Red Moscow

However, the officers and soldiers of the Viking Division were the elite of the German army after all. After the initial chaotic period, they still launched a counterattack.

Due to the hasty deployment of the ambush, the Belinsky regiment only planted 30 electrically detonated anti-tank mines and 200 infantry mines. It was impossible to wipe out the armored regiment of the Viking Division.

The barrel cart of the German regiment commander was at the end of the line. When the Soviet landmine exploded, he saw that the situation was not good and immediately ordered the driver to turn around. Seeing the leader's barrel cart turn around, the armored vehicles behind also turned around one after another, and fled the death zone.

After escaping for seven or eight kilometers, the head of the regiment ordered to stop when he heard the sound of the explosion gradually subsiding, and then ordered his adjutant to go to the armored vehicle with communication equipment behind him to contact the ambushed troops and see his commander How many survived.

The adjutant soon came over and reported to him: "Mr. Colonel, the commanders of the three battalions are still alive, but the commander of the second battalion was injured in the explosion and cannot continue to command the battle."

The head of the regiment pondered for a moment, and then ordered his adjutant: "Order the deputy battalion commander of the second battalion to take over the command of the battalion commander and continue to advance in the direction of Qijilin. The remaining first and third battalions will launch a counterattack on the hillside, and we must be wiped out. Russians nearby."

Just when the adjutant was about to leave, the head of the regiment stopped the adjutant again and said: "Don't forget to send a telegram to the division commander to report to him that we encountered an ambush, and ask him to let the troops behind march faster and come over Support us."

General Herbert Giller, the commander of the Viking Division, soon received a report from the armored regiment. After he put down the phone, he frowned and asked his chief of staff: "Chief of staff, how far is the 10th Armored Grenadier Regiment and the 5th Armored Light Infantry Battalion from the armored regiment?"

The chief of staff glanced at the map, and then replied: "Your Excellency, the departure time of the follow-up troops is two hours later than that of the armored regiment, and there should be 20 kilometers away from them at this moment."

"What, there are still 20 kilometers left?" Although for the mechanized troops, the distance of 20 kilometers is half an hour's drive, but for Herbert Giller, he still finds it unacceptable. On the battlefield, every minute counts. It is unknown whether the ambushed troops will be able to support another half an hour in the face of the powerful Soviet offensive.

He glanced at the map on the wall, then picked up the armored regiment's telegram, and finally made a decisive decision: "Order the 5th Armored Light Infantry Battalion to break away from the existing marching ranks and speed up. Inside, rush to the battle zone."

"Understood, sir." The chief of staff replied respectfully: "I will pass on your order immediately."

Following the transmission of the order, the remaining tanks of the Second Battalion of the German Panzer Regiment continued to advance in the direction of Chijilin through the thick smoke on the road. The infantry of the first and second battalions, under the cover of tank fire, charged the defenders on the hillside.

The German soldiers in gray-green military uniforms used all the shelters available, such as ravines, tree trunks, and even dead bodies, to keep rolling while running, rolling into the blind spot of the Soviet army's shooting, looking for a suitable shooting position, and heading towards the hillside. Soviet troops fired.

Under the German tank fire and infantry precision shooting, the machine gun shooters in the trenches died one after another, and the dense machine gun fire on the position became sparse.

Seeing that the firepower on the hillside position was suppressed, the officer issued a command to the soldiers lying on the ground, telling them to get up from the ground, quickly spread out the formation while running, and speed up to rush to the hillside position.

"Colonel Belinsky," Gritsenko in the distance saw that the enemy was getting closer to the position on the hillside, but the firepower in the trench was weakened by the enemy's artillery fire, so he quickly connected to the regiment command post He asked viciously, "Why aren't your regiment's mortars firing yet? Are you planning to save the mortar shells?"

Belinsky, who was scolded by Major General Gritsenko, gave the order to fire the mortar company hidden on the reverse slope. As the order was issued, shells flew across the sky with screams, and hit the road of the German army's charge, flying one by one, and the shrapnel flying around made a sharp whistle, blowing more Soldiers fell.

