Burning Moscow

I heard that the Group Army Command sent us an anti-tank artillery company. I was overjoyed. I was worried that due to the lack of heavy weapons such as anti-tank weapons, when the German armored forces attacked, our troops would not be able to resist it. () When I met General Golikov, the deputy commander of the Front Army, who came to inspect at the command of the Group Army, he had reported this to him. I didn’t expect that he was really talking and counting. It didn’t take long before he was sent to me. Two anti-tank artillery companies.

I excitedly asked Morozov: "Comrade Captain, what calibre are these anti-tank guns?"

Morozov didn’t look back at all, and he answered me without hesitation: “The report division commander, they are all the latest 76.2mm division anti-tank guns that were just installed at the beginning of this year. One company has 12 guns, and two companies have a total of 12 guns. 24." At this point, he stopped, waved in the direction of the artillery commanders, and shouted loudly: "Two company commanders, come here. Comrade commander wants to see you."

As he shouted, two commanders ran out of the crowd, came to us quickly, stood at attention and saluted, and said to me: "Comrade Commander, Lieutenant Kasselin and Lieutenant Merekhov will report to you. , The fifth and sixth companies of the Guards Anti-tank Independent Battalion are here to garrison, waiting for your orders."

"Yeah, yeah." I looked at the two energetic lieutenants in front of me, nodded in satisfaction, and then said to them: "Lieutenant Kasselin, Lieutenant Mairekhov, from today, your two companies and Morozov The captain’s mortar company was officially organized as an independent division artillery battalion. Captain Morozov served as the battalion commander and served as a company commander, Lieutenant Kasselin served as the second company commander, and Lieutenant Merekov was the third company commander."

See that none of the three have any objection to my appointment. I looked at the cannon that was pulling up the hillside. He asked with interest: "Two comrades in the company commander. These are the new guns of the newly equipped troops?".

"Yes, comrade commander, these are the '1942 76.2mm division anti-tank guns' that started to be installed after March this year. They are the most advanced anti-tank artillery at present." Lieutenant Kasulin took me. The topic said: "Professor Wolf, the chief engineer of the artillery branch of the German Krupp Military Industry Group, once commented on this type of artillery in public: "This type of artillery newly installed in the Soviet Union is the current military force. The best of them is not only stronger than British and French guns, but even German guns are not as good as it. It is no exaggeration to say that this kind of gun will leave an important page in the history of artillery in the world'."

Hearing what he said, I couldn't help but want to ask: "Where did you hear what Krupp chief engineer Professor Wolfe said?" But after thinking about it, Lieutenant Kasselin and the others I just joined the independent teacher’s organization today. I just ridiculed him in public and ruthlessly ridiculed him. Obviously it was inappropriate and inconsistent with my teacher’s identity. So I continued to remain silent while trying to squeeze a smile on my face. , Pretending to listen with gusto.

See me with a smile. Lieutenant Mairekhov also boldly added: "It is said that after Comrade Stalin saw the demonstration of this new artillery, he said with emotion: ‘This artillery is a masterpiece of a generation!’"

Buy Lekhov's words. It seems to make me understand something. I secretly guessed in my heart: perhaps the ordnance department deliberately released the so-called Krupp first engineer's speech and Stalin's comments on the artillery in order to increase the confidence of the artillery officers in the new artillery.

Kasulin asked politely: "Comrade Commander, may I ask, what is the mission of the Second Company and Third Company on the ground?"

"The mission is clear, Comrade Lieutenant." Regarding his question, I said confidently: "In the current defensive stage, the mission of your two companies is to carry out anti-tank missions and destroy the enemy's infantry. Wait for our troops to change. After entering the attack, your combat mission is to destroy the enemy’s vital forces, destroy enemy infantry firepower points and suppress enemy artillery, destroy enemy tanks and armored vehicles, destroy enemy barbed wire obstacles, destroy enemy shelters and permanent firepower points. Accompanied by infantry impact, Provide them with fire support."

