The area that was attacked was the area where the 1st Battalion of the 124th Regiment was stationed. As Sokov's old unit, the regiment leader Colonel Starcha strictly followed the series of standards specified by Sokov when arranging the defense. Minefields and barbed wire fences were laid out on the surface, and warning mines were deployed in some hidden areas to prevent German sneak attacks.
The German troops who came for a sneak attack used the cover of night to first open a passage in the minefield by engineers, then cut the barbed wire fence, and quietly approached the Guards Division's position, preparing to launch a surprise attack and destroy the fortifications. The Soviet commanders and fighters who were resting inside retook their positions.
Unexpectedly, when he was still more than a hundred meters away from the position, an unlucky soldier accidentally triggered a landmine. In an instant, the dazzling firelight exposed the German officers and soldiers near the explosion point. Now that they were exposed, the German officers and soldiers no longer hid their figures, but stood up and rushed towards the front position, trying to rush into the trenches before the Soviet army recovered.
If it were a position held by other Soviet troops, it would be entirely possible for the Germans to rush into the trenches. However, the officers and men of the 124th Regiment reacted extremely promptly. After just ten seconds, the roar of a machine gun was heard from the position. A machine gun fired wildly at the exposed German position. Two soldiers who had not had time to lie down were injured. There were more than a dozen bloody holes made by the intensive bullets.
Before the machine gunner could finish firing a round of bullets, a sharp whistle sounded in the trench, and at the same time two people shouted loudly: "Enemy attack, enemy attack!"
It didn't take long for the firepower on the position to become intensive, suppressing the German troops who tried to get up and charge again. The leader of the team was a German captain. He didn't understand why the Soviet army was able to prepare for defense in such a short period of time and use intensive firepower to suppress its own troops so that they could not move forward.
The German captain quickly ordered the radio operator around him to ask for help from the battalion headquarters through a portable radio. He said that he had been suppressed by intensive firepower from the Soviet army and could not continue to move forward, and asked for artillery support.
There is a reason for the Soviet army's timely response. Not long ago, the 126th Regiment encountered a similar situation when it defended Highland 239. However, the location where the German troops struck the mine during the sneak attack was so far away from the position that many commanders and soldiers thought that it might be a wild beast in the forest that accidentally touched the mine.
Fortunately, Sokov was not influenced by these people. Instead, he clearly insisted on his own view, believing that the German army was preparing to carry out a night attack on Highland 239, and used artillery to cover the area where the mines exploded. His actions attracted criticism from many people, and even he himself was mentally prepared to be punished.
Fortunately, later facts proved that Sokov's judgment was completely correct. The German troops preparing to carry out a sneak attack accidentally triggered the warning mines while moving, and the target was exposed in advance. After experiencing this incident, the 41st Guards Division paid special attention to night defense. Two squads of soldiers were on duty every night, so that after discovering the enemy's night attack, they could have enough time to support them until more Many commanders and fighters entered the position.
The sound of gunfire on the position alerted Starcha in the rear regiment command post. He rushed to Major Okunev who answered the phone and asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what happened?"
"Comrade Commander," Major Okunev quickly covered the microphone with his hand and reported to Starcha: "The first battalion reported that a German position appeared in front of their position, and the second company is blocking it."
There were only two companies and one company on Starcha's position at the moment. He was worried that the German army would be too numerous to withstand it, so he quickly ordered Okunev: "Chief of Staff, inform the commander of the first battalion and ask him to send the third company." Support, be sure to hold your position.”
Before Okunev could finish conveying the regimental commander's order, he heard the rumble of artillery fire from outside. He quickly asked the first battalion commander: "First battalion commander, what's the matter with the cannon fire outside?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff," the first battalion commander replied loudly: "The Germans are bombarding the second company position with mortars, requesting artillery support, requesting artillery support."
Upon learning that the Germans were bombarding the Second Company's position with mortars, Starcha felt that the situation was serious and quickly ordered Okunev: "Chief of Staff, let the mortar platoon fight back and be sure to suppress the German artillery fire."
Although the regiment's mortar platoon only had twenty or thirty rounds of shells left, Okunev still did not dare to neglect the order given by the regiment commander. He quickly called the mortar platoon and ordered them to report to the Germans. When shooting from mortar positions, be sure to destroy the German artillery and reduce casualties on the position.
