Red Moscow

Although the commander of the second battalion faithfully carried out the order of the brigade commander, he transferred the remaining troops to the reverse slope to avoid the shelling. But it was too late. The remaining more than 200 people in the second battalion were less than a hundred people left after a new round of shelling by the German army.

Under such circumstances, it is obviously unrealistic for the Second Battalion to continue to stick to the No. 1 outpost. The brigade commander can only reluctantly send his most elite guard company to the No. 1 outpost to take over the defense of the No. 2 Battalion.

Before the troops set off, the brigade commander called the guard company commander to him, and told him: "Comrade Captain, it is difficult to find a complete fortification after the No. 1 outpost has been repeatedly bombarded by German artillery. If you follow the previous If you continue to stay in the incomplete fortifications after the enemy's shelling begins, I'm afraid that after the shelling is over, you will not even have scum left."

When the guard company commander heard what the brigade commander said, he was shocked into a cold sweat, and asked quickly: "Comrade brigade commander, what should we do when we are bombarded by the enemy?"

The brigade commander was afraid that the other party would not understand, so he drew a sketch on paper, and explained to the guard company commander while drawing: "...This is the No. 1 outpost that your company will defend, and the south slope is the direction of the enemy's attack , we call it the positive slope; and the corresponding north slope, we call it the reverse slope. When the enemy's shelling starts, you have to transfer all your troops to the reverse slope, which is the north slope, as soon as possible. To escape the enemy's shelling."

Since the brigade commander explained while drawing pictures, the guard company commander quickly understood what he meant. After he finished speaking, he tentatively asked: "Comrade Brigadier, if we move everyone to the north slope to avoid shelling, what should the enemy do if they take the opportunity to come up?"

The brigade commander held his forehead and said in a weak tone: "Comrade captain, don't you leave a few soldiers on the ground to monitor the enemy's movements?"

The guard company commander scratched the back of his head and said with a smirk embarrassedly: "Understood, Comrade Brigadier. I will follow your arrangement. When the enemy's shelling starts, except for a few soldiers left to monitor the enemy's movements, the rest of the commanders and fighters All moved to the reverse slope to avoid shelling."

The guard company arrived at outpost No. 1 at just the right time. The German troops rushing to the position were clearing out the stragglers who were still resisting. They never expected that an organized Soviet army would rush up. The German officers and soldiers were distributed everywhere on the top of the hillside. Facing the Soviet commanders and fighters rushing up, they could not organize an organized resistance at all.

After eliminating the German troops rushing to the position, the guard company commander immediately ordered his subordinates to search and rescue the wounded and repair the fortifications.

Soon, the deputy company commander came over and reported to him: "Comrade Captain, there are still more than 20 commanders and fighters from the Second Battalion on the ground, but most of them are wounded."

Knowing that there were only twenty people left in the second battalion, and most of them were still wounded, the guard company commander immediately gave up his plan to incorporate them into his own troops, and ordered the deputy company commander: "Comrade deputy company commander, you send Escort them from the high ground with a few soldiers. They have completed their mission, and we will leave the rest to us."

As soon as the soldiers of the guard company repaired a section of fortifications, the German shelling began again.

The guard company commander, who was instructed by the brigade commander, naturally understood how to avoid the enemy's shelling under such circumstances. He quickly ordered the signal soldiers to play the semaphore, so that everyone retreated to the reverse slope of the north slope.

When all their guard companies withdrew to the north slope, the deputy company commander asked him with some guilt: "Comrade Captain, we have withdrawn all our troops to the north slope. What should we do if the Germans take the opportunity to attack?"

"Don't worry, Comrade Deputy Company Commander." The guard company commander said confidently: "It doesn't matter if the shells are bombarded by German artillery, but it doesn't matter if the shells are from the Soviets or Germans. As long as they fall by your side and explode, It can still kill you. As long as the shelling doesn't stop, the Germans will never start attacking, so you can stay here in peace."

"But, Comrade Company Commander." Although the deputy company commander also felt that what the company commander said made sense, he was still not at ease, and he reminded the other party: "Why don't we send a few observation posts over to monitor the situation under the hillside? The enemy's movements?"

"The enemy's artillery fire is so fierce. Sending soldiers over at this moment is equivalent to letting them die?" The guard company commander shook his head and said, "No, absolutely not."

