Chapter 1761: Impassable Heights (Part 1)

  Chapter 1761 Impassable Heights (Part 1)

  Although Sokov has never read "The Art of War", he has a very thorough understanding of the idiom "put to death and regenerate later". When fighting, only when the army is deployed in a situation where there is no way to retreat and only a deadly battle can the soldiers advance bravely and kill the enemy to win.

In the Battle of Jingxing, the reason why Han Xin was able to use 30,000 people to defeat Zhao Guo's 200,000 people was that he ordered the troops to line up against the water, with the enemy in front and the river behind, and there was no retreat at all, so the morale of the soldiers was completely destroyed. Inspired to win the battle. If the backside was not a river, but an open field, it is estimated that many soldiers would have turned around and fled when they saw that the situation was not good for them. Not to mention winning more with less, it is a question of whether you can get out of the body.

   But Zakharov didn't know about this ancient oriental battle example. After putting down the phone, he repeated Sokov's words to Konev, and finally said: "Comrade commander, what do you think about this matter?"

   After listening, Konev did not immediately express his opinion, but asked instead: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what do you think, do you think Sokov's proposal is feasible?"

"Comrade Commander, I think so." Seeing that Konev did not express his opinion, Zakharov couldn't guess whether the other party agreed or opposed, but as the chief of staff of the front army, he still expressed his true thoughts: " I think it's a little too risky, and maybe we'll increase the chances of the Germans getting out of the way by clearing the road."

"I don't think so." Konev waited for Zakharov to finish speaking, and began to express his opinion: "As Sokov said, once the Germans find that their escape channel has been opened, they will lose their resistance. If our army launches an attack from their flanks at this moment, or a follow-up attack, and they are eager to escape, they will definitely not be able to organize an organized resistance. At that time, we may really casualties and achieve the greatest victory."

   Seeing that Konev actually agreed to Sokov's proposal, Zakharov was somewhat surprised. After a short pause, he tentatively asked: "Comrade commander, I will inform our troops now to stop the attack on Komarovka, and to make way for the German troops who broke out, and then use flanking or tailgating tactics." Tactics, attacking the enemy."

  Unexpectedly, Konev waved his hand and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, don't worry, let me think about it again."

  Konev’s words made Zakharov confused. He couldn’t figure out why Konev agreed with Sokov’s proposal but didn’t want to adopt it?

"Comrade Chief of Staff," Konev saw Zakharov's doubts, and explained to him: "If we get out of the way, the German army will definitely speed up their advance to Height 239. By then, Sokov and the others will The pressure was great. Once the high ground was lost, the Germans could quickly rush to the Gniloydikic River to join the troops that came to meet them."

   When Zakharov heard it, it turned out that this was the case. If all the troops were really ordered to give way to the Germans, they would be able to reach the vicinity of Height 239 in a short time. Once Sokov's troops were unable to stop the German attack, the German troops that broke through the line of defense could quickly rush to the Gniloydikic River and join forces with the troops who came to meet them. By that time, the plan to encircle and annihilate the German army will be completely defeated.

"Then what should we do?" Zakharov didn't know what to do for a while, so he could only ask Konev for instructions: "Should we adopt General Sokov's proposal and make way for the German army? Or follow the original plan?" plans to launch a counterattack against Komarovka and take the hills and villages back from the Germans."

"I think we can make way for the Germans, but we can't make it too obvious." Konev taught Zakharov face-to-face tips: "Order the 5th Guards Airborne Division to follow the original plan to move to the occupied area." The feint attack by the enemy on the Komarovka plateau and nearby villages has to be loud enough to put pressure on the Germans."

"Comrade Commander, the airborne troops are usually not equipped with any heavy weapons due to the type of arms. I am afraid it will be difficult to create momentum during a feint attack." Zakharov asked cautiously: "Look, do you want to order the artillery?" Give them artillery support."

"Yes." Konev readily agreed, and at the same time told Zakharov: "You tell General Fumin that while providing artillery support to the 5th Guards Airborne Division, you cannot stop shelling the front of Height 239. The reason why he issued this order is because he knows that the 239 highland is the key to the encirclement and annihilation battle, and there must be no mistakes.

