As the 284th Infantry Division and the Tank Brigade pressed forward, the hastily established defense line of the German army became extremely dangerous.
When the two infantry brigades were crossing the river, they also brought an artillery regiment across the river. After the artillery regiment crossed the river, it did not choose a place to establish an artillery position. Instead, it followed the assault force and pushed forward.
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When it was discovered that the attacking troops in front were stubbornly blocked by the Germans, the artillery regiment commander immediately ordered the artillery to build fortifications on the spot and fire towards the enemy's defense line. Use artillery fire to destroy the enemy's fortifications and open a passage for infantry and tanks.
At the beginning, the progress was very smooth. Whether it was the enemy's fortifications or tanks, as long as a blast of artillery shells hit them, they would be instantly wiped out. But as they get closer to friendly positions, the resistance the assault force encounters becomes stronger. When Yinsmeilov's division was still five kilometers away from the preset position by the river, it encountered a frantic counterattack by the German armored forces and was unable to move forward at all.
But even so, the pressure on the 4th and 40th Guards Divisions has been greatly relieved. The German army originally concentrated a large number of tanks and superior infantry, and launched wave after wave of attacks on the preset positions by the river, putting the positions of the two Guards Divisions at risk.
In order to eliminate hidden dangers from behind, the German army slowed down its attack on the two Guards Divisions and deployed half of its troops to deal with Insmailov's troops. The two sides started a melee at the Puutusk landing site.
Levchuk saw clearly the battle taking place in the distance through the telescope, and said with emotion: "The reinforcements sent by the friendly forces arrived just in time. If they hadn't attracted the Germans, I think the Germans would have just launched another assault. Our position cannot be maintained."
After putting down the telescope, he turned to Chief of Staff Platon and said: "Chief of Staff, immediately arrange for troops to repair the fortifications and treat the wounded. We cannot waste the time that the friendly forces have finally bought for us."
While Platon was calling the troops below to assign tasks, he picked up the phone and called the army headquarters to report the situation to Batov.
Bartov heard Levchuk's voice and asked impatiently: "General Levchuk, how is the situation there? Are you holding your position?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander, the position is held." Before Yinsmeilov's division arrived, Batov's artillery deployed on the right bank used direct fire to destroy some German tanks and ease the situation on the position. Levchuk planned to report to Batov: "In addition to the artillery fire from the right bank artillery destroying the attacking German tanks, the friendly reinforcements that had just arrived were fighting fiercely with the German occupation a few kilometers away. The situation here has been greatly alleviated.”
"Friendly troops?!" Bartov didn't understand what Levchuk meant for a moment, and was still asking: "Where did the friendly troops come from?"
"It came out from behind the enemy." Levchuk had not sent anyone to contact the enemy. Naturally, he did not know which unit it came from, so he could only refer to it as friendly forces in general: "I don't know this unit at the moment. number."
"It's the 284th Infantry Division under the Mischa 48th Group Army." When Rokossovsky had just spoken to Sokov, he had learned about the reinforcements and naturally knew the unit number and the commander's name. Tov looked confused and added next to him: "The division commander is Colonel Yinsmeilov."
"Comrade Commander," Chief of Staff Glebov said from the sidelines: "Since General Sokov has helped us so much, do you think we should call him to express our gratitude?"
Batov agreed with Glebov's proposal. If Sokov's reinforcements had not arrived in time, Levchuk's 4th Guards Division's defense line might have been breached.
But just when Bartov was about to reach for the phone, he was stopped by Rokossovsky: "Comrade Bartov, now is not the time to chat on the phone. You must first find a way to secure the landing site on the left bank. As for the expression If you want to thank me, let’s wait until the German attack is completely repelled.”
After hearing what Rokossovsky said, Batov nodded and agreed: "Comrade Marshal, you are right. Our first priority at the moment is to secure the landing site on the left bank. As for expressing gratitude to General Sokov Let’s wait until the battle is over to discuss the matter, I believe he can understand.”
"Don't worry, Bartov." Rokossovsky comforted him and said, "Even if he has any bad thoughts, I will help you explain. By the way, strengthen your anti-tank regiments and tanks. The brigade will arrive at the designated position soon. You are solely responsible for how to use these troops, and I will not ask."
