The war situation was developing in a direction favorable to the Soviet army.
Almost all the elite troops of the German army were devoted to the offensive against southern Russia. Leningrad and Rzhev in the north were like magnets, attracting a large number of German troops.
Therefore, the number of German troops in the occupied areas has always been small, and the 700th Division, 707th Division, 715th Division, 722nd Division, 734th Division and 805th Division guarding southern Belarus have suffered varying degrees of losses.
Lechica was occupied by the Soviet army, and the German army had almost no troops to recapture it.
Among them, the 707th Division almost completely lost its combat effectiveness, and the 722nd Division was severely damaged. The 722nd Division absorbed part of the troops of the 707th Division, held on to Gomel, and faced off with an unknown number of Soviet troops approaching the city.
The main force of the 734th Division held on to Mozyri. Because the penetration attack completely failed, they and some officers and soldiers of the 700th Division had to hold on to Mozyri, and their tactics completely fell into passive self-restraint.
Svetlogorsk, guarded by the 805th Division, was fighting fiercely with a large number of Soviet guerrillas. Although they received reinforcements from the 705th Division, they still lost control of a large number of villages and allowed the guerrillas to recruit troops on a large scale during the battle.
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The 715th Division originally suffered heavy losses. After returning to the country to rest and recuperate, they regained their combat strength and are now responsible for the defense of Bobruisk, an important town in southern Belarus. Guerrilla activities have appeared around the city, and things are happening every day in the city.
Due to the assassinations and bombings caused by the guerrillas, this unit was unable to leave the city to suppress the bandits.
This was the current situation of the German troops in southern Belarus on July 21.
The total strength of the German army is actually 55,000 people. They are all serious German troops, and their members are all young Germans. The German army currently has four police groups composed of locals, plus emergency local police
The people's militia barely had 10,000 more people.
However, a police group openly rebelled and gave the Germans a heavy blow in the back.
Wagner, the commander of the German Army Group, did not hesitate to attribute the failure of the infiltration force to the defection of the police regiment. He had what he considered to be strict logic. That is, after the police regiment escorting the logistics supplies defected, the German army lost its logistics supplies. In order to
Don't starve to death in the swamp and have to make an emergency retreat.
Now, all the Eastern volunteers serving the German army have suddenly become potential traitors. Suspicions are spreading among the army. Perhaps they have already planned to return to the Soviet Union and plan to deliver a fatal blow to the German army at the right time.
News of the mutiny in the police regiment spread throughout the German army, and German soldiers in several divisions suddenly became wary of their local allies.
Is it intentional to work slowly?
If you look at German soldiers with angry eyes, do you want to rebel?
The German army could not think of any proper way to ease the suddenly tense relationship between the German army and the puppet army.
Moreover, because on July 20, Wagner publicly hanged fifty so-called guerrillas in Bobruisk, the whole city fell into white terror. On that day, some citizens began to quietly leave the city because they were worried about their personal safety.
.They took almost no luggage and ran towards the woods outside the city, although there may be guerrillas there.
Since the guerrillas blatantly supported the puppet army's rebellion and were pardoned for their crimes, then why should those who were living under the Nazis' iron heel because they were afraid of it be afraid of their compatriots who were guerrillas?
Instead, he stayed in the city and survived on the meager food provided by the German occupying forces. Now that he was worried about being caught and hanged by the Germans for no reason, he had better run away quickly.
On the morning of July 21st, the stalls where the Germans served breakfast suddenly lost many people. It was not that the citizens collectively refused to eat the potatoes provided by the Germans out of national integrity, but that a large number of citizens really fled overnight.
city.
So at noon, some citizens were discovered by officers and soldiers of the German 715th Division who were stationed outside the city, and there was even a firefight. It was not until the soldiers discovered that they had killed women and children that they were shocked to realize that these people were fleeing citizens.
Some people were deported to the city. Wagner was furious about this. He could think of only one way to curb the escape-hanging.
Throughout July 21, there were no more gallows in Bobruisk. How many ordinary citizens were executed on this day? The German army did not even keep statistics.
However, most of the street lights in the city had corpses hanging on them. The frightened surviving citizens estimated that at least a thousand people had been killed today.
It is hoped that the atmosphere of terror will suppress the escape of citizens. This method seems to be very effective. Of course, all Wagner's staff unanimously agreed to send troop handlers at various intersections in the city, establish more sentries outside the city, and increase patrols.
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In this way, it can not only prevent citizens from fleeing, but also prevent guerrillas from sneaking into the city from causing damage. If the main force of Soviet guerrillas attacks the city, it can also be well defended.