Although many soldiers fell under the guns and artillery fire of Soviet commanders and fighters, the remaining soldiers still charged forward. Trying to take advantage of the weakened firepower of the Soviet position, quickly occupy the position and annihilate the defenders inside.

But when they approached the position on the mountainside, the tanks at the foot of the mountain stopped shelling for fear of accidentally injuring their own people. Not long after the German tank guns stopped firing, the firepower in the trenches began to intensify again. The flames spouted by machine guns, assault rifles and submachine guns were as impenetrable as rainstorms. The bloody smell on the battlefield was already thick and about to drip out. The gunpowder smoke formed a disgusting mist, which irritated the eyes and throat with burning pain.

The ground under the feet of the German officers and soldiers has been soaked into sticky mud by blood, and the ground is soft like stepping on a thick carpet when they step on it. Guns and human internal organs are floating on it, just like a scene of hell on earth.

And the German officers and soldiers charged in this hell, lying down and shooting among the dead from time to time. The area 20 to 30 meters in front of the position became a no-man's land, and few people could cross it. The soldiers were suppressed by the rain of bullets on the ground. Just as they raised their heads to fight back, the bullets hit them in front of them, and the splashed sand collapsed on the ground. Their faces were sore and their helmets were being beaten loudly, forcing them to lie down again.

…………

Just as the commanders and fighters of the 384th Division were fighting fiercely with the German reinforcements, good news came from the troops attacking the towns of Ratswe and Jingji. After reading the telegram sent by the head of the regiment, Colonel Rusuf, Fomenko immediately beamed with joy. He hurried to Sokov and handed over the telegram he had just received: "Comrade Commander, good news, Colonel Rusuf's The 254th regiment has successfully captured the town of Ratswe, and the battle for Jingji town is drawing to a close."

Sokov took the telegram and quickly browsed the content. In addition to what Fomenko said, there was even more exciting news. There was actually a wood processing factory in the town of Radeve, which stocked a large number of round Wood. Seeing this, Sokov couldn't help being excited. With these logs, it means that the troops of the 7th Guards Army will have the materials to build the pontoon bridge. As long as the pontoon bridge is built, their troops will have a steady stream of energy. Cross the river from the left bank.

Sokov handed the telegram back to Fomenko, and only said to him: "Call Colonel Rusuf back and order them to effectively protect the timber processing plant, so that there must be no problems with the batch of logs."

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Seeing that Sokov was so cautious, Fomenko thought that even if the Germans set fire to it, they would not be able to burn the logs for a while, so he said grinningly: "We There will never be any problems with this batch of logs."

Sokov felt that such important good news needed to be shared with Shumilov as soon as possible. After the operator finished sending the telegram, he immediately ordered him to say: "Comrade operator, immediately help me connect to the headquarters of the 7th Guards Army. I want to talk to General Shumilov."

Hearing Sokov's order, the radio operator did not dare to be negligent, and hurriedly called the headquarters of the 7th Guards Army as quickly as possible, so as not to delay Sokov's business.

Shumilov's headquarters was connected, and before Sokov could speak, the other party said: "General Sokov, I congratulate you. Congratulations to your troops for successfully liberating the German-occupied Two years old town of Ratsve."

"General Shumilov," Hearing what Shumilov said, Sokov realized that the battle that took place in the town of Ratsve may have been seen by the other party's observation post, otherwise he would not have been able to see the battle before him. He knew about this when he was notified of the situation. He laughed dryly twice, and then said: "You are right, my troops did liberate the town of Ratseve. Although the battle in Jingji town It's not over yet, but the balance of victory has tipped to our side. I contacted you because I have another good thing to tell you."

"Another good thing?" Shumilov was stunned. Apart from the victory in liberating the two towns of Ratesve and Jingji, what good news is there for him? "General Sokov, I don't know what you mean by the good thing?"

