Chapter 672

I did not immediately express my opinion on the idea put forward by akhromeyev. Instead, I looked at the map. After watching for a while, I drew a big circle on the north side of the artillery position with my finger, encircled several villages, and then asked them, "which village do you think the enemy's division headquarters will be located in?"

After hearing my question, akhromeyev raised his head from the map. Maybe he knew what I might think when I asked, so he did not answer my question. Instead, he tentatively asked, "Comrade division commander, are you going to use the enemy's artillery positions to do something, so you need to determine where the enemy's division headquarters are?"

"Chief of staff, don't you ask more questions?" Kirilov also looked away from the map and said to akhromeyev, "if I am not wrong, the reason why the division commander wants to confirm the location of the German 113th division headquarters is that he wants to use the captured artillery to bombard the enemy's division headquarters after our night attack troops seize the artillery position tonight."

"Bombard the German division?" Akhromeyev asked in surprise: "the enemy has only one artillery battalion. With those guns, they will bombard the enemy's division. Is that ok?"

"There's nothing wrong." I went on to say: "although the enemy's artillery has only one battalion, their artillery can shoot shells from seven or eight kilometers away to the northern Highlands, proving that they must be equipped with heavy artillery. My idea is to have major Morozov take eight men out of the artillery camp and join the night attack team tomorrow night. The number of night Raiders should be more than tonight, at least one company. The commander was still political commissar oberstein. After dark, he led his troops down the river by boat, quietly bypassing the well defended villages and going to the enemy's artillery positions. "

"Just eight artillery, is it too small?" Asked akhromeyev anxiously.

I waved my head and continued: "after seizing the artillery position, these artillery are only responsible for adjusting the firing direction and aiming at the target. Ordinary infantry can assist in such things as loading and pulling the gun rope."

After hearing this, akhromeyev nodded his head vigorously and answered briefly, "I see. I'll call major Morozov and ask him to bring out the best Gunners in the camp."

While akhromeyev was on the phone, kirilov suddenly said to me, "Sir, do you know the latest situation of the 70th division of Colonel lyudnikov's guards?"

Since lyudnikov's troops were transferred from the 64th group army to the 62nd group army, I have never seen them before. Suddenly, I heard the political commissar ask such a question. I knew what he would say to me, so I shook my head honestly and said I didn't know.

Kirilov sighed and said, "Comrade oshanina, the situation is very bad. According to the information I got, the 70th division of the guards, under the command of its division commander, Colonel lyudnikov, fought tenaciously with the enemy who had invaded the city. After making a great sacrifice, he blocked the enemy's attack and drove them back to the starting point of the attack. "

"Comrade political commissar, do you know the casualties of the 70th division?" After asking this question, I thought to myself, could it be that this battle has killed one third or even more of lyudnikov's men?

Although I had been psychologically prepared for the heavy casualties of the friendly forces, I was still in a cold sweat when I heard kirilov's reply. Only kirilov said solemnly: "after the battle, Colonel lyudnikov's men dug two large pits in the defense area to bury their dead comrades. It is said that no less than 1000 bodies were buried in each pit. Besides the wounded sent to the field hospitals, there are less than 1500 people left in the 70th division, including many non combatants such as staff officers and logistics. "

Holding the edge of the table with both hands, I leaned down and looked at the map in front of me. Seeing the defense area designated by the group army command for the 70th division of the guards, I could not help but worry and said to myself, "with only 1500 people left, can Colonel lyudnikov hold the existing position? If the enemy makes two more such crazy attacks, they will either be driven into the Volga River by the enemy, or the whole army will be destroyed. "

"Sir, do you think we can help them?" Kirilov asked cautiously.

I carefully looked at the map several times and studied the possibility of sending troops to reinforce the 70th division. After watching it for a long time, I finally sighed and said with regret, "Comrade political commissar, no way. It's not that I don't want to send troops to reinforce the 70th division of the guards. After all, I've fought side by side with colonel lyudnikov, and I can't do things that I can't help when I see death. But you can see that the defense areas of mamayev post and the 70th division of the guards are almost half a city apart. We have to pass at least the defense areas of the 13th division, the 35th division of the guards and many other friendly forces to enter the defense areas of the lyudnikov division. Even if I don't tell you, you should know that fierce fighting is also going on in these areas. Our reinforcements may be annihilated by the enemy on the road before they reach their destination. "

"Sir, is there really no way?" Akhromeyev, who had just put down the phone, heard the conversation between kirilov and me and couldn't help asking anxiously

I stared at the map and thought for a while, then said slowly, "if you want to say support, it's not impossible. We can't send large troops. We can send small troops to support us. For example, send two small teams that are good at urban guerrilla warfare, or a dozen snipers to the defense area of the 70th division of the guards, so as to slightly reduce the positive defense pressure for them. "

After listening to me, kirilov turned and asked akhromeyev, "chief of staff, how are the forces of the fifth regiment?"

