Burning Moscow

"Have you figured out the number of German troops and technical equipment on the opposite side?" I looked at the German artillery position with a binoculars in the distance, biting my back teeth and asked: "Besides these anti-aircraft guns, they have other artillery nearby. Position?" The reason why I asked this was a fluke, thinking that if there were no German artillery positions around, I could use Lieutenant Colonel Cavillin’s artillery regiment to remove the enemy’s artillery positions.

After I had asked my question, I didn't hear Bantai Leyev's answer for a long time. I frowned, put down my binoculars, turned my head to look at Pantai Leyev, and asked dissatisfiedly: "Comrade Commander, haven't you heard my question? Why don't you answer me?"

Pantai Leyev replied with some embarrassment: "Comrade Commander, this is the case. Our reconnaissance intelligence is the previous two days. At the time of reconnaissance, there was no German artillery position nearby, but if there is one now, it is not. It's easy to say."

"In this case, Comrade Bantai Leyev, should you immediately organize manpower to conduct reconnaissance on the enemy's position?" After listening to his defense, I said angrily: "If you want to attack again, you have to First clarify the enemy's deployment of troops, right?"

Pantaiyev blushed with shame, and nodded repeatedly and agreed: "Yes, Comrade Commander, I will arrange personnel to go to the enemy's rear to conduct reconnaissance."

Seeing that he wanted to walk towards the walkie-talkie at the door of the house, I suddenly remembered something, so I stopped him and said, "Master Bantai Lev, there is something that needs to be reminded of your scout. For a moment, many units of our army have just changed their ranks, from the original collar badges to epaulettes, so that the scouts should pay attention to identification during reconnaissance, and don't treat our troops as Germans."

"Understood," Bantai Leyev promised very readily: "I will definitely explain to the scouts. Avoid oolong incidents that treat oneself as an enemy of the earth." At this point, he carefully asked for instructions. : "Comrade Commander, do you think it is necessary to call Colonel Biele and Lieutenant Colonel Cavillin here?"

I wanted to agree to it casually. But then I thought of the enemy's antiaircraft artillery position that this observation was facing, although it was a few kilometers away. But no one knows whether this place has been discovered by enemy artillery observers. If our group of commanders were in a meeting here and caught two shells, the command system of the troops would be completely ruined. Because of this, I shook my head and replied: "No, comrade commander. For safety, let them both go to your division headquarters. We will hold a temporary military meeting there later. meeting."

When Kirilov was on the phone in Bantai Lev. He walked to my side, raised his binoculars and looked into the distance, and then said to me anxiously: "Comrade Oshanina, this German anti-aircraft artillery position must be killed as soon as possible. Our troops will not be able to destroy them in one day. Advance to Zaporos."

Seeing Kirilov’s anxious look, I couldn’t help but ask him curiously: "Comrade Political Commissar, why do you think the Germans would deploy such an anti-aircraft artillery position to the west of Kuban? Know if I With strong troops and complete technical equipment, even if the Germans have twice as many anti-aircraft guns. We can also break through their defenses."

Kirilov thought for a while, and tentatively analyzed: "Could it be that the enemy discovered our intention to attack Zaporoche, so it drew anti-aircraft artillery troops from other places to stop us from rushing towards Zaporo." What's the footsteps."

"Comrade Political Commissar, we have been fighting with the Germans here for a few days." I patiently explained to Kirilov: "Where is our next offensive target, I guess the Germans have already guessed it very clearly. Only. With this position, it is impossible to block our armored assault. I guess their intention to arrange this anti-aircraft artillery position is to delay the advancement of our army, so that Manstein can have sufficient time to dispatch troops. will."

Kirilov heard me say this, with a relaxed expression on his face, he said dismissively: "Even if Manstein is given a few days to dispatch troops. It still can't stop our troops from advancing. It’s just that the Germans who have been hit by us will be able to linger for a few more days. According to the current progress of the war, there will be at most three or five days. The Germans will be all driven across the Dnieper by us."

