Yesterday evening, the German army launched a fierce attack in this area.
After a fierce battle overnight, the enemy launched three consecutive attacks without exception were all repelled.
Due to the fierce German bombardment, the trenches of the first battalion had collapsed into jagged ridges, and half of the burnt tree trunks were still emitting wisps of black smoke.
Accompanied by several soldiers, Sokov stepped on the empty soil covering the upper and came to a group of soldiers who were repairing fortifications, and asked loudly at them: "Where is your battalion commander? Captain Ye Feim is
Where?”
The busy soldiers heard someone talking beside him, stopped their work, looked up at Sokov and others.
After seeing clearly that the person coming was Sokov, a corporal came over and saluted Sokov and said, "Report to the brigade commander, the battalion commander is in his command post."
"In his command post?" Sokov thought of his first thing after coming here was to go to the battalion command post to find Captain Ye Feim, but he saw that the command post had collapsed: "But, his
Didn’t the command post be destroyed?”
"Yes, comrade brigade commander." The corporal nodded: "The battalion command post did collapse under the German artillery bombardment, so the battalion commander went to the new command post."
"Where is the new commander?" Sokov ordered the other party, "Comrade Corporal, please take me there."
Under the leadership of the corporal, Sokov soon arrived at the new command post of the first battalion.
With the help of the faint candlelight in the room, Sokov saw clearly that there were seven or eight people inside.
Before he could speak, he heard Ye Feim's voice: "Comrade Brigade Commander, why are you here?"
"Your camp has been fighting all night, I'm here to learn about the casualties." Sokov came to the simple wooden table, sat on the stump that served as a stool, looked up at Ye Feim and asked, "Tell me, let's talk."
, What is the casualties in your camp?"
"More than half of the casualties in the battalion!" Ye Feim replied with a painful expression: "The squad leader below has suffered all casualties. The company commanders, deputy company commanders and instructors of the three companies have also died. It is the temporary assigned personnel to replace them.
The correspondents in the camp sacrificed more than a dozen in the process of conveying information."
Since the infantry brigade was just formed, there were many things that were not available, especially communication equipment, except for two radio stations, and there was not even a telephone. Because of this, although the command post of the first battalion was only five or six hundred meters away from the brigade headquarters
, to convey orders or report the results of the war, the message must be delivered through the correspondent.
The most urgent task is to ask the superior to allocate communication equipment to yourself so that you can keep in touch with the three battalions at any time. As for the fact that more than half of the casualties of the first battalion, there is no need to worry. After all, yesterday he was discussing with the deputy brigade commander and chief of staff to form the fourth battalion.
It seems that the matters of the Sixth Battalion are just enough to directly add those soldiers who have not yet been organized into the first battalion.
"Captain Yefim," Sokov said, "There were many officers among the personnel who were taken over yesterday, so they could be allowed to serve as company commanders of each company. As for the loss of the first battalion, I will make up for it in time.
of."
"Comrade Brigade Commander, this is really great." Yefim saw Sokov coming to his command post. He thought that the other party would definitely transfer himself to the rear to rest when he saw his first battalion suffered heavy losses, but he did not expect
It was to replenish new troops for himself. He quickly assured Sokov: "After the first battalion completed the replenishment, he was confident that he would block the enemy's attack."
"When I came, I saw that the positions of the first battalion were destroyed by artillery fire." Sokov said: "You must seize the time to repair the fortifications, otherwise the troops that lost the cover of the fortifications will not be able to face the fierce attack of the enemy.
Resist their attacks.”
"Don't worry, comrade brigade commander." Ye Feim said: "As long as the supplementary personnel are in place in time, we will definitely repair the work as soon as possible and prepare to fight the enemy."
Sokov nodded and continued, "What difficulties do you have? Let me raise them while I am here."
Ye Feim hesitated for a moment and said, "Comrade Brigade Commander, can you help us set up a telephone line? In this way, you can not only keep abreast of the cutting-edge situations, but also give us orders in a timely manner?"
"Of course," Sokov replied, "Even if you don't say it, I plan to send a telephone line to each battalion to facilitate contact with each other."
Leaving the command post of the first battalion, Sokov headed to the second battalion position.
The focus of the enemy's attack last night was the first battalion's position, and only sporadic battles occurred here in the second battalion.
