Red Moscow

Korovin was dubious about Sokov's statement. He asked cautiously: "Captain Sokov, you said that we can get support from the rear during the battle. Is this true?"

Sokov had dealt with Katukov in his previous life and knew his character well enough to know that he would not stand idly by while his men were in danger. The reason why the motorized infantry battalion was withdrawn to the vicinity of the First Military Village was not to leave the mixed battalion of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to serve as cannon fodder, but because the terrain there was not conducive to defense. Field fortifications hastily excavated in the plains would not be able to survive if attacked. When hit by fierce German artillery fire, the commanders and fighters hiding inside would have to pay huge sacrifices. It would be better to retreat to a new area unknown to the enemy and organize a new defense.

"Comrade Captain, what I said is true." Sokov was worried that Korowin would be hesitant in the next battle, so he specifically explained to him: "As far as I know, Colonel Katukov was not involved in the battle between you and me." There are tanks ambushed between the second echelon. If your position is in danger of being breached by the enemy, the tanks ambushed there will rush over to support you. "

The expression on Korowin's face became relaxed. Since there were tanks ambushing behind him, it seemed that it would not be easy for the German infantry to break through his defense line even under the cover of tanks.

Sokov saw the change in Korowin's face and said while the iron was hot: "Comrade Captain, there is already a tank platoon on your position. I believe that with their help, even if the most dangerous situation occurs, it will be enough to survive." Reinforcements are arriving."

With confidence, Korovin returned to the battalion command post with Sokov.

The first thing I did after entering the door was to immediately tell the deputy battalion commander: "Comrade deputy battalion commander, notify the company commanders of each company to come over for a meeting."

A few minutes later, the captains and deputy commanders of each company came to the battalion command post, waiting for Korowin to give them combat orders.

"Comrades, company commanders," Korowin said when he saw everyone had arrived: "You may have seen that the enemy is bombarding the original position of the motorized infantry battalion with intensive artillery fire, trying to use artillery fire to destroy our Friendly troops were wiped out on the battlefield."

When the commander of the third company heard this, he couldn't help but ask: "Comrade battalion commander, I seem to have heard you talking about the original position of the motorized infantry battalion? Could it be that they have withdrawn from the position?"

"Yes, they quietly withdrew from their position before dawn."

As soon as Korowin said this, the commander in the room suddenly changed his expression, and it was the third company commander who said: "Comrade Battalion Commander, if the friendly forces withdraw like this, won't we expose our flanks to the enemy? If we and the When the enemy fights, it is easy to be surrounded by enemies on the flanks. "

Seeing everyone's worried expressions, Sokov quickly came out to smooth things over: "Comrade commanders, please listen to me. The brigade headquarters ordered your infantry battalion on the left to withdraw from the position, not to let you stay here to attract the enemy. cannon fodder but the infantry battalion in yesterday's battle. , has exposed the position of its position. Think about it, the field fortifications built hastily on the plains cannot withstand the bombardment of the enemy's heavy artillery. If the commanders and fighters of the infantry battalion stay there, I am afraid that the enemy's round of artillery fire preparations will be over. , there aren’t many people alive on the battlefield.”

After hearing Sokov's explanation, the company commanders began to discuss in low voices: "Yes, the fortifications on the position are very crude. Even if the Germans only use 105mm artillery for bombardment, the trenches can be completely destroyed. Listen. The sound of artillery outside, let alone 105mm, is probably from 150mm heavy artillery. "

"So, the brigade headquarters ordered the infantry battalion to move for the purpose of protecting them."

"But in any case, the retreat of the infantry battalion has exposed our left wing to the Germans. If they roundabout from the flank, we will be in danger of being encircled."

Seeing everyone talking, Korowin quickly raised his hand and clapped his hands twice. After the room was quiet, he continued: "When everyone goes back, let the soldiers prepare for battle. Once the German army launches an attack on our position, we will Block them firmly."

"Comrade Battalion Commander," the first company commander asked: "If the Germans do not discover our hidden position, but pass by our flank, what should we do? Should we actively fire at them, or should we remain silent?"

"Needless to say." Sokov said first again: "Since our mission is to prevent the Germans from advancing, there is no reason not to fire when we see them passing by us. We should fire decisively to give them A lesson that will last a lifetime.”