I can’t agree with Kirilov’s blind optimism. Once he finished speaking, he expressed his opinion: “Comrade Political Commissar, I don’t think things are that simple. Some time ago, we were able to proceed smoothly because Manstein asked his subordinates to give up some towns voluntarily, so that while occupying one town after another, we had to leave troops to defend. In this way, our offensive force gradually weakened after capturing a large number of towns. If Mainstein intends to take his troops across the Dnieper River, how could it be possible to temporarily form an anti-aircraft artillery force to put such a defensive posture on our way forward?"

"Comrade Oshanina, what do you mean is that the Germans have set up a defensive formation in front of us in such an uncharacteristic manner. Are they trying to engage in a conspiracy?" Kirilov quickly heard my vagueness from what I said. The meaning mentioned, I can't help but say: "If this is really the case, how should we deal with it?"

"I don't know." After I said this casually, I found that this statement was a bit wrong, and I quickly corrected it and said: "I am just guessing, and there is no conclusive evidence. Everything has to wait for the scouts of the 22nd Guards Division. Only after we feed back the detected intelligence can we make accurate judgments."

We chatted for a while, until Pantai Leyev came and reported to me that the scouts to carry out the mission had been arranged. At the same time, they also notified Colonel Bere and Lieutenant Colonel Cavillin of the meeting at the division headquarters.

Half an hour later, our group returned to a fortified building in the center of the city by Pantai Lev. This was originally an office building of the City Soviet. Although the roof was blown through, it did not affect Pantai Lev in any way. Yev set up the headquarters here.

Biele and Cavillin arrived earlier than us. Seeing us walk in the door, they quickly got up from their seats and raised their hands to salute me. At the same time, they reported: "Comrade commander, tank brigade (artillery regiment) The commander of will report to you. We are ordered to move forward and await your instructions!"

After raising my hand to return the salute to the two of them, I greeted them to sit down while shaking hands with them: "Please sit down. Comrade commander. We are about to hold a military meeting to discuss our army's next actions. What should be done. Such actions can disrupt the enemy’s deployment."

Colonel Bere, who sat down again, heard what I said and complained to me with a wry smile: "Comrade Commander, my tank brigade has four battalions and a total of 110 tanks. In the early battles, only five or six were lost. , But this time, it was just a small battle to capture Cuban and advance to Zaporos. I had a battalion of tanks lost in vain."

"Comrade Colonel," I waited for Bie Lei to finish, and asked him with a smile: "If you are allowed to direct this offensive battle, how do you plan to play."

"Does that still need to be said?" After hearing this question, Colonel Bieley glanced at me with a strange look, and said to himself: "Of course, all the tanks are concentrated on the forward fast assault, and the one who takes the truck The infantry followed closely. Once the tank broke through the German line of defense, our infantry could get out of the vehicle and occupy the trench, expanding the breach."

"Yes, Comrade Colonel. You are very thoughtful." In order not to discourage Colonel Bere, I followed his words and said: "This German antiaircraft artillery position has completely sealed our way forward. If you think about it. If you continue to pounce on Zaporos, you must first seize the enemy's position."

After listening to my thoughts, Bie Lei nodded seriously, and then asked: "Comrade Commander, do you have any new orders?"

"The current situation of the enemy is unknown. We know nothing about the enemy's antiaircraft artillery position to the west of Kuban." Although I also want to rush to Zaporos as soon as possible, I am trying to figure it out. Before the enemy’s situation, I didn’t want to take risks easily, so I seriously said to Berley: "Comrade Colonel. We have to wait for the scouts to figure out the enemy’s military deployment before making targeted adjustments to the offensive deployment."

