Red Moscow

In the following days, although the enemies standing in front of the Belarusian Second Front were desperately resisting, their battles were nothing more than desperate battles. Although they caused some trouble to the Soviet commanders and fighters, they could not stop the advance of the Soviet army at all. footsteps.

Seeing that the end of the war was getting closer, Sokov couldn't help feeling restless. Every day at noon and night, he would take the initiative to call the headquarters of the front army to learn about the progress of Zhukov and Konev's troops in Berlin.

At noon on April 28, he called the front army headquarters again, wanting to know the progress of the friendly army today.

To his surprise, it was Rokossovsky who answered the phone. As soon as the other party heard Sokov's voice, they smiled and asked, "Misha, are you calling to learn about the battle situation of the friendly forces?"

"Yes, Comrade Marshal." Sokov concealed some embarrassment: "Although my troops have no chance to enter Berlin to fight, but being able to hear the battle situation of friendly troops at any time is similar to the effect of our own participation in the battle."

"Then let me tell you some good news." Rokossovsky said: "The 3rd Assault Army commanded by Kuznetsov has now captured the Moltke Bridge on the Spree River, not far from the Reichstag in Berlin." Far away. I believe it will not be long before they will be able to launch an attack on the Capitol."

"Ah, General Kuznetsov's troops have approached the Reichstag in Berlin?" Sokov learned that Kuznetsov's troops had arrived near the Reichstag. , he still showed a particularly excited look: "This is really great. As long as the Reichstag is taken down, it means that the Battle of Berlin has won the final victory."

"You are right," Rokossovsky agreed with Sokov: "Kuznetsov intends to use a division of troops to participate in the attack on the Reichstag. It seems that He wants to take the Reichstag in one go, without giving the Germans a chance to breathe."

When Sokov put down the phone and told the members of the headquarters what Rokossovsky said, the room suddenly became a sea of ​​joy. As for Sokov, who couldn't even hear his own voice clearly, he could only keep his mouth shut obediently and wait until everyone's cheers were over before continuing to speak.

After the room was finally quiet again, Sokov said loudly: "Comrades, although we have not been able to participate in the battle in Berlin, what we have done now is beneficial to ensure that friendly forces will not be attacked when fighting in the city." to blows from the flanking enemy. Although we were not a participant in the liberation of Berlin, we also have our share of credit in the credit book."

"Comrade Commander," Rednikova tentatively asked Sokov: "Is it a bit too exaggerated for General Kuznetsov to use a division to attack the Capitol? I think one regiment is enough to win Get off this building."

Hearing what Rednikova said, Sokov could only laugh. He knew very well that the 171st Infantry Division that Kuznetsov originally dispatched was almost wiped out under the strong firepower of the German defenders. In desperation, Kuznetsov could only redeploy the 150th Infantry Division and the 23rd Tank Brigade to participate in the attack on the Capitol.

"Comrade Lieutenant, you may not know that the Berlin Reichstag is the symbol of the highest authority in Germany and the last line of defense for the Germans." Lunev, who had just returned from the field hospital, was lying on a recliner with a pale face. Rednikova said: "Putting the red flag on the top of the Capitol symbolizes that we have completely defeated the German invaders. General Kuznetsov sent a regiment. I believe it can take the Capitol, but one investment If the strength of a division is reduced, the time to occupy a building can be greatly shortened."

The meaning of sending troops to capture the Capitol was actually not very clear to Sokov. He had repeatedly complained in his heart that with the powerful firepower of the Soviet army, the Capitol could be completely razed to the ground, but thousands of people It is unbelievable that the commanders and fighters went to die. But at this moment, hearing Lunev say this, he realized that he thought the problem too simply. If it was another building, he might be able to bomb it directly with artillery or planes and turn it into ruins, but the Capitol is different. But after witnessing the rise of Mustache, only by occupying this building can the German invaders be truly defeated.

However, Sokov had different ideas about the forces needed to capture the Reichstag. He knew very well that after Berlin was surrounded by the Soviet army, the Germans tried to build the Reichstag into a solid firepower point. A large number of circular fortifications were built around them and connected with trenches. The doors and windows on each floor of the building were also sealed with bricks and cement, and shooting holes for various firepower were built.