Sokov's identity was known to all the commanders present. Therefore, no one was surprised when they heard his speech, and some even asked: "Comrade Captain, what if the Germans turn around and attack us?"

"Then we will naturally compete with them face to face and find a way to eliminate as much of their vitality as possible."

"But our troops and equipment cannot compare with the Germans," the third company commander said with concern, "and we are still fighting alone. Once we are surrounded by the Germans, it will only be a matter of time before we are annihilated."

"Comrade commander, don't worry, we are not fighting alone." Sokov knew that the words of the third company commander represented everyone's thoughts, so he took the initiative and said: "You know, there are many friendly troops behind us. They are I won't watch us being wiped out by the enemy. Not to mention, there is an ambush of a tank unit a few kilometers away. Colonel Katukov once told me that once there is danger in your battalion's defense line, he will. Order the tank unit to come over to support you and help you hold your position."

Although the following words were made up by Sokov, the commanders had relaxed expressions on their faces after hearing it.

Seeing that his goal had been achieved, Korovin said to the commanders present: "Comrades, company commanders, the mission has been clarified. Everyone should return to their respective units immediately to prepare the soldiers for battle. Yesterday the infantry battalion Our comrades taught the Germans a lesson, and today it is finally our turn to make a contribution.”

After all the company commanders left, Korowin said to Sokov: "Let's go, Captain Sokov, let's go out and see how the situation is outside."

"Comrade Battalion Commander," seeing Korovin and Sokov preparing to leave again, the deputy battalion commander said, "How about I ask the soldiers to build you an observation post with a wide field of view so that you can observe in several directions at the same time? The battlefield situation.”

The deputy battalion commander’s proposal was very tempting, but after a short period of thinking, Korowin rejected his kindness: “Comrade deputy battalion commander, your proposal is good, but unfortunately now is not the right time. I can confirm that, As soon as we move the ground here, we will be discovered by the enemy, and then the overwhelming artillery fire will come towards us. Let the communication soldiers connect a telephone line to us so that I can conduct command from the observation point. "

After the two men returned to the observation position, the enemy's shelling of the infantry battalion position had stopped. Before the smoke cleared, a German armored cluster appeared in the distance, followed by a line of skirmishers like black dots.

After Korowin roughly counted the tanks, he couldn't help but gasp. He turned to look at Sokov, trying to find a look of panic on his face. But what was surprising was that Sokov, who was holding a telescope, had such an expression that he didn't seem to notice the huge German armored cluster. In eyes.

"Captain Sokov," Korovin asked tentatively: "Have you seen the German tanks clearly?"

"The Germans are really willing to spend a lot of money." Sokov looked at the densely packed tanks and said with a sneer: "In order to seize a small position of our army, more than 80 tanks were dispatched at one time. In addition to the tanks, there were more than 80 tanks behind them. The infantry that follows is at least one regiment strong."

Korowin couldn't help but be startled after hearing this. He had just roughly counted that the number of German tanks was no less than seventy. As for the number of infantry following behind, he really hadn't calculated it yet. The reason is very simple. In addition to the German infantry attacking behind the tanks, many of them dispersed in skirmish formations, and many were riding in armored vehicles or trucks. After all, Korowin only went to the battlefield a limited number of times, and it was difficult to base on the various types of tanks used by the Germans. means of transportation to determine the approximate strength of the enemy.

Hearing what Sokov said at this moment, he couldn't help but be a little surprised: "What, there is a regiment of troops dispatched? Captain Sokov, is the number you said accurate?"

"It's definitely not possible to be absolutely accurate, but a rough number can still be calculated."

After weighing the data Sokov told, Korowin still chose to believe it. Then he squatted in the trench, picked up the phone, and said into the receiver: "I am Captain Korovin, pick me up from the brigade headquarters."

The call went through, and the person who answered the phone was the Chief of Staff: "Captain Korovin, do you have anything to report?"

"The enemy dispatched about 80 tanks and a regiment of infantry to attack the original position of the motorized infantry battalion."