Akhromeyev is sitting in a qualified chief of staff. He is already familiar with these data. When he heard kirilov's question, he opened his mouth and said a series of data: "at present, there are still 11 companies in the fifth regiment, two of which are the original second and third security companies; Three companies with weaker fighting capacity under the control of the militia battalion; The remaining six companies are all elite originally drawn from the other four regiments, and their combat effectiveness is the strongest. "

"Call Lt. Col. Oleg and commissar veroll and ask them to deploy a company with the strongest fighting capacity to move to the defense area of the 70th division of the guards at night. Tell the commanders in charge that their task is not to fight hard positional warfare with the enemy, but to use their familiarity with the terrain to launch guerrilla warfare with the enemy in the city, to slow down the enemy's attack, and to reduce as much as possible the positive defensive pressure of the 70th guard division. "

After commanding akhromeyev, I quickly walked to the telephone and said to razumeyeva, "Comrade lieutenant, can we get in touch with the radio station of the 70th division?"

After hearing this, razumeyeva nodded and answered me, "Mr. reporter, I have the communication code of the 70th division of the guards. You can talk to the commander of the other party directly through the telephone."

Hearing what razumeyeva said, I was overjoyed and immediately told her, "this is really wonderful. Comrade lieutenant, contact the 70th division immediately. I want to speak to their division commander. "

When lyudnikov's familiar voice came from the earphone, I excitedly said to him, "Hello, Colonel lyudnikov."

Unexpectedly, he replied feebly, "it's comrade oshanina. I'm not good, very bad. At present, the enemy forces are only 300 meters away from my division headquarters. As long as they launch a strong attack, they can enter my headquarters. "

Lyudnikov's words startled me, and I reminded him in a panic: "since the enemy is so close to your headquarters, you should move the headquarters back, otherwise when the enemy comes, it will be too late to move."

After listening to me, he said with a bitter smile: "I have promised the commander that as long as there is one person in the 70th division of the guards, I will never step back. I can't break my promise."

Seeing that he didn't have the slightest intention to retreat, I didn't persuade him any more. I just informed him that I would send a company to support him. When I heard that I was going to send troops to reinforce him, I was very excited. On the phone, I repeatedly expressed my gratitude: "Comrade oshanina, I am worried about the shortage of troops. The company you sent has really helped me and solved my urgent need."

I was deeply afraid that he would send the company of the fifth regiment to the position as cannon fodder. I specially stressed: "don't be too excited, Colonel lyudnikov. Although I sent a company to your defense area, they didn't go to help you fight positional warfare."

Lyudnikov, listening to me, gave a very unexpected "ah".

I then said, "when they come to your defense area, they will carry out guerrilla or sniper warfare on the flank or rear of the enemy, and try every means to disrupt the enemy's combat deployment and reduce the pressure of your frontal defense. Do you understand? "

After listening, lyudnikov was silent for a while, and then said decisively, "well, how to use this company, do as you say, I have no objection!"

After the call with lyudnikov, akhromeyev reported again: "Sir, I have called a regiment and artillery battalion one after another. Lieutenant commander xiejerikov and major Morozov have made clear their respective tasks. They should now be deploying elite troops to form a night attack team tomorrow evening."

Seeing that akhromeyev had arranged everything, I nodded with satisfaction. Then I waved to him and kirilov and said, "political commissar, chief of staff, it's getting late. Let's have a rest early."

All night long.

As soon as it was dawn, I was awakened by the roar of guns coming from outside the cave.

As soon as I sat upright, I asked aloud, "what's the matter with the gunfire outside? Which area has been shelled by the enemy?"

"Report to division commander," razumeyeva, who was sitting beside the telephone, stood up and reported to me, "Lieutenant Colonel gedar of the fourth regiment reported that their position was being shelled by the enemy."

"Is the whole mamayev post under shelling, or is only the northern highland of the fourth Regiment under shelling?"

After hearing my question, razumeyeva added: "report, sir, at present, it is only the surface position of the northern highland, which is being shelled by the enemy. Commander Gaidar also specially stressed that the area where the tank wrecks are located at the foot of the mountain is not within the range of the enemy's shelling. "

"That's great, that's great!" When I heard this news, I was overjoyed. It seems that the newly built defense line at the foot of the mountain has not been found by the German army. In this way, they will have to suffer in the next ground attack. I quickly told akhromeyev: "chief of staff, it's still the old rule, you stay at the headquarters, I and the political commissar go outside to check the war."

Akhromeyev quickly got up and promised loudly, "yes!"

After handing over the work of the headquarters to akhromeyev, I waved my head to kirilov and said with pride, "come on, comrade political commissar, go and see how the fourth regiment taught the Germans." With that, he lifted his feet and left.

Seeing that I was going to take him to the observation post on the hillside again, kirilov, with a face full of tears and laughter, pointed a few times with his fingers, and didn't say what he wanted to say. Finally, he followed me to leave the headquarters.

