After the attack on the right wing failed, the two division commanders involved in the attack sat together with Bely to discuss how to attack next.
Gurdiev did not express his opinion immediately, but looked at Bely and said: "Colonel Bely, you and Colonel Sokov have a very close relationship. Please ask them how the progress is over there?"
Colonel Gorishny, like Gurdiev, both fought in Stalingrad for a period of time. Later, due to excessive losses in the troops, they were withdrawn to the east coast for replenishment. This time the replenishment of troops has just been completed.
, and was transferred back to the city to participate in the counterattack. Gorishny originally planned to perform well this time, but unexpectedly the first battle got off to a bad start.
Hearing Gurdiev's suggestion, he sneered and said: "What's wrong with you, Colonel Gurdiev? When our right-wing troops attacked, even with the cooperation of tanks, they couldn't break through the enemy's defense. Could it be that you
Do you think the performance of the left wing in the direction of Mamaev Gang is better than ours?"
Gurdiev just smiled faintly, and then asked Bely: "Colonel Bely, do you think the attack in the direction of Mamayev Heights will make progress?"
Regarding Gurdiev's question, Bely said cautiously: "It's hard to say. Although the left wing troops did not have the cooperation of tank troops when they attacked, Sokov is a man who knows how to fight, and he will definitely
Give us an unexpected surprise."
After finishing speaking, he immediately asked the communications soldier to connect the phone to the Mamayev Ridge headquarters. He wanted to talk to Sokov in person. After some twists and turns, he finally contacted Sokov and asked directly: "
Misha, how is the situation there?"
"We have occupied the enemy's first line of defense," Sokov asked curiously, not knowing the situation in the direction of the Red October Factory on the right wing: "Colonel Bely, have you broken through the enemy's defense?"
"Oh, stop talking. Our attack was repulsed by the enemy, and we also lost several tanks." After Belei finished speaking aggrievedly, he asked tentatively: "Can you see if you can mobilize a small force to join us?"
When launching a new attack, move to the right and help us capture the enemy's position."
Both Gurdiev and Gorishny heard Bely's request. They couldn't help but hold their breath, leaned their heads over, and put their ears as close to the microphone as possible in order to hear Sokov's reply clearly. After a while, Soko
The husband's voice came from the receiver: "No problem, Colonel Bely. When you launch another attack, I will send a battalion of troops to move to the right to assist you in seizing the enemy's position."
"It's so strange." Seeing Bely put down the microphone, Gorishny couldn't help but said curiously: "It's so strange how they broke through the enemy's defense without the cover of tanks."
Gurdiev grinned, and then said to Gorishny: "Colonel Gorishny, that's because you haven't fought with Colonel Sokov, so you don't know him. Even though he is young, he is a commander.
It didn’t last long, but when it comes to fighting, he really has a way of doing it, which one has to admire.”
"Really?" Gorishny couldn't help but be dubious about Gurdiev's statement.
"We were surrounded by the enemy in Orlovka some time ago. It was he who commanded us to break through the enemy's defense line in the north and rush out to join the friendly forces." In order to increase the credibility of the incident, he pointed at Bely with his hand.
Pointing, he said: "At that time, the tanks commanded by Colonel Bely covered my troops and rushed into the enemy's position, completely wiping out the defenders. However, the price we paid was minimal."
Gorishny waited for Gurdiev to finish speaking, then turned to look at Bely, and when he saw the other party nodded vigorously, he confirmed that what he heard was true. Although he still had some feelings for Sokov
He looked down on it, but his thoughts in his heart were shaken. He looked at Bely, then at Gurdiev, and asked tentatively: "Then can he help us seize the enemy's position?"
…………
After Sokov agreed to send troops to support the right-wing troops, he immediately called Papuchenko: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, are you ready for the attack?"
Papuchenko quickly replied: "We are all ready and can launch an attack at any time."
