Chapter 563

The artillery battalion under the command of yegonovych, like an experienced sniper, set up a new position. After firing a few shots at the German artillery position, it did not want to fight and quickly moved to the new position.

Although the German artillery was like a behemoth, it was a blind behemoth. We didn't know where our artillery camp was. After being beaten, we could only launch shells in the direction of the shells, trying to destroy our artillery position. When the German artillery bombarded the artillery battalion position, they had already completed the transfer and began to build a new artillery position.

Although the German infantry lost the support of artillery, they seemed to be willing to take our position, so now they gathered at a distance of 500 meters from the front of the fourth regiment. Without the artillery staff, they did not know where to find three tanks to cover the attack launched by the infantry.

Seeing the three swaggering German tanks, I remembered kosga's experience in fighting tanks in the third regiment. I quickly picked up the microphone and called Gaidar: "commander Gaidar, do you see the German assembled at the front of your regiment? This time, there are three tanks to provide cover for the artillery and try to kill them all. "

After a moment's silence, Gaidar replied, "I'll let the soldiers separate the German tanks from the infantry with fire, and then when the tanks cross the trench, I'll kill them with flasks."

"We can't let German tanks cross our trenches. That will have a bad effect on our morale. All you have to do is kill all the German tanks before they get close to the trench. " I don't think he knew the anti tank experience summed up by the third regiment, so he said to him, "the third regiment has a good set of skills against German tanks. After the German artillery stopped, they sent several soldiers out of the trench and quietly lurked in the crater. As soon as the tanks approached, they killed them all with burning bottles. "

"I see. I'll call the company commander at the front and ask him to arrange soldiers to hide in the crater and try to kill all the three tanks before they reach the trench."

"Then don't hesitate, let them act at once."

After a while, I saw five or six soldiers jump out of the trench and roll into the crater in front of me. Looking at the soldiers hidden in the crater, and thinking of Gaidar who carried out my orders to the letter, I couldn't help nodding with satisfaction.

Although there was only one platoon in the first line of defense, Gaidar specially equipped them with captured light and heavy machine guns. When he aimed at the charging German infantry, he immediately separated them from the tanks. Tanks without infantry cover become lambs to be slaughtered in the eyes of anti tank hands.

Several soldiers who were hiding in the trench jumped out of the trench and smashed the flasks in their hands at the front two tanks. The burning bottle was broken on the car body, and the liquid inside was flowing everywhere. With the flash of fire, the whole tank was immediately surrounded by fire and smoke.

The driver of the tank, who was a little behind, seemed to be an experienced veteran. He was highly skilled and calm. Seeing that the two tanks in front of him had been burnt by the burning bottle, he slowed down slightly. After observing for a moment, he rushed up with the machine gun on the turret while firing. The tank guns bombarded the heavy and heavy machine gun fire points in the trenches, while the machine guns hit the soldiers who threw burning bottles.

The tank shot a heavy machine gun fire point of the fourth regiment into the sky, the fire in the trench suddenly weakened, and the infantry who were lying on the ground to avoid bullets and far behind rushed forward with a cry.

Seeing the tank approaching the fire, it suddenly turned its body, and the machine gun on the side of the turret swept down all the soldiers holding the burning bottle. Seeing that all the anti tanks outside the formation were killed, the tank turned its head again and sped up to rush to our position.

Because of the tank's speed, almost in the blink of an eye, it had rolled over from the trench and rushed to the second line of defense. When all the tanks crossed the trench and rushed forward, the soldiers in the trench came back to their senses. Then three soldiers jumped out, carrying the burning bottles in their hands, and chased after them.

Unexpectedly, the German tank ran too fast and soon left three soldiers far behind. Seeing that the tank was about to rush to the second line of defense, two soldiers jumped out of the trench, rushed forward and ran for a few steps. Then they stopped, raised their hands and smashed the burning bottle on the body of the tank.

With the breaking of the burning bottle, a large flame sprang out of the car body immediately, but the driver of the tank seemed unwilling to be killed like this, and continued to run forward with the fire until he ran over the second trench and finally lay still there.

As soon as they got out of the burning tank, they did not run away or resist. They immediately raised their hands high and surrendered to the soldiers.

Seeing that the German tanks were completely destroyed, the mortars in the second line of defense fired again at the charging German infantry. More than ten rounds of artillery shells fell in the dense German line and exploded. The soldiers who were blown up were in a panic and ran to both sides. However, Morozov's artillery company did not let them go, and the shells continued to chase them and blow them up.

