, red moscow
Sokov received a call from Porochenko and found out that the German tank squadron that was trying to go behind the high ground had been destroyed. He felt a little unbelievable. I thought how could this be possible? One anti-tank gun destroyed eight German tanks and four armored vehicles. No matter how I heard it, I thought it was a fantasy.
If the Germans were really so vulnerable, they should have been defeated by the Soviet army and retreated to the border at this moment, instead of staying only two or three hundred kilometers away from Moscow and engaging in repeated tug-of-war. Sokov was silent for a moment and asked in an unbelievable tone: "Second Lieutenant Porochenko, are you sure that the German tank squad has been wiped out by you?"
In response to Sokov's question, Porochenko decisively replied: "Comrade Battalion Commander, some tankers and soldiers escaped back, but their tanks and armored vehicles were destroyed by us. To be precise, the anti-tank guns Seven tanks and three armored vehicles were destroyed, and the remaining tank and armored vehicle were destroyed by anti-tank mines."
Perhaps because he was worried that Sokov would ask further questions, he specifically added: "The gunners in our platoon are not only highly skilled, but also have rich combat experience. They want to destroy fixed targets within 300 to 500 meters. Very easy."
After listening to Porochenko's explanation, Sokov felt that he was thinking too much. These soldiers in the artillery platoon were all rescued from German prisoner-of-war camps not long ago. Everything they experienced made their hearts full of fear. Because of his deep hatred for the fascist invaders, he performed so well on the battlefield.
"Well done, Comrade Second Lieutenant." After confirming the results, Sokov said approvingly: "I will report the results you have achieved to your superiors and apply for awards for you."
Porochenko suppressed the excitement in his heart and asked in a calm tone: "Comrade Battalion Commander, what is the next task of our platoon?"
"Your platoon's mission has been completed." Sokov thought that no matter how wealthy the German army was and lost more than a dozen tanks and armored vehicles at once, it would be impossible to piece together a force of the same size in a short period of time to bypass the highlands. Then he ordered Porochenko: "You immediately arrange for manpower to dismantle the anti-tank gun and find a suitable place to bury it."
"What, dismantle the cannon and find a place to bury it?" Regarding Sokov's order, Porochenko asked in confusion: "Then how will we deal with German tanks and armored vehicles in the future?"
"The anti-tank gun you are using has been discontinued long ago, and the only shells are all used up, leaving only a pile of scrap metal." Sokov explained to Porochenko: "I asked you to dismantle it and bury it. It is so that after the war is over in the future, it can be dug out and sent to the museum so that our descendants can remember: In February 1942, the artillery platoon of the Istria Battalion wiped out the German army with 12 rounds of artillery shells. A fast team of..."
"Understood, comrade battalion commander." Porochenko waited for Sokov to finish speaking, then said cheerfully: "I immediately arranged for personnel to dismantle the anti-tank gun and find a suitable place to bury it."
As soon as the German artillery bombardment on the high ground ended, the infantry immediately launched a charge, trying to cooperate with the rapid detour troops to seize the high ground held by the third company. But not long after the attack started, the German commander received the news that the rapid detachment had been destroyed, and hurriedly withdrew the attacking troops.
Sokov received a call from Stepan and learned that the German troops had retreated. He quickly asked: "Instructor Stepan, what are the casualties of the troops?"
"I just made a count and found that there are only eighty-three people left in the entire company who can still fight, including the wounded."
After listening to Stepan's report, Sokov's heart sank suddenly. He knew that in order to repel the two German attacks, the Third Company paid a high price, but he did not expect that the number of casualties would actually exceed half. It's like being disabled. He asked tentatively: "Comrade instructor, can your company continue to fight?"
From the tone of Sokov's words, Stepan heard the other party's intention to withdraw the Third Company, and quickly expressed his position: "Comrade Battalion Commander, please rest assured, even if there is still one person in the Third Company, the Germans will never be allowed to leave." Get on our ground.”
Thinking that the defense will be changed tomorrow, if the situation is not critical, Sokov does not plan to send other companies to reinforce the third company. After all, he will soon be transferred to a new direction to participate in more brutal battles. The troops in his hands There's no harm in having more. But before putting down the phone, he still told Stepan: "When you need support, remember to call me immediately."
The German troops attacking the highlands suffered heavy losses. Not only did they lose more than two hundred officers and soldiers, they also lost a rapid detachment composed of more than a dozen tanks and armored vehicles. This led the German commander to mistakenly believe that the Soviet army had deployed at least one or two anti-tank companies on the side of the high ground. Otherwise, it would be absolutely impossible to eliminate its fast detachment so quickly. Therefore, he gave up the plan of taking another risk. The attack on the highlands was also stopped.
Early the next morning, the leading troops of the 411th Infantry Division arrived at the unknown highlands. A captain walked into the battalion command post, raised his hand to salute Sokov, and said dryly: "Comrade Major, I am Captain Cochin, commander of the first battalion of the 1033rd Infantry Regiment, and I have been ordered to take over your defense."
"Take over the defense?!" After Sokov returned the salute to the captain, and after looking at each other with Belkin, he asked Cochin in surprise: "Comrade Captain, didn't the superiors say that the defense will be changed in the evening? Why are you here so early?" "
"That's right, Comrade Major." Captain Cochin replied: "Our battalion received an order from our superiors yesterday and rushed here to take over the defense before this evening. But our superiors suddenly informed us that you are going to perform an important combat mission. , so let’s switch defense early.”
After figuring out what was going on, Sokov handed over the matter to Captain Cochin. In addition to the detailed defense map of the highlands, he even handed over the minefield distribution map with only ten anti-tank mines planted. According to the order brought by Captain Cochin, after the defense change was completed, Captain Liuba's women's anti-aircraft machine gun company remained in the existing position and continued to be responsible for the air defense mission in the highlands.
The defense change between the two armies is very cumbersome and takes a long time. At this moment, Sokov was eager to know the combat mission that his superiors were about to assign, so he left the aftermath to Belkin. He took a guard squad and rushed to Sushinich in a truck.
