The Soviet army had already determined that the German army would capture Lechica, so the transfer of refugees was carried out in an orderly manner, even though they did not know that the German army had already made a plan to attack Lechica.
The number of refugees escorted by the two guerrilla brigades totaled 23,000 as of July 23. However, according to information sent by the Red October Brigade, they gathered some more refugees, so that by the 24th
On the same day, new groups of refugees arrived.
"More and more people are escaping from the iron heel of the Nazi control, which is a good thing for us. We will accept as many as they come, and then take the best of them and train tens of thousands of soldiers." Yevlov is full of confidence in the future.
, he really wants to recruit 100,000 refugees!
However, Yang Mingzhi is a little worried about the future.
His concern is not about the refugees, but about Lechica's future.
Throughout the 23rd, the Guerrilla Republic received many more telegrams from Moscow. Yang Mingzhi read each telegram carefully, his eyes widening, looking for information on whether the German army had organized an offensive. There was indeed no such content.
, Happily, the superiors decided to launch another airdrop in the early morning of the 24th.
The new airdrop has two destinations. One is Lechica, and the other is the mining area in the southern part of the Guerrilla Republic (the sulfur mine was chosen because of its unique and highly recognizable landform).
Therefore, on the evening of the 23rd, the headquarters held a surprise military meeting in response to many contents of the telegram.
Yevlov looked confident: "Everything is under the control of our army. The first batch of refugees has arrived in Homnich. Wait until tomorrow, and some of the refugees will get on the carriages and arrive in Black Soil in the evening.
village."
"After they arrived, I personally sent people to carry out the task of receiving them." Lyudbalev did his part on this issue. He made certain modifications to the previously formulated measures. In the past two days, the remaining troops also built
Some new wood carvings, "To be honest, even if 30,000 people come, our houses will be enough."
"Yes. We have sacrificed many soldiers, so many barracks are vacant. Although my thoughts will make some soldiers feel uncomfortable, we cannot let the barracks be empty." After that, Yevlov glanced at Yang a few times.
Mingzhi.
"Oh? Look at me? I think there's nothing wrong with handling it this way. As for the resettlement of refugees, I think we don't need to discuss it anymore."
"So far, this is indeed the case." Salinchkin looked around, "You are all important figures in the guerrilla republic. We now need to discuss tomorrow's material reception work. We need to send some troops to the mines to collect them.
Bring back all the airdropped supplies. Who would be more appropriate to send? Comrade Berekov, you are the general, it is your idea."
As for who should be sent to the mine, the woman would of course refuse to let him go.
"Send Joshua's female soldiers, as well as Sashanova's. Especially since Joshua was originally stationed at the mine, and she knows the geography and landforms in that area best. In order to ensure that anyone who falls into a blind corner
The packages can be picked out, she must go."
Salinchkin nodded: "You answered simply. However, those two female corps also belong to the elite category. They were originally used as strategic reserves. Once there is a change in Lechicha, they will go to put out the fire."
"Having said that, I don't intend to let women make huge sacrifices anymore. After all, most male warriors really can't bear the fact that a large number of women die. Now we should try to be more conservative. Besides, it is also women's natural attentiveness that makes
They are collecting airdrop supplies, which is a good job for now. When the refugees arrive in large numbers, they will also help with their settlement.
Of course, the second problem we are currently facing is the city defense of Lechica. Although we have not received any news about the German army attacking Lechica, we all believe that the German army will not give up. They currently have insufficient troops. In fact, as long as
If they are willing, they will definitely mobilize troops from home.
The Germans have sent reinforcements from the 700th Division. We have defeated this force so far, but we have also suffered a certain amount of casualties. If they send more troops along the railway to Mozyr, and then attack in one go, we can only
Retreat to the swamp. Use the large amount of mud to contain the enemy, and consume them bit by bit, forcing them to retreat."
The headquarters fell into temporary silence...
In fact, everyone is only temporarily optimistic about the current situation. The troops have caused "hemorrhage" to the German army, and the enemy's revenge will only become more violent.
Salinchkin knew some intelligence from high-level Soviet officials: "Currently, our army suffered a defeat east of Smolensk. The 39th Army suffered huge losses and only more than 10,000 people escaped from the encirclement. However, according to me
As we all know, our army is preparing for a large-scale strategic offensive, just like the Kharkov offensive in May. I estimate that the German army is also aware of our army's big move, so we firmly occupy Lechica.
The days cannot last long."
