"No!" Sokov said resolutely: "The bombardment cannot stop until each artillery fires a basic number of shells."
Sokov knew very well that even if he made a mistake in judgment, since the bombardment had already begun, whether he stopped the bombardment or continued the bombardment, he would be punished the same way. He might as well continue to fight and see whether he would be favored by God.
, bring yourself unexpected surprises.
Smirnov couldn't bear to see Sokov punished for this incident, so he said cautiously: "Comrade Commander, I think there should be no enemies lurking in front of Hill 239. The shelling was a bit hasty. Why not stop it now?"
Shelling, when you go to the front headquarters, the punishment you receive may be lighter."
"Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov said to Smirnov with a wry smile: "Since we have fired artillery towards the front of the high ground, whether it is a base number or only one shell, the nature is exactly the same.
If this is the case, then why not continue the bombardment according to my original plan? If luck is not too bad, maybe there will be a slight turn in this matter."
Seeing that Sokov couldn't listen to his own persuasion, Smirnov couldn't help but sigh softly. For the first time, he discovered that Sokov was so stubborn and couldn't listen to his own persuasion. Fortunately, the phone rang in time.
The ringtone resolved the awkward atmosphere in the headquarters.
"I am Smirnov, where are you?"
"Hello, Comrade Chief of Staff." The voice of Colonel Stilitz, commander of the 116th Infantry Division, came from the receiver: "I am Stilitz. I would like to ask where the artillery bombardment is taking place?"
Smirnov glanced at Sokov, and then replied: "Colonel Stilitz, we have received intelligence that there may be Germans lurking in front of Hill 239. In order to ensure the safety of the position, we ordered the 41st Guards
The artillery regiment of the division carried out artillery bombardment on the area in front of the high ground."
After figuring out where the shelling was taking place, Stilitz asked: "What was the effect?"
Regarding the question raised by Stilitz, Smirnov said euphemistically: "So far, we have not received any reliable battle reports."
Stilitz was also a smart man. After hearing what Smirnov said, he immediately realized that the shelling might have hit a lonely person. However, in order to take care of the mood of the Army Group Headquarters, he still said sincerely: "Now that something suspicious has been discovered,
Under such circumstances, it is completely necessary to carry out artillery bombardment. I think that when the Battle of Kursk broke out, our army did not rush to the area where the German troops were gathering and launched a violent bombardment, so that the Germans had to delay the attack.
Delayed by a few hours."
"Comrade Colonel," Smirnov said with some laughter and tears: "It is different now than before the battle of Kursk. At that time, our army was passive, and the Germans had the final say when the battle would start. But now, the battlefield
The situation above has undergone fundamental changes, and we have the final say on where to fight and when to attack."
While he was still saying this, another phone next to Smirnov rang again. He quickly spoke to Stilitz and hung up the phone. The new phone number was from another phone.
A division commander called and asked about the shelling in the middle of the night. Smirnov patiently explained a few words to the caller and then hung up the phone.
These two phone calls were just the beginning, and soon there was a steady stream of calls coming in. In addition to the infantry division commanders and tank brigade commanders under the group army, there were also calls from the heads of friendly forces. The contents of the calls were all the same.
, trying to figure out why the shelling was carried out in the middle of the night.
When the phone stopped ringing, Smirnov was already sweating profusely from exhaustion. He said to Sokov with a bitter look on his face: "Comrade Commander, it seems that we have caused quite a stir.
The neighboring troops were alarmed."
"Yeah, the noise is quite big." Sokov was muttering in his mind. If he didn't get any valuable information after the bombardment stopped, he would definitely become the laughing stock of everyone.
As soon as the shelling ended, Sidorin called Sokov again and reported to him: "Comrade division commander, our shelling has ended. From the observation of the position, nothing unusual was found. Do you think it is necessary?
Send someone over to take a look?"
"Forget it, Sidorin." Sokov's heart dropped when he learned that the shelling had no effect. He said into the microphone: "Let the soldiers have a good rest. It won't be too late to go down to check after dawn."
.”
"Comrade Commander," Smirnov said carefully to Sokov after he put down the phone: "There are still more than four hours until dawn. You can still seize the time to sleep a little longer."
