Although the second battalion commander faithfully carried out the brigade commander's order, it was too late. The remaining 200 men of the second battalion were reduced to less than a hundred after a new round of German shelling.
Under this circumstance, it is obviously unrealistic for the Second Battalion to continue to hold the No. 1 outpost position. The brigade commander can only send the guard company that has been prepared to take over the defense of the Second Battalion.
Before the troops set off, the brigade commander called the guard company commander in front of him and told him: "Comrade Captain, after the No. 1 outpost has been repeatedly bombarded by German artillery fire, it has been difficult to find complete defenses. If you follow the past It is your practice to continue to stay in the incomplete fortifications after the enemy's shelling begins. I'm afraid that when the shelling ends, you won't even have any dregs left."
When the guard company commander heard what the brigade commander said, he was suddenly startled into a cold sweat and asked quickly: "Comrade brigade commander, what should we do when we are bombarded by the enemy?"
The brigade commander was afraid that the other party would not understand, so he drew a sketch on the paper and explained to the guard company commander while drawing: "...This is the No. 1 outpost position that your company wants to defend. The south slope is the direction of the enemy's attack. , we call it the forward slope; and the corresponding north slope, we call it the reverse slope. When the enemy's artillery fire begins, you must move all your troops to the reverse slope, that is, the north slope, as soon as possible. To avoid enemy bombardment."
Since the brigade commander was drawing pictures and explaining at the same time, the guard company commander quickly understood what he meant. After he finished speaking, he asked tentatively: "Comrade Brigade Commander, if we move everyone to the north slope to avoid the shelling, what should we do if the enemy takes the opportunity to come up?"
The brigade commander held his forehead and said in a weak tone: "Comrade Captain, don't you leave a few soldiers on the position to monitor the enemy's movements?"
The guard company commander scratched the back of his head and said with an embarrassed giggle: "I understand, Comrade Brigade Commander. I will follow your arrangement. When the enemy's shelling begins, except for a few soldiers left to monitor the enemy's movements, the rest of the commanders and fighters will They all moved to the reverse slope to avoid the shelling."
The guard company arrived at the No. 1 outpost position just in time. The German troops who rushed to the position were clearing out the stragglers who continued to resist. They did not expect that an organized Soviet army would rush up. The German officers and soldiers were scattered all over the top of the hillside. Facing the rushing Soviet commanders and soldiers, they were unable to organize organized resistance at all.
After eliminating the German troops who rushed to the position, the guard company commander immediately ordered his men to search and rescue the wounded and repair the fortifications.
Soon, the deputy company commander came over and reported to him: "Comrade Captain, there are more than twenty commanders and fighters of the Second Battalion on the position, but most of them are injured."
After learning that there were only more than 20 people left in the second battalion, and most of them were injured, the guard company commander immediately gave up the plan to integrate them into his own troops, and ordered the deputy company commander: "Comrade deputy company commander, you send Let a few soldiers escort them out of the highlands. They have completed their mission, and leave the rest to us."
As soon as the soldiers of the guard company repaired a section of the fortifications, the German shelling began again.
The guard company commander, who was given instructions by the brigade commander, naturally understood how to avoid the enemy's artillery fire in this situation. He quickly ordered the signal soldiers to raise flags and ask everyone to retreat to the reverse slope of the north slope.
When their guard company all withdrew to the north slope, the deputy company commander asked him with a guilty conscience: "Comrade Captain, we have withdrawn all our troops to the north slope. What should we do if the Germans take the opportunity to launch an attack?"
"Don't worry, my comrade deputy company commander." The guard company commander said confidently: "Although it is German artillery fire that hits the artillery position, no matter whether it is a Soviet or a German artillery shell, as long as it falls next to you and explodes, It can still kill you. As long as the shelling does not stop, the Germans will never start an attack, so you can stay here with peace of mind."
"But, comrade company commander." Although the deputy company commander also felt that what the company commander said was reasonable, he still felt uneasy. He reminded the other party: "Otherwise, we should send a few observation posts over to monitor the bottom of the hillside. What’s happening with the enemy?”
"The enemy's artillery fire is so fierce. If we send soldiers over now, isn't it equivalent to letting them die?" The guard company commander shook his head and said, "No, absolutely not."
Seeing that the company commander's attitude was so resolute, the deputy company commander knew that even if he continued to persuade him, he would not be able to change the other party's determination. He could only say tactfully: "How about I take a few people to a position close to the top of the hillside. Wait for the enemy's artillery fire." As soon as it weakens, we observe the enemy's movements in time."
