Chapter 1511 Good news reaches the guerrilla movement headquarters
Regarding the news of the liberation of Lechica, as early as the moment it received the telegram on the night of the 18th, the "Guerrilla Republic Radio Station" broadcast it comprehensively on the public channel, and sent telegrams directly to Black Earth Village and Catfish Village, specifically explaining this incident.
thing.
Currently, the two major friendly forces of the Guerrilla Republic, the "Red October" and the "Gypsymen", these two guerrilla brigades have been fighting fiercely with the troops of the German 805th Division. They obeyed Ponomarenko's orders and are actively advancing towards the west.
Even aiming to liberate the small city of Svetlogorsk, even if achieving this goal seems too crazy.
These two guerrilla brigades are better called infantry divisions than brigades. Of course, they are considered light infantry divisions in a sense, because the actual combat strength of each brigade has exceeded 10,000 people. They went south
Many soldiers were sacrificed in the battle, and many people were killed in the attack. The combat effectiveness declined but the troop strength increased.
They do not lack light weapons, but they are seriously short of heavy weapons. It is impossible for them to manufacture weapons such as RPGs. Some of the weapons on hand come from rear airdrops, and the other part relies on capture.
The operations of these two large guerrilla groups have been under the control of the guerrilla movement headquarters. Commander-in-chief Ponomarenko was initially confident that the troops could try to capture the city. However, the fighting lasted for a week, and the guerrillas were still in the countryside and
Circles in the forest. Facing a city guarded by the German army with heavy weapons and a few armored vehicles, and close to the guerrillas with light weapons, it is really difficult to win.
Even if it is so difficult, we must try to attack! We must cooperate with the 63rd Army in the swamps that are being attacked by the main German army, and we must relieve their pressure.
Obviously, Ponomarenko believed that Berekov encountered a huge crisis based on his experience. However, the rapid development of the war situation was beyond his expectation.
In the past few days, telegrams have been flying all over the office building of the guerrilla movement headquarters, which is his lounge. Where have the troops fought? What results have they achieved? What losses have the Germans suffered? What is the current situation of the 63rd Army?
Telegrams from the front are sent almost every hour, but they do not include telegrams from the Partisan Republic. So far, Ponomarenko knows that he cannot fully control that unit, and that Belekov is unruly.
Yes, that Salinchkin obviously has his own ideas. They openly accept the complete command of the guerrilla movement headquarters, but their military operations are almost always reported after achieving certain results, or reporting victory.
It's a request for support.
On the morning of July 18, the Guerrilla Republic sent a very brief telegram: We are attacking Lechica.
The message is only one sentence, and the rest of the content does not exist at all.
What? They are actually going to attack Lechitsa? Can they complete the victory?
For this reason, Ponomarenko quickly held an emergency meeting during the day. At the meeting, a group of staff members had different opinions on the direction of the war.
After all, the meeting did not discuss a reason, and even more strangely, there was no response to the telegrams sent to the Guerrilla Republic, as if they had adopted radio silence.
"They must be on their way to attack Lechica. That Berekov, he wants those Lechica with all his life! Comrades, regardless of whether Lechica will be liberated or not, our entire campaign will be greatly changed.
"Ponomarenko emphasized this and was recognized by everyone.
"Indeed." Deputy Commander Bogdanov stood up: "Comrade Commander-in-Chief, because of the guerrilla republic's active attack, they will contain a large number of the main German troops. In this way, our army's attack on Svetlogorsk will face
The German blockade will be greatly weakened. The German 722nd Division will definitely counterattack Lechica, and the threat to our army's southern flank will also be greatly reduced."
"There is even a possibility!" The Chief of General Staff of the headquarters stood up: "If the Guerrilla Republic really liberates Lechica, then our two large guerrilla brigade can directly contact them. Even, we
We can also ask them to continue heading north to cooperate with the Red October Brigade’s attack on Svetlogorsk.”
Ponomarenko frowned, he smoked a cigarette and stared at the map on the wall, shaking his head intriguingly.
