Lieutenant Colonel Brandt never dreamed that he would order the Second Battalion to attack the barricade factory held by the Russians under the cover of assault guns. Unexpectedly, he was attacked by artillery fire without even seeing the enemy's shadow. The troops suffered heavy losses.
Not to mention, even the battalion commander was killed, and even his body was not recovered.
"What the hell is going on?" Brandt yelled at a group of officers standing in front of him: "Can any of you tell me what the hell is going on? Only a few hours later, the people in the barricade factory
The Russians have artillery and will make you flee in panic." The officers who had just returned from defeat saw that their regimental commander was angry, and no one dared to say a word, lest they incur the other's anger.
Brandt roared for a while, but when he saw that the officers under his command were silent, he became more and more angry. Just when he was about to pull out his pistol and shoot one or two undesirable officers to scare the monkeys, the regimental chief of staff walked up to him and said,
He whispered to him: "Mr. Colonel, your phone number."
"What call?!" Brandt, who was furious, waved his hand and said sternly: "I won't answer it!"
Seeing that Brandt didn't want to answer the phone, the regiment chief of staff quickly whispered: "It's the division commander calling."
Although the voice of the regiment's chief of staff was not loud, the officers present clearly heard the call from the division commander, and knew that the division must have been called to investigate for the failure of the attack, so they all cast sympathetic glances at Brandt.
Brandt walked to the table, raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead, then carefully picked up the microphone on the table, nodded and said: "Hello, Sir, I am Brandt. What instructions do you have?"
"
"I heard that your attack on the barricade factory failed!" Steinmetz asked coldly on the phone: "Is it true?"
"It's true, Your Excellency, Commander!" Although Brandt had long known that Steinmetz called him to investigate, but when he actually heard the other party ask these words, he still felt guilty.
: "Our troops attacking the factory were hit by fierce Russian artillery fire, causing the attack to fail."
"Before you attack, didn't I ask you to find out the numbers of the Russian troops in the factory?" Before the 577th Regiment attacked the barricade factory, Steinmetz ordered Brandt to find out the numbers of the reinforcements in the factory within half an hour.
The number of the Russian troops, but Brandt turned a deaf ear to this and launched an attack hastily without completing the reconnaissance. As a result, he retreated with a loss of troops. This incident made Steinmetz very angry: "You did not obey my order.
He ordered the troops to attack the barricade factory without authorization, causing serious casualties to the troops..."
Don't forget that Brandt did not report the news of the failure of the attack, but Steinmetz received the news of the failure of the attack on the barricade factory from the assault artillery battalion that cooperated with the operation. Regarding Brandt's disobedience of orders and acting without authorization,
, he was already angry enough. Now Brandt did not report the news of the failure of the attack in time, which made him even more furious: "I will revoke your position as regimental commander and send you to a military court..."
"Your Excellency, Division Commander," Steinmetz's words frightened Brandt out of his wits. He knew that if he were sent to a military court at this moment, he might be sentenced to death. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and argued: "Please
Give me another chance and I will take down the barricade factory before dark."
Just when Steinmetz wanted to formally announce Brandt's dismissal, the division chief of staff came over, leaned close to his ear and whispered in his ear: "Your Excellency, division commander, the corps commander is calling you."
Hearing that Army Commander Kurtzbach was looking for him, Steinmetz guessed that the other party might also know about the failure of the attack on the barricade factory, and might also ask how to deal with Brandt. However, after understanding Kurtzbach's true intention
Previously, Steinmetz decided to give Brandt a break and settle the score with him later.
Steinmetz ended the conversation with Brandt, took the phone handed over by the chief of staff, and said respectfully into the phone: "Hello, General Kurtzbach, what are your instructions?"
"General Steinmetz," Kurtzbach asked coldly on the phone, "I heard that your attack on the barricade factory ended in failure?"
"Yes, General." Steinmetz replied with some embarrassment: "Our troops attacking the barricade factory were hit by heavy Russian artillery fire, which led to the failure of the attack."
"Did you find out the numbers of the defenders in the factory before attacking?" Kurtzbach asked calmly.