When he was about to reach the first camp, Sokov suddenly saw the Sherman M3 tank half buried in the pit and hurried over.
The tank commander Lieutenant Kozak was chatting with several soldiers from the second battalion. When he saw Sokov coming, he quickly stopped talking and stood attentively saluting.
"Hello, comrade Lieutenant!" Sokov shook hands with the other party and asked with a smile: "During the battle last night, your tank crew destroyed several German tanks?"
Kozak said proudly in the direction of the battlefield, saying, "Comrade Brigade Commander, all the destroyed German tanks are there, you can count them yourself."
Sokov looked ahead of the position. There were four blackened tanks hundreds of meters away. He couldn't help but think in his heart that although the rate of fire was not as high as 350 rounds per minute, the Sherman tank was half buried in the pit.
It is quite easy to use to make fixed firepower points in it, and it can actually destroy so many tanks. However, when such tanks started to be produced on a large scale in August, it will give priority to the assistance of part of the Soviet army.
"Good job." Sokov nodded at Kozak, and then asked politely: "Is there any difficulty?"
"In last night's battle, the shells and bullets were almost exhausted," Kozak said. "Since our tanks act as fixed fire points and do not need to attack, it doesn't matter whether there is fuel or not. But if there is no more
The shells and bullets, then the tank becomes scrap iron.”
Sokov looked at the tank equipped with two different caliber artillery artillery, equipped with 37mm and 75mm, nodded slightly and said, "Don't worry, comrade Lieutenant, I will arrange personnel as soon as possible to send the shells and bullets you need.
.”
After the inspection of the three battalions, Sokov returned to the brigade command.
After entering the tent where the brigade headquarters is located, Belkin and Chersokov, who were looking at the map, raised their heads and greeted Sokov: "Comrade Brigade Commander, you are back!"
"Well, I'm back." Sokov responded, and then asked, "Did the superior send a telegram during the time I left?"
"A few ten minutes before you came back, we received a telegram." Cherkasov said: "The telegram was sent by Chief of Staff, Colonel Malinin, who said he would add a batch of ammunition and supplies to us, and he was already on the way.
It can be shipped in one hour at most."
Sokov was very pleased to learn that the supplies were on the way. The German army launched an attack since yesterday evening. Although they were all repelled, the ammunition consumption of the troops was extremely amazing. If they were not replenished in time, the commanders and soldiers
They probably can only fight hand-to-hand combat with the Germans with bayonets.
"Chief of Staff," Sokov told Cherkasov: "The formation of the Fourth Battalion to the Sixth Battalion will be temporarily stopped. The first battalion suffered more than half of the casualties in the battle last night, and all the company commanders were killed.
. You immediately draw officers and add them to the first battalion to serve as company-level commanders. In addition, add 300 soldiers to the first battalion to restore their establishment as soon as possible.”
"Okay, comrade comrade commander." Cherkasov nodded and said, "I'll make arrangements immediately."
After Cherkasov left, Sokov said to Belkin again: "Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander, our brigade only has two radio stations, one of which is what you brought back from the encirclement."
"That's right." Belkin affirmed Sokov's statement: "With these two radios, we can keep in touch with our superiors at any time."
"It is far from enough to keep in touch with superiors." Sokov said with emotion: "We only have radio stations, but no telephones. The front-line wants to report to us, so they can only send a correspondent to deliver the letter. The first battalion came last night.
The telegraph soldiers who delivered the letters were sacrificed more than a dozen. After I learned the news, I thought to myself that if we had telephone calls with each battalion, these telegraph soldiers would not have sacrificed their lives in vain."
"Then we send a telegram to the headquarters." After Belkin and Sokov finished speaking, he immediately reminded him: "Request them to provide us with a batch of communication equipment."
Seeing that Belkin did not object to his statement, Sokov turned to Morozova sitting in the corner and said, "Comrade Morozova, immediately send a telegram to the Army Command, asking them to provide us with a batch of communications.
equipment."
A few minutes later, Malining received a call from the infantry brigade, hurried to Rokosovsky and handed the telegram to the other party: "Comrade Commander, it is a telegram from the infantry brigade, and asks us to do it for them.
Provide a batch of communication equipment.”
Rokosovsky stared at the telegram and thought for a while, and called Maximemko, the director of the communications corps, and ordered: "Comrade, the director of the communications corps, immediately prepare a batch of communications equipment and send it to the infantry brigade."