"Go, go." The deputy company commander kept nagging in his ears, which made the company commander feel very upset. Since he wanted to take people to a position near the top of the hillside to observe the enemy's situation, he simply let him go, so he readily agreed to his request.
When the No. 1 outpost position was under shelling, Guchakov held up his binoculars and observed the situation here intently on the position of the 73rd Infantry Brigade in the distance.
Askel, who was standing behind him, watched for a while, sighed softly, and said: "Comrade Brigadier, the friendly forces still use the old style of fighting. When facing the enemy's powerful artillery fire, they still put their troops in position." Being bombed at the position caused unnecessary casualties to the troops. I'm worried that if we continue fighting like this, they will soon be exhausted."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, you are right." Guchakov agreed with Askel's statement: "If we continue to fight like this, the friendly forces will soon be exhausted. Once this happens, Their entire army was wiped out, and our left wing was directly exposed to the enemy. When the enemy chooses us as the target of attack, we will be attacked from two directions at the same time, and we will face a lot of pressure."
"Then what should we do?" Askel asked.
"I think we need to help them." Guchakov knelt down on one knee, picked up a branch, and began to draw a picture on the ground: "Comrade Chief of Staff, look, this is the defense area where our brigade is located. It is the No. 1 outpost where the enemy is attacking crazily. In order to prevent the friendly forces from being completely lost and leaving us passive, I think we can send a force to attack, go back to the enemy's rear and attack them. In this way, the friendly forces will The stress you bear will be greatly reduced.”
After Guchakov finished speaking about his plan, he looked up at Askel who was bending aside and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, do you agree with my plan?"
When Askel was explaining to Guchakov, he deduced the plan in his mind and felt that it had great hope of success, so he nodded and said: "Comrade Brigadier, I agree with you." There was a slight pause. Seconds later, he asked tentatively, "Which battalion do you plan to send to complete this task?"
"Where is Captain Mikhailev?"
Hearing Guchakov's question, Askel replied with a bitter look on his face: "Where else can I be, naturally in the 1st Battalion."
When Sokov appointed Guchakov as the commander of the 73rd Infantry Brigade, he felt that it was obviously inappropriate for the deputy brigade commander, Colonel Weisbach, to serve as Guchakov's deputy for a long time, so he had the idea of transferring him. . As for the position of deputy brigade commander, Captain Mikhailev, commander of the first battalion, was arranged to take over the position concurrently.
Now Weisbach has been promoted to the commander of the 300th Infantry Division, but Captain Mikheyev has never had the consciousness to be the deputy brigade commander and always stays in the battalion where he serves as the battalion commander. At first Guchakov wanted to say a few words to him, but as time went by, he just let it go.
At this moment, knowing that Captain Mikhailev was in the first battalion, Guchakov said to Askel: "I think the task of harassing the German army's flank and rear should be left to Captain Mikhailov."
"I think it's okay." Askel nodded and said, "The first battalion is the most powerful unit in the entire brigade. Both commanders and ordinary soldiers have rich combat experience. They are responsible for sneak attacks on the enemy's rear. , even if you encounter any danger, you can get out of it in time."
Seeing that his opinions had reached consensus with Askel again, Guchakov ordered the other party: "You call Captain Mikhailev immediately and ask him to come to me. I will personally assign tasks to him. ." Although the second battalion commander faithfully carried out the brigade commander's order, it was too late. The remaining 200 men of the second battalion were reduced to less than a hundred after a new round of German shelling.
Under this circumstance, it is obviously unrealistic for the Second Battalion to continue to hold the No. 1 outpost position. The brigade commander can only send the guard company that has been prepared to take over the defense of the Second Battalion.
Before the troops set off, the brigade commander called the guard company commander in front of him and told him: "Comrade Captain, after the No. 1 outpost has been repeatedly bombarded by German artillery fire, it has been difficult to find complete defenses. If you follow the past It is your practice to continue to stay in the incomplete fortifications after the enemy's shelling begins. I'm afraid that when the shelling ends, you won't even have any dregs left."
When the guard company commander heard what the brigade commander said, he was suddenly startled into a cold sweat and asked quickly: "Comrade brigade commander, what should we do when we are bombarded by the enemy?"
