Red Moscow

Narva's words reminded Weisbach that he had only been in office for a few hours, and he didn't want to die so early, so he changed his mind and continued to stay in the trench, observing the battle above.

As the commanders and fighters lying on the hill stood up and attacked the top of the hill again, the tanks at the foot of the hill stopped their shelling in order to prevent accidental injury, but the gun barrels were still raised high, aiming at the German position on the top of the hill, ready to find a pair of The attacking troops immediately fired at the extremely dangerous firepower points.

Although the German artillery deployed to the west of the highland continued to shell the attacking Soviet troops, it was difficult for the artillery shells to accurately hit the target on the reverse slope due to the shelter of the highland. Regardless of the continuous roar of the artillery, the casualties caused to the Soviet army are negligible.

Since the firepower of the machine guns on the top of the mountain had already been completely lost under the bombardment of the Soviet tank guns, when the Soviet commanders charged to the top of the mountain, although they still encountered stubborn resistance from the Germans, they succeeded after paying a certain amount of casualties. He rushed into the German positions and started hand-to-hand and close combat with them in the trenches.

The 98K Mauser rifles used by the German army, because of the bayonet shooting, would affect the shooting accuracy. Therefore, when the Soviet commanders rushed into the trenches, most of the rifles in the hands of the German soldiers did not have bayonets, so hand-to-hand combat showed a one-sided trend.

Seeing more and more commanders rushing into the position on the top of the mountain, Weissbach, who was watching the battle on the mountainside, breathed a sigh of relief, and then he called a staff officer and told the other party: "Comrade staff, return to the farm immediately, Report to the commander that we have captured the high ground."

Narva on the side reminded him cautiously: "Comrade Colonel, should you wait until our army has completely occupied the position on the top of the hill before sending someone to report to Comrade Commander?"

"Our people have already rushed into the hilltop fortification." But Weisbach said confidently: "Do you think the enemy is still capable of holding their position?" After finishing speaking, he waved his hand to the staff officer, "Comrade staff officer, do you still have the ability to hold their positions?" Why are you standing here and sitting here, hurry back to the Fesky collective farm and report the situation here to Comrade Commander."

At the foot of the mountain there were several three-wheeled motorcycles traveling with the tank battalion. The staff officer walked up to one of the motorcycles and said to the rider: "I am the combat staff officer of the 300th Division. I have important information and I need to send it immediately." Return to Fesky Kolkhoz and report to the commander, can you give me a ride?"

Hearing what the staff officer said, the motorcyclist hurriedly said: "Please get in the car, Comrade Commander, I will take you back to the farm right away."

Seeing that the other party agreed, the staff officer sat in the sidecar without hesitation, and waved his hand: "Let's go, Comrade Warrior."

The motorcyclist drove the motorcycle, quickly passed through the German artillery blockade, and headed for the farm.

A few minutes later, the staff officer appeared in Sokov's headquarters and reported to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, I am here to report to you the battle ahead on the orders of the division commander, Colonel Weissbach."

Since the battle on the high ground could not be seen here, and there were no telephone lines or radios, Sokov could not immediately understand the progress of the battle. At this moment, I saw the combat staff officer sent by Weissbach to report: "How is it, has the high ground been taken down?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander." The combat staff officer replied in an affirmative tone: "Our heroic commanders and fighters have already taken down the high ground."

"Great, this is really great." Sokov couldn't help being overjoyed when he heard the news, and he quickly said to the staff: "Comrade staff, you go back and tell Colonel Weissbach immediately that after occupying the high ground, immediately send people to repair it." fortifications against possible counterattacks by the Germans."

Unexpectedly, just as the staff officer agreed and was about to leave, Sokov stopped him: "Wait a minute, Comrade Staff Officer."

The staff officer stopped and looked at Sokov inexplicably, wanting to hear what he was going to say.

"Comrade Staff, I heard the gunfire outside has not stopped. It must be that the German artillery is blocking the road between the farm and the highland. Always sending people to summon people like this, not only the speed of information transmission is slow, but also the person in charge of the summons Life is in danger at any time."

"Comrade Commander, you are right." Lunev echoed Sokov's concern: "Since our army has captured the high ground, a telephone line should be laid between the two places so that we can Connections to the cutting edge.”

