Red Moscow

Lieutenant Colonel Brandt never dreamed that he ordered the Second Battalion to attack the barricade factory that the Russians were defending under the cover of assault guns. Unexpectedly, they were attacked by artillery fire without even seeing the enemy's shadow. Not to mention the heavy losses of the troops, even the battalion commander was killed, and even the corpse was not recovered.

"Hell, what's going on?" Brandt shouted at a group of officers standing in front of him: "Can any of you tell me what's going on? After only a few hours, the soldiers in the barricade factory The Russians have cannons, and they beat you to the ground and fled.” The officers who had just returned from the defeat saw that their regiment commander was angry, and no one dared to say a word, lest they arouse the wrath of the other party.

Brandt yelled for a while, and seeing that the officers under him were silent, he became more and more angry. Just as he was about to draw out his pistol and shoot one or two officers who did not like him to make an example of others, the chief of staff of the regiment walked up to him. He whispered to him: "Mr. Colonel, your phone number."

"What call?!" Brandt, who was getting angry, waved his hand and said sharply, "I won't answer it!"

Seeing that Brandt didn't want to answer the phone, the chief of staff of the regiment hurriedly said in a low voice, "It's the call from Your Excellency, Commander."

Although the voice of the chief of staff of the regiment was not loud, all the officers present could clearly hear the call from the division commander, knowing that they must have come to question the division for the failure of the attack, and all cast sympathetic glances at Brandt.

Brandt walked to the table, raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead, then carefully picked up the microphone on the table, nodded and bowed and said, "Hi, Sir, I'm Brandt, what instructions do you have? "

"I heard that your attack on the barricade factory failed!" Steinmetz asked coldly on the phone: "Is it true?"

"It's true, Your Excellency!" Although Brandt knew that Steinmetz called him for the purpose of accusing him of crimes, but when he really heard the question from the other party, he still felt guilty for a while. : "Our troops attacking the factory were hit by heavy artillery fire from the Russians, and the attack ended in failure."

"Before you attack, didn't I ask you to find out the number of the Russian troops in the factory?" Before the 577th regiment attacked the barricade factory, Steinmetz once ordered Brandt to find out the number of the reinforcement factory within half an hour. The number of the Russian troops, but Brandt turned a deaf ear to this matter, did not complete the reconnaissance at all, and launched an attack hastily, resulting in losses and retreats. This matter made Steinmetz very annoyed: "You did not obey my order, He ordered the troops to attack the barricade factory without authorization, causing serious casualties to the troops..."

Don't see that Brandt did not report the news of the failure of the attack, but Steinmetz got the news of the failure of the attack on the barricade factory from the assault artillery battalion that cooperated in the operation. He was already annoyed enough about Brandt disobeying orders and acting without authorization. Now that Brandt did not report the news of the failure of the attack in time, he was even more furious: "I will revoke your post as regimental commander and send you to a court-martial..."

"Your Excellency, Commander," Steinmetz's words scared Brandt out of his wits. He knew that if he was sent to a court-martial at this moment, he might be sentenced to death. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and argued, "Please Give me one more chance, and I'll take down the barricades before dark."

Just when Steinmetz wanted to officially announce Brandt's dismissal, the division chief of staff came over and whispered in his ear, "Your Excellency, division commander, the commander is calling for you."

Hearing that the army commander Kurzbach was looking for him, Steinmetz guessed that the other party might also know the news of the failure of the attack on the barricade factory, and might ask how to deal with Brandt. However, before knowing Kurzbach's true intentions, Steinmetz decided to let Brandt go a yard for the time being, and settle accounts with him later in the fall.

Steinmetz terminated the conversation with Brandt and took the call from the chief of staff. He said respectfully into the microphone: "Hello, General Kurzbach, what instructions do you have?"

"General Steinmetz," Kurzbach asked coldly on the phone, "I heard that your attack on the barricade factory ended in failure?"

"Yes, Your Excellency General." Steinmetz replied with some embarrassment: "Our troops attacking the barricade factory were hit by heavy Russian artillery fire, which resulted in the failure of the attack."

"Before you attacked, did you find out the number of the defenders in the factory area?" Kurzbach asked calmly.

