Sokov's tactics of luring the enemy had a very good effect in this offensive battle.
When the commanders and fighters of the 3rd Infantry Division shouted on the spot and pretended to charge, they really confused the enemy. The German observation posts, whose sight was obscured by the smoke, thought that the Soviet army had launched a large-scale attack, and immediately blew their whistles.
Notify your companions who have withdrawn to the second line of defense by making a phone call and ask them to return to the first line of defense to fight as soon as possible.
But the Germans never dreamed that this was just a little trick carried out by Sokov. But when groups of German soldiers returned to their first line of defense along the communication trenches, they were attacked before they could enter the combat position.
They were baptized by overwhelming artillery fire and paid a heavy price.
When the commanders and fighters of the 3rd Infantry Division rushed into the first German trench, they could hardly see any living people. Occasionally, they saw a few people who could still move. They were either sitting in the trench in disgrace and in a daze, or they were bleeding from the mouth and nose.
lie on the floor.
For these surviving German officers and soldiers, if they voluntarily raised their hands to surrender, the Soviet army would spare their lives; for those who staggered up with weapons, they would directly greet them with grenades and bullets.
In less than five minutes, the commanders and fighters of the 3rd Division occupied the entire trench and raised the red flag.
"Reporting to Comrade Commander," seeing that his troops had successfully occupied the first trench, the commander of the 3rd Division immediately called Sokov and reported emotionally: "My troops have successfully occupied the first trench."
The German first line of defense is advancing towards the second line of defense."
Although it was so easy to seize the first line of defense, Sokov did not take it lightly. He said into the microphone: "Well done, Comrade Colonel. But you can't be proud. Now you have only broken through the first line of defense of the German army."
, the hard battle is still ahead, I hope you will continue your efforts and achieve greater victory."
"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." The commander of the 3rd Division said carelessly: "We will definitely be able to capture the enemy's position."
After putting down the phone, Sokov turned to Sidorin and asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff, how is the progress of the 109th Infantry Division? Have they broken through the German first line of defense?"
"Report from the division commander, Colonel Brajinski." Sidorin replied: "Their troops have rushed into the first line of defense of the German army and are still fighting fiercely. I believe it will not take long to capture the enemy."
position."
After hearing this, Ponijelin beside Sokov couldn't help but frowned slightly and said: "What's going on? They launched an attack on the German army at the same time. The 3rd Division launched an attack on the second line of defense, and the 109th Division
Still dawdling on the first line of defense."
The speaker is unintentional, but the listener is intentional. Ponedelin originally complained about the slow movement of the 109th Division, but it made Sokov think of a question. While looking down at the map, he asked Sidorin: "There seems to be something in the triangle area."
A reservoir dam.”
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Sidorin replied: "The German Narew River Reservoir Dam is located exactly in the triangle zone."
Sokov frowned, raised his head and asked Sidorin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, do you think this is possible? Once the Germans find that they can no longer hold on to the triangle, they will jump over the wall and blow up the enemy."
Where is the dam?”
"It is possible." Before Sidorin could answer, Ponejelin nodded and said, "Once the Germans blow up the dam, the path of the 109th Infantry Division's attack will be flooded."
"Chief of Staff, please tell Colonel Brakinski to immediately send a small force to the reservoir area to ensure that the enemy will not blow up the reservoir."
"Yes!" Sidorin realized the seriousness of the problem, immediately picked up the phone, called Braginski, directly conveyed Sokov's original words, and finally said: "Comrade Colonel, can we smoothly
To eliminate the German troops in the triangle area, it all depends on whether your division can protect the reservoir dam."
After listening to Sidorin's words, Brajinski realized the seriousness of the problem. If the Germans really blew up the reservoir dam, then his own troops would be the first to suffer. He hurriedly replied: "Understood.
Comrade Chief of Staff, I immediately sent a small team to the reservoir dam to stop the German army's plot to blow up the reservoir dam."
After Sidorin put down the phone, he reported to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, I have given an order to Colonel Brakinski, and he also agreed to send a small force to the reservoir dam as soon as possible to prevent possible sabotage actions by the Germans.
.”
Sokov nodded, and did not stay on this topic any longer. Instead, he looked at Ponejelin and Sidorin and asked: "Although our attack went smoothly, this is because the German army was defeated by us.
