The driver and stoker knew that the situation at the front was critical. After hearing the battalion commander's order, they immediately began to add water and coal. However, it still took nearly an hour to complete the work. The battalion commander saw that the ammunition of the armored train had been replenished.
, water and coal were also added, and the order to set off was issued again.
When the armored train passed behind the positions of the 102nd and 100th regiments, the commanders and soldiers on the position stood upright from the trenches, cheered and waved to the passing armored train.
The battalion commander in the car looked through the observation hole and saw the reaction of the commanders and soldiers outside. He couldn't help but said with some pride: "It seems that we are quite popular with the soldiers."
The captain standing aside waited for him to finish, and quickly laughed and said: "Comrade battalion commander, that's right. If it weren't for our support, they would still be fighting a bitter battle with the Germans."
The battalion commander listened to the cheers coming from outside the car and the rumble of artillery in the distance, and said to the captain: "Captain, there is another regiment's defense area ahead, which is being attacked by the Germans. When we crush their attack,
You can go back and rest after the train.”
Perhaps because he repelled the attacks of two German troops in a row, the captain became particularly confident: "Comrade Battalion Commander, if the enemy only has the combat power it has today, I believe that no matter how many they come, we can repel them."
their offense."
The battalion commander grinned: "Isn't that right? As long as our armored trains are here, the Germans will never even think of crossing the railway line." At this point, he paused for a moment and then continued, "It is said that the Germans occupied the area a few days ago.
In the southern part of the Mamayev Hills, that is because our armored trains were not dispatched, otherwise the Germans would not even be able to get close to the railway line."
Although Chuikov and others did not publicize the victory achieved by Sokov's troops in the past few days, well-informed people still heard some rumors. The captain said cautiously: "Comrade Battalion Commander, I heard that the Nangang position
The reason why we fell was not because our troops couldn't hold on, but because they set a trap for the Germans."
After listening to the captain's words, the battalion commander couldn't help but sneered and said: "Comrade Captain, you are so naive that you actually believe such a statement? Don't you know that once Mamayev Heights is lost, it will be occupied by the Germans?
Once they reach the commanding heights of the city, they can bombard the city with artillery fire, blockade the docks, and cut off the connection between the defenders in the city and the other side. If you were the supreme commander, would you agree to this risky plan?"
After he finished speaking, he saw the captain's brows furrowed and deep in thought, so he continued: "I think it's probably the commander who stayed at Mamayev Heights who was trying to shirk responsibility and reduce the punishment he might receive.
A deliberate lie..."
Before the battalion commander finished speaking, the scream of artillery shells piercing the air suddenly came from the air, and then he heard two violent explosions. From the explosions, the battalion commander judged that the opponent was using a large-caliber artillery, and he suddenly
He was so frightened that he aroused goosebumps, and his forehead and neck were covered with white sweat. The reason why he was so scared was because the impact point of the two shells was very close to the train, and the shrapnel of the shells made the armor of the train jingle.
.
"Comrade Battalion Commander," not only the battalion commander was frightened by the sound of artillery, but even the captain was frightened. Based on his rich professional knowledge, he heard that the bombardment was carried out by the German 150mm K39 howitzer. But he knew
This kind of large-caliber artillery is so powerful. If nothing else, if the two shells just hit the place where the troops are gathering, there will be almost no living people within a fifty-meter radius. Even though I am staying in an armored train.
, but if he was hit by two shells, his life might be in danger, so he quickly asked the battalion commander for instructions: "The enemy is bombarding us with heavy artillery, what should we do next?"
The battalion commander asked in a panic: "Where are we?"
The captain quickly glanced outside through the lookout hole, and then said: "Comrade Battalion Commander, we should have arrived at the area where the 102nd Regiment is fighting. I see enemy tanks and infantry rushing towards their positions."
"Find a place to stop and use artillery fire and machine gun fire to destroy the attacking enemies." The battalion commander grabbed the captain's hand and told him: "Comrade Captain, remember, you must use the fastest speed to repel the Germans."
attack. Otherwise we will become the target of German artillery attacks, do you understand?"
"Understood!" the captain agreed, and then began to give orders to the gunners and machine gunners: "The artillerymen and machine gunners selected their respective targets and were ready to fire."