There was only one anti-tank artillery company on the infantry battalion's position. After such a fierce bombardment by the Germans, it was still unknown whether it survived. The chief of staff originally wanted to learn about the situation through the mixed battalion of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Now that Korovin took the initiative to call, the chief of staff asked urgently: "Has the enemy captured the original position of the infantry battalion?"

"Not yet." Korowin shook his head and said: "They are advancing towards the original position of the infantry battalion. The nearest one is probably more than 500 meters away."

"So what about the position? Can you see anyone alive?"

"What, there are still our people on the position?" Korowin asked in surprise: "Didn't you say that the infantry battalions have withdrawn from the position?"

"Yes, the infantry battalion did withdraw from its position." The chief of staff said with some helplessness: "But due to the hasty withdrawal time, an anti-tank artillery company was left behind. I don't know whether they survived the shelling just now. ”

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Korowin thought about the devastating shelling just now in his mind, then slowly shook his head and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I think it is basically impossible for the soldiers of the artillery company to survive. Just now. The shelling can be said to have plowed all the land on the position. No one can survive in such a situation..."

But before Korowin could finish speaking, Sokov suddenly saw several mud pillars rising into the sky among the German tanks that were rapidly heading towards the Soviet position. According to his experience, this should be anti-tank artillery firing at enemy tanks.

Although the shells all landed in the open space, they forced the German tanks to adopt a serpentine position to avoid anti-tank fire from the Soviet positions.

"Comrade Captain," Sokov quickly put down his telescope and said to Korowin: "I saw anti-tank guns firing on the original position of the infantry battalion. It should be the anti-tank artillery company mentioned by the chief of staff."

Korowin quickly leaned out half of his body and looked towards the position in the distance, but due to the obstruction of the smoke, he could not see whether there were any moving figures on the position. However, among the tanks rushing towards the position, there were pillars of mud rising into the sky.

Just when he was lamenting that the artillery fire did not cause substantial damage to the enemy tanks, a dazzling fire suddenly appeared on the body of a moving tank, and then the tank was wrapped in flames and persisted towards the enemy's tanks. After driving forward for some distance, it stopped and started burning. Two tank soldiers, covered in fire, emerged from the top and bottom of the tank and ran staggeringly in the direction they came from.

"Well done, our anti-tank artillery took out one of the German tanks."

But after Korovin finished shouting these words, he felt that Sokov beside him had not spoken. When he turned around, he saw that the other party was folding his hands on his chest and staring at the group of tanks advancing rapidly in the distance, as if he was thinking. What.

Seeing this, Korovin quickly asked: "Captain Sokov, what are you thinking about?"

Sokov glanced sideways at Korovin, pointed at the microphone in his hand, and said: "The chief of staff is still waiting for your reply."

After Sokov's reminder, Korovin immediately remembered that he was talking to the Chief of Staff, quickly put the microphone close to his ear, and said loudly: "Report to Comrade Chief of Staff, there should be many people in the anti-tank artillery on the position alive. Down, based on how frequently they fired at the German tanks, there were at least four or five anti-tank guns still fighting."

After listening to Korowin's report, the chief of staff breathed a sigh of relief and gave him an order: "Captain Korowin, your mixed battalion is the closest to them. I now order you to take necessary measures." , to support the anti-tank artillery battery."

"Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff." Although this order given to the Chief of Staff made Korowin feel embarrassed, he could only try his best to complete the task: "We will do our best."

"It's not about trying your best, but about going all out." The chief of staff said in a stern tone: "I don't ask you to rescue them all, but at least rescue some of them. Do you understand?"

"Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff, we will definitely go all out to rescue the anti-tank artillery company that is in danger."

After hanging up the phone, Korowin looked at Sokov and said with a wry smile: "Captain Sokov, the Germans are so powerful, do you think it is appropriate for us to go out to rescue the anti-tank artillery company on the position over there at this moment? "

Sokov shook his head and replied without hesitation: "Comrade Captain, please forgive me, if we go out to rescue at this moment, we are going to die in vain. The friendly forces will not be rescued by then, and we will get in for nothing."

Korowin didn't understand that what Sokov said made sense, but since the chief of staff gave him an order, even if there was a mountain of swords and a sea of ​​fire ahead, he had no choice but to bite the bullet.