Sokov stopped the staff officer, originally just wanting him to bring a radio back. But hearing what Lunev said made sense, he told Samoilov: "Comrade Lieutenant, call the commander of the division's communications battalion. I have a task to give to him."

The place where the communications battalion commander stayed was next door, and when Samoilov called, he came over. After he came to Sokov and raised his hand to salute, he asked, "Comrade Commander, what instructions do you have?"

"Comrade Major," Sokov glanced at the military rank on the opponent's shoulders, and continued: "Now that our army has captured the high ground, in order to facilitate the connection with the high ground, I need you to send someone immediately to find a place between the two places." Put a phone line between them. How about it, any questions?"

Hearing the sound of rumbling guns outside, the communications battalion commander worried that laying telephone lines under such circumstances would cause casualties to the communications soldiers. And even if the telephone line is laid, if the enemy's artillery fire continues, it may be blown up at any time, and it will need to send people to repair it.

Seeing the communications battalion commander standing there without saying a word, Sokov couldn't help feeling a little anxious: "Comrade Major, didn't you hear me?"

"heard it."

"I heard it, why didn't you answer?"

"Comrade Commander," the communications battalion commander decided to speak out what he was worried about so that Sukov could understand: "Listening to the sound of artillery outside, the enemy blocked the road between the farm and the highland with artillery fire. If it is necessary to lay telephone lines in this area, the communication soldiers who laid the lines in the early stage will definitely suffer casualties. Moreover, after the lines are laid, the possibility of being blown up by German artillery fire is not ruled out. Then we will send people to check the lines. There will be casualties..."

"That's enough, Comrade Major, don't say any more." Sokov impatiently interrupted the communication battalion commander's words: "I understand what you said, but have you ever thought about it, if there is no How can we keep abreast of what's going on at the forefront when the telephone line is connected?

If we still rely on the method of people sending messages back and forth, once the person calling the message dies unfortunately when passing through the artillery blockade, will the intelligence not be delivered in time, resulting in delays to the fighters? If this happens, who will take the responsibility, you or me? "

Sokov's questioning made the communication battalion commander flush with shame. After Sokov finished speaking, he lowered his head and said, "Yes, Comrade Commander, I will immediately send someone to lay the telephone line, and try to establish the two countries as soon as possible. connections between lands.”

"Comrade Major." Sokov was not satisfied with his answer, and continued to ask: "Tell me, how long is it as soon as possible, two or three hours, or two or three days?"

"Comrade Commander, I think it will take two hours at the fastest." The communication battalion commander replied with a serious expression: "The distance from the farm to the highland is several kilometers, and there is enemy artillery blockade. will be affected."

When the communications battalion commander was just beginning to deploy manpower and lay telephone lines between the two places, Sokov received a telegram from Sameko from the headquarters. After reading it, he couldn't help but fell into deep thought.

Lunev saw that Sokov was holding a telegram in a daze, so he leaned over to read the contents of the telegram, and saw that it read: "Moscow's cultural relics experts have arrived, please return to the headquarters as soon as possible."

After reading the telegram, Lunev asked Sokov curiously: "Comrade commander, what is your plan, stay here or return to the headquarters?"

"The handover of cultural relics is certainly a big event." Sokov said thoughtfully: "But now the Viking division of the German army is nearby. With the strength of the 300th division and the tank brigade, I am afraid they are not their opponents. I want to keep it." Continue to command here."

"Comrade Commander, this is how I think about it." Lunev said to Sokov: "Since the high ground has been taken, even if the enemy wants to counterattack, I am afraid they will wait until daytime. You might as well return to the headquarters by car as soon as possible to complete the handover After work, return here to continue to command operations. In this way, neither side will delay the matter, what do you think?"

"It makes sense, it makes sense." Sokov felt that Lunev's proposal was very good. Since the high ground had been captured by the 300th Division, if the enemy wanted to regain the position, he might have to wait until daytime, and he still had several hours to use. You can return to the headquarters first, hand over the cultural relics to the cultural relics experts from Moscow, and then return here to continue commanding operations. It is indeed killing two birds with one stone. "Then let's go as soon as possible."

"Comrade Lieutenant," Sokov told Samoilov who was standing aside, "help us prepare the vehicle immediately. The military commissioner and I need to return to Dergach as soon as possible."

Hearing Sokov's order, Samoilov did not dare to neglect, and hurriedly left the headquarters. While gathering the guard platoon, he sent someone to notify the driver to prepare for departure.