We were caught off guard, and the fortress artillery on the Modlin Fortress side was unable to provide artillery support to the enemies in the triangle area. If the enemy's artillery deployed in the rear fires, I'm afraid our attack will become difficult."
"You are right, Comrade Commander." Ponedelin agreed with Sokov's statement, and he put forward his own plan: "Look, how about letting our artillery move forward. Once
When the Germans fire artillery, can we also use artillery fire to counterattack the enemy's artillery positions?"
"I think it's okay." After Sokov agreed to Ponedelin's proposal, he said to Sidorin: "Chief of Staff, call the artillery director immediately and ask him to move the army's artillery forward in batches to prepare for the situation.
The enemy's artillery positions prepare for counterattacks."
Two hours after the battle started, Zhukov called and asked bluntly: "Misha, how is the battle going there?"
"Reporting to Comrade Marshal, the progress of our department is very smooth." Sokov heard the call from Zhukov and quickly reported to the other party: "Now the 3rd Infantry Division on the left has successfully occupied the three lines of defense of the German army.
, wedged into the German defense line to a depth of two kilometers. The 109th Division on the right wing was not slow in action. They captured two directions and wedged into the German defense line for a depth of three kilometers."
Zhukov was silent for a moment and asked: "The troops on the left broke through three lines of defense and only wedged two kilometers into the enemy's defense area; while the troops on the right broke through two lines of defense and wedged three kilometers. What is going on?"
"Comrade Marshal, the situation is like this." Seeing that Zhukov was unclear about what was going on, Sokov quickly explained to him: "The terrain on the right wing is relatively complex, and the places where fortifications can be built are limited, so the German defense lines are spaced apart.
It’s much further away than the left wing.”
"Oh, that's what happened." After Zhukov figured out what was going on, he specifically reminded Sokov: "I saw on the map that there is a reservoir dam in front of the right wing attack area. Have you considered that the enemy discovered
When they can't hold the triangle, might they make a fuss about the reservoir dam?"
"Comrade Marshal, I have also considered this." Sokov couldn't help but feel happy when he saw that Zhukov and his second brother had the same ideas. He reported: "I have given an order to the commander of the 109th Division Braginsky.
, let him send a small force to occupy the reservoir dam, and he must not let the enemy blow up the dam and use floods to submerge our army's path forward."
"Have his troops been dispatched?" Zhukov asked.
Sokov did not answer immediately, but glanced at Sidorin and asked him with his eyes. When Sidorin nodded slightly, indicating that the 109th Division team had been dispatched, he said into the microphone: "Comrade Marshal,
The small team of the 109th Division has been dispatched. If all goes well, they should have arrived near the reservoir. Next, it depends on how they seize the reservoir dam from the Germans."
Zhukov said: "If you need any help from me, just ask."
"Comrade Marshal," Sokov remembered that the enemy's artillery had been silent since the beginning of the battle. But the more this happened, the more uneasy he felt. After hearing what Zhukov said, he quickly said: "The enemy's artillery has been silent since the beginning of the battle.
, there was no movement at all, and I felt very uneasy."
After hearing this, Zhukov asked angrily: "Why don't you feel at ease?"
"Although the enemies of Modlin Fortress were attacked by our friendly forces, they were unable to provide artillery support to the enemies in the triangle area." Sokov expressed his doubts: "But in addition to the fortress artillery, they also have
Powerful crossfire. But these artillery fires that caused the cancellation of our last offensive operation, so far, there has been no movement at all. I am worried that the Germans are brewing some conspiracy."
"What other conspiracy can there be?" Zhukov obviously did not take it seriously: "I think the enemy's artillery may have suffered heavy losses in the artillery preparations before our attack and was unable to provide any more support to the enemy in the triangle area.
We have artillery support, so you don’t have to worry at all.”
"but……"
"There are no buts." Zhukov interrupted Sokov's last words, "You should focus all your attention on how to seize the triangle. You know, if you deal with the enemy earlier, you will collapse Modlin.
The morale of the fortress defenders will thus make the attacks of the 65th and 70th Group Armies smoother."
