Sokov knew that the train station in the south of the city was the key to tonight's battle. Similarly, Huot, who is far away in Kharkov, also understands this truth. He learned from General Kissina, the commander of the 57th Armored Corps who stayed in the city, that the train station in the south of the city had been lost, and he suddenly became angry.
Holt shouted into the phone receiver: "General Kissina, immediately order your troops to stop retreating and organize forces to take back the train station. If the station is lost, your people will not be able to leave Belgorod by train. , do you think your soldiers can escape from the pursuing Russians by marching on foot?"
"No." General Kissina replied simply: "If my troops leave the city on foot, they will be bombed and shelled by the Russians when they march into the open area. I'm afraid not many people will be alive by then. Arriving in Kharkiv.”
Holt was very satisfied with General Kissina's answer: "General, it's good that you understand this. Then what your troops will do next is to immediately counterattack the south railway station. By the way, you still have Are there any tanks that can be used?"
"Colonel Crisoli's 6th Armored Division still has more than thirty tanks. I can use these tanks to cover the infantry to retake the train station."
"Very well, General Kissena." Holt raised his voice and said, "Take action immediately, you don't have much time left."
A few minutes later, Colonel Crisoli's 6th Armored Division, covering two battalions of infantry, launched an attack on the train station.
Koida, who had just arrived at the train station, saw a swarm of enemies rushing toward the train station along the street from the other side of the city on the clock tower of the station. He quickly picked up the phone and called the troops at the station. Issue combat orders.
The commanders and fighters who received Koida's order waited until the enemy was still four to five hundred meters away from the station, then decisively launched new rockets to attack the enemy's offensive formation.
The rockets trailing long flame tails soared into the air from the defensive position in the station, and after drawing arcs in the air, they landed in the German ranks and exploded, forming a wide sea of fire that swept away the German troops attacking in a fan shape. Tanks and infantry were all wrapped up.
Although the rockets could not penetrate the armor of the German tanks, the fireballs generated by the explosions enveloped the tank bodies. Some tanks stopped and burned in the distance after traveling not far. The tank soldiers in the car got out in panic and fled towards the original starting position in embarrassment.
The worst thing was that the infantrymen who followed the tanks were either cut down by flying shrapnel, blown away by the air waves of the explosion, or were blown into flaming figures, scurrying around like headless flies.
The German attack came to an abrupt end after a round of Soviet rocket attacks. The tanks that had not been destroyed hurriedly reversed, eager to get out of this dangerous area. The soldiers who were not affected by the explosion saw the tanks starting to reverse, but they continued to rush forward regardless of life and death, so they quickly turned around and ran back.
Seeing the enemy fleeing, Koida gave the troops another order to launch a counterattack immediately.
As the order was given, the Soviet tanks hidden in the station rumbled out of their hiding places, chasing the Germans and firing artillery and machine guns, leaving the enemy bloody.
Although tanks of this era have a relatively low chance of hitting the target when firing while moving. But it also depends on the occasion. If it is a tank battle in the wild, it is basically impossible to hit a fast-moving opponent's tank while traveling. But now we are bombarding fleeing enemies on the street. Even if we fire the artillery while moving, we can still hit the dead mouse blindly, fall into the German infantry formation and explode, and the explosion will cause a large area.
Fortunately, Koida knew that this was only the enemy's first attack, and a new attack would be launched in the future. Therefore, the attacking troops chased for a while, then retreated to the station to fortify themselves, preparing for the next round of German attacks.
The fighting here at the train station was going smoothly, but the 254th Infantry Division's attack on the State Museum was not going well. The division commander, Colonel Shechtman, reported to Sokov by phone: "Comrade Commander, the enemy has built strong fortifications based on the museum, and the two attacks we launched were repelled by them."
After spending more than ten years in Russia, Sokov knew very well that the museums in this country were all stone buildings, and their sturdiness was no worse than the Reichstag Building in Berlin. Therefore, after learning that the 254th Division's attack had been frustrated, he did not force the opponent to continue attacking at any cost. Instead, he said to Shechtman: "Comrade Colonel, order your troops to temporarily stop the attack and take a short rest at the same place. After our artillery arrives, we will launch a new attack on the state museum."
