Red Moscow

Koida's analysis is correct. Although the troops cannot carry landmines when attacking, it is impossible for the regiment leaders under him to order the soldiers to throw away this precious material. return.

Lieutenant Colonel Majwo, the head of the 562nd Regiment, who was appointed as the commander-in-chief of the former enemy, immediately ordered someone to call the other two regiment heads over after receiving the order from Koida, and said to them: "Comrades, heads, Although the enemy has stopped attacking because of the darkness, they will definitely launch an attack again after dawn, so we must rush to repair the fortifications overnight and arrange minefields in front of the positions to prevent the enemy's infantry from approaching."

"Madevo," just after Madevo finished speaking, Lieutenant Colonel Kreba, the commander of the 564th regiment, said, "Where should we go to find mines and arrange this damn minefield?"

"Lieutenant Colonel Kreba," Majwo said, looking at the other party, "I know that your regiment still has a lot of mines. Before launching an attack on the German 3rd Armored Division during the day, they found places to hide them. If there are no minefields Once the Germans launch an attack, they will rush to our position in the shortest possible time."

What Magevo said, in fact, Kreba also understood in his heart, but when he thought of the place where the mines were hidden, which was about ten kilometers away from here, he felt a faint headache: "Magevo, the place where we hide the mines is about 10 kilometers away from here." It’s about ten kilometers away. If we go back to fetch mines now, it will take almost one night to go back and forth, so who will repair the fortifications destroyed by enemy shells?”

Before Majwo could answer, Lieutenant Colonel Kasatkin, the head of the 568th Regiment who was sitting silently beside him, said, "I think the work of retrieving landmines should be done by our regiment."

He must be worried that Majwo would disagree, and he added specifically: "The two regiment leaders should be very clear that our regiment suffered huge losses when it took over the defense of the 305th Division and resisted the attack of the Skeleton Division. Now the whole regiment There are only less than 200 people left. Such a small force may be a little less for repairing fortifications, but I think it is still enough for moving supplies."

"Madevo!" Hearing what Kasatkin said, Keleba did not express his opinion immediately, but turned to look at Madevo and asked, "What do you think?"

"I think it's okay." Majwo nodded after hearing this, and said to Keleba: "Now you and I have relatively more troops in the two regiments, and it is perfect for carrying out defensive tasks. As for the handling of landmines The job, I think, will be left to Lieutenant Colonel Kashatkin's 568th Regiment."

After the three regiment leaders reached a consensus, they immediately split into two groups. One led by Kasatkin, under the guide of the 564th regiment, went to the area where the 564th regiment concealed mines; the rest raced against time to repair the fortifications on the position.

Kashatkin understood the importance of landmines in defensive warfare, so immediately after he set off, he ordered the infantry to march quickly. It took less than two hours to reach the ten-kilometer road.

Under the guidance of the guide, they took out the hidden mines of the 564th regiment. When Kasatkin was about to order the troops to return, the commander of the third battalion under him said to him: "Comrade commander, brothers have driven such a long way. If you don't take a rest and return immediately, I'm afraid you won't be able to return to the position." , will be exhausted."

Kashatkin knew that the commander of the third battalion was telling the truth. The troops attacked the enemy in Kochetovka last night, and launched an attack on the German 3rd Armored Division which was hit by artillery fire during the day. As soon as the battle was over, they rushed to the defensive position set up by the 81st Guards Division without stopping. Not to mention that the soldiers were exhausted, even Kasatkin was exhausted enough.

For a moment, the order to order the troops to rest in place was almost blurted out, but fortunately, his reason stopped him in time. He shook his head and said to the commander of the third battalion: "Comrade major, I also really want the soldiers to have a good rest. But no, if we can't transport the mines back in time, and finish the minefields before the enemy's attack begins." The laying of the ground. Once the German ground attack begins, they can quickly advance to the vicinity of our position."

After speaking to the commander of the third battalion, Kashatkin called the soldiers together again and said to them earnestly: "Comrades, brothers, I know that after repeated fierce battles, everyone is exhausted. I also want to Let everyone have a good rest, and then move back to the position. But no, comrades, no. If we can't transport the mines back on time and lay the minefields, then the Germans will easily attack during the day rushed to our position..."

