The 1st Armored Division that came to relieve the siege, in order to break through the Soviet defenses as soon as possible, launched a fierce artillery bombardment on the position of the 122nd Guards Regiment before the attack began.
As soon as the shelling began, the position of the 122nd Guards Regiment was completely covered by German artillery fire. Artillery shells poured down on the position like raindrops. If anyone could see through the smoke and fire, he would be able to see the fire on the ground.
The number of craters is increasing rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The Germans used all heavy artillery, and every impact point was blown out of a deep crater. If there was anyone near the crater, it would have been wiped out long ago, and even the stumps and broken arms could not be found. Fortunately, when the shelling started, the defenders took cover.
We entered the shell-proof hole that had just been dug two days ago, so the casualties were so few that they were almost negligible.
Papuchenko, who had participated in the Battle of Stalingrad with Sokov, even built the regiment command post five or six meters underground. When he stayed inside, the rumble of the cannon overhead was inaudible.
Chief of Staff Major Sukhalev looked up and said to Papuchenko with a smile: "Comrade Commander, the Germans may never have dreamed that we would place the command post in such a location unless they use orbit
Cannon, otherwise it will not pose a threat to us at all."
After hearing this, Papuchenko said with a smile: "When our division stood guard at Mamayev Heights, we relied on complete underground fortifications to deal with the German shelling and bombing, thus greatly reducing the casualties of the troops. Otherwise, we would have lost our lives.
With our troops of less than 10,000 people, how can we hold on to Mamayev Heights for three or four months?"
The bombardment ended soon. Sukhalev received a call from a battalion. After learning that the German army in October Town had dispatched twenty tanks and a battalion of infantry, he initially didn't take it seriously, but after hearing what happened next
Report, he was immediately shocked. He quickly reported to Papuchenko: "Comrade regiment commander, the first battalion reported that the German tanks stopped eight hundred meters away from our position and used artillery fire to cover the infantry charge."
"What a cunning enemy," Papuchenko said through gritted teeth after hearing the report: "Their tanks are parked so far away, and even if our anti-tank guns hit them, they cannot penetrate their frontal armor. On the contrary.
, once our anti-tank position is exposed, it will be directly destroyed by tank fire."
He grabbed the phone and muttered: "This situation is very important and needs to be reported to the division commander immediately."
Kurishenko, who received his call, told him in a regretful tone after learning about the situation on the battlefield that since the division artillery regiments were equipped with 75 or 76.2 mm artillery, it was impossible to penetrate German tanks at long distances.
He had no armor, so he couldn't provide him with artillery support. He just ordered him to hold on and find a way to destroy the German infantry.
After Papuchenko put down the phone, he said to Victor and Sukhalev: "The deputy regiment commander, chief of staff, and division commander said that the artillery caliber of the division's artillery regiment was too small and could not penetrate the armor of the German tanks.
Therefore, we are ordered to destroy the enemies who are close to the position if we cannot hold on."
As the deputy commander of the regiment, Victor had many things to consider. He thought that instead of staying in the position and passively resisting the German attacks one after another, it would be better to find a way to inflict pain on the enemy so that they would not dare to attack again.
After launching the attack, he said tentatively: "Comrade leader, I have a bold idea. I wonder if you are willing to listen to it."
Papuchenko is now thinking about how to hold the position. Since the deputy commander has an idea, he naturally wants to hear it before deciding whether it is worth adopting: "Tell me, comrade deputy commander, tell me what you think."
"We can directly ask the group army headquarters for help." Victor said: "Although the division artillery regiment does not have heavy artillery, the artillery of the group army does. If we can get their support, the defensive battle will be much easier.
"
"However, doing this is tantamount to overstepping the rank." Papuchenko said, "If the division commander finds out, it might not be good."
"Comrade Commander, we are here to find a way to hold the position. As long as we can defeat the enemy, even if the division commander knows about it, he will not say anything." Seeing Papuchenko's worries, Victor specifically emphasized to him:
"In any case, you are the commander's old subordinate. Based on my understanding of him, as long as you make a request to him, he will definitely agree."
When Sokov received the call from Papuchenko, he was quite surprised. You know, although the other party was his old subordinate, it was obviously against the rules to make such an overstepping call. But since the other party could risk the pain
The risk of punishment, calling himself, shows that he has something important on his mind.
