Red Moscow

With five minutes left in the bombardment, three red flares rose into the sky, signaling the attack.

The commanders and fighters who had been on standby in the trenches pushed their bicycles out of the trenches one after another. After a simple formation in front of the position, they began to charge on bicycles. For a time, thousands of bicycles rushed to the German defense zone like a tide.

The division commander Fomenko set up his observation post on a wooden platform built by two big trees, where he could see most of the battlefield clearly. Watching the battle with him, in addition to Colonel Manoxin, the political commissar, and several divisional staff officers and signal soldiers, in order to convey his orders to the various regiments in a timely manner.

In the binoculars, Manoxin saw that the tanks, which used to rush to the forefront every time they attacked, were left far behind by the bicycle team. He couldn't help saying to Fomenko with emotion: "Comrade commander, our The infantry rushed in really fast, and it is estimated that they will be able to rush to the enemy's position as soon as the shelling is over."

The starting point of the attack was three to four kilometers away from the German defense zone, and it would take more than half an hour at the usual walking speed. In such a long period of time, the German troops who stood firm had already woken up from the shelling and were ready to fight. However, the Soviet commanders and fighters were somewhat tired after walking for such a long time. Paid huge casualties.

But today, almost all of the commanders and fighters who participated in the first wave of attack were on bicycles. Even if the road conditions were not ideal, they could shorten the time of impact to about ten minutes, without giving the German army any time to prepare for defense.

"You're right. With bicycles, our commanders and fighters can greatly shorten the time to attack the German positions." Fomenko also said with emotion: "Look at those Maxim heavy machine guns. In the past, every machine gun team even At the fastest speed, rushing forward behind the infantry, it will take at least an hour to complete such a long-distance impact. But now, our soldiers are actively using their brains to tie two bicycles and a flatbed together , not only can carry heavy machine guns and more ammunition, but the movement speed has also been greatly enhanced."

"Comrade commander, tell me, why did the commander come up with such a tactic?" Ma Nuoxin said with great interest: "If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I was just playing around and couldn't believe that such a method could be adopted. The enemy is attacking."

After hearing this, Fomenko laughed twice, and then said to Manoshin: "Comrade political commissar, this may be the reason why he can be the commander, but we can only be division commanders and political commissars."

Fomenko's words reminded Manoshin. He frowned and thought for a while, and then said: "As far as I know, before the big counter-offensive under the city of Moscow, Comrade Commander was just a small corporal. Look Now, less than two years have passed, and he is already a general, commanding nearly one hundred thousand troops."

"The promotion path of Comrade Commander is simply a miracle." Fomenko went on to say: "If it were replaced by other people of his age, he could get the rank of lieutenant, which would be regarded as a very fast promotion, but with Comparing the commanders and comrades, they are nothing."

"By the way, is he married?"

"It's over." Fomenko replied briefly: "It is said that a female health worker she met during the defense of the town of Khimki, named Asya, was quite beautiful. They met during the Battle of Stalingrad. married."

"Comrade commander, do you know where the commander's wife is now?" Manoxin continued to ask curiously, "Is it in the field hospital of the headquarters, or in the military hospital below?"

Hearing his political commissar ask this question, Fomenko showed a surprised expression on his face: "Comrade political commissar, don't you know that the commander has transferred his wife back to the rear after the last accident?"

"What happened?" Fomenko's words ignited Manokhin's raging fire of gossip.

"Comrade Commissar, I heard this from others, and I don't know if it's true or not." Fomenko said: "During the Battle of Kursk, the commander arranged for his wife Asiya to be in the field hospital of the 182nd Division. , served as an assistant military doctor. But one day the field hospital was attacked by a detachment from the German 19th Armored Division, and Assia and several female medical staff were captured..."

"Ah, captured by the enemy?" Ma Nuoxin asked in surprise, "What happened afterwards?"

"Comrade Commander immediately mobilized troops and prepared to launch an attack on the 19th Armored Division of the German Army." Fomenko continued: "And the German division commander was frightened when he knew that among the medical staff arrested was the commander's wife. It’s broken, not only sent people to comfort them, but also sent them all back.”

