Although Chuikov adopted a proactive and cooperative attitude towards the counterattack deployed by the base camp, he was always skeptical about the effectiveness of the counterattack. After the counterattack began, the progress of each unit was very unsatisfactory. Due to the lack of air support and sufficient artillery cover, the counterattack troops only broke into the enemy's depth of one or two kilometers.
Just as he and Krylov were discussing whether to propose to their superiors to terminate the counterattack, the director of the Communications Corps walked up to him, handed him a telegram, and said at the same time: "Comrade Commander, this is Soko According to the telegram sent by Lieutenant Colonel Husband, they have successfully broken through the first line of defense of the German army and are advancing towards the second line of defense."
"Oh, Sokov's troops have broken through the German defense line?" After Chuikov listened to the report of the director of the communications corps, his face showed an expression of surprise. He turned to Krylov and said: "Chief of Staff, this Soko It's really not easy. Guryev commanded the troops for half a day, but failed to break through the German defenses, but as soon as he took action, he easily completed the task."
"Well, it's not simple." Krylov agreed with Chuikov's statement, but he also had a question: "But I don't understand. Guriev is also an experienced conductor. Lieutenant Colonel Sokov's troops, whose predecessor was also an airborne division with strong combat effectiveness, were still unable to break through the defenses despite paying such a heavy price. But Lieutenant Colonel Sokov's troops easily broke through the German defenses as soon as they took action? It’s really confusing.”
After Chuikov heard what Krylov said, he immediately ordered the director of the communications corps: "Comrade director, send a telegram back to Lieutenant Colonel Sokov and order him to report the detailed battle process. We need to find out why General Guryev delayed Chi could not break through the position, but his troops could achieve their goal so easily."
After five or six minutes, the director of the communications corps returned to Sokov again and handed him the telegram he had just received: "Comrade Commander, the reply from Lieutenant Colonel Sokov has arrived."
After Chuikov quickly read the above content, he raised his head and said to Krylov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov said in the telegram that the attacks launched by General Guryev's Guards Division have been repeatedly frustrated. This was because the troops were intercepted by long-range artillery fire and bombed by enemy planes on their way to attack the German positions. When they launched the attack, the enemy planes had already left the battlefield due to lack of ammunition and fuel; and the attacking tank troops were Using a rapid assault formation, they rushed to the front of the German position before the enemy could intercept artillery fire, completely disrupting the enemy's defensive deployment."
After figuring out the whole battle, Krylov nodded and said: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov is very good at fighting. But if they want to reach Orlovka, they still need to continue to break through the German army. With three lines of defense, I don’t know if they are capable of completing this task.”
"Our army's counterattack this time was launched too hastily and due to lack of preparation, all the units were not successful in the attack." Chuikov said with a sense of luck: "Even if other units cannot achieve their combat objectives, as long as Soko If Lieutenant Colonel Husband's troops can rush to Orlovka, it is an amazing victory for us."
"But their troops are too small. I'm worried that Lieutenant Colonel Sokov's troops will be exhausted before they reach Orlovka." Krylov reminded Chuikov: "Last time Rokossov A tank brigade of General Key broke through the German army and tried to rush to Orlovka to join our army. As a result, the brigade was completely wiped out by the enemy during the march."
"Chief of Staff," Chuikov pointed at Krylov with his hand and asked tentatively: "Do we still have a reserve team on hand?"
"No more, Comrade Commander." Krylov shook his head and said: "We don't even have a battalion-level reserve team. In order to prevent the enemy from sneaking into the headquarters, we have even organized staff and logistics personnel. up so that they could better cover Army Headquarters.”
"Since there are staff and logistics personnel to protect the safety of the headquarters, let's send out our guard battalion." Sokov thought for a moment and said to Krylov: "If Sokov can obtain the ultimate goal, A big result may make tomorrow’s battle situation more favorable to us.”
Krylov was quite reluctant when he heard that Chuikov planned to mobilize the guard battalion to support Sokov. But hearing about Sokov's offensive status can affect the current battle situation. So after only hesitating for a moment, he nodded in agreement: "Okay, Comrade Commander, I will send the guard battalion over as soon as possible."
