Red Moscow

After figuring out what was going on, Major Bunch blushed with shame. He put down the phone and said to Chukliko who was standing next to him: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, the situation has been clarified. The reason why the enemy's shelling stopped was entirely because Their artillery positions were bombed by my powerful air force."

After figuring out the truth, Chukliko asked Major Bunch for his opinion: "Comrade Brigadier, what should we do next? Should we continue to attack the remaining bunkers after the assembly is completed?"

"Does it need to be said?" Major Bunch raised his voice and said: "The time for us to take revenge has come. Immediately assemble the troops and launch a new offensive to the remaining places."

After the start of a new round of offensive, not only the tank soldiers and infantry were extremely heroic, but the German shelling just now caused a lot of casualties to the troops. All the commanders and fighters were filled with evil fire in their hearts, wanting to take revenge in the battle .

Before the shelling, the tanks fired at a distance of 50 to 60 meters from the German bunker, but this time they fired at a range of nearly 10 meters.

Seeing that one bunker after another was destroyed by Soviet tanks, the German commander was completely panicked. He planned to repeat the same trick, so he ordered anti-tank fighters to attack and try to blow up the Soviet tanks that were close to the bunkers. But as soon as the anti-tank fighter left the bunker, he was discovered by the Soviet infantry following the tank, and was immediately sieved by countless bullets.

After the 84th Division broke through the fortress area, it joined forces with the 182nd Division on the outskirts of the Meriefa Fortress.

After the two troops successfully joined forces, Fomenko ordered Colonel Rusuf, who had just taken over the 254th regiment, to command the troops to attack the railway junction of Merefa from the north, trying to occupy the railway junction before the main force arrived.

After Sokov learned that the 84th Division and the 182nd Division had now joined forces outside the fortress, he immediately sent a telegram to the two division commanders, ordering them to build fortifications on the spot and wait for the arrival of the main force.

Putting down the phone, Sokov said to Sameko: "Chief of Staff, except for the 300th Division staying in the existing area, the 188th, 254th, 384th Infantry Division and the 98th Guards Infantry Division are all heading to the Muza River as soon as possible. Set out and prepare to participate in the attack on the fortress."

"Comrade Commander," Sameko said hesitantly when he heard Sokov's order, "the road conditions here are not ideal. If so many troops are to cross the Muza River, it may not be a matter of time." Easy stuff."

"Chief of Staff, how long do you estimate it will take to complete the assembly?"

After thinking silently for a while, Sameko replied, "I think it will be noon tomorrow at the earliest before all the troops can reach the designated positions."

"Noon tomorrow?" Hearing the time Sameko said, Sokov couldn't help frowning: "Will it take so long?"

"That's right, Comrade Commander." Sameko quickly explained to Sokov: "After Kharkov was liberated, our army's troops were scattered in many areas of the city. The sad thing is that once we want to mobilize these troops, we will have to wait for friendly troops to take over our defense, which will prolong the assembly time..."

"Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff, you don't need to say any more." Sokov understood the reason why he couldn't eat hot tofu in a hurry, and he stopped urging Sameko, "I know that it is a challenge for the troops to assemble in such a short period of time." It is a daunting task. But it is impossible not to speed up. If we delay too long, the Germans will have enough time to strengthen their defenses. When we attack, they will be paid because the enemy is well prepared. Huge casualties."

"I understand, Comrade Commander." Why didn't Sameko want to take the fortress of Meriefa early and open the road to Poltava for friendly forces, but now the troops are too scattered and far away from the fighting area. Arriving before noon tomorrow is already very fast. In order not to delay the fighter plane, he put forward his own suggestion to Sokov: "Do you think that Guchakov's infantry brigade should first attack the railway junction to attract the attention of the German army?"

"The 84th and 182nd divisions have already suffered a lot of casualties after fighting for most of the day." Sokov said to Sameko: "If we send the infantry brigade to attack the railway junction now, we will definitely be met with a crazy counterattack by the Germans. Although there are two infantry divisions nearby, they have suffered serious losses in battle, and even if they see the infantry brigade being attacked by the superior German army, they may not be able to spare the strength to provide reinforcements."

"Then what do you mean?"

