Narva's words reminded Weisbach that he had only taken office a few hours ago and did not want to die young so soon, so he changed his mind and continued to stay in the trenches to observe the battle above.
As the commanders and soldiers lying on the hillside stood up and charged towards the top of the mountain again, the tanks at the foot of the mountain stopped their shelling in order to prevent accidental damage. However, the gun barrels were still raised high, aiming at the German positions on the top of the mountain, ready to attack once they discovered the enemy.
The attacking troops' extremely dangerous firepower points were immediately destroyed by artillery fire.
Although the German artillery deployed to the west of the high ground continued to bombard the attacking Soviet troops, due to the obstruction of the high ground, it was difficult for the artillery shells to accurately hit the target on the reverse slope. Despite the continuous roar of the artillery, it could give the Soviet army
The casualties caused are negligible.
Since the machine gun fire points on the mountaintop position had long been destroyed by the bombardment of Soviet tanks and artillery, when the Soviet commanders and soldiers charged towards the mountaintop, they still encountered stubborn resistance from the Germans, but they still succeeded after paying a certain amount of casualties.
He broke into the German positions and engaged in hand-to-hand combat and close combat with them in the trenches.
The 98K Mauser rifle used by the German army had a bayonet attached to it, which would affect the shooting accuracy. Therefore, when the Soviet commanders and soldiers rushed into the trenches, most of the rifles in the hands of the German soldiers did not have bayonets, so hand-to-hand combat became one-sided.
Seeing more and more commanders and fighters rushing into the position on the top of the mountain, Weisbach, who was watching the battle halfway up the mountain, breathed a sigh of relief. Then he called a staff officer and told the other person: "Comrade staff officer, you return to the farm immediately.
Report the news that we have captured the high ground to the commander."
Narva on the side reminded him cautiously: "Comrade Colonel, should you wait until our army has completely occupied the position on the top of the mountain before sending someone to report to Comrade Commander?"
"Our people have already rushed into the mountain fortifications." But Weisbach said confidently: "Do you think the enemy is still capable of holding their position?" After saying that, he waved his hand to the staff officer, "Comrade staff officer, do you still have the ability to hold on to their position?"
Why are you standing here and sitting here? Why don’t you go back to Fisky Collective Farm quickly and report the situation here to Comrade Commander.”
There were several three-wheeled motorcycles operating with the tank battalion parked at the foot of the mountain. The staff officer walked up to one of the motorcycles and said to the motorcyclist: "I am the combat staff officer of the 300th Division. I have important information that needs to be urgently needed."
Return to the Fisky collective farm and report to the commander, can you give me a ride?"
The motorcyclist heard what the staff officer said and said quickly: "Please get in the car, Comrade Commander, I will take you back to the farm right now."
Seeing that the other party agreed, the staff officer calmly sat down in the sidecar and waved his hand: "Let's go, comrade soldier."
The motorcyclist drove his motorcycle quickly through the German artillery blockade and headed towards the farm.
A few minutes later, the staff officer appeared in Sokov's headquarters and reported to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, I am here to report to you on the order of the division commander, Colonel Weisbach."
Since the fighting on the high ground could not be seen here, and there were no telephone lines or radios, Sokov could not understand the progress of the battle at the first time. At this moment, he saw the combat staff sent by Weisbach to report: He quickly asked
: "How's it going? Have you taken down the high ground?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." The combat staff replied in a positive tone: "Our brave commanders and soldiers have taken down the high ground."
"Great, this is really great." Sokov couldn't help but be overjoyed when he heard the news. He quickly said to the staff: "Comrade staff, you go back immediately and tell Colonel Weisbach that after occupying the high ground, immediately send out manpower to repair it.
fortifications to prevent possible German counterattacks."
Unexpectedly, just when the staff officer agreed and was about to leave, Sokov stopped him: "Wait a minute, comrade staff officer."
The staff officer stopped and looked at Sokov in confusion, wanting to hear what he was going to say.
"Comrade Staff Officer, I heard the sound of artillery fire outside has not stopped yet. It must be the German artillery fire blocking the road between the farm and the highland. People are always sent to send messages like this. Not only is the transmission speed of the information slow, but the person responsible for the message is also very slow.
Life is in danger at any time.”
"Comrade Commander, you are right." Regarding Sokov's concerns, Lunev echoed: "Now that our army has captured the high ground, a telephone line should be laid between the two places to facilitate our
Connections to the cutting edge.”