On the entire strategic map, the situation of the Soviet and German armies has become very obvious. On the more than 500-kilometer front from Rzhev to Sychevka, the Soviet and German armies are fighting fiercely, while more than 200 kilometers behind the front, from Prussia to
From Ripet Swamp to Zhlobin, the guerrillas took over a huge guerrilla zone covering an area of 11,000 square kilometers, and the German troops in the area were completely eliminated.
"We and our neighboring troops occupy a huge area of land. Unfortunately, all our combat forces combined are equivalent to four infantry divisions."
"That's 50,000 people!" Yevlov said immediately, "Comrade Berekov, we must keep fighting at any time. Our army is now at an advantage, and we must do our best to expand the results, even if it is
It's a lot of sacrifice. I have to stress that to you."
Seeing him so excited, Yang Mingzhi quickly stood up and waved his hands: "Comrades, don't get me wrong, I don't have any timid thoughts now. It's just that we need to formulate a combat plan to face the most critical situation.
.”
"The most dangerous situation?" Salinchkin pushed up his glasses, "The most dangerous situation is the huge number of reinforcements from the German army like a scourge, and even the dispatch of armored troops to attack Lechica. You are right.
Bar."
Yang Mingzhi nodded and shook his head.
"Huh? I just don't understand. What do you mean?"
Yang Mingzhi grinned again: "Everyone, let's stop sitting with our legs crossed and talking. Let's go to the map wall."
Next, with a wooden stick in hand, Yang Mingzhi pointed at the map and began to talk.
"Currently, the Red October Brigade is fighting fiercely with the German army in Svetlogorsk and Zhlobin. The front line is currently relatively stable. They tried to attack the city but were unable to do so, and the German army did not have more mobile forces to fight our army.
Mobile warfare.
The Gypsy Brigade operates in the area north of Gomel and at the border with the Soviet Union. Their combat mode and the conditions they encountered were very similar to the Red October Brigade.
If the German army sends a large force to attack Lechica, it will be easier for them to mobilize troops from the west than to withdraw troops from the east. My analysis is that the German army is very likely to copy the reinforcement method of its 700th Division and arrive at Mozyr by railway.
.Next, Lechica will be subjected to a fierce attack by the German army.
I don’t think and don’t allow the German army to capture Lechica quickly, but we don’t have the ability to hold Lechica forever. Maybe this defense battle will be as brutal as the Brest Fortress, but we will still lose Lechica.
.
However, the consequence of losing Lechicha will be that the Red October Brigade and the Gypsy Brigade will be completely destroyed."
When Yang Mingzhi said the last word, he deliberately emphasized his tone.
"What? Could it be that the loss of Lechica will also mean the collapse of our thirty thousand guerrilla fighters in the north?" Salinchkin's eyes widened, and others were also shocked.
"Isn't it?" Yang Mingzhi sighed and pointed the wooden stick at the Bryansk area.
“Bryansk Oblast is surrounded by forests, which is very convenient for the development of guerrilla movements. However, in Belarus, most areas are also densely forested, but west of the Mozyr-Gomel railway, there are a large number of small plain areas with forests.
It’s not dense. This kind of landform is not conducive to guerrilla warfare. Besides!”
Yang Mingzhi knocked on the wall a few more times, "I can be considered a real guerrilla expert. Since they have tried their best to transfer the people from the villages they can find to us. Then once Lechicha falls, we and them will
How can they fight alone when their contact is interrupted?
They lacked food and ammunition, and even the village residents who could have provided supplies moved to us. They lost their supplies and faced enemies from all directions. Even if they could escape back to their starting point in the forest of Bryansk, they would have to flee.
The price paid was staggering in terms of casualties.”
After what Yang Mingzhi said, everyone couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. What he said was indeed reasonable. The two guerrilla brigade already had logistical problems!
Salinchkin wiped the sweat from his forehead: "Our army also received a telegram from the front line. The two guerrilla brigades sent thousands of people today to carry away a lot of flour from the Lechica warehouse we captured."
"There are also a lot of German-made ammunition!" Yang Mingzhi said along the way, "To be honest, the ammunition dropped by superiors are all Soviet-made, and our Soviet weapons are not very large. Among the weapons we and our friendly forces have, the largest number
For German rifles and machine guns, at least 90% use German-made bullets. Of course, the more bullets of various types the better, I am not picky.
Now that I have said so much, I believe everyone has a clear understanding of the potential major crises facing our friendly forces."
Yevlov nodded: "I basically understand. No matter what happens to Lechicha, I can't just sit idly by and ignore the casualties of friendly forces!"