In the afternoon of this day, the German army began to implement this policy, and at the same time, the executions in the city continued until the evening.
When mass hangings took place on the morning of the 20th, the underground guerrilla workers in the city quickly reported the atrocities committed by the German army in Bobruisk. The atrocities aroused great anger in Moscow, and Ponomarenko attended an emergency meeting
At one point, he planned to send his "Red October" guerrilla brigade to suddenly go north to attack Bobruisk and save innocent citizens.
However, others rejected this plan.
The reason is very simple. Although the "Red October" brigade actually grew larger in strength during the battle. After they liberated the village, they killed the enemy and raped them, and then ordered all the men in the village between the ages of fourteen and fifty to join the army. The actual situation was
, almost the entire village residents planned to join the guerrillas, only the oldest ones planned to stay in the village and not be a burden to the guerrillas.
In this way, the "Red October" brigade suddenly expanded to 20,000 people. The telegram they sent to the guerrilla movement headquarters explained this number. However, Ponomarenko, who was eager to win, subconsciously thought that these two
Ten thousand people are all fighting troops.
"No! There are a large number of women and old people among them, and they have not even received military training. These people cannot even serve as soldiers, so how many combat troops there are in Red October, I think that eight thousand people is an overestimation.
." said the Chief of General Staff of the headquarters.
Of course, Ponomarenko was not a fool. He admitted his previous misunderstanding, and then denied his idea of heading north to Bobruisk.
"If this incident leads to the tragedy of the 17th Guerrilla Brigade in May, I am afraid that the leader will remove me from my post. So, what is the current situation of the 63rd Army?"
A staff officer stood up and said, "They have fully received the supplies airdropped by our army, and all weapons and equipment have been distributed. They firmly guarded Lechica, especially destroying the railway bridge and completely blowing up the Lechica train station. Reality
As long as they can control Lechica, the southern Belarusian railway line controlled by the German army will collapse!"
Another staff officer said: "The troops guarding Lechica have more than 10,000 troops. However, a considerable number of these soldiers have been fighting fierce battles with the Germans since June 20. We are always paying attention to the Pripet Swamp.
situation, so we know that this large-scale battle commanded by Lieutenant General Berekov has been going on for a whole month. Although we have provided them with airdrops of supplies, their situation is still very difficult."
Ponomarenko nodded: "This is the whole reason why I ordered Kovpak's troops to urgently reinforce Pripet Swamp. Although the 21st Guerrilla Brigade has joined the anti-fascist array, the Guerrilla Republic is facing two well-equipped
The German troops of the two regiments. Belekov transferred the main force to Lechica. If he wants to defeat the German troops of these two regiments, he needs fresh troops."
"Comrade Commander-in-Chief!" the Chief of General Staff said with excitement: "They sent a telegram at six o'clock in the morning today (the 20th), claiming that the German army abandoned a large amount of heavy equipment and withdrew. Our army even captured eight assault guns."
"What? So sudden?"
"This situation should have been reported to you. Since you ordered the meeting, I will mention it by the way."
The rapid development of the battle shocked Ponomarenko. He pinched his chin in excitement, "So, it is unnecessary for me to order Kovpak to attack the swamp on the 21st. Maybe I can order them to attack a new
Target, say Gomel."
His idea was immediately rejected by the chief of staff and other staff officers, including representatives of the National Defense Committee.
The reason for everyone's opposition is very simple: Kovpak and the Jedi are incapable of liberating Gomel.
The chief of staff explained: "They are severely lacking in heavy weapons, with one machine gun for every 100 people. Lieutenant General Berekov is a strange person. He should have returned to the rear, or to oversee the development and development of new weapons of mass destruction."
Mass production, or command the newly formed troops to engage in frontal combat. The success of the guerrilla republic almost entirely depends on his correct guidance. However, Kovpak's troops do not have such a strange person, and even their location is smaller than that of Pripe
The swamp is much more dangerous.
Kovpak only had rifles and machine guns, and its heavy weapons were a small number of captured mortars. General Berekov, when he liberated Homnich, Loyev, and Lechicha, he first used rocket launchers to bomb. Because
The power was so great that Homnich, Loev, and the German defenders among them were all reduced to pieces.
Therefore, if Kovpak is allowed to attack Gomel, which is heavily defended by the German army, the tragedy of the 17th Partisan Brigade will only happen again."
The last words of the chief of staff made Ponomarenko, who had wanted to refute, stop in an instant.
On July 20, the war situation stabilized slightly, and the Soviet guerrillas participating in the war were seizing the time to digest the fruits of victory.