"Of course I hope they can liberate Lechica, but can they achieve victory quickly? I think many people here don't believe it. Comrades, please note that the military operations of the Guerrilla Republic began on the 20th of last month.
It has been a month now. They have indeed achieved a shocking victory. Comrades, we sent two guerrilla brigade south to fight in order to support them. As a result, they agreed to the German army almost by virtue of their own strength.
Encirclement and suppression, and launched a strategic counterattack.
However, can they always maintain such a strong combat effectiveness? It is simply impossible! There will definitely be problems with their ammunition and food. If they continue to attack Lechica, they will definitely suffer serious losses."
The meeting room was quickly divided into optimistic and cautious groups.
The optimists believe that the combat effectiveness of the Guerrilla Republic clearly belongs to the elite front-line troops, and it is not difficult to liberate Lechica. The cautious people believe that the city and surrounding areas are heavily defended by the German army after all, and the German army has painstakingly built a line of defense in order to quickly liberate it.
Lechica can be described as difficult.
Ponomarenko himself is cautious but also optimistic. He really hopes in his dreams that Belekov of the Guerrilla Republic will defeat Lechica. In short, the commander of the Russian ethnic group probably cannot win, but the commander from China
, should be able to create miracles.
Therefore, with expectations and uneasiness, Ponomarenko ushered in the night of the 18th. He was physically and mentally exhausted and almost went to bed. However, he felt that he had just fallen asleep when he was awakened by a rapid knock on the door.
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"Comrade Commander-in-Chief! Urgent call from the front!"
"Emergency call?" Ponomarenko slowly opened his eyes, turned on the desk lamp, put on his slippers in his pajamas, and hurriedly opened the door.
Angrily, he asked the guard delivering the message: "Urgent message? Who sent it?"
"It's... it's a guerrilla republic."
"What?!" As if he was hit hard, Ponomarenko's whole body stretched like a wooden pile, and the fat in his belly trembled.
"Commander-in-Chief, don't be nervous. It is indeed a telegram from the Guerrilla Republic. Please go downstairs and take a look at the document. Our correspondent is still in contact with them."
Ponomarenko looked at his watch. It was already one o'clock in the morning. So, the headquarters tried to contact them for more than ten hours, but it turned out that they had caused radio silence. Maybe they had practical requirements for doing this, so now they sent a telegram,
There must be an explanation for the battle in Lechica.
He looked at the soldier's face, which could be said to be filled with joy. He must have read some of the contents of the telegram to have such a bright look.
"First tell me whether the content of the telegram is about Lechica. If so, tell me how the city is doing now."
Hearing this, the soldiers were delighted on the spot: "Lechica has been liberated!"
"Finally, the dream has come true!?" Ponomarenko's eyes widened. He did not express ecstasy, but suppressed his joy.
He hurried downstairs and understood everything after seeing the telegram.
Although it was the early morning of the 19th, the Communications Room of the Guerrilla Republic, according to the meeting Yang Mingzhi held before going to bed, had already drafted the materials that needed to be sent to the highest superiors. After Yang Mingzhi fell asleep, Salinchkin made another surprise attack
Write materials and use the Ministry of Internal Affairs' own radio station to send urgent messages to Moscow.
In the early morning of this morning, all the resting correspondents in the communications department of the guerrilla movement headquarters were awakened, and they continued to work until eight o'clock in the morning.
Ponomarenko stayed up until seven o'clock in the morning with bloodshot eyes. He was physically exhausted but mentally very excited.
The guerrilla republic won the battle, and its results even exceeded the estimates of the optimists.
At the morning meeting, everyone watched their commander-in-chief excitedly pound the table: "That Comrade Belekov! He is a hero! Just yesterday evening, a large-scale attack on Lechica began. The guerrilla attack
The Republic dispatched more than 10,000 people, and in just six hours, they annihilated the defenders in the city and liberated the city."
In fact, many senior officials in the headquarters were aware of this fact in the early morning. Therefore, many people wrote some materials about it, and the content was full of praise.
Of course, many staff officers can be said to be sophisticated and scheming. Although the liberation of Lechicha was exciting, after they were happy, they immediately began to analyze and deduce the development of the war situation.