"The original units of the Russians in the barricade factory were the 39th Guards Division, the 308th, 95th, and 193rd Infantry Divisions." Steinmetz had carefully understood the Soviet garrison in the barricade factory, because facing the Kurzbach's question, he can answer without hesitation: "Now these troops have been defeated by us, and now Lyudnikov's 138th Infantry Division is sticking to the factory, but their casualties are not small... "

"Yes, General Steinmetz, your information is very accurate." Kurzbach nodded and said, "Since the strength of the Russians has become weak, why did your attack fail? Also, Where did the Russians get so many guns?"

Facing Kurzbach's series of questions, Steinmetz organized his vocabulary in his mind, and said carefully: "Your Excellency, before our attack, a new Russian army was stationed in the barricade factory. I think the artillery They might have brought it."

"A new Russian unit has been stationed?" This unexpected news made Kurzbach feel very sudden. He tentatively asked: "Have you figured out the number of this unit and the weapons and equipment they carry?"

"Unfortunately, Your Excellency General." Steinmetz replied with a wry smile: "Before the 577th Regiment launched its attack, I ordered the head of the 577th Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Brandt, to find out the numbers of the Russian troops. The implementation was not resolute, and the offensive was launched without knowing the Russians, which led to this defeat."

Kurzbach pondered for a moment, then said into the microphone: "General Steinmetz, although we don't know the number of the Russian reinforcements and their weapons and equipment, I feel uneasy. a feeling of."

Ever since Steinmetz heard that reinforcements were coming from the barricade factory, his heart felt like fifteen buckets were up and down. Now he heard that Kurzbach felt the same way, and he immediately felt like he had found a bosom friend: " Your Excellency, to tell you the truth, after I learned that reinforcements were stationed in the barricade factory, I was also very disturbed, thinking that they would be the biggest obstacle for us to seize the barricade factory."

"Oh, you also feel uneasy in your heart?" Kurzbach asked with some surprise: "Then which army do you think will reinforce the barricade factory?"

"After this period of fighting, the Russian troops in the city have basically been defeated by us." Steinmetz saw that Kurzbach heard what he said, not only did not get angry, but politely asked him for advice. , He took the initiative to express the guess in his heart: "I thought over and over again, and felt that it was possible to reinforce the troops of the Barricade Factory at this time. Except for coming from Mamayev Post, there is no other possibility."

Seeing that Steinmetz's conjecture coincided with his own, Kurzbach nodded secretly and said: "You are right, General Steinmetz, I am also worried about the reinforcements of the barricade factory troops, yes From Mamayev Post. You know, my troops have been beating up the Russians who fought with us since Kharkov. But after entering the city, we fought against the defenders of Mamayev Post. So many times, they have never taken advantage of it. If they really sent people to reinforce the barricade factory, then your next battle will be difficult."

Steinmetz was secretly relieved when he heard that Kurzbach did not force himself to continue the attack. He felt that the troops should be suspended from attacking, and it would not be too late to redo the attack plan after finding out the number of the opponent's troops. . He asked with this mentality: "Your Excellency, what should we do next?"

"You temporarily stop all actions against the barricade factory." Kurzbach felt guilty when he thought that the troops stationed in the barricade factory might be Sokov's subordinates. He said cautiously: "Send people to sneak into the factory overnight." If we go into the area for reconnaissance, we must know the serial number of this Russian army so that we can take corresponding measures to seize the factory from the Russians."

After Kurzbach finished speaking, Steinmetz thought of the Soviet artillery fire in the barricade factory, and asked tentatively: "Your Excellency, judging from today's battle, the Russian artillery fire in the barricade factory is very fierce. In just a few minutes, our attack was completely defeated. You see, in tomorrow's attack, can the air force be dispatched to destroy the Russian artillery positions."

"If the weather conditions permit, I can ask Your Excellency Commander to dispatch the air force to support you." Kurzbach said: "But before that, you have to find out the number of the Russian army in the barricade factory and the specific location of their artillery positions." .”

"Don't worry, Your Excellency General." Steinmetz felt that he would definitely be able to figure out what Kurzbach wanted to know in a day and night, so he patted his chest and assured him: "Before tomorrow dawn, I will definitely Will put accurate information on your desk."

