According to the intelligence of the 21st Guerrilla Brigade, since the new German army set off at noon on July 16th, it would have to wait until noon on July 18th to reach the edge of Catfish Village.
This is the result that Yang Mingzhi measured on the map with a ruler and compass. Of course, when the remnants of the 284th Division escaped last year, they also passed through Mozyri before reaching the current area. At that time, the troops had been operating for two full days, so it was estimated that the German army would
Arrival after 48 hours, which everyone agreed with.
The Soviet army had reason to believe that the German army knew the location of Novgomel, the core of the guerrilla republic. Therefore, the German army had to go along the Pripet River. If it was to march faster, the German army had to go south along the railway line. Because
The Soviet army had been harassing that railway line. The German army used the railway to transport troops to save time, which was also difficult to operate.
"We must use the cover of the swamps, the reeds that grow up, the criss-crossing waterways, and the large number of pools. All residents of our settlement on the right bank of the Pripet River immediately evacuated to the left bank. The troops demolished the pontoon bridges on the river.
, blow up the dirt road leading to Catfish Village. We must make it difficult for the Germans to move."
Yang Mingzhi's order was implemented on the 16th.
Today, the elite garrison of Catfish Village is fighting on the northern front, and the remaining personnel are entirely militiamen composed of old people and women. Thanks to the large number of captured enemy light weapons and the severe influx of our own troops, the original shortage of weapons has been completely alleviated.
All armed Soviet citizens had at least one gun and twenty or thirty bullets on hand.
The village chief, Bobosky, has serious contempt for the German troops who are attacking fiercely. He does not trust the fighting power of his own villagers. He does not believe that the old women armed with assault weapons will be a strong force in every battle. It is completely because of his disdain for the swamp.
Trust – that’s a huge challenge!
Under his personal leadership, the settlements on the right bank of the river were evacuated within two hours. Thousands of villagers moved away all the daily necessities that could be taken away immediately, even cheap items such as wooden spoons and wooden bowls.
Not a single item was left to the Germans. As a result, many of the buildings in the settlements basically turned into lifeless wooden sheds.
People dragged their families and daily necessities across the pontoon bridge on the Pripet River. After all the people passed, the pontoon bridge was dismantled.
The special commissioner of the headquarters who urged the "demolition" ordered Bobosky: "The people have evacuated, you must blow up the pontoon bridge immediately."
"No! It would be a pity to blow it up." Bobosky used a safer method. He ordered people to remove the chains used to fix the ship and use a claw hammer to pull out the nails. In this way, the long and narrow pontoon bridges were
The small barges have returned to their true form as fishing boats.
The commissioners had nothing to say about this. Their methods allowed the pontoon bridge to be built instantly after the war was won.
"The people began to retreat to Catfish Village. Next, I will carry out the commander's order seriously and blast the roads into bumps." Boboski did exactly what he said, and began to blast the roads in the evening of that day.
When the German regular infantry regiment fights, baggage and carriages are absolutely indispensable. They even have some armored vehicles and assault guns, and some old tanks. Who knows what high-tech weapons they have? But Bobosky is convinced that no matter what they bring,
High-end weapons are indispensable for their weight. For example, the Panzer III tank weighs nearly twenty tons. It would be strange not to get stuck in the mud of the swamp.
How effective can road bombing be? Bobosky estimated that if this was done, the German infantry that barely crossed the river would be blocked by the mud. Of course, the Soviet army would also face the same obstruction.
"Perhaps the troops can be more proactive and send harassing troops to ambush on the right bank of the river to launch a sparrow war against the marching enemy?"
Bobosky had such considerations. He had already made a plan. After dark, he would personally send a telegram to the headquarters.
For the German infantry in the early days of Operation Barbarossa, the German army at that time transferred almost all vehicles from the infantry divisions to the armored divisions. As for the heavy equipment such as artillery, they were dragged by mules and horses. The infantrymen who carried light equipment were evenly used.
At a speed of forty kilometers a day, it continued to advance for two weeks. This is a statistic based on the marching speed of the German front-line infantry divisions.
