Chapter 1510 The crisis after the liberation of the city
In the hinterland of the guerrilla republic, a hundred kilometers away from the original battlefield, Yang Mingzhi, Yevlov, Fomin, Salinchkin, etc., were waiting for the latest battle report from the front line, and were also on guard against attacks from the west.
The two German infantry regiments that came to "steal the house".
The troops in the north should liberate Lechica by tomorrow at the latest, but our troops will definitely fight the German troops in the west tomorrow.
Although our army has an absolute strength advantage and its attack is quite smooth, in order to liberate the city, we must engage in street fighting with the enemy. What is the street fighting ability of our troops?
After the city is liberated, how should we defend the city? What should we do if the enemy counterattacks crazily?
This series of questions made Yang Mingzhi very headache and worried. He just felt that if he continued to think wildly, he was afraid that a lot of hair would fall out.
He and other officers sat firmly in the large office of the headquarters. Everyone just sat quietly, standing up to drink some water at most. Everyone was waiting. Only the latest intelligence from the front line from the communications troops could make them excited.
Finally, what is supposed to come will come!
The radar soldiers were all withdrawn, and the four important girls were safe and sound. Yang Mingzhi still remembered Liu Hongxiu showing off the fact that she had protected the magnetron. It was gratifying that the magnetron was safe and sound, but Yang Mingzhi was more concerned about the safety of the four female soldiers.
.
Among the four, Diana was seriously injured. Her arm was bandaged and she was basically fine. The others could continue to work. So the radar soldier resumed his work as a communications soldier.
With an excited look on her face, Sorkina held the message paper high and ran into the large office of the headquarters. In full view of everyone, she was as happy as a good child.
"We won! Lechica, just now! At ten o'clock, the liberation was completed."
The word "liberation" was like a steel needle piercing the buttocks of everyone sitting there. Everyone seemed to be bounced by springs, and their serious faces instantly turned into ecstasy.
Yang Mingzhi felt that his heart almost exploded due to excitement. He held his chest with his right hand and asked, "Sorkina, what are you talking about?"
"It's Lechitsa! Sir! We liberated that city. Please read this telegram!"
When the message paper was placed on the desk, Yevlov snatched it away in one fell swoop.
"Hey! My comrade deputy commander, I haven't read it yet!" Yang Mingzhi's small protest had no effect, but Yevlov read the contents of the message aloud in public because he was happy.
What he read aloud was the manuscript written by Lavrenti. The text was simple and unpretentious, and the content was very exciting.
Lechica, a small city standing on the upper reaches of the Dnieper River, was liberated by the Soviet Red Army at 10 pm on July 18, 1942.
The originally serious and quiet headquarters has become a sea of joy.
The senior military officers celebrated the victory with Russian-style hugs, and Yang Mingzhi was helplessly hugged by Lavrenti.
"Haha! Comrade Berekov, you commanded this battle! Do you know what feat you have accomplished? We liberated a big city! We have achieved incredible achievements, and our names will be recorded in future history books...
…”
He talked a lot eloquently, but Yang Mingzhi finally pushed him away with all his strength.
He shouted: "Everyone, be quiet! The liberation of Lechica is a matter of course. We can't be immersed in the temporary victory! We must have a meeting to study what to do next!"
Salinchkin also had a strong voice. He clapped his hands and said, "Comrades, please sit down more and listen to my opinion first."
As for what to do after the city is liberated, Salinchkin thought of some measures. Now that the city has been liberated, it is time to implement these plans.
Salinchkin was a Soviet of this era, and he was from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. He defended the Soviet regime with his life. Therefore, after Lechica was liberated, the first priority was of course to restore Soviet rule here.
Let the city return to order, turn the city into the Soviet Lechitsa again, and erase all traces of the Nazis' existence.
Salinchkin also felt this. The meeting had already begun. He was talking about "rebuilding Lechica", "eliminating the surrender elements among the citizens", "restoring the city's infrastructure as much as possible, and becoming a member of the future Soviet guerrillas".
"Stronghold". He said a lot eloquently, and he summed it up in one sentence: establishing Lechica as a core of the future guerrilla movement.
Everyone cheered his suggestion, as if Salinchkin's idea was the most suitable.
Yes, there were only a handful of cities liberated by the Soviet army in 1942. Especially now, the main force of the Soviet army in the south once liberated several important towns. However, a failed strategic counterattack was actually met by a beautiful defensive counterattack by the German army. Now
, the German troops in the south are brazenly rushing towards the Don River Basin and the Caucasus.
The liberation of Lechica was first of all a brilliant military victory, and secondly a political earthquake. Salinchkin knew Moscow’s attitude towards the guerrilla movement. The guerrilla movement in the past year could only be carried out by the guerrilla republics in the swamp.
The most satisfying thing is that now the guerrilla republic has actually liberated the city of Lechitsa on its own. Such an achievement will not only shock the Supreme Soviet and the Defense Council in Moscow, but will also cause quite a stir in the international community.
