Burning Moscow

The other two tank brigades of the 11th Guards Corps also accelerated their advance after the infantry made way for themselves. With the cooperation of the mechanized 6th brigade, they advanced to the Mosha station while purging the German remnants along the way.

General Guttman reports the progress of the troops to the headquarters at any time by telegram. Every time Katukov receives a piece of information, he will mark the position of the troops with a red and blue pencil on the map. Seeing the red arrow on the map, getting closer and closer to the Mosha station, his chief of staff could not help but said with joy: "Comrade Commander, if our tank troops can maintain this speed, before dark, Can join forces with the 64th Brigade of Tanks occupying Mosha Station."

Today’s weather is long and short. The sky won’t get dark until around nine o’clock, and now it’s just past four o’clock in the afternoon. As long as nothing unexpected happens, two tank brigades and one mechanized brigade of Guttmann are in Arrived at Mosha Station within five hours, there is no problem at all.

Just when we thought that the main force of the 11th Guards Tank Army would meet up with the tank brigade occupying the Mosha Station in the dark, unexpected things happened.

A communications staff took a telegram, hurried over, and when it was handed over to the chief of staff, he turned and left. Since the Chief of Staff was looking at the telegram with his back to Katukov and me, the two of us could not see the expression on his face, but Katukov seemed to realize that there was something wrong, so he asked first. : "Chief of Staff, what happened?"

Hearing Katukov’s voice, the chief of staff turned around and handed the telegram he was holding to Katukov. At the same time, he said solemnly: "Comrade Commander, our telegraph operator just received a copy. Telegram from unknown origin, this is the content of the telegram."

After Katukov read the telegram, the expression on his face became serious. He looked at the chief of staff and said, "Chief of staff, how true do you think this telegram is?"

Before the Chief of Staff could answer, I reached out and took the phone from Katukov. After reading the above content clearly, I couldn’t help but be stunned. It said: “Please note, please note that the German army is about to flood the south bank of the Transnistria. Please be vigilant for our troops in this area. ."

There is no signature at the back of the telegram. After reading this telegram, I am also at a loss. I wonder who sent this telegram. Why is the content of the telegram ambiguous? The southern bank of the Transnistria is so big, the German army. The place to be flooded was not clearly stated.

I put the telegram on the table, and when I was about to ask a few words, I heard the Chief of Staff say: "Comrade Commander, I think this may be a conspiracy by the Germans. They see our troops who can’t stop the advancement. That’s why this fake telegram was sent in an attempt to stop us from moving forward."

After listening to the chief of staff's analysis, I felt that what he said was reasonable. We crossed the Transnistria from many places and came to the South Bank area. Even if the German army wanted to flood the way our army was advancing, they did not have the ability. They could never break the bank in an area that was hundreds of kilometers wide. Let the water go?

Just when I thought that Katukov would definitely be the same as our judgment, I heard him say: "Chief of Staff, go to the communication room to verify who sent this telegram."

Regarding Katukov's order, the Chief of Staff might feel that Katukov was a little too much, and he stood still in place. Just when he was ready to persuade Katukov, Katukov raised his hand to stop what he was about to say, "Chief of Staff, no matter where this telegram comes from, we can't take it lightly. So you have to do it as soon as possible. Know the source of the telegram so that we can deploy the next combat mission according to the specific situation."

Now that Katukov had said so, his chief of staff also realized that he had done something inappropriate against the wishes of his superiors. After nodding his head, he turned and walked outside.

After the chief of staff left, I tentatively asked Katukov: "General Katukov, do you really think that the German army will flood the way forward for our army?"

Hearing my question, Katukov looked up at me, and said with a serious expression: "Yes, Lida, I think so. The Germans are very cunning, although they are beaten by us at the moment, but they are also We must be wary of them jumping over the wall in a hurry and doing things that we did not expect."

"Then what road do you think the Germans will flood?" After listening to his judgment, I asked half-believely: "There are so many roads leading to Chernovic on the south bank of the Transnistria. How about the Germans? Do you know which one our army will go?"

Katukov frowned, staring at the map in front of him, thinking hard: "If the Germans want to blast the river embankment, they will definitely choose a suitable place to bury explosives and blast a gap in the embankment. They Where will the blasting point be chosen?"

While Katukov was thinking hard, his chief of staff rushed in like a gust of wind. After arriving in front of us, he lowered his voice and said, "Comrade Commander, the source of the telegram has been figured out."

Katukov raised his head, raised his eyebrows, and urged: "Chief of Staff, tell me, which reconnaissance team sent this precious information?"

The chief of staff turned his head and glanced at me, and then replied, "It's a reconnaissance team under the reconnaissance division of the front army..." I heard the reconnaissance division, and I couldn't help but chuckle. I quickly concentrated and listened carefully to the words of the chief of staff: "...this reconnaissance. The group originally consisted of six people. They were discovered by the Germans when they returned from the reconnaissance mission. They were forced to move toward the depths of the enemy because their retreat was cut off. The operator died during the transfer. The telegram was sent by the group leader. He is not proficient in sending reports, so the content sent is a bit vague."

"Did the other party say who he is?" I couldn't wait to ask as soon as the chief of staff finished speaking.

"The other party said he was Major Trafkin, Deputy Chief of the Reconnaissance Division." After the chief of staff said this, he looked at me and asked curiously: "Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front, do you know them?"

"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff, I do know them." To the Chief of Staff's question, I nodded and replied: "Major Trafkin was originally my reconnaissance battalion commander, but was later transferred to the Front Army Reconnaissance Division. Since it is the information provided by him, I believe that the enemy's information that is preparing to flood our army must be true."