Sokov heard Zhukov's implication. He felt that he was a little nervous. The war was going smoothly, but he was still suspicious. But Sokov was not actually suspicious, but the Germans' actions were so abnormal that he had to arouse a high degree of suspicion.
Attention. Before Zhukov put down the microphone, he promptly made his request: "Comrade Marshal, I hope to receive support from the Air Force."
"Oh, air force support?" Regarding Sokov's request, Zhukov only hesitated for a moment and then readily agreed: "No problem. I will say hello to the Air Force Commander later. What kind of air force do you need?"
Just tell him for support and he will definitely provide enough help."
With Zhukov's promise, Sokov felt much more at ease. He quickly expressed his gratitude to Zhukov: "Thank you, Comrade Marshal. Don't worry, I will definitely live up to your trust."
"Well, I'll wait for your good news." Zhukov finally said: "I wish you good luck!"
After Sokov put down the phone, he looked at Sidorin and asked: "Chief of Staff, where has the artillery reached now?"
Sidorin moved the map in front of him and reported to Sokov: "A howitzer regiment has now entered the first line of defense occupied by the 3rd Division. No matter where the German artillery fires, they can
Conduct artillery countermeasures in a timely manner to ensure a smooth infantry attack."
"Very good!" After listening to Sidorin's report, Sokov nodded and said with satisfaction: "The artillery director did a good job. After we complete the combat mission of occupying the triangle area, we must award him a medal.
."
Everything seemed to be moving in a good direction, but there were unforeseen circumstances, and people had misfortunes and misfortunes. Soon, a piece of bad news reached the group army headquarters along with a report that the enemy's artillery had begun to take action.
When Sidorin learned that the German army had begun a fierce artillery bombardment against the 3rd Infantry Division, he quickly called the artillery director and said hurriedly: "Comrade artillery director, the enemy's artillery is bombarding the attacking 3rd Infantry Division.
I order your artillery to fire immediately to suppress the enemy's artillery fire."
Just as he put down the phone, another phone rang again. Sidorin grabbed the receiver, put it to his ear and said loudly: "I am Sidorin, where are you?"
But after listening for a moment, a shocked expression appeared on his face. Then he covered the microphone with his hand and reported to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, this is bad, something big has happened."
Hearing Sidorin say something serious, Sokov couldn't help but feel a little in his heart, secretly wondering whether the Germans had blown up the reservoir dam? But he still pretended to be calm and said: "Chief of Staff, don't be anxious, speak slowly,
What happened?"
"The troops of the 3rd Division were suddenly attacked by fierce German artillery fire during the attack, and the troops suffered many casualties..."
"Chief of Staff," Sokov interrupted Sidorin's words, "we already know that the 3rd Division was hit by German artillery fire. Please tell me the key point, what exactly happened."
Sidorin took a deep breath and then continued: "On its way to the new headquarters, the convoy of the 3rd Division was hit by German artillery fire. The jeep the division commander was riding in was hit by artillery fire and died on the spot."
"What, the commander of the 3rd Division died?" Sokov asked in shock: "Who told you this news?"
"It's Lieutenant Colonel Miyakov, Chief of Staff of the 3rd Division." Sidorin replied: "Because the jeep he was riding in was a little far away from the division commander's car, he was able to survive by chance."
Sokov walked up to Sidorin, took the microphone from his hand, and said loudly: "Lieutenant Colonel Myakov? I am Sokov, and I now officially appoint you as the acting commander of the 3rd Division.
.”
"Yes, Comrade Commander." When he learned that he had been appointed as division commander, even though he was only acting, Miyakov also seemed very excited: "I wonder what the next combat mission of our division will be?"
"Offensive, continue to attack until the enemies in the triangle area are eliminated." Sokov raised his voice and said: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, please tell all the commanders and soldiers of the division to exert a positive fighting spirit, eliminate more enemies, and sacrifice for you.
The division commander’s report. Do you understand what I mean?”
"Understood, Comrade Commander." Miyakov replied hurriedly: "I understand what you mean. In the next battle, we will show more bravery and tenacity, strive to destroy more enemies, and sacrifice for those who died.
Master, take revenge."
Seeing that Miyakov understood what he meant, Sokov nodded with satisfaction, said: "I wish you good luck!" and put down the phone.
This chapter has been completed!