"Yes!" Yang Mingzhi stamped his feet fiercely, "Next, is our detailed strategy."
It turned out that Yang Mingzhi believed that the two guerrilla brigades had completed a large-scale relocation of peaceful residents in the controlled area, and an area of more than 9,000 square kilometers had become a no-man's land in the real sense. Once Lechicha was attacked, the guerrillas were expected to
The current manpower and material resources of the Republic are to defend it, even if all the people are used up, it will be difficult to achieve.
Lechica’s position is too delicate!
For some time, two guerrilla brigade have been blowing up railways on a large scale in their control areas. If they lack explosives, they use shovels to dig out the railway track bedrock or find ways to pull out the railway tracks. The Guerrilla Republic has blown up important railway bridges.
In a real sense of the word, the railway at Lechica Railway Station was also blown to pieces.
It will indeed take a long time for the German army to restore these railways, but they still have to capture Liechicha. After all, repairing the railways is much faster than building a new main line.
When the German army stormed Lechica, it was the time for the two guerrilla brigade to retreat.
When Yang Mingzhi explained to this point, Salinchkin pinched his chin and couldn't help but ask: "Will they listen to us? They are obeying the orders of their superiors, the orders of Ponomarenko himself."
"They will definitely do it. The attack on Lechica is only part of the German counterattack. Haven't you noticed that our current control area actually forms a salient? The German army can easily create a pocket for our army, and the exit of the pocket
, which is an area of only 30 kilometers between Lechica and Gomel.”
What Yang Mingzhi meant was that in the event of a German siege, a safe corridor must be ensured between Lechicha and Gomel.
When Yang Mingzhi said this, he couldn't help but think of the past a year ago.
"This is like a smaller version of the Vitebsk Pocket! Guys, our 284th Guards Infantry Division, isn't it like the two guerrilla brigade now? It's just that we and the Sixth Mechanized Army were very lucky and escaped by chance.
It’s just a swamp. However, at least 300,000 troops did not break out and either died in battle or surrendered.”
Using the Vitebsk Pocket to explain the current situation of the Partisan Republic instantly made everyone present understand.
"You wish you had said so earlier." Yevlov scratched his brown-haired head covered with dandruff, "You Chinese really can't explain things directly like us?"
"This matter needs to be explained clearly!" Yang Mingzhi continued to hold the wooden stick, "If I were the German commander, I would definitely occupy Lechica with all my strength, so that I could be connected with the defenders of Gomel and have pockets.
Then I was stabbed. So next, should I go south into the swamp and continue fighting, or should I eliminate the guerrillas in the encirclement? Of course, I would eliminate the guerrillas in the encirclement. As for entering the swamp, I have to think about the huge risks of doing so.
"
"Oh? Does that mean that even if Lechitsa is captured by the German army, the German army will not go south again?" Salinchkin asked in surprise.
Yang Mingzhi nodded and pointed in the direction of the wooden door: "As far as I know, it is rainy in August and September in Pripet Swamp. Especially in the current situation, there has been no heavy rain for many days. Does that mean?
Will there be an autumn rain that lasts for a long time? The Germans are not afraid of drowning in the mud, so they can come. I guess the Germans are still smart. Unless they are crazy, they will gather their troops and go south in the extremely muddy state."
"You mean, as long as we can maintain a life corridor between Lechitsa and Gomel at the most critical moment, the most dangerous situation will not happen?" Sarinchkin asked.
"Yes. From a military point of view, it doesn't matter if the two guerrilla brigade in the north are withdrawn and Lechica is abandoned. Of course, I estimate that when the German army attacks, the six thousand reinforcements of our Kovpak will be
We have already arrived. Perhaps, we can use Kovpak's troops to inflict another heavy blow on the German army."
"Okay!" Yevlov likes to attack very much. "Isn't it very likely that the German reinforcements will pass through Mozyr? As soon as Kovpak arrives, we will give them some weapons and equipment, and then let them attack Mozyr. Put Mozyr
The Kalinkovich railway station in Mozyr was completely blown up. The map we captured in May showed that there should be several small prisoner-of-war camps near Mozyr. We should destroy them together. By completing all this, we have deserved it.
The fallen soldiers."
Yevlov's words are quite encouraging. Indeed, Kovpak's army is rushing towards the swamp at a super high speed of fifty kilometers a day. As expected, they will arrive in Loyev on July 26th.
, which is equivalent to joining forces with the Guerrilla Republic.