"When you attack the enemy's second line of defense, you have no artillery support, so you must find a way to establish more machine gun positions near the enemy's position to suppress the enemy's firepower and cover the charge of our soldiers." Sokov finished his order.
After seeing the opponent, he thought of Bely's request and continued: "I promise the friendly commander on the right wing to dispatch troops to reinforce them when they launch an attack on the enemy's position. Later you will see that the friendly attack has begun.
, immediately sent a battalion to move to the right to support our friendly forces."
"Comrade Division Commander," Papuchenko said hesitantly after hearing Sokov's order: "I have observed the enemies on the right wing. They have built a circular fortification. Even if we attack from the flank, we will probably have to pay a heavy price."
A lot of casualties. Don’t expect a lot of casualties, but the enemy’s position was not taken down.”
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you can't fight a war just by hitting hard and rushing." Sokov waited for the other party to finish speaking before he said slowly: "You have to use your brain more. If the tactics are used properly, the unit's strength can be greatly reduced.
casualties."
Papuchenko had not been a subordinate of Sokov for a long time, so naturally he did not understand what tactics should be used to reduce the casualties of the troops, so he cautiously asked: "Comrade division commander, what should we do to reduce the casualties of the troops?"
At the lowest level?”
Hearing Papuchenko's question, Sokov couldn't help but sigh softly, secretly thinking that if it were his old subordinates, they would have understood his intentions from his few words. And Papchinko
Ke has only been in contact with him for a short time, and he will need to communicate with him more in the future so that he can gradually adapt to the tactics he uses.
Now that Papuchenko has raised a question, Sokov naturally wants to answer him: "You take out a battalion and let half of the people wear Romanian army uniforms. When the friendly forces on the right start to attack, you order those
The soldiers wearing the enemy's military uniforms pretended to escape towards the enemy's defensive position, while the other half of the soldiers who had not changed their uniforms pretended to chase after them. In order to make the performance more realistic, during the pursuit and escape process, both sides had to
Keep firing and pretend someone is shot and falling, so you can deceive the enemy."
Sokov's words have reached this point. If Papchenko still can't understand, then Sokov plans to replace the regiment with a new leader. Fortunately, Papchenko is not too stupid.
, he quickly replied: "Understood, Comrade Division Commander. The purpose of our doing this is to give the enemy the illusion that the surviving soldiers on the position are ready to flee to their position. In this way, our soldiers
When approaching the enemy's position, you will be attacked by any attack."
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you are right." Seeing that Papuchenko understood his intention, Sokov smiled and nodded, and said with satisfaction: "If you use this tactic to attack the enemy's position, you can
Keep your casualties to a minimum. Also, be careful not to cause accidental injuries."
"Comrade division commander, please rest assured. I will remind the soldiers to pay attention and try to avoid accidental injuries." After Papuchenko said this, he hesitated for a moment and then asked: "I want to use this tactic to attack.
I wonder if it can be used as the enemy’s second line of defense?”
"No, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Hearing what Papuchenko said, Sokov immediately denied it: "When the friendly forces on the right launched an attack, the enemy's attention was attracted, and they saw a force appearing on the flank.
Your own troops will think they are survivors on the position occupied by us. And the enemy in front of you is in a state of high tension at this moment. Even if you see one of your own troops escaping from our position, in order to prevent
If our troops rush in after them, they will definitely shoot without explanation."
Ivanov, standing next to Sokov, hardly spoke, but quietly observed how Sokov commanded the troops. To be honest, he demoted himself to his superiors, but let a young man
The officer who came to replace him was dissatisfied. But since he saw the two regiments taking over the enemy's position today, he immediately realized the shortcomings between himself and Sokov. If he were to command this attack,
, even if the enemy's position is barely captured, the casualties of the troops will probably increase exponentially.
When Sokov issued orders to commanders at all levels, he was still a little worried that Ivanov would come out to rebel. However, as a series of orders were issued, Ivanov not only did not rebel against him, but also showed great cooperation. This
This made Sokov feel very satisfied.
