As Katukov expected, the German army did not advance towards the area where the defense line was being built until dark. The commanders and fighters of the tank brigade were given enough time to build a complete defensive position.
When the construction of the defensive position was completed, the second echelon of troops also rushed to the designated location.
Katukov was naturally overjoyed to see that all the commanders, fighters and equipment of the entire brigade had arrived, and he quickly redeployed the defense: the motorized infantry battalion and the 34th regiment mixed battalion were deployed side by side; each battalion strengthened a tank platoon, and the tanks
Occupy flanking positions in defensive areas; attach motorized infantry battalions
It consists of four 45mm anti-tank guns. Between the first and second echelon positions, there is a new T-34 tank ambush. The anti-tank firearms firepower density is 12 units per kilometer of front; the anti-tank firearms firepower density in the road direction
The maximum is 20 units per kilometer of frontage.
At dawn, all troops entered the designated defense zones and made corresponding battle preparations.
At nine o'clock in the morning, after receiving a call from the observation post, the Chief of Staff reported to Katukov: "Comrade Brigade Commander, I just received a report from the observation post: The German army has about one regiment of infantry, behind hundreds of tanks.
Under the guidance, we are heading towards the area where our brigade is stationed."
After listening to the chief of staff's report, Katukov lowered his head and looked at the map, and then ordered: "Chief of staff, inform the commanders on the front line that no one is allowed to fire without my order, so as not to expose the location of our defensive positions.
.”
The chief of staff seemed very puzzled by Katukov's order: "Comrade Brigade Commander, the enemy has been advancing towards our defensive position. Even if we don't fire, they will notice it. Rather than being passively beaten,
It is better to take the initiative to fire at the enemy."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Katukov waited for the Chief of Staff to finish speaking before explaining to him: "I just went to check the defensive position of our brigade. It is well camouflaged. If you don't get close, you won't be able to find it at all.
According to the enemy's common tactics, we first bombard with artillery, and then use tanks to cover the infantry charge. If we expose our position prematurely, we will incur a heavy blow from the enemy's artillery fire."
"Yes, yes, you are right." After hearing what Katukov said, the chief of staff immediately understood what he meant, nodded and said: "As long as our defensive positions are not exposed, then the enemy's artillery fire before the attack will
If prepared, the role it can play will be very limited, thereby reducing the casualties of our army."
Katukov nodded slightly, then turned to look at Sokov and asked: "Captain Sokov, do you want to stay in the headquarters and read the battle report, or go to the front line to see the actual combat situation?"
"I think we should go to the front line." Sokov knew very well that the location of the brigade headquarters was more than ten kilometers away from the front line, and it was impossible to see the battle situation clearly, so he said simply: "I will go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs first."
camp."
"Okay, Captain Sokov." Of course, Katukov had no reason to disagree with Sokov's situation, but he still asked for his opinion: "Should the radio station you brought stay here, or should you leave it here?"
Follow you to the mixed camp?"
Sokov thought that the situation on the frontier was much more dangerous than here. If there was any problem with the radio station, he would not be able to contact Potapov directly. Based on this consideration, he replied: "
It's better to stay here. When the commander issues any new instructions, you will be informed of them as soon as possible."
After leaving the brigade headquarters, Sokov took a car to the defense area of the mixed battalion of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Seeing Sokov's arrival, Captain Korovin, the commander of the mixed battalion, asked in surprise: "Captain Sokov, why did you come to me?"
"Comrade Captain," Sokov shook hands with Korowin and said with a smile, "I want to come and participate in the battle myself."
"But, it's too dangerous here." As soon as Korovin said this, he immediately realized that he had said something wrong. He raised his hand and scratched the back of his head, and said a little embarrassedly: "I'm sorry, Comrade Captain, I forgot that you have captured prisoners single-handedly.
A German armored column, such a battle scene is nothing more than child's play to you."
"Comrade Captain, according to my judgment, the enemy's first attack direction is definitely not from you." Sokov said to Korowin: "But staying on your position, you can clearly see the enemy's entire territory.
Attack process."
Korowin couldn't help but asked in surprise: "Captain Sokov, how do you know that the Germans' first attack position is not here?"
"Intuition, this is what my intuition told me." Sokov continued without waiting for Korowin to speak: "If you don't believe it, we can wait and see."
