Hearing Ma Lining say this, the group army commanders present fell into new confusion. They felt more and more that what they heard was untrue: "What, there are actually troops in the encirclement that can break out of the encirclement and successfully capture into the enemy's position?"
"Yes, it was the 73rd Infantry Brigade that occupied the German position." Rokossovsky confirmed to everyone: "According to General Chuikov's telegram, this unit was originally stationed in Orlovka, waiting for our attack. We entered the encirclement to join them. Unexpectedly, our troops failed to break through the enemy's defense, and their retreat was cut off. In desperation, we had no choice but to break out. I really didn't expect that they did not go east or south. We broke through, but we chose to break out to the north. Not only did we successfully break out of the enemy's encirclement, we also captured the enemy's position that gave us a headache."
"Comrade Commander," Kuznetsov felt that he should stand up and make some suggestions to make up for the dilemma that his troops were unable to break through the German defense lines and join forces with the defenders in the encirclement: "I think we should send troops to rush to fight with them. Friendly forces converged and the defenses there were fortified to counter any possible German counterattack."
"I have given an order to General Jia Xiaoning, asking him to immediately send effective troops to that area to join the 73rd Infantry Brigade to consolidate the defense there." Rokossovsky explained to everyone: "There Everyone should be very aware of the terrain. If we want to deploy the armored troops on that position, we have to overcome many difficulties. Not only do we have to cross a river dozens of meters wide, but we also have to climb a steep slope..."
Facing the questions raised by Rokossovsky, several commanders looked at each other, and no one could make any good suggestions. Seeing that everyone was silent, Kirichenko, who was silent, said: "Comrade Commander, it seems that we have to ask the engineers to build two or three pontoon bridges on the river so that the tanks of the tank brigade and the artillery of the artillery regiment can pass through. river."
"Comrade Military Commissar, you may not know that the reason why our army's attack to seize this German position failed was entirely because the terrain there was too special." Although it was Kirichenko's first day in office, Kuznetsov Having already guessed his identity from the political officer rank he wore, he said politely: "The north side of the hillside is too steep, and it is difficult for infantry to climb, let alone tanks and artillery."
"Then what should we do, Comrade General?" Kirichenko looked at the unknown general in front of him and asked, "Because the terrain is steep, can't we get the tanks and artillery to the hillside?" he said. At this point, he turned his attention to other headquarters, "Is the commander of the engineering corps here?"
"I am the commander of the engineering corps, Proshlyakov." As soon as Kirichenko finished speaking, a burly general took a step forward and asked, "What instructions do you have?"
"Comrade General," Kirichenko looked at the other party and asked, "I would like to ask, how do you plan to transport the tanks and artillery up the hillside?"
Hearing Kirichenko's question, Proshlyakov did not answer immediately, but turned his attention to Rokossovsky standing aside. Rokossovsky waved his hand at him and said: "General Proshlyakov, since it is Comrade Military Commissar who is asking you a question, you just answer it, what do you want me to do?"
After getting Rokossovsky's permission, Proshlyakov straightened his body and reported: "Comrade Military Commissar, it is quite simple to let tanks and artillery pass through the river. You only need to build a few pontoon bridges on the river. That's it. As for getting the technical equipment up the hillside, it's a bit more troublesome. We need to use explosives to blast a passage on the hillside..."
"General Proshlyakov," Rokossovsky heard this and immediately interrupted Proshlyakov's words and said to him: "The Germans may launch an attack at any time. You must complete it as soon as possible. The erection of floating bridges and the opening of roads.”
After Proshlyakov loudly agreed, Rokossovsky shouted to the crowd: "General Orel!" The commander of the armored forces of the Front whose name was called quickly stepped forward and straightened his body. Wait for the other party to issue an order.
"General Orel," Rokossovsky said to him, "immediately assemble the two tank brigades, and as soon as General Proshlyakov has laid the road, deploy the tanks on the position."
"Comrade Commander, what about our artillery?" Seeing that Rokossovsky assigned tasks to the commander of the engineering corps and the commander of the armored corps respectively, but seemed to have forgotten himself, Kazakov, commander of the artillery of the front army, walked out quickly and said, Take the initiative and ask: “Do we need to move forward too?”
"No need for the time being." Rokossovsky shook his head and said: "Our main task at hand is defense, and the assistance of the tank brigade is enough. When we switch to the offensive again, your artillery can send large numbers of Used.”