"Chief of Staff." After I finished speaking, Katukov asked his chief of staff: "Did the major comrade tell me where the enemy is going to be flooded?"

The chief of staff nodded, then pointed his finger at a point on the map and said: "Comrade Commander, here. There is a reservoir. As long as the German army opens the gate, it can flood the road ahead of our army."

After I saw the position pointed by the chief of staff, I couldn't help being surprised: "What, the enemy's reservoir is near the Mosha station? If they open the gate to release the water, won't they all flood the station?" At this point, I couldn't help but lift up. I wiped the cold sweat on my forehead, and said in my heart that the Germans are really too cunning. When I stuck to the Mamayev Hill, I thought about substituting water for soldiers, but due to various reasons, I didn't implement this plan in the end. But now the German army is trying to use the same tactics to block our army's way forward.

I looked up at Katukov and asked, "General Katukov, what do you plan to do? Is it safe to stop the troops rushing to the Mosha station; or take a risk and let the troops move on?"

"Comrade Commander," as soon as I finished speaking, the chief of staff began to persuade Katukoff: "I looked at the map. The reservoir is still a few kilometers away from the Mosha station. Even if the Germans release the water, it will not be possible. Being able to submerge the station will at most make the station an isolated island in the big water. How about we take the risk and let the main force of General Guttmann continue to move closer to the Mosha station?"

Katukov looked at me, then at the Chief of Staff, and finally slapped a slap on the table and said decisively: "Okay, that's it, let the troops move on. As long as the Germans open the gate and release the water, Of course, the defenders of the station are left alone, but at the same time their troops will not be able to launch a counterattack against the station in the short term due to the obstruction of the flood."

…………

Although Katukov's order was conveyed in time, he did not wait for the main force of General Guttmann to arrive at the station. As the Germans opened the floodgates, all the tanks of the 300th brigade that rushed to the front of the tank were all soaked in the turbulent flood. Fortunately, the floods only submerged the tracks and caused no casualties to the brigade.

After learning the news, the Chief of Staff said with pleasure to Katukov: "Comrade Commander, although the flood flooded the way forward and prevented our tanks from moving forward, it did not cause any casualties. This is really unfortunate. Great luck in China."

"Yes, as long as there is no loss of personnel and equipment." Katukov breathed a sigh of relief, and then said: "After two days the flood recedes, our tank brigade can continue to move forward. That's right, Chief of Staff, I am worried that the tank soldiers are not carrying too much supplies. After the flood recedes, you have to arrange special manpower to send them supplies."

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." The Chief of Staff said confidently: "I'll call General Guttmann later and ask him to arrange special manpower for the tank soldiers of the 200th Brigade of tanks trapped in the flood. Give it to support."

"How's it going at Mosha Station?" Katukov was always more concerned about the 64th Brigade of Tanks in Mosha Station. He waited for the Chief of Staff to finish, and immediately asked: "Is the water deep in the station? "

"It's okay." The chief of staff nodded and said disapprovingly: "According to Colonel Boyko's report, the deepest place in the station, just past the knee, has little effect on the troops."

After Katukov nodded, he ordered: "Mosha Station is only tens of kilometers away from Chernivtsi. Let Colonel Boyko take air defense measures to avoid sudden German air strikes."

…………

Katukov was worried that Mosha Station would be attacked by German aircraft from Chernivtsi, but the actual situation surprised us. The Germans dispatched six bombers at a height beyond the range of the ground anti-aircraft machine guns and flew over the Mosha station to bomb the 200th brigade of tanks that was besieged by the flood.

Because the tanks of the 200th Brigade were trapped in the flood and unable to move, they became the targets of German bombers. When Katukov heard the German air raid on the tank brigade, he was furious. He directly called Bogolyubov, Chief of Staff of the Front Army, and said hurriedly: "Comrade Chief of Staff, my tank 200th brigade is in Mozambique. Twenty kilometers north of Shazhan station, there was an air attack from the German army, requesting air force support, requesting air force support."

Bogolyubov was also taken aback when he heard the unexpected news, and said hurriedly: "General Katukov, don't worry, are you sure that the enemy is bombing your tank brigade?"

"Confirmed, of course." Seeing that Bogolyubov was still a little bit disbelieved about his report, Katukov became more anxious. As a result, I was trapped in a flood. The enemy's bombers used these immovable tanks as targets. If you don't send planes to volunteer, they are in danger of annihilation."

Seeing that Katyukov was so anxious, Bogolyubov realized the seriousness of the problem. He quickly said: "General Katyukov, don't worry, I will call the air force immediately and ask them to send fighter planes to support you."

Seeing Katukov put down the phone ~www.wuxiaspot.com~ the red-eyed chief of staff asked nervously: "Comrade Commander, can our air force arrive in time?"

Katukov sighed and said helplessly: "Now we can only resign ourselves to fate. No matter how fast our air force arrives, it is estimated that the loss of the 200th tank brigade will not be small."

"Confirmed, of course." Seeing that Bogolyubov was still a little bit disbelieved about his report, Katukov became more anxious. As a result, I was trapped in a flood. The enemy's bombers used these immovable tanks as targets. If you don't send planes to volunteer, they are in danger of annihilation."

Seeing that Katyukov was so anxious, Bogolyubov realized the seriousness of the problem. He quickly said: "General Katyukov, don't worry, I will call the air force immediately and ask them to send fighter planes to support you."

Seeing Katukov put down the phone, the red-eyed chief of staff asked nervously: "Comrade Commander, can our air force arrive in time?"

Katukov sighed and said helplessly: "Now we can only resign ourselves to fate. No matter how fast our air force arrives, it is estimated that the loss of the 200th tank brigade will not be small."