Sokov has always attached great importance to intelligence work. He knows very well that only by knowing yourself and the enemy can you achieve victory in every battle. Therefore, as long as the troops arrive in a new area, he will desperately send batches of scouts to conduct reconnaissance of the German army's troop deployment and equipment.
As soon as Tansen's troops began to gather, Sokov received intelligence from scouts coming from behind the enemy's rear. After reading the information, he handed it to Zhukov: "Comrade Marshal, look, according to the report of our scouts, the 2nd Armored Regiment, 2nd Artillery Regiment, 2nd Motorized Battalion and 3rd Grenadier Regiment of the Imperial Division are Assembling, I’m afraid they will launch an attack on our defense line soon.”
"As far as I know," Zhukov reminded Sokov after seeing the intelligence from the scouts: "The artillery regiments of the Imperial Division are equipped with 150 mm large-caliber artillery. You only have simple defensive positions that can carry Can you withstand their bombardment?"
Zhukov's concerns were correct. If the Germans used such large-caliber artillery for bombardment, even the defense fortifications built of reinforced concrete might be destroyed, let alone the field fortifications built in a hurry by Sokov and his colleagues.
Sokov did not immediately answer Zhukov's question, but turned to Khokhlov who was standing aside: "Comrade Colonel, has your division built anti-slope fortifications on the back of the hill?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Upon hearing Sokov's question, Khokhlov quickly stepped forward and replied: "According to your order, we have built anti-slope positions behind each hill position. Once under bombardment, soldiers can quickly retreat to anti-slope positions along the communication trenches on both sides of the hill."
"Anti-slope position?" Zhukov had a puzzled expression on his face.
Sukov guessed that Zhukov might not understand the true purpose of the anti-slope position, so he explained to him: "Comrade Marshal, when the enemy is bombarded by us, he usually temporarily abandons the first line of defense and moves along the communication trench to the second line of defense. The second line of defense allowed our army's artillery shells to hit uninhabited places. After a long period of shelling, except for the destruction of part of the fortifications, the number of German troops killed was very limited.
The anti-slope position I proposed was based on this approach of the Germans. I ordered the troops to build anti-slope positions behind the hill positions to be defended. Once the enemy began to shell our positions on a large scale, our commanders and fighters quickly moved along the communication trenches to the anti-slope positions. The enemy's artillery shells can hit the frontal defensive positions, but it is difficult to hit the anti-slope positions behind the hills, thus minimizing the casualties of our army when being bombarded. "
"If the enemy secretly approaches the foot of the hill during the shelling. As soon as the shelling stops, he will immediately attack your position on the hill. I am afraid that before you can react, the enemy has already occupied your position."
"It's okay, Comrade Marshal." Regarding Zhukov's worries, Sokov explained to him: "Even if our army is avoiding artillery fire and the enemy occupies a position on the top of the mountain, there is nothing to worry about. We are hiding in the anti-slope fortifications. The commander can throw grenades at enemies on the top of the mountain, causing great damage to them.
As for the enemies occupying the top of the mountain, they want to drop bombs on our soldiers, but it is difficult for them to accurately drop bombs into the trenches below. If the enemy wants to charge downward, the limitations of the terrain will prevent them from moving quickly, and our commanders and soldiers hidden in the trenches will want to kill them one by one like target practice. "
Zhukov continued to ask a few more questions, and Sokov answered them without hesitation. After listening to Sokov's answer, Zhukov nodded and said approvingly: "Misha, it seems you have considered it very comprehensively."
Sokov did not speak, but just grinned, thinking that this counter-slope tactic had actually been implemented by him on Mamayev Hill during the Battle of Stalingrad, otherwise he would avoid the German army from attacking one after another. Despite the ferocious attack, no matter how many troops he had, he could not ensure that Mamayev Heights would not be occupied by the enemy.
"The area where the Imperial Division is currently located is only a dozen or twenty kilometers away from you. If you advance quickly along the highway, you can enter your defense area in up to an hour and a half." Zhukov said to Sokov: "You guys are not so quick. Do you want to get ready?"
"Comrade Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel Goryachkin's 564th Regiment is deployed at the forefront, right?" Sokov asked Khokhlov: "Are they ready for battle?"
"Report to Comrade Commander," Khokhlov replied: "The troops should all be resting in the shelter at the moment. There are special observation posts on the hills to monitor the surrounding environment. Once they find that the enemy is approaching, they will quickly send out a battle alarm. .”
"Comrade Colonel," Zhukov waited for Khokhlov to finish and then asked, "How big is the observation area of your observation post?"
"Comrade Marshal, the altitude of the hill where we are stationed is 107.9 meters. The observation post on the top of the mountain can observe movements within a radius of ten kilometers." Khokhlov explained to Zhukov: "As soon as they find the enemy appears, they will A combat alert was issued immediately. Our officers and soldiers resting in the shelter still had enough time to enter their respective defensive positions after hearing the combat alert."
While he was talking, the phone on the table rang. Sokov picked it up and found it was Lieutenant Colonel Goryachkin calling. After he heard Sokov's voice, he said anxiously: "Comrade Commander, the observation post just reported to me that German tanks and armored vehicles appeared in the distance and were coming towards our defense area along the road."
"How many tanks and armored vehicles does the enemy have?" Sokov asked expressionlessly: "Have you personally verified it?"
"It has been verified." Goryachkin said: "I personally went to the observation post on the top of the mountain and carefully observed it with a telescope. There were about fifty enemy tanks, as well as a large number of armored vehicles, motorcycles and trucks. They were walking along the road. If they advance towards us along the highway, they will be able to enter our defense area in less than an hour."
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, have you taken any countermeasures?" Sokov asked.
"I have issued a combat alert to the troops and ordered the soldiers to take positions. At the same time, several anti-tank groups have been deployed on the roadside."
Sokov knew about the last battle, which made Goryachkin realize that deploying anti-tank teams on the roadside could destroy enemy tanks more effectively. But this made the situation of the anti-tank team dangerous, so he reminded the other party: "Remember to send manpower to protect the safety of the anti-tank team."