"Send Guchakov a telegram," Sokov said: "Let him camp near the two divisions, so that even if they are attacked by the German army at night, they can provide mutual support."

"Okay." Sameko also felt that launching an attack on the railway junction at this time would be difficult to achieve the desired results. After all, without the cooperation of artillery, relying on the firepower of a few tanks, if they want to break through the German perimeter defenses, the casualties of the troops will be greatly reduced. It is definitely not a small amount: "Then I will send a telegram to Major Guchakov immediately, and tomorrow they will also deploy defenses on the periphery of the fortress."

As the order was issued, the two infantry divisions, one infantry brigade, tank soldiers and artillery who had arrived outside the fortress of Merliefa stopped their plans to attack and set up camp in a suitable area outside the fortress.

Konev learned that Sokov's troops had successfully broken through the area of ​​the fortress and approached the outside of the fortress. He also happily told Zakharov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, Sokov's troops have now reached the fortress. The periphery can attack the fortress at any time. Guess how long it will take them to rush into the fortress?"

"Comrade Commander," Zakharov said with a smile, "I have been to the Merefah Fortress. The defense there is quite strong. If other troops attack, I think it will take a week at the earliest. And Sokov Comrade, he is a man who is good at performing miracles, and he may be able to break into the fortress in just one day."

However, the two waited and waited until it was dark, but there was still no battle report from Sokov.

Zakharov couldn't sit still anymore. He said to Konev: "Comrade Commander, the reason why Sokov didn't respond for a long time, I guess he should be counting the results of the battle. It won't be long before he will report to us the surprising results."

Unexpectedly, this wait, another hour or two, still no hours about Sokov. This time Zakharov couldn't sit still, so he quickly called a communications staff officer and ordered him to get through the phone of Sokov's headquarters.

After the call was connected, Zakharov didn't go around in circles, but asked bluntly: "Comrade Sokov, I want to ask you, how is your progress, have you rushed into the fortress?"

"Shock the fortress?" Sokov was taken aback when he heard Zakharov's question, and then replied: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I think you may have made a mistake. I ordered the troops to stop before dark." Attack and set up camp on the outskirts of the fortress of Merefa."

"What, you didn't launch an attack on the fortress?" Zakharov asked in surprise.

"Yes, we did not launch an attack on the fortress." Sokov explained to Zakharov: "The two infantry divisions stationed outside the fortress have suffered considerable casualties in the battle that ended not long ago. , It is obviously unrealistic to launch an attack on the fortress with their strength."

Zakharov asked with a straight face: "Then when do you plan to attack the enemy?"

"My main force will arrive at noon tomorrow." Sukov guessed from Zakharov's tone that she was very angry at the time, and said quickly: "In this way, we will have enough troops to Launch a general offensive against the enemy's strongholds and railway junctions."

Knowing that Sokov's main force was still on the way, Zakharov asked again: "When your main force arrives, how many divisions do you plan to use to participate in this attack?"

"Including the troops stationed outside the fortress today, the troops participating in the attack tomorrow will reach six infantry divisions, one infantry brigade, and several tank brigades and artillery divisions."

"With so many troops, are you sure you can take down the fortress?"

Sokov did not answer this question immediately, but asked rhetorically: "Although I have never seen that fortress, according to my experience, the enemy's defense is very strong. Even with the support of artillery and tanks, we will not be able to capture the fortress." Not an easy thing."

When Zakharov heard this, he immediately understood what Sokov needed: "Comrade Sokov, if I'm not mistaken, you want us to provide you with air support, right?"

"In addition to the air force, there is also artillery." Sukov knew very well that this fortress battle is not easy to fight, so he must make sufficient preparations in advance: "First of all, we must establish an artillery group, conduct intensive artillery and aviation assaults, and suppress the enemy's artillery. Matched with the firepower of the pursuit artillery. Judging from today's battle, due to the sudden artillery fire from the German army, our offensive almost fell short. Fortunately, with the timely support of the air force, we were able to save the day."

"Wait a minute, Comrade Sokov." Zakharov didn't dare to make a decision on Sokov's request, so he quickly said to him, "I'll ask Comrade Commander for instructions and listen to his opinion."