After making the call, Okunev reminded Starcha again: "Comrade commander, the Germans' sneak attack on our regiment's position needs to be reported to the division commander immediately so that he can be mentally prepared."
Before Okunev picked up the phone, Sidorin called first. Recognizing that the person who answered the phone was Major Okunev, the regiment's chief of staff, he asked straight to the point: "Comrade Major, I heard gunshots and explosions coming from your place. What happened? Was it a German attack?" A sneak attack?"
Seeing that Sidorin had guessed it, Okunev naturally would not hide it, so he answered truthfully: "Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff of the Division. The position of the first battalion was attacked by the enemy. The commanders and soldiers of the second company who held the position were fighting with the enemy. Start the battle. I have given an order to the commander of the first battalion to send the third company up for reinforcements."
Sidorin said "hmm" and then asked: "How many troops are there in the enemy who attacked by surprise?"
"Can't see clearly, but it won't be less than one company."
"Are you sure you can hold your position?"
"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff of the Division, we are fully capable of holding the position." Okunev thought that the German mortars were bombarding the position, and the few mortars in the regiment might not be able to suppress the opponent, so he asked tentatively: "But it would be great if they could provide us with some artillery support."
"Comrade Major, I also want to provide you with artillery support." Sidorin is now a clever woman who cannot make a meal without straw. Even if he wants to support the 124th Regiment with artillery fire, the premise is that the division's artillery regiment must have artillery and artillery shells. Today's The artillery is used as infantry, so how can it provide artillery support to the opponent. "But we have no artillery at all now, so you can only rely on your own abilities to resist the enemy's attack. Of course, if you cannot hold on, I will send other troops to take over your defense."
Hearing what Sidorin said, Okunev suddenly became anxious: "Comrade division chief of staff, we are capable of holding our position and do not need friendly forces to replace our defense."
After Sidorin ended the call, he first reported to Kurishenko that the 124th Regiment was sneak attacked by the Germans, and then reported to Army Commander Afunin, hoping to get help from him.
Seeing Sidorin put down the phone, Kurishenko couldn't wait to ask: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what did General Afnin say?"
"Let us try every means to hold our position resolutely." Sidorin replied with a wry smile: "He said that after daybreak, he would send troops to reinforce us."
"If the enemy is stronger than us, our position will probably be lost before dawn." After hearing this, Kurishenko said angrily: "If we can block the enemy, what reinforcements do we need?"
"Comrade division commander, don't be angry." Colonel Afanasi, the division political commissar, said: "Although the artillery regiments of the other two Guards divisions can provide us with artillery support, if the artillery bombardment is carried out at night, it is very likely that our artillery will be exposed. The position of the position allows the German long-range artillery fire to suppress them. If their artillery regiment is destroyed by the enemy, we will not get any artillery support in the subsequent battle."
"The political commissar is right." Sidorin agreed: "Now the shelling of the 124th Regiment's position is just the German mortar unit. It would be too much for us to use heavy artillery to destroy them. And once the artillery position is exposed, it will be very easy. It is possible to attract German artillery fire protection, and then the friendly artillery will be completely lost. How can we fight the next battle?"
When the three of them were busy preparing for the war, the phone on the table suddenly rang. Sidorin thought it was a call from the military command, so he picked up the phone and put it to his ear: "I am Sidorin, where are you from?" ?”
The area that was attacked was the area stationed by the 1st Battalion of the 124th Regiment. As Sokov's old unit, the regiment leader Colonel Starcha strictly followed a series of standards specified by Sokov when arranging the defense. Minefields and barbed wire fences were laid out on the surface, and warning mines were deployed in some hidden areas to prevent German sneak attacks.
The German troops who came for a sneak attack used the cover of night to first open a passage in the minefield by engineers, then cut the barbed wire fence, and quietly approached the Guards Division's position, preparing to launch a surprise attack and destroy the fortifications. The Soviet commanders and fighters who were resting inside retook their positions.
Unexpectedly, when he was still more than a hundred meters away from the position, an unlucky soldier accidentally triggered a landmine. In an instant, the dazzling firelight exposed the German officers and soldiers near the explosion point. Now that they were exposed, the German officers and soldiers no longer hid their figures, but stood up and rushed toward the front position, trying to rush into the trenches before the Soviet army recovered.
