Not only Zhukov and Rokossovsky were paying attention to the siege battles taking place in the east of the city, but General Orlov, who was stationed in the north of the city, also sent scouts to attack the 31st Guards Division. to monitor the attack.
When the scouts reported to Orlov via the radio that the 31st Guards Division had captured the German outer positions and rushed into the city, the small army headquarters suddenly became as lively as a vegetable market.
The Army Chief of Staff held the telegram he had just received and said to Orlov with a wry smile: "Comrade General, it seems that this Major Sokov is not simple. It only took his troops half an hour to rush in smoothly. Into the city."
Before Orlov could speak, Colonel Mamendov, commander of the 322nd Infantry Division, said unconvincingly: "If it hadn't been for the attacks of our three divisions in the past two days, which greatly weakened the strength of the German army, how could they have done this? Smoothly rush into the city? I think Comrade Commander is biased. If we are allowed to fight for two more days, we can also break through the German defenses."
"Yes, Mamendov is right." As soon as Mamendov finished speaking, he immediately received the support of Colonel Yuzhkov, commander of the 323rd Division: "If Comrade Commander allows us to continue the attack, I think the honor of taking over Zizdra City will still belong to us.”
Colonel Semyalit, commander of the 97th Division, behaved much calmer. After Mamendorf finished speaking, he said slowly: "Colonel Mamendorf, I think you are wrong. Our three divisions launched no less than twenty attacks in the east direction of the city, but there was still no We can seize the enemy's peripheral positions. I think even if the army headquarters allows us to continue fighting, it will be very difficult to rush into the city."
"Comrade Colonel," Mamendorf said displeasedly as he looked sideways at Semyalit, "We are all members of the infantry corps. How can you belittle our own people by being too high for outsiders? "
Just when the two had different opinions and were about to have a conflict, a communications staff officer walked up to Orlov and handed him a newly received telegram. After reading the contents of the telegram, Orlov couldn't help but raise his eyebrows. He quickly slapped his hand on the table and promptly stopped the two division commanders who were about to quarrel: "Okay, don't argue anymore. "
Orlov handed the telegram to the chief of staff of the army who was sitting aside, then stood up and said to everyone: "Aren't you convinced that the 31st Guards Division broke through the German outer positions and rushed into Zizdra? ?Now that the opportunity has come, the commander ordered us to immediately launch an attack from the north of the city and cooperate with the 31st Guards Division to capture the city."
"What, the headquarters ordered us to attack from the north?" Orlov's words stunned everyone. Mamendorf then took the lead in expressing his opinion: "Great, this is really great. Comrade Commander, please let our division serve as the first echelon and be the first to attack the city."
Regarding Mamendorf's request, Orlov only hesitated for a moment, then turned around and agreed: "Okay, Colonel Mamendorf, your division paid a huge price in the battles in the first two days. Now. The German troops in the city can no longer hold up under the fierce attack of the 31st Guards Division. I will leave this opportunity for revenge to your division. You are not fighting alone, there is also a tank coming from the east of the city. Brigade, cooperate with you to attack the enemies inside and outside the city."
After saying these words, Orlov turned his attention to Semyalit: "Comrade Colonel, your division has the largest number of troops now. You will serve as the second echelon and wait for Colonel Mamendorf's troops. After breaking through the German defenses, you will enter the battle through the gap opened."
"What about us, Comrade Commander." Seeing that Orlov had arranged combat missions for the 322nd and 97th Divisions, but forgot about his own troops, Yuzhkov couldn't sit still: "Others The troops are attacking and we are sitting around doing nothing?”
"Comrade Colonel," Orlov looked at Yuzhkov and thought for a while, then said: "Although the German troops in the city have fallen into chaos, we still have to consider that unexpected situations may occur. In order to deal with In the event of such an emergency, your division will remain as the reserve force of the entire army."
