Originally, I thought that the attack on the city of Zedra was a victory that was within reach. However, after the battle started, the situation changed unexpectedly. The infantry attacking the city was intercepted by German artillery fire; and the tank army that covered the infantry's attack was deployed too far from the city, and during the advance, they were bombarded by enemy planes.
The attack lasted for two days, and more than half of Orlov's infantry and tank troops cooperated in combat had suffered casualties. Not to mention capturing the city, even the German army's peripheral positions had not been cleared. It turned out that it was a battle to pick fruits, but it turned into a hot potato. Faced with this situation, the Army Command held another military meeting to discuss how to seize the city.
At the beginning of the meeting, Rokosovsky asked Kazakov directly: "Comrade Artillery Commander, when our troops rushed to the city, they would be intercepted by German artillery fire. Do you have a way to counter them?"
"Comrade Commander, this is very difficult." Kazakov said with some embarrassment: "The superiors have given us very little supplements and come very slowly. We don't have enough shells to counter the German artillery positions."
"Where is the Minister of Logistics?" Lobachev immediately interrupted and asked, "What did they do? Why didn't they send shells to the front line in time? Don't you know that we are carrying out an attack?"
"Comrade Military Commissioner, you misunderstood. This has nothing to do with the logistics department." Seeing that Lobachev was about to take his anger on the group army's logistics minister, Malining quickly interrupted and explained: "Yesterday, the troops commanded by Marshal Timuxingo launched an offensive campaign against the German army in the direction of Kharkov. For a long time in the future, the supply focus of the base camp will be there. Even if we can get supplies, the number will be very limited, so we can only rely on ourselves."
"The Chief of Staff is right." After Malining finished his words, Rokosovsky immediately continued: "The Kharkov battle is the top priority in the near future, so not only weapons and ammunition, but also soldiers, materials and a large number of air forces have been transferred to this direction by the base camp. We must be prepared to make careful calculations and use the resources in our hands reasonably to complete this offensive mission."
"But Orlov's infantry army has suffered heavy casualties after two days of attack. And there are not many shells left." Kazakov and Rokosovsky immediately reminded him: "Additional resumption is needed before the attack can be launched again."
"I have just said that the base camp's attention is now focused on the direction of Kharkov. Before the end of this offensive battle commanded by Marshal Temuxingo, we basically cannot get any supplements. Everything can only be found by you."
"But, what can I think of, Comrade Commander?" Kazakov said in despair: "If there is a problem with the artillery, my artillery can repair it himself. But if the shells are gone, I really have no choice."
Seeing that his old friend was so worried, Rokosovsky took out a cigarette from the cigarette box and handed it over to him, saying to him: "General Kazakov, you came to work with me last year in the 16th Army."
Kazakov took the cigarette from Rokosovsky's hand, held it in his mouth, nodded, and agreed in confusion: "Yes, I was sent to the 16th Army with you last year."
"Since you came with me," Rokosovsky continued after lighting a cigarette for the other party: "then you should remember that when many commanders and fighters rushed out of the enemy's encirclement, they were all bare-handed. How did their weapons and ammunition solve the problem?"
Rokosovsky's words reminded Kazakov. He widened his eyes and said, "Comrade Commander, do you mean that in the nearby forest, there may be a hidden ammunition depot of our army?"
"This possibility is not ruled out." Rokosovsky nodded and said, "But whether you can find the ammunition depot depends entirely on your luck. After all, you can't find the person you handled at that time now."
Hearing Rokosovsky say this, Kazakov can no longer sit still. He put out the cigarette he had just sucked two puffs, stood up and said to Rokosovsky: "Comrade Commander, are you allowed to leave? I want to send someone to the forest to find the ammunition depot now."
"Wait a minute, General Kazakov, don't worry." Rokosovsky did not agree to Kazakov's request, but signaled him to sit down first: "Let's negotiate the attack on Zedra first."
"How else do you want to talk?" Kazakov asked in confusion: "If the artillery does not receive enough ammunition to supplement it, it will not be possible to provide the infantry army with the necessary artillery preparations when they attack."
"Comrades," Rokosovsky said instead of answering his words, but facing several other leaders of the army: "Orlov's infantry army attacked Jizdra for two days, but unfortunately, they did not make any progress, but suffered heavy casualties. Therefore, I suggest that the siege troops be adjusted immediately and the 31st Guards Division will complete this glorious mission."
"What, the 31st Guards Division will complete this task?" Rokosovsky's words shocked Lobachev. He asked in a panic: "One of our army can't take Jizdra. Can his division do it?"
Hearing that Rokosovsky planned to let the 31st Guard Division take over the task of attacking Jizdra, Malining suddenly lit up and hurriedly continued: "I agree with the commander's opinion. The 31st Guard Division attacking Jizdra may be the best choice at present."
Kazakov's statement about Malining was not clear. After all, the infantry army was the main offensive mission that was originally proposed by him. Orel, who chose to abstain from the last time, simply echoed: "I agree with the opinion of the commander and the chief of staff, and the 31st Guards Division will replace Orelov's infantry army."
Although Rokosovsky, Malinin and Orel all proposed that the 31st Guard Division be responsible for the attack on Jizdra, military commissioner Lobachev still insisted on his opinion: "I am very satisfied with the recent performance of the 31st Guard Division. However, the acting division commander Major Sokov was just a battalion commander after all, and I felt uneasy to ask him to be responsible for such an attack."