After the gunners and machine gunners were ready, the captain asked the battalion commander for instructions: "Comrade battalion commander, the shooting preparations have been completed. Should we stop now?"
"Stop, why stop? Stop and become a target for the Germans?" The battalion commander glared at the captain and said dissatisfied: "The train continues to move forward. We have to shoot at the enemy while moving."
"Comrade Battalion Commander, when shooting while marching, the accuracy of shooting cannot be guaranteed." The captain said with some embarrassment to the battalion commander's order: "Maybe we wasted a lot of shells and bullets, but we didn't hit any valuable targets at all.
."
"Captain," seeing that the captain did not understand his intention, the battalion commander said angrily: "Didn't you see the Germans using heavy artillery to bombard us? If we stop, we will be the targets of the Germans, so we can only shoot while moving.
, to avoid German artillery fire, understand?”
"Understood, comrade battalion commander." Regarding the battalion commander's stubbornness, the captain could only choose to obey: "The shooting preparations have been completed, can we fire now?"
"Fire!"
After getting the permission of the battalion commander, the captain raised his hand high above his head, then swung it down suddenly and shouted: "Fire!"
The artillery and machine guns on the train fired at the same time. Although the train was moving, which affected the shooting accuracy, German soldiers were still constantly being blown away by the artillery fire and beaten into sieves by the machine gun bullets. But the enemy still rushed forward regardless.
There was a strong attitude that they would never withdraw their troops unless they captured the Soviet positions.
At this moment, on the position of the 102nd Regiment, as the German firepower was suppressed by the armored train, the machine gunners who changed positions at every turn stopped one after another. After choosing a position, they set up a machine gun and used their own
Start shooting as fast as possible. The machine gunner pulled the trigger to the end. In less than a minute, all 47 rounds of bullets in the round bullet tray were fired out, beating the German soldiers who rushed nearby into a sieve.
.
The German troops, suppressed by the artillery fire and machine gun fire from the armored train, still did not give up their attack attempt. Two mortar teams established a mortar position in the crater fifty or sixty meters away from the Soviet position. They
Adjust the mortar to the maximum elevation angle, no longer calculate the distance, just shoot it out as quickly as possible, because it is too close to the Soviet trenches, at least half of the shells can fall into the opponent's trenches
In the trenches, every artillery shell can overturn several defenders in the trenches.
The intensity of the battle far exceeded the imagination of the commander of the 102nd Regiment. He originally thought that with the arrival of the armored train, the German troops attacking their defensive positions would definitely flee. Unexpectedly, the enemy was hit by shelling and fire from the armored train.
After strafing, not only did they show no signs of retreat, but on the contrary, the offensive became even more fierce.
Colonel Dubyansky, who was supervising the battle here, said with a straight face to the commander of the 102nd Regiment: "Comrade Colonel, immediately mobilize all your forces to launch a counterattack against the German troops. We must drive them away from the position."
"Comrade Deputy Division Commander," after hearing Dubyansky's order, the regiment leader said with some embarrassment: "The training camp you brought has been exhausted, and the battalion commander Major Ibaru has also died. Where can we still have it?"
What force can we use to fight back?"
"Didn't Major Ibaru bring back two militia companies before he died?" Dubyansky knew that the militiamen had poor combat effectiveness, but under the current circumstances, he could only seek medical treatment in a hurry: "
Put them into battle immediately."
The regiment leader tried to persuade Dubyansky again, and quickly said: "Comrade Deputy Division Commander, I have carefully observed these two militia companies. They are responsible for patrolling in the city. They are okay, but if they are used for counterattack, I am afraid they will have no effect...
…”
"Okay, Comrade Colonel, stop talking." Dubyansky raised his hand and looked at his watch, and then said: "Time is urgent, put them into battle immediately, otherwise it will be too late."
The regimental commander saw that Dubyansky was stubborn and that no matter how much he tried to persuade him, it would have no effect, so he could only nod his head, call his deputy commander, and tell him to notify the militia company to join in the counterattack.
The deputy regimental commander left the regiment command post and came to the trench where the militia company was resting. He said loudly: "Company and platoon commander, come to me." Following his shout, more than 20 militiamen in civilian clothes came.
