Koida's analysis was correct. Although the troops could not carry landmines when they attacked, it was impossible for his regimental commanders to order the soldiers to throw away such precious materials. Instead, they found a place to hide them and found them again when they were ready to use them. return.
Lieutenant Colonel Majevo, the commander of the 562nd Regiment who was appointed as the commander-in-chief of the former enemy, immediately ordered people to call the other two regiment commanders over after receiving Koida's order and said to them: "Comrade commanders, Although the enemy has stopped attacking because of darkness, they will definitely attack again when it gets light, so we must repair the fortifications overnight and lay out minefields in front of the position to prevent the enemy's infantry from approaching."
"Majevo," as soon as Majewo finished speaking, Lieutenant Colonel Kleba, commander of the 564th Regiment, spoke: "Where should we look for mines to lay out this damn minefield?"
"Lieutenant Colonel Kleba," Majewo said while looking at the other party: "I know that your regiment still has a lot of mines. Before launching the attack on the German 3rd Armored Division during the day, they found places to hide. If there were no minefields Once the German army launches an attack, they will rush to our position in the shortest possible time."
In fact, Kleba also understood what Majewo said, but when he thought about the place where the mines were hidden, which was almost ten kilometers away from here, he felt a faint headache: "Majewo, the place where we hid the mines is about ten kilometers away from here. It's about ten kilometers. If we go back to fetch mines now, and it takes almost a night, then who will repair the fortifications destroyed by enemy shells?"
Before Majewo could answer, Lieutenant Colonel Kashatkin, the leader of the 568th Regiment, who was sitting silently beside him, said: "I think the task of removing landmines should be left to our regiment."
He must have been worried that Majewo would not agree, and he specifically added: "The two regiment commanders, comrades, should be very clear that our regiment suffered huge losses when it took over the defense of the 305th Division and resisted the Skeleton Division's attack. Now the entire regiment There are less than two hundred people left. With such a small number of troops used to repair fortifications, it may be a little less, but for carrying supplies, I think it is still enough."
"Majevo!" Hearing what Kashatkin said, Kleba did not express his opinion immediately, but turned to look at Majewoko: "What do you think?"
"I think it's okay." Majewo nodded after hearing this, and said to Kleba: "Now you and I have relatively large numbers of troops, and they are perfect for carrying out defensive tasks. As for the ones who carry mines I think I’ll leave the job to Lieutenant Colonel Kashatkin’s 568th Regiment.”
After the three regiment leaders reached a consensus, they immediately divided their troops into two groups. The group was led by Kashatkin, and under the guidance of the guide of the 564th Regiment, they headed to the area where the 564th Regiment concealed mines; the remaining people raced against time to repair the defenses on the position.
Kashatkin understood the importance of mines in defensive warfare, so after setting off, he immediately ordered the infantry to march quickly. It took less than two hours to reach the ten-kilometer road.
Under the guidance of their guide, they dug out the mines hidden by the 564th Regiment. When Kashatkin was about to order the troops to return, the commander of the third battalion under him said to him: "Comrade commander, the brothers have traveled such a long way. If they don't take a rest and return immediately, I'm afraid they won't be able to return to the position before they can return." , you will be exhausted."
Kashatkin knew that the third battalion commander was telling the truth. The troops made a sneak attack on the enemy in Kochetovka last night, and launched an attack on the German 3rd Armored Division that was under artillery fire during the day. As soon as the battle ended, they rushed to the defensive position set up by the 81st Guards Division without stopping. Not to mention that the soldiers were exhausted, even Kashatkin was exhausted.
For a moment, he almost blurted out the order to order the troops to rest in place, but fortunately, his reason stopped him in time. He shook his head and said to the third battalion commander: "Comrade Major, I also want the soldiers to have a good rest. But it won't work. If we can't transport the mines back in time and complete the minefield before the enemy's attack begins, Laying. Once the German ground attack begins, they can quickly advance to the vicinity of our positions."
After saying these words to the third battalion commander, Kashatkin called the soldiers together again and said to them sincerely: "Comrades and brothers, I know that after successive fierce battles, everyone is exhausted. I also want to Let everyone have a good rest and then move things back to the position. But it won’t work, comrades, it won’t work. If we can’t transport the mines back on time and lay out the minefields, then the Germans will easily attack during the day. They rushed to our position..."