The brigade commander was afraid that the other party would not understand, so he drew a sketch on the paper and explained to the guard company commander while drawing: "...This is the No. 1 outpost position that your company wants to defend. The south slope is the direction of the enemy's attack. , we call it the forward slope; and the corresponding north slope, we call it the reverse slope. When the enemy's artillery fire begins, you must move all your troops to the reverse slope, that is, the north slope, as soon as possible. To avoid enemy bombardment."
Since the brigade commander was drawing pictures and explaining at the same time, the guard company commander quickly understood what he meant. After he finished speaking, he asked tentatively: "Comrade Brigade Commander, if we move everyone to the north slope to avoid the shelling, what should we do if the enemy takes the opportunity to come up?"
The brigade commander held his forehead and said in a weak tone: "Comrade Captain, don't you leave a few soldiers on the position to monitor the enemy's movements?"
The guard company commander scratched the back of his head and said with an embarrassed giggle: "I understand, Comrade Brigade Commander. I will follow your arrangement. When the enemy's shelling begins, except for a few soldiers left to monitor the enemy's movements, the rest of the commanders and fighters will They all moved to the reverse slope to avoid the shelling."
The guard company arrived at the No. 1 outpost position just in time. The German troops who rushed to the position were clearing out the stragglers who continued to resist. They did not expect that an organized Soviet army would rush up. The German officers and soldiers were scattered all over the top of the hillside. Facing the rushing Soviet commanders and soldiers, they were unable to organize organized resistance at all.
After eliminating the German troops who rushed to the position, the guard company commander immediately ordered his men to search and rescue the wounded and repair the fortifications.
Soon, the deputy company commander came over and reported to him: "Comrade Captain, there are more than twenty commanders and fighters of the Second Battalion on the position, but most of them are injured."
After learning that there were only more than 20 people left in the second battalion, and most of them were injured, the guard company commander immediately gave up the plan to integrate them into his own troops, and ordered the deputy company commander: "Comrade deputy company commander, you send Let a few soldiers escort them out of the highlands. They have completed their mission, and leave the rest to us."
As soon as the soldiers of the guard company repaired a section of the fortifications, the German shelling began again.
The guard company commander, who was given instructions by the brigade commander, naturally understood how to avoid the enemy's artillery fire in this situation. He quickly ordered the signal soldiers to raise flags and ask everyone to retreat to the reverse slope of the north slope.
When their guard company all withdrew to the north slope, the deputy company commander asked him with a guilty conscience: "Comrade Captain, we have withdrawn all our troops to the north slope. What should we do if the Germans take the opportunity to launch an attack?"
"Don't worry, my comrade deputy company commander." The guard company commander said confidently: "Although it is German artillery fire that hits the artillery position, the artillery shells, regardless of whether they are Soviet or German, as long as they fall next to you and explode, It can still kill you. As long as the shelling does not stop, the Germans will never start an attack, so you can stay here with peace of mind."
"But, comrade company commander." Although the deputy company commander also felt that what the company commander said was reasonable, he still felt uneasy. He reminded the other party: "Otherwise, we should send a few observation posts over to monitor the bottom of the hillside. What’s happening with the enemy?”
"The enemy's artillery fire is so fierce. If we send soldiers over now, isn't it equivalent to letting them die?" The guard company commander shook his head and said, "No, absolutely not."
Seeing that the company commander's attitude was so resolute, the deputy company commander knew that even if he continued to persuade him, he would not be able to change the other party's determination. He could only say tactfully: "How about I take a few people to a position close to the top of the hillside. Wait for the enemy's artillery fire." As soon as it weakens, we observe the enemy's movements in time."
"Go, go." The deputy company commander kept nagging in his ears, which made the company commander feel very upset. Since he wanted to take people to a position near the top of the hillside to observe the enemy's situation, he simply let him go, so he readily agreed to his request.
When the No. 1 outpost position was under shelling, Guchakov held up his binoculars and observed the situation here intently on the position of the 73rd Infantry Brigade in the distance.
Askel, who was standing behind him, watched for a while, sighed softly, and said: "Comrade Brigadier, the friendly forces still use the old style of fighting. When facing the enemy's powerful artillery fire, they still put their troops in position. Being bombed at the position caused unnecessary casualties to the troops. I'm worried that if we continue fighting like this, they will soon be exhausted."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, you are right." Guchakov agreed with Askel's statement: "If we continue to fight like this, the friendly forces will soon be exhausted. Once this happens, Their entire army was wiped out, and our left wing was directly exposed to the enemy. When the enemy chooses us as the target of attack, we will be attacked from two directions at the same time, and we will face a lot of pressure."