Salinchkin kept emphasizing the great political significance of the liberation of Lechica. He especially used some big words to give people the feeling that the liberation of Lechica represented the opening of a second battlefield for the guerrillas in enemy-occupied areas.
, its effect is no less than victory on the frontal battlefield.
"Haha! What you said makes my blood boil!" Yang Mingzhi knocked on the table. He really couldn't listen to Salinchkin's irrelevant words.
"Oh! I almost forgot." Salinchkin paused quickly, "I'd like to ask our commander to speak next."
Yang Mingzhi cleared his throat. In his heart, he actually disagreed with Salinchkin's rhetoric, especially regarding Lechica, which had just been liberated, as the center of the future guerrilla movement. But if he rashly stood up to deny it, he was afraid that it would also cause trouble.
The resentment of his comrades.
"Well, what Comrade Salinchkin said just now interests me very much, but I also have some doubts about some issues."
"Tell me about it. If you have any questions, let's discuss them."
Yang Mingzhi nodded: "My biggest question is only one, that is, whether Lechica can be the core of the future guerrilla movement. Comrade Salinchkin believes that the liberation of Lechica has great international political significance, and I fully agree with this.
.However, it cannot become a center, and even its current situation itself is precarious."
"So what do you mean?"
Salinchkin's face was a little solemn. Yang Mingzhi glanced at him a few times and still insisted on his opinion: "I only analyze this matter from a military perspective. Our army can liberate Lechica, but we cannot hold it. No matter how we
No matter how they plan to run this city, the German army will definitely find a way to take it away. My attitude should be clear to you. At the beginning, I did not support the expansion of the front to Lechica. What I was most worried about was not the attack, but the attack.
What happens after victory."
As he spoke, Yang Mingzhi glanced at Salinchkin specifically: "Are we going to defend this city?"
Sarinchkin was startled: "Comrade Berekov, shouldn't we defend this city? You should know our policy. The Soviet Red Army sacrificed so many lives in exchange for the liberation of Lechica. Could it be that we are fighting
If you come down and stop guarding? You...don't you mean that?"
"I..." Suddenly, a feeling of being kidnapped by politics emerged. Yang Mingzhi cursed: "Old Maozi's head is just like a stick. It really makes me speechless."
Yang Mingzhi paused for a while, then looked left and right, and stood up with a clear mind: "Yes, no matter what you think of me, I have to tell you my attitude clearly. The troops will defend Lechicha, like Salinchkin
As comrade said, with the red flag flying tenaciously in the city of Lechica, this kind of thing is difficult to achieve. I have no intention of letting the troops die for that city. I know that my plan will make many people angry, but for us, it is not for us.
The most important thing is for a city to fight against the German troops that are coming continuously and to maintain the strength of the troops to continue the fight!"
As a result, Yang Mingzhi used the Chinese proverb: everyone loses land when they save land, and everyone gains land when they save land.
"Distant China is fighting Japanese fascists. China is very weak, but weak China also has advantages. The Chinese people are fighting a protracted war with Japanese fascists. Because their equipment is too inferior, Chinese guerrillas often do not fight the enemy head-on.
It is a frequent sneak attack. They don't care about the gains and losses of a town or a village, as long as the enemy is eliminated, the villages and towns are destroyed, and they rebuild after victory.
I believe that the Soviet Union’s guerrilla war must also implement a similar strategy. Just like the city of Birechica, do we have to use up all our remaining troops to defend it?!”
Speaking of excitement, Yang Mingzhi slammed the table: "Comrades! Open your eyes and take a good look. Don't be blinded by the victory in front of you. We have only achieved a staged victory. Could it be that the German army will not
Do you know the importance of Lechica? They will fight back crazily!
I know that some comrades believe that our army's combat effectiveness is very strong. At this moment, before we attacked Lechica, the total casualties of the army were 8,000. After we liberated Lechica, the casualties will definitely soar to more than 10,000!
Especially tomorrow, we will definitely fight five thousand German troops in the west, and we will have to pay the price of casualties.
I would like to inform all comrades that we are now fighting on two fronts. And our troop strength has been severely reduced. Because the supply line is too long, our logistics has become a huge problem. Besides, I have to tell you a very serious problem -
—We don’t have much metal left.”
After all, Salinchkin is not a soldier, let alone a logistics expert. He is a master of political propaganda, and it is perfectly fine for him to hold an important position in Belarus after the war is won.
But he is by no means a military idiot. Back then, he also held a spear and fought against the White Army and foreign intervention forces.
Yang Mingzhi mentioned a very serious problem, that is, the shortage of metal materials. Those are the raw materials for manufacturing weapons and ammunition, the "competent products" of the Guerrilla Republic, recoilless rifle shells and RPG missiles. Due to lack of metal, they will soon be unable to be produced.