What happened next, Manuoxin saw in the battle report: the 19th Armored Division was annihilated, and all officers and soldiers of the division were either killed or captured, and even their division commander was also taken prisoner.

"Do you know where the commander's wife is now?"

"Didn't Colonel Yakov come with a batch of hovercraft when we attacked Belgorod and Kharkov?" Fomenko explained to Manoshin: "The commander and Colonel Yakov are My good friend, for the safety of Asiya, I will send her to the Armament Department in Moscow, where she will continue to work as an assistant military doctor."

While the two were chatting, a staff officer observing the situation on the battlefield suddenly put down the binoculars in his hand, turned his head and reported to Fomenko: "Comrade commander, our troops have approached the enemy's defensive position."

Hearing what the staff officer said, the two quickly stopped talking and raised their binoculars to look into the distance.

The shelling did not know when it stopped, and the entire defense area of ​​the German army was still filled with gunpowder smoke. The commanders and fighters charging on bicycles were less than 100 meters away from the German positions. I don't know who led them. After jumping off the bicycles, they threw the bikes on the ground and rushed towards the enemy's positions with weapons.

"Come up, Comrade Commander, our soldiers have rushed up." Through the binoculars, Ma Nuoxin saw groups of commanders and fighters rushing into a large amount of gunpowder with weapons, and he couldn't help shouting excitedly: "They rushed into the enemy's position."

Compared with Manoshin, Fomenko was extraordinarily calm. Watching the commanders rushing into the gunpowder with their weapons in hand, he kept thinking in his heart: the enemy deployed an infantry regiment in the Svetlovodsk district, And a tank battalion, I don't know how many casualties were caused to them by the shelling that lasted for an hour?

After yelling for a while, seeing that Fomenko didn't respond, he put down the binoculars again and asked curiously, "Comrade commander, why don't you speak? What are you thinking?"

Fomenko also put down the binoculars and said with a wry smile: "Don't look at our commanders and fighters rushing into the enemy's position, but it is still unknown how much damage the shelling just caused to the enemy. If the enemy's losses are not large, our troops After entering the enemy's position, there will be a fierce battle."

After saying this, he turned around and ordered a staff officer: "Get in touch with the division chief of staff immediately and ask him to report the results of the attacking troops in a timely manner."

The staff officer agreed, picked up the phone next to him, and contacted the division headquarters.

While the staff officer was on the phone, Ma Nuoxin couldn't help asking: "Comrade commander, do you think the shelling just now can wipe out one-third of the enemy?"

"It's hard to say." Fomenko, as a commander with rich combat experience, shook his head slightly after hearing Manoshin's question, and replied: "According to past experience, our army The artillery preparation, at best, can only destroy some German fortifications, and the damage to their active forces is very limited."

"What is the reason for that?"

"The reason is very simple." Fomenko said: "Comrade Commander once said at the meeting that the enemy is very cunning. Every time our army bombards their defense zone, they will move to the second-line position in time. A few observation posts were left on the shelling positions to monitor the actions of our army.

When our army's artillery preparations are over and the infantry launches an attack, their troops will pass through the traffic trenches, return to the front from the second-line position, and intercept our army with firepower. "

"Our shelling today was very sudden." Manoxin said cautiously: "I think most of the enemies are still asleep, and our shelling will definitely achieve great results."

"I hope so." Having said this, Fomenko asked the staff aloud: "Comrade staff, is there any latest battle report from the division headquarters?"

"Not yet, Comrade Commander." The staff officer quickly stood up and replied, "The chief of staff said that he has not received any battle reports from the front."

After hearing this, Fomenko sighed softly, and raised his binoculars again to look at the place filled with gunpowder smoke in the distance, trying to see clearly how the commanders and fighters inside were fighting the enemy through the gunpowder smoke. Then the dense gunpowder smoke covered everything, and he couldn't see anything clearly except the billowing smoke.

From the beginning of the army's offensive, those who were eager to know the results of the battle were not only Fomenko, but also Sokov who was far away in the city of Klemenchug. After learning that the 84th Division had launched an attack on the enemy, he stared at his watch and waited like a year for five minutes before asking Sameko, "Comrade Chief of Staff, does the 84th Division have the latest battle report?"

