Burning Moscow

After the commanders at the meeting left, I suddenly remembered Travkin and the others who were still active in Lutsk. I quickly approached Kirilov who was in charge of this matter and asked: "Comrades of the military commissioner, recently Travkin and the others have News?"

Kirilov nodded and replied: "We have been in telegram contact with Major Trafkin. ★August One Middle School √Wenwang√"

From Kirilov’s facial expressions, I guessed that I must have not received the specific news of the Amber Room, otherwise he would not have mentioned Trafkin and their reconnaissance team to me in such a long time. But in order to find out the latest progress of the cultural relic search, I still asked: "How is the situation?"

"Ensign Gretka pretended to be a photographer of the German army and successfully got into the bank." Kirilov opened the notebook, staring at the content and replied: "According to the German cultural relics expert Stey According to the information revealed by En, Greteka has been staying in the vault to take pictures, but since he has no permission to enter the vault, he is not clear about the specific situation of Lieutenant Greteka."

I heard what he meant from Kirilov’s words: Greteka pretended to be a German photographer, and had been in the vault for several days, but never came out of it. I thought for a while, and then tentatively asked: "Comrade Military Commissioner, do you think Ensign Gretka will stay in the vault? He won't leave through other exits long ago?"

"No." Kirilov shook his head and said, "You must go through the gate to get out of the vault and to leave the bank. But Trafkin and the others have been watching the opposite side of the bank, and they never saw Greteka. Came out."

"Why do you think this happens?" I then asked.

Kirilov frowned and thought for a while, and then replied: "I think Ensign Gretka should still be in the vault. The reason why he has not come out for a long time just explains the value of the cultural relics stored in it. Probably. Until he has finished filming all the cultural relics, he cannot get out of it."

Kirilov and I were talking about the reconnaissance team and cultural relics. Bezikov walked up to me and said, "Comrade Commander, there is a railway station a dozen kilometers northeast of us. , I ask you to authorize me to use the materials in the warehouse of the station."

"Let stand the materials in the warehouse?" When I heard Bezikov say this, I couldn't help asking curiously: "Chief of Staff, don't know what materials are in the warehouse?"

"Railway!" Before I could continue to ask, Bezikov replied clearly: "I think our tanks have to pass the enemy's anti-tank trenches. The best way is to erect railroad tracks on the trenches. Wait. After the tank passes, we then lay steel plates on the rails so that infantry and transportation vehicles can pass."

After listening to Bezikov’s account, I made up for the plot of the tank ditching on the rails, then nodded and said in agreement: "Well, Comrade Chief of Staff, I authorize you to use all the items in the warehouse. Materials. As long as it is something that you can use in battle, you can take as much as you need, and I will be responsible for the investigation by your superiors in the future."

Seeing that I promised so readily, Bezikov happily agreed and left the headquarters with a staff officer.

Looking at the back of Bezikov leaving, I feel that since I became the commander of the group army, I have never asked about many things. If Bezikov didn't talk about preparing rails, I hadn't thought about how to make our tanks successfully pass through the enemy's anti-tank trenches.

I turned my head and saw Kistyakov sitting next to him, writing something on the paper, so I walked over and asked curiously: "Comrade Deputy Commander, what are you writing?"

He looked up at me and replied: "I'm calculating the ammunition we need to take Fastif."

I sat down next to him, tilted my head and looked at the dense data he had written on the paper, and then asked: "Can our existing ammunition reserves support us to complete such an offensive battle?"

Kistyakov smiled bitterly, shook his head and said: "After repeated calculations with the tanks of General Povsky and I, it is not only how we can save, but the artillery bombardment time of the Germans before the new ammunition is replenished. It can’t last for more than half an hour.”

Kirilov, who heard our conversation, also came over and said: "Comrade Deputy Commander, if our artillery preparation time cannot reach half an hour, it will be difficult to destroy the enemy's fortifications."

"Yes, Comrade Military Commissioner, you are right." Kistyakov said bitterly: "If you follow the conventional style of play, you must prepare for the enemy's defensive positions for a long time before attacking. , In order to destroy the enemy’s fortifications and kill their active force, to reduce the blows our troops suffered during the offensive."

Although Kirilov is not familiar with the military, he is familiar with this old style of play of our army. He nodded his head and echoed: "Comrade Deputy Commander, you are right. Our army's offensive tactics have always been like this."

Kistyakov turned his gaze to me, and said with deep feeling: "However, I heard from Comrade Commander some time ago that when the enemy is shelled by us, they usually transfer the troops in their first trench to In the second trench to avoid our army’s shelling, so as to reduce the casualties of the troops. I think if we carry out such shelling before attacking Fastiff, the German officers and soldiers who were originally deployed in the forward will definitely retreat temporarily. Go to the second trench and avoid our artillery fire. We currently have a limited number of shells, and carrying out such a meaningless shelling is a waste for us. I think this is absolutely not allowed."

"Do you have any good ideas, Comrade Deputy Commander?" I listened to his words and seemed to have other ideas, so I humbly asked him: "Speak out and let us all listen."

He took out a piece of white paper and drew a simple sketch on it, then looked up and said to us: "Look, this is the German defense posture to the west of Fastif. My idea is that after the shelling begins , Let our tanks quickly advance to the vicinity of the anti-tank trenches, and shoot close to the enemy’s firepower points built behind the trenches, and destroy them one by one. At this time, our artillery can stop the artillery and let the infantry concealed behind Rush up and set up railroad tracks on the trenches to help the tanks get past the enemy's anti-tank trenches and extend their defenses in depth."