Seeing that the company commander's attitude was so firm, the deputy company commander knew that no matter how much he persuaded him, he would not be able to change the other party's determination, so he could only say politely: "Why don't I take a few to the position near the top of the hillside. Wait for the enemy's artillery fire. As soon as it weakens, we can observe the enemy's movement in time."

"Go, go." The deputy company commander kept whispering in his ear, which made the company commander feel very upset. Since he wanted to take people to a position close to the top of the hill to observe the enemy's situation, he simply let him go, so he readily agreed to his request.

When the No. 1 outpost was shelled, Guchakov held up his binoculars and watched the situation intently on the position of the 73rd Infantry Brigade in the distance.

After looking at him for a while, Askel, who was standing behind him, sighed softly, and said: "Comrade Brigadier, the friendly army is still using the old style of fighting. When facing the enemy's powerful artillery fire, they still put the troops aside." The positions were bombed, causing unnecessary casualties to the troops. I am afraid that if the fighting continues like this, they will soon be wiped out."

"Comrade Chief of Staff, you are right." Guchakov agreed with Askel's statement: "If you continue to fight in this way, the strength of the friendly army will soon be exhausted. Once Their entire army was wiped out, and our left wing was directly exposed to the enemy. When the enemy chooses us as an attack target, we will be attacked from two directions at the same time, and we will be under great pressure at that time."

"Then what shall we do?" asked Askel.

"I think we need to help them." Guchakov knelt down on one knee, picked up a branch, and began to draw pictures on the ground: "Comrade Chief of Staff, look, this is the defense zone where our brigade is located. It is the No. 1 outpost that the enemy is attacking frantically. In order to prevent the loss of allied forces and make us passive, I think we can send a force to attack, detour to the enemy's rear, and attack them. In this way, all the friendly forces The stress is greatly reduced.”

After Guchakov finished talking about his plan, he looked up at Askel who was standing beside him, "Comrade Chief of Staff, do you agree with my plan?"

During Guchakov's explanation, Askel deduced the plan in his mind, and felt that there was a great chance of success, so he nodded and said, "Comrade Brigadier, I agree with your opinion." There was a slight pause Seconds later, he asked tentatively, "Which battalion do you plan to send to complete this task?"

"Where is Captain Mikhaiev?"

Hearing Guchakov's question, Askel replied bitterly: "Where else can it be, of course it is in the first battalion."

When Sokov appointed Guchakov as the commander of the 73rd Infantry Brigade, he felt that it was obviously inappropriate for the deputy brigade commander Colonel Wiesbach to serve as Guchakov's deputy, so he thought of transferring him away. . As for the position of deputy brigade commander, a battalion commander, Lieutenant Mikhaiev, was appointed to concurrently serve.

Now Weissbach has been promoted to the commander of the 300th Infantry Division, but Lieutenant Mikhaiev has never been conscious of being a deputy brigade commander, and stays in the first battalion where he is the battalion commander at all times. At first, Guchakov wanted to say a few words to him, but after a long time, he let it go.

Knowing that Captain Mikhaiev was in the First Battalion, Guchakov said to Askel: "I think the task of harassing the rear of the German army should be handed over to Captain Mikhaiev."

"I think it's okay." Askel nodded and said, "The first battalion is the most effective unit in the whole brigade. Both the commander and the ordinary soldiers have rich combat experience. Let them sneak attack the enemy's rear , even if you encounter any danger, you can get rid of it in time."

Seeing that his opinion reached a consensus with Askel again, Guchakov told the other party: "Call Captain Mikhaiev immediately and ask him to come to me, and I will assign tasks to him personally. .”

Before Askel went to call, Mikhaiev appeared in front of the two of them. He smiled and asked Guchakov: "Comrade Brigadier, do you have any combat missions to entrust to our first battalion?"

After Guchakov and Askel looked at each other, they both saw surprise in each other's eyes. Guchakov did not directly answer the other party's question, but asked with a smile: "Comrade Captain, who told you that we have a task to hand over to your first battalion?"

"Comrade Brigadier, this is all my guess." Mikhaiev restrained the smile on his face, pointed to outpost No. The No. 1 outpost was continuously attacked, and there was no strong fortification on the position, and the defenders suffered heavy casualties from the enemy's shelling."

Speaking of this, he sighed softly, and said helplessly: "If it was our troops, when they stood firm on the line of defense without strong fortifications, they would definitely move to a safe reverse slope position first in the face of such fierce German shelling. After the enemy's shelling is over, re-enter the position.

