Red Moscow

The sound of heavy artillery from the south of the town alarmed Major General Fomenko, who had set up his headquarters in the church. While he was asking what was going on outside and where the gunfire was coming from, he picked up the binoculars on the table, walked up the stairs to the top of the clock tower, and raised the binoculars to look south.

The outlying positions held by the 568th Regiment were two kilometers away from the town, less than 600 meters wide, and less than 300 meters deep. They were now surrounded by German artillery fire.

Fomenko, who was standing on the bell tower, saw this scene and couldn't help frowning slightly. According to his experience, this was a sign that the enemy was going to launch a large-scale attack. He knew that the 188th Division paid a high price when they captured the Compass Town of Kazakia. Now that the German bombardment is so fierce, the ground attack will probably be even more ferocious in the future. He couldn't help worrying about Koida in his heart, worried that his troops would not be able to hold their positions at all.

Fomenko was holding up his binoculars to observe the battle situation, when he suddenly heard someone calling himself behind him, turned his head and saw that it was a staff officer. Seeing Fomenko turning his back, the staff officer quickly reported to him: "Comrade Commander, your call is from Colonel Koida, Commander of the 188th Division."

Fomenko was worried about the future of the 188th Division. Even if Koida didn't call him, he was going to call him when he went downstairs. Since the other party called first, it proved that he had something to ask for help, so he was unambiguous, turned around and followed the staff downstairs to answer the phone.

Picking up the microphone, Koyda's anxious voice came from inside: "General Fomenko, the enemy is bombarding the position of my 568th regiment with heavy artillery fire..."

"I saw it." Before Keida could finish speaking, he interrupted the other party and asked straight to the point: "Is there anything I can do to help you?"

"Yes, Comrade General, I called you to ask for your help." The situation was critical, and Koida did not go around in circles, but said bluntly: "I have lost contact with the 568th regiment. Look, the enemy will launch a ground attack soon, and I hope to have your help then."

Fomenko knew that once the outer positions of the Koida Division fell, the German army's next attack target would be Kazakhya Compass Town, so he simply replied: "No problem, Colonel Keda, I can immediately gather Troops, as soon as the enemy's shelling stops, order them to enter the outlying positions in the south of the town."

"Comrade General, you made a mistake." Koyda said, "I called you not because I needed infantry to help us defend our positions, but because I wanted artillery to provide artillery support for our defenders."

"What, artillery?!" Fomenko asked in surprise: "Colonel Koida, if I'm not mistaken, you want my artillery regiment to provide you with artillery support?"

"Yes, Comrade General, it is enough that you can provide us with artillery support."

Fomenko fell into deep thought about Koida's request. According to the analysis of the situation he had just seen on the clock tower, the enemy used at least two hundred artillery pieces, half of which were 105mm or 128mm artillery pieces. And my own artillery regiment has only more than 20 artillery pieces. Except for three 122mm artillery pieces, the rest are 76.2mm artillery pieces. Compared with the German artillery, they are at an absolute disadvantage in terms of quantity and power. , I am afraid that it will not be long before our artillery positions will be covered by German artillery fire.

Seeing that Fomenko had been silent for a long time, Koyda guessed the worry in the other party's heart, and pleaded bitterly: "Comrade General, I understand what you mean. Compared with the enemy's artillery, your artillery regiment is not as good as it is in terms of quantity or quantity." In terms of firepower, they are all at an absolute disadvantage. Once they provide artillery support for us, they may attract fatal artillery strikes from the German army.

But I have no choice, so I made this request to you. Please help us, otherwise, once the enemy launches an attack, my troops will not be able to resist for a long time, and the outer positions may be broken through. "

"Comrade commander," Colonel Manokhin, the division political commissar standing nearby, interjected, seeing Fomenko's hesitation, "if the enemy really breaks through the outlying positions, then they will rush into the town next and fight with us. In this case, knowing that the artillery regiment is in danger of being destroyed, we should also help the 188th Division to delay the enemy's attack."

After hearing what Manoshin said, Fomenko did not express his position, but turned to ask the chief of staff: "Comrade chief of staff, what is your opinion, do you agree with what the political commissar said, and provide help for the 188th division?"