Maximenko stood there without moving his nest, but looked at Rokosovsky and asked, "Comrade Commander, our radio stations are not large, and we have already provided one for the infantry brigade. If so,
If you want it, it will definitely have a bad impact on the external contacts of the Group Army Command."
"Comrade Director of the Communications Soldier, I didn't make it clear. The infantry brigade does not need a radio station." Seeing that Maximenko had misunderstood, Rokosovsky quickly explained to him: "The current infantry brigade lacks anything, Communications
There are only two radio stations in the equipment, and the brigade command can only be connected with the frontier through the communications troop. In order to maintain contact with the frontier at any time, Major Sokov hopes that we can provide them with communications including telephones and telephone lines.
equipment."
After listening to Rokosovsky's explanation, Maximemko suddenly realized: "So that's the case. It seems that I have misunderstood. Comrade Commander, I immediately prepared enough telephones and telephone lines for them.
, facilitate their communications."
"Comrade Commander!" Deputy Commander Romanlov asked Rokosovsky carefully: "The infantry brigade lacks heavy weapons. Do you see if you provide them with some artillery?"
Regarding Romanov's proposal, Rokosovsky turned his head and looked around the room. He soon saw Kazakov sleeping in the corner, and hurried over to wake him up.
Kazakov opened his eyes in a daze, looked at Rokosovsky standing in front of him in a sleepy mood, and asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, what instructions do you have?"
"Major Sokov's infantry brigade lacks heavy weapons." Rokosovsky did not go around in circles, but said bluntly: "They were under the crazy attack of the German army. Without the support of artillery, it would be difficult to stop it."
Hold on to the enemy's attack. Look, can you provide them with some artillery troops?"
"It's not easy to deal with, Comrade Commander." After hearing Sorokosovsky say this, Kazakov suddenly woke up. He sat down and said seriously: "I, the artillery unit commanded by the artillery director, is the artillery unit.
There are not many at first, if it is dispersed, I'm afraid..."
What is it? Kazakov didn't say it, but Rokosovsky knew very well that if the artillery troops were dispersed to various combat troops, it would mean it would be difficult to organize powerful artillery fire to deal with the enemy. But consider the infantry
In the current situation of the brigade, Rokosovsky continued: "Comrade Kazakov, think of a way, even an artillery battalion."
Since Rokosovsky had already said this, Kazakov knew that it was obviously inappropriate for him to refuse. After a long time of consideration, he nodded in agreement with Rokosovsky's request: "Okay,
Comrade Commander. Since you have made a request to me, I definitely cannot refuse. But I still say the same thing. I don’t have many artillery troops in my hand, and a battalion will definitely not work. I can give him one with four gates 76.2
Cannon Company of Millimeter Cannons.”
Although Rokosovsky felt that it would be too petty to give Sokov an artillery company. However, considering that Kazakov, the artillery director, was not very large, he didn't want to force it, so he nodded in agreement.
"A single artillery company is better than a single artillery company."
When he wanted to chat for a few more words, he suddenly heard the phone ringing on the table. As soon as he turned around, he saw Malining grab the microphone.
When Malining answered the phone, the expression on her face was extremely serious and seemed to have heard bad news.
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Rokosovsky stepped towards Rokosovsky and asked, "What happened to you with such a serious look?"
Malining put down the phone and reported to Rokosovsky with a serious expression: "Comrade Commander, General Panfirov reported that the German artillery was carrying out violent artillery bombardment on the defense zone of the 1073rd Regiment. It seems that the enemy is preparing to be
In this direction, attacks.”
Although Rokosovsky knew the terrain of this area, after listening to Malining's report, he came to the table and leaned over to check the map spread on the table: "Comrade Chief of Staff, it seems that the enemy was in the infantry last night.
The attack in the area where the brigade was located was not smooth, so the attack area was moved northward and the defense area of the 316th Infantry Brigade was selected."
"That's right, Comrade Commander." If the German army was still attacking the defense zone of the Infantry Brigade, Malining might be very worried, but now the focus of the German army's offensive has turned to the 316th Infantry Division in the north, he felt a little more at ease,"
The 316th Infantry Division is in full corps and has a complete artillery regiment. Even if the Germans dispatched armored troops to carry out strong attacks, they are fully capable of blocking the enemy's offensive."