After figuring out what was going on, Major Bunch blushed with shame. He put down the phone and said to Chuklico who was standing next to him: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, the situation is all clear. The reason why the enemy's shelling stopped is entirely because Their artillery positions were bombarded by my powerful air force."
After figuring out the truth, Chuklico asked Major Bunch for his opinion: "Comrade Brigade Commander, what should we do next? After completing the assembly, should we continue to attack the remaining bunkers?"
"Does this need to be said?" Major Bunch raised his voice and said: "The time for us to take revenge has come. We must immediately gather our troops and launch a new offensive against the remaining places."
After the new round of offensive began, not only the tanks and infantry performed extremely bravely, but the German shelling just now caused a lot of casualties to the troops. All the officers and soldiers were holding back an evil fire in their hearts and wanted to take revenge in the battle. .
Before the bombardment, the tank would fire at a distance of fifty or sixty meters from the German bunker. This time, it fired directly at a range of nearly ten meters. The barrel of the gun almost stretched out of the bunker's firing hole.
Seeing bunkers being destroyed one after another by Soviet tanks, the German commander was completely panicked. He planned to repeat the same trick, so he ordered anti-tank soldiers to attack and try to blow up the Soviet tanks that were close to the bunkers. But as soon as the anti-tank man left the bunker, he was discovered by the Soviet infantry following the tank, and was immediately shot into pieces by countless bullets.
After the 84th Division broke through the fortress area, it joined forces with the 182nd Division on the outskirts of Merefa Fortress.
After the two forces successfully joined forces, Fomenko ordered Colonel Rusov, who had just taken over the 254th Regiment, to command the troops to attack the railway hub of Merefa from the north, trying to occupy the railway hub before the main force arrived.
After Sokov learned that the 84th Division and the 182nd Division had now joined forces outside the fortress, he immediately sent a telegram to the two division commanders, ordering them to build fortifications on the spot and wait for the arrival of the main force.
Putting down the phone, Sokov said to Samyko: "Chief of Staff, except for the 300th Division staying in the existing area, the Infantry Division and the 98th Guards Infantry Division are moving towards the Muza River as soon as possible, preparing to participate in the attack on the fortress. attack."
"Comrade Commander," Samyko said hesitantly after hearing Sokov's order: "The road conditions here are not ideal. If so many troops are to cross the Muza River, I'm afraid it won't be easy. Easy things.”
"Chief of Staff, how long do you estimate it will take to complete the assembly?"
After calculating silently in his mind for a while, Sameko replied: "I think it will be noon tomorrow at the earliest before all the troops can reach the designated position."
"Tomorrow at noon?" Hearing the time Samek said, Sokov couldn't help but frowned: "Does it take so long?"
"That's right, Comrade Commander." Samyko quickly explained to Sokov: "After the liberation of Kharkov, the troops of our group army were scattered in many areas in the city. It cannot be gathered together. What's more important is What’s more, once we want to mobilize these troops, we will have to wait for friendly forces to take over our defense, which will prolong the assembly time..."
"Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff, you don't have to say any more." Sokov understood that he couldn't eat hot tofu in a hurry, and stopped urging Sameko, "I know that it is very difficult for the troops to complete the assembly in such a short period of time. It's a difficult task. But we can't do it without speeding up. If we delay too long, the Germans will have enough time to strengthen their defenses. When we launch the attack, they will pay because the enemy is well prepared. Huge casualties.”
"I understand, Comrade Commander." Samyko didn't want to take the Merefa Fortress early and open the way to Poltava for friendly forces. But now the troops are too scattered and far away from the fighting area. Arriving before noon tomorrow is already very fast. In order not to waste the opportunity to fight, he made his suggestion to Sokov: "Do you think Guchakov's infantry brigade should launch an attack on the railway hub first to attract the attention of the German army?"
"After more than half a day of fighting, the 3rd Division has already suffered a lot of casualties." Sokov said to Samyko: "If we send the infantry brigade to attack the railway hub now, we will definitely encounter a crazy counterattack by the German army. Don't look around. There are still two infantry divisions, but they were severely attrited during the battle. Even if they see the infantry brigade being attacked by superior German forces, they may not be able to spare the strength to provide reinforcements."