Regarding Lobachev's doubts, Orel defended: "Military Commissioner, although Major Sokov was just a battalion commander before, judging from the recent series of outstanding performances of the division, his ability is commensurate with his position. If their division attacks Zedra, the chance of liberating the city will be greatly improved."
Just as the Army Command was discussing whether the 31st Guard Division should replace the infantry army to complete the task of attacking the city of Jizdra, Sokov was also convening three regiment commanders at the command of the 31st Guard Division. Lieutenant Colonel Ajik, the newly transferred commander of the 1139th Regiment, said angrily at the beginning of the meeting: "Comrade Commander, tell me, what do the superiors consider? The vanguard of our division is only five kilometers away from Jizdra City, but the task of attacking the city was handed over to General Orlov's infantry army. You must know that although their vanguard troops are not far from the city, the main force is still twenty or thirty kilometers away. When they arrive at the starting position of the attack, the enemy has used this time to strengthen the city's defense."
"One infantry army plus one tank army." After Bindasov finished speaking, he snorted coldly and continued: "I launched two consecutive attacks on Jizdra, but they were not successful. I don't know how they commanded it."
Pavel was much more cautious. After Bindasov and Ajik finished speaking, he secretly glanced at Sokov. Seeing that the expression on his face had not changed, he said carefully: "Comrade Commander, according to the reconnaissance, except for a few of the enemies on our front, the rest have retreated to Jizdra. In this way, it will be even more difficult for General Orlov to seize Jizdra."
When the three regiment commanders spoke, Sokov remained silent. After the three men finished speaking, he spoke: "Comrade Commander, I called you here today to discuss the reasons for the failure of the Orlov army's offensive. What we need to consider is: Is the offensive method they adopted right? What should we do if our division was allowed to take on the offensive mission against Jizdra? The defeat of the Orlov army has proved that a simple strong attack is undesirable. In the face of this situation, what kind of offensive tactics should we use?"
Sokov's series of questions made the three leaders speechless. After waiting for a while, he pointed at Bindasov with his hand: "Comrade Colonel, your regiment is closest to Zedra. If the superiors order your regiment to seize the city, what do you plan to do?"
Bindasov raised his hand and scratched the back of his head, saying awkwardly: "Comrade Commander, I think the density of artillery attacks should be increased and the enemy's fortifications should be destroyed. In this way, when the troops launch a charge, they can easily seize the enemy's position."
"Comrade Colonel, don't you know that the artillery troops of the group army are now in a state of insufficient ammunition?" Sokov looked at Bindasov and said with a hint of laughter: "Even if our artillery fire destroyed the German peripheral positions, when our troops enter the city and fight streets with the enemy, what are you going to fight?"
"Before the attack, I will ask the political workers to go to the companies to do propaganda and agitation, and call on the commanders and fighters to make achievements in the battle." Bindasov said hesitantly: "As long as the morale of the troops is improved, I believe that the commanders and fighters will be very brave in battle, and even when facing the enemy's gun, they will rush up bravely..."
"Comrade Colonel, it's not enough to just rely on fierce attacks and rush." ​​Sokov raised his hand to interrupt the words behind him, pointed his finger at his temple, and said, "Warning is not only about courage, but also about brains. As a commander, you must know how to use tactics reasonably. Whoever uses the tactics correctly on the battlefield can become the final winner."
Potukin, who had not finished speaking for a long time, spoke as soon as Sokov finished speaking, and said, "Comrade Commander, I believe you are very familiar with some of the division commanders' past battle examples. Whether it is to defend the Istria Reservoir or liberate the town of Marklaki, the troops commanded by the division commander at that time were able to win the victory by using various tactics reasonably on the battlefield, so as to achieve the greatest victory with the minimum casualties."
"Comrade Commander," Pavel asked carefully: "If the superiors hand over the task of attacking Jizdra City to our division, how do you plan to complete this task?"
Although Sokov just said it well, in his heart, he also hoped that the longer the artillery preparation time before the attack, the better, so that more German fortifications could be destroyed to reduce the resistance of the troops during the attack. But now it seems that his idea is obviously impossible to achieve, so reasonable tactics must be used to attack. But what tactics should be used? He has no idea at all.
While he was silent, the phone rings on the table. Potukin picked up the earpiece and listened for a while, then handed it to Sokov and said to him: "Comrade Commander, it's the phone from the headquarters."
Sokov quickly took the microphone and put it in his ear and said, "I am Major Sokov."
"Major Sokov." Malining's voice came from the receiver: "You come to the Army Command immediately, Comrade Commander has important tasks to assign to you."
"I understand, Comrade Chief of Staff. I'll go there right away!" Sokov put down the phone, looked around the subordinates standing by the table, and said to them: "The Chief of Staff asked me to go to the Army Command immediately, which is probably related to the capture of the city of Zedra. Don't rush back to their respective regiments for the time being, just stay here to discuss what tactics to use to attack the city." After that, Sokov walked to the wall, took off a steel helmet hanging on it, put it on his head, and then walked out of the division command with great strides.
When Sokov walked into the army headquarters, he saw the army leader sitting at the table and was shocked: Why are people so complete? Could it be that they were holding an important military meeting before I came.
Seeing Sokov come in, Malining immediately stood up and said with a smile: "Major Sokov, you are coming very quickly." Then he pointed to the empty seat next to him and said, "You sit down first!"
Although Malining asked him to sit down, Sokov raised his hand and saluted the leaders present before sitting down in the empty seat next to Malining.
Chapter completed!