Terkov chose to establish the division headquarters in Ruran Town, taking into account Sokov's order to establish a landing site centered on Ruran Town. Before the division headquarters was established, he issued orders to each regiment to continue the attack, hoping to expand the area of the landing site while the Germans had not yet recovered.
Sokov was very pleased with this positive action of Terkov. He said to Sidorin and Ponedelin: "Chief of Staff, Deputy Commander, if there were more people like Terkov in our army, Commanders like Colonel Hu can seize the opportunity in time to expand the results of the battle before receiving new orders from their superiors, and make the situation on the battlefield develop in a direction that is beneficial to our army. Our next battle will be much easier to fight. "
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Sidorin agreed with Sokov's statement: "Individual commanders below us have dull minds and are too mechanical when executing orders from their superiors, and do not understand the situation on the battlefield. , to adjust deployment in a timely manner, resulting in mediocre results."
But Ponejelin has a different view: "I think this kind of thing depends on the individual. Not every commander has the ability of Colonel Terkov. Just imagine, if a commander with insufficient ability , misjudged the situation on the battlefield and stubbornly implemented wrong tactics. Not only was it not helpful to our victory, it would even have counterproductive effects. Can we still allow him to adjust his deployment without authorization?"
Ponedelin's words silenced both Sokov and Sidorin. Indeed, due to various reasons, many commanders do not dare to make any decisions without receiving orders from their superiors, because they are afraid that if something goes wrong, they will not be able to bear the corresponding responsibility.
After a while, Sidorin broke the silence: "Comrade Commander, should we build a pontoon bridge on the Narew River to transport the troops and equipment needed for the landing site?"
"This is what it should be." Sokov nodded, and then told Sidorin: "Remember, the Germans are absolutely unwilling to let us establish a landing site on the left bank. They will definitely find a way to drive our troops away from the left bank. Let’s go. The first thing they have to do is to prevent our army from setting up a pontoon bridge on the river, so they must do a good job in air defense.”
"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Sidorin said: "I will dispatch two anti-aircraft artillery regiments to the river to protect the safety of the pontoon bridge."
Ponedelin reminded Sokov: "Comrade Commander, now the mission of our group army has been adjusted, and the headquarters will soon leave Brest. In the new combat area, there is not enough anti-aircraft firepower, I am afraid the headquarters will At risk."
"Comrade Deputy Commander, I understand what you mean." Sokov replied: "The air defense force of the entire group army is only three regiments. Now that two regiments are assigned to be responsible for the safety of the pontoon, it will definitely weaken the air defense force in other areas. But I think it is completely worth it. After all, our army headquarters can be established in the forest area, so that it will be difficult for German aircraft to find the target if they want to bomb. But the floating bridge is different. It is difficult to hide the enemy aircraft. It can be bombed with impunity.”
"Comrade Commander is right," Sidorin came out to echo: "Once the pontoon bridge we set up is blown up by German bombers, the soldiers, ammunition and various supplies on the right bank will not be able to be transported across the river, while the wounded on the left bank will have to be transported If we don't come down, it means the Germans have cut off the main transportation artery, and the troops at the landing site will not be able to hold on for long under the enemy's fierce attack."
While the three were having a heated discussion, they suddenly received a call from the 120th Guards Division.
Sokov took the microphone from the hands of the communications staff and put it to his ear. Hearing an unfamiliar voice coming from inside, he couldn't help but ask: "Hey, I'm Sokov, who are you?"
"Hello, Comrade Commander." The other party replied politely: "I am Major General Nikitin, a combat advisor sent by the Front Army Headquarters."
"Combat advisor?!" When Sokov heard this unfamiliar position, he had a look of astonishment on his face. He thought to himself, when did such a position exist? Why didn't he know about it? However, this was not the time to delve into the matter, so he asked tentatively: "Where did Colonel Terkov go?"
"Not long ago, he learned that a German military warehouse was found near the 339th Guards Regiment, so he drove over to check it out." Nikitin called on the phone and said: "I want to ask if the 120th Guards Division has received the What’s the mission coming down?”
"Comrade Major General, the mission is clear." Sokov said in an official tone: "Based on Luran Town, expand your landing area as much as possible."