Can the troops sent by the 700th Division and the 734th Division be regarded as front-line? Can they advance at a speed of 40 kilometers a day?
First, in the Soviet command headquarters, Yang Mingzhi, based on the principle of attaching great importance to the German army tactically, acquiesced that they could march forty kilometers a day.
However, when the sun set, another secret telegram was sent from the 21st Guerrilla Brigade. It was said that they carried a large amount of ammunition and materials and set up camp after marching for six hours. The troops actually marched nearly 30 kilometers.
After learning the news, the entire Soviet command headquarters exploded!
"Oh my god, does it mean that the newly arrived German army has a large number of vehicles?" Yevlov asked worriedly.
Yang Mingzhi took the telegram and read it word for word in public.
The message makes it very clear that the two German armies marched for six hours at a stretch without resting in the middle.
"If the German army maintains this posture, they will be able to reach our right bank camp as soon as tomorrow evening. Of course, if they are targeting our right bank camp to attack," Fuming said worriedly.
Yang Mingzhi nodded: "Indeed, as far as roads are concerned, if they follow the dirt road, they will of course reach our right bank camp. However, according to the report from Catfish Village, they demolished the pontoon bridge and massively blasted the road we repaired.
.The path that tanks used to be on has already been filled with large and small puddles and mud ponds. And regarding the speed of the German army, I don’t think they will be more efficient than our marching speed.”
Fuming asked: "What if they have a large number of trucks in their army?"
"They don't have trucks, not even one!" Yang Mingzhi said categorically: "The 21st Guerrilla Brigade has told us that they will launch an attack on the German army at the right time. The Germans would never have imagined that their logistics troops would actually become our army.
Internal support. This unit claimed that they were responsible for most of the material transportation of the two German infantry regiments. I have reason to believe that those two German infantry regiments were truly lightly equipped operations. Just imagine, the troops did not need to carry much equipment to march fifty kilometers a day.
Is it difficult?"
Yevlov quickly asked: "Berekov, can I understand it this way? The German army does not carry any heavy weapons."
"Maybe. The Germans are not fools. They know that in the mud and swamps, it is difficult to use heavy artillery efficiently, and their own movement will be hindered by bad road conditions. The German army suffered a big loss in the autumn rainy season last autumn, so they attacked us
, It makes sense not to bring heavy weapons. However, of course they will bring more mortars."
"Mortars? It doesn't matter!" Yevlov looked disdainful, "I think they are sending equipment to us."
"In any case, there are five thousand German regular troops coming from our flank, and we only have a small number of elites on hand to fight. If the cavalry battalion can barely march without stopping at night, they will arrive as soon as tomorrow morning. As for the female soldiers, they
It won’t be until tomorrow afternoon. After these troops arrive, they have to deploy suddenly to defend near Catfish Village, which is really hard for them.”
Yang Mingzhi's slight sigh made everyone a little puzzled. "Berekov, the war situation is urgent. We don't have many cards in hand, and there is nothing we can do about the overload of some troops."
"Yes, Comrade Yevlov. I have to admit that the Germans made a time lag. Their move is the real threat to our survival so far. So I..."
"You? What other strategies do you have?"
"I have decided that I will personally lead the team to join the battle."
"You?!" Yevlov's eyes widened, "Didn't we make an agreement? You, a lieutenant general, will stay at the headquarters. Has the war situation deteriorated to the point where you have to go to the battlefield in person?"
"I think so." Yang Mingzhi tried hard to hide the enthusiasm in his heart, "You all said that Belekov commanded the battle and was always invincible. So I went to the front line in person to further stimulate the fighting spirit of the soldiers. I didn't
There is no way to turn the lack of training old people and women into elites. Only if I go to the front line personally, they will be braver with their morale soaring."
"But……"
Yang Mingzhi waved his hand: "That's it. Besides, I'm going to Catfish Village, which was our former command post. Yevlov, you and the others will be sitting in Blacksmith Village, so don't worry about me at all. Tomorrow morning,
I took a bus to Catfish Village to organize defense. Just like several military operations in the past, victory belongs to us."