After finishing speaking, I waved at them and said in an unquestionable tone: "Well, the commanders of the three artillery battalions, you can quickly lead the soldiers to deploy the artillery in place." The three artillery commanders agreed. Back in the queue of artillery soldiers, command the soldiers to continue to pull the cannon up the hillside.

Seeing the warriors who were so busy, I suddenly had a bold idea in my heart. If the Germans were to launch an attack on Mamayevgang, after the preparations for the bombardment and bombing, it would be the armored units they were proud of to cover the infantry attack. To deal with the German armored units, in addition to anti-tank guns, anti-tank guns, anti-tank mines, grenades, incendiary bottles, and cluster grenades, anti-tank trenches can also be dug. Of course, what I want to dig is definitely not an ordinary anti-tank trench, but the famous "Golan trench".

For the relevant information of the Golan trench, I have long been familiar with it: one to two kilometers away from the forward position, I dug a series of anti-tank trenches with openings of 6 meters wide, 4 meters wide at the bottom, and 9 meters deep. This trench seems simple, but there is a hidden mystery. When the general army builds an anti-tank trench, it usually piles the excavated soil on both sides of the trench. However, the earth excavated by the Golan Trench was placed on its own side ingeniously, forming a 2.5-meter-high earth embankment. The anti-tank trench built in this way will make the offensive side feel very depressed. Because even if they want to fill this trench, they will find that the soil is all on the defender's side, and they have no soil to use. Even if steel rails are used to erect channels on the anti-tank trenches, they will find that the erected channels are high at one end and low at the other. Moreover, the high end was erected on the soft soil, which made the tanks and armored vehicles sway when they were driving on the bridge, causing many tanks and armored vehicles to fall into deep trenches and could not get out. Even if the tanks and armored vehicles that were lucky enough to pass slowly climbed up the high earth embankment, the bottom of the weakly armored vehicles was exposed. When the tanks opened the earth embankment, the top of the same weak armor protection was exposed under the muzzle of the defenders. So in this up-and-down process, the defender on the defensive side had two excellent shooting opportunities, as long as they hit, they could easily destroy the opponent's tanks and armored vehicles. This way when passing the earth embankment. Enemy tanks and armored vehicles have almost become live targets for defenders. And because the earth embankment is higher than the offensive side. In combat, it also severely affected the sight of the tank members of the offensive force. Unable to find and aim at the target, it is difficult to use firepower to support the offensive forces in front. When the defender’s armored unit initiates an anti-impact, it can easily push the soil into the anti-tank trench, fill it up, and ensure the attack of its own tanks and armored vehicles.

Originally, I wanted to save this anti-tank trench for use in the Kursk tank battle, but now I see the unobstructed open plain in front of Mamayev Hill, in order to block the German armored forces. This Golan moat is the best choice.

Thinking of this, I greeted Basmanov, turned and walked to the division headquarters. Second Lieutenant Mikhayev, the company commander of the division engineering company, is there. I can tell him this anti-tank trench digging method and ask him to organize immediate manual work and strive to complete the construction within two days.

But as soon as I walked to the division headquarters, looking at the engineers and soldiers who came out of my headquarters with bags of dirt across them, I stopped and watched them sweating profusely. I can't help but reconsider digging the Golan trench in front of Mamayev Hill. Is it a bit too sloppy?

After serious consideration. I decided to cancel the plan to excavate the Golan trench. Because this two-kilometer anti-tank trench actually requires as many as 90,000 cubic meters of earth to be excavated, without the cooperation of excavating machinery, let alone Mikhayev’s engineering company, even if I put it in the high ground. One group and two groups on the ground were dispatched, and more than 3,000 people had to dig at least 30 cubic meters of earth, and it would not be possible to complete the work without ten and a half months. The Germans are neither blind nor deaf. They will never allow our troops to dig an anti-tank trench that can block the advancement of their armored troops under their noses. They will definitely use planes to bombard us. The daring troops were wiped out.

