Red Moscow

Early the next morning, the 2nd Assault Army on the right launched heavy shelling on the positions of the German 7th Infantry Division.

After an hour and a half of artillery preparation, the 11th and 18th Infantry Divisions of the group army launched an attack on the German positions where the smoke had not cleared. The enemy, who was dizzy by the artillery fire, had no courage to resist in the face of the flood of Soviet commanders and fighters. After firing a few shots indiscriminately, he fled towards the rear position like a bereaved dog.

Seeing that the German army began to retreat, the tank brigade covering the infantry attack accelerated its attack speed. According to the vision of the tank brigade commander, with the speed of the tank, it is possible to cut off the way for the Germans to escape before they fled back to the second line of defense. As for what dangers he may encounter, it is not within his consideration at all. After all, his tank brigade is equipped with 30 of the latest JS-2 heavy tanks, all equipped with 122mm artillery. If you come out to fight, you will make them doubt life.

But what was unexpected was that the Soviet tanks had just approached the second line of defense of the German army, and suddenly a group of German tanks rushed out from the side, many of them were Tiger tanks. After they occupied favorable terrain, they fired at the moving Soviet tanks.

Don't see that the Soviet JS-2 tank is equipped with a 122mm cannon, but the last part of the armor of the whole vehicle is only 132mm. How can it withstand the bombardment of the German Tiger tank. In less than two minutes, five JS-2 heavy tanks were hit, stopped in place and began to burn.

The Soviet tanks found German tanks appearing on the flanks, and immediately stopped their assault on the German positions, stopped and turned their muzzles to start shooting against the Tiger tanks. Although the JS-2 tank has a 122mm large-caliber artillery, its disadvantage is that the rate of fire is too slow, and there are only 28 rounds of ammunition.

Don't see that when the Tiger tank was designed, it deliberately sacrificed mobility in order to enhance firepower and protection. But it still has a great advantage against the JS-2, which has a slow rate of fire. After they fired two shots in a row, they shifted their shooting positions in time, and chose a suitable location to re-target the Soviet tanks to shoot.

This tank battle lasted only a quarter of an hour. Of the 30 JS-2 heavy tanks in the tank brigade, 22 were destroyed by the Germans, but the Germans did not lose a single tank. Seeing that the tank battle had turned into a one-sided massacre, the Soviet tank brigade commander felt that if the fight continued, his troops might be wiped out in the future, so he quickly issued an order to retreat.

After hearing the news, Fejuninsky couldn't help being taken aback, and then asked his armored director: "Comrade armored director, do you know the number of the German armored unit?"

Fortunately, the director of the armored forces had known the situation of the German armored forces in advance, so when he heard Fejuninsky's question, he could answer without hesitation: "Yes, Comrade Commander. The armored forces of our tank brigade were severely damaged. The 507th Heavy Panzer Battalion of the German Army, which is equipped with a large number of Panther and Tiger tanks."

"This is a formidable enemy." Fejuninsky, who had just suffered a big loss, said cautiously: "We must find a way to deal with them."

"Artillery, Comrade Commander." The chief of staff said quickly, "We can use intensive artillery fire to destroy the German heavy armor battalion."

"It's useless, Comrade Chief of Staff." But the artillery director waved his hand and said: "The Germans have built a lot of underground fortifications in this area. Every time our shelling starts, they hide in these fortifications. Wait for us to bombard them." After the end, they came out of the fortifications and entered their respective defensive positions."

"Then what should we do?" The chief of staff asked back: "Should we just watch the German army block our progress?"

"Comrade Chief of Staff, don't worry." The chief of artillery said to him: "The artillery can't deal with their tanks, but our air force can. As far as I know, the air force's fighter planes have a rocket that can attack the ground. , It is specially used to deal with German tanks. If we ask the front army headquarters to dispatch the air force to cooperate next time when we launch an attack, we will definitely be able to completely destroy the German armored forces."

"That's a good idea." Fejuninsky nodded and said, "Then I'll immediately call Comrade Marshal and ask him to dispatch the air force to cooperate with our attack."

