The siege battles carried out on the east side of the city were not only Zhukov, but also Rokosovsky and others. Even General Orlov, who was stationed in the north of the city, sent scouts to monitor the attacks launched by the 31st Guard Division.
When the scouts passed the radio, they seized the German peripheral positions of the 31st Division of the Guards and rushed into the city and reported to Orlov, the small army command suddenly became as lively as a vegetable market.
The Chief of Staff held the telegram he had just received and said to Orlov with a wry smile: "Comrade General, it seems that this Major Sokov is not simple. His troops rushed into the city smoothly in just half an hour."
Before Orlov could speak, Colonel Mamendov, the commander of the 322nd Infantry Division, said unconvincedly: "If it weren't for the attack of our three divisions two days ago, which greatly weakened the strength of the German army, how could they have rushed into the city so smoothly? I think the commander was biased. If we were asked to fight for another two days, we would also be able to break through the German army's defense."
"Yes, Mamendov is right." As soon as Mamendov finished speaking, he immediately received support from Colonel Yurikov, the commander of the 323rd Division: "If the commander can let us continue to attack, I want to seize the honor of Jizdra City, which will still belong to us."
Colonel Semyalit, the commander of the 97th Division, was much calmer. After Mamendov finished speaking, he said slowly: "Colonel Mamendov, I think you are wrong. Our three divisions launched no less than twenty attacks in the east of the city, but they still did not capture the enemy's peripheral positions. I think even if the Army Command asked us to continue to fight, it would be very difficult to rush into the city."
"Comrade Colonel," Mamendov looked at Shemianlit with displeasure, "We are all members of the infantry army. How can you be too tall and disparage our own people?"
Just when the two had disagreements and were about to have a conflict, a communications officer walked up to Orlov and handed him a newly received telegram. After reading the contents of the telegram, Orlov couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, and quickly slapped his hands on the table, and stopped the two division commanders who were about to have a quarrel in time: "Okay, don't argue."
Orlov handed the telegram to the chief of staff sitting beside him, then stood up and said to everyone: "Aren't you unwilling to be convinced that the 31st Guard Division broke through the German peripheral positions and rushed into Jizdra? Now that the opportunity has come, the commander ordered us to immediately launch an attack from the north of the city and cooperate with the 31st Guard Division to seize the city."
"What, the command ordered us to launch an attack from the north?" Orlov's words stunned everyone. Then Mamendov took the lead in proclaiming: "That's great, this is really great. Comrade Commander, please let our division be the first echelon and be the first to attack the city."
Orlov hesitated for a moment and then turned around to agree: "Okay, Colonel Mamendov, your division paid a huge price in the battle two days ago. Now the German army in the city can no longer hold on with the fierce attack of the 31st Guard Division, so I will leave this opportunity to avenge your division. You are not fighting alone, but also a tank brigade that drove from the east of the city to cooperate with you to attack the enemies inside and outside the city."
After saying this, Orlov turned his attention to Shemialit again: "Comrade Colonel, your division has the most troops now. You should act as the second echelon. After Colonel Mamendov's troops break through the German defense, you will then enter the battle from the opened gap."
"What about us, comrade commander." Seeing that Orlov had arranged combat missions for the 322nd and 97th Divisions, but had forgotten his troops, Yurikov could not sit still: "The other troops are attacking, but are we sitting aside and doing nothing?"
"I say comrade Colonel," Orlov looked at Yuzhkov for a while, and then said: "Although the German army in the city has fallen into chaos, we still have to consider that unexpected situations may occur. In order to deal with such emergencies, your division will stay as a reserve for the entire army."
After saying these words, without waiting for Yuzakov to express his attitude, he immediately urged the two division commanders who had accepted the combat mission: "Col. Mamendov and Colonel Semyalit, you will immediately return to your respective troops and launch an attack on the city in the shortest time."
Half an hour later, Colonel Mamendov commanded the troops of the 322nd Division and launched an attack from the north of the city toward Jizdra. The tank troops that served as cover for them were Gustov Tank Brigade, which had recently covered the 31st Division of the Guestuaries who broke through the outer positions.
Perhaps because the command center in the city was taken down by Sokov's troops, the enemy who defended the outer positions in the north of the city fell into chaos, which allowed the 322nd Division to easily break through the outer positions under the cover of the Tank Brigade.
Just when Mamendov smiled and thought his troops could also make achievements, something unexpected happened. A tank rushing in the front suddenly caught fire. The tank hand drove the tank with thick smoke and drove forward for twenty or thirty meters and had to abandon the car.
The tank that followed was about to bypass the fire tank, suddenly a shell flew from the ruins next to it, and accurately hit the side armor of the tank. After a loud bang, the tank was covered by black smoke with flames. Seeing this situation, the infantry following behind immediately guessed that there must be German anti-tank guns nearby. Just as they were about to spread the search, a nearby building with wooden strips was opened savagely, and an MG34 machine gun stretched out from inside, and fired at the commanders and fighters crowded on the street from a high point.
The unexpected commanders and fighters fell down in pieces under the strafing of machine guns. The intelligent soldiers hurriedly hid on the corner of the street and raised their guns to fight back at the exposed fire points. Some soldiers saw that they had nowhere to escape, so they could only risk being burned and hide next to the burning tanks to avoid the enemy's machine gun strafing.
