"I understand, I will inform the commanders in the factory area." Chuikov readily agreed to Sokov's suggestion, but before hanging up the phone, he hesitated and said: "I have something to think about. I beg you.”
Upon hearing Chuikov's words, Sokov's first reaction was that he had made a mistake. Chuikov was his superior. He only had to give him orders for anything. How could he beg him? He calmed down and asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, are you saying that you want to ask me for help if you have something?"
"That's right, Colonel Sokov." Chuikov on the other end of the phone lowered his voice and whispered: "If there is the latest news about friendly forces in the south, I hope you can tell me in time."
Sokov did not dare to easily agree to Chuikov's request, but glanced at Golikov sitting next to him with a guilty conscience. Although Golikov didn't hear clearly what Chuikov said, he guessed what was going on when he saw Sokov's somewhat flustered expression. He smiled and then said to Sokov: "Comrade Colonel, you can promise him."
"Yes!" Seeing that Golikov offered to let Chuikov know about the war on the southern front, Sokov excitedly agreed and said loudly into the microphone: "Comrade Commander, please rest assured, I will definitely send you the information in time." I’ll inform you of the fighting on the southern front.”
…………
The attack of the 4th Mechanized Army continued. Although Volski detached some of his forces to contain the German 29th Motorized Infantry Division on the flanks to reduce the pressure on the 13th Tank Army advancing towards the north, at the same time, they also continued. Advance towards the intended target to the north - Shet.
Standing in front of them were troops of the Romanian Sixth Army. The Romanian commander hiding in the trench saw the Soviet tanks rushing over and immediately ordered the anti-tank artillery to enter the position and use artillery fire to stop the Soviet assault.
Although the equipment of this unit cannot be compared with the German army, the quality of the artillery is not bad. After hearing the commander's shout, it only took them two or three minutes to aim the muzzle of the anti-tank gun at the advancing enemy. Soviet tanks, and based on the firing parameters provided by the artillery observer, opened fire without hesitation.
The shells landed in the queue of Soviet tanks and exploded. Pillars of mud filled with snow powder rose into the sky, and the flying shrapnel clanked on the bodies of the tanks. It's a pity that they have too few anti-tank guns. Although more than a dozen guns are firing desperately, the damage caused to the Soviet tank troops is minimal. Except for one unlucky tank whose tracks were blown off, the rest of the tanks are still running at full speed. Rushed towards the Romanian army's position.
When they were still three hundred meters away from the Romanian position, the Soviet tanks stopped one after another, aiming at the anti-tank guns in the distance and firing back. Dozens of tanks fired at the same time, and the artillery fire immediately covered the exposed Romanian anti-tank artillery positions. After only two rounds of shelling, all the anti-tank guns on the position were killed. The detonating shells blew the artillery near the blast point into pieces. The remaining artillery dared not stay, so they fled towards the back. I want to escape as far away as possible.
The anti-tank gun positions were destroyed, and the infantry hiding in the fortifications became lambs to be slaughtered. The machine gun in the civil firepower point had just fired half a round when it was blasted into the sky by Soviet tanks. Seeing their companions constantly being thrown into the sky by the air waves of shell explosions, and then being thrown down in pieces, the surviving Romanian soldiers either huddled in the trenches and shivered, or stretched out a white flag and waved it desperately, signaling that they wanted to surrender to the Soviet army. .
Seeing a white flag rising in the trench ahead, the Soviet tanks that stopped to fire started again, quickly passed over the enemy positions that had stopped resisting, and continued to advance. As for the surrendered Romanian officers and soldiers, they were received by the infantry who followed behind.
The smooth advance of the Mechanized 4th Army panicked the German officers and soldiers of the 29th Motorized Infantry Division. They were deeply afraid that the Soviet army would backtrack to their rear and cut off their retreat, so they deployed more troops to strengthen the defenses on the sides and rear. . Colonel Tanahishin, who had just commanded his troops to break through the enemy's first line of defense, saw that the enemy's strength on the front began to decrease. He felt that this was the best opportunity for an all-out attack, so he issued combat orders to several brigade commanders via radio. and the motorized infantry brigade made a frontal breakthrough, while the other two tank brigades detoured from the left and right wings, trying to break through the German defenses in the shortest possible time and wedge themselves into the depth of the enemy's defenses.