"No, I can't sleep." Sokov was so confused at the moment that he couldn't think about sleeping. He waved his hand to Smirnov and walked alone to the map hanging on the wall, staring at the enemies and friends on it.
situation and analyze where your judgment went wrong.
The defenders of Highland 239 were originally in a state of readiness, but as the shelling ended, they found that there was no trace of the Germans in front of the position, and the spirits of the commanders and soldiers suddenly relaxed.
After the commander of the second battalion asked Du Harin for instructions, he left the fifth company on the position to hold on. The other two companies followed him into the hiding cave on the reverse slope. They continued to sleep there, preparing to wait until dawn before going to the front of the position.
Check.
After the second battalion commander evacuated with the other two companies, only one squad of soldiers from the remaining company was left on guard, and the rest returned to the shelter to continue resting.
The soldier who first discovered the mine explosion was assigned by the company commander to serve as a guard. Standing guard with him was a veteran. He squatted in the trench, lit a cigarette, and said in a complaining tone: "Look what you have done."
What? We were all sleeping well, but then you found a landmine exploding in the distance and made such a big noise that I couldn't even sleep well."
The soldier did not dare to say a word when he heard the veteran's complaint. He could be said to be the instigator of such a big commotion tonight. Not only did it disturb the dreams of the whole company, but it even alerted the artillery regiment to launch an artillery bombardment in front of the position. I don't know how many people were there at the moment.
He complained about himself behind his back. He held his gun and walked back and forth in the trench, praying in his heart that the sky would light up early so that he could join the search team and figure out what caused the mine explosion last night.
While walking back and forth in the trench, he suddenly vaguely heard movement outside the trench. He quickly stopped and listened carefully. Seeing this move, the veteran snorted and said: "What are you doing again? Do you want to
Tell me, the Germans showed up in front of our positions again?"
However, the next second, the veteran saw a man wearing a white camouflage uniform and a steel helmet appear in his field of vision. He jumped to his companion with a diving jump, and then covered his companion's mouth.
He raised a dagger and stabbed it into his chest.
The veteran who saw this scene was suddenly frightened into a cold sweat. If he didn't know that the person appearing in front of him was a German at this moment, then the bread in the military camp for so many years would have been in vain. He wanted to shout a warning, but because
The incident happened suddenly, and he was so frightened that he was shaking all over. Although he opened his mouth wide, he could not make any sound.
He picked up the rifle in his hand and was about to fire a warning shot, but he felt his mouth was covered from behind. Then he felt a pain in his chest and completely lost consciousness.
The German soldiers who were the first to enter the trench sent a signal to the outside of the trench after killing two Soviet sentries. Soon, more German soldiers and soldiers wearing white camouflage uniforms entered the trench in groups. Once they entered the trench
, they separated to the left and right, and quickly advanced along the trenches to eliminate the Soviet commanders and fighters who appeared in front of them.
Their actions were quickly discovered by Soviet sentries in other areas, who quickly shot at them. As soon as they shot down a soldier, he fell to the gunfire.
The sound of gunfire alerted the commanders and fighters who were still asleep in the shelter, and they rushed out with weapons in hand. As soon as some of them came out, they were discovered by the Germans in the trenches and knocked to the ground after a few shots. Others rushed to catch them.
The Germans had fired before and knocked the opponent down.
For a moment, there was loud gunfire in the trench.
Glushko, who was staying in the command post of the regiment at the foot of the mountain, was awakened by the sudden sound of gunfire.
He got off the camp bed, rushed to the table and dialed the phone number of the Second Battalion. As soon as he heard a voice coming from the receiver, he asked loudly: "Second Battalion Commander, what is going on on the high ground, why are the shots fired?"
"I, I don't know very well." The second battalion commander replied in a panic: "I was not on the high ground, so I don't know what happened."
At this time, a soldier with a gun ran from outside and said out of breath: "Report to comrade battalion commander that our position was suddenly attacked by the Germans. The platoon leader ordered me to come here to report to you."
Report."
"Where is your company commander?" Knowing that the soldier in front of him came down from the high ground, the second battalion commander didn't even bother to cover the microphone, so he asked angrily: "Where is he? Why didn't he call me in time?"
"The company commander and instructor have died." The soldier lowered his head and said to the second battalion commander: "Now it is our platoon commander who is commanding the living people to fight against the Germans who rushed in."