In addition, the Germans also deployed a lot of 105mm howitzers on the top of the Capitol and surrounding buildings. When the Soviet army launched an attack, they could use powerful artillery fire to kill and injure the Soviet army's vital forces, thereby weakening the Soviet army. offensive momentum.

However, these things have not happened yet, and Sokov cannot mention it to anyone, otherwise his identity will arouse suspicion from others. You know, let alone Rokossovsky doesn't know about such an important matter, I'm afraid even Zhukov, who is commanding the battle in Berlin, doesn't know. The defensive deployment is well known, which is too unbelievable.

When the time came to the 29th, the troops of the Assault 3rd Army captured the Ministry of the Interior and the Royal Theater under the cover of powerful artillery fire. After capturing these two strong buildings, the 171st Infantry Division rushed directly to the Capitol, trying to take this significant building in the shortest possible time.

However, the Soviet commanders obviously underestimated the determination of the German army to stick to the Reichstag. The Germans used the howitzers on the roof to bombard the tanks that opened the way in front of them, and used machine guns to shoot the infantry behind the tanks. Unexpectedly, there were German soldiers deployed in other regions, and when they discovered that the Reichstag was under attack, they rushed over to support them in an organized manner before their superiors gave orders, and launched an attack on the Soviet army from the flank.

Faced with such heavy casualties of the troops, Kuznetsov couldn't help being furious. He hurriedly shouted to his chief of staff: "Chief of staff, pull up my Italian guns... no, take all our 152mm and 203 All the 2.5mm artillery pieces were pulled up, and I ruthlessly bombarded the German firepower points, and we must clear the way for our offensive troops."

As the order was issued, nearly a hundred large-caliber artillery were mobilized and fired according to the pre-calibrated shooting elements. Under the intensive artillery fire, the artillery positions deployed on the top of several buildings near the National Defense Building were wiped out as the buildings collapsed under the artillery fire, and the firepower to suppress the Soviet army suddenly became thinner.

Seeing that his shelling was effective, Kuznetsov, who was eager to take down the Capitol, gave an order to the commander of the 171st Infantry Division: "Comrade Colonel, the Capitol is right in front of you, take your people to rush up immediately, can you Receiving awards for meritorious service depends on your performance."

After receiving the order, the commander of the Soviet army did not dare to neglect, and quickly issued an order to several regiment leaders under him, asking them to charge to the Capitol again, and must take down this building before dark. In fact, even if the division commander doesn't give the order, the regimental leaders under him can't hold back anymore. You know, this is a good opportunity to make contributions. If the delay continues, other friendly troops also rush over to participate in the attack on the Capitol. , then this great credit, don't you have to share it with others?

As a result, the commanders and fighters who had been suppressed in the ruins by the German firepower stood up from their hiding places and rushed towards the Capitol with weapons in hand. They wanted to occupy this building of great significance to Germany in the shortest possible time.

But what the commanders and fighters didn't expect was that they were hit by artillery fire from the roof again in front of the square of the Capitol. What's more, some daring SS troops rushed out of the Capitol and launched an attack on the Soviet army. fight back. For a while, the two sides outside the Capitol fought fiercely. After half an hour of fighting, less than 50 of the 200 SS officers and soldiers who attacked returned to the Capitol, and the more than 2,000 Soviet commanders and fighters who attacked the Capitol, except for a few seriously wounded who fell on the ground and were dying , and all the rest died heroically.

"Comrade Marshal," seeing that his troops' attack was frustrated again, Kuznetsov realized that if the artillery on the roof of the Capitol was not destroyed, his troops would not be able to rush into the Capitol, so he could only call Zhukov. Ask him for help: "Our attack on the Capitol ended in failure again. The 171st Infantry Division, which was responsible for the main attack task, suffered more than two-thirds of casualties and was basically unable to launch a new attack."