"That's right, that's what I think." After expressing his opinion, the chief of staff of the division added: "In addition to providing them with artillery support, Colonel Rusuf's 268th Regiment should be assembled in the shortest possible time. Arise, ready to throw them into battle."

After hearing what the chief of staff said, Fomenko couldn't help being happy: "What a coincidence, the 568th Regiment of the 188th Division is holding the outlying position in the south of the town, and the troops we are going to send for reinforcements are the 268th Regiment. It must be too much of a coincidence.”

After finishing speaking, he let go of the hand covering the microphone and said to Koida: "Colonel Koida, I agree with your request. When the enemy launches a ground attack, I will order the artillery regiment to fire on the enemy's tanks and infantry. Intercept. In addition, I will transfer the 268th regiment to the outlying positions in Zhennan for reinforcements, and withdraw the troops standing there."

"Comrade General," Koyda originally only wanted to ask Fomenko to provide artillery support for his troops. He was very moved when he heard that he was planning to send out an infantry regiment for reinforcements. He said with some sobs: " Thank you very much, on behalf of the commanders and fighters of the whole division, thank you."

"You're welcome, Colonel Koida." Fomenko said politely: "We are friendly forces, and we stick to the same place. We should support each other. If you encounter any difficulties, please feel free to call me. I'll do my best to help you."

After Fomenko and Koida reached an agreement, they felt that the matter was of great importance and it was necessary to report to the Army Group Command to see what Sokov thought.

Sameko was taken aback when he received a call from Fomenko, and hurriedly reported to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, General Fomenko reports that the enemy is shelling the outlying positions south of Compass Town in Kazakhia, look It looks like it's ready to launch a massive attack."

Sokov walked over to answer the phone, and said to the microphone with a solemn expression: "General Fomenko, what is the scale of the enemy's shelling?"

"Report to Comrade Commander," Fomenko replied respectfully. "I observed from the bell tower for a while, and found that the enemy deployed at least two hundred artillery pieces, half of which were 105 mm or 128 mm caliber guns. Apparently, The enemy wants to use intensive artillery fire to destroy the fortifications of the 188th Division outside the town, so that they can easily break through our army's defense line after launching an attack."

"General Fomenko," Sokov waited for the other party to finish speaking, and said, "Your division and the 188th Division are both in Kazakhya Compass Town. If the enemy breaks through the 188th Division's line of defense, they will then It is inevitable that there will be a battle with you. I wonder if you have taken any measures?"

Fomenko had long guessed that Sokov would ask himself this question, so he replied confidently: "Report to Comrade Commander, I have agreed to Colonel Koida's request. Provide artillery support to eliminate the enemy rushing to the outer positions. At the same time, I also ordered the 268th regiment to start gathering and be ready to reinforce the outer positions at any time."

Sokov waited for Fomenko to finish his report, nodded in satisfaction, and then said: "Comrade General, you have done a good job. I believe that as long as you and Colonel Koida cooperate with each other, no matter how violent the enemy's offensive is, Don't even think about breaking through your defenses."

"Comrade Commander," Sameko said anxiously as soon as Sokov put down the phone: "According to General Fomenko's report, the enemy has deployed more than 200 artillery pieces, while his artillery regiment has only more than 20 artillery pieces." One artillery piece, 10:1, I am worried that as soon as they fire the artillery, it will not take long before the artillery regiment's position will be destroyed by the enemy's intensive artillery fire."

"I know, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sukov also felt very headache about this matter. Fomenko's artillery regiment provided artillery support to the 188th Division, and it was indeed possible that the entire army would be wiped out under enemy artillery fire; Provide support, then the defenders who are being bombarded by German artillery at this moment will not be able to support them for long. He could only bite the bullet and replied: "We can't just let the artillery regiment of the 84th Division be wiped out by enemy fire, and let them watch the enemy break through the friendly positions and ignore them. Once the Germans rush Entering the town, the artillery regiment may also be wiped out..."

Sameko didn't understand what Sokov said, but he couldn't bear to let them carry out such an order knowing that the artillery regiment might be wiped out by the enemy once it fired.