Kashatkin's words made the soldiers aware of their responsibilities. A soldier stepped forward and said loudly to Kashatkin: "Comrade commander, don't worry, no matter how tired we are, we will transport all these mines back to the defensive position in the shortest possible time. Give us the order!" "
As soon as the soldier finished speaking, a neat voice came from the queue: "Comrade leader, please give the order!"
Kashatkin felt very pleased to see his warriors being so reasonable. After nodding slightly, he waved his hand and announced loudly: "Let's go!"
While the commanders and fighters of the 188th Division were nervously preparing for battle, Sokov, who was far away in the headquarters on the Pushor River, was not idle either. He had just received the telegram from Sameko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, when will the 182nd and 384th Divisions, as well as the two divisions transferred back from the east, arrive at the blocking location?"
"Major General Gritsenko, commander of the 384th Division, reported that his troops are now less than eight kilometers away from the blocking position and can reinforce the 188th Division at any time." After reporting the situation, Samyko hesitated and said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, do you really plan to put the 182nd Division into battle now?"
Sokov raised his head and looked at Samek, surprised: "Chief of Staff, is there something wrong?"
"Comrade Commander, you should still remember that a few days ago we just added a group of old and weak soldiers to the 182nd Division, which seriously diluted the combat effectiveness of the unit." Sameko felt that this was not the time to put the 182nd Division into battle. He persuaded: "What we need are people with fighting ability, not just numbers. If these untrained old people and children are thrown into the battlefield, it is equivalent to letting them die."
He was deeply afraid that his reason could not convince Sokov. After thinking for a moment, he added: "Also, Asia is also in the 182nd Division now. Aren't you worried that the last capture incident will happen again? ?"
The last time Asia was captured, it was always a thorn in Sokov's heart. Now his existence plays a decisive role in the war situation. Once one day, your role is not as great as it is now, there is no guarantee that no one will use this matter to attack you. But if Asiya is captured for the second time, I'm afraid it won't help even if he personally endorses her.
After thinking about this, Sokov couldn't help but become hesitant. He tapped his fingers lightly on the table, thinking rapidly in his mind on how to avoid Asiya's fate of being captured again.
"Comrade Commander," seeing Sokov's gloomy look, Lunev came over and said to Sokov with a smile: "I also think the chief of staff is right. The 182nd Division is indeed not suitable to participate at the moment. Such a fight."
"Why?" Sokov asked.
"Comrade Commander, you should know that what we want to block is Hoth's Panzer Army." Samyko cautiously said to Sokov: "He has two armored armies, the 48th and the 57th, and the Grossdeutschland Division under his command. It was just one of the division-level units, but it caused us such huge casualties. If the Germans pressed the entire army in order to prevent us from cutting off their retreat, let alone the 182nd Division, whose combat effectiveness would be severely diluted. Troops, even the most elite divisions, cannot stop the enemy's attack."
Seeing that Sokov was deep in thought after listening to Lunev's words, Samyko quickly struck while the iron was hot and said: "Comrade Commander, I think Comrade Military Commissar is right, even if the 182nd Division enters the blocking position, it will Their current combat effectiveness cannot stop the German attack at all."
Since neither Luniev nor Samyko agreed to put the 182nd Division into battle, Sokov's insistence was not so firm: "Chief of Staff, what do you think?"
Samyko understood Sokov's character. Now that he had given the order to the 182nd Division to go into battle, if he were to suddenly change his ways, he would probably be unable to step down. So he said euphemistically: "Comrade Commander, even if the 182nd Division does not engage in blocking battles, they still have other tasks to complete. For example, we use the main force of the group army to block the enemy, and the original defensive areas have changed. If we are left empty, why not let Colonel Khokhlov’s troops be responsible for the defense of these areas. What do you think?”
When Lunev heard what Samyko said, he quickly applauded: "Comrade Commander, I think this proposal from the Chief of Staff is a good one. Why don't we let the troops of the 182nd Division take over the defense of other troops and do a good job in the defense of these areas?" .”