"My subordinates reported to me," Sokov said into the microphone: "When they liberated the town of Ratsve, they discovered a large wood processing factory, which stored a large amount of logs..."

"What, what did you say?" Before Sokov could finish, Shumilov interrupted him, "Your subordinates discovered a timber processing factory that stores a large amount of logs?"

"Yes, General Shumilov, that's right." Sokov nodded and continued: "I think I need to tell you the good news as soon as possible. After all, if your troops want to build a pontoon bridge on the Dnieper River, It takes a lot of wood."

"Yes, yes, General Sokov, that is indeed the case." Shumilov became agitated when he learned that there was a large amount of timber in the town of Ratsve under Sokov's control: "If there are enough timber With round logs, my engineering unit can build a pontoon bridge across both sides of the Dnieper River in the shortest possible time, so that the main force of our army can cross the river in the shortest possible time.”

"General Shumilov, since the town of Ratsve is under our control, you can safely and boldly order your troops to cross the river to receive these logs so that a bridge can be built across the Dnieper River as soon as possible."

After Shumilov put down the phone, he immediately called a staff officer and said, "Comrade staff officer, immediately call Director Priaskin here and tell him that I have something important to tell him."

Pulyaskin happened to be busy not far away. When he heard from the staff that Shumilov was looking for him, he hurriedly put down his work and rushed to the headquarters.

As soon as Shumilov saw Priaskin, he asked bluntly: "Comrade chief engineer, how are you getting the materials for the pontoon bridge?"

"Very likely, Comrade Commander." Priaskin said with a bitter face: "Our place is too far away from the forest, and the engineers have to go tens of kilometers away to cut down suitable wood for making rafts. Or bridging material."

"Comrade Chief of the Engineering Corps, I called you here because I have some good news to tell you." Shumilov waited for Priaskin to finish speaking, and said proudly: "The circles for making rafts and bridging materials Wood, there are ready-made."

Hearing what Shumilov said, Priaskin couldn't help being stunned, thinking that when the troops had materials for making rafts and bridges, why didn't he, the director of engineering, know?

With such doubts in mind, he asked Shumilov: "Comrade Commander, are you mistaken? Where do we have logs for making rafts and bridges?"

"It's true that we don't have it here, but our friendly forces have it." Shumilov raised his hand and pointed in the direction of the right bank: "The friendly army that just captured the town of Latseve found a timber processing factory in the town. Unprocessed logs can be used to make rafts or as bridge materials."

"Is this true, Comrade Commander?"

Seeing Shumilov nod in affirmation, Priaskin said excitedly: "If we really have these logs, then all the problems we are facing will be solved."

"Comrade Chief of the Engineering Corps, since you also know the importance of this matter, don't dawdle, and prepare to cross the river immediately." Shumilov said to Priaskin: "The 15th Guards Division has already done a good job." To prepare for crossing the river, you will cross the river with them to the other side to receive the logs stored in the timber processing factory."

Priaskin agreed, turned and walked towards the door. But when he reached the door, he stopped, turned around and asked Shumilov: "Comrade Commander, who should I ask to receive these logs after I get to the other side?" Seeing that he is carrying the rank of major general, but after all, he is not the direct superior of the friendly army in the town. Whether the other party buys his account is still unknown. If he can't receive the log, isn't it going to delay the business?

"I once heard General Sokov say that the commander on the other side who commanded the capture of the towns of Ratswe and Jingji was Colonel Rusuf, commander of the 254th Regiment of the 84th Division. When you get to the other side, you can contact him directly." Shu Out of prudent consideration, Milov added a sentence: "I will first greet General Sokov and ask him to notify Colonel Rusuf in advance so that we can hand over the logs from the timber processing factory to you in time."

"Okay." After listening to Shumilov's assurance, Puliaskin showed a smile on his face: "Then I will immediately go to gather people and prepare to cross the river with the commanders and fighters of the 15th Guards Division. After receiving the round After that, we will start to build the bridge from the opposite bank, and strive to complete the erection of the pontoon bridge on the Dnieper River before dark."