"Comrade Commander, what do you need the artillery for?"
"What do the artillerymen do? Of course they bombard the state museum!"
Sokov's words startled Shechtman, and he hurriedly said: "Comrade Commander, there are important cultural relics stored in the state museum. Can you please stop using artillery bombardment? I can order the troops to try to attack again and destroy the contents inside." Drive out the enemies."
"Comrade Colonel," Sokov said seriously after Shechtman finished speaking: "To me, no matter how precious the cultural relics are, they are not as precious as the lives of our commanders and soldiers. The state museum was destroyed by artillery fire. When the war is over, we can rebuild; as for those cultural relics destroyed by the war, they should be the necessary price we pay to defend our great motherland. Also, I managed to replenish your division with troops not long ago. If we are to capture If all were lost in the battle at the State Museum, then your division may not be able to participate in the next stage of the battle.”
After hearing what Sokov said, Colonel Shechtman no longer insisted on his opinion and could only bite the bullet and replied: "I understand, Comrade Commander, I obey your order and will hide when the artillery arrives." All the enemies in the state museum were killed.”
Half an hour later, the heavy artillery regiment of the 1st Artillery Division arrived near the state museum. The leader of the regiment found Shechtman and reported to him: "Comrade Colonel, the heavy artillery regiment of the 1st Artillery Division has been ordered to arrive. I obey your order. Please give instructions!"
Schechtman pointed with his hand towards the state museum a few hundred meters away, gritted his back molars and said, "Comrade artillery lieutenant colonel, your mission is to aim at the state museum in front and fire at it to eliminate the enemies hiding inside."
When he saw that the target he wanted to bombard was actually the state museum with a tall and magnificent building, the muscles on the face of the commander of the heavy artillery regiment couldn't help but twitch violently twice, and then he said with some hesitation: "Comrade Colonel, that's our Belgo." The State Museum in Rhodes, if our artillery fire destroys the building, and if after the war someone asks who blew up the State Museum, how should I answer?"
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel of the Artillery, do you think I have the heart to destroy this building?" Seeing the heavy artillery regiment commander's resistance, Shechtman couldn't help but said angrily: "I am also following orders from my superiors. As for who will be responsible for causing state damage in the future?" You don’t need to worry about the responsibility for the museum’s collapse.”
Seeing Shechtman's anger, the commander of the heavy artillery regiment did not dare to continue arguing with him. Instead, he asked tentatively: "Comrade Colonel, I wonder where your soldiers closest to the state museum are?"
"It's on the square outside the state museum," Shechtman said: "It's not more than fifty meters away from the gate. Unfortunately, the enemy's firepower was too strong. They rushed several times without success."
"Comrade Colonel, you'd better ask your people to withdraw first." The commander of the heavy artillery regiment said to Shechtman: "Our regiment is equipped with heavy artillery, and if we shoot directly at such a close distance, I'm afraid it will cause accidental injury."
"Okay, I'll immediately order someone to tell them to stand back." Shechtman said, "You go ahead and set up artillery positions."
A quarter of an hour later, as the commanders and fighters hidden in the square withdrew one after another, 12 152mm howitzers aimed at the state museum opened fire simultaneously.
At such a close distance, even the strongest building cannot support it when bombarded by 152mm heavy artillery. After the five-minute shelling ended, the state museum building in the distance was riddled with holes and crumbling, as if whoever breathed a breath would cause the building to collapse.
Seeing that the solid buildings had been blown into ruins, the commanders and fighters of the 254th Division immediately jumped out of their hiding places, holding weapons and shouting "Ula!", rushed into the buildings that were still billowing black smoke, and eliminated those The enemy who was lucky enough not to be killed and still tried to resist.
When Shechtman saw that he had been unable to capture the state museum and completely destroyed the enemy's resistance with just one shelling, he couldn't help but secretly praise Sokov's decision. Seeing his troops pouring into the ruins of the State Museum, he knew it was only a matter of time before he captured it.