Five minutes later, Samoilov returned to the room and reported to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, the vehicles and guard platoon are ready and ready to go."

On the way back to the headquarters, Sokov said to Lunev: "Comrade Military Commissar, when you return to Dergach later, you will stay and continue to work with the local comrades, and you don't have to go back to the Fesky Collective." The farm is gone, and I can handle everything by myself."

Lunev had no objection to Sokov's arrangement. He nodded and said, "Comrade Commander, I listen to you. As a political cadre, I am indeed not good at commanding operations. I will stay in Gergachi, the role played will be even greater."

The two happily completed the division of labor on the road. After returning to Dergach and handing over the batch of cultural relics to the cultural relics experts from Moscow, Sokov returned to the Fisky collective farm, while Lunev stayed in the city. Here, assist local comrades to restore the water and electricity supply in the city, and find ways to get the factory started as soon as possible.

But the plan couldn't keep up with the change. As soon as the convoy of Sokov and Lunev stopped at the door of the church, they saw Sameko running out of it in a hurry. Sokov thought there was something wrong with the cultural relics, and hurriedly asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what happened, could it be that there is something wrong with the cultural relics?"

"No, no," Sameko said, waving his hands desperately, "it's not about cultural relics."

Hearing that it wasn't a problem with cultural relics, Sokov's expression suddenly became relaxed: "Since it's not a problem with cultural relics, what kind of problem is it?"

"Comrade Commander," Sameko asked anxiously while pulling Sokov towards the church, "Something happened at the Fesky collective farm."

"What happened?!" Sokov was shocked, and hurriedly asked, "What happened?"

"Before you returned here, you sent me a telegram saying that the troops of the 300th Division had occupied the high ground and drove the enemy far away."

"Yes, I did send you such a telegram." Sokov recalled that he had indeed sent such a telegram to Sameko when he was waiting for Samoilov to arrange a vehicle, and asked in surprise, "Is there something wrong?" ?"

"Something has happened, Comrade Commander, something serious has happened." Sameko said with a solemn expression, "I just received a telegram from Mikhaiev. It turns out that the 300th Division did not completely occupy the hilltop position on the high ground."

"What, they didn't occupy the top position on the high ground?" Sokov was taken aback by this amazing news. He motioned to grab Sameko and asked nervously: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what you said is true ?"

"Of course it's true." At this time, the three of them had come to the square table where they usually work, and after they sat down, Sameko said to Sokov: "According to Captain Mikhaiev's report, the commanders and fighters of the 300th Division After rushing into the position on the top of the mountain, they quickly occupied most of the position. Seeing that the enemy was about to be unable to hold on, the enemy suddenly launched an indiscriminate shelling on the position on the top of the mountain.

In the intensive shelling, not only our army who rushed into the position suffered heavy casualties, but even the German officers and soldiers who stood firm also suffered a lot of casualties. As soon as the shelling was over, the enemy took the opportunity to counterattack and drove our troops down from the top of the mountain. "

The news of the failure of the attack shocked Sokov. After walking back and forth in the open space a few times with his hands behind his back, he stopped and asked Sameko, "Comrade Chief of Staff, the information reported by Captain Mikhaiev, Where did it come from?"

"Comrade Commander, I also asked the other party this question." Sameko said: "Lieutenant Mikhaiev told me that the first company in his battalion is staying in the position on the hillside of the highland at the moment. Captain Va witnessed all this with his own eyes, and sent someone back to the Fesky collective farm to tell Captain Mikhaiev the bad news."

After figuring out the source of the news, Sokov understood that Mikhaiev's report was correct, and that the results of the 300th Division's attack must be quite different from what he knew.

Sokov thought that the telephone line between the farm and the highland had not yet been laid, but the radio station brought to the highland by the combat staff must have been in the hands of Weissbach, so he said to Sameko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, although The information reported by Lieutenant Mikhaiev is very accurate, but to be on the safe side, we still have to ask Colonel Weisbach for confirmation. You should immediately order someone to send a report to him, and ask him to report all the combat conditions on the high ground to us. "

"Understood, Comrade Commander." Sameko understood that Sokov's arrangement was the most appropriate. Regardless of the real situation at the front, according to the procedure, he had to ask Weisbach, the current commander of the 300th Division, for confirmation. He nodded, Said: "I will order the operator to send a report to the 300th Division to find out what happened."