The headquarters' original guard battalion was almost completely lost in the early battles. The existing guard battalion soon crossed the river and entered the factory area with the counterattack troops. The battalion commander is Major Tenev. He is a commander with rich combat experience. He has participated in many large-scale battles and because of his outstanding military exploits, And received two medals.
Krylov quickly sent someone to call Major Tenev, pointed to the map and said to him: "Comrade Major, you immediately lead the guard battalion through the Red October factory area and advance along the northwest direction to meet Sokov The 73rd Infantry Brigade under the command of the lieutenant colonel reunited and then advanced together in the direction of Orlovka."
"Comrade Chief of Staff." Tenev naturally had to carry out the orders issued by his superiors, but he considered that among the troops protecting the headquarters, only his own guard battalion was an organic one. If they all left, the security work here would be compromised. It can only be completed by staff and logistics personnel with weak combat capabilities, so he asked worriedly: "We have all left, who will be responsible for the security work here at the headquarters?"
"Comrade Major," Chuikov heard Tenev's question and immediately said lightly: "As long as you can make progress, the enemy will not be able to mobilize troops to attack us. Even if a few stragglers come here, our staff and The temporary guard force composed of logistics personnel is enough to completely eliminate them."
"Understood, Comrade Commander." Seeing that Chuikov had already considered everything that should be considered, Tenev quickly stepped forward and asked, "Do you need me to leave? I plan to assemble the guard camp as soon as possible and rush to meet Sokov Lieutenant Colonel’s troops rendezvous.”
"Go, Comrade Major." Chuikov nodded to the other party and said, "We will provide you with a dozen trucks, so that you can catch up with Lieutenant Colonel Sokov's troops as soon as possible."
…………
Sokov, who was sitting in the armored vehicle, pointed to the map spread out on his knees and said to Yakov: "The German second line of defense has only a few small fortifications. Don't forget that they are all built of reinforced concrete. Yes, but not many troops can be stored inside, and their defense directions are all towards the west."
"Towards the west?" When Yakov heard this, he couldn't help but interjected and asked: "Misha, so, these fortifications were built by us?"
"That's right." Sokov nodded and replied truthfully: "They were all used by our army to deal with the Germans. Who knew that the Germans came too fast, and these fortifications had to be abandoned before they had time to work. But even if the Germans occupy this place, the threat to us will not be great. After all, the defense direction of these fortifications is towards the west. If we attack from south to north, we should be able to easily break through the German defenses."
Hearing Sokov's tone of voice was so relaxed, Yakov couldn't help showing an expression of surprise on his face: "Misha, in this case, we can reach Orlovka before dark."
"Yakov, I haven't finished speaking yet." Seeing Yakov so optimistic, Sokov said with a wry smile: "The third line of defense is a line of defense that has been modified and reinforced by the German army and is specially used to deal with our counterattack. It not only has We have a strong and complete defense system, and can receive support from artillery and air force at any time. If we want to break through this line of defense, we will definitely pay a huge price."
"Misha." Yakov heard this and asked in surprise: "How do you know this? Did you send someone to conduct reconnaissance in advance?"
"During the counterattack in early September, I was ordered to go north to Orlovka to meet the friendly forces rushing in from outside the encirclement. But after waiting for a day, I found out that the friendly forces had been attacked during the march after breaking through the German defenses. Siege, and the entire army was destroyed, so that we had to abandon Orlovka and retreat." When Sokov said this, he couldn't help but sigh: "Maybe we will face the same situation this time."
Yakov automatically filtered out Sokov's last words and instead considered how to break through the German third line of defense. After staring at the map for a while, he asked: "Misha, since the German army's third line of defense is so tight, how do you plan to break through?"
"Fake attack from the front and detour from the flanks." Sokov pointed on the map with his hand: "I ordered the troops to conduct a feint attack from the front, and Colonel Bely's tank battalion detour from the two wings to achieve the purpose of seizing the position."
"Send infantry for a frontal feint attack?" Regarding Sokov's statement, Yakov put forward a different view: "If they don't have tanks to cover them, they will probably suffer heavy losses. By then we will barely break through the German defenses. , and there is no extra strength to continue heading north."