So after Ponomarenko made an impassioned speech, the chief of staff stood up and read out his analysis of the development of the war situation and the strategies the troops would adopt.
The chief of staff’s analysis can be simplified to five points:
First: According to telegrams from the Guerrilla Republic, although they liberated Lechica, they suffered heavy casualties. There were about two thousand casualties, accounting for one-sixth of the attacking force. There are currently nine combatable soldiers occupying Lechica.
There are thousands of them, many of them have been engaged in combat since June. A large number of soldiers have become ill due to overwork and suffer from many minor ailments. Minor ailments can be overcome by perseverance, but it is an indisputable fact that the physical fitness of the soldiers has been greatly weakened.
Second: The Guerrilla Republic actually began preparations for the war on June 16, and the war eventually evolved into the current local strategic decisive battle. The ammunition reserved by the troops was severely consumed, especially RPG warheads, recoilless gun shells, and various rockets.
Because the consumption of ammunition is seriously greater than the production, coupled with the fact that the arsenal lacks raw materials, the army's logistical disaster is already imminent.
Third: The guerrilla republic mobilized all those who could afford weapons, including women, the elderly, and children. The elite troops suffered unprecedented casualties during the month of combat. The troops participating in the liberation of Lechica have been supplemented by a large number of middle-aged and elderly men.
.A large number of new recruits who lacked training and should not even become soldiers suffered the most serious casualties.
Fourth: The cumulative number of wounded in the Guerrilla Republic has exceeded 4,000, and all hospitals in Novgomel are full. The consumption of anti-inflammatory drugs and sanitary products is unprecedented, and its medical staff even have to rush herbal medicine everywhere to treat diseases and anesthesia.
The medicine was even replaced with spirits.
Fifth: Two German infantry regiments are about to penetrate into the black earth village in the far west of Novgomel. Since all the elites are in Gomel, a hundred kilometers away, the guerrilla republic can only rely on assault-armed women and children to resist.
Those five thousand enemies.
These five statements of fact by the chief of staff directly broke up the festive atmosphere about the liberation of Lechica in the venue.
People's attitudes suddenly changed from ecstasy to great concern.
Yes, as long as you read the series of telegrams sent by the Guerrilla Republic at night, you can understand the huge dilemma they are in.
A superb chess player will think of the chess game in the next few moves. A good commander will not stick to the short-term victory in front of him, but will fully analyze the situation of the enemy and ourselves, and constantly revise the deployment of troops and strategies and tactics.
However, didn’t the liberation of Lechica still dampen the arrogance of German fascism?
The Soviet representative on the National Defense Committee stood up. He believed that the chief of staff's remarks were simply badmouthing the guerrilla republic.
"Although Comrade Belekov and his troops are facing many difficulties, aren't our two guerrilla brigades also encountering difficulties? Why should we exaggerate the tragic current situation of the guerrilla republic in this meeting? Comrades, wake up!
They are the heroic troops who liberated Lechica! Their actions proved that the great Soviet Red Army of Workers and Peasants was invincible and proved the superiority of our Soviet Union.
I have written a document overnight about the great victory of Belekov and the Partisan Republic. Right now, the leader may have seen this document. I also handed over the document overnight to TASS and to "Pravda"
Editor. Comrades, no matter what, we must publicize this matter with all our strength. The so-called Belarusian guerrillas successfully liberated a Soviet city. This is a miracle. We must publicize it to the whole world, so that we can use it
This is an opportunity to urge the international community to accelerate support for us."
This is a Soviet member. He is an expert in political work. As for military matters, he basically knows nothing about it. There is no doubt that the liberation of Lechica was vigorously publicized, but the words of this Soviet member were a lot of slogans.
Ponomarenko squinted at this high-spirited but pot-bellied man, pouted helplessly, and took a sip from his pipe.
"Comrade Sharif, this is a military meeting, not a political meeting." Ponomarenko knocked on the table and said, "I am very happy to see the propaganda department vigorously promote this victory. I also think the chief of staff's discussion is very pragmatic. Especially the fifth
Article, the elites of the guerrilla republic are all in Lechica, but the enemy's sneak attack troops have already arrived at the city. If things continue like this, they will start a fierce battle with the German sneak attack troops today.