Near noon on July 21, there was a regular meeting of the guerrilla movement headquarters. The chief of staff sorted out the telegrams received during the night and morning. The meeting discussed several issues, which also required Ponomarenko's approval.
The chief of staff smiled and handed a telegram from the Partisan Republic to Ponomarenko.
Ponomarenko couldn't help laughing when he saw it.
"Haha, comrades, you were all opposed to the possibility of Kovpak attacking to liberate Gomel yesterday. Now Lieutenant General Berekov is asking me, isn't it the best decision to let Kovpak attack Gomel? What should I do?
How to respond?"
"Of course I will explain the reasons." The chief of staff shrugged, "Today, Kovpak and his 6,000 men have started to attack. We don't know what marching route they will choose. We want to ask Kovpak,
A communications channel will also be announced to allow direct communication between Kovpak and Berekov.
Kovpak must move to the swamp, and then we order Berekov to provide some heavy weapons and food.
Belekov has managed the guerrilla republic very well. They have a large amount of food surplus. They already feed 60,000 people, and it is possible that they can feed 100,000 people. Didn't Kovpak complain to us about their food shortage? They
Without a solid base, it would be very difficult to airdrop food, so it would be better to let them go to the swamps for supplies."
"Excellent strategy!" Ponomarenko nodded with satisfaction, "The threat to the west of the Guerrilla Republic is gone, and I was worried about the reason for Kovpak to attack. Now it's okay, they have to get an important supply in the swamp, they
Its combat effectiveness will also increase."
"It's not just that." The chief of staff pointed out clearly, "Berekov has a good way of running the army. Let him reorganize the Kovpak troops, which will have huge positive significance for the future development of the guerrilla movement. Besides, no matter what this situation is,
What is the outcome of the battle? In the future, the situation in southern Belarus will completely change. The Guerrilla Republic will become a huge food and arms production center. In that way, we will not have to take huge risks to transport large quantities of supplies. Maybe the actual situation is that we transport
The supplies are not as much as what they produce themselves."
"From a strategic perspective, the guerrilla republic seems to have become an indestructible fortress?"
The chief of staff immediately said: "Based on the current situation, it is indeed the case. So we received a telegram from the Red October Guerrilla Brigade."
"Read it quickly!"
"Okay." The chief of staff took out a piece of paper and read immediately: "Our troops will complete the control of all villages around Svetlogorsk, blow up ten bridges that go along the Dnieper River, and collect the refugees to a certain extent.
There are 5,000 people, of which about 5,000 are directly recruited, and another 10,000 are mainly women, children and the elderly, with women being the largest number, and there are also 1,000 young children. They are really not suitable for fighting, and our ministry hopes to transport these people to
Lechitsa, and finally transported to the Pripet Swamp. Captain of the Red October Partisan Brigade, Tikhon Pimenovich Boumazhkov."
"I agree!" Ponomarenko, who had just finished listening, jumped up almost without thinking.
His excited look surprised everyone present.
The chief of staff said: "Don't be so excited. Of course, since you have given permission, I ask you to draft a telegram ordering Red October to act immediately and ordering the guerrilla republic to accept these people."
"I will. Since tens of thousands of refugees are going to move to Pripet Swamp, they need a lot of supplies. I'm very worried that the supplies Berekov has hoarded are not enough. It seems that the 101st Long-range Aviation Regiment will have to do it again
Transportation, this time airdrop to the swamp."
By July 21st, Ponomarenko no longer thought about further expanding the victory. The bread had to be eaten one bite at a time, digesting what was eaten first, and then eating the next one.
According to the telegram, the two brigades, Red October and Gypsy, had as many as 20,000 refugees in need of transfer. It was simply unrealistic for them to take so many refugees into the war. Besides, the refugees followed the guerrillas and left their hometowns to escape German control.
, the guerrillas are obliged to take them to a safe zone.
The only safe zone is Pripet Swamp!
While Xianzaliechicha is still firmly controlled by the Soviet army, a safe passage to the swamp does exist, and now is the best time to transfer.
Therefore, on the afternoon of July 21, five lengthy telegrams were sent to the communications room of the 63rd Army Headquarters located in the Blacksmith Village of the Guerrilla Republic.
Yang Mingzhi, who had originally left the hospital and witnessed the large-scale use of anti-inflammatory drugs for emergency treatment, happily went to the arsenal to supervise workers casting artillery shell embryos from various types of scrap iron just shipped from the front line, was urgently called to the headquarters for a meeting.
When he learned that his superiors had sent five telegrams in one go, he knew it was time for him to get on with things again.