Although the officers and soldiers of the German 29th Motorized Infantry Division deployed a lot of troops to consolidate their flanks and rear, there were still a lot of troops on the front. In addition, some Romanian soldiers who fled were driven into the trenches by them, so there were enough troops to resist the Soviet attack.
Tanahishen's troops were divided into three groups and simultaneously launched a fierce attack on the enemy's defensive positions. The German troops who stood firm on the ground not only bombarded the advancing Soviet tanks with 75mm anti-tank guns, but also sent a large number of Romanian soldiers to rush forward with explosive bags and die with the Soviet tanks.
The German army's strategy of fighting regardless of casualties caused the Soviet army to lose more than 20 tanks and more than 300 commanders and fighters in less than a quarter of an hour. As for the enemy's losses, except for the nearly two hundred Romanian soldiers who were used as cannon fodder, the German casualties were single digits. Seeing that the attack was not going well, Tanahishen ordered the troops to suspend the attack and retreat first to make adjustments.
After the tank army retreated to a safe area, Tanahishen summoned his four brigade commanders and asked with a straight face: "Comrade brigade commanders, what are you doing? It's been so long. Why are you still doing this?" Didn’t they break through the German defenses?”
The commander of the Motorized Rifle Brigade said with a grimace: "Comrade Commander, the enemy's artillery fire is too fierce and poses a great threat to our trucks carrying soldiers. If the tanks cannot kill the enemy's artillery, our Motorized Rifle Brigade will not be able to charge forward at all."
"Yes, Comrade Commander." A tank brigade commander also cried bitterly, "The failure of our attack in the morning had a great impact on the morale of the soldiers. They were worried that the situation in the morning would happen again, so during the attack, It seems a bit hard to let go.”
"I don't want to hear about your difficulties. I just want to know when you can break through the enemy's defenses, move forward to the designated position, and occupy the overnight position?" Tanahishen said dissatisfied: "If it gets dark, you still can't do it." If you can’t break through the enemy’s defenses, then wait until you have to go to court-martial.”
Seeing that the 13th Tank Army was unable to break through the enemy's defense and open a gap for the follow-up troops, not only Tanakhishin was anxious, but even the commander of the 57th Group Army, Major General Tolbukhin, could not hold his breath. He personally called Tanahishin and asked dissatisfiedly: "Comrade Colonel, when will your tank army break through the enemy's defense and open a breakthrough for the follow-up troops?"
"Comrade Commander," Tanahishin replied sheepishly: "The enemy has strong defensive forces in the area where we are advancing, so that our two assaults were unsuccessful. I am summoning several brigade commanders at the moment. , discuss what methods to use to break through the enemy's defense."
"Comrade Colonel, it's getting late. I hope your army can move faster." Tolbukhin said impatiently: "If you can't open a breakthrough in the enemy's defense line in the shortest time, then the follow-up The troops can only stay where they are now and have nothing to do. Even if I don't tell you what consequences it will bring if you delay the opportunity to fight, you should understand it yourself, right?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Tanahishin looked flustered when he heard Tolbukhin's words: "We will definitely break through the enemy's defenses in the shortest possible time and open a breakthrough for the group army's follow-up troops. .”
"It's good that you have such confidence." Tolbukhin said briefly on the phone: "I'm waiting for your good news."
Seeing Tanahishen put down the microphone, the tank brigade commander who was responsible for the frontal attack said quickly: "Comrade Commander, if we don't get the support of artillery, it will be very difficult to break through the enemy's defense line. You know, they are not only There are anti-tank guns, and a large number of Romanian soldiers are sent to carry explosive bags or anti-tank grenades to deal with our tanks..."
"Comrade Brigade Commander, I have eyes." Tanahishin did not wait for the other party to finish speaking, and waved to interrupt what he was saying: "In order to deal with our tanks, the Germans asked Romanian soldiers to act as cannon fodder, holding explosive bags. Come and blow up our tanks. Although the machine guns on the tanks can destroy these enemies, the German anti-tank guns often take advantage of us to destroy the Romanian infantry. If we do not destroy the German anti-tank guns, we must continue Breaking forward is indeed a big problem.”
