"No. 3, No. 3! I am No. 35, we are being surrounded by enemies! Requesting reinforcements!"
No. 3 is the code name of the 79th Division headquarters, and No. 35 is the 333rd Regiment.
As the battle progressed, Major Gavrilov found that the situation was getting more and more serious, and German tanks even appeared from behind to launch a tentative attack.
This meant that the Germans had reached the back of the 333rd Regiment. Fortunately, the sky was getting dark at this time. Since tanks did not have the ability to fight at night, the Germans did not dare to easily attempt a large-scale attack.
But the problem is...
The enemy had closed the encirclement, but Colonel Ovech's voice was silent... The division headquarters originally issued orders one after another, but they still held firm. Two hours later, contact was completely lost.
"Maybe the enemy blew up the phone line!" Political Commissar Fu Ming said.
"No, Comrade Political Commissar!" Major Gavrilov shook his head and replied: "These telephone lines are buried deep underground. Several of them are buried to ensure communication. It is unlikely that they will be blown down!"
After a pause, Major Gavrilov added: "Unless...they have retreated!"
"No, maybe the Germans have occupied the division headquarters!" Political Commissar Fumin certainly did not believe that his superiors would order the 333rd Regiment not to take a step back on the one hand, but on the other hand, they would "retreat" as Major Gavrilov said.
Therefore, if there is one reason, Political Commissar Fuming believes that the German army occupied the division headquarters.
"No matter what it is!" Major Gavrilov said: "I mean, whether the division headquarters retreats or is occupied by the enemy, this is not a good thing for us!"
"Yes!" Political Commissar Fuming nodded helplessly.
He understood the meaning of Gavrilov's words. Major Gavrilov was giving face to Political Commissar Fomin. The so-called "good thing" meant that Commissar Fomin's previous inference was wrong, that is, the division knew that
The reason why the 333rd Regiment still ordered to hold on despite being surrounded was because there was a larger "comprehensive plan."
Now that the battle has reached this point, the connection with the division headquarters has been severed, and there is still no next step. The 333rd Regiment may be wiped out at any time due to an attack from the rear... This shows that the division headquarters has no plan at all.
"Breakout?" Major Gavrilov asked: "Now that the enemy's encirclement has not been completely closed and we are not fully prepared, otherwise we may face a desperate situation again!"
Political Commissar Fuming thought for a moment, then nodded and replied: "I agree!"
At this time, there was no room for him to disagree, because everyone knew what it would mean for the 333rd Regiment to wait like this.
So the order to prepare for a breakout was quickly passed down.
This order instantly wiped away the joy of victory, and then some soldiers complained:
"What's going on? We are surrounded by enemies again!"
"Our flank was breached by the enemy, why do we have no news at all?"
"What are the main forces doing? This battle is like we are fighting the Germans alone!"
…
It’s not surprising that the soldiers would have such thoughts. They were tired of being surrounded by the enemy. They thought that it would be different after joining the main force. At least there would be reinforcements, support or other things from the main force behind them. Unexpectedly, they were still surrounded.
This blow from hope to disappointment is often the most fatal.
"Shulka!" At this time, Major Gavrilov called the bunker and shouted: "Come to the headquarters!"
"Yes, Major!" Shulka responded.
No need to think about it, it must be related to the breakout.
Go out from the back door of the bunker, run east along the communication trench for a while, and then turn into the bunker where Major Gavrilov serves as his headquarters.
Several battalion commanders were already inside, but it seemed that the meeting had already ended, because the officers did not speak or argue.
Sure enough, when Major Gavrilov saw Shulka coming in, he said: "Shulka, I think you also know that we are going to break out. We all think that it is best to break out to the east. I want to hear what you think is different."
Opinion!"
It is normal to break out to the east, because the east is where the main force is, so it is easy to reach a consensus.
"Major!" Shulka replied with some embarrassment: "I can't say anything unless I know more information!"
"What do you mean?" Major Gavrilov asked.
"For example, the situation of the main force!" Shulka replied: "Will they coordinate with us? Retreat or still defend in place? If they defend, where will they be?"
The officers in the command post couldn't help but look at each other in shock after hearing this.
"We know nothing, Shulka!" Major Gavrilov replied: "We have lost contact with the command and there is no response to radio calls!"
"If there is no coordination with the main force, then I don't think we should break out to the east!" Shulka replied.
"Why?" Political Commissar Fu Ming asked doubtfully: "The east side is closest to the main force, and the enemy is not yet stable!"
"Yes, Comrade Comrade Political Commissar!" Shulka said: "But the Germans also thought of this, and I think... the Germans' entire encirclement plan is aimed at us!"
There is no doubt about this. The German army adopted the tactic of outflanking the 333rd Regiment because they could not attack the defensive area.
"Therefore!" Shurka continued: "Without the coordination of the main force, and the Germans knowing that we will attack to the east, we really attack to the east... Then what we encounter will be very serious.
It could be German tanks and their newly captured bunkers!"
Before they finished speaking, there was an uproar in the headquarters. They only thought about breaking out but did not think of this. There was a bunker fortification to the east, and it was a bunker fortification facing the west, which meant that they would hit the muzzle of the gun.
"But, Comrade Shulka!" Political Commissar Fuming said: "If we want to break through, we must face the bunker fortifications, no matter which side we come from!"
"I don't think so, Comrade Political Commissar!" Shurka pointed to the map and said: "The Germans in the east will occupy bunkers and build fortifications because they are prepared, while the Germans in other directions... they will go all the way.
Attack eastward and don’t think there will be enemies in the rear, so there is no need to prepare firepower in the opposite direction!”
Major Gavrilov nodded in agreement.
This is obviously correct. There are very few situations like the 333rd Regiment on the entire defense line. Of course, the German army that has successfully attacked will not have enough food and nothing to do and aim its guns at its own people instead of the enemy.
"So!" Major Gavrilov finally said: "Our breakout direction is from the south, not the east!"
"Yes!" Shulka said: "And we shouldn't rush to break through. We can wait until the Germans are fully prepared in the east!"