If it were a position held by other Soviet troops, it would be entirely possible for the Germans to rush into the trenches. However, the officers and men of the 124th Regiment reacted extremely promptly. After just ten seconds, the roar of a machine gun was heard from the position. A machine gun fired wildly at the exposed German position. Two soldiers who had not had time to lie down were injured. There were more than a dozen bloody holes made by the intensive bullets.
Before the machine gunner could finish firing a round of bullets, a sharp whistle sounded in the trench, and at the same time two people shouted loudly: "Enemy attack, enemy attack!"
It didn't take long for the firepower on the position to become intensive, suppressing the German troops who tried to get up and charge again. The leader of the team was a German captain. He didn't understand why the Soviet army was able to prepare for defense in such a short period of time and use intensive firepower to suppress its own troops so that they could not move forward.
The German captain quickly ordered the radio operator around him to ask for help from the battalion headquarters through a portable radio. He said that he had been suppressed by intensive firepower from the Soviet army and could not continue to move forward, and asked for artillery support.
There is a reason for the Soviet army's timely response. Not long ago, the 126th Regiment encountered a similar situation when it defended Highland 239. However, the location where the German troops struck the mine during the sneak attack was so far away from the position that many commanders and soldiers thought that it might be a wild beast in the forest that accidentally touched the mine.
Fortunately, Sokov was not influenced by these people. Instead, he clearly insisted on his own view, believing that the German army was preparing to carry out a night attack on Highland 239, and used artillery to cover the area where the mines exploded. His actions attracted criticism from many people, and even he himself was mentally prepared to be punished.
Fortunately, later facts proved that Sokov's judgment was completely correct. The German troops preparing to carry out a sneak attack accidentally triggered the warning mines while moving, and the target was exposed in advance. After experiencing this incident, the 41st Guards Division paid special attention to night defense. Two squads of soldiers were on duty every night, so that after discovering the enemy's night attack, they could have enough time to support them until more Many commanders and fighters entered the position.
The sound of gunfire on the position alerted Starcha in the rear regiment command post. He rushed to Major Okunev who answered the phone and asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what happened?"
"Comrade Commander," Major Okunev quickly covered the microphone with his hand and reported to Starcha: "The first battalion reported that a German position appeared in front of their position, and the second company is blocking it."
There were only two companies and one company on Starcha's position at the moment. He was worried that the German army would be too numerous to withstand it, so he quickly ordered Okunev: "Chief of Staff, inform the commander of the first battalion and ask him to send the third company." Support, be sure to hold your position.”
Before Okunev could finish conveying the regimental commander's order, he heard the rumble of artillery fire from outside. He quickly asked the first battalion commander: "First battalion commander, what's the matter with the cannon fire outside?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff," the first battalion commander replied loudly: "The Germans are bombarding the second company position with mortars. Requesting artillery support. Requesting artillery support."
Upon learning that the Germans were bombarding the Second Company's position with mortars, Starcha felt that the situation was serious and quickly ordered Okunev: "Chief of Staff, let the mortar platoon fight back and be sure to suppress the German artillery fire."
Although the regiment's mortar platoon only had twenty or thirty rounds of shells left, Okunev still did not dare to neglect the order given by the regiment commander. He quickly called the mortar platoon and ordered them to report to the Germans. When shooting from mortar positions, be sure to destroy the German artillery and reduce casualties on the position.
After making the call, Okunev reminded Starcha again: "Comrade commander, the Germans' sneak attack on our regiment's position needs to be reported to the division commander immediately so that he can be mentally prepared."
Before Okunev picked up the phone, Sidorin called first. Recognizing that the person who answered the phone was Major Okunev, the regiment's chief of staff, he asked straight to the point: "Comrade Major, I heard gunshots and explosions coming from your place. What happened? Was it a German attack?" A sneak attack?"
Seeing that Sidorin had guessed it, Okunev naturally would not hide it, so he answered truthfully: "Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff of the Division. The position of the first battalion was attacked by the enemy. The commanders and soldiers of the second company who held the position were fighting with the enemy. Start the battle. I have given an order to the commander of the first battalion to send the third company up for reinforcements."