Seeing that his brigade commanders were all silent, Tanahishin realized that his tone might be too harsh. Who doesn't want to quickly break through the enemy's defenses and relieve the precarious Stalingrad? They had done their best, but he was still demanding them. He lowered his tone and said to the four brigade commanders: "Comrade brigade commanders, you all go back to your respective units. After fighting for such a long time, the commanders and soldiers should all be hungry. Now, let them take the time to eat something, drink some water, and prepare to continue fighting the enemy." He raised his hand and looked at his watch, "The next round of attack should start in one hour and thirty minutes."
"Yes!" The four brigade commanders agreed in unison, then turned and returned to their respective units.
The news that the attack in Tolbukhin was not going well was quickly fed back to the front army headquarters. After Yeremenko read the battle report, he handed it to Khrushchev who was sitting opposite him, looked at Major General Valennikov standing aside and asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff, how do you think we should help the 57th Army?" How about a group army to break through the enemy’s defenses?”
"Comrade Commander." Varennikov replied respectfully: "It takes too long for the artillery to move forward. I am afraid that by the time they feel the designated position, the organization of the 13th Tank Corps will be incomplete. Therefore, I suggest dispatching the air force to attack the enemy's fortifications and cover the forward assault of the 13th Tank Corps."
"Dispatching the air force?" After reading the battle report, Khrushchev turned to look at Varennikov and asked: "Is today's weather suitable for the air force to participate in the war?"
"Comrade Military Commissar!" Upon hearing Khrushchev's question, Varennikov quickly replied in a respectful tone: "The fog outside has dispersed. Although the sun has not risen yet, the visibility is still very high. Completely Fit for the Air Force to go into battle.”
"Well, since Comrade Chief of Staff said that the Air Force can be dispatched, let the Air Force help the 57th Group Army." After finishing speaking, Khrushchev turned to face Yeremenko and asked: "Comrade Commander, you Look, can you call General Khryugin, the commander of the 8th Air Force Army, and ask him to dispatch one or two attack aircraft from the aviation division to assist the 57th Army in breaking through the enemy's defenses?"
"No problem." Yeremenko nodded and said, "I will call General Khryugin right away and ask him to dispatch the air force to attack the enemy's defensive positions and cover the 57th Group Army's assault to the north."
A few minutes later, General Khryugin, who was staying at his headquarters, received a call from Yereomenko. When he heard Yereomenko's voice coming from the receiver, he instinctively glanced out the window to see if the weather outside was suitable for fighter planes to take off. After seeing clearly that the sky outside was still gloomy, there shouldn't be much of a problem in letting the fighter planes take off for combat. After confirming this, he asked with confidence: "Hello, Comrade Commander of the Front Army, what do you have? instruct?"
"Hello, General Khryugin!" Yeremenko said politely: "When Major General Tolbukhin's 57th Army advanced northward, it encountered a tenacious obstruction by the enemy. I would like to ask if you can dispatch attack aircraft. , rush over to support them?"
"How many attack aircraft need to be dispatched?"
"If possible, it is best to dispatch one or two aviation divisions." Seeing that Khryukin did not complain, Yeremenko knew that today's weather was completely suitable for fighter planes to take off for combat, so he said confidently: "Because you are not only It is necessary to support the 57th Group Army, which is frustrated in its attack, and at the same time, it is necessary to provide air cover for the 51st Group Army, which is slow to attack."
"No problem, Comrade Commander of the Front Army." Khryugin replied readily: "I immediately dispatched Colonel Mironenko's 290th Assault Aviation Division and Colonel Vitruk's 290th Assault Aviation Division to rush to "
"Hello, General Khryugin!" Yeremenko said politely: "When Major General Tolbukhin's 57th Army advanced northward, it encountered a tenacious obstruction by the enemy. I would like to ask if you can dispatch attack aircraft. , rush over to support them?"
"How many attack aircraft need to be dispatched?"
"If possible, it is best to dispatch one or two aviation divisions." Seeing that Khryukin did not complain, Yeremenko knew that today's weather was completely suitable for fighter planes to take off for combat, so he said confidently: "Because you are not only It is necessary to support the 57th Group Army, which is frustrated in its attack, and at the same time, it is necessary to provide air cover for the 51st Group Army, which is slow to attack."
"No problem, Comrade Commander of the Front Army." Khryugin replied readily: "I immediately dispatched Colonel Mironenko's 290th Assault Aviation Division and Colonel Vitruk's 290th Assault Aviation Division to rush to "
