Chapter 1372: Battle in the city

  Chapter 1372 The battle in the city

  Sokov knew that the train station in the south of the city was the key to the battle tonight. Similarly, Huot, who is far away in Kharkov, also understands this truth. He learned from General Kissina, the commander of the 57th Armored Corps who stayed in the city, that the railway station in the south of the city had been lost, and he immediately became angry.

Hort yelled into the phone: "General Kisina, immediately order your troops to stop retreating and organize forces to take back the train station. If you lose the train station, your people will not be able to leave Belgorod by train. , do you think your soldiers can get rid of the pursuing Russians by marching on foot?"

"No." General Kissina replied very simply: "If my troops leave the city on foot, when they march into open areas, they will be bombed and shelled by the Russians. I am afraid that not many people will survive. Arrive in Kharkov."

Huot was very satisfied with General Kissina's answer: "General, it's good that you can understand this. Then the next thing your troops have to do is to immediately launch a counterattack against the South Railway Station. By the way, you still have Are there tanks available?"

   "Colonel Crissoli's 6th Armored Division still has more than 30 tanks. I can use these tanks to cover the infantry and recapture the train station."

   "Very good, General Kissina." Huot raised his voice and said, "Act now, there is not much time left for you."

   A few minutes later, Colonel Crissoli's 6th Armored Division, covering two battalions of infantry, attacked the railway station.

Koyda, who had just arrived at the train station, saw a black mass of enemies on the clock tower of the station, rushing towards the train station from the other side of the city along the street, quickly picked up the phone, and called the troops at the station Issue combat orders.

  The commanders and fighters who received the order from Keda waited for the enemy to be four or five hundred meters away from the station, and decisively fired new rockets to attack the enemy's offensive formation.

The rockets with long flame tails rose from the defensive positions in the station, and after drawing arcs in the air, they landed in the German army and exploded, forming a wide sea of ​​flames, fanning the German army attacking in a fan shape. Both tanks and infantry were wrapped.

  Although the rockets could not penetrate the armor of the German tanks, the fire mass produced by the explosion wrapped the tank body, and some tanks stopped and burned in the distance after not driving very far. The tank soldiers in the car got out in a panic, and fled towards the original starting position in a panic.

  The worst thing was the infantry behind the tanks, who were either cut down by the flying shrapnel, blown away by the blast, or blown up into burning men, scurrying around like headless chickens.

  The German offensive came to an abrupt end after a round of rocket attacks from the Soviet army. The undestroyed tanks hurriedly backed up and hurried out of this dangerous area. The soldiers who were not affected by the explosion saw that the tanks started to back up, so they continued to rush forward regardless of life and death, and hurriedly turned around and ran back.

  Seeing that the enemy had fled, Koida gave the troops another order to launch a counterattack immediately.

  As the order was issued, the Soviet tanks concealed in the station rumbled out of their hiding places, chased after the Germans, fired artillery and machine guns, and beat the enemy to pieces.

  Although the tanks of this era fire on the move, the probability of hitting the target is relatively low. But it also depends on the occasion. If it is a tank battle in the wild, it is basically impossible to hit the fast-moving opponent's tank while marching. But now it is bombarding the fleeing enemies on the street. Even if you fire on the move, you can blindly encounter dead mice, which will explode in the German infantry formation, and a large area will be blown up.

   Fortunately, Koida knows that this is only the enemy's first attack, and a new attack will be launched again in the future. Therefore, the attacking troops chased after it for a while, and then withdrew to the station to fortify and defend, preparing for the next round of German attack.

  The railway station fought well here, but the 254th Infantry Division attacking the State Museum did not go well. The division commander, Colonel Shechtman, reported to Sokov by phone: "Comrade Commander, the enemy has built a strong fortification relying on the museum. The two attacks we launched were repelled by them."

  The later generations of Sokov have stayed in Russia for more than ten years, so they naturally know that the museums in this country are all stone buildings, and their strength is no worse than that of the Reichstag in Berlin. Therefore, after learning that the attack of the 254th Division was frustrated, it did not force the opponent to continue to attack at all costs, but said to Shechtman: "Comrade Colonel, order your troops to temporarily stop attacking and take a short rest in place, wait After our artillery arrives, we will launch a new attack on the State Museum."

