After the German artillery bombardment of the factory area stopped, the infantry, under the cover of tanks, launched an attack towards the Soviet positions where smoke was still billowing. Among the troops attacking the Red October Tractor Factory area, there was a tank battalion and
Two infantry battalions.
Guarding the Red October Tractor Factory is Guryev's 39th Guards Division, which consists of the 112th, 117th, and 120th Guards Infantry Regiments and the 87th Guards Artillery Regiment, with a total of more than 10,000 people.
The First Guards Army, which was affiliated with Moskalenko, was placed under the command of Chuikov from the base camp because the defense of the factory area needed to be strengthened.
The German commander was very cunning. While sending people to perform a frontal feint attack, he also sent troops to bypass the family area heavily guarded by the Soviet army and detour to the side of the factory where the defense was weak. Since the Soviet army placed the defense center on the family members outside the factory,
Area and the direction of the main entrance, no one noticed that about a company of German troops, under the cover of three tanks, rushed towards the wall of the factory area.
When the German tanks at full power crashed the wall and broke into the factory area, they were discovered by more than a dozen workers who were carrying supplies nearby. Seeing the sudden appearance of the German tanks, some workers stood in a daze and stared stupidly.
The tanks were getting closer and closer; some workers took off the rifles on their backs and shot in vain at the approaching tanks; there were also one or two clever workers who immediately jumped into the nearby traffic trench without looking back.
Returning to the ground and running in the direction of the factory building, they prepared to report the news of the enemy's intrusion into the factory area to their superiors.
The soldiers who rushed in behind the tank saw workers with weapons appearing in front of them, and they immediately opened fire without hesitation. The dense bullets instantly knocked down all the workers blocking the tank and eliminated all those who appeared in their sight.
After removing the workers inside, the Germans did not continue to rush into the factory area, but quickly occupied the position beside the wall to prevent possible Soviet attacks and prepared to hold on until the large forces arrived.
Factory director Peter was shocked when he learned that the German troops had rushed in from the wall on the north side of the factory. He quickly picked up the phone, dialed a number, and said loudly into the phone: "Hello, I'm Peter, the factory director. Call me now."
Take over the annihilation battalion!"
The call was quickly connected. The factory director announced his name and said to the commander of the annihilation battalion: "Major Borschak, the Germans used tanks to collapse the wall on the north side of the factory. About a company of German troops came from the factory.
People are pouring in from the gap. I now order you to lead your men and rush over immediately to eliminate the enemies who rush in from the gap in the wall."
"Understood, Comrade Factory Director. I will lead people over immediately." According to the plan, the militia annihilation battalion led by Bolshak was preparing to support the defenders in front of the factory. At this moment, they learned that the German army actually crashed from the north of the factory.
After breaking through the wall and breaking in, they decided to temporarily change the direction of action and drive the enemy out of the factory area first, and then go to reinforce the Guards Division.
According to Bolshak's idea, there were more than 400 people in his annihilation battalion, so it shouldn't be much of a problem to eliminate a company of German troops. Who would have thought that after they launched the attack, the militiamen who charged in a dense formation would
The German tank fire and machine gun fire caused heavy casualties in an instant.
It seemed that his troops were easily repelled by the German army. Borschak could not help but feel angry. He waved his pistol and tried to stop the soldiers who were escaping from the front. In the end, he could not stop the panicked soldiers at all.
, ran backwards like an ebbing tide.
Bolshak withdrew his temporary command post, called the factory director Peter, and said with a sad face: "Comrade factory director, the enemy's defense is too tight. Our first attack has been repulsed."
Such a result seemed to have been expected by Peter. He waited for Bolshak to finish speaking, and then continued into the microphone: "Major Bolshak, the attack must be continuous, and the attack must be continuous."
Drive the enemy out. If the enemy is allowed to gain a foothold in the factory area, they will use that place as the starting point for their attack. At that time, the Guards Division standing firm in the family area and in front of the factory will be faced with being attacked from both sides."
"Understood, Comrade Factory Director." Bolshak replied with a grimace: "I will organize another attack as soon as possible." After putting down the phone, he called a company commander and told the other party, "Captain, immediately
Organize the soldiers of your company and we will prepare to attack again."