When Fejuninsky answered the call from the Front Army Command, he expressed his thoughts to Rokossovsky who answered the phone. The latter said a little bit dumbfoundingly: "I said Ivan, when did you become impatient? You know, I have issued a combat order to the Air Force. Starting from nine o'clock, we will carry out continuous intensive bombing of the German defensive positions. Completely destroy the defensive positions of the German army and open up a channel for our offensive troops. I didn't expect you to be so impatient. Before our air force attacked, you actually launched an attack on the German defensive positions again, and suffered unnecessary losses as a result. .”

After hearing this, Fejuninsky couldn't help but feel annoyed. If he had communicated with Rokossovsky before the attack today, his tank brigade would not have suffered heavy losses in the duel with the German tanks. He took two deep breaths, and tried to ask in a calm tone: "Kosticka, so you can attack the enemy's position again after nine o'clock?"

"That's right, after our army's bombing, I'm afraid there won't be many solid fortifications left on the enemy's line of defense, and if you launch a new round of attacks under such circumstances, the obstacles you will encounter will be greatly reduced."

When Fejuninsky and Rokossovsky were on the phone, in the 48th Army Headquarters, Sokov and others were discussing when to choose when to launch another attack.

Sidolin has a rather impatient temper. He advocated that as soon as the bombing started, he would immediately attack the German positions and catch the enemy by surprise.

But for his statement, Pornegelin first expressed his objection: "Chief of Staff, I don't think there is any need to be so anxious. The commander said that it is necessary to carry out continuous intensive bombing of the German positions and completely destroy the Germans. The remaining fortifications on the defense line. If the bombing has just started and the German fortifications have not been destroyed in large numbers, we have launched an offensive rashly, and I am afraid that we will pay huge casualties."

"I just received a call from General Kirillov." Sidolin looked at Sokov and said, "He said that the troops of the 2nd Assault Army on the right wing, after a long period of artillery preparation, have launched an attack on the enemy's position. He launched an attack. He called to ask if he should also launch an attack to help the friendly army in this attack."

"Chief of Staff, tell General Kirillov that the time is not yet ripe." Sokov said, "Let him stay on the ground with peace of mind and don't just think about attacking the enemy. You know, the enemy's If the fortifications are not destroyed, it will cause great losses to our attacking forces."

While everyone was talking, the phone on the table rang.

After picking up the phone and listening for a while, Sidolin showed a strange expression on his face, and then said insincerely: "I understand, thank you, General Bogolyubov."

Seeing Sidolin put down the phone, Sokov asked urgently, "Chief of Staff, what happened? What did General Bogolyubov say to you on the phone?"

Sidolin looked at Sokov, then at Ponedelin, finally resting his eyes on Sokov, and replied with a strange expression: "General Bogolyubov said on the phone that the superiors gave us The sent military commissioner will arrive soon, let us prepare for the reception."

"Military commissar?!" Sokov thought that since the day he joined the 48th Army, there had been no military commissars in this unit. Now a military commissar is suddenly sent here. What does it mean? Could it be that he didn't trust himself and sent someone to monitor him? With these questions in mind, he asked with some displeasure: "Chief of Staff, did General Bogolyubov say what kind of person our new military commissar is?"

"No, Comrade Commander." Sidolin shook his head and said, "General Bogolyubov only said that a new military commissar was sent to us, but he didn't say anything else."

"Comrade Commander, what's going on here?" Pornegelin asked nervously, "The higher-ups didn't send us sooner or later, but they sent us a military commissar at such a time. What? Also, they didn't say who was here, could it be..."

Sokov raised his hand to stop Ponegerin, and didn't let him say the following complaints: "Since the superior sent us the military commissioner at this time, there must be their overall consideration, we will follow the order and make a good reception. Prepare for the military commissioner."

At noon, when the cook put the lunch on the table and was about to leave, a staff officer ran in from outside and reported to Sokov with some panting: "Comrade commander, the military commissar sent by the superior has arrived. Right at the door."

Knowing that the military commissioner assigned by the superior had arrived at the door, Sokov didn't dare to neglect, and quickly stood up and said to the surrounding subordinates: "Since the comrade military commissioner has arrived, everyone, don't stay here anymore, hurry up and go out with me to meet them .”