"Comrade commander." Cavillin, who had not spoken, finally plucked up the courage to ask: "I want to ask, what is the mission of our artillery regiment? Or is it when we are attacking the troops. Will we provide them with the necessary artillery support? "

I did not answer Cavillin’s question. Instead, I turned the subject off and asked, “Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, how many cannons are still in your regiment and what is the ammunition situation?”

"Report to the commander." Hearing me asking about the number of cannons and ammunition, Cavillin hurriedly replied: "Our regiment still has 24 cannons, and each cannon has two bases." Having said that, he said to me with some embarrassment, "Comrade Commander, I don’t know when the ammunition supplemented to us will arrive? You know, this shell can only provide the infantry with one artillery support. Wait for one shell. Light it up, in the next battle, we can only stand behind and watch the excitement. The artillery regiment without artillery is not as good as an infantry battalion."

"I will contact the logistics department of the group army for the artillery shells and ask them to ship the supplementary shells as soon as possible." After I said these two sentences, I asked Cavillin with some embarrassment: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, if you have ammunition If enough, can we eliminate this antiaircraft artillery position blocking our way forward?"

Hearing my question, Cavillin looked around instinctively, and then a proud expression appeared on his face. He confidently said to me: "Comrade commander, as long as there are enough artillery shells, it is only a trivial matter to kill the anti-aircraft artillery position on the opposite side. Those 88mm anti-aircraft artillery can be used to hit aircraft in the sky or tanks on the ground. It is not qualified enough to compete with our cannon."

Cavillin's words caused a burst of laughter, and the atmosphere in the room became relaxed. At this time, there was a familiar voice from the door: "Everyone laughed very happily! If there is any good thing, tell me about it, so that I will also be happy and happy."

I looked in the direction of the sound, and saw a commander in a military coat and a gray cylindrical leather hat at the door. In the dim light, I squinted my eyes for a long time before recognizing the person who came in as Oberstein, the political commissar of the division who succeeded Kirilov.

Oberstein walked into the room and saw so many people there. He was taken aback for a moment. When he recognized Kirilov and I sitting at the table, he quickly stepped forward to us and raised his hand to We salute.

I raised my hand to return a gift, and smiled and asked, "Lieutenant Colonel Oberstein, how are you. It's been a long time since I saw you, where are you just coming back from?"

"Report to the commander." Although Oberstein is now the political commissar of the division, he still behaved respectfully in front of me: "I went to each regiment with Lieutenant Colonel Ilya, and learned about the army. The development of political and ideological work."

Hearing his answer, I nodded, pointed to an empty spot next to me, and said politely: "Please sit down, comrade lieutenant colonel. We are in a meeting to discuss how to break through the German position and capture Zapo as soon as possible. Roche. I want to hear if you have any good suggestions."

I was just out of courtesy, so I just asked about it~www.wuxiaspot.com~ I didn’t expect Oberstein to get up from his seat immediately after listening, and replied with a straight back: "Report to Comrade Commander, I have a Thoughts, I don’t know if I should say or not?"

"Go ahead, comrade lieutenant colonel." When I saw Oberstein stand up from his seat, I remembered that although he is a political worker, he has military talents, so I encouraged him in a friendly tone: " Tell everyone about your ideas and let everyone evaluate whether it is feasible."

Oberstein agreed, and then began to talk about his views: "Comrade commander, I think that with the strength of the 22nd Guards Division, even if it breaks through the German antiaircraft artillery position, if you want to occupy Zaporos in a short time, It's also very difficult, maybe it will become a tug of war similar to Stalingrad."

"Why?" His statement immediately aroused my interest, so I couldn't help but interject.

"After continuous battles and two divisions of the Guards, the current strength of the 22nd Guards Division has been greatly reduced." Oberstein did not conceal his point of view, and said frankly: "This kind of force and equipment can capture Kuban like this. The city is still struggling, not to mention that Zaporos is stationed in a city with an important German command system, where there will be heavy German soldiers. Our whole division sacrifices quietly. If it affects the entire course of the battle, the consequences will be very serious. To be continued)