This new plan was adopted by most people, and Kilponos had no reason to deny it.
Therefore, Commander Kilponos finally decided to re-divide the headquarters column in this small village and establish 3 battle groups: 1 vanguard battle group to clear the way for the front army headquarters, and 2
A flank battle group responsible for protecting flank security.
Chief of Staff Tupikov was responsible for commanding the vanguard battle group established with the guard company as the core, while Operations Minister Bagramyan was ordered to command a company of the NKVD. The task was to cover the entire column and prevent enemy forces from attacking from the side.
The other flank battle group is in charge of a battalion commander from the logistics force and armed logistics personnel.
Among the two flank battle groups, Bagramyan's battle group can be considered a truly combat-effective team because he commanded a young and strong team composed of 150 young men.
Before setting off, Bagramyan silently inspected the queue and looked at the faces of the soldiers. Everyone was very tired, but fortunately they were all young people and relatively energetic.
Although Bagramyan also knew that even if these young people could rest for a while, they would not have even a minute. They must reach the combat position before nightfall.
Bagramyan quickly explained the mission to everyone and warned them in advance that the situation would be difficult.
"But I believe that none of you will embarrass the Red Army!" Bagramyan encouraged after the explanation.
But then, even he himself lowered his voice silently and gradually became silent.
When he fell silent, a young soldier with a thin black band on his head said: "Don't worry, Comrade General, we won't disappoint you. It's a pity that Moscow's approval has not been received yet, and everyone has
I don’t know if it’s the right choice for us to break out and go back now?”
This question made Bagramyan's heart sink.
Yes, what can we do if we break out of the encirclement? If Stalin does not recognize Kilponos's good intentions in the end, then the people who break out of the encirclement may just die in another place.
Weren’t the Pavlovian core command members of the Western Front ordered by Stalin to be sent to Siberia?
If it weren't for these front-line officers of the Western Front who were forced to jump over the wall and surrender to the German army without hesitation, what was waiting for them would be nothing more than a bright journey to Siberia.
"Sorry, I can't answer your question. But I can assure you that our current choice is at least responsible!" Bagramyan said sincerely, looking directly at the young soldier who asked the question.
The young man still wanted to say something, but at this moment, a correspondent suddenly rushed over to report the intelligence: "A large German motorcycle convoy came from Melieha. It forced its way across the Mnoga River.
After that, we repelled the small detachments of our army that occupied those highlands and are about to break through! The headquarters column is now in danger!"
Bagramyan was immediately ordered to personally lead his troops to attack the German army, capture the high ground, and seize the bridge over the river.
His mission suddenly changed, from flank cover to first echelon.
However, he commanded 150 young and capable soldiers. After all, Bagramyan commanded his troops to break through the German blockade before dawn. Although he did not seize the bridge, he also captured 2 near the bridge.
of high ground.
It is a pity that the large force of the Southwest Front Army Headquarters that was supposed to follow up was divided at the back.
The column of the Front Army Headquarters was strongly blocked by the Germans and was unable to join Bagramyan's detachment. The column had to march north and forcibly crossed the Mnoga River near the village of Voronki and arrived at the town of Dryukovshina.
A small forest.
There are more than 1,000 people in the front headquarters column, 800 of whom are officers.
With them were General Kirponos, member of the Front Military Committee Burmistenko and members of the Military Committee, division political commissar Lykov, Dobekin, Danilov, Panyukhov, 5th
Army commander Major General Potapov, member of the army's military committee, division political commissar Nikishev and military committee member, brigade political commissar Kalichenko, group army chief of staff Major General Pisarevsky and other leading figures of the Soviet army
.
It can be said that the essence of the entire Southwest Front lies in this forest.
But traveling with the column into the woods, there were only 6 armored vehicles, 2 anti-tank guns and 5 quadruple anti-aircraft machine guns.
The grove was cut in half by a canyon. Vehicles and personnel were concentrated on the edge of the grove, and combat vehicles took up positions at the edge of the forest.
But unfortunately, this team has exposed the weakness of poor organization. Only a small number of guards from the 5th Army Headquarters occupied the defense. Many officers walked to the farmhouses in the town without permission to wash their faces, find food and take a rest.
.
It can be said that the German army benefited from this and easily discovered the headquarters of the Southwest Front that disappeared at night.
After the morning fog dissipated, Kilponos's scouts reported to him that German tanks were coming from the east and northeast. The scouts from the southwest also said that there were German motorcycles and tanks coming from this direction.
near.
About 20 minutes later, the German army indeed attacked the grove from three sides. The German army dispatched first-class Panther tanks, firing cannons and machine guns, followed by submachine gunners.
Amidst the thunderous sound of artillery and the rattling of machine guns, there was also the sparse firing sound of the two Soviet artillery pieces. Each shot was pitiful, and the Soviet army had to cherish every shell. The effect of resistance can be imagined.
The German motorized infantry that arrived by car subsequently joined the battle.
They spread out from the march into a skirmish line and rushed towards the grove under the cover of tank fire. When they reached the edge of the forest, the besieged were in Kirponos, Burmistenko, Rykov, Tupiko
Under the leadership of Husband, Potapov and Pisarevsky, they were still able to tenaciously maintain resistance.
Unfortunately, Kilponos could not change the situation with his own willpower. His leg was injured, and several soldiers hurriedly carried him to the spring at the bottom of the canyon. Later, he was seriously injured by a cannonball.
Army commander Potapov was also sent here.
At the same time, Potapov's chief of staff, General Pisarevsky, had died on the battlefield.
A few minutes later, a mortar shell exploded next to Kilponos. Kilponos fell to the ground without saying a word. He was wounded in the chest and head and died two minutes later.
.
Around Kilponos, generals Dobekin, Danilov and Panyukhov were also killed one after another by incoming shells.
However, Lieutenant Colonel Glebov, Chief of Staff Tupikov and his party did not die here. They were killed in a shootout with the Germans next to the town of Ovdiev, 2 kilometers away from the Shumeykovo grove.
In this way, Zhukov's colleagues who were the mainstay of the Southwest Front and used to defend Ukraine lost the best time to break out because of Stalin's stupid insistence on orders, and became a group of meaningless cannon fodder on the battlefield...