Sokov called the staff officer, originally he just wanted him to bring a radio back. But after hearing what Lunev said, he thought it made sense, so he ordered Samoilov: "Comrade Lieutenant, command the commander of the division's communications battalion."
Call him, I have a task to give him."
The commander of the communications battalion stayed next door. Samoylov called over and he came over. After he came to Sokov and raised his hand in salute, he asked: "Comrade Commander, what are your instructions?"
?”
"Comrade Major," Sokov glanced at the military rank on the opponent's epaulette, and continued: "Now that our army has captured the high ground, in order to facilitate the connection with the high ground, I need you to send people immediately between the two places.
There’s a phone line set up between them. How’s it going? Is there any problem?”
The commander of the communications battalion listened to the rumble of artillery coming from outside, and was worried that laying telephone lines under such circumstances would cause casualties to the communications soldiers. Moreover, even if the telephone lines were laid, if the enemy's artillery fire did not stop, they would still be attacked at any time.
There is a possibility of it blowing up and manpower will need to be dispatched to repair it.
Seeing the communications battalion commander standing silent, Sokov couldn't help but become a little anxious: "Comrade Major, did you not hear me?"
"heard it."
"I heard it, why didn't you answer it?"
"Comrade Commander," the communications battalion commander decided to speak out what he was worried about so that Sokov could be aware of it: "Listen to the sound of artillery outside, the enemy is using artillery fire to block the road between the farm and the highland.
If telephone lines must be laid in this area, the communication troops who laid the lines in the early stage will definitely suffer casualties. Moreover, after the lines are laid, the possibility of being blown up by German artillery fire cannot be ruled out. We will send people to check the lines at that time.
There will also be casualties..."
"That's enough, Comrade Major, don't say any more." Sokov impatiently interrupted what the communications battalion commander was saying: "I understand what you said, but have you ever thought about it, if there is no connection between the two places?
With telephone lines connected, how can we keep abreast of the latest developments?
If we still rely on people to communicate back and forth, once the person communicating is unfortunately sacrificed when passing through the artillery blockade, will the intelligence not be delivered in time, causing the fighter plane to be delayed? If this happens, who will bear the responsibility?
Is this responsibility yours or mine?"
Sokov's question made the communications battalion commander blush with embarrassment. After Sokov finished speaking, he lowered his head and said: "Yes, Comrade Commander, I will immediately send people to lay telephone lines and strive to establish two telephone lines as soon as possible."
connections between places.”
"Comrade Major." Sokov was not satisfied with his answer and continued to ask: "Tell me, how long will it take as soon as possible, two or three hours, or two or three days?"
"Comrade Commander, I think it will take at least two hours." The communications battalion commander replied with a serious expression: "The distance from the farm to the highland is several kilometers, and there is also enemy artillery blockade. The communications corps will be able to lay the lines at a certain speed.
will be affected.”
When the commander of the communications battalion had just begun to deploy manpower and lay the telephone line between the two places, Sokov received a telegram from Samyko from the headquarters. After reading it, he couldn't help but fell into deep thought.
Lunev saw Sokov holding a telegram in a daze, so he leaned over to read the contents of the telegram. He saw that it read: "The cultural relic experts from Moscow have arrived, please return to the headquarters as soon as possible."
After reading the telegram, Luniev curiously asked Sokov: "Comrade Commander, what are your plans, stay here or return to the headquarters?"
"The handover of cultural relics is certainly a big event." Sokov said thoughtfully: "But now the German Viking Division is nearby. With the strength of the 300th Division and the Tank Brigade, I am afraid it is not their opponent. I want to stay
Continue to command here."
"Comrade Commander, this is what I think about." Lunev said to Sokov: "Now that the high ground has been taken, even if the enemy wants to counterattack, they will probably wait until daytime. You might as well return to the headquarters by car as soon as possible to complete the handover.
After work, return here to continue commanding operations. In this way, both sides will not be delayed. What do you think?"
"It makes sense, it makes sense." Sokov felt that Lunev's proposal was very good. Since the high ground has been captured by the 300th Division, if the enemy wants to regain the position, he may have to wait until daytime, and he still has several hours to use it.
You can return to the headquarters first, hand over the cultural relics to the cultural relic experts from Moscow, and then return here to continue commanding the operation. It is indeed killing two birds with one stone. "Then let's set off as soon as possible."
"Comrade Lieutenant," Sokov told Samoilov who was standing aside: "Help us prepare vehicles immediately. The Military Commissar and I need to return to Dergach as soon as possible."