"If this is the case, then it would be best." Regarding Steinmetz's rhetoric, Kurzbach chose to believe: "I am waiting for your information, and I hope you will not disappoint me."

After Steinmetz put down the phone, he immediately called the chief of staff to him and told him, "Chief of staff, call Lieutenant Colonel Brandt and ask his regiment to go on the defensive immediately. When it gets dark, Immediately send scouts to the factory to find out the number of the Russian troops in the factory and the distribution of the Russian artillery positions before dawn."

"Yes, Your Excellency, Division Commander." The division chief of staff hastily repeated Steinmetz's order: "I will immediately call Commander Brandt and ask him to go on the defensive immediately and send out reconnaissance after dark. Soldiers, find out the numbers of the Russian troops and the distribution of the Russian artillery positions."

"Chief of staff, I haven't finished my sentence yet." When the division chief of staff picked up the phone on the table and was about to call Brandt, Steinmetz added: "If the troops stationed at the barricade factory, It is really from Mamayev, so it is not enough to rely on Brandt's 577th regiment to attack the barricade factory. Therefore, we must also transfer the 576th and 578th regiments overnight and deploy them On the left and right flanks of the 577th regiment."

Steinmetz said triumphantly: "As long as the other two regiments are in place, even if the support army comes from Mamayev, there is nothing to fear. They only have more than a thousand people, and our three regiments have enough strength." Six thousand people, basically five beat him one, can't they still beat him?"

"Your Excellency, Division Commander, we must not underestimate the enemy." Seeing that Steinmetz was getting carried away, the division chief of staff quickly reminded him: "You know, Colonel Sokov, who commands this unit, is very good at fighting more with less. I have suffered such losses in the past, I think it is better to be more cautious."

"Okay, okay, chief of staff, stop talking nonsense." Steinmetz waved his hand at the chief of staff, and said displeasedly: "Hurry up and call the regimental commanders and pass on my order. .”

Seeing that Steinmetz could not listen to different opinions, the chief of staff of the division couldn't persuade him any more, so he could only agree, picked up the phone and called several regiment leaders, and conveyed the orders issued by Steinmetz to them. .

When Brandt received the call from the chief of staff of the division, he was in a state of anxiety. He was afraid of hearing the news that he would be sent to a court-martial. After he heard the division commander's order, he would temporarily switch to defense and send out scouts at night to find out what happened inside the factory. He breathed a sigh of relief as to the designation of the defenders and the location of the artillery position that caused them huge casualties, and repeatedly assured the division chief of staff: "Don't worry, Your Excellency Chief of Staff, I will definitely take the Russians out before dawn." Find out the situation and report it to the division headquarters."

Seeing Brandt put down the phone, the regiment chief of staff quickly asked, "Mr. Colonel, the commander of the Second Battalion was killed in battle. Who do you plan to command the Second Battalion?"

Hearing the reminder from the chief of staff of the regiment, Brandt glanced back and forth among the silent officers in front of him, and finally settled on a tall and thin officer. He pointed at the other party with his hand and announced loudly: "Since the commander of the second battalion was killed in battle, from now on, the captain of the seventh company, Captain Winkler, will act as battalion commander."

Captain Winkler in the crowd never dreamed that the regiment commander would appoint himself as the acting battalion commander. He quickly walked out of the crowd, straightened his body and said to Brandt: "Mr. Colonel, I want to go back and regroup the troops immediately. Attack the barricade factory again and try to take the factory before dark."

"No hurry, no hurry, Captain Winkler." Brandt waved his hand at Winkler and said, "We don't know the distribution of Russian troops and artillery positions in the factory, and another rash attack will only cause disastrous results. Necessary casualties. I order you now, the troops will immediately turn to defense, and after dark, send reconnaissance personnel to carry out reconnaissance in the factory area, and it is necessary to find out the strength of the Russians and the distribution of artillery positions. Understand?"

"Understood, Mr. Colonel," Winkler replied hastily and loudly.

Brandt was very satisfied with Winkler's answer. He nodded slightly, and then said to the officers present: "Since the mission has been clarified, you all go back to the army." When the officers heard Brandt's words, As if received an amnesty, he quickly and loudly agreed, and then left the headquarters one after another.