Burning Moscow

Seeing the red flag rose to the height, Sergeikov became excited. He put down the telescope and looked at me, pointed his finger forward, and said excitedly to me: "Comrade Commander, you see, my The troops have already rushed to the high ground. I believe it will not be long before they can wipe out all the enemies above."

When I saw more and more commanders rushing to the high ground, I did not cheer like Sederikov, because I saw the bodies of our commanders and fighters everywhere in front of the high ground. These soldiers who fell during the charge were destined to not stand up anymore. But they were lying on the ground, their heads still facing the high ground. It seemed that as long as they had a breath, they would climb to the high ground and wipe out all the enemies.

I feel heartbroken to think that in order to win this high ground, we actually paid several times the price of the Germans. I turned my head to look at Sederikov, and coldly commanded: "Colonel, when the heights are all occupied by our army, order the troops to stop advancing. Build fortifications on the spot to prevent possible German counterattacks."

"But, Comrade Commander." When Sergeikov heard me say this, he couldn't help being stunned. He pointed his finger to the front and said unwillingly: "The commanders of our division just captured a high ground. At that time, we should take advantage of our victories and pursue them to capture as many enemy highlands as possible."

"Colonel, don't you see those corpses lying in front of the high ground?" I pointed out with my hand, and said to Sederikov unceremoniously, "You know, an hour ago, they could still Talking and laughing with your comrades in arms; but now, they are lying on the ground and become lifeless, cold corpses. Don’t you feel sad when you see your men’s casualties so heavy?"

What I said immediately left Sederikov speechless. After a while, he said with difficulty: "Comrade Commander, I understand what you mean. If we continue to fight like this, even if we seize all the highlands outside Kalinkovic, the troops will suffer casualties. Disastrously lost combat effectiveness."

I returned to my observation post and first asked Bezikov: "The chief of staff, the 51st Guards Division of Colonel Sederikov, has successfully captured their front highlands, the 67th and 71st Guards. How is the division’s offensive situation?"

"After fierce fighting, these two highlands were also captured by the 67th and 71st Divisions of the Guards." When Bezikov reported the battle to me, the expression on his face was extremely serious. "Although we occupied the highlands, but The price paid was a bit too great. According to the reports of the two divisions, their casualties were nearly a thousand, and the defenders in the highlands were fully budgeted, but only 120."

"Yes, Comrade Commander." After Bezikov finished speaking, Kistyakov continued: "Without the support of heavy artillery, the price we paid for such an offensive is too high. It seems that we should still adjust our tactics and change the offensive to be conducted at night to minimize the casualties of the troops."

"Now that the battle is over, call all three division commanders to the headquarters." I raised my hand to look at my watch, and then said, "I think after this tragic victory, they should not be stubborn anymore. They have to be in the daytime. The offense was launched."

A quarter of an hour later, in my headquarters, three infantry division commanders, Sergeikov, Baksov, and Babahin, and the 82nd brigade of the tank were ushered in. After seeing everyone at the meeting come together, I said straightforwardly: "Comrade commanders, I called you over to make you a post-war summary of the offensive and battle that just ended."

"Comrade Commander, referring to Colonel Babaxin, he said quite proudly: "After the tenacious battle of our division commanders and fighters, we have successfully captured the high ground in front of our division's defense and wiped out the two defensive platoons. "

"Annihilating the two platoons of the enemy, what a great victory." After he finished speaking, I snorted and said in a mocking tone: "Comrade Colonel, please tell me how many casualties your division has suffered. Seeing that the other party bowed his head blushing with shame, I continued and said, "According to your report, 153 people were sacrificed and 329 people were injured. This is the price to be paid for taking down a highland, so you have to take everything A dozen highlands have been taken down, how much will we pay?"

After a brief silence, the tank brigade commander asked me tentatively: "Comrade Commander, can I say a few words?"

"Yes," I nodded, and agreed to the request of the tank brigade commander: "If you have any thoughts, just say it."

"Comrade Commander, according to our reconnaissance, after crossing several occupied highlands, there are not only rivers in front of them, but also a lot of swamps. Our tanks simply cannot be deployed on such terrain. In other words, In the next battle to capture the high ground, our tanks could not provide more effective fire support to the infantry."

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Baksov glared at the tank brigade and asked with a bad attitude: "You said that the river and swamp in front of us are impassable by tanks. But when the Germans attacked us last night, did they use it? Few tanks? They can do it, why can't you do it?"

"Comrade General." In response to Baksov’s arrogance, the tank brigade explained to him patiently: "German tanks came through bridges on the river, and these bridges are now within the German fire control range, if the enemy If we discover that we have an attempt to seize bridges, we will destroy them without hesitation. If our troops want to erect pontoon bridges that can be used by tanks under the eyes of the enemy, it will inevitably cause heavy casualties."

"Well, General Baksov, you don't need to say any more." I was afraid that Baksov and the tank brigade commander would argue that it was endless, so I interrupted the two first and said according to my own thoughts: "I It was decided that, in order to reduce the casualties of the troops, the daytime offensive should be temporarily suspended, and night-time sneak attacks should be adopted."

If there hadn’t been a battle just now, Baksov might still object to my arrangement, but at this time he could only reluctantly agree: "Well, Comrade Commander, I will arrange it immediately after I return to the army. Troops that attacked at night. Strive to take these high grounds from the enemy's positions with minimal casualties."