"Comrade Major," the company commander heard Bolshak's order. His legs were weak with fear. He said repeatedly: "Many of the recruits in our company have never fought. Let them attack, not let them attack."
Are you going to die?"
"Even if you risk your life, you must rush forward for me." Bolshak glared and said to the company commander: "If we don't attack, the enemy will gain a foothold in the factory. Once their main force
Once the troops arrive, we won't be able to hold on to the factory any longer. Comrade Captain, do you understand?"
Half an hour later, the annihilation battalion launched a second attack. This time Bolshak learned the lesson from the last time and did not let the whole battalion attack at the same time. Instead, he sent only one company and used a sparse formation to rush towards the enemy.
The fortifications occupied by the enemy. In order to ensure the victory of this attack, Bolshak also deployed two heavy machine guns to provide fire support for the attacking soldiers.
These soldiers in civilian clothes or overalls, carrying rifles with bayonets in their hands, bravely rushed towards the positions occupied by the enemy. Although they behaved very bravely, they still fell in pieces in front of the enemy's intensive firepower.
Down, within a short distance of 300 meters, more than a hundred people in the entire company fell to the hail of bullets one by one before they could reach the enemy's position. Most of the soldiers died on the spot, and a few did not die immediately.
The wounded man fell to the cold soil and screamed.
Seeing that the attacking troops were completely wiped out in just a few minutes, Borschak couldn't help but feel like a knife was in his heart. However, in order to drive the enemy out of the factory as soon as possible, he gritted his teeth and ordered another company to do a good job.
However, before he could issue the attack order this time, the deputy battalion commander grabbed him and reminded him loudly: "Comrade Major, we can't fight like this anymore. The enemy's firepower is very fierce, and there are tanks.
No matter how many people are sent up, they will die in vain."
Bolshak shouted desperately at the deputy battalion commander: "No! We must capture the position on the opposite side! Don't you understand that once the enemy gains a foothold in the factory area, their large forces will continue to flow in?
When the ground rushes in, the Guards Division standing in front of the family area and the factory area will face the danger of being attacked from both sides. Therefore, even if the entire annihilation battalion is sacrificed, we must capture this place! Do you understand?"
After saying these words, Bolshak saw that the deputy battalion commander was silent and added again: "Pass my order, the second company is ready to attack. We will launch another attack in half an hour. If
If you delay the opportunity to fight, don’t blame me for enforcing battlefield discipline on the spot.”
Less than an hour after the deputy battalion commander met, more than half of the annihilation battalion had suffered casualties, and Bolshak still insisted on going his own way, preparing to fill the entire battalion. He felt that the battle could not be fought like this, so he went outside to find a phone and called
Peter called and reported the matter to him, hoping that he would come forward to stop Bolshak's impulsive behavior.
When Peter heard that it was the deputy battalion commander calling him, he thought that the annihilation battalion had driven the enemy out of the factory area, so he couldn't help asking emotionally: "Comrade deputy battalion commander, have you driven the enemy out of the factory area?"
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The deputy battalion commander did not expect that Peter would ask this question when he opened his mouth. After hesitating for a moment, he replied: "No, comrade director, we have not driven the enemy out yet."
Knowing that the enemy had not been driven out of the factory, Peter's expression became serious. He asked in a stern tone: "Since the enemy has not been driven out of the factory, then why did you call?"
"Comrade Factory Director," the deputy battalion commander said anxiously: "The enemy occupied the position beside the wall, and there were three tanks to cooperate. We launched two consecutive charges, both of which ended in failure. At present, the number of casualties in the entire battalion exceeds
Half of it."
"Comrade Deputy Battalion Commander," Peter interrupted impatiently before the other party could finish his words: "What did you want to say when you called me?"
"Please stop Major Bolshak," the deputy battalion commander said bravely in order to prevent the entire annihilation battalion from being destroyed: "According to his style of attack, if he attacks twice more at most, the annihilation battalion will be gone.
exists. Please call him immediately to stop his wrong way of playing..."
Unexpectedly, before he finished speaking, he was interrupted by Peter: "Comrade Deputy Battalion Commander, the order I gave you is to drive the enemy out of the factory area. I don't want to hear your casualty figures. I just want the factory area."