"What do you mean?"
"Send a telegram to Guchakov," Sokov said: "Ask him to camp near the two divisions, so that even if they are attacked by the German army at night, they can support each other."
"Okay." Sameko also felt that it would be difficult to achieve the desired results by attacking the railway hub at this time. After all, without the cooperation of artillery, just relying on the firepower of a few tanks, if he wanted to break through the German peripheral defenses, the casualties of the troops would be high. Definitely not a small amount: "Then I will send a telegram to Major Guchakov immediately, and they will also arrange defenses on the outside of the fortress tomorrow."
As the order was issued, the two infantry divisions, an infantry brigade, tank troops and artillery that had arrived outside Merefa Fortress all stopped their plans to attack and chose suitable areas to set up camp on the periphery of the fortress.
Konev learned that Sokov's troops had successfully broken through the fortress area and approached the outside of the fortress. He excitedly said to Zakharov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, Sokov's troops have now reached the fortress." From the outside, they can attack the fortress at any time. Guess how long it will take them to rush into the fortress?"
"Comrade Commander," Zakharov said with a smile: "I have been to Merefa Fortress. The defense there is quite strong. If other troops attack, I think it will take a week at the fastest. And Sokov As for comrade, he is a man who is good at creating miracles, and he may be able to break into the fortress in just one day."
However, the two of them waited and waited until it was dark, but there was still no battle report from Sokov.
Zakharov couldn't sit still. He said to Konev: "Comrade Commander, the reason why Sokov has not responded for a long time is that he is counting the results of the battle. It won't be long before a shocking report is given to us." results."
Unexpectedly, after waiting for another hour or two, there was still no time for Sokov. This time Zakharov couldn't sit still and quickly called a communications staff officer and ordered him to connect the phone to Sokov's headquarters.
After the call was connected, Zakharov did not beat around the bush, but asked directly: "Comrade Sokov, I want to ask you, how is your progress? Have you stormed into the fortress?"
"Attack the fortress?" Sokov was stunned when he heard Zakharov ask this, and then replied: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I think you may be mistaken. I ordered the troops to stop long before dark. Attack and set up camp on the outskirts of Merefa Fortress.”
"What, you didn't launch an attack on the fortress?" Zaharov asked in surprise.
"Yes, we did not launch an attack on the fortress." Sokov explained to Zakharov: "The two infantry divisions stationed outside the fortress both suffered a lot of casualties in the battle that ended not long ago. , it is obviously unrealistic to attack the fortress with their strength.”
Zakharov asked with a straight face: "Then when do you plan to attack the enemy?"
"My main force will not arrive until noon tomorrow." Sokov guessed from Zakharov's tone that she was very angry at the time, and quickly said: "In this way, we will have enough troops to Launch a full-scale offensive against the enemy's fortresses and railway junctions."
Knowing that Sokov's main force was still on the way, Zakharov asked again: "After your main force arrives, how many divisions do you plan to use to participate in this attack?"
"Together with the troops currently stationed outside the fortress, the troops participating in the offensive tomorrow will reach six infantry divisions, one infantry brigade, and several tank brigades and artillery divisions."
"With so many troops, are you sure you can capture the fortress?"
Sokov did not answer the question immediately, but asked instead: "Although I have not seen that fortress, according to my experience, the enemy's defense is very strong. Even with the support of artillery and tanks, we have to capture the fortress." It's not an easy task." After figuring out what happened, Major Bunch blushed with shame. He put down the phone and said to Chuklico who was standing next to him: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, the situation is clear. The enemy's The reason why the shelling stopped was entirely because their artillery positions were bombed by our powerful air force."
After figuring out the truth, Chuklico asked Major Bunch for his opinion: "Comrade Brigade Commander, what should we do next? After completing the assembly, should we continue to attack the remaining bunkers?"
"Does this need to be said?" Major Bunch raised his voice and said: "The time for us to take revenge has come. We must immediately gather our troops and launch a new offensive against the remaining places."
After the new round of offensive began, not only the tanks and infantry performed extremely bravely, but the German shelling just now caused a lot of casualties to the troops. All the officers and soldiers were holding back an evil fire in their hearts and wanted to take revenge in the battle. .