After saying these words, without waiting for Yuzhkov to express his attitude, he immediately urged the two division commanders who had accepted the combat mission: "Colonel Mamendov, Colonel Semyalit, you should return to your respective units immediately. , and launch an attack on the city in the shortest possible time."
Half an hour later, Colonel Mamendov commanded the troops of the 322nd Division and launched an attack on Zizdra from the north of the city. The tank troops covering them were the same tanks that had recently covered the 31st Guards Division in breaking through the outer positions. Gustov Tank Brigade.
It may be that the headquarters in the city were taken away by Sokov's troops, so that the enemies holding the peripheral positions in the north of the city fell into chaos, allowing the 322nd Division to easily break through the peripheral positions under the cover of the tank brigade.
Just when Mamendorf was beaming, thinking that his troops could also achieve meritorious service, something unexpected happened. One of the tanks at the front was suddenly hit by a bullet and burst into flames. The tank driver had to abandon the vehicle after driving forward twenty or thirty meters in a tank that was emitting thick smoke.
When the tank following behind was about to bypass the burning tank, a shell suddenly flew from the ruins nearby and accurately hit the side armor of the tank. After a loud noise, the tank was destroyed. Shrouded in black smoke with flames. Seeing this situation, the infantrymen following behind immediately guessed that there must be German anti-tank guns nearby. Just as they were about to disperse and search, a window of a nearby building that was sealed with wooden bars was brutally opened. , a G34 machine gun stretched out from inside, and opened fire at the commanders and fighters crowding the street.
The officers and soldiers who were caught off guard fell in pieces under the fire of machine guns. The clever soldiers hurriedly hid in the street corners and raised their guns to fight back at the exposed fire points. Some soldiers saw that they had nowhere to escape and could only risk being burned. , hiding next to the still burning tank to avoid enemy machine gun fire.
Fortunately, a tank following behind discovered the German machine gun firepower in time, quickly adjusted the shooting angle, and fired a shot at the enemy's machine gun. The shells hit the room impartially. In the violent explosion, the German machine gunner was lifted out of the room by the air wave and fell heavily to the street. The soldiers hiding nearby risked their lives and rushed to his side, trying to kill him and avenge their sacrificed comrades. However, the soldiers who rushed forward turned him over with the barrel of their guns, only to find that he had already died.
As the infantry continued to advance along the street, they were constantly attacked by German troops from the buildings on both sides. Tanks were constantly hit by German anti-tank weapons and turned into piles of burning wreckage; while the infantry was not suddenly shot out of nowhere. The incoming machine gun mopped him down, which means he fell under the sniper's gun.
Seeing that his troops were not progressing smoothly, Mamendorf couldn't help but secretly regret, regretting why he had taken on such a dangerous mission? If the Germans continue to fight like this, by the time their troops reach the city center, there will probably be very few people left.
And Orlov saw that Colonel Mamendorf's 322nd successfully attacked the city, and heard a report from the observation post that there was a situation in the city.
Mamendorf looked at the tanks on the street that were being destroyed by the Germans, and the soldiers who were knocked down by grenades thrown by the enemy and knocked down by bullets. He reported with a sad face: "Comrade Commander, my unit has been attacked by the Germans." Fight tenaciously, and I ask you to send the second echelon for reinforcements in a timely manner."
Orlov listened to Mamendov's crying voice and asked in confusion: "Comrade Colonel, I saw that your division easily broke through the German outer positions. How come it didn't go smoothly after entering the city?" Already?"
"Comrade Commander, the enemy is very cunning. They hide in the buildings on both sides of the street, shoot at our soldiers and throw grenades. They have caused hundreds of casualties to us."
"Where is the tank brigade?" After hearing this, Orlov asked with some dissatisfaction: "Didn't they provide you with the necessary fire support?"
"They also have too much time to take care of themselves." Mamendorf said with some panic: "The enemy hid anti-tank guns in ruins or buildings, and waited for the tanks of the tank brigade to enter their range, and then fired decisively. I saw it with my own eyes. There are no less than seven tanks that have been destroyed. Comrade Commander, I implore you to send the second echelon to support as soon as possible, otherwise our division may be driven out of the city by the Germans."