Kasatkin's words made the soldiers realize the responsibility on their shoulders. A soldier stepped forward and said loudly to Kashatkin: "Comrade commander, don't worry, no matter how tired we are, we will transport all these mines back to the defensive position in the shortest possible time. Give your order!" "

As soon as the soldier's words fell, a neat voice came from the queue: "Comrade commander, just give the order!"

Seeing his soldier being so reasonable, Kasatkin felt very relieved. After slightly nodding his head, he waved his hand and announced loudly: "Let's go!"

While the commanders and fighters of the 188th Division were preparing for the battle, Sokov, who was far away in the headquarters on the Pushol River, was not idle. He asked Sameko, who had just received the telegram: "Comrade Chief of Staff, when will the 182nd and 384th Divisions, and the two divisions transferred back from the east, arrive at the blocking location?"

"Major General Gritsenko, the commander of the 384th Division, reported that his troops are now less than eight kilometers away from the blocking position, and can reinforce the 188th Division at any time." After reporting the situation, Sameko asked Sokov with some hesitation: "Comrade Commander, are you really planning to put the 182nd Division into battle now?"

Sokov looked up at Sameko and asked in surprise, "Chief of Staff, is there something wrong?"

"Comrade Commander, you should still remember that we just added a group of old and weak soldiers to the 182nd Division a few days ago, which seriously diluted the combat effectiveness of the troops." Sameko felt that this was not the time to put the 182nd Division into battle. Then he persuaded: "What we need are people with combat effectiveness, not just numbers. If these untrained old people and children are thrown into the battlefield, it is tantamount to letting them die."

He was afraid that his reason would not be able to convince Sokov, and after deliberating for a while, he added: "Also, Asia is also in the 182nd Division now, don't you worry about the recurrence of the last captured incident?" ?"

The last time Assia was captured was always a thorn in Sokov's heart. Today's own existence plays a decisive role in the battle situation. Once one day, my role is not as great as it is now, it is hard to guarantee that no one will use this matter to attack me. But if Asiya was captured for the second time, even if he personally endorsed her, it might not help.

After thinking about it, Sokov couldn't help becoming hesitant. He tapped lightly on the table with his fingers, thinking quickly in his mind how to avoid the fate of Asia being captured again.

"Comrade Commander," seeing Sokov's frown, Lunev walked over and said to Sokov with a smile, "I also think the chief of staff is right. The 182nd Division is indeed not suitable for participating Such a fight."

"Why?" Sokov asked.

"Comrade Commander, you should know that what we want to stop is Hoth's Panzer Army." Sameko said to Sokov cautiously: "He has two Panzer Corps, the 48th and 57th, and the Grossdeutschland Division. It is just one of the division-level units, but it has caused us such huge casualties. If the Germans were to prevent us from cutting off their rear, if the whole army pressed up, let alone the 182nd Division, whose combat effectiveness was severely diluted Troops, even the most elite divisions, cannot hold back an enemy attack."

Seeing that Sokov fell into deep thought after listening to Lunev's words, Sameko hurriedly said: "Comrade Commander, I think Comrade Military Commissar is right. Their current combat effectiveness cannot stop the German attack at all."

Now that Lunev and Sameko disagreed with putting the 182nd Division into battle, Sokov's persistence became less firm: "Chief of Staff, what do you think?"

Sameko understood Sokov's character. Now that the 182nd Division had been ordered to go into battle, if he were to change course suddenly, he might not be able to step down. So he said euphemistically: "Comrade Commander, even if the 182nd Division does not engage in blocking warfare, there are other tasks entrusted to them. For example, we use the main force of the group army to block the enemy, and the original defensive areas are all changed." It is too empty, why not let Colonel Khokhlov's troops take charge of the defense of these areas. What do you think?"

When Lunev heard Sameko say this, he quickly applauded: "Comrade Commander, I think the chief of staff's proposal is good, why not let the troops of the 182nd Division take over the defense of other troops and do a good job in the defense of these areas. .”