"The Russian troops originally in the barricade factory were the 39th Guards Division, the 308th, 95th and 193rd Infantry Divisions." Steinmetz had a careful understanding of the Soviet garrison in the barricade factory, because he faced
He was able to answer Kurtzbach's question without hesitation: "Now these troops have been defeated by us. Now Lyudnikov's 138th Infantry Division is holding on to the factory, but their casualties are not small...
"
"Yes, General Steinmetz, your information is very accurate." Kurtzbach nodded and said: "Since the Russians have become extremely weak, why did your attack fail? Also,
Where did the Russians get so many artillery pieces?"
Facing Kurtzbach's series of questions, Steinmetz organized the vocabulary in his mind and said carefully: "Your Excellency, General, before we attack, a new Russian unit has been stationed in the barricade factory. I want artillery."
Maybe they brought it."
"A new Russian unit has been stationed?" This unexpected news made Kurtzbach feel suddenly. He asked tentatively: "Have you figured out the number of this unit and the weapons and equipment they carry?"
"It's a pity, General." Steinmetz replied with a wry smile: "Before the 577th Regiment launched the attack, I ordered the commander of the regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Brandt, to find out the numbers of the Russian troops, but he did not agree with my order.
The execution was not resolute, and the attack was launched without understanding the Russians, which resulted in this defeat."
Kurtzbach pondered for a moment and said into the microphone: "General Steinmetz, although we don't know the number of this reinforcement of the Russian troops and their weapons and equipment, I feel uneasy in my heart.
a feeling of."
Ever since Steinmetz heard that reinforcements had arrived at the barricade factory, his heart was as jittery as fifteen buckets. When he heard that Kurtzbach had the same feeling, he immediately felt like he had found a close friend: "
General, to tell you the truth, after I learned that reinforcements were stationed at the barricade factory, I felt very uneasy and felt that they would be our biggest obstacle to seizing the barricade factory."
"Oh, you also feel uneasy in your heart?" Kurtzbach asked with some surprise: "Then which army do you think will be reinforcing the barricade factory?"
"After this period of fighting, we have basically beaten the Russian troops in the city to empty numbers." Steinmetz saw that after Kurtzbach heard what he said, not only did he not get angry, but he politely asked him for advice.
, and took the initiative to express his speculation: "I have thought about it repeatedly and feel that the troops from the barricade factory can be reinforced at this time. There is no other possibility except from Mamayev Hill."
Seeing that Steinmetz's conjecture coincided with his own, Kurtzbach nodded secretly and said: "You are right, General Steinmetz, I am also worried about the troops reinforcing the barricade factory.
From Mamayev Hill. You know, my troops have been beating up the Russians who fought with us since Kharkov. But after entering the city, we fought with the defenders of Mamayev Hill.
So many times, I have never taken advantage. If they really sent people to reinforce the barricade factory, then the next battle for you will be difficult."
Steinmetz was secretly relieved when he heard that Kurtzbach did not force him to continue the attack. He felt that the troops should suspend the attack, and it would not be too late to re-formulate the attack plan after figuring out the number of the opponent's troops.
.He asked with this mentality: "Your Majesty General, what should we do next?"
"You will temporarily stop all actions against the barricade factory." When Kurtzbach thought that the troops stationed at the barricade factory might be Sokov's subordinates, he felt guilty for a while. He said cautiously: "Send people to sneak into the factory overnight.
When we go into the area for reconnaissance, we must know the number of this Russian unit so that we can take corresponding measures to seize the factory from the Russians."
After Steinmetz waited for Kurtzbach to finish speaking, he thought of the Soviet artillery fire in the barricade factory, and asked tentatively: "Your Excellency, judging from today's battle, the Russian artillery fire in the barricade factory is very fierce.
In just a few minutes, our attack was completely defeated. Let's see if we can ask the air force to dispatch the Russian artillery positions in tomorrow's attack."
"If weather conditions permit, I can ask the Commander to dispatch the air force to support you." Kurtzbach said: "But before that, you have to find out the numbers of the Russian troops in the barricade factory and the specific locations of their artillery positions.
.”
"Don't worry, General." Steinmetz felt that he would definitely be able to figure out the information Kurtzbach wanted to know in a day and night, so he patted his chest and assured him: "Before dawn tomorrow, I will definitely
Accurate information will be placed on your desk."