At this time, the heavy and heavy machine guns in the first trench also opened fire fiercely, and the German soldiers who suffered double attacks were beaten to wail and howl, and were forced to leave hundreds of corpses and retreat in confusion.

The fourth regiment beat back the German attack again, which made me feel more at ease. As long as the attacking German infantry had no artillery support, it was not easy to break through our position.

Seeing the tanks sent by the German army, I thought of captain perskin and his tank team who had never been seen. I asked razumeyeva to call the captain for me. I wanted to know where he was at the moment.

When the radio was on, I said, "Captain perskin, where's your tank unit?"

"Report to Mr. division commander," said peresjian in a voice that seemed to be in some newly built underground tank depot. He reported to me, "I was in a newly built underground tank depot on the west side of the fourth regiment with the tank unit. I want to ask, when can we attack? Looking at the infantry brothers fighting in full swing, while we have been on standby, the soldiers are in a mood

I replied with a smile, "don't worry, comrade captain. Good steel is used on the blade. I'll send you up at the right time. " I say this because I haven't figured out which direction to use the tank unit.

As I was talking to peresjian, I saw a huge fireball rising in the distance. The ground under my feet vibrated slightly, and then the clear sound of explosion came into the observation post.

"Comrade division," said razumeyeva excitedly, "it must have been captain yegonovich, their artillery battalion, who killed the German artillery position. That's great

When I heard that the German artillery position had been destroyed, I could not help but feel relieved, so that when the German infantry attacked, I could confidently and boldly let them attack without worrying that they would be attacked by the German heavy artillery. But at the same time, I made up my mind to withdraw the whole division to the designated position of trekov after dark. If I continued to stick to it, even if the number of the independent division doubled, it would be completely lost under the German artillery and aircraft bombardment.

With this consideration, before the German army launched a new attack, I immediately contacted trakov and asked if there were any troops in the new fortified area of our division.

Trikov heard my voice and said with a smile, "oshanina, your division is good. You know, the Goth army can defeat two or three divisions of our army by drawing out any division. After you severely damaged the 29th German motorized infantry division last night and captured the division commander, today you can resist the attack of three German divisions with one division. It's really amazing! Please convey my respect to the officers and men of the independent division! "

I wanted to cry when I was praised by trakov. I said that I wanted to leave with a little bit of money, but I didn't expect to maim the 29th division last night. As a result, the rest of the 4th Army of Goth tanks rushed in early this morning, forcing us to stay and fight a cruel positional war with them. I asked tentatively, "Comrade commander, is there a support force in the new defensive zone of our division?"

Trekov was stunned when I said this, and then asked, "why, do you want to retreat?" After he finished, he might be puzzled by my sudden withdrawal, and then asked, "I asked you to withdraw last night, but you didn't withdraw. You insisted on staying and continuing to deal with the Germans. I think your troops are playing well. I'm going to make you stick to it for a few more days. It's just the right time to delay the Goth army and win time for our army to make up the battlefield. Why do you think of retreat? "

After listening to him, I feel like I'm about to cry. Now it's not dark, and Gaidar's four regiments are almost disabled. If I insist on it for a few more days, the independent division will be canceled. I quickly explained: "Comrade commander, as you know, our division is a newly formed force, and it has not fully formed its combat effectiveness, so it has rushed into battle. It's OK to ambush the invading German army and make a sneak attack. If we really set up the battle with the German army, we are not rivals at all. In the daytime fighting, the fourth regiment has been disabled, and the second regiment has suffered more than half of the casualties. If the fighting continues, the independent division will be forced to withdraw to the rear for replenishment due to heavy casualties, or directly withdraw its organizational structure. "

With a long breath, trakov said, "the troops that were left to meet you have been transferred to Stalingrad this morning after receiving the prisoners handed over by your division. In order to ensure a safe period, I suggest that you immediately send troops to occupy that place first, so as not to be preempted by the circuitous German army, which will cut off the rear road of your division. "

When I heard that my retreat plan was allowed, I was also relieved. According to the current way of playing, the Germans without artillery cover could launch one or two more attacks at most. In this way, the four regiments holding their positions can easily defeat them. But it's time to start planning the evacuation.

Now the second, third and fourth regiments are all fighting with the German army. The troops who want to seize the position can not be transferred from among them, so they can only be transferred from shejerikov's first regiment. When I dialed Sergey reekov, I didn't say hello. I said frankly, "Comrade commander, I have an important task for you to complete."