There is not a single German here, do you understand?" After saying this, he may still feel that he still had more to say, and emphasized specifically, "If you are a coward who is greedy for life and afraid of death, I can let other comrades take over your position...
”
What else Peter said later was not heard clearly by the deputy battalion commander. He had only one thought in his mind: I am not a coward, I am not a coward! He dropped the microphone in his hand and snatched it from the hands of the soldiers standing next to him.
After passing a rifle, he jumped out of the traffic trench and rushed toward the German position in the distance alone.
This behavior of the deputy battalion commander immediately alerted the commanders and fighters on standby in the traffic trench. They couldn't help but watch their deputy battalion commander, holding a rifle with a bayonet in his hand, rushing towards the enemy's position like crazy.
Looking at each other.
Bolshak also saw this abnormal behavior of the deputy battalion commander. After being stunned for a moment, he shouted at the top of his lungs: "Hey, deputy battalion commander, where are you going? This madman, where are you going?"
Go?" However, the deputy battalion commander seemed not to hear anything, and still charged forward without hesitation with his rifle in hand.
The officers and soldiers on the German position were shocked when they saw a soldier rushing over with a rifle from the opposite side. They whispered: "What's going on with this man? Is he crazy? How dare one person charge at us?"
”
When the German commander saw the soldiers rushing over, he did not give an order to fire. In his mind, there was only one person on the other side. Even if he rushed to the position, he would not pose any threat. On the contrary, he could capture a prisoner.
So he shouted to his subordinates on the left and right: "No one is allowed to shoot, catch them alive!"
The German commander's order quickly spread among the infantry, so no one fired, but just watched the Soviet soldier getting closer and closer quietly. But the German commander forgot and stood firm on the position.
In addition to the infantry under his command, there were also three tanks.
A German tank commander was a little unhappy when he saw Soviet soldiers coming from the opposite side, but the position on his side was silent. No one fired, as if no one had seen the enemy rushing over.
, thinking that if you don’t fight, then I will destroy him, so he gave the order to his gunner to fire.
The first shell landed seven or eight meters behind the deputy battalion commander and exploded, causing him no harm. Seeing that the first shell missed, the gunner immediately loaded the second shell, took aim briefly and fired.
The shell landed five or six meters in front of the deputy battalion commander and exploded. The flying shrapnel shattered his chest. He suddenly froze, then spun half a circle on the spot, and then fell softly.
On the land blackened by gunpowder smoke.
Seeing his deputy battalion commander fall under the enemy's gunfire, Bolshak's eyes suddenly turned red. He turned his head and shouted behind him: "Comrades of the second company, prepare to attack, and you must avenge the deputy battalion commander."
!"
The soldiers of the second company had already assembled. They saw that the attack launched by their comrades from the first company was blocked by the enemy's intensive firepower in just a few minutes.
Attacking creates some fear.
At this moment, seeing their deputy battalion commander rushing towards the enemy's position with a rifle alone and dying heroically, everyone's adrenaline secretion intensified, and they wanted to rush forward to avenge the sacrificed deputy battalion commander. No one cared about it.
Don't be afraid.
The second company commander bent down and ran to Bolshak's side and said to him: "Comrade Battalion Commander, the soldiers are very enthusiastic about fighting at the moment, why not launch an attack now."
Bolshak stared at the second company commander for a while, then nodded and reminded him: "Second company commander, the enemy's firepower is too strong. When you attack, you must maintain a loose formation and use various obstacles.
Approaching the enemy's position. Do you understand?"
"Understood, comrade battalion commander." The second company commander gritted his teeth and said, "Don't worry, our company will definitely be able to rush into the enemy's position, wipe them all out, and avenge the deputy battalion commander."
The second company commander ran back to the front of his company, stood up straight, raised his submachine gun high above his head, and shouted to the soldiers lying on the ground or hiding in the traffic trench: "Brothers, for the motherland, for Stalin
, follow me, move forward!" After saying that, he swung his submachine gun forward and took the lead in charging towards the enemy's position.
Seeing that the company commander had taken the lead in the charge, the soldiers of the second company also crawled from the ground or jumped out of the traffic ditch, shouted "Ula", and followed the company commander towards the enemy position in the distance.
This chapter has been completed!