While the two were talking, the rumble of cannons was heard not far away.
"Comrade Captain," just when Korovin was about to ask where the gunfire came from, the deputy battalion commander reported to him: "It is the position of the motorized infantry battalion on our left wing, which is being shelled by the enemy."
Knowing that it was the direction of the friendly army's position and was being shelled by the Germans, Korovin immediately ran out of the command post with a telescope and went outside to find a suitable place for observation. Since Sokov went to the front line to check on the progress of the battle, naturally
Not wanting to stay in the command post any longer, he followed Korovin and ran out.
The two came to an observation position with a wide field of vision, raised their binoculars and looked towards the friendly positions.
Since the commanders and fighters of the motorized infantry battalion deployed a large number of camouflage nets when building fortifications, the German artillery did not know the specific location of their positions. Although the artillery fire was fierce, very few shells hit the trenches or fortifications.
Seeing this situation, Sokov couldn't help but nodded secretly. It seemed that Katukov not only had a good way to attack, but also had a lot of clever ideas in defense. The commanders and soldiers followed his instructions and disguised their positions well to let the enemy's artillery
Unable to confirm the specific location, we could only cover this area with artillery fire. This artillery fire method with extremely low hit rate, in addition to wasting artillery shells, was unable to cause substantial damage to the Soviet positions.
After the bombardment ended, the smoke slowly dissipated, and German tanks, armored vehicles and infantry skirmishers appeared in the distance.
"The Germans are attacking." Korovin put down the telescope in his hand, turned to Sokov and said: "Captain Sokov, do you think the comrades of the infantry battalion can block the enemy's attack?"
"Comrade Captain, you are worrying too much." Seeing that Korovin did not have much confidence in blocking the enemy's attack, Sokov comforted him and said: "I once experienced a battle, and the German army was not covered by tanks.
An infantry battalion, but the troops holding the position are a worker
The barracks only had simple light weapons and some Molotov cocktails, and no anti-tank guns. However, in the face of the German attack, although they paid a high price, they still destroyed half of the German tanks and killed hundreds of German soldiers. Successfully
The enemy's attack was repulsed."
When Sokov said this, he looked at Korowin and asked with a half-smile: "Now in the position of the motorized infantry battalion, there are not only anti-tank guns, but also several tanks. Do you think they can block the enemy's attack?"
?”
After Sokov's comparison, Korovin felt that his worries were unfounded. A poorly equipped engineer battalion could block the German attack and destroy German tanks. Then a motorized infantry battalion equipped with tanks and anti-tank guns
, there seems to be no big problem in blocking the German attack in front of us.
As Katukov expected, the German army did not advance towards the area where the defense line was being built until dark. The commanders and fighters of the tank brigade were given enough time to build a complete defensive position.
When the construction of the defensive position was completed, the second echelon of troops also rushed to the designated location.
Katukov was naturally overjoyed to see that all the commanders, fighters and equipment of the entire brigade had arrived, and he quickly redeployed the defense: the motorized infantry battalion and the 34th regiment mixed battalion were deployed side by side; each battalion strengthened a tank platoon, and the tanks
Occupy flanking positions in defensive areas; attach motorized infantry battalions
It consists of four 45mm anti-tank guns. Between the first and second echelon positions, there is a new T-34 tank ambush. The anti-tank firearms firepower density is 12 units per kilometer of front; the anti-tank firearms firepower density in the road direction
The maximum is 20 units per kilometer of frontage.
At dawn, all troops entered the designated defense zones and made corresponding battle preparations.
At nine o'clock in the morning, after receiving a call from the observation post, the Chief of Staff reported to Katukov: "Comrade Brigade Commander, I just received a report from the observation post: The German army has about one regiment of infantry, behind hundreds of tanks.
Under the guidance, we are heading towards the area where our brigade is stationed."
After listening to the chief of staff's report, Katukov lowered his head and looked at the map, and then ordered: "Chief of staff, inform the commanders on the front line that no one is allowed to fire without my order, so as not to expose the location of our defensive positions.
.”