When I was feeling sorry for being forced to abandon the Golan trench, Mikhayev didn't know when he came to me and reported to me: "Comrade Commander! Second Lieutenant Mikhayev reported to you that my company is working Excavate the new division headquarters."

Maybe it was because when I was thinking about things, I kept my eyes on the engineers and soldiers coming in and out in a daze, so some people thought I might be watching their work, so they felt it was necessary to report to me, so Mikhayev was called out.

"Stop for a while, Comrade Mikhayev." I asked casually: "How long can the headquarters be repaired?"

Mikhayev shrugged and said helplessly: "Comrade Commander, we encountered rocks during the excavation process. As you know, without enough explosives, the speed of excavation will inevitably be affected."

"Then you can find some explosives and explode all the rocks in the way." When I said this, I raised my hand and looked at my watch. Two hours have passed, and Mikhayev promised to complete the work. Early in the morning, I said in a casual way: "It's fine to finish before the evening anyway."

"Are we allowed to continue, Comrade Commander?" Mikhayev asked cautiously.

"Of course, that's easy to say." I hurriedly replied, "You guys keep going!"

After Mikhayev turned back to the division headquarters, I said to Basmanov next to me: "Let’s go, comrade Captain, anyway, it’s okay now, let’s go to the settlement."

We walked down the hillside. When we were halfway through, we unexpectedly ran into Kirilov who had returned from the residential area. In addition to the guard squad he led, there were more than a dozen political workers beside him. I waved at him quickly, and shouted loudly at the same time: "Kirilov, Kirilov political commissar!"

Kirilov was burying his head in climbing, when he heard someone yelling, he looked up and saw me, he smiled suddenly, waved at me, and accelerated his pace at the same time.

He stopped in front of me and asked curiously: "Comrade Oshanina, why are you here?"

I smiled and replied: "Comrade Political Commissar, Lieutenant Mikhayev is still building the headquarters for us, so I wanted to visit the residential area, but I didn’t expect to meet you right here." Standing and looking behind him, he then asked: "These comrades in the back are the political workers assigned to our division, right?"

"Yes," Kirilov leaned back and looked back, nodding his head and replied: "They are all political workers transferred from the Political Department of the Group Army. It was good to give me twenty people, but very Unfortunately, when I went, eight political workers had already been sent away by the political commissar of the 70th Guards Division Titov."

"The 70th Division of Colonel Lyudnikov's Guards?!" After getting an affirmative answer. I asked questioningly: "Aren't they affiliated with the 64th Army. Why do you want to ask someone from the Political Department of our Army?"

With a surprised expression on Kirilov's face, he asked, "Don't you know? The 70th Guards Division was transferred from the 64th Army to the command of our Army yesterday. It is currently stationed near the Central Railway Station."

"If the 70th Guards Division is transferred over, then which unit will defend the vacated area?"

"The defense zone of the Lyudnikov Division is currently guarded by the 157th Infantry Division of Colonel Kuropardenko. Although their strength is a little bit less, the Germans in that area do not know what kind of blows they have received. For a long period of time, there has been no attack on our army's position."

"Why is this so?"

For this question of mine, Kirilov did not answer, but shouted at the group of political workers: "Hey, Comrade Starirov, please come over." Following his shout, a political worker After running over and raising his hand to salute, he stood silently in front of us without saying a word.

"Comrade Starirov, Commander Oshanina would like to know why the German army in front of the 157th Infantry Division has not launched an offensive recently?" Kirilov ordered his men. He approached me again and whispered: "Comrade Starirov was transferred from the 64th Army. He told me the news."

Starirov stood upright and reported to me: "Comrade commander. This is the case. According to the report of the observation post, an inexplicable explosion occurred behind the German army. Since the enemy blocked the area after the explosion, our The scouts were unable to approach the reconnaissance, so they were unable to determine where the explosion took place and what losses were caused to the Germans."