Sokov saw Sameko's entanglement, but he didn't take charge of the soldiers. Even if he knew that the artillery regiment would be wiped out, Sokov could only let them provide artillery support for the friendly army. After thinking for a while, he picked up the high-frequency phone on the table, dialed a number, and said into the microphone: "I'm Sokov, call me General Konev."

Konev, who was dispatching troops, heard that Chief of Staff Zakharov said that Sokov was looking for him in a hurry. He couldn't help frowning slightly, and walked over to take the microphone: "I'm Konev. Comrade Sokov ,What's matter?"

"Reporting to Comrade Commander of the Front Army." The battle was critical, and Sokov did not greet the other party politely, but said very quickly: "The enemy has used more than 200 artillery pieces to bombard our army outside the town of Compass in Kazakhya. Position, it seems that they want to launch a large-scale attack."

"Comrade Sokov, isn't this normal?" Konev waited for Sokov to finish speaking, and then began to express his opinion: "Your troops occupied the compass town of Kazakhya, which is equivalent to being defeated by the German army. A deadly nail has been wedged into the battle group's line of defense, and in order to ensure the stability of the line of defense, they will surely launch a counterattack to drive your troops from the town and restore their original position."

"Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I know the enemy's intentions very well." Sokov replied neither humble nor humble: "But our army's artillery is limited, and it is impossible to conduct an evenly matched artillery battle with the enemy's artillery, so I called you for help." .”

"Help?" Konev repeated the word and said with a wry smile: "Comrade Sokov, although I have artillery in my hand, they are too far away from Kazakhya Compass Town. When they arrive At the destination, I am afraid that the enemy who has finished shelling has already broken through your outlying positions and rushed into the town."

Sokov called Konev not to ask him for artillery, not to mention the artillery commanded by the Front Army Command, which is hundreds of kilometers away from the town of Compass in Kazakhya. Arrive at the battlefield within two or three hours. And the battle that took place there obviously couldn't last that long. When the artillery arrived at the destination, it was estimated that the day lily would be cold.

"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov continued into the microphone, "I am calling you to ask you to dispatch the air force to bomb the German artillery positions. Only by doing so can we weaken the German army's offensive power and make the Our army has greater confidence in defending Kazakia Compass Town."

"What, do you need air force support?" Konev deliberately raised his voice after hearing Sokov's request, and at the same time cast a meaningful look at Zakharov who was standing not far away.

When Zakharov saw Konev cast his eyes on him and heard what the other party said, he nodded understandingly, picked up another phone on the table, and called the 5th Army Command of the Air Force belonging to the Front Army. Telephone.

Two minutes later, Zakharov put down the phone in his hand, walked up to Konev and reported to him: "Comrade Commander, I have already asked Lieutenant General Goryunov, and he said that his Air Force Group In twenty minutes at the earliest, we can rush to the vicinity of Compass Town in Kazakhia and bomb the enemy artillery positions that bombarded our army positions."

"Comrade Sokov, have you heard everything?" Konev waited for Zakharov to finish speaking, and said to Sokov: "Our air force will arrive at the battlefield in 20 minutes. Bombardment by German artillery in the town of Aroupan."

"Comrade Commander of the Front Army, thank you very much." Sokov learned that the Air Force will arrive at the battlefield soon, and the heart hanging in his throat was put back in his stomach again, "This way we will be more confident in defending Kaza Chia Compass Town."

Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Konev said with a straight face: "Comrade Sokov, you can't just hold the town with confidence, but you must hold the town unconditionally, understand?"

Perhaps because he was worried that his tone was too strong, after finishing this sentence, Konev slowed down and said: "Comrade Sokov, due to the active actions of your department, the original defense system of the German army has been destroyed. As long as you Continuing to stick to the existing area will be very helpful for our next attack on Kharkov."

Sokov knew in his heart that what Konev said was the truth. As long as his troops firmly guarded the Kazakh compass, the German defense line would become fragmented. Once the offensive begins, it will break through the German defense system faster than in history and approach the city of Kharkov.

In order to reassure Konev, he assured the other party: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I assure you that no matter how fierce the German offensive is, my troops will never abandon the compass town of Kazakhia."