The Il-2 fighter pilot in the air spotted a small convoy on the ground and saw a barrel truck sandwiched between an armored vehicle and two trucks. He guessed that there must be an important mission in the truck and pushed the joystick to dive from a high altitude. Come down.
This is a two-seat IL-2 attack aircraft. The pilot sitting in the front is only responsible for flying. As for the task of ground attack, the attacker sitting in the back is completed.
After the attacker locked the barrel truck that was making a zigzag with the scope, he fired two rockets without hesitation. Unexpectedly, the barrel truck drove too fast and the rocket it launched failed to hit the target. One rocket landed more than 20 meters away from the left side of the barrel truck and exploded. A large amount of black soil and white snow powder were thrown into the air by the air waves; while the other rocket directly hit a truck behind, knocking it out. It exploded into a ball of fire.
The burning truck used its inertia to drive forward for more than ten meters before stopping. Several soldiers who were on fire jumped out of the truck. They screamed and jumped up and down, sometimes falling down and sometimes standing up, like headless men. It scurried around like flies until it finally fell motionless in the snow.
Although a German truck was blown up, the pilot was obviously not satisfied with the result. He raised the plane again, circled in the air, and then dived down again, strafing and firing rockets at several vehicles that were quickly escaping into the woods.
The attacker used a 20mm cannon to penetrate the armored vehicle's weak top armor, turning it into a burning torch. The two rockets fired again failed to hit the escaping barrel truck due to insufficient accuracy. However, the air wave from the explosion overturned another truck and threw all the German soldiers on board into the snow. .
Roski, who was sitting in the car, saw that the armored car and two trucks protecting him had been killed by Soviet attack aircraft. He was so frightened that he kept urging the driver: "Drive faster, drive faster!"
Even though the distance from the road to the woods is less than two kilometers, due to the thick snow and tree stumps buried in the snow, the driver had to carefully circumvent these obstacles, which affected the speed of the vehicle. Seeing the attack aircraft in the sky chasing him relentlessly, the driver thought pessimistically that he was doomed this time, and shouted without looking back: "Mr. Commander, the situation is not good, you should jump out of the car quickly!"
Roskai saw the Soviet planes chasing him. Although he was nervous, he was lucky. He felt that his car could rush into the woods smoothly, so he just sat in the car without moving. The division chief of staff sitting nearby wanted to jump out of the car, but saw that the division commander didn't move. As the chief of staff, he couldn't escape by himself. At this moment, when he heard the driver's shout, he quickly shouted at Luo Kai: "Your Excellency, Commander, jump out of the car quickly. If you don't jump, it will be too late."
When the barrel truck drove less than fifty meters away from the woods, it looked like Roskay and the others were about to be saved, but one of the last two rockets fired by the attacker on the attack plane directly hit the barrel truck. After an explosion, the rear wheels of the barrel truck, which was covered with fire, flew into the air, somersaulted forward, and fell heavily on the snow. The four wheels were upside down and began to burn. Seeing that the barrel truck was destroyed by rockets, the pilot of the attack plane flew the plane in a circle in the sky and then turned around and flew east.
Five or six of the German soldiers who fell from the second truck were slightly injured. As soon as they struggled to get up from the snow, they saw the division commander's car being destroyed by a Soviet attack plane. They were so frightened that they ran toward the burning barrel truck without caring about rescuing their injured companions.
They ran to the bucket truck, picked up the snow on the ground, and threw it towards the bucket truck, trying to put out the fire quickly. However, this little snow was nothing but a drop in the bucket for the burning barrel truck. Not only did the fire not weaken, but it actually got bigger and bigger. The searing waves of air made them feel breathless.
"Help!" Just when the soldiers felt desperate, a faint cry came from the snowdrift not far away: "Who come to save me!"
A soldier with sharp ears followed the sound and saw an officer wearing a military coat lying in a snowdrift. He took a closer look and saw that the officer was none other than the division commander, Major General Roski. He quickly shouted to his companion not far away: "The teacher is here."
After shouting, the soldier quickly ran to Luo Kai's side and squatted down, carefully helped him sit up, and asked with concern: "Your Excellency, division commander, are you okay?"