"Colonel Papuchenko, call me. What's the matter?"
After Papuchenko reported his situation, Sokov nodded and said: "Colonel Papuchenko, General Kurishenko has already told me the situation you mentioned. I think that in your division
When artillery fire cannot destroy the German tanks, holding on and choosing the opportunity to destroy the enemy's infantry is the best defense plan."
"Comrade Commander," Papuchenko said: "Didn't you always teach us not to use passive defense in battle, as that would put you in a position of being passively beaten. I want to use active defense to attack a large number of people."
It consumes the enemy's vitality, but it needs your help."
"Tell me, Colonel Papuchenko." Papuchenko's words aroused Sokov's curiosity: "How can I help?"
"Although the artillery of the divisional artillery regiment cannot destroy the German tanks, the artillery troops of the group army are equipped with heavy artillery." Papuchenko said carefully: "If they fire, there is a chance that they can destroy the German tanks and quickly
to crush the German attack."
"Okay, Comrade Colonel." Sokov carefully tasted what Papchenko said and felt that it still made sense. He had always focused his defense on Highland 239 and did not pay enough attention to the defense in the southwest. You must know that the group army
The deployment of artillery positions was originally aimed at the southwest, and it was very easy to provide artillery support to them. Wanting to understand this, he said into the microphone: "I will ask the group army artillery to provide you with artillery support as soon as possible, but
You must provide accurate shooting parameters for the artillery to prevent artillery shells from falling on your own heads."
Ten minutes later, the artillery of the group army launched an artillery bombardment at the German troops attacking the 122nd Regiment's position. The dense artillery shells fell on the German ranks and exploded. The soldiers near the explosion point were wiped out on the spot. There were also many soldiers who were lucky enough to escape the explosion point.
Their heads were cut off by shrapnel flying in all directions, or their chests were pierced.
The originally orderly offensive troops suddenly became chaotic after being hit by the fierce Soviet artillery fire. Many soldiers were stunned by the explosion and did not know where to hide. Instead, they scurried around like headless flies.
Until they were blown down by new artillery shells. The situation of the tanks parked in the distance and shooting was not much better. Unlucky tanks were constantly destroyed by the roaring artillery shells, or overturned by the air waves. The Soviet artillery shells
, and even directly destroyed the ammunition truck, triggering a chain of explosions.
When the German 1st Armored Division's rescue force was shelled by Sokov's department, Konev called the General Staff to report the German army's attempt to break out.
After Antonov learned about the situation in the Cherkasy area, he called Vasilevsky, who had just returned from foreplay, and went to Stalin's office together to report the latest situation on the battlefield to the Supreme Commander himself.
Seeing the former and current chiefs of general staff coming to his office, Stalin lit his cigarette butt and asked casually: "What do you want?"
After the two looked at each other, Antonov stepped forward and said respectfully: "Comrade Stalin, the German troops in Cherkasy have begun to break through."
"Oh, the Germans have begun to break through." Stalin took the newly lit cigarette butt and came to the map on the wall. He looked up at the map of the enemy's situation and asked casually: "They should try from the direction of Vatutin."
Breakout?"
"No, Comrade Stalin." But Antonov shook his head and said: "The Germans failed to successfully break through from the 1st Ukrainian Front Army's defense area, so they chose the new breakout direction in the south, trying to open up from there.
Passage, rush to join forces with the defenders of October Town."
"It's not easy for them to achieve this goal." Stalin put the cigarette butt in his mouth and said contemptuously: "They must first capture the high ground of Komarovka before they can continue to advance toward the southwest. I believe that with
With the combat effectiveness of our troops, there should be no problem in keeping them in this area for two to three days."
Hearing what Stalin said, the muscles on Antonov's face twitched violently several times. He hurriedly cast a look for help at Vasilevsky and motioned for him to explain to him.
Seeing Antonov's look, Vasilevsky nodded understandingly, then stepped forward and said: "Comrade Stalin, let me introduce you to the situation in the Komarovka area."
Seeing Vasilevsky actively requesting to speak, Stalin's eyes flashed with surprise, but he still agreed to the other party's request: "Please speak, Comrade Vasilevsky."
"Comrade Stalin, Komarovka has been lost." Vasilevsky came to the wall, picked up the explanation stick leaning against the wall, pointed at the map and said: "The enemy's Viking Division and the 72nd Infantry Division have crossed
They arrived at Komarovka and rushed directly to Hill 239. Here, they engaged in a firefight with the 53rd Army commanded by Sokov."