"No, Comrade Commander." Sameko replied simply: "I haven't received any battle reports about them yet."

"Call and ask," Sokov worried that the division headquarters of the other party was too busy, so he quickly told Sameko: "Maybe they are sorting out the latest battle report and haven't had time to report it yet."

Sameko didn't dare to neglect, so he quickly picked up the phone on the table, connected to the division headquarters of the 84th Division, and said straight to the point: "I am Sameko, Chief of Staff of the Army Group, please ask your division commander, General Fomenko, to answer the question." Telephone."

Another voice quickly came through the receiver: "Hello, Comrade General, I am the Chief of Staff of the Division. Excuse me, Comrade Division Commander is not at the division headquarters?"

Hearing that Fomenko was not at the division headquarters, Sameko couldn't help being taken aback. His first thought was that Fomenko wouldn't go to the forefront himself like Sokov, right? He glanced at Sokov who was looking down at the map, and continued to ask, "Where did he go?"

"He and Comrade Political Commissar are in the observation post outside." The division chief of staff said respectfully: "Comrade General, if you have anything to do, you can tell me, and I will relay your words to him."

"It's nothing serious." Sameko said, "I just want to ask how is the progress there?"

"Report to Comrade General," the division chief of staff replied: "Our troops have rushed into the German positions, but because the smoke of the shelling has not cleared, we cannot observe the progress of the battle inside. Now I am also waiting for the front line Only by reporting can we know how the battle is progressing."

Sameko couldn't get the results he wanted to know, so he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, but he didn't blame the other party, but told him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, once you have the latest battle report, remember to report it in the shortest possible time. .”

After Sameko put down the phone, he shrugged his shoulders towards Sokov who was looking at him, spread his hands, and said rather helplessly: "Comrade Commander, the Chief of Staff of the 84th Division reported that although the troops have successfully rushed into the The German positions were captured, but due to the smoke, it was impossible to observe the progress of the battle, and it was impossible to know how the battle was going."

After listening to Sameko's report, Sokov couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, but he knew that he was too impatient. The attack had just started a few minutes ago, and there was no way the battle report would come back so quickly.

He sighed and said: "There is no way, we can only wait patiently, and hope that the performance of General Fomenko's subordinates will not disappoint us."

The two were talking when the phone on the table rang.

Sameko picked it up and listened for a moment, then covered the receiver with his hand, and reported to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, it is General Konev who is on the phone to understand our information on the Svetlovodsk district. Attack. Do you need to report to him personally?"

Sokov knew that even if he reported to Konev himself, he might not be able to tell more valuable information, so he said to Sameko: "Chief of Staff, you can report directly to the comrade commander of the front army."

Sameko let go of the hand covering the microphone and said respectfully: "Reporting to Comrade Commander of the Front Army, the troops of the 84th Division have successfully charged into the enemy's line of defense, but due to the smoke in the position, the observation effect has been affected. I don't know what kind of battle results the troops have achieved for the time being...Understood, I will report to you as soon as I have the latest news."

After hanging up the phone, Sameko looked at Sokov with a wry smile and said, "Comrade Commander, it seems that everyone is very concerned about the 84th Division's offensive."

"Yes." Sokov nodded and replied, "The 84th Division's attack is our first step in expanding the landing field on the right bank. If the attack fails, it will have a negative impact on the ensuing battle."

Sameko remembered that Sokov had made a series of fake moves on the right bank landing field, just to make the Germans have an illusion and concentrate the main force on the south side of the landing field, so that the defense force of the Svetlovodsk area became smaller. Get weak. If the 84th Division's attack fails, the Germans will come to their senses and deploy troops from other directions to strengthen the Svetlovodsk area, and it will not be easy to take it there.

After trying to understand this, Sameko felt more and more that whether the 84th Division's attack went smoothly would have a decisive impact on the situation on the right bank of the Dnieper River. In order to ensure the success of this attack, he tentatively asked Sokov: "Comrade Commander, do you order the 188th Division to enter the attack position, and if the 84th Division's attack fails, they will take over the attack task?"