"Comrade Commander, I understand what you mean." Nikitin said: "Now we only have one division on the left bank. The enemy has discovered that our troops are insufficient. Now they are gathering troops to prepare for a counterattack at the landing site. We need support."
"Don't worry, General Nikitin." Sokov said into the microphone: "I will not let you fight alone. By tonight at the latest, as long as the pontoon bridge on the Narew River is completed, the soldiers, weapons and equipment and various Supplies will be continuously transported to the landing site on the left bank."
"That's great..." Before Nikitin could finish his words, the sound of an explosion suddenly came from the receiver.
Sokov was shocked and asked quickly: "Comrade Major General, what happened there?"
"The shelling is shelling, Comrade Commander." Nikitin replied: "The enemy is shelling Luran Town."
Learning that the town of Luran had been shelled by the Germans, Sokov asked with concern: "Is the location of the division headquarters safe?"
"The division headquarters is located in the church in the middle of the town." Nikitin said: "If the enemy's shelling becomes more intense, I will order everyone to temporarily move to the basement to avoid the shelling."
Sokov heard the rumbling from the receiver getting louder and louder, and quickly urged Nikitin: "Comrade Major General, stop dawdling, quickly take people to the basement, if anything happens, wait until the German shelling is over." Say it again."
After putting down the phone, Sokov asked Sidorin: "Chief of Staff, I wonder if our artillery can suppress the German artillery on the left bank of the Narew River?"
"No, Comrade Commander. The range is not enough." Sidorin shook his head and said: "Even if our artillery is deployed by the river, it can only hit seven or eight kilometers on the other side, and the enemy bombarded the artillery position in Luran Town. , it must be beyond this range, even if we carry out artillery bombardment, we can't do anything to the enemy's artillery positions."
"I think the artillery position should be moved forward." Ponejelin said: "Even if the German artillery position cannot be hit, when the German infantry and tanks launch an attack on Luran Town, they can still be intercepted and fired. Reduce the pressure on the defenders."
"I think it is possible." Sokov agreed very much with Ponejelin's statement: "It is completely necessary to move the artillery positions forward. Regardless of whether they can hit the enemy's artillery, at least the left bank troops can provide Provide them with necessary artillery support."
The German shelling of Luran lasted for forty minutes and then stopped. After the shelling stopped, the German army did not take the opportunity to attack Luran Town, perhaps because the number of tanks and infantry assembled was insufficient. The defenders in the town also took the opportunity to put out the burning fire and treat the wounded from the ruins.
When he was busy, a soldier ran over to find Nikitin and said loudly: "Comrade General, it's bad, something happened to the division commander."
Hearing what the soldier said, Nikitin couldn't help but feel shocked, and then asked: "Where is Colonel Terkov? What happened to him?"
"Comrade General," the soldier who came to report raised his voice and said loudly: "The division commander's car was hit by German artillery on its way back to the town. It seems to have been destroyed."
It was learned that Terkov was attacked by German artillery on his way back, and the vehicle he was riding in was destroyed. Both Major General Nikitin and the chief of staff on the side were immediately shocked and asked quickly: "Where is the division commander's car? Take us there quickly to have a look."
Soon, the soldier led a few people outside the town, pointed to a jeep leaning to one side in the distance and said, "Here, that's the division commander's car!"
Nikitin looked in the direction of the soldier's finger and saw that it was a deformed jeep. There was blood on the door. It was quiet inside. There were no injured people around. He could only see someone in the driver's seat. Lie there.
Seeing this, Nikitin ran towards the jeep without saying a word. The chief of staff also trotted behind him, wanting to see how the division commander was doing now.
When everyone came to the car, they saw the door fell to the side, and the driver with blood on his face was lying on the steering wheel, not knowing whether he was alive or dead.
The chief of staff had no time to hesitate and grabbed the car door, trying to use his strength to pull the driver out. Unexpectedly, the car door twisted and deformed, and the sharp metal edge immediately left a wound on his hand, and blood immediately poured out.
But the chief of staff had no time to pay attention to such a minor injury. After taking a deep breath, he grabbed the driver and used all his strength to pull him out of the car.
