The soldiers hidden in the trenches also jumped out of the trenches one after another, followed the two platoon leaders, shouted "Ula" loudly, and rushed towards the enemy position in the distance.
It was already dawn, and Lin Hua, who was staying in the company's observation post, saw through his telescope that one or two hundred meters in front of the enemy's position were filled with dense craters and corpses scattered everywhere. He looked carefully, and based on the dead horses next to the corpses, as well as the sabers and lances scattered around, he judged that these sacrificed warriors should all belong to a certain cavalry unit.
When the soldiers were only more than 200 meters away from the position, the German machine guns began to fire wildly. The original soldiers in the first and second rows had good military quality. Almost as soon as the gunfire sounded, they immediately rolled around and spread out to hide. As for the guerrillas who had just joined, they had no experience in formal combat and were unable to respond in time when faced with German machine gun fire. As a result, they were knocked down in pieces by dense bullets.
The experienced soldiers used the corpses of men and horses on the battlefield and bomb craters as bunkers. After quickly checking the status of their guns and ammunition, they began to fight back at the enemy. When they saw the guerrilla warrior holding his head and lying like a frightened ostrich in an open space with little shelter, they couldn't help shouting loudly: "Climb over here quickly!"
Amid the roars of the veterans, the guerrilla fighters followed their example and rolled forward awkwardly. Those who were lucky successfully rolled into the crater and came to the side of the veteran, or crawled to the dead horse to hide; those who were unlucky were killed by enemy bullets just after climbing a few steps and lay there for a long time. at every turn.
Lin Hua saw that soldiers in the first and second platoons were constantly being sacrificed under the suppression of German firepower. Although most of them were guerrillas in civilian clothes, he was still heartbroken when he saw such heavy casualties.
"Comrade Company Commander," at this moment, he suddenly heard Saviev's loud voice: "You see, the first and second platoons were suppressed by the enemy's fire and unable to move, and may not be able to complete the offensive mission. You should still let Let’s get in line.”
"Don't be anxious, Comrade Saviev." Regarding Saviev who was eager to fight, Lin Hua directly rejected his request and said to him: "The enemy's firepower is too strong. Let's wait until the machine gun row comes up to suppress the enemy's firepower. "
From Lin Hua's tone, Saveyev heard that he was somewhat perfunctory, and he couldn't help feeling a little annoyed, so he said rudely: "Comrade company commander, you have been reluctant to send us up. Isn’t it because we are guerrillas? Are we worried that our soldiers have not fought a regular battle with the enemy, and when they hear bullets flying overhead, they will be frightened into shameful deserters and embarrass the Istria Company?”
Facing Saviev's series of questions, Lin Hua quickly comforted him and said: "Comrade Saviev, you are thinking too much. I have learned about this guerrilla group named after you. You were in the German attack on Voloklam." During the battle in Sksk, you actively cooperated with the 8th Guards Division, bravely attacked the enemy, and achieved considerable results. I believe that in the battle of our army to liberate the city, you can also achieve greater feats."
Hearing Lin Hua's praise, Saviev showed a proud smile on his face. After a while, he asked again: "Comrade Company Commander, when do you plan to send our platoon to participate in the battle?"
Lin Hua, standing in front of the observation port, pointed with his hand to the location where the fierce fighting was taking place in front of him: "The soldiers in the first and second platoons are fighting fiercely with the enemy. If they can't make any progress in another half hour, I will personally Leading your platoon in the charge."
Saviev, who received a satisfactory answer, left the observation post happily. But Lin Hua, who was holding the telescope, was not happy at all. The German troops holding on to their positions saw that the lethal effect of machine guns on the Soviet troops began to weaken, so they bombarded them with mortars. From the hidden area where the first and second rows of soldiers were hiding, clouds of smoke rose. Objects near the explosion point were lifted high into the air; the remains of the sacrificed soldiers were also blown into pieces...
Seeing this situation, Lin Hua began to hesitate in his heart. Should he call Andryushenko and ask the artillery to provide artillery cover again? But before he could call, Andryushchenko called first: "Hey, Lieutenant Sokov, why are your soldiers lying down and motionless?"
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," Lin Hua put the receiver to his ear, quickly glanced at the troops that were being hit by German artillery fire and machine gun fire, and replied: "The Germans' firepower was very fierce, and our offensive troops were suppressed. I can’t move on the hillside.”
"Lieutenant Sokov," Andryushchenko said in a stern tone: "If you are dillydallying like this, you will miss the mark. I order you to immediately get the soldiers to their feet and continue to attack the enemy's positions. Do you understand?" "
Lin Hua knew very well that launching an attack on the enemy's well-defended position without fire cover would simply lead to death. But in the Soviet troops in the hierarchical forest, the orders from superiors are imperial edicts, and even if they are wrong, they can only be carried out unconditionally. He was silent for a moment, then gritted his molars and said, "I understand, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I will organize the troops to attack immediately."
After putting down the phone, Lin Hua stood there and thought for a while. The machine gun platoon was currently moving towards the enemy's position. Only Saviev's three platoons and Vasily's engineer platoon were left on the position. If you want to attack, you can only lead three platoons, leaving the engineer platoon to hold the position.
Thinking of this, he quickly walked out of the observation post, found Saveyev and Vasily who were chatting nearby, and said to them with serious expressions: "Two platoon commanders, comrades, just received a call from the brigade headquarters, ordering We immediately resumed our attack."
Vasya picked up the telescope, looked at the German positions in the distance, and asked with some surprise: "Comrade company commander, aren't our troops fighting with the enemy?"
"The first and second platoons were suppressed by enemy fire and could no longer move forward." Lin Hua began to give orders to the two platoon leaders: "Comrade Saviev, take your third platoon and come up to support the first platoon. and the second platoon. And you, Second Lieutenant Vasily, lead the soldiers of the engineer platoon to hold the position. Do you understand?"
"Comrade Company Commander." Vasily was a little unhappy when he heard that he had to hold his position. He immediately begged Lin Hua: "Please let me lead the troops to participate in the battle?"
"No, Comrade Second Lieutenant, you and the engineer platoon must stay on the position." After rejecting Vasily's request, Lin Hua said kindly: "If our attack fails and the German army takes the opportunity to launch a counterattack, if everyone on the position No, so who will stop them?"
Hearing what Lin Hua said, Vasily had no choice but to nod his head and said helplessly: "Okay, comrade company commander, then I will lead the engineer platoon to hold the position. I assure you, the Germans want to pass our position unless they step on Our bodies can pass.”