When Sokov led a group of members of the headquarters and rushed out of the headquarters to greet the new military commissioner outside the door, Sokov saw a familiar figure from behind. He stopped and asked hesitantly, "Is it Comrade Lunev?"

Hearing Sokov's voice, the commander who turned his back to the door slowly turned around. Sidolin and Ponedelin saw that this was Sokov's former partner Lunev? What is he doing here when he is not serving as his deputy minister in Lubyanka?

"It's me, Misha." Lunev opened his arms and said to Sokov, "Long time no see!"

The two had a warm hug and suddenly patted each other on the back, happy for this unexpected reunion.

The crowd accompanied Lunev back to the headquarters. After taking their seats, Lunev said: "Commanders, I think everyone must be very surprised. If I don't stay in Lubyanka as my deputy minister, how can I run away?" The frontier is coming. Right?"

"That's right, Lunev." Sokov nodded, and replied on behalf of everyone: "The headquarters of the Front Army called and informed us that a new military commissar was coming. At that time, I wondered why the superior would When will you send us a military commissioner? But now that I see you, I think I can probably understand."

Lunev stared at Sokov for a while, then nodded slowly, and said, "That's right, Misha, the situation is just as you guessed."

Sokov knew very well that his deputies Ponedelin and Potapov, as well as several commanders assigned to the troops, had all been captured by the German army. It seems that the superior is not at ease with him, so he asked Lunev, who is the deputy minister of internal affairs, to be transferred to the front line to partner with him again. He and Lunev have been partners for a long time, and they have formed a tacit understanding with each other. Even if they don't speak, they only need a few eyes to understand each other's meaning.

The riddle-like dialogue between Sokov and Lunev confuses Sidolin and Potapov, but Ponedelin guesses the other party based on his knowledge of Lunev. The real reason to come back to the front to partner with Sokov.

"Misha," Lunev asked Sokov while eating, "how is the war here?"

"Since breaking through the German defensive position, I ordered the troops to temporarily stop the offensive, turn to the defensive on the spot, and make preparations to resist the German offensive."

Lunev knew Sokov well and knew that he must have his own reasons for making such a decision, so instead of blaming him, he asked modestly, "Misha, can you tell me why you temporarily stopped the attack?" You know, at that time, your troops had just broken through the German defenses, and the morale of the troops was high, so they could continue to attack, but they stopped inexplicably, which puzzled me."

"Lunev, there is a reason why I ordered the troops to stop attacking." Sokov explained to Lunev in order not to misunderstand Lunev: "At that time, our army was progressing very smoothly, but the 3rd Army on the left and right wings and the 2nd Assault Army met with tenacious resistance from the German army, which caused our troops to lose touch with our friendly forces. If we continue to attack, once the Germans regain their senses, we will be in danger of being encircled. Once the troops fall into an encirclement, we will be completely Disrupt the combat deployment formulated by the Front Army Command."

"Misha, I understand you." Lunev nodded after hearing this, and said, "You must have made such a decision after careful consideration. I fully support your approach."

"Lunev, I'm so glad you're back." Seeing that his new partner was actually Lunev, Sokov couldn't help but be overjoyed. Anyway, the other party was his old partner, and he didn't have much cooperation. any problem. Not only do you not have to worry that he will hold you back, but even if something goes wrong, he can help you make up for it: "In the future, the work of propaganda and agitation will be handed over to you."

"It's not a problem to do some propaganda and agitation work." Lunev looked at Sokov and asked, "Do you have any deeper considerations?"

"Deeper considerations?" Lunev's words confused Sokov, and he asked puzzledly: "Lunev, I don't quite understand what you said, can you explain it in more detail?"

Lunev nodded, and then explained to Sokov: "Misha, I think we must not only fight military battles, but also learn to fight political battles. Through the comrades of the anti-war alliance, we should call out to the defenders on the German positions, Get them to stop fighting for Mustache. Even if a small number of people lay down their arms and stop hostilities with us, it will save many precious lives."