Although Starirov did not elaborate enough, I already understand what is going on. The top ten is that when we evacuated from Abganerovo Station, the mines and several tons of explosives that were planted exploded. Hearing this, I didn't ask any more, smiled at Kirilov, and said relaxedly: "Comrade Political Commissar, should you explain to me these subordinates of yours?"

Hearing what I said, Kirilov hurriedly shouted at the political workers behind: "All gather!"

A dozen political workers quickly lined up in a row in the voice of the command. Kirilov led me to the far right of the team and started to introduce me: "Comrade Starirov, you have already met, so I won’t introduce it. This is Kruglov and Ko Gan, Xiao Ming, Zuyev, Kokunov, Elgin, Rogulev, and Gurkin are all inspectors and counselors of the Political Department of the Group Army. These three political workers are Nicholas Yev, Stupov, and Savchenko are responsible for the work of the Communist Youth League of the group army."

After getting acquainted with everyone, we returned to the front of the team. Kirilov made a gesture to me, motioning me to say something to the political workers. I nodded and took a step forward. After scanning each political cadre with my eyes, I said to everyone with a smile: "Hello, comrades, and welcome you to work in an independent teacher. With your With the arrival, the combat effectiveness of the independent division will rise to a higher level. Next, you will be assigned to each regiment, go directly to the grassroots level, and effectively do a good job in the party’s political work to ensure that our independent division can successfully complete The current combat mission." At this point, I turned my side and made a gesture to Kirilov, and said politely: "Comrades, political comrades, let you arrange their work."

Kirilov didn't shy away, and directly said: "Starirov, Kruglov, Kogan."

The three political workers who were named by him hurriedly stepped forward, standing straight, waiting for his order.

"The three of you go to a group and report to Lieutenant Colonel Sergeikov."

"Yes!" The three agreed neatly, and then retreated into the queue.

"Xiao Ming, Zuyev, Savchenko!"

Three political workers who were named again stood up.

"The three of you go to the second regiment, and report to Captain Pugachev, the acting head of the regiment later."

When the three political workers retreated into the queue, he nodded the names of the four in one breath: "Kokunov, Elgin, Nikolayev, Stupov."

After the four were out, he instructed: "The four of you are assigned to the third and fourth regiments. Because the third regiment commander Lieutenant Colonel Kosca was injured, these two regiments are currently under the command of the fourth regiment commander Lieutenant Colonel Gaidar. You can report to him later."

"Rogulev, Gurkin, you two are assigned to the fifth regiment, and you will report to the fifth regiment commander Lieutenant Colonel Oleg later. By the way, the regiment political commissar of the fifth regiment, I think you also know her. The Vellore political instructor of the Nitsa Infantry School, if you encounter any difficulties in the army, you can ask her for help."

When I heard that Kirilov was assigning jobs to his subordinates~www.wuxiaspot.com~, I couldn’t help feeling secretly that this political commissar was really not easy. How long has it been since I knew all the commanders of the independent divisions. .

Just after the assignment of work, without waiting for Kirilov’s order to disband, suddenly there was a sound of cars from far and near from the south. We collectively looked in the direction of the sound, and saw a team consisting of twelve trucks. The convoy of, is coming fast in our direction, and the carriage is covered with commanders wearing helmets.

Kirilov squinted his eyes for a while, trying to speak to me and saying to himself: "Strange, how do I think the soldiers in the carriage are commanders?"

Hearing what he said, I quickly raised my binoculars and looked at the galloping convoy. When I saw a few familiar faces in the car, I couldn't help showing a knowing smile. I put down my binoculars and said excitedly to Kirilov: "Comrade political comrades, they are second lieutenant training teams. They are truly elite soldiers. With their participation, our independent division will form a strong combat force in a short period of time! To be continued.)

ps: Thanks to the book friend who died in the Haechi children's shoes for voting; thanks to the book friend Atomic nucleus for the reward of counterattack children's shoes.