Zakharov covered the microphone with his hand, reported Sokov's situation to Konev who was sitting on the side, and finally asked: "Comrade commander, I wonder if you agree with Sokov's request to provide him with air force and Artillery support?"

"There hasn't been any war recently, and the air force's combat mission is not heavy. It's not a big problem to provide air support for Sokov's troops when they attack the fortress. But this artillery..." Konev frowned: "Front Army Most of the artillery is deployed in the north of Kharkov, and it may not be easy to mobilize."

"That's right, Comrade Commander." Zakharov agreed with Konev's statement: "Although the distance from the north of the city to Sokov's combat area is only more than 40 kilometers. But due to The roads were badly damaged and it was very difficult for vehicles towing artillery."

Konev stood up, walked back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, and began to think about how to provide enough artillery support for Sokov's troops. After walking back and forth two or three times, Konev stopped and said to Zakharov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, the closest to Sokov is General Shumilov's 7th Guards Army."

"Yes, the current position of the Seventh Guards Army is no more than five kilometers away from Sokov's troops."

"No more than five kilometers, then it's easy to handle." Konev walked back to the table quickly, pointed to the map and said to Zakharov: "Chief of Staff, you immediately contact General Shumilov and order him All the artillery of the group army was transferred to Sokov's command."

"What, you want to transfer the artillery unit of the 7th Guards Army?" Zakharov was taken aback: "Comrade Commander, can General Shumilov agree?"

"If you agree, you have to agree, and if you don't agree, you have to agree." Konev said domineeringly: "At most, after our artillery unit is transferred from the north tomorrow, we will re-equip him with two artillery divisions."

"That's fine." Zakharov nodded and said, "As long as Sokov has enough artillery, he can launch an attack on the fortress this morning." After saying this, he let go of his grip The hand of the microphone said, "Comrade Sokov, I have already reported your situation to Commander Konev. At present, the artillery of the front army is still north of Kharkov, and there is no way to fall in a hurry..."

Hearing this, Sokov couldn't help but let out a long sigh, and said regretfully, "That's really a pity."

"Comrade Sokov, don't worry, I haven't finished my words yet." Zakharov continued: "Although the artillery of the Front Army can't support you, Commander Konev has already sent General Shumilov down. Order, let him dispatch the artillery of the group army to assist you in the fortress battle."

Knowing that Konev planned to lend him the artillery of the 7th Guards Army, he couldn't help but be overjoyed, and said repeatedly: "Comrade Chief of Staff, thank you very much. With these artillery, I believe that our battle to attack the fortress will become a lot easier." Easier."

"In addition to artillery, there is also the air force." Zakharov continued: "Since the main battle has stopped, our Air Force 5th Army has no combat missions. When you launch an offensive tomorrow, they will cooperate with you in combat. No problem."

Seeing that the artillery and air force problems were resolved, Sokov finally let go of the boulder in his heart. He said to Zakharov into the microphone: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please report to Commander Konev, our 27th Army Group He will definitely not live up to his expectations, and will take down the fortress of Meliefa and the railway junction occupied by the enemy in the shortest possible time, and open the road to Poltava for friendly forces."

After putting down the phone, Sokov said to Sameko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, immediately inform the division commanders and brigade commanders to arrive at the headquarters as soon as possible. We need to hold an emergency meeting to choose the most powerful assault direction to ensure our army victory."

Sameko had just heard some conversations between Sokov and Zakharov, and knowing that his superiors planned to send artillery and air force to assist in capturing the fortress, he couldn't help but feel happy. Hearing Sokov's order, he quickly agreed: "Okay, Comrade Commander, I will immediately arrange for the operator to send a telegram to the division commanders and brigade commanders, informing them to come to the headquarters for a meeting."

"What about Colonel Weisbach, the commander of the 300th Division?" Sameko asked Sokov tentatively, "Do you need to notify him to come to the meeting?"

"No, no, no." Sokov waved his hands and said, "It's better to let their divisions stay in the Fesky collective farm. It's not too late to mobilize them when necessary."

"Alright then." Sameko said, "Then I will immediately notify all division and brigade commanders except Colonel Weissbach, and ask them to rush to the army headquarters for a meeting as soon as possible to assign new combat missions."