Knowing that the 322nd Division was not progressing so smoothly, Orlov couldn't help but feel a little discouraged. While he ordered the Chief of Staff to let Semyalit's 97th Division go into battle, he called Rokossovsky to discuss it. report.
Rokossovsky heard the call from Orlov and asked with a smile: "Comrade General, did you call me any good news?"
"Comrade Commander, please forgive me! I brought you bad news." Orlov heard what Rokossovsky said and replied a little embarrassedly: "After my 322nd Division entered the city, , encountered a tenacious resistance from the German army, and are now struggling. Colonel Mamendov, the commander of the division, has called me and asked me to send troops to support him."
After listening to Orlov's report, Rokossovsky's smile froze on his face. Zhukov, who was standing aside, heard a few words and quickly asked: "Comrade Rokossovsky, what happened?"
Rokossovsky quickly covered the microphone with his hand and reported to Zhukov: "Comrade General, our troops attacking from the north have encountered a little trouble."
"Little trouble?" Zhukov looked at Rokossovsky and asked sternly: "What little trouble?"
"According to General Orlov's report, his 322nd Division encountered a tenacious blockade in the city after successfully breaking through the German outer positions." Although Orlov's report was unclear, Rokossovs said Key was shrewd enough to figure out what was going on, and reported to Zhukov: "At present, both the tank brigade and the infantry have suffered a lot of casualties. The commander in charge of the command in the city has asked Orlov for support."
"What the hell, what is going on?" Zhukov stared at Rokossovsky and said angrily: "Why was the 31st Guards Division able to successfully remove the German headquarters and launch an attack from the north? Why is the attacking 322nd Division making slow progress?"
"This may involve tactical issues." Although Rokossovsky was also dissatisfied with Orlov in his heart, in front of Zhukov, he had to help Orlov and said: "Due to their improper use of tactics, their attack from the north of the city went awry."
"Okay, you don't have to say anything." Zhukov waved his hand to Rokossovsky and said displeasedly: "You immediately order Orlov to send troops to reinforce, and we must capture Zizdra as soon as possible." After a pause, he added, "As for the colonel, I think he is at the level of a battalion commander. When this battle is over, he will be transferred to the 31st Guards Division to be a battalion commander."
Hearing that Zhukov demoted Colonel Mamendov in one word, the muscles on Rokossovsky's face couldn't help but twitched violently twice, and he quickly replied: "I understand, Comrade General." He released his cover and Holding the hand of the microphone, he said into the microphone: "General Orlov, immediately send out the second echelon to cooperate with the 31st Guards Division in the city to capture the city as soon as possible."
After ending the call with Orlov, Rokossovsky turned to Malinin and asked: "Chief of Staff, can you get in touch with Major Sokov?"
"According to the intelligence we just received, Major Sokov has entered the city of Zizdra with the 1139th Regiment." Malinin heard Rokossovsky's question and quickly replied: "If you have a task to explain, Give it to him so I can contact him through the walkie-talkie.”
Rokossovsky waited for Malinin to finish speaking and ordered without hesitation: "Get in touch with him immediately!"
As the troops were preparing to enter Zhizdra, Sokov suddenly heard the radio operator who was following him calling him: "Comrade Division Commander, your call is from the Army Headquarters."
Sokov motioned to the operator to stand in a hidden position, and then took the headset and microphone from his hand. Sokov put on his earphones and said loudly into the microphone: "Hello, comrade commander? I am Sokov. What are your instructions?"
"Major Sokov," Rokossovsky said to Sokov in a calm tone: "I have bad news to tell you. The 322nd Division, which launched an attack from the north of the city, encountered a tenacious German army in the city. Block the attack. I order you to immediately send a force to the north of the city to support them."