When I came to the observation post on the hillside along the traffic trench, I was surprised to find that it had been repaired, so I stopped and said to kirilov, "political commissar, you can see the situation on the battlefield here anyway. Let's be here today."

Kirilov did not speak, but nodded. Then he raised his telescope and looked at the smoke filled highland.

Instead of looking at the high ground being bombarded, I turned my attention to the open field in the distance. At this time, the enemy's troops were still three or four kilometers away, with seven or eight open tanks in front and dense infantry behind. In terms of number, there was at least one battalion.

At the end of the bombardment, the enemy's forward was less than 500 meters from the foot of the mountain. At this time, the enemy's tanks slowed down and stopped moving. They were just spinning around, obviously looking for a suitable shooting position. The soldiers behind the tank, on the other hand, rushed forward in a dense formation, speeding up.

"Comrade oshanina, the enemy's infantry charge in such a dense formation, aren't they going to die?" Kirilov, who had been silent, said in my ear.

Looking at the infantry line approaching our army, I couldn't help laughing contemptuously. Then I said to kirilov, "political commissar, the enemy is going to carry out the area with a lot of tank ruins, disperse the troops, and rely on those ruins to attack our position."

With these words, the front of the enemy infantry has begun to enter the area with dense tank debris. At that moment, the firepower concealed in the tank turret and under the tank opened fire decisively. The intensive cross fire made the dense enemy full of blood and fog. The German soldiers who were marching forward were knocked down in pieces. The ups and downs of the waves of people seemed to hit an invisible wall and disappeared in an instant. The German soldiers who fell behind either fell down on the spot or turned around and ran.

Without waiting for the enemy tanks to recover, just entering the position, the mortar group opened fire on the retreating German infantry. Several mortar shells accurately landed in the middle of the fleeing enemy, blowing up the unprepared enemy. The German soldiers were so frightened that they fled to both sides. Without waiting for them to run far away, several mortars, like eyes, landed in the dense position of the enemy again. They blasted the escaped soldiers into the air and fell heavily into the distance.

At the moment, the recovered tank fired cruelly at the tank in front. Due to the close range, the firing rate of the discharged shells was very high. After a round of shelling, several of our firepower points became silent and apparently destroyed by the enemy.

When the German tanks finished the second round of fire and destroyed several of our firepower points again, two of them suddenly burst into flames. Seeing this scene, I knew in my heart that it must be the work of the anti tank rifle company.

I took my telescope and looked over to the highland. As the smoke of the gunfire had not cleared away, I could not see not only the shadow of the anti tank rifle company that had just made great achievements, but also the position of the mortar group.

One hit worked, and the anti tank rifle company continued to fire, destroying three other tanks. The remaining three tanks were in a bad situation and quickly stepped back. And their infantry, under the attack of our mortars and machine guns, lay on the open ground at the foot of the hillside except for a few with fast legs.

Watching the German tanks go away, the soldiers of the fourth regiment decisively attack from the position and go to the battlefield to collect weapons and ammunition from the enemy's corpses. Seeing that about two of our companies left their positions and entered the open field to clean up the battlefield, I was deeply afraid that they would be retaliated by the German artillery fire. So I called akhromeyev and told him: "chief of staff, call commander Gaidar of the fourth regiment immediately, ask him to clean up the battlefield as soon as possible, and withdraw the garrison at the foot of the mountain as soon as possible, I am afraid that the enemy who has suffered a great loss will use artillery to carry out shelling. "

Thanks to my reminder, the soldiers of the fourth regiment cleaned the battlefield in less than five minutes and returned to the hillside position with a lot of booty. Almost as they entered the hillside position, the enemy's retaliatory artillery roared in, blowing up the ruins of the tanks at the foot of the mountain like toys.

Kirilov saw the intensive gunfire on the open ground, wiped the sweat that did not exist on his forehead, and even said, "Comrade o'shanina, you are still right in your eyes. If the troops at the foot of the mountain don't withdraw, even if they are not completely destroyed under such intense enemy fire, it will be the result of no survival. "

Before the enemy's shelling stopped, their planes came again. Around the northern Highlands, there was a frenzy of bombardment. Angry, kirilov yelled at the plane in the sky: "damn the Krauts, they are bullying us. We don't have a plane. Have the ability to come to the ground and fight face to face with us. "

After listening to kirilov's words, several soldiers in the guard camp were covering their mouths and laughing secretly. I gave them a fierce stare and then said to kirilov, "come on, comrade political commissar, let's go back to the headquarters. Colonel gedar will keep us informed of any situation The Germans, who suffered a great loss from us, did not dare to launch any ground attack for a whole day, except for the indiscriminate bombing and shelling of our positions. After dark, a group leader called to report to us that the night attack team under the command of political commissar oberstein had boarded five wooden boats by the river and went downstream to carry out the task of sneaking attack on the enemy camp.