…………
Just as Rokossovsky was dispatching his troops, Sokov received a telegram from General Gaxiaonin. The general asked Sokov in the telegram not to abandon the position for the time being. On the contrary, he should build new fortifications and prepare for a defensive war. and promised that he would soon send troops to take over the defense.
After seeing the telegram, Sokov said to Bely and Gurdiev: "Two comrades, colonels, I just received a telegram from the commander of the 24th Army, General Gachonin, asking us not to abandon our position. On the contrary, we have to build new fortifications here and wait for the troops he sends to take over the defense."
"Comrade Brigade Commander, I think General Jia Xiaoning's consideration is completely correct." As soon as Sokov finished speaking, Bely continued: "Look at the terrain here, it is gentle in the south and steep in the north. Once we give up I don’t know what a high price we have to pay if we want to take this position back.”
"Comrade Brigade Commander, the terrain in the south is too flat. Except for an unfinished trench, we have no barbed wire, minefields, civil fire points, or artillery holes." Gurdiev asked worriedly: "Once the German army launches an attack on us A fierce attack, can we defend it with just the few troops we have?"
"We must defend even if we can't!" Bely glared at Gurdiev and said in a stern tone: "It's very simple to give up the position. As long as Comrade Brigade Commander gives the order, we can withdraw from the position immediately. But. Once the position is abandoned, the Germans will reoccupy it, and if the friendly forces want to capture it, they may have to fill in one or two divisions."
"Colonel Bely, you are mistaken." Gurdiev quickly defended himself and said: "I am not saying to give up the position, but I am saying that with our existing troops and weapons and equipment, it may be difficult to resist the German attack. .”
"With our tank battalion here, you have nothing to worry about." Bely continued: "We also have 11 tanks. In addition to being used as fixed forts, when enemy tanks rush up, they can also rush up and fight with them. decisive battle."
"Colonel Bely is right." If not long ago, Sokov was still hesitant about holding on or retreating, now after seeing Gacolonin's telegram, he decisively made up his mind to stay and hold on. Because he knew very well that Rokossovsky would never ignore death and would definitely send reinforcements continuously to reinforce him. "Although our defenses are not perfect enough, as long as we have these tanks, it will not be easy for the enemy to regain their positions."
"If the Germans launch a fierce attack, how long can we sustain it?" Gurdiev was afraid that the two would be dazzled by the victory, so he reminded them specifically: "You know, the remaining ammunition and fuel of the tank are all Running out."
The speaker has no intention but the listener has intention. Gurdiev's words reminded Sokov, he slapped his forehead with his hand and said repeatedly: "Damn it, damn it, why did I forget this most important thing?" He quickly ordered to sit down. The radio operator not far away said, "Immediately send a message to General Jia Xiaoning, saying that the ammunition and fuel of our brigade's tank battalion are running low, and asking him to find a way to solve part of it for us."
When the radio operator sent a report to General Galcolonin, Gurdiev took out his cigarettes, gave one to Sokov and Bely each, lit it for them, and tentatively asked Bely: "Comrade Colonel, if Galvanin General Xiaoning has replenished ammunition and fuel for the tanks, how long can you hold on here?"
After Belly took two puffs of cigarette, he said with some laughter and tears: "Colonel Gurdiev, it depends on whether the German artillery fire is accurate. If their artillery fire covers the position, how many vehicles will there be at that time?" Whether the tank survived is still unknown."
"Before the enemy attacks, they will definitely launch a fierce shelling on our position." Gurdiev heard what Bely said, he sighed and said: "In this way, after the enemy's shelling is over, how many tanks can we have?" Surviving is a problem, let alone assisting in defense and participating in counterattacks.”
"Colonel Gurdiev, your words reminded me." Sokov came up with a way to save the tank in the shortest possible time. He said to the two of them: "If the enemy wants to shell our position, the artillery shells will definitely If it falls on the positive slope on the south side, and the reverse slope on the north side, the enemy's artillery shells will definitely not be able to hit it."
"Yes, that is indeed the case." Gurdiev looked at Sokov as if he were an idiot and asked, "But does this have anything to do with how to preserve a tank under artillery fire?"
"Why is there no contact?!" Sokov squatted on the ground and drew a sketch on the ground with his hands: "If we hide all the tanks on the north slope, wouldn't we be able to avoid the enemy's shelling?"
Bely frowned and asked: "Comrade Brigade Commander, I wonder if you have ever considered that the hillside on the north side is so steep. If we drive the tank over, even if we don't climb down the hillside, we won't be able to drive it when we need to go into battle." Come up, what should we do?"