Hearing Konev's special order, Zakharov was stunned for a moment, and then said: "Comrade Commander, since the enemies on the 239 Heights have been wiped out, and the new troops have entered the position on the hilltop, I don't think there will be any more troops." It is necessary to continue the bombardment so as not to waste precious shells."

"Comrade Chief of Staff, you just told me that the German troops attacking Height 239 were the Walloon Assault Brigade and the 105th Grenadier Regiment of the Viking Division." Konev looked at Zakharov and asked expressionlessly. : "Do you think the 116th Division, whose combat has been greatly diluted, can block the attacks of these two troops?"

   "No." As the chief of staff of the front army, Zakharov is still very clear about the combat effectiveness of the 53rd Army. Although Sokov was a victorious general, he had just become the commander of the group army not long ago, and it was obviously unrealistic to improve the combat effectiveness of the entire army. Without strong artillery support, the highland might fall soon.

  After trying to understand this, Zakharov said to Konev: "I understand, Comrade Commander, I will convey your meaning to General Fumin."

  Konev realized the importance of Height 239, and Sokov also understood this truth. After finishing the call with Zakharov, he immediately connected to the division headquarters of the 41st Guards Division, and said to the division commander Kurishenko: "General Kurishenko, regardless of whether the enemy in October Town sends troops, 239 Heights In the future, they will be attacked by the German army..."

   When Kurishenko heard what Sokov said, he murmured to himself: I have handed over the defense of the high ground to the 116th regiment. What's the use of telling me this?

Before he could ask the question in his heart, Sokov continued: "I guess you must be thinking in your heart, now the 239th Heights is being defended by the troops of the 116th Division, so what does it have to do with me? Am I right? "

  Kurishenko saw that Sokov had guessed what was on his mind, so he didn't speak, but just laughed dryly twice.

From Kurishenko's laughter, Sokov knew that his guess was correct, and he went on to say: "The troops holding the high ground are all light infantry and have no heavy weapons. If they are attacked fiercely by the Germans , I am worried that they will not be able to withstand it, so I need your assistance."

   "Comrade Commander, what should I do?"

   "Deploy part of the artillery of the 89th Guards Artillery Regiment to Height 239." Sokov said into the microphone: "In this way, when the enemy launches an attack on the high ground, you can bombard them with artillery fire from a condescending height."

   "Comrade Commander," Kurishenko asked cautiously, "How many artillery pieces do you think should be deployed?"

   "At least 12 Bofors field guns must be deployed, so that when shelling the enemy, a certain scale can be formed." After Sokov finished speaking, he asked: "General Kurishenko, is there a problem?"

   Hearing that half of the Bofors field guns would be transferred to friendly troops, Kurishenko still felt a heartache. I said in my heart that if the German army in October town sends troops, I plan to use the artillery regiment to suppress the enemy with firepower. If half of the artillery is sent out directly, the effect of the shelling will be greatly reduced.

  Sokov heard that Kurishenko hadn't spoken for a long time, and thought that the other party had hung up the phone, so he quickly said loudly into the microphone: "Hey, General Kurishenko, are you still there?"

   "Yes, Comrade Commander, I am still here."

   "Since you are still here," Sokov asked with some displeasure, "Why don't you speak?"

   "Comrade Commander," Kurishenko quickly explained, "I'm considering transferring those artillery pieces to the high ground for defense."

"General Kurishenko, it will be dawn soon." Sokov reminded Kurishenko: "The Germans will definitely attack during the day, and deploying artillery positions early will reduce the casualties of the defenders. ?"

   "Understood." Kurishenko did not dare to neglect, and hurriedly replied: "I will immediately call the commander of the artillery regiment, and tomorrow he will arrange for the artillery to be transported to the high ground."

   After solving the artillery issue, Sokov called Stirlitz, the commander of the 116th Division, to let the other party make psychological preparations in advance. "Colonel Stirlitz," Sokov said with a smile when he heard Stirlitz's voice, "the troops you sent out performed very well in the battle that ended not long ago. I believe they will Come and hold on to Height 239, and we will definitely turn it into an insurmountable moat for the Germans."