Fortunately, a tank following behind discovered the German machine gun fire point in time, quickly adjusted the shooting angle and fired a shot at the enemy's machine gun. The shells rushed into the room without any bias. Amid the violent explosion, the German machine gunner was lifted out of the room by air waves and fell heavily on the street. The soldiers hiding nearby rushed to him at risk, trying to kill him and avenge their sacrificed comrades. However, the soldiers who rushed forward turned him over with the barrel and found that he had already died.
As the infantry continued to advance along the street, they were constantly attacked by German troops from the buildings on both sides. Tanks were constantly hit by German anti-tank weapons, becoming piles of burning wreckage; while the infantry was either swept down by machine guns that suddenly appeared or fell under the sniper's gun.
Seeing that his troops were progressing so unsuccessfully, Mamendov couldn't help but regret that he had to take on such a dangerous task? If the Germans continued to fight like this, when their troops arrived in the city center, there would probably be only a few people left.
When Orlov saw Colonel Mamendov's 322nd successfully attacking the city, he heard the observation post report, saying that there were fierce gunfire sounds in the city, and thought that his troops were annihilated the enemy, so he took the order to call Mamendov on a phone to learn about the progress of the troops from him.
Mamendov looked at the tanks that were constantly destroyed by the German army and the soldiers who were knocked down by the grenades thrown by the enemy and knocked down by the bullets. He reported with a sad face: "Comrade Commander, my army has been stubbornly blocked by the German army. I ask you to send a second echelon to reinforce in time."
Orlov heard Mamendov's crying voice and asked in confusion: "Comrade Colonel, I saw that your division easily broke through the German peripheral positions. Why did it not go smoothly after entering the city?"
"Comrade Commander, the enemy is very cunning. They hid in buildings on both sides of the street and fired cold guns and grenades at our soldiers, which had caused us hundreds of casualties."
"Where is the Tank Brigade?" Hearing this, Orlov asked with some dissatisfaction: "Didn't they provide you with the necessary fire support?"
"They are too busy with their own care." Mamendov said in panic: "The enemy hides anti-tank guns in ruins or buildings. When the tanks of the Tank Brigade enter their range, they will fire decisively. I saw with my own eyes that there were no less than seven tanks destroyed. Comrade Commander, I beg you to send a second echelon to support as soon as possible, otherwise our division may be driven out of the city by the Germans."
When Orlov learned that the 322nd Division was so unsuccessful, he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. While he ordered the Chief of Staff to let the 97th Division of Semiyalit enter the battle, he called Rokosovsky to report.
When Rokosovsky heard the call from Orlov, he asked with a smile: "Comrade General, have you called me any good news?"
"Comrade Commander, please forgive me! I will bring you bad news." Orlov replied a little embarrassedly when he heard Rokosovsky say this: "My 322nd Division was stubbornly blocked by the German army after entering the city, and now it is difficult to move forward. The division commander of the division, Colonel Mamendov, has called me and asked me to send troops to support him."
After listening to Orlov's report, Rokosovsky's smile froze on his face. Zhukov, who was standing beside him, heard a few words and asked quickly: "Comrade Rokosovsky, what happened?"
Rokosovsky quickly covered the microphone with his hands and reported to Zhukov: "Comrade General, our troops that launched the attack from the north have encountered some minor trouble."
"Little trouble?" Zhukov looked at Rokosovsky and asked sternly: "What little trouble?"
"According to General Orlov's report, his 322nd Division was stubbornly blocked in the city after successfully breaking through the German peripheral positions." Although Orlov's report was vague, Rokosovsky's shrewdness still figured out what was going on, so he reported to Zhukov: "At present, the tank brigade and infantry have suffered considerable casualties. The commander in charge of the city has asked Orlov for support."
"Damn, what's going on?" Zhukov stared at Rokosovsky and said angrily: "Why can the 31st Guards Division successfully take down the German command headquarters, while the 322nd Division, which launched the attack from the north, progress slowly?"
"This may involve tactical issues." Although Rokosovsky was also dissatisfied with Orlov, in front of Zhukov, he had to help Orlov said: "Due to their improper use of tactics, their attacks from the north of the city were not smooth."
"Okay, you don't have to say anything." Zhukov waved his hand at Rokosovsky and said unhappily: "You immediately order Orlov to send troops to reinforce and must seize Juzdra as soon as possible." After pausing for a while, he added, "As for that colonel, I think he is at the level of a battalion commander. When the battle is over, transfer him to the 31st Guards Division to be a battalion commander."
Hearing Zhukov's words, Colonel Mamendov demoted Colonel Mamendov. The muscles on Rokosovsky's face twitched violently twice, and he quickly replied, "I understand, comrade General." He let go of his hand covering the microphone and said to the microphone: "General Orlov, immediately send a second echelon to cooperate with the 31st Guards Division in the city to take down the city as soon as possible."
After finishing the call with Orlov, Rokosovsky turned his head and asked Malining: "Chief of Staff, can you contact Major Sokov?"
"According to the information I just received, Major Sokov has entered the city of Zedra with the 1139th Regiment." Malinin heard Rokosovsky's question and quickly replied: "If you have a task to him, I can contact him through the phone."
After Rokosovsky finished speaking, he ordered without hesitation: "Get in touch with him now!"
Sokov, who was about to enter Zhizdra, suddenly heard the radio operator following him calling him: "Comrade Commander, your phone number is from the Army Command."
Sokov signaled the radio operator to stand in a hidden position, and then took the headphones and the sender from his hand. Sokov put on the headphones and said loudly to the sender: "Hey, hey, comrade Commander? I am Sokov. Do you have any instructions?"
Chapter completed!