Red Moscow

Sokov has always attached great importance to intelligence work, and he knows very well that only by knowing the enemy and the enemy can he be victorious in all battles. Therefore, as long as the troops arrive in a new area, he will desperately send out batches of scouts to conduct reconnaissance on the deployment and equipment of the German army.

As soon as Tansen's troops began to gather, Sokov received intelligence from scouts coming from the enemy's rear. After reading the information, he handed it to Zhukov: "Comrade Marshal, look, according to the report of our scouts, the 2nd Armored Regiment, 2nd Artillery Regiment, 2nd Motorcycle Battalion and 3rd Grenadier Regiment of the Imperial Division are Gather up, I'm afraid we will soon launch an attack on our defense line."

"As far as I know," Zhukov reminded Sokov after seeing the information from the scouts: "The artillery regiments of the Imperial Division are all equipped with 150mm large-caliber artillery. You only have simple defensive positions that can carry Can it withstand their shelling?"

Zhukov's worry was correct. If the German army used such large-caliber artillery to bombard, even the reinforced concrete defense fortifications might be destroyed, let alone the field fortifications built by Sokov and the others hastily.

Sokov did not immediately answer Zhukov's question, but turned to Khokhlov who was standing aside: "Comrade Colonel, has your division built a reverse slope fortification on the back of the hill?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Hearing Sokov's question, Khokhlov hurriedly stepped forward and replied, "According to your order, we have built reverse slope positions behind every hill position. Once under shelling, the soldiers can quickly withdraw to the reverse slope position along the communication trenches on both sides of the hill."

"Reverse slope position?" Zhukov showed a puzzled expression on his face.

Sokov guessed that Zhukov might not understand the real purpose of the reverse slope position, so he explained to him: "Comrade Marshal, when the enemy is under our shelling, they usually temporarily abandon the first line of defense and move along the communication trench to the second line. The second line of defense made our army's artillery shells hit places where there was no one. After a long period of shelling, except for destroying some fortifications, the number of German troops killed was very limited.

The anti-slope position I proposed is based on this approach of the Germans. I ordered the troops to build anti-slope positions behind the hill positions to be defended. Once the enemy began to bombard our positions on a large scale, our commanders and fighters quickly moved to the anti-slope positions along the traffic trenches. The enemy's artillery shells can hit the frontal defensive position, but it is difficult to hit the reverse slope position behind the hill, so that the casualties of our army when being bombarded are minimized. "

"If the enemy sneaks up to the foot of the hill during shelling, and immediately attacks your position on the hill as soon as the shelling stops, the enemy may have occupied your position before you can react."

"It's okay, Comrade Marshal." Regarding Zhukov's worries, Sokov explained to him: "Even if our army is avoiding shelling and the enemy occupies a position on the top of the hill, there is nothing to worry about. We are hiding in the fortifications on the reverse slope The commanders and fighters can throw grenades at the enemies on the top of the mountain, causing them great damage.

As for the enemies occupying the top of the mountain, they wanted to drop bombs on our soldiers, but it was difficult to accurately drop them into the trenches below. If the enemy wants to charge down, the terrain restrictions will prevent them from moving quickly, and our commanders and fighters hidden in the trenches will want to kill them one by one like a target. "

Zhukov continued to ask a few more questions, and Sokov answered them without hesitation. After listening to Sokov's answer, Zhukov nodded and said approvingly, "Misha, it seems that you have considered everything comprehensively."

Sokov didn't speak, just grinned, thinking that this kind of reverse slope tactic, in fact, he had implemented it on Mamayev Post as early as during the Stalingrad defense war, otherwise the German army would not have to wave after wave. No matter how many troops you have in your hands, you can't guarantee that Mamayev Gang will not be occupied by the enemy.

"The area where the Imperial Division is currently located is only a dozen or twenty kilometers away from you. If you advance quickly along the road, you can enter your defense zone in at most one and a half hours." Zhukov said to Sokov: "You are not too fast. Do you want to get ready?"

"Comrade Colonel, is Lieutenant Colonel Goryachkin's 564th regiment deployed at the forefront?" Sokov asked Khokhlov: "Are they ready for battle?"

"Report to Comrade Commander," Khokhlov replied: "The troops should be resting in the shelter at this moment. There are special observation posts on the hill to monitor the surrounding environment. Once they find the enemy approaching, they will quickly issue a combat alarm. .”

"Comrade Colonel," Zhukov asked after Khokhlov finished speaking, "How big is the observation area of ​​your observation post?"

"Comrade Marshal, the hill where we are stationed is 107.9 meters above sea level, and the observation post on the top of the hill can observe movement within a radius of ten kilometers." Khokhlov explained to Zhukov: "As soon as they find the enemy, they will The battle alarm was issued immediately. And our commanders and fighters resting in the shelter, after hearing the battle alarm, there is still enough time to enter their respective defensive positions."

While talking, the phone on the desk rang. Sokov picked it up and it turned out to be Lieutenant Colonel Goryachkin. After he recognized Sokov's voice, he said anxiously: "Report to Comrade Commander, the observation post just reported to me that German tanks and armored vehicles appeared in the distance, and they are coming along the road towards our defense zone."

"How many tanks and armored vehicles does the enemy have?" Sokov asked blankly, "Have you checked it yourself?"

"I have verified it." Goryachkin said: "I personally went to the observation post on the top of the mountain and observed it carefully with binoculars. The enemy has about 50 tanks, as well as a large number of armored vehicles, motorcycles and trucks. Advancing towards us along the road, it will take less than an hour to enter our defense zone."

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, have you taken any countermeasures?" Sokov asked.

"I have issued a battle alert to the troops and ordered the fighters to take positions. At the same time, several anti-tank teams have also been deployed on the roadside."

Knowing about the previous battle, Sokov made Goryachkin realize that deploying anti-tank teams on the side of the road could destroy enemy tanks more effectively. But in this way, the situation of the anti-tank team became dangerous, so he reminded the other party: "Remember to send people to protect the safety of the anti-tank team."