When Zhukov learned that it was Kuznetsov who called him, he was secretly happy for a while, thinking that the other party was reporting the good news of the occupation of the Capitol to him, but such bad news came. He cleared his throat and said displeasedly: "General Kuznetsov, what is going on, why did your attack fail? If you think you are not capable of taking the Capitol, just speak up, Anyway, there are many people who want to command the troops to seize the Reichstag. At least Chuikov, who is not far from you, has always been thinking about taking the Reichstag in Berlin. If you want to give up, I can let Chuikov take over your combat area. "

Knowing that Zhukov was going to hand over the task of attacking the Capitol to Chuikov's troops, Kuznetsov couldn't hold back: "Comrade Marshal, we still have the ability to continue fighting, and we don't need friendly troops to replace us. But the Germans The artillery deployed on the Capitol was too much of a threat to our offensive forces, and because of the angle, their artillery could hit us, but our artillery could not hit them."

"Then I will send the air force to destroy the artillery position on the top of the Capitol to reduce the threat to you." Zhukov continued to ask: "Since the 171st Infantry Division has been disabled, which unit do you plan to let take over for them?" What about attacking?"

"I intend to replace the 171st Division with the 150th Infantry Division of Major General Shatilov."

But Zhukov did not immediately agree with Kuznetsov's plan: "General Kuznetsov, I think after the bombing of the Air Force is over, you can let the 171st Infantry Division try again. In any case, they are the first If the troops attacking the Capitol are withdrawn like this, I am worried that the commanders and fighters will be emotional."

"I see, Comrade Marshal." Kuznetsov knew very well that the 171st Infantry Division had suffered heavy losses, but the commander of the division would definitely not be willing to be replaced before the troops were exhausted, so he He readily accepted Zhukov's suggestion: "I will let the 171st Division attack the Capitol again to see if they can win the honor of capturing the Capitol and planting the red flag on the roof."

A four-machine bomber formation bombed the artillery positions on the roof of the Capitol. The aerial bombs dropped by the pilots accurately hit the artillery positions on the roof and destroyed the artillery. The shells that exploded blew up the roof, and even if the Soviet army stopped sending planes to bomb, it was obviously impossible for the Germans to set up artillery positions on the roof again.

Seeing that the German artillery position on the roof of the Capitol was destroyed, the commanders and fighters of the 171st Infantry Division, who were eager for revenge, shouted loudly and rushed towards the Capitol again with weapons in their hands. At the beginning, they were indeed not intercepted by artillery fire, but when they entered the square, the hidden firepower of the German army opened fire, and the fire net woven by the dense firepower became an insurmountable moat, causing the commanders and fighters to fall in pieces. On the square.

This attack ended in failure again, and the 171st Infantry Division, which was still strong and strong when it entered Berlin, now has only more than 600 people left in the division, of which no more than 200 combatants. Under such circumstances, it is obviously unrealistic for them to continue to attack the Capitol. Without asking Zhukov for instructions, Kuznetsov ordered Shadilov's 150th Infantry Division to take over the 171st Division's combat area and prepare to launch a new offensive again.

However, the sacrifice of the commanders and fighters of the 171st Division was not without any value. The firepower of the German army was basically exposed. Taking advantage of the time when the two troops were changing defenses, Kuznetsov ordered all the heavy artillery to shell the firepower point of the Capitol again. The 23rd Tank Brigade, which was temporarily transferred, also used direct-point shooting to bombard the German firepower points in order to clear the way for their own infantry to attack.

Under the joint attack of heavy artillery and tank guns, several huge holes were blown out of the solid wall of the Capitol, enough for the commanders and fighters who charged to enter the building from here. The chief of staff saw this scene through the binoculars, and immediately asked Kuznetsov for instructions: "Comrade Commander, our artillery blasted several huge holes in the wall of the Capitol, enough to allow our soldiers to enter the Capitol from here." Mansion, do you want to launch an attack now?"

"Don't worry, my Comrade Chief of Staff." Kuznetsov turned to look at his chief of staff and said, "Call General Shajilov and ask him to come to me, I have something important To tell him."

"Yes, Comrade Commander." The chief of staff quickly replied: "I will immediately notify General Shadilov to come to the headquarters, and you will assign him a new combat mission."