After hearing Sokov's instructions, Samoilov did not dare to neglect and left the headquarters in a hurry. While gathering the guard platoon, he sent someone to inform the driver and get ready for departure.
Five minutes later, Samoylov returned to the room and reported to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, the vehicles and guard platoons are ready and ready to go at any time."
On the way back to the headquarters, Sokov said to Lunev: "Comrade Military Commissar, when you return to Dergach, you can stay and continue to work with local comrades, so you don't have to go back to the Fesky Collective."
It’s a farm, I can handle everything on my own.”
Lunev had no objection to Sokov's arrangement. He nodded and said: "Comrade Commander, I listen to you. As a political cadre, commanding operations is indeed not what I am good at. I will stay here
Dergach's role will be even greater."
The two happily completed their division of labor on the road. After returning to Dergach and handing over the batch of cultural relics to the cultural relics experts from Moscow, Sokov returned to the Fisky collective farm, while Runev stayed in the city.
Here, we assist local comrades in restoring the water and electricity supply in the city and find ways to get the factory started as soon as possible.
But the plan could not keep up with the change. As soon as Sokov and Lunev's motorcade stopped at the door of the church, they saw Samyko running out of it in a hurry. Sokov thought there was something wrong with the cultural relics and asked hurriedly: "
Comrade Chief of Staff, what happened? Is there something wrong with the cultural relics?"
"No, no," Samek said, waving his hands desperately, "it's not a matter of cultural relics."
Hearing that it was not a cultural relics issue, Sokov's expression suddenly became relaxed: "If it is not a cultural relics issue, then what issue is it?"
"Comrade Commander," Samyko asked anxiously as he pulled Sokov toward the church: "Something happened at the Fesky Collective Farm."
"What happened?!" Sokov was shocked and quickly asked: "What happened?"
"Before you returned here, you sent me a telegram saying that the troops of the 300th Division had occupied the high ground and driven the enemy far away."
"Yes, I did send you such a telegram." Sokov remembered that he had indeed sent such a telegram to Samyko while waiting for Samoilov to arrange a vehicle, and asked with some surprise: "Is there something wrong?
?"
"Something happened, Comrade Commander, something big happened." Samyko said with a solemn expression: "I just received a telegram from Mikhailev. It turns out that the 300th Division did not completely occupy the hilltop position on the high ground."
"What, they didn't occupy the top position on the high ground?" Sokov was startled by this shocking news. He grabbed Samyko and nervously asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what you said is true.
?"
"Of course it's true." At this time, the three of them had arrived at the square table where they usually worked. After sitting down one after another, Samyko said to Sokov: "According to Captain Mikhailev's report, the commanders and fighters of the 300th Division
After rushing into the position on the top of the mountain, we quickly occupied most of the position. Seeing that the enemy could hardly hold on, the enemy suddenly launched an indiscriminate artillery bombardment on the position on the top of the mountain.
During the intensive shelling, not only our troops who rushed into the position suffered heavy casualties, but also the German officers and soldiers who stood firm. As soon as the shelling ended, the enemy took the opportunity to launch a counterattack and drove our troops down from the top of the mountain.
.”
The news of the failure of the attack shocked Sokov. After walking back and forth in the open space several times with his hands behind his back, he stopped and asked Samyko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, the information reported by Captain Mikhailov,
Where did it come from?"
"Comrade Commander, I have also asked the other party this question." Samyko said: "Captain Mikhailev told me that a company in his battalion is currently staying in a position halfway up the highland. Company Commander Nar
Captain Va witnessed all this with his own eyes and sent someone back to the Fisky collective farm to tell Captain Mikhail the bad news."
After figuring out the source of the information, Sokov understood that Mikhailev's report would not be wrong. The results of the 300th Division's offensive must be very different from what he knew.
Sokov thought that the telephone line between the farm and the highlands had not yet been laid, but the radio station brought by the combat staff to the highlands must have been in the hands of Weisbach, so he said to Samek: "Comrade Chief of Staff, although
The intelligence reported by Captain Mikhailev is very accurate, but for the sake of safety, we still have to verify it with Colonel Weisbach. You immediately order someone to send him a report and ask him to report to us all the combat conditions in the highlands.
"
"Understood, Comrade Commander." Samyko understood that Sokov's arrangement was the most appropriate. Regardless of the actual situation on the front line, according to procedures, he must seek confirmation from Weisbach, the current commander of the 300th Division. He nodded.
Said: "I will instruct the radio operator to send a report to the 300th Division to find out what happened."