Half an hour later, Bely called Sokov again: "Misha, in five minutes we will launch a new attack on the enemy. How about it, are your troops ready?"
"Ready, Colonel Bely." Sokov replied readily: "As soon as your attack starts, my troops will attack the enemy from the flank."
"That's great, I'll let the troops start attacking now." Bely said, and was about to hang up the phone, but heard Sokov shouting into the phone: "Colonel Bely, please wait a moment, I
I haven’t finished speaking yet.”
Bely knew that Sokov must have something important to say, so he quickly put the receiver close to his ear and asked: "Misha, do you have anything else to add?"
"Colonel Bely," Sokov said cautiously: "According to the information I have, our army's progress in the direction of Orlovka is not going smoothly. The German army may move south at any time. You must take precautions as soon as possible.
So as not to be caught off guard."
Sokov's words shocked Bely into a cold sweat. If Sokov hadn't reminded him, he would have forgotten that all the German troops on the front were mobilized to move north, and the only ones left on the front were the Romanian troops of the slave country. He put down the phone.
Afterwards, he said to Gurdiev and Gorishny: "Comrade division commanders, Sokov just reminded us that the enemy in the north may move south at any time, and we must take preventive measures as soon as possible."
Gurdiev and Gorishny looked at each other, and both of them saw shock in each other's eyes. Gurdiev said to Gorishny: "Colonel Gorishny, I think Soko
My husband's analysis makes sense. The German troops heading north may move south again at any time, so we must take preventive measures as soon as possible."
"How many troops do you plan to deploy to the north for defense?" Gorishny asked cautiously.
"A regiment." Gurdiev stretched out a finger and said: "What I'm talking about is that we each allocate a regiment to defend in the north. You know, this area is undefendable. If there are fewer troops deployed,
, can’t stop the enemy at all.”
"Colonel Gurdiev," Gorishny expressed opposition to Gurdiev's proposal: "If we allocate a regiment of troops each to defend the enemy who may or may not go south,
Then our frontal offensive power will be weakened. In my opinion, it is enough to allocate one battalion to each battalion for defense. Anyway, they are not too far apart. Once the situation is unavoidable, the troops responsible for the offensive mission can turn around in time.
Support them."
"Colonel Gorishny," Gurdiev did not argue with Gorishny's idea, but said rationally: "For the safety of our flanks, I decided to dedicate a regiment to
Regarding the defense of the north, as for how many troops you plan to send, that is your business and I have no right to interfere."
Although Gorishny heard that there was anger in Gurdiev's voice when he said these words, he considered that it was not enough to attack the enemy's front with only two regiments of troops.
Therefore, he still insisted on his opinion and only planned to send one battalion to strengthen the defense in the north.
After the right-wing troops launched a new attack, more than a hundred soldiers wearing Romanian military uniforms suddenly appeared in the left-wing position occupied by the Soviet army, and fled towards the right-wing Romanian army's position in a chaotic manner. Behind them, two
More than a hundred Soviet soldiers followed closely.
The Romanian soldiers who were escaping in front kept firing at random while running away. The Soviet soldiers who were chasing behind them saw the Romanian soldiers in front of them firing and did not dodge. Instead, they fired while marching. In the dense
Amidst the gunfire, people on both sides continued to fall.
The soldiers on the Romanian position were shooting at the Soviet commanders and soldiers rushing from the direction of the Red October Factory. Suddenly they saw a group of comrades escaping from the lost position on their right flank, followed by more than 200 Russians.
Chasing from behind. A Romanian officer quickly ran to the right side of the position, leaned half out of the trench, waved desperately to the soldiers, and shouted loudly: "Hurry, come to me quickly!"
The Romanian soldiers who were shooting while fleeing, after hearing the officers' shouts, stopped shooting at the Soviet soldiers who were chasing behind them. Instead, they held their weapons and bent down and ran towards the Romanian position.
This chapter has been completed!