But what about the allies? However, they stayed on the ground all the time. Because there were no solid fortifications, the commanders and fighters who stayed on the ground sacrificed needlessly under the enemy's artillery fire. "

"You are quite right, Comrade Deputy Brigadier Commander." Askel waited for Mikhaiev to finish speaking, addressed his position, and continued: "The Brigadier Commander and I saw that our friendly troops continued to suffer casualties under the enemy's artillery fire. It hurts a lot, so I decided to help them."

"What should our battalion do?" asked Mikhaiev.

"You find a way to get back to the enemy's rear." Guchakov said: "Then beat the Germans so hard that they can no longer launch an attack on the No. 1 outpost in a short period of time. Are there any doubts?" ?"

"Comrade Brigadier," Mikhaiev said to Guchakov, raising his head, "I don't think it makes much sense just to destroy the enemy's infantry. We have wiped out this army, and new troops will continue to catch up." Come here. We can help the friendly army once or twice, but we can't help them all the time."

"Then what do you think?" Guchakov felt that Mikhaiev seemed to have some novel ideas, so he said in an encouraging tone: "Just say it, even if you make a mistake, I won't blame you."

"I think the attacking troops can be divided into two groups, one to deal with the German infantry attacking the outposts, and the other to deal with the enemy's artillery." Mikhaiev said: "As long as the enemy's artillery is killed, then they The offensive momentum will be greatly weakened, and the casualties of the defensive troops will be greatly reduced."

"That's a good idea." Askel felt that Mikhaiev's words made sense, so he took the initiative to analyze to him: "According to my judgment, the enemy's artillery positions are no more than five kilometers away from us. After staring at the simple sketch on the ground for a while, he bent down to pick up a branch and drew a stroke, "I think the enemy's artillery should be here."

Mikhaiev glanced at the position of Askel's painting, and said confidently: "Comrade Chief of Staff, if the German artillery positions are really here, then my troops will be able to completely destroy them within two hours." .”

"Two hours is too long." Unexpectedly, Guchakov said unexpectedly: "I think it is best to resolve the battle within an hour, so as to effectively reduce the casualties of friendly troops."

When Askel heard what Guchakov said, he immediately cried out: "Comrade Brigadier, although it is only a few kilometers from us to the enemy's artillery position, it takes an hour just to march. It is not considered close to the enemy." The time required to break through the enemy's infantry lines behind the artillery positions..."

"Comrade Chief of Staff!" Askel hadn't finished speaking, but was interrupted by Mikhaiev: "I don't think it is impossible to destroy the enemy's artillery positions within an hour."

When Askel heard this, he was stunned. He kept thinking in his heart: "Didn't you hear what I just said? From here to the enemy's artillery positions, it takes at least an hour to march on foot. In addition, there must be infantry serving as guards near the enemy's artillery. It will take a lot of time to break through the enemy's infantry defense and get close to the artillery positions. Let alone an hour, destroying the German artillery positions within two hours is considered very fast gone."

Mikhaiev saw the dissatisfaction on Askel's face, and said to him with a smile: "Comrade Chief of Staff, have you forgotten the new rockets equipped in our army? With this weapon, we can even Enemy artillery positions can be destroyed from a few kilometers away without getting close to them."

Waking up the dreamer with a single word, Askel got into a dead end, and calculated the route of the first battalion's attack and the time needed according to the original thinking, so as to forget that the new rockets they had, even a few kilometers away, Launch an attack on the German target.

Thinking of this, he chuckled, then nodded vigorously and said, "Comrade Captain, what you said is very reasonable. Since our army has new rockets, why should we approach the enemy's artillery positions and fight with the infantry on guard?" What? As long as a launch tube is installed one or two kilometers away from the artillery position and directly bombards the enemy's artillery position, it is enough to turn it into a sea of ​​​​flames."

"Comrade Captain," Guchakov said to Mikhaiev sternly, since he had an attack plan, "Since the mission has been clarified, then you should immediately return to the army and lead the soldiers to set off."

After Mikhaiev left, Askel shook his head and said to Guchakov: "Comrade brigade commander, the deputy brigade commander can't do this. He still regards himself as a battalion commander. He wanted to lead the soldiers to charge, but he didn't expect to sit in the command post and study the battle plan with us."

For Mikhaiev, who always forgets his identity and is active at the forefront, Guchakov has nothing to do. He waited for Askel to finish complaining, and said with a wry smile: "Comrade Chief of Staff, don't worry, when the battle here is over, I will report this matter to Comrade Commander to see if he can send us a new deputy." Brigadier come here."