wait until the main force of our army breaks through the German defense line and approaches the gates of Kharkov, then cooperate to capture Dergach's troops and seize the bridge over the Oud River."
Samyko called the director of the communications corps and handed him the recorded order, asking him to immediately send a report to the 384th Division and the 98th Guards Division, asking them to execute Sokov's order. After doing all this
, Samyko curiously asked Sokov: "Comrade Commander, how many days do you think it will take for the main force of our army to reach the outside of Kharkov?"
"It's hard to say." Sokov knew that since the German army recaptured Kharkov at the beginning of the year, they had built a large number of fortifications and laid minefields in the north of the city. Although the Soviet army was large in number, it was difficult to break through the German army.
The defense system may not be an easy task: "I think it will take a week at the earliest for the main forces of the Steppe Front Army and the Voronezh Front Army to reach the outside of Kharkov."
"Ah, it takes such a long time?" Sameko said in surprise: "Then the 98th Guards Division has been lurking in its current position for such a long time, won't it be exposed?"
When Sokov heard Samyko's question, he couldn't help but fell silent. Although the current 98th Guards Division pretended to be the enemy and occupied a section of fortifications, successfully deceiving the enemy. But after all, it could not be hidden for long. If
One day, Huot or Kenf discovered that there was actually a relatively well-organized army here, and planned to transfer them to areas with fierce fighting, so that Chuvasov and the others would be completely exposed.
He scratched the back of his head and said with a wry smile: "Comrade Chief of Staff, we can only resign ourselves to fate. If they are not seen through by the enemy, this is certainly a good thing. But at the same time, they must be prepared to be seen through by the enemy and attacked from all sides.
Prepare. Tell Colonel Chuvasov that even if they are surrounded on all sides, they must hold on tenaciously until the troops who capture Dergach arrive."
When Dergach was mentioned, the conversation between the two people couldn't help but return to Shechtman. "Comrade Commander," Sameko asked curiously: "If Shechtman's 254th Division can succeed this time,
If Dergach is successfully captured, then after our army completely liberates Kharkov, is it possible for his troops to be reorganized into a Guards Division?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, I think it will be very difficult to be reorganized into the Guards Division." Sokov smiled bitterly and shook his head and said: "Chuvasov and his three brigades can be reorganized into the 98th Guards Division.
It was all Marshal Zhukov's mediation, otherwise our group army would not even have a Guards Division until now."
"Didn't Major General Malankin's 81st Guards Division once come under our command?" Samek said with some regret: "It's a pity that after the Battle of Kursk, Malankin's troops were reorganized. If they
Being able to stay with us will make us even stronger.”
"Comrade Chief of Staff, I don't think so." Sokov said with a solemn expression: "Malankin's troops had already suffered huge casualties when preventing Khote from retreating from Oboyan to Belgorod. Even if the battle is over,
Later, they were supplemented by superiors, but they could not supplement veterans or combat backbones with combat experience like us. I think their current combat effectiveness should be about the same as that of Khokhlov's 182nd Division."
When Samyko heard this, Sokov's words seemed to make sense. After the Battle of Kursk, the 27th Army was able to restore its original combat effectiveness in such a short period of time entirely because it incorporated a large number of prisoners of war.
The commanders and fighters rescued from the camp are veterans with rich combat experience, and there are many key combat personnel among them. With their participation, it is strange that the combat effectiveness of the army cannot be improved.
As it approached evening, Sokov received a call from Shechtman. The content was not much, but it was very exciting: Our division has successfully defeated the defenders in the north of the city, successfully occupied the municipal building, and moved the 254th Division
The military flag was planted on the top of the building.
Seeing this telegram, Sokov excitedly slapped his hands on the table several times: "Well done, Colonel Shechtman is so well done. I didn't expect that they succeeded in such a short time."
The land captured half the city..."
However, Sameko acted very calmly: "Comrade Commander, I think there is something wrong with this battle report."
"Is there a problem?" Sokov asked with a look of astonishment on his face: "What's the problem?"
"When we received the last telegram from Shechtman, it was four o'clock in the afternoon, only three hours ago." Samyko explained to Sokov: "You know, they were still fifteen years away from the city at that time.
Even if there is no enemy obstruction, it will take them about three hours to cover such a long distance on foot."
Before Samek finished speaking, Sokov agreed with the doubts he raised: "You are right, if you want to cover a fifteen-kilometer road in three hours, then the commanders and fighters must be in a trot state all the time.
, there was no need to waste time along the way. Moreover, they not only arrived at Dergach within three hours, but also captured the north of the city and the municipal building. Isn’t this attack speed too incredible?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander, I think so too." Samek said solemnly: "I think this may be a conspiracy by the Germans to attract them to the city before taking any action."
"What action can be taken?" Lunev, who was sitting next to him and said nothing, finally couldn't help but asked after listening to the conversation between the two: "Are they planning to encircle and annihilate Colonel Shechtman's 254th Division?"
"It is entirely possible." Sameko continued: "As long as they can annihilate one of our divisions, it will be a fatal blow to our military morale and morale."
Now that he knew that the Germans might have set a trap, Sokov naturally could not watch his men fall into the enemy's fire pit, and quickly ordered Samek: "Chief of Staff, immediately send a report to Colonel Shechtman to remind him
, the enemy may have some conspiracy, they must seize the time to improve the defense of the occupied area, so as not to be caught off guard by the enemy."
Samyko waited for Sokov to finish and immediately added his own opinion: "Comrade Commander, should we let Major General Gritsenko's 384th Division speed up its march so that we can rescue the 254th Division in time?
"
This chapter has been completed!