As soon as he had finished speaking, a telephone by the wall rang. Bezikov sat closer, so he got up and walked over to pick up the phone and said loudly, "This is the headquarters of the group army, where are you?...What, what did you say, say it again?"

When I heard him say this, I realized that something must be wrong, so I didn't speak any more, but focused on him. I saw him covering the microphone with his hand and reporting to me with a serious face: "Comrade Commander, Major Shumakov, commander of the 309th Guards Regiment, reported that the Germans had dispatched troops and launched a counterattack toward the high ground."

"What kind of troops does the enemy have?" I was a little surprised when I heard the news, but I didn't panic, but asked with a normal expression.

"Comrade Commander asks you, what kind of troops does the enemy have?" Bezikov let go of his hand over the microphone, and faithfully conveyed my words to Shumakov. He listened for a while, and raised his head to report to me: "The enemy has dispatched about one battalion of infantry, and eight other tanks are rushing towards the position of the 309th regiment."

"Tell Shumakov," I said to Bezikov simply: "Order him to defend his position resolutely and never allow him to take a step back. I will send someone to support him."

When Bezikov was conveying my meaning to Shumakov, I lowered my head and asked the tank brigade commander: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, can your tank go to high ground?"

When the tank brigade commander heard the question I was asking him, he immediately stood up and reported: "Comrade Commander, our tanks are all the latest models. There should be no problem climbing up this slope."

"If this is the case, that would be great." I heard that the tank can drive up to the high ground, and my heart feels a lot more at ease. I then ordered: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, immediately order your tank to drive up to the high ground. Use artillery to destroy enemy tanks and use machine guns to shoot enemy infantry, understand?"

"Understood." After the tank brigade agreed, he asked for my opinion: "Can I leave?"

"Remember, not only on the high ground occupied by the 51st Guards Division, tanks must be sent to support, but the other two divisions must also be sent to support tanks." After I explained the last few words, I waved at him. , Commanded: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you immediately go back to the army and arrange it."

After the tank brigade left, I saw Bezikov was also about to hang up, so I stopped him and told him: "Chief of Staff, please tell Major Shumakov and ask him to talk to him every ten minutes. We report the situation once!"

After discussing some details of the night attack with several division commanders, I sent them away.

Not long after they left, a phone rang in front of me. I know that those who can get through this high-frequency phone are definitely not front-line units, usually only Rokosovsky or Batov can get through. So I picked up the microphone and said politely: "Hello, I'm Oshanina, where are you?"

"Well, General Baksov, you don't need to say any more." I was afraid that Baksov and the tank brigade commander would argue that it was endless, so I interrupted the two first and said according to my own thoughts: "I It was decided that, in order to reduce the casualties of the troops, the daytime offensive should be temporarily stopped, and night-time sneak attacks should be adopted."

If there hadn’t been a battle just now, Baksov might still object to my arrangement, but at this time he could only reluctantly agree: "Well, Comrade Commander, I will arrange it immediately after I return to the army. The troops that attacked at night. Strive to take these high grounds from the enemy's positions with minimal casualties."

As soon as he finished speaking, a phone rang by the wall. Bezikov sat closer, so he got up and walked over to pick up the phone and said loudly, "This is the headquarters of the group army, where are you?...What, what did you say, say it again?"

When I heard him say this, I knew in my heart that something must be wrong, so I didn't speak any more, but focused on him. I saw him covering the microphone with his hand and reporting to me with a serious face: "Comrade Commander, Major Shumakov, commander of the 309th Guards Regiment, reported that the Germans had dispatched troops and launched a counterattack toward the high ground."

"What kind of troops does the enemy have?" I was a little surprised when I heard the news, but I didn't panic, but asked with a normal expression.

"Comrade Commander asks you, what kind of troops does the enemy have?" Bezikov let go of his hand over the microphone, and faithfully conveyed my words to Shumakov. He listened for a while, and raised his head to report to me: "The enemy has dispatched about one battalion of infantry, and eight other tanks are rushing towards the position of the 309th regiment."

"Tell Shumakov," I said to Bezikov simply: "Order him to defend his position resolutely and never allow him to take a step back. I will send someone to support him."

When Bezikov was conveying my meaning to Shumakov, I lowered my head and asked the tank brigade commander: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, can your tank go to high ground?"

When the tank brigade commander heard the question I was asking him, he immediately stood up and reported: "Comrade Commander, our tanks are all the latest models. There should be no problem climbing up this slope."

"If this is the case, that would be great." I heard that the tank can drive up to the high ground~www.wuxiaspot.com~ My heart feels more at ease, and I then ordered: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, order your tank to drive immediately. Go up to the high ground. Then come down to destroy the enemy's tanks with artillery fire, and shoot the enemy's infantry with machine guns, understand?"

"Understood." After the tank brigade agreed, he asked for my opinion: "Can I leave?"

"Remember, not only on the high ground occupied by the 51st Guards Division, tanks must be sent to support, but the other two divisions must also be sent to support tanks." After I explained the last few words, I waved at him. , Commanded: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you immediately go back to the army and arrange it."

After the tank brigade left, I saw Bezikov was also about to hang up, so I stopped him and told him: "Chief of Staff, please tell Major Shumakov and ask him to talk to him every ten minutes. We report the situation once!"

After discussing some details of the night attack with several division commanders, I sent them away.

Not long after they left, a phone rang in front of me. I know that those who can get through this high-frequency phone are definitely not front-line units, usually only Rokosovsky or Batov can get through. So I picked up the microphone and said politely: "Hello, I'm Oshanina, where are you?" (To be continued.)