"Please give an order. All the officers and men of the first regiment are ready to fight. They are ready to fight at any time."

"Another four companies will be deployed and immediately set out to the preset position 30 kilometers to the north to occupy and consolidate the fortifications there and prevent German sneak attacks."

"What, four more companies?" Shijerikov said with some embarrassment, "Comrade division, I only have seven companies in my hand now. If you transfer another four companies, there will not be many people left in my regiment."

"Sergeant chejerikov," I said sternly when I heard that he wanted to bargain with me, "when it gets dark, our division will begin to retreat. If we do not occupy the preset position in advance, once it is occupied by the German circuitous forces, the whole division's retreat will be cut off. Do you think that with the present strength of our division, under the dual attack of German artillery and aircraft bombing, we can guarantee the integrity of our organizational system? "

"It's OK to transfer four companies," said shijerikov hesitantly. "But I can't leave here for the time being, and there are no independent commanders in my subordinates. I'm afraid they can't finish your task well. Do you think you can send a competent commander to this unit? "

I'm also embarrassed by Xie jerikov's words. I really hate the lack of time. I have fewer capable commanders, but now it's a radish and a pit, and I can't draw them out. What should I do?

When I was in a dilemma, a voice calling for a report came from the door. I turned around and was overjoyed. It turned out that captain Pugachev, who I had sent to escort the prisoners, had returned.

After Pugachev entered the door, he raised his hand to salute me and loudly reported: "report to Mr. division commander, Captain Pugachev has successfully completed the task of escorting the prisoners and returned. I'm here to report to you and wait for your instructions and your next order."

I have seen the ability of Pugachev. I believe that there is no problem for him to lead people to complete the task of occupying the preset positions. What's more, he took the prisoners with him last night, that is, he went to the preset position to hand them over to the receiving army, and let him take the army there again. That's a familiar way.

Thinking of this, I quickly said to the microphone, "Lieutenant sergeant shijerikov, my battalion commander, Captain Pugachev, is back. I'm going to give him the task of leading the team."

"Is Pugachev back? That's great. " When he heard that Pugachev had returned, xijerikov was also happy. He quickly said: "last night, when the captain was escorting the prisoners, he transferred a company from our regiment. If he leads the team, I just need to transfer three companies to him

Xie jerikov's words made me angry and funny. I joked: "Comrade commander, you are still an intermediate commander. How can you be as fussy as the old bourgeois accountant?" At this point, I stopped for a moment, thinking that it would be no harm for him to keep more troops, or at least let his regiment take up the post of the palace, so I agreed to his request, "OK, just pull out the three companies as soon as possible, and let them rush to the observation post to report to captain Pugachev."

After putting down the phone, I said to Pugachev standing in front of me, "Comrade captain, I know you must be very tired because you haven't had a rest all night and have been driving so far. But now I can't let you rest, because there is an important task for you to finish immediately. "

Pugachev quickly straightened up and said, "please give me instructions!"

"Our division will withdraw from its present position tonight and retreat northward to the preset position 30 kilometers away. In order to prevent the German army from detouring back to the rear, occupying the position first and cutting off the retreat of our division, we need a capable army to rush to the above areas immediately to occupy and consolidate the position and ensure the smooth retreat of our division. Considering that you only went there last night and are familiar with the terrain, I asked shijerikov to transfer four companies to form a mixed battalion under your command to complete the task of occupying the position. "

"Please don't worry, sir. I promise to finish the task you gave me." After expressing his determination, Pugachev asked curiously, "I don't know where I should go to receive this army."

"One of the four companies of this mixed camp is the company you took the prisoner with you last night, and the remaining three companies, after the completion of the transfer, Lieutenant Colonel chejerikov, will send them here to report to you. When the troops have assembled, you will immediately lead them to the preset positions of our division. "

"Yes, I promise to finish the task." Pugachev replied loud again.

As the whole division is going to retreat after dark, I'd like to inform several commanders in a hurry to make them ready so as not to cause confusion when they withdraw at night.

As one of the team leaders, shijerikov, had already known about the evacuation in the evening, I first informed Oleg. I said directly to the second group leader, "Comrade Oleg, I have something to inform you. The whole division will retreat after dark. You ask the commanders and soldiers of the regiment to be ready first, so as not to make a mess when they retreat. "

Oleg did not ask why he was retreating, but simply replied, "I see!"