"Yakov, have you forgotten the new rockets?" Sokov waited for Yakov to finish, then smiled lightly and added: "When conducting a feint attack from the front, I will order the infantry to attack the enemy's position with rockets. This will create an illusion for the enemy, making them think that we will use a force attack to break through their defenses. But in fact, our main assault force is the tank battalion commanded by Colonel Bely, who will bypass the enemy from both wings. From behind, give the enemy a hard blow and completely crush their third line of defense."
"What a pity, what a pity!" Yakov thought that Sokov had ordered the troops operating behind enemy lines to withdraw to Mamayev Heights. Otherwise, at this time, they could be allowed to harass the enemy and create a favorable opportunity for him to break through the enemy's defense line. Fighter: "If your small force behind enemy lines hadn't withdrawn, maybe they could still be of some use."
"It's impossible not to retreat, Yakov." Sokov sighed and said: "All the rockets they carried have been used up. If they don't retreat, they are likely to be surrounded by the enemy and be defeated by the entire army. The end of destruction.”
Hearing Sokov's tone of voice was so relaxed, Yakov couldn't help showing an expression of surprise on his face: "Misha, in this case, we can reach Orlovka before dark."
"Yakov, I haven't finished speaking yet." Seeing Yakov so optimistic, Sokov said with a wry smile: "The third line of defense is a line of defense that has been modified and reinforced by the German army and is specially used to deal with our counterattack. It not only has We have a strong and complete defense system, and can receive support from artillery and air force at any time. If we want to break through this line of defense, we will definitely pay a huge price."
"Misha." Yakov heard this and asked in surprise: "How do you know this? Did you send someone to conduct reconnaissance in advance?"
"During the counterattack in early September, I was ordered to go north to Orlovka to meet the friendly forces rushing in from outside the encirclement. But after waiting for a day, I found out that the friendly forces had been attacked during the march after breaking through the German defenses. Siege, and the entire army was destroyed, so that we had to abandon Orlovka and retreat." When Sokov said this, he couldn't help but sigh: "Maybe we will face the same situation this time."
Yakov automatically filtered out Sokov's last words and instead considered how to break through the German third line of defense. After staring at the map for a while, he asked: "Misha, since the German army's third line of defense is so tight, how do you plan to break through?"
"Fake attack from the front and detour from the flanks." Sokov pointed on the map with his hand: "I ordered the troops to conduct a feint attack from the front, and Colonel Bely's tank battalion detour from the two wings to achieve the purpose of seizing the position."
"Send infantry for a frontal feint attack?" Regarding Sokov's statement, Yakov put forward a different view: "If they don't have tanks to cover them, they will probably suffer heavy losses. By then we will barely break through the German defenses. , and there is no extra strength to continue heading north."
"Yakov, have you forgotten the new rockets?" Sokov waited for Yakov to finish, then smiled lightly and added: "When conducting a feint attack from the front, I will order the infantry to attack the enemy's position with rockets. This will create an illusion for the enemy, making them think that we will use a force attack to break through their defenses. But in fact, our main assault force is the tank battalion commanded by Colonel Bely, who will bypass the enemy from both wings. From behind, give the enemy a hard blow and completely crush their third line of defense."
"What a pity, what a pity!" Yakov thought that Sokov had ordered the troops operating behind enemy lines to withdraw to Mamayev Heights. Otherwise, at this time, they could be allowed to harass the enemy and create a favorable opportunity for him to break through the enemy's defense line. Fighter: "If your small force behind enemy lines hadn't withdrawn, maybe they could still be of some use."
"It's impossible not to retreat, Yakov." Sokov sighed and said: "All the rockets they carried have been used up. If they don't retreat, they are likely to be surrounded by the enemy and be defeated by the entire army. The end of destruction.”
"It's impossible not to retreat, Yakov." Sokov sighed and said: "All the rockets they carried have been used up. If they don't retreat, they are likely to be surrounded by the enemy and be defeated by the entire army. The end of destruction.”
. m.