Before the bombardment, the tank would fire at a distance of fifty or sixty meters from the German bunker. This time, it fired directly at a range of nearly ten meters. The barrel of the gun almost stretched out of the bunker's firing hole.
Seeing bunkers being destroyed one after another by Soviet tanks, the German commander was completely panicked. He planned to repeat the same trick, so he ordered anti-tank soldiers to attack and try to blow up the Soviet tanks that were close to the bunkers. But as soon as the anti-tank man left the bunker, he was discovered by the Soviet infantry following the tank, and was immediately shot into pieces by countless bullets.
After the 84th Division broke through the fortress area, it joined forces with the 182nd Division on the outskirts of Merefa Fortress.
After the two forces successfully joined forces, Fomenko ordered Colonel Rusov, who had just taken over the 254th Regiment, to command the troops to attack the railway hub of Merefa from the north, trying to occupy the railway hub before the main force arrived.
After Sokov learned that the 84th Division and the 182nd Division had now joined forces outside the fortress, he immediately sent a telegram to the two division commanders, ordering them to build fortifications on the spot and wait for the arrival of the main force.
Putting down the phone, Sokov said to Samyko: "Chief of Staff, except for the 300th Division staying in the existing area, the Infantry Division and the 98th Guards Infantry Division are moving towards the Muza River as soon as possible, preparing to participate in the attack on the fortress. attack."
"Comrade Commander," Samyko said hesitantly after hearing Sokov's order: "The road conditions here are not ideal. If so many troops are to cross the Muza River, I'm afraid it won't be easy. Easy things.”
"Chief of Staff, how long do you estimate it will take to complete the assembly?"
After calculating silently in his mind for a while, Sameko replied: "I think it will be noon tomorrow at the earliest before all the troops can reach the designated position."
"Tomorrow at noon?" Hearing the time Samek said, Sokov couldn't help but frowned: "Does it take so long?"
"That's right, Comrade Commander." Samyko quickly explained to Sokov: "After the liberation of Kharkov, the troops of our group army were scattered in many areas in the city. It cannot be gathered together. What's more important is What’s more, once we want to mobilize these troops, we will have to wait for friendly forces to take over our defense, which will prolong the assembly time..."
"Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff, you don't have to say any more." Sokov understood that he couldn't eat hot tofu in a hurry, and stopped urging Sameko, "I know that it is very difficult for the troops to complete the assembly in such a short period of time. It's a difficult task. But we can't do it without speeding up. If we delay too long, the Germans will have enough time to strengthen their defenses. When we launch the attack, they will pay because the enemy is well prepared. Huge casualties.”
"I understand, Comrade Commander." Samyko didn't want to take the Merefa Fortress early and open the way to Poltava for friendly forces. But now the troops are too scattered and far away from the fighting area. Arriving before noon tomorrow is already very fast. In order not to waste the opportunity to fight, he made his suggestion to Sokov: "Do you think Guchakov's infantry brigade should launch an attack on the railway hub first to attract the attention of the German army?"
"After more than half a day of fighting, the 3rd Division has already suffered a lot of casualties." Sokov said to Samyko: "If we send the infantry brigade to attack the railway hub now, we will definitely encounter a crazy counterattack by the German army. Don't look around. There are still two infantry divisions, but they were severely attrited during the battle. Even if they see the infantry brigade being attacked by superior German forces, they may not be able to spare the strength to provide reinforcements."
"What do you mean?"
"Send a telegram to Guchakov," Sokov said: "Ask him to camp near the two divisions, so that even if they are attacked by the German army at night, they can support each other."
"Okay." Sameko also felt that it would be difficult to achieve the desired results by attacking the railway hub at this time. After all, without the cooperation of artillery, just relying on the firepower of a few tanks, if he wanted to break through the German peripheral defenses, the casualties of the troops would be high. Definitely not a small amount: "Then I will send a telegram to Major Guchakov immediately, and they will also arrange defenses on the outside of the fortress tomorrow."
As the order was issued, the two infantry divisions, an infantry brigade, tank troops and artillery that had arrived outside Merefa Fortress all stopped their plans to attack and chose suitable areas to set up camp on the periphery of the fortress.