Grushiko on the other end of the phone clearly heard the conversation between the second battalion commander and the soldiers. He quickly raised his voice and said: "Second battalion commander, in the name of deputy commander, I order you to lead the troops into the high ground immediately and be sure to hold it.
Position. Do you understand?"
"Understood, comrade deputy commander." The second battalion commander did not dare to neglect and quickly replied: "I will immediately lead people to the high ground and drive the Germans out of our position."
After Glushko put down the phone, he personally went to see the regiment commander Harin who was resting in the wooden house: "Comrade regiment commander, the situation is not good. Our 239 Highlands were suddenly attacked by the enemy."
"What, the high ground was attacked by the enemy?" Duhalin had already heard the gunshots and grenade explosions from the high ground, and realized that something might have gone wrong. Now that he heard that the enemy had attacked the high ground, he was shocked.
: "How many enemies are there and how equipped are they with their firepower?"
"Because the battle broke out so suddenly, these situations are still unclear." After answering Duharin's question, Glushko took the initiative: "Comrade commander, the attack on the high ground is not a trivial matter. We need to report to the division immediately.
Ministry report.”
"Wait a minute, Comrade Chief of Staff." But Dukhalin felt that this was not the time to report, so he stopped Glushko: "I think it's better to wait until the Germans are driven back before reporting to the division headquarters.
Late."
"We can't wait any longer, Comrade Commander." Seeing Harin's hesitation, Grushiko quickly reminded him: "Even if we don't report what happened here, the division headquarters will know it soon. Wait.
After the division headquarters understands the situation, we will appear very passive if we report it to the superiors."
After hearing what Glushko said, Dukhalin immediately changed his mind: "Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff, you will report this matter to the division headquarters. I will immediately notify the other two battalion commanders and ask them to prepare support for Highland 239."
preparation."
When Sidorin heard the gunshots and explosions coming from the direction of Hill 239, he was very nervous. He didn't know what was going on there. Just when he was about to call the 126th Regiment, Glushko's call came first.
Called in.
"Lieutenant Colonel Glushko," Sidorin asked anxiously, "What happened there? Why are there gunshots and grenade explosions on Highland 239?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Glushko said solemnly: "Our 239 Hill was attacked by the Germans, and the troops holding the high ground fought fiercely with them."
"How many troops does the enemy have?"
"Not sure."
"What, unclear?!"
"Yes," Glushko explained: "The second battalion was holding the high ground. After the shelling, because no movement was found, the commander of the second battalion only left one company on the position and took the other two companies with him.
, entered the Tibetan Soldier Cave on the reverse slope to rest. He was preparing to lead people to the high ground for reinforcements. The specific situation will not be clear until the Second Battalion reaches the high ground."
"Then you should quickly find out the enemy's strength." Sidorin warned Glushko on the phone: "As soon as you have accurate information, report it to me immediately."
When Sidorin put down the phone, he saw Kurishenko coming in from the outside and quickly reported to him: "Comrade division commander, just now the deputy commander of the 126th Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Grushiko, called and said that there was a sudden attack on Highland 239.
The Germans attacked and the battle is now underway. He promised me that he would report to me as soon as he understood the situation on the position."
Not long ago, Kurishenko was still complaining about Sokov's order to fire. Now that he heard that the Germans were attacking Hill 239, he couldn't help but break into a cold sweat. He took out his handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
He murmured: "Have the Germans really begun to attack Hill 239?"
"Yes, Comrade Division Commander." Sidorin nodded, then pointed toward the outside with his hand and said, "Listen to the gunshots and explosions outside. They are all coming from the direction of Highland 239."
"But we carried out a long-term shelling on the front of Hill 239. Where did the enemy come from?"
Sidorin also couldn't understand this question and could only say vaguely: "Maybe during our artillery fire, the Germans hid in the blind spot of our artillery fire, so they were not wiped out by our artillery fire. Now our artillery fire has stopped,
The Germans took advantage of this opportunity to launch a sneak attack on our Hill 239."
After a pause, he reminded Kurishenko: "Comrade division commander, this matter is of great importance. I think we should report it to the headquarters immediately to see what instructions our superiors have."