Sokov secretly pondered in his mind and felt that this was a solution that had the best of both worlds. It would not allow the 182nd Division with weak combat effectiveness to take risks, but it could also solve the problem of empty troops in the original defense area after the troops were transferred. Thinking of this, he nodded and said to Sameko: "Chief of Staff, what you said makes sense, then let the 182nd Division be responsible for the defense of the rear. In addition, you can send telegrams to the 84th and 254th Divisions to let them They increased their speed and continued to move closer to the 188th Division and the 81st Guards Division, making sure to prevent the Germans from escaping back to Belgorod."
Seeing that Sokov agreed to his suggestion, Samyko happily agreed and got up to send telegrams to several division commanders. As soon as Samyko left, Lunev whispered to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, do you think that if we gather all the troops, we can stop Hott's Armored Group Army?"
"Comrade Military Commissar," Sokov looked to the left and right and saw that the staff and communications soldiers were far away. He should not be able to hear the conversation between him and Lunev, but he was cautious and still lowered his voice and said: "I secretly Let me tell you, even if all our armies are wiped out, Hott’s Armored Army cannot be left behind.”
"Ah?!" Although Sokov's answer had long been expected by Runev, when he actually heard Sokov's clear answer, he was still surprised: "Are we just watching the enemy escape?" Going back to Belgorod?”
"Comrade Commander, you should know that what we want to block is Hoth's Panzer Army." Samyko cautiously said to Sokov: "He has two armored armies, the 48th and the 57th, and the Grossdeutschland Division under his command. It was just one of the division-level units, but it caused us such huge casualties. If the Germans pressed the entire army in order to prevent us from cutting off their retreat, let alone the 182nd Division, whose combat effectiveness would be severely diluted. Troops, even the most elite divisions, cannot stop the enemy's attack."
Seeing that Sokov was deep in thought after listening to Lunev's words, Samyko quickly struck while the iron was hot and said: "Comrade Commander, I think Comrade Military Commissar is right, even if the 182nd Division enters the blocking position, it will Their current combat effectiveness cannot stop the German attack at all."
Since neither Luniev nor Samyko agreed to put the 182nd Division into battle, Sokov's insistence was not so firm: "Chief of Staff, what do you think?"
Samyko understood Sokov's character. Now that he had given the order to the 182nd Division to go into battle, if he were to suddenly change his ways, he would probably be unable to step down. So he said euphemistically: "Comrade Commander, even if the 182nd Division does not engage in blocking battles, they still have other tasks to complete. For example, we use the main force of the group army to block the enemy, and the original defensive areas have changed. If we are left empty, why not let Colonel Khokhlov’s troops be responsible for the defense of these areas. What do you think?”
When Lunev heard what Samyko said, he quickly applauded: "Comrade Commander, I think this proposal from the Chief of Staff is a good one. Why don't we let the troops of the 182nd Division take over the defense of other troops and do a good job in the defense of these areas?" .”
Sokov secretly pondered in his mind and felt that this was a solution that had the best of both worlds. It would not allow the 182nd Division with weak combat effectiveness to take risks, but it could also solve the problem of empty troops in the original defense area after the troops were transferred. Thinking of this, he nodded and said to Sameko: "Chief of Staff, what you said makes sense, then let the 182nd Division be responsible for the defense of the rear. In addition, you can send telegrams to the 84th and 254th Divisions to let them They increased their speed and continued to move closer to the 188th Division and the 81st Guards Division, making sure to prevent the Germans from escaping back to Belgorod."
Seeing that Sokov agreed to his suggestion, Samyko happily agreed and got up to send telegrams to several division commanders. As soon as Samyko left, Lunev whispered to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, do you think we can stop Hott's Armored Group with all our troops together?"
"Comrade Military Commissar," Sokov looked to the left and right and saw that the staff and communications soldiers were far away. He should not be able to hear the conversation between him and Lunev, but he was cautious and still lowered his voice and said: "I secretly Let me tell you, even if all our armies are wiped out, Hott’s Armored Army cannot be left behind.”
"Ah?!" Although Sokov's answer had long been expected by Runev, when he actually heard Sokov's clear answer, he was still surprised: "Are we just watching the enemy escape?" Going back to Belgorod?" "Huh?!" Although Sokov's answer had long been expected by Runev, he was still surprised when he actually heard Sokov's clear answer: "Are we going to watch the enemy flee back to Belgorod?"