"I may have broken a few ribs," Roski said with a painful expression, then asked: "How are the Chief of Staff and the others doing?"
"The barrel truck was blown up." The soldier replied: "Everyone in the truck was burned to death. Your Excellency, division commander, how did you escape?"
"I was pushed down by the Chief of Staff." Roskay sighed and said with a painful expression: "He may have seen the rockets launched by the Russians flying towards our barrel truck, and he took me out of the car at the critical moment. Pushed out.”
…………
Not to mention the fact that Sokov of Mamayev Kurgan didn't know about the results achieved by the attack aircraft, even the pilots who carried out the attack didn't know about it. They almost killed a big shot in the German army. On their way back, they reported to their superiors in accordance with the doctrine and destroyed a German armored vehicle, a barrel truck and two trucks. The results of the battle have been confirmed.
Sokov is in timely contact with the front line via telephone or walkie-talkie to understand the progress of the attacking troops. Just as the three regiments successively occupied the German positions and were clearing out the remaining enemies, Chuikov called.
Sokov thought that Chuikov was calling to inquire about the progress of the troops, so he took the initiative to report: "Comrade Commander, I was just about to call you to report to you on the progress of our division."
Chuikov asked in surprise: "So, you have captured the German third line of defense? What are the casualties of the attacking troops? Can they continue to advance?"
"Comrade Commander, although our division's troops were hit by enemy long-range artillery fire during their attack on the enemy's position, the casualties caused to us were limited due to the small number of artillery they used." Sokov said. He reported with a normal expression: "After clearing the remaining enemies on the position, they will continue to move forward, choose a suitable location, and build new defenses."
"Colonel Sokov, you did a good job." After hearing Sokov's report, Chuikov first praised him, and then continued: "I'm calling you because I have good news for you."
good news? ! When Sokov heard what Chuikov said, his eyes lit up and he quickly asked: "Comrade Commander, has the Left Bank sent us new reinforcements?"
"Uh, is that true?" Sokov's words made Chuikov silent for a moment, and then he replied sheepishly: "The good news I mentioned has nothing to do with the reinforcements."
After learning that there were no reinforcements, Sokov suddenly lost interest in the so-called good news. However, out of politeness, he still asked politely: "Comrade Commander, I wonder what the good news you are talking about is about?"
"Our communications troops intercepted the German message. Paulus has ordered the 76th Infantry Division to evacuate its existing positions and move to the Don River defense line..."
Sokov knew that he was facing the German 71st and 76th Infantry Divisions. As soon as he heard that the 76th Division had been allowed to retreat, before Chuikov could finish speaking, he asked: "What about the 71st Division? They Have you also received an order to retreat?”
"No, the order Paulus gave them was to organize a blockade on the spot so that our army could not pursue their retreat." Chuikov added: "The good news I want to say is related to the 71st Infantry Division. .”
Hearing that Chuikov's good news was related to the 71st Infantry Division, Sokov immediately aroused Sokov's interest: "Comrade Commander, what kind of good news is it? Please tell me quickly."
"Actually, what I could have said a long time ago is that you kept interrupting me, preventing me from getting to the point." In response to Sokov's urging, Chuikov said helplessly: "According to the intelligence we intercepted, one of our An attack aircraft that penetrated deep into the enemy's rear attacked the moving convoy of the 71st Infantry Division Commander Major General Roskai, destroying an armored vehicle, a barrel truck and two trucks. More than fifty Faxi Temple bandits were eliminated, and the division commander Major General Roski was seriously wounded and the division chief of staff was killed on the spot.”
"Our pilots are really great." Sokov waited for Chuikov to finish and immediately suggested to him: "Comrade Commander, I think the creative pilots should be awarded medals in recognition of their great achievements."
"What do you need to say? After learning this news, not only the Air Force Group will award the pilots of the attack aircraft, but also the front army headquarters will also award them." After Chuikov said this, he finally got back to the topic: "Since Ross Kai was seriously injured. Presumably, the command system of the 71st Infantry Division will fall into chaos in a short period of time. Colonel Sokov, how about it, you didn’t consider expanding the results?"