When he came in front of him, these people were all company and platoon-level cadres of two militia companies.
Seeing that everyone had gathered, the deputy commander said loudly to them: "Comrades, you must have seen the situation at the front. The Germans are rushing towards our position desperately. If we don't launch a counterattack as soon as possible,
, the position will be undefendable."
As soon as the deputy commander finished speaking, a militia company commander saw his military rank clearly and immediately expressed his position: "Comrade Major, tell me, what should we do next?"
"Gather all your soldiers," the deputy regimental commander said to the militia company commander: "We will immediately launch a counterattack against the Germans and drive them away from our positions."
"Comrade Major, we have already made all preparations for battle." The militia company commander said with a firm expression: "Please give the order to counterattack."
The deputy commander glanced at the location where the fierce fighting was taking place, which was only five hundred meters away. He climbed out of the trench, turned to face the soldiers in the trench and shouted: "Brothers, follow me! Get the *** elements out of here."
Drive away from our position." After shouting, he raised his pistol high and trotted towards the area where the fierce fighting was taking place.
Seeing that the deputy regimental commander had taken the lead in the charge, the platoon commanders of each company also climbed out of the trenches, half-turned around and shouted to the militiamen still in the trenches: "Comrades, what are you still hiding in the trenches? Come out immediately,
Move forward with us!"
Seeing the commanders taking the lead in the charge, the militiamen staying in the trenches suddenly felt their blood boiling. They climbed out of the trenches one after another, followed their commanders, and rushed towards the most intense battle.
The German army discovered the charging troops and immediately opened fire on them with mortars and machine guns. The charging militia troops were hit by a dense rain of bullets and flying shrapnel, but they were soon followed by
People filled the gap, and within a short distance of a few hundred meters, countless figures fell down, but the remaining people still rushed forward without hesitation.
The commanders and soldiers who were originally staying in the trenches saw the militiamen passing over their heads and rushed towards the enemy bravely. Not to be outdone, they jumped out of the trenches one after another and rushed forward. When they approached the enemy, they threw out pieces of
The grenade rushes forward quickly with the help of the smoke that rises when it explodes.
Facing the fierce counterattack of the Soviet army, the frustrated German army became hesitant. Not only the soldiers were retreating secretly, but also the officers leading the team were retreating. Someone yelled, turned around and ran back.
Running away suddenly became the last straw that broke the German army's psychology.
If they retreated slowly, the troops could still maintain a relatively complete structure. However, when a few soldiers turned around and ran away, it immediately caused a series of chain reactions. From an orderly retreat, it turned into a great rout. The German officers and soldiers
He ran away like a frightened rabbit, only regretting that he had lost two legs. For a time, the battlefield was full of broken soldiers, pursuing soldiers, and German soldiers with their hands raised in the air.
Regarding the surrendered prisoners and the defeated troops who fell down in panic, the commanders and fighters of the 102nd Regiment immediately sent out their manpower to take in these prisoners, while the rest continued to chase the fleeing German troops...
Dubyansky and the commander of the 102nd Regiment were in the command post and saw through the telescope the counterattack carried out by the commanders and militiamen. The commander couldn't help but said with emotion: "If our armored train hadn't opened fire while moving, maybe
There is no need for militiamen to charge to defeat this enemy attack."
After hearing the regiment commander's complaints, the division chief of staff said with a wry smile: "Comrade Colonel, do you think the comrades of the armored train battalion don't want to stop and shoot? But no, the enemy's heavy artillery is constantly bombarding them. Once they stop,
, our armored trains were in danger of being destroyed by German artillery fire, so they could only open fire while moving."
"What a pity, what a pity." The regiment leader looked at the battle outside that was gradually coming to an end and said with regret: "If our armored train had not had to fire on the march to avoid the enemy's artillery fire, how could we have fired from our armored train?
The number of enemies who escape in front of the position will definitely not exceed one-fifth."
"Okay, comrade colonel, don't talk nonsense." Although the troops held their position, Dubyansky was calmer than the regiment leader. He said with a straight face: "If our troops continue to pursue,
You may be killed by German artillery fire, so you immediately send a signal to the troops and ask them to withdraw to their defenses."
This chapter has been completed!