Kistyakov's suggestion contained some of my combat style, so after listening to it, I only gave a gentle bene, without expressing any opinion. Kirilov pointed to the sketch and continued to ask: "What should we do if our tank is attacked by German anti-tank fighters hiding nearby while crossing the trench?" His gaze turned to me, "I remember Li Daming’s anti-tank trench. In the battle of Kursk, it was proved by facts that it could completely block the large-scale German armored forces. If the Germans used this tactic against us , What should we do?"

"Comrade Military Commissioner, I have also considered the situation you mentioned." Kistyakov said confidently: "We will send infantry and tanks to act together, specifically to the German anti-tank fighters of the opposing German army to cover our tanks. Front assault."

"Comrade Deputy Commander, you are very considerate." After listening to Kistyakov's proposal, I felt that it seemed to be effective against the German defensive positions on the west side of Fastiv, so I nodded in agreement. Say: "When the battle begins, do what you said."

How to make the tanks successfully pass the German anti-tank trenches, this problem is solved. But Kistiakov was still frowning. Kirilov asked curiously: "Comrade Deputy Commander, since the German anti-tank trenches no longer pose a big threat to our troops, you are still worried. what?"

"Tanks!" Kistiakov looked at Kirilov and said with a wry smile: "We now have too few tanks. Although there are now three tank brigades in Korostlav, the total number of tanks is only one. Hundreds, but in the Fastif area, the German tanks have passed four hundred. One to four, Comrade Military Commissioner, I have a headache when I think about it."

"Don't we have a new type of tank? The Tiger and Leopard tanks they use specifically to deal with the Germans are the most suitable." Kirilov obviously did not realize the seriousness of the problem, and said enthusiastically: " Although the number is a bit smaller, the German tanks have no way to deal with them."

"Comrade Military Commissioner, the number of our new tanks is too small, and the ammunition we carry is too small." Kistyakov patiently explained to Kirilov: "Once their shells are exhausted, the remaining T of the tank brigade The -34 tank can only be the target of the German Tiger and Panther tanks."

After listening to Kirilov, he was silent for a long time before he said: "This attack on Fastiv is at the same time as the friendly forces. I hope they can attract most of the enemy tanks to the east by then. It can relieve some pressure for our offense."

"It's hard to say what's going on on the battlefield." Kistyakov was skeptical about the upcoming counterattack. "During this period of battle, the 38th and 6th Army were defeated and retreated by the Germans. , I am worried that after the start of the counter-offensive, their offensive will be suppressed by Fastiv’s 48th Panzer Corps. If that is the case, our offensive will be a lone battle, let alone annihilate the enemy, maybe even There is a possibility of being surrounded by the enemy."

"Comrade Deputy Commander, you are too pessimistic. The situation will not be as bad as you think." I am deeply afraid that Kistyakov's emotions will affect Kirilov. The pre-war mobilization of the troops, I am still prepared Let him be responsible. If he doesn't have the confidence to win, how can he encourage the officers and men to fight? So I interrupted and said, "Don't look at the enemy temporarily taking advantage, but their vital power is almost exhausted. As long as our counterattack begins, they will soon be defeated by us."

In order to make my words more credible, I also specially emphasized: "Don’t forget, this time the front army is participating in the battle. There are General Katukov’s Guards Tank First Army and General Rebarko. The Third Army of Guards Tanks, these two highly successful tank units, are frightening to the Germans. I believe that with their participation, the great counter-offensive carried out this time will surely achieve an unexpected victory."

"Yes, Comrade Commander. I admit that the tank units commanded by the two generals Katukov and Rebarko can teach the Germans a lesson they will never forget." Kistyakov said helplessly: "It's a pity they We are too far away. If they can assist us with one or two tank brigades, I believe that in the battle two days later, our chances of winning will be greatly improved."

It's beyond reach, I heard Kistyakov say this, the first thing that came to my mind was this idiom. When I was trying to find some words to comfort him, I saw Razumeyeva walking over with joy. Seeing the expression on her face, I knew I was curious, so I deliberately raised my voice and asked in a voice that everyone in the command can hear: "Captain Razumeeva, look at how happy you are. , Did it bring us any good news?"

"Comrade Commander, you guessed it." Razumeeva said excitedly as she walked towards me: "The telegram is from General Katukov~www.wuxiaspot.com~ He said he would send two. A tank brigade is here to cooperate with the upcoming battle of our army."

"What? General Katukov sent us two tank brigades." Kistyakov, who was still frowning, was stunned. He stood up abruptly and rushed in front of me. The baby took the Katukov's telegram and looked at it eagerly.

It's beyond reach, I heard Kistyakov say this, the first thing that came to my mind was this idiom. When I was trying to find some words to comfort him, I saw Razumeyeva walking over with joy. Seeing the expression on her face, I knew I was curious, so I deliberately raised my voice and asked in a voice that everyone in the command can hear: "Captain Razumeeva, look at how happy you are. , Did it bring us any good news?"

"Comrade Commander, you guessed it." Razumeeva said excitedly as she walked towards me: "The telegram is from General Katukov. He said he would send two tank brigades to come. Cooperate with the upcoming battle of our army."

"What? General Katukov sent us two tank brigades." Kistyakov, who was still frowning, was stunned. He stood up abruptly and rushed in front of me. The baby took the Katukov's telegram and looked at it eagerly. (To be continued.)