Bartov couldn't help but be overjoyed after hearing this. When he said that reinforcements had arrived, he was still quite uneasy. After all, the marshal himself was in his headquarters. It was hard to say whose orders these troops took. At this moment, since Rokossovsky said that he would be given full command, he would have nothing to worry about.
Rokossovsky walked aside and called Sokov and said to him: "Misha, your reinforcements have arrived a few kilometers away from the 4th Guards Division, but they seem to have been attacked by the Germans. ’s crazy counterattack, it seems difficult to move forward.”
"Oh, Yinsmeilov's attack was blocked?" Sokov couldn't help but be stunned after hearing this, but then he understood what Rokossovsky meant by saying this to him, and quickly said: "Comrade Marshal, I understand you means. Don't worry, this unit is not alone. I have placed two more infantry brigades behind him. Once we see that his situation is critical, the infantry brigades will attack in time to rescue them from danger. .”
A smile appeared on Rokossovsky's face. Since Sokov had considered it so comprehensively, he was relieved: "Okay, Misha, since you have considered all the issues that should be considered, then I won't Sorry to bother you. Wish you good luck!" After saying that, Sokov hung up the phone without waiting for him to finish.
Telekin, who heard his call, came over and asked in a low voice: "Comrade Commander, were you talking to General Sokov just now?"
"Yes, Comrade Military Commissar." Rokossovsky nodded and said to Telekin: "The 4th Guards Division just reported that their reinforcements had an encounter with the Germans a few kilometers away from the position. During the fierce battle, I was worried that the reinforcements would suffer, so I called Misha to ask. But what I didn’t expect was that he had already considered these issues and made corresponding preparations to prevent the worst case scenario."
When Yinsmeilov's division approached the position of the 4th Guards Division, it encountered a crazy counterattack by the German army. Although the commanders and fighters fought tenaciously, due to the disparity in strength, Yinsmeilov had to order the troops to use alternate cover. The tactics of resistance were to retreat step by step to the starting point of the attack.
When the German army saw the Soviet army retreating, they suddenly became excited and accelerated their attack. However, they did not just rush forward blindly, but sent troops to guard the two wings to avoid encountering the Soviet army. ambush.
Fortunately, Sokov got in touch with Yinsmeilov in time and asked directly: "Comrade Colonel, how is the situation there?"
"Not very good, Comrade Commander." Yinsmeilov replied: "Originally our division and tank brigade were progressing very smoothly, but when we arrived at a position a few kilometers away from the friendly positions, we encountered a crazy counterattack by the German army. We were at a disadvantage in terms of strength and equipment and were unable to stop the enemy, so we were forced to retreat."
"Comrade Colonel, don't worry." Sokov was worried that Yinsmeilov would panic when he saw the bad situation, and the retreat might turn into a rout, so he quickly told him: "I will send an infantry brigade to support you right away. You must stabilize the troops and never turn the retreat into a rout, do you understand?"
Seeing that the situation on the battlefield was not good for him, Yinsmeilov originally wanted to ask Sokov for help. Now that the other party mentioned it first, he felt much more at ease. He quickly assured Sokov: "Comrade Commander, , you can rest assured that I will definitely control the troops firmly and it will never turn into a rout."
After Sokov ended his call with Yinsmeilov, he realized that the situation at the Puutusk landing site was more responsible than he thought, so he said to Ponedelin: "Comrade Deputy Commander, the infantry brigade will be deployed soon. In the battle with the German army, there are several troops on the left bank, but there is no unified command. In order to avoid confusion, I would like to ask you to cross the river to command the troops. How about it, do you have any objections? "
"No." Ponejelin readily agreed to Sokov's arrangement. "The situation on the battlefield is changing rapidly, so I will not delay and immediately set off to the left bank to direct the battle."
After Ponejelin arrived in the left bank area, it took less than an hour to stabilize the troops and consolidate the original occupied area. There was even a counterattack, repelling the enemies chasing Yinsmeilov's division.