To be honest, the guerrilla republic often does not listen to my orders. Even if they do, they almost always expand their operations after completing their mission.
The most typical one is this battle. A month ago, the German army launched Operation Blue. At present, the main force of our army is withdrawing to the Don River. At that time, I ordered Berekov to find ways to reduce the pressure on the front line, and they immediately took action.
It was this military operation that directly evolved into what it is now.
Of course I hope that all guerrillas can achieve brilliant results, but the war situation has become somewhat out of control."
"No! It's not out of control yet!" the chief of staff continued: "Comrades, the guerrilla republic has made its experience very bad, and their intention is to ask for our support. Is it possible for us to support it? I think not only
If we can find ways to support, we must also provide support.”
Next, the chief of staff read out the urgent needs of the guerrilla republic.
That is, the demand for 7.62 mm rifle ammunition, 9 mm pistol ammunition, 82 mm mortar shells, Soviet-made RPG launchers and supporting missiles, flour, cans, anti-inflammatory drugs, medical equipment, military uniforms and other military supplies.
"They need this support very urgently. I think it is necessary for the 101st Long-range Aviation Regiment to carry out targeted airdrops of supplies to Lechica. Of course, we must also provide supplies to the hinterland of the Lechica!"
The chief of staff mentioned the name of the 101st Long-Range Aviation Regiment, and Ponomarenko asked doubtfully: "This unit, do we still have such a unit under our command?"
"Of course there is. It's just that one of our transport planes split up and used the transport aircraft of this unit. Comrade Commander-in-Chief, it seems that you are not in a good mental state and you have actually forgotten about our air force."
"Hey, I just couldn't sleep all night." Ponomarenko's words made the atmosphere in the headquarters more relaxed.
In this way, the morning meeting finally has issues that must be discussed.
Whether it is Yang Mingzhi, Yevlov or Salynchkin, they all hope that the Soviet army can carry out long-range airdrops all the time. With the comprehensive eastward withdrawal of the Southwest Front, the guerrilla republics are further inland, and the hope of obtaining empty supplies is becoming increasingly slim.
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The guerrilla republic still has to try once. After all, if it can have the support of friendly forces, the combat effectiveness of the troops can be guaranteed for a long time.
Let’s say that the unit number mentioned by the Chief of Staff of the Guerrilla Movement Command is the 101st Long-Range Aviation Regiment.
The only mission of this unit is to provide various material supplies to the large guerrillas active in the occupied areas. However, this unit mainly provides supplies to the guerrillas in Leningrad, Smolensk and other places. They do also provide "
The two guerrilla brigades "Red October" and "Gypsymen" provided more than ten tons of ammunition and medicine, which contributed to their relatively high combat effectiveness.
The activity area of these two guerrilla brigades is very far to the west. The deeper they go into the occupied area, the greater the threat the transport aircraft faces.
However, the liberation of Lechica was the most incredible urban liberation completed by the Soviet army since the war. What was amazing about it was that Lechica was liberated entirely by relying on the guerrillas behind enemy lines to defeat tens of thousands of German regular troops.
The chief of staff made a clear statement: "I believe that all transport aircraft of the 101st Long-range Aviation Regiment must be organized. Even if it is risky, we must launch an important airdrop of supplies to Lechica. Only they have received this important batch of supplies.
, the city can hold on as long as possible.”
With a snap, Ponomarenko stood up suddenly.
"Then take action!"
His move shocked everyone, including the chief of staff of the proposal.
Ponomarenko's eyes were obviously bloodshot due to severe drowsiness. In the eyes of everyone, this directly showed his tough attitude.
"We must reinforce the guerrilla republic, no matter what, if the guerrilla republic suffers huge losses due to lack of supplies, or even causes the collapse of the Pripet Swamp, the largest liberated area behind enemy lines, I and everyone sitting here are part of the first
One person in charge. Now I have decided that the 101st Long Range Aviation Regiment will be fully assembled immediately. The assembly location will be Tula!"