   "Comrade Commander, what do you want the artillery to do?"

   "What does the artillery do? It's bombarding the state museum, of course!"

Sokov's words startled Shechtman, and he hurriedly said: "Comrade Commander, there are important cultural relics stored in the State Museum, can you stop using bombardment, I can order the troops to try to attack again, and put all the cultural relics inside The enemies are driven out."

"Comrade Colonel," Sokov waited for Shechtman to finish speaking, and said sternly: "For me, no precious cultural relic is as precious as the lives of our commanders and fighters. The State Museum was bombarded and collapsed. When the war is over, we can rebuild. As for the cultural relics destroyed in the war, it is the necessary price we pay for defending our great motherland. Also, I managed to replenish your division not long ago. If you lost all of them in the battle at the State Museum, then your division may not be able to participate in the next stage of the battle."

Hearing what Sokov said, Colonel Shechtman no longer insisted on his opinion, but could only bite the bullet and replied: "Understood, Comrade Commander, I obey your order. All the enemies in the state museum were killed."

   Half an hour later, the heavy artillery regiment of the First Artillery Division arrived near the State Museum. The head of the team found Shechtman and reported to him: "Comrade Colonel, the heavy artillery regiment of the 1st Artillery Division has been ordered to come. I obey your order, please instruct!"

   Shechtman pointed at the State Museum a few hundred meters away with his hand, gritted his molars and said, "Comrade Artillery Lieutenant Colonel, your task is to aim at the State Museum ahead and destroy the enemies hiding inside."

When he saw that the target he wanted to bombard was actually the tall and magnificent state museum, the head of the heavy artillery regiment couldn't help but twitched the muscles on his face violently, and then said with some hesitation: "Comrade Colonel, that's our Brother Berger over there." The State Museum in Rhodes, if our guns destroy the building, and if after the war someone asks who blew up the State Museum, how shall I answer?"

"Comrade Artillery Lieutenant Colonel, do you think I have the heart to destroy this building?" Seeing that the head of the Heavy Artillery Regiment pushed back and forth, Shechtman couldn't help saying angrily, "I am also under the order of my superiors. As for who will bear the responsibility for the state You don’t need to worry about the responsibility for the collapse of the museum.”

  The head of the Heavy Artillery Regiment saw that Shechtman was angry, and dared not continue to argue with him, but asked tentatively: "Comrade Colonel, where is the soldier closest to the State Museum?"

   "It's on the square outside the gate of the State Museum," Shechtman said. "It's no more than 50 meters away from the gate. Unfortunately, the enemy's firepower is too strong. They rushed several times without success."

"Comrade Colonel, you'd better let your people withdraw first." The head of the heavy artillery regiment said to Shechtman: "Our regiment is equipped with heavy artillery, and we are shooting directly at such a short distance. accidental injury."

   "Okay, I will immediately order someone to notify them to retreat." Shechtman said: "Go and set up artillery positions first."

  After a quarter of an hour, as the commanders and fighters concealed in the square withdrew one after another, twelve 152mm howitzers aimed at the State Museum opened fire at the same time.

  At such a short distance, with 152 mm heavy artillery bombardment, even the strongest buildings cannot support it. After the five-minute shelling ended, the state museum building in the distance was riddled with holes and crumbling, as if whoever blew on it would cause the building to collapse.

Seeing that the solid building had been blown into ruins, the commanders and fighters of the 254th Division immediately jumped out of their hiding places, shouted "Ula" with their weapons in hand, rushed into the building that was still billowing black smoke, and wiped out those Fortunately, he was not killed by the bombing, and he was still trying to resist the stubborn enemy.

  Seeing that the state museum, which he had been unable to win for a long time, had completely destroyed the enemy's resistance with just one round of shelling, Shechtman couldn't help secretly praising Sokov's decision in his heart. Seeing his troops pouring into the ruins of the state museum, he knew it was only a matter of time before he could take it.