The chief of staff seemed very puzzled by Katukov's order: "Comrade Brigade Commander, the enemy has been advancing towards our defensive position. Even if we don't fire, they will notice it. Rather than being passively beaten,
It is better to take the initiative to fire at the enemy."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Katukov waited for the Chief of Staff to finish speaking before explaining to him: "I just went to check the defensive position of our brigade. It is well camouflaged. If you don't get close, you won't be able to find it at all.
According to the enemy's common tactics, we first bombard with artillery, and then use tanks to cover the infantry charge. If we expose our position prematurely, we will incur a heavy blow from the enemy's artillery fire."
"Yes, yes, you are right." After hearing what Katukov said, the chief of staff immediately understood what he meant, nodded and said: "As long as our defensive positions are not exposed, then the enemy's artillery fire before the attack will
If prepared, the role it can play will be very limited, thereby reducing the casualties of our army."
Katukov nodded slightly, then turned to look at Sokov and asked: "Captain Sokov, do you want to stay in the headquarters and read the battle report, or go to the front line to see the actual combat situation?"
"I think we should go to the front line." Sokov knew very well that the location of the brigade headquarters was more than ten kilometers away from the front line, and it was impossible to see the battle situation clearly, so he said simply: "I will go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs first."
camp."
"Okay, Captain Sokov." Of course, Katukov had no reason to disagree with Sokov's situation, but he still asked for his opinion: "Should the radio station you brought stay here, or should you leave it here?"
Follow you to the mixed camp?"
Sokov thought that the situation on the frontier was much more dangerous than here. If there was any problem with the radio station, he would not be able to contact Potapov directly. Based on this consideration, he replied: "
It's better to stay here. When the commander issues any new instructions, you will be informed of them as soon as possible."
After leaving the brigade headquarters, Sokov took a car to the defense area of the mixed battalion of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Seeing Sokov's arrival, Captain Korovin, the commander of the mixed battalion, asked in surprise: "Captain Sokov, why did you come to me?"
"Comrade Captain," Sokov shook hands with Korowin and said with a smile, "I want to come and participate in the battle myself."
"But, it's too dangerous here." As soon as Korovin said this, he immediately realized that he had said something wrong. He raised his hand and scratched the back of his head, and said a little embarrassedly: "I'm sorry, Comrade Captain, I forgot that you have captured prisoners single-handedly.
A German armored column, such a battle scene is nothing more than child's play to you."
"Comrade Captain, according to my judgment, the enemy's first attack direction is definitely not from you." Sokov said to Korowin: "But staying on your position, you can clearly see the enemy's entire territory.
Attack process."
Korowin couldn't help but asked in surprise: "Captain Sokov, how do you know that the Germans' first attack position is not here?"
"Intuition, this is what my intuition told me." Sokov continued without waiting for Korowin to speak: "If you don't believe it, we can wait and see."
Knowing that it was the direction of the friendly army's position and was being shelled by the Germans, Korovin immediately ran out of the command post with a telescope and went outside to find a suitable place for observation. Since Sokov went to the front line to check on the progress of the battle, naturally
Not wanting to stay in the command post any longer, he followed Korovin and ran out.
The two came to an observation position with a wide field of vision, raised their binoculars and looked towards the friendly positions.
Since the commanders and fighters of the motorized infantry battalion deployed a large number of camouflage nets when building fortifications, the German artillery did not know the specific location of their positions. Although the artillery fire was fierce, very few shells hit the trenches or fortifications.
Seeing this situation, Sokov couldn't help but nodded secretly. It seemed that Katukov not only had a good way to attack, but also had a lot of clever ideas in defense. The commanders and soldiers followed his instructions and disguised their positions well to let the enemy's artillery
Unable to confirm the specific location, we could only cover this area with artillery fire. This artillery fire method with extremely low hit rate, in addition to wasting artillery shells, was unable to cause substantial damage to the Soviet positions.
"Comrade Captain, you are worrying too much." Seeing that Korovin did not have much confidence in blocking the enemy's attack, Sokov comforted him and said: "I once experienced a battle, and the German army was not covered by tanks.
An infantry battalion, but the troops holding the position are a worker
The barracks only had simple light weapons and some Molotov cocktails, and no anti-tank guns. However, in the face of the German attack, although they paid a high price, they still destroyed half of the German tanks and killed hundreds of German soldiers. Successfully