"Comrade Commander." Although what Chuikov said did make sense, Sokov would never risk his troops and Mamayev Heights for safety reasons, so he waited for the other party to finish speaking. He said cautiously: "If the person who was seriously injured was not Major General Rosky but Paulus, I could have my troops rush forward desperately, or even rush to the bank of the Don River and choose a suitable location to build defenses. , waiting for the friendly forces heading south or north to come and join forces.
However, now only one division commander was seriously injured. Even if his unit fell into chaos due to command failure, there was only one division after all. Sokov analyzed calmly to Chuikov: "As for the German troops on the left and right wings, once they sense that our division's flanks are empty, they are likely to take the opportunity to launch an attack from both wings, cutting off and encircling our offensive troops." By then, not only will the attacking troops suffer serious losses, but even Mamayev Hill may not be able to be saved. "
The cold water that Sokov poured on Chuikov made him regain his senses. He thought for a moment, forced a smile on his face, and said to Sokov with some embarrassment: "Colonel Sokov, you are right. Even if we are capable of annihilating the German 71st Infantry Division, their The overall strength is still strong, and it is not something that one of your divisions can handle. Well, as for where to stop the attack, it is up to you, I wish you good luck!"
After Sokov put down the phone, he said to Sidorin and Ivanov: "Chief of Staff, Deputy Division Commander, let me tell you good news. Our air force attacked the retreating convoy of the German 71st Division Commander Roskai and bombed it. All the vehicles were destroyed, the division chief of staff was killed, and even Roskai was seriously injured." Upon hearing the good news, Sidorin and Ivanov couldn't help but show joy on their faces.
Sokov pointed his hand towards Sidorin and ordered him: "Chief of Staff, you immediately notify the three regiment commanders. Except for leaving a few troops to eliminate the remaining enemies, the rest of the troops will follow the tanks and continue to rush into the depth of the German army." Before dark, we must choose a suitable location to stop the attack and build fortifications to prevent possible German counterattacks.”
After giving instructions to Sidorin, Sokov said to Ivanov: "Comrade Deputy Division Commander, you are responsible for liaison with the Air Force. Please tell the Air Force commander who is directing the battle so that they can cooperate with the ground troops' attack. In addition to In addition to helping us destroy the enemy's solid defenses, if we discover the enemy's artillery positions and tank assembly points, we must prioritize the attack. Only by eliminating these technical equipment that pose the greatest threat to our army can we minimize the casualties of our attacking troops. "
"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Ivanov has been working with Sokov for so long, so he naturally knows that he values the lives of the soldiers and will not let them make unnecessary sacrifices, so he replied confidently: "I will never let you down."
After Sokov put down the phone, he said to Sidorin and Ivanov: "Chief of Staff, Deputy Division Commander, let me tell you good news. Our air force attacked the retreating convoy of the German 71st Division Commander Roskai and bombed it. All the vehicles were destroyed, the division chief of staff was killed, and even Roskai was seriously injured." Upon hearing the good news, Sidorin and Ivanov couldn't help but show joy on their faces.
Sokov pointed his hand at Sidorin and ordered him: "Chief of Staff, you immediately notify the three regiment commanders. Except for leaving a few troops to eliminate the remaining enemies, the rest of the troops will follow the tanks and continue to rush into the depth of the German army." Before dark, we must choose a suitable location to stop the attack and build fortifications to prevent possible German counterattacks.”
After giving instructions to Sidorin, Sokov said to Ivanov: "Comrade Deputy Division Commander, you are responsible for liaison with the Air Force. Please tell the Air Force commander who is directing the battle so that they can cooperate with the ground troops' attack. In addition to In addition to helping us destroy the enemy's solid defenses, if we discover the enemy's artillery positions and tank assembly points, we must prioritize the attack. Only by eliminating these technical equipment that pose the greatest threat to our army can we minimize the casualties of our attacking troops. "
"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Ivanov has been working with Sokov for so long, so he naturally knows that he values the lives of the soldiers and will not let them make unnecessary sacrifices, so he replied confidently: "I will never let you down."