"If that's the case, that would be the best." Regarding Steinmetz's heroic words, Kurtzbach chose to believe: "I am waiting for your information, and I hope you will not disappoint me."
After Steinmetz put down the phone, he immediately called the chief of staff to him and ordered him: "Chief of staff, call Lieutenant Colonel Brandt and ask his regiment to move to defense on the spot. Wait until dark.
Immediately send reconnaissance personnel to the factory, and be sure to find out the numbers of the Russian troops in the factory and the distribution of Russian artillery positions before dawn."
"Yes, your Excellency, division commander." The division chief of staff quickly repeated Steinmetz's order: "I immediately called Commander Brandt and asked him to move to defense on the spot and send out reconnaissance after dark.
Soldiers, find out the numbers of Russian troops and the distribution of Russian artillery positions."
"Chief of Staff, I haven't finished speaking yet." When he saw the division chief of staff picking up the phone on the table and preparing to call Brandt, Steinmetz added: "If the troops stationed at the barricade factory,
If they are really from Mamaev Kurgan, then it is not enough to rely solely on Brandt's 577th Regiment to attack the barricade factory. Therefore, we must also transfer the 576th and 578th Regiments overnight and deploy them
On the left and right flanks of the 577th Regiment."
Steinmetz said proudly: "As long as the other two regiments are deployed in place, even if the support army comes from the Mamayev Hills, there is nothing terrible. They only have more than a thousand people, and our three regiments have enough
Six thousand people, basically five of them beat him one, can't he still be defeated?"
"Your Excellency, Division Commander, we must not underestimate the enemy." Seeing that Steinmetz was getting carried away, the division chief of staff quickly reminded him: "You know, Colonel Sokov, who is commanding this unit, is very good at attacking more with less. We
I have suffered such losses in the past, so I think it’s better to be cautious.”
"Okay, okay, chief of staff, stop talking nonsense." Steinmetz waved his hand to the division chief of staff and said unhappily: "Hurry up and call a few regiment commanders to pass on my order.
.”
Seeing that Steinmetz could not listen to different opinions, the division chief of staff had no choice but to agree. He picked up the phone and called several regimental commanders to convey to them the order issued by Steinmetz.
.
When Brandt received the call from the division chief of staff, he felt uneasy. He was afraid of hearing the news that he would be sent to a military court. After hearing the division commander's order, he temporarily switched to defense and sent scouts at night to find out what was inside the factory.
After hearing the numbers of the defenders and the location of the artillery positions that caused them huge casualties, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief and repeatedly assured the division chief of staff: "Don't worry, your Excellency, chief of staff, I will definitely kill the Russians before dawn."
Clarify the situation and report it to the division headquarters."
Seeing Brandt put down the phone, the regiment chief of staff quickly asked: "Mr. Colonel, the commander of the second battalion was killed in the battle. Who do you plan to command the second battalion?"
After hearing the reminder from the regiment chief of staff, Brandt's eyes scanned back and forth among the silent officers in front of him, and finally his eyes rested on a tall and thin officer. He pointed at the other person with his hand and announced loudly:
"Since the commander of the second battalion was killed in the battle, from now on, the commander of the seventh company, Captain Winkler, will serve as the acting battalion commander."
Captain Winkler, who was in the crowd, never dreamed that the regiment commander would actually appoint himself as the acting battalion commander. He quickly walked out of the crowd, straightened his body and said to Brandt: "Mr. Colonel, I want to go back immediately to reorganize the troops.
Launch another attack on the barricade factory and try to capture the factory before dark."
"No hurry, no hurry, Captain Winkler." Brandt waved his hand to Winkler and said: "We don't know the distribution of Russian troops and artillery positions in the factory. If we launch another hasty attack, it will only cause chaos.
Necessary casualties. I now order you to immediately shift your troops to defense and send out reconnaissance personnel to conduct reconnaissance in the factory area after dark. It is necessary to find out the strength of the Russian troops and the distribution of artillery positions. Do you understand?"
"Understood, Mr. Colonel." Winkler replied quickly and loudly.
Brandt was very satisfied with Winkler's answer. He nodded slightly, and then said to the officers present: "Now that the mission has been clarified, you all go back to the troops." When the officers heard Brandt say this,
If they were granted amnesty, they quickly agreed loudly and then left the headquarters one after another.