Then I called the third commander and heard the fierce gunfire coming from the microphone. I asked with concern, "commander kosga, are the German forces attacking your regiment again?"

"Yes, sir." Kosja replied clearly: "this is the ninth German attack on our regiment. Although their artillery fire is very fierce, I am confident that they will, like the previous eight times, be beaten to pieces in front of our position, and have to drop pieces of corpses and retreat in ashes. "

Hearing that the German army had launched nine charges against the positions of the third regiment, my heart could not help shivering. I asked nervously, "how are the casualties of your regiment?"“ There were about four companies injured and wounded, and more than 100 of them died. "“ What, four hundred people? " It's a little too small for the positions that suffered nine German attacks, so I asked curiously, "how did your regiment fight? Why are the casualties so small?"“ Before the battle started, I thought that the German artillery was fierce. If too many troops were placed in the trenches, unnecessary casualties would be increased. So I only set up one company in the forward position. When the casualties exceeded one platoon, I sent another platoon. In this way, the casualties of the troops in the German attack were greatly reduced. " The first impression I had in my mind after listening to his report was that the third commander, Lieutenant Colonel kosga, was a talented person. The way he used his troops coincided with the way I taught him. If I can find a suitable person to take over the post of the third chief of staff, I'd like him to be my chief of staff. When Gaidar heard the news of my withdrawal, he didn't say any superfluous nonsense. Instead, he simply replied, "please rest assured, sir, we will never let the Germans break through our position before dark." I thought that the German army had suffered so many defeats in front of the fourth regiment's position, even the artillery position had been destroyed by us, so their attack should be delayed for a while. Unexpectedly, the German who suffered a great loss was not reconciled and soon launched a new attack. Although there was no artillery cover, they used ten tanks as the forerunner, followed by a battalion of infantry, to attack the fourth regiment's position again. As the German army knew our anti tank means, usually it was the method of throwing flasks after the tanks approached, so they were very cautious this time. The speed of the tanks was almost the same as that of the infantry. As soon as our soldiers who went to bomb the tanks appeared, they were knocked down by the machine guns on the tanks or the submachine guns in the hands of the infantry behind them. Seeing that the situation was critical, Gaidar also ignored my order that only one platoon should be placed in the trench. Instead, he let all the reserves hidden in the traffic trench enter the first trench and used intensive fire to destroy the German infantry following the tanks. Although two German tanks were burnt by burning bottles when they jumped over the first trench, the remaining eight continued to drive towards the second trench. And the soldiers in the first trench, because they were fighting fiercely with the German soldiers, could not spare any hands. The other side had already rushed to the tanks in the rear. Because there were so many craters and debris of various mechanical vehicles in front of the second line of defense, the German tanks had to slow down and go around between them. Although Morozov's mortar company and the heavy and heavy machine guns on the position opened fire fiercely, they seemed to have little influence on these steel giants. Although the tank body kept flashing sparks, but the speed did not slow down at all, and even fired to destroy a heavy machine gun and three or four light machine gun fire points. When I saw that the second line of defense was being solved more and more by the swaggering tanks, I couldn't help but get anxious and quickly asked razumeyeva to contact peresjian. I took the transmitter and yelled angrily, "Captain perskin, where is your tank unit? Are you still squatting in the underground tank depot waiting for your offspring? Don't you see that the German tanks have broken through our first line of defense and are approaching our second line of defense? "“ But, comrade division, I didn't get... "I didn't listen to perskin's explanation, but gave him a direct order:" I ordered your tank unit to attack the side of the German tanks immediately and kill them all. "“ Yes, I'll do it immediately Because I didn't have time to inform Gaidar about the tank unit's attack, his subordinates bravely rushed out of the trench when they saw the tank approaching. After sacrificing more than ten soldiers, they succeeded in killing three German tanks. Before the German tanks passed the second line of defense of the fourth regiment, the tank units of pelsjian had rushed to the front of the German tanks. With the body of the tank, a stream of white smoke was emitted from the gun barrel, and then the five tanks stormed to the second line of defense of our army, with fire and smoke rising. In the first round of shooting, all the tanks of pelsky hit the German tanks. There are three hit tanks, immediately stopped there, smoking no move, the other two body fire tanks, still continue to move forward tenaciously. Seeing that two other tanks were not damaged, pelsjian's tank unit opened fire again. This time, each tank was hit by two or three rounds of artillery at the same time. One was directly overturned by the turret, while the other was interrupted by the track. After several turns, it was completely immobile.