He ordered someone to find the head of the Heavy Artillery Regiment, and after complimenting him, he asked with a smile: "Comrade Artillery Lieutenant Colonel, the State Museum is only one of our targets, and we will attack a nearby school next. Hope to get your help, I wonder if it will work?"

   "Comrade Colonel," the head of the Heavy Artillery Regiment said politely, "Our regiment is attached to your division to fight. If you need anything, just ask, I will never say anything."

   "Well, our next attack target is a state school 700 meters away to the southeast. I hope you can cooperate with us in attacking there."

  Since buildings like the Lianzhou Museum are said to be destroyed, what’s the big deal about a state school. The head of the Heavy Artillery Regiment waited for Shechtman to finish speaking, nodded his head and said, "Comrade Colonel, please rest assured, I promise to destroy the state school and eliminate the enemies entrenched inside in the shortest possible time."

Seeing that the seizure of the State Museum was a foregone conclusion, Shechtman called Sokov to report: "Comrade Commander, with the cooperation of artillery, my troops have rushed into the State Museum and started fighting with the remaining enemies inside. .I believe it won't take long before they can completely wipe out the enemies inside."

   "Good job." Sokov asked indifferently, and then asked: "How is the State Museum? Has it been completely blown into ruins?"

"The outer wall of the building was destroyed by artillery fire, but several Roman columns are still largely intact, so that the building will not completely collapse." Shechtman reported to Sukov by phone: "After the battle is over, there is no need to Restoring the foundation, just patching it up."

   While Sokov was on the phone with Shechtman, Lunev, who had just walked in from the outside, accidentally heard Sokov's words, and couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. He rushed to Sokov with a stride, and asked in surprise: "Comrade Commander, what did you just say, you ordered the artillery to bombard the State Museum?"

   "Yes, I did give Colonel Shechtman an order to let the artillery bombard the State Museum at close range, so that the stubborn enemies inside can be wiped out as soon as possible."

   Hearing Sokov say this, Lunev remembers stomping his feet: "My God, Comrade Commander, bombarding the State Museum, you have caused a big disaster, you know?"

   "Why?" Sokov asked puzzled.

"The relics of the Battle of Poltava are displayed in the State Museum." Probably because he was worried that Sokov would not understand the battle, Lunev also specially told Sokov: "It commemorates the Northern War hundreds of years ago. The decisive battle in which Tsar Peter I of Russia defeated Charles XII of Sweden."

  Sokov knew that there must be precious cultural relics in the state museum, but he did not expect that they were related to Tsar Peter I. If he suffered serious losses during the battle, he might be punished after the battle. But after thinking about it, as long as it can reduce the casualties of the troops during the attack, what is the point of being punished?

Thinking of this, he smiled and said to Lunev: "Comrade Military Commissar, I know that there are precious cultural relics in the state museum, but the Germans used the building to resist. Colonel Shechtman's 254th Division launched two consecutive attacks. The offensives all ended in failure. In order to reduce the casualties of the troops, I gave him the order to bombard the state museum. If the superiors want to blame in the future, I will bear all the responsibilities."

Seeing that Sokov was willing to take the responsibility of destroying the State Museum, Lunev felt a little embarrassed: "Comrade Commander, I can't say anything. You issued this order to destroy the enemy as soon as possible. I believe the superiors will consider it." Up to this point. If you really want to be held accountable, as your military committee member, I will naturally share the responsibility with you."

"And me." Sameko, who had just answered the phone, heard the conversation between the two, and also took the initiative to say: "As the chief of staff of the group army, I naturally have to advance and retreat with the commander and the military commissar. If the superior wants Hold accountable, and I am willing to accept any punishment with you."

However, Lunev considered the issue more comprehensively than the two. He took the initiative to propose to Sokov: "Comrade commander, you and the chief of staff continue to command the battle. I will report this matter to Comrade Beria in advance. If the superior To be held accountable, he can also say a few good words for us."

   As for Lunev's proposal, Sokov did not object. He nodded and said, "Yes, Comrade Military Commissioner, you can report all the battles that took place here and the results achieved to Comrade Beria."

  (end of this chapter)