Seeing the driver being pulled out by the chief of staff, Nikitin helped him put the driver on the ground, stretched out his hand to the driver's nose, tried it, and said: "There is still energy." Then he stood up and looked around Shouting: "Hygienist, where is the hygienist?"
"Here, Comrade General." Not far away, a health worker who had just bandaged the wounded heard Nikitin's shout and immediately ran over, straightened his body and asked, "What are your instructions?"
Nikitin pointed his hand at the driver lying on the ground: "His injury is not serious, please treat him quickly. Also," he pointed at the chief of staff and said, "Comrade Chief of Staff's hand is injured. You bandage him first."
"My injury doesn't matter," the chief of staff said. "Let's rescue the driver first. We need to know from him where the division commander is."
After hearing what the chief of staff said, Nikitin stood up again, came to the car and looked inside. At a glance, he saw Terkov lying in the back row, and quickly turned around and shouted outside: "Come here, the division commander is here, help me carry Colonel Terkov out."
Two soldiers walked past, leaned into the jeep, and carefully lifted out Terkov who was lying on the back seat, and then carefully placed him on the ground.
Terkov was injured, which was a big deal. After Nikitin had people carry him back to the division headquarters, he called Sokov again: "Comrade Commander, I have bad news to tell you. "
After hearing this, Sokov was filled with anxiety, but he still forced himself to calm down and asked: "Comrade Major General, what happened to you? Just tell me. As long as it is within my ability, I will find a way to help you." solve."
"That's right, Comrade Commander." Nikitin said: "On his way back from inspecting the work, the division commander, Colonel Terkov, was shelled by the German army and he himself was seriously injured."
"What, Terkov is injured?" Sokov was shocked after hearing this, and quickly asked: "Is the injury serious?"
"serious!"
Sokov was silent for a moment, and then asked cautiously: "Can I still continue to command the troops in combat?"
Nikitin glanced at Terkov who was lying on the stretcher, shook his head and replied: "No, Comrade Commander, he is still unconscious and cannot command the troops at all."
After listening to this, Sokov told the other party: "Comrade Major General, I now appoint you as the acting division commander of the 120th Guards Division. As for Colonel Terkov, you immediately send someone by boat to the group army headquarters. Our military doctors will provide him with emergency treatment."
"Comrade Commander." Nikitin did not immediately accept Sokov's appointment, but suggested to him: "I think it is most appropriate for the division commander to be injured and the chief of staff to take over the commander's duties. And I He is just a combat advisor, how can he act as the division commander?"
"Comrade Major General," Seeing that Nikitin was actually pushing back on his appointment, Sokov felt somewhat unhappy. But he still suppressed the anger in his heart and said: 'This is my order, not a request. Orders from superiors can only be carried out unconditionally, without any room for bargaining. Understand? '
"Understood, Comrade Commander." Since Sokov said such harsh words, Nikitin knew that it was obviously unrealistic to shirk anymore, so he said helplessly: "Then I will temporarily take over as the acting division commander of the 120th Guards Division. Once a suitable candidate is found, I will step down and make way for someone else."
Seeing that Nikitin agreed to the position of acting division commander, Sokov was worried that he did not know how to carry out the next work, so he took the initiative and said: "Comrade General, since you have taken over the position of acting division commander, then I have to tell you The next task.”
"Please speak, Comrade Commander." Nikitin said respectfully, "I'm listening."
"The mission is still the same as before." Sokov said: "The mission of your division is to hold on to the existing defensive positions while looking for suitable fighters to expand the size of the landing site. Maybe your troops are a little weaker now, but please Don’t worry, you are not fighting alone, the reinforcements I sent will arrive at the designated location after dark.”
Nikitin, who had just been a combat advisor, had a change of mentality. As a combat advisor, he only needs to put forward his own opinions and suggestions on the combat plan formulated by the division commander, and does not have the right to directly command the troops. But now that the division commander was injured and he became the acting division commander, what he had to consider was to not only defend the landing site, but also find suitable fighters to further expand the landing site on the left bank.
"Comrade Commander, please rest assured that I will faithfully carry out your orders!"
(End of chapter)