"The arsenal can't do magic and create artillery shells out of thin air. They need metal, fuel, and explosives. The supply of the latter two is barely enough, and we can't turn metal materials into gold. I don't even have the guts to tell the frontline troops now This fact, once they know that two important types of artillery shells are temporarily unable to be produced, and the inventory of artillery shells has been exhausted, won't morale plummet?"
Soldiers all know the importance of ammunition, and Salinchkin doesn't know this, but he still has his own persistence.
"Comrade Berekov, the troops are indeed facing severe logistical problems, but this is not the reason why we should give up Lechica. I think that city should be defended. At least... well, at least defend it for a few more days. .Actually... after listening to your words, I also feel that it is feasible to occupy that place until the main force counterattacks to liberate the entire territory of Belarus."
Yang Mingzhi sighed slightly: "It seems that you have to face these problems. You are the commissioner sent by the leader. I think the leader will oppose my decision without thinking."
"Of course, I can even imagine his angry look. But no matter how powerful a unit is, we cannot expect them to use a bunch of rifles without bullets and spears to fight the German machine guns. You Say it right."
"Yes, with our strength we simply cannot defend that city. As for the future center of the guerrilla movement, it will still be in our swamp, especially Novgomel where we are. Therefore..."
Yang Mingzhi picked up the wooden stick and pointed at the location of Lechica: "Based on the current location, the environment around Lechica is still very favorable to our army. By occupying it, we are actually fighting against the Red October guerrillas operating in the north. The brigade borders. Similarly, we can also take the initiative to attack both sides along the railway line. Currently, the threat to the west of Lechica is greatest, while some areas in Gomel in the east have been attacked by our friendly forces. That direction If it is not enough evidence, we can even take the initiative to attack again."
"Hahaha! I thought you were suddenly conservative, but you actually took the initiative to attack?!" Yevlov laughed.
"Have you never heard this saying? Offense is the best defense. According to intelligence, to the west of Lechica are the German 734th Division and the 700th Division. The combat effectiveness of these two units is stronger than that of the 707th Division. They have more troops, so we need to Guard against them. As for the 722nd Division, they have lost more than 4,000 men in June. Coupled with the harassment from our friendly forces, this unit is already dilapidated. If we take advantage of the victory and fight again, if we can force the German army to retreat If the city of Lechitsa is defended, then we will have no threat from the east."
Yevlov could hear some clues. He stood up and asked excitedly: "What do you want to do?"
Yang Mingzhi looked at him with bright eyes: "You are the deputy commander, and you also have the right to make decisions. We have already divided the labor. You will assist in commanding Lieqica's troops, and I will rush to Catfish Village to command the troops there to stop the enemy. .Don’t fight for the last drop of blood for Lechicha, fight the enemy flexibly, and ensure our combat effectiveness as much as possible. This is the principle you must abide by.
Well, Lechitsa has indeed been liberated, and the necessary notifications still need to be made. Comrade Salinchkin."
"I am here."
"I'll thank you tonight. Please truthfully report to your superiors the facts about our liberation of Lechicha and the severe logistical problems our army is currently facing. Please represent me, Belekov, and send a message to that person.
A request. The Guerrilla Republic needs ammunition, medicine, and food. If supplies can be airdropped, send them as much as possible!"
"I will do it." Salinchkin nodded.
"Very good, the troops have been fighting for a whole day and everyone is exhausted. They still need to seize the time to clean the battlefield. They may also be able to collect ammunition abandoned by the enemy and even encounter food warehouses in the city. Tomorrow, the troops must
Take some rest and recuperation. I ordered that on July 19, the troops would circle Chicha to form a defensive line. I ordered the paratrooper brigade to rest for a night and then attack Gomel to the west."
Yang Mingzhi did not plan to hold the meeting until late, but he was in high spirits and lay on the bed in the lounge, tossing and turning, even though he knew that he had to rush to Catfish Village after dawn.
A war is about fighting for money and resources, or about consuming the energy of all participants.
After not having a good rest for a long time, Yang Mingzhi even felt that he was mentally weak.
"Haha, Yang Mingzhi, Yang Mingzhi, can you think of it? In 1942, the Soviet guerrillas should not have the strength to liberate a city. Your existence has changed history. Everything started because of you. The whole world
The war will be different because of you." After asking himself, Yang Mingzhi didn't feel that he was great. Instead, he felt that the burden on his shoulders was heavier, and this burden prevented him from sleeping.
In the end, he could only resort to counting sheep and eventually fell asleep.
Almost as soon as he closed his eyes, he woke up suddenly and saw that the small window in the lounge had been opened, and warm light shone in - dawn had arrived.
Bang! There was a sound on the door.
"Comrade Commander, it's already 4:30 in the morning. We must get to Catfish Village."
It was Abram's voice. Yang Mingzhi sat up, stroking his slightly groggy head: "Come on, give me two minutes. I'll change into my military uniform and go out."