Sokov thought to himself, thinking that this would be the best way to achieve the best of both worlds. It would not only prevent the 182nd Division with weak combat effectiveness from taking risks, but also solve the problem of the emptiness of the original defense area after the troops were transferred. Thinking of this, he nodded and said to Sameko: "Chief of Staff, you are right, let the 182nd Division be responsible for the rear defense. In addition, you can send a telegram to the 84th and 254th Divisions to let They speed up and continue to approach the 188th Division and the 81st Guards Division to prevent the Germans from escaping back to Belgorod."

Seeing that Sokov agreed to his suggestion, Sameko happily agreed, got up and sent telegrams to several division commanders. As soon as Sameko left, Lunev asked Sokov in a low voice: "Comrade Commander, do you think we can stop Hoth's armored army by concentrating all our troops?"

"Comrade Military Commissar," Sokov glanced left and right, and saw that the staff officer and signal soldier were far away, so he should not be able to hear the conversation between himself and Lunev, but out of caution, he lowered his voice and said, "I secretly Let me tell you with all sincerity, even if our army is wiped out, there is no way to keep Huot's armored army."

"Ah?!" Although Sokov's answer had been expected by Lunev, when he actually heard Sokov's clear answer, he was still surprised: "Don't we just watch the enemy run away?" Back to Belgorod?"

"I can let Hort and his troops return to Belgorod." Sokov said shockingly: "But they must be exhausted by our army before they can escape back to Belgorod."

"If the Germans attack us with all their strength, they will have to draw troops from the direction of Oboyan." Based on his limited military knowledge, Lunev began to analyze the battle that may occur next: "Once the troops in the north become weak, Then Oboyan's defenders can take the opportunity to launch a counterattack. At that time, we can form a pincer attack with our friendly forces against the enemy. As long as our commanders are tenacious enough, it is not impossible to annihilate them."

Before Lunev could finish speaking, Sokov shook his head desperately and retorted: "Comrade Military Commissar, although the Battle of Kursk has progressed to the present stage, and the balance of victory has tilted towards our army, we still cannot underestimate the enemy. I think the enemy is vulnerable now. You must know that the bite of a wounded beast is also very painful."

Lunev stayed at the headquarters every day and read the telegrams. He naturally knew that one armored division of the German army had the ability to contend with a single Soviet army; two armored divisions could defeat a single Soviet army. Now the German troops retreating from the direction of Oboyan are not just one or two armored divisions, but two powerful armored corps. Thinking about it this way, no matter how you look at it, your troops have no chance of winning.

He hesitated for a while, and asked tentatively: "Comrade commander, how do you plan to consume the enemy's vital strength? Is it to fight cruel and protracted positional warfare with them?"

"Positional warfare must be fought." Sokov said solemnly: "But when the time is right, I will take the initiative to open passages for them, allowing the enemy to pass through our defensive areas."

At this moment, even if a shell landed beside him and exploded, it would definitely not be as shocking to Lunev as Sokov's words. Lunev stared at Sokov dumbfounded, and after a while, he murmured and asked: "Comrade Commander, are you making a mistake by opening the passage to Belgorod to the enemy without authorization? "

"Don't worry, Comrade Military Commissioner." Sokov knew in his heart that if he wanted to implement his plan, he would first need the support of Lunev and Sameko. Now that Sameko is sending telegrams to the divisions, he gives priority to explaining to Lunev: "Let me tell you what is going on. But before explaining the reason, I want to ask you a question."

"What's the question?" Lunev said instinctively, "You ask."

"If a troop finds that its retreat in front has been cut off, and there are a large number of pursuers coming from behind, in order to escape the fate of being annihilated, they will definitely break through the front line of defense at all costs." Sokov He said with such an expression: "But if they find that the road ahead has been opened up, and they don't have to work hard, and they have a chance to return to Belgorod, tell me, what will they do?"

After listening to Sokov's question, Lunev put himself in the German's shoes and thought about it for a while, then his eyes lit up: "Comrade Commander, I understand. Once the desperate enemy finds the road ahead If it has been opened, their will to fight will drop, and everyone will want to use the opened passage to quickly escape back to Belgorod, and even if they encounter our army, they will have no intention of continuing to fight."