When he learned that the German troops who broke through Komarovka were fighting with the 53rd Army commanded by Sokov on Hill 239, Stalin put down the boulder in his heart and even showed a bit of a smile on his face: "I think the Germans are in Xiaomi
Sha here must not have taken any advantage."
"You are right, Comrade Stalin." Vasilevsky agreed: "The German army originally wanted to take advantage of the night to launch a surprise attack on Highland 239. However, a soldier unfortunately stepped on a road while approaching the high ground.
A mine was exposed, thus exposing the target. Since the exploding mine was far away from the position, almost everyone believed that it was not a person who detonated the mine, but a small animal such as a rabbit or a fox.
But Sokov insisted on his point of view and ordered the artillery of the group army to bombard the area where the mine exploded. When the bombardment was over, he found that there were no traces of Germans in that area. He judged that the enemy might be lurking five or six hundred meters away from the position.
Then he ordered the artillery to change the direction of the bombardment and bombard the possible lurking areas again.
But nothing was found in this shelling. General Konev thought Sokov was making a fuss, and while ordering the other party to stop the shelling, he asked him to go to the front headquarters after dawn for a review."
Stalin heard this and couldn't help but interrupt and asked: "Did Xiao Misha really judge that there was something wrong?"
"How is this possible, Comrade Stalin." Vasilevsky said with a smile: "We later learned that the Walloon assault brigade was performing the lurking mission. When they were under shelling, they remained motionless to avoid being exposed.
Target. However, our shelling caused huge casualties to them. Even the brigade commander, Lieutenant Colonel Lipt, was killed.
It's a pity that we didn't know the effect of the shelling at all at the time. Even Sokov, who believed in his own judgment, saw that the shelling had no effect, and he couldn't help but doubt his own analysis. Fortunately, the subsequent raid launched by the German army proved to everyone that Sokov
My husband's judgment is completely correct.
I have just said that the Walloon Assault Brigade, which performs latent missions, suffered heavy casualties in the artillery attack. Therefore, the mission of raiding our positions can only be completed by the 105th Grenadier Regiment of the 72nd Infantry Division. The enemy's assault
We discovered it in time and took corresponding measures. Although the enemy once occupied Highland 239, after a fierce battle, the enemies occupying Highland 239 were completely wiped out."
When Vasilevsky spoke, Stalin remained silent, and the flickering light in the pipe illuminated his face. When the other party finished speaking, he removed the pipe from his mouth, slowly blew out a puff of smoke, and directed it at
The other party asked: "Comrade Vasilevsky, can you tell me now how Komarovka was lost?"
"Sneak attack is still a sneak attack." Vasilevsky said with a serious expression: "The German army used sneak attack tactics. They first sent out capable scouts to kill our sentries, and then controlled all communication equipment. Then they launched a large force
The sneak attack captured the Komarovka Highlands and several nearby villages in just a few minutes. Due to the good concealment of the Germans' actions, when the battle on Highland 239 began, Komarovka was defended nearby.
None of the troops in the area knew that the high ground had been lost."
"Which unit is responsible for the defense of the Komarovka area?" Stalin asked angrily after hearing this: "All their commanders should be sent to a military court."
Before Vasilevsky could speak, he turned around and told Antonov: "Comrade Antonov, we finally surrounded tens of thousands of enemies in Cherkasy, but we must not let them escape.
You immediately call Vatutin and Konev and order them to prevent any bandit from the Faxi Temple from escaping the encirclement."
"Okay, Comrade Stalin." Antonov replied respectfully: "I will convey your order to the two front commanders." After saying this, he remembered that he should defend Komarovka.
The troop commander said a few nice words and then said cautiously: "Also, I think the 5th Guards Airborne Division, which was responsible for defending that area, did have a certain responsibility for the fall of Komarovka, but it is not necessary.
Send the division commander to a military court."
"When a large corps fights, military discipline must be strict, otherwise how can we win the war." After Stalin finished saying this, seeing Antonov's embarrassed expression, he slowed down and said, "It's okay not to go to a military court.
But the division commander should be replaced."
"No problem." Seeing that Stalin no longer insisted on sending the airborne division commander to a military court, Antonov couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly said: "I will arrange this."