He ordered someone to find the commander of the heavy artillery regiment. After first praising him, he then asked with a smile: "Comrade Artillery Lieutenant Colonel, the state museum is just one of our targets. Our next step is to attack a nearby school. I hope I can get your help, is that okay?"
"Comrade Colonel," the commander of the heavy artillery regiment said politely, "our regiment is attached to your division for combat. If you need anything, just ask, and I won't say anything."
"Well, our next attack target is a state school seven hundred meters away in the southeast. I hope you can cooperate with us in attacking there."
Since buildings like the Lianzhou Museum are said to be destroyed, what's the big deal about a state school. After the commander of the heavy artillery regiment waited for Shechtman to finish speaking, he nodded and said, "Comrade Colonel, please rest assured. I promise to destroy the state school and eliminate the enemies entrenched inside in the shortest possible time."
When he saw that the target he wanted to bombard was actually the state museum with a tall and magnificent building, the muscles on the face of the commander of the heavy artillery regiment couldn't help but twitch violently twice, and then he said with some hesitation: "Comrade Colonel, that's our Belgo." The State Museum in Rhodes, if our artillery fire destroys the building, and if after the war someone asks who blew up the State Museum, how should I answer?"
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel of the Artillery, do you think I have the heart to destroy this building?" Seeing the heavy artillery regiment commander's resistance, Shechtman couldn't help but said angrily: "I am also following orders from my superiors. As for who will be responsible for causing state damage in the future?" You don’t need to worry about the responsibility for the museum’s collapse.”
Seeing Shechtman's anger, the commander of the heavy artillery regiment did not dare to continue arguing with him. Instead, he asked tentatively: "Comrade Colonel, I wonder where your soldiers closest to the state museum are?"
"It's on the square outside the state museum," Shechtman said: "It's not more than fifty meters away from the gate. Unfortunately, the enemy's firepower was too strong. They rushed several times without success."
"Comrade Colonel, you'd better ask your people to withdraw first." The commander of the heavy artillery regiment said to Shechtman: "Our regiment is equipped with heavy artillery, and if we shoot directly at such a close distance, I'm afraid it will cause accidental injury."
"Okay, I'll immediately order someone to tell them to stand back." Shechtman said, "You go ahead and set up artillery positions."
A quarter of an hour later, as the commanders and fighters hidden in the square withdrew one after another, 12 152mm howitzers aimed at the state museum opened fire simultaneously.
At such a close distance, even the strongest building cannot support it when bombarded by 152mm heavy artillery. After the five-minute shelling ended, the state museum building in the distance was riddled with holes and crumbling, as if whoever breathed a breath would cause the building to collapse.
Seeing that the solid buildings had been blown into ruins, the commanders and fighters of the 254th Division immediately jumped out of their hiding places, shouted "Ula" with their weapons in hand, rushed into the buildings with billowing black smoke, and eliminated those The enemy who was lucky enough not to be killed and still tried to resist.
When Shechtman saw that he had been unable to capture the state museum and completely destroyed the enemy's resistance with just one shelling, he couldn't help but secretly praise Sokov's decision. Seeing his troops pouring into the ruins of the State Museum, he knew it was only a matter of time before he captured it.
He ordered someone to find the commander of the heavy artillery regiment. After first praising him, he then asked with a smile: "Comrade Artillery Lieutenant Colonel, the state museum is just one of our targets. Our next step is to attack a nearby school. I hope I can get your help, is that okay?"
"Comrade Colonel," the commander of the heavy artillery regiment said politely, "our regiment is attached to your division for combat. If you need anything, just ask, and I won't say anything."
"Well, our next attack target is a state school seven hundred meters away in the southeast. I hope you can cooperate with us in attacking there."
Since buildings like the Lianzhou Museum are said to be destroyed, what's the big deal about a state school. The commander of the heavy artillery regiment waited for Shechtman to finish speaking, then nodded and said, "Comrade Colonel, please rest assured. I promise to destroy the state school and eliminate the enemies entrenched inside in the shortest possible time."
After capturing the state museum, it was natural to report to the army headquarters to let Sokov know the results of the battle.