  Stirlitz sensed something was wrong from Sokov's words, so he tentatively asked: "Comrade Commander, how can I hear your tone, my troops will encounter a very cruel battle next?"

"You guessed right, Colonel Stirlitz." Now that the other party had heard his implication, Sokov didn't go around in circles, but said bluntly: "According to my analysis, when the sky is completely bright , the Germans will launch a fierce attack on the area held by the 41st Guards Division from the two lines of defense at the same time.

  The enemy coming from the southwest to October Town was to relieve the Germans in the encirclement. Major General Kurishenko's 41st Guards Division will resolutely block them. "Sokov said in a stern tone: "In order to escape the fate of being annihilated by our army, the enemies in the encirclement will concentrate their forces and attack Height 239 recklessly. Whether the high ground can be held is the key to whether the enemy in the encirclement can be wiped out. do you understand? "

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander, I will not let you down." Stirlitz replied solemnly: "For the sake of safety, I plan to lead the remaining infantry regiment and artillery regiment to strengthen the 239 Heights. Defense, I wonder if you allow it?"

  Although Sokov has deployed nearly four divisions near 239, he still feels that it is not enough. You know, what I am facing is the elite of the German army. Among other things, it is still unknown whether the 1st Armored Division and the Banner Guard Division launched a strong attack and put the entire group army on it.

At this moment, since Stirlitz offered to transfer the remaining troops to Height 239, Sokov did not object, but said smoothly: "Okay, Colonel Stirlitz, I will give you three hours Make preparations, and then the whole division will go to Height 239 to strengthen the defense there and prevent the Germans from advancing any further."

   "Understood." Stirlitz replied in a loud voice: "We will resolutely hold the 239 Heights at all costs, and absolutely will not let the Germans move forward."

After waiting for Sokov to make a series of phone calls, Smirnov said with some concern: "Comrade commander, from yesterday to now, you have successively transferred three divisions to the vicinity of Height 239, and our defense here has become weaker and weaker. Weak."

  Sokov glanced at the other party and said disapprovingly: "Isn't there an infantry division and troops directly under the army group? I think this kind of force is enough for defense."

But Smirnov still said with great worries: "Comrade commander, what I am worried about is that the Germans will not be able to break through the defense of the 41st Guards Division, and may change the direction of attack and rush directly to us." He reminded Sokov , "You know, the German army is an armored force. Even if their oil depots and ammunition depots were attacked by our enemy's rear squad, they still have the ability to break through our defenses before their tanks run out of ammunition and food."

Sokov chuckled and said confidently: "Comrade Chief of Staff, don't worry. We still have a lot of friendly troops nearby. If we encounter danger here, they will definitely come to support." See Smirnov Still frowning, he continued, "We can't beat it, so we can leave. We will take the Germans around until the fuel in their tanks is exhausted. Tanks without fuel, It’s a live target, as long as the air force is called in to support it, the German tanks can be blown into piles of scrap metal.”

Seeing that Sokov was so confident, Smirnov couldn't say anything more. He could only nod his head and pretend to read the battle report, but he was thinking in his heart, if the German tanks really rushed to the place not far from the headquarters, What should I do? Should we organize personnel to resist on the spot, or according to Sokov, give up here and start dealing with German tanks.

   While thinking wildly, the phone on the desk rang suddenly. Smirnov picked up the phone, and it turned out that it was Ponejielin calling: "Hello, my old friend, what do you want?"

  Ponejielin on the other end of the phone said: "Hello, Smirnov! General Fomin asked me to ask you, can the shelling of the front of the high ground be stopped?"

  With the recovery of the 239 highland, the German troops who were trying to attack the highland but were blocked by artillery fire have already retreated to a safe area. The shells that exploded in front of the position hardly caused them any harm. After Sokov learned of this situation, he deliberately stopped the artillery of the front army from firing, so as not to waste shells.

At this moment, since Ponegerin called to inquire, Sokov nodded at Smirnov and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please tell General Pornegerin that our shelling goal has been achieved, and the shelling can be stopped completely. "

  (end of this chapter)