After repelling the enemy, Ponedelin called Yinsmeilov and several brigade commanders to his temporary headquarters and said to them: "Comrade Commander, I think after these few hours of fighting, you have discovered a The problem. That is that the enemy is more powerful than we think."
"Yes, Comrade Deputy Commander." Yinsmeilov said with a blushing face: "The initial attack went very well. I thought the enemy was not vulnerable at all, so I commanded the troops to rush directly to the friendly positions. Who knew the distance? The closer the friendly positions were, the stronger the resistance we encountered, so that in the end, despite all our efforts, we were unable to advance at all."
"Colonel Yinsmeilov, the Germans released smoke bombs some time ago, intending to launch a powerful offensive at the Magnushev landing site in the south. However, the Narew River Basin where we are located did not move, thus giving us the illusion that The enemy's next main attack direction was at the Magnushev landing site established by General Chuikov, thus relaxing their vigilance.
Seeing that their conspiracy had succeeded, the Germans used the troops they had already assembled to launch a surprise attack on General Bartov's Puutusk landing site. Since they have been preparing for such a long time, they will naturally use a lot of troops. Not to mention your division, I think even if our entire group army is pulled out, it will not be easy to smoothly rush over and join forces with friendly forces. things. "
"Comrade Deputy Commander," as soon as Ponedelin finished speaking, Sukhalev, commander of the 109th Infantry Brigade, asked: "Then what should we do next?"
"Under the current circumstances, it is obviously unrealistic to continue the attack." Ponejelin said thoughtfully: "So we must focus on holding on to the current position."
"But the task assigned to us by our superiors is to rush over to rescue friendly forces." Yinsmeilov asked tentatively: "If we just stop here and don't move, will the commander blame us?"
"Comrade Colonel," Ponedelin looked up at Yinsmeilov and said, "Even if we have to carry out the mission of rescuing friendly forces, we must first save ourselves. Think about it, if we desperately attack the enemy, if we fall into The German army was encircled and even annihilated by the enemy, so who will rescue the friendly forces next?"
Sukhalev said cautiously: "If the superiors blame..."
Before Sukhalev could finish speaking, Ponedelin raised his hand and interrupted what he was saying: "This is not something you need to worry about. If the superiors really want to blame, I will bear all the responsibilities."
Although Ponedelin's words were so rude, Yinsmeilov couldn't help but say: "Comrade Deputy Commander, if the friendly troops lose their positions because we don't go to reinforce them, the consequences will be serious. .I am worried that even Comrade Commander will be implicated."
"Comrade Colonel, our rescue can only relieve the pressure on the friendly forces and has a limited effect on driving away the enemies occupying the landing site." Ponedelin said to Yinsmeilov and everyone: "Before I came, After hearing the conversation between the commander and the marshal, in addition to the reinforcements we sent, we also mobilized anti-tank artillery regiments and tank brigades from the troops directly under the front army for assault on the enemies on the left bank. In addition, General Batov The main force is on its way back and will reach the left bank by dark at the latest.
If you still want to send troops for rescue, you'd better wait until the front's direct troops and Batov's main force arrive and launch a counterattack against the Germans before attacking again. By that time, the German army's attention will have been attracted by friendly forces, and the enemy we have to face will be greatly weakened. If we launch an attack at this time, we can achieve good results. "
After listening to Ponejelin's analysis, everyone nodded with relief and returned to their own troops. They took the time to reinforce the fortifications and treat the wounded. Those seriously injured who could not be treated were sent back to the field hospital on the right bank by car.
Ponejelin, who stayed at the headquarters, was not idle either. He stared at the map, recalling the intelligence reported to him by the commanders, and pondered what tactics should be adopted in the next attack. Achieve huge results with very few casualties.
The phone on the table rang, and it was Sokov calling: "Comrade Deputy Commander, how is the situation on the left bank? Is the situation stable?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander, the situation has been stabilized." Ponjelin replied: "Given that the enemy is much stronger than us, it is obviously unrealistic to continue to launch new attacks. I suggest that the troops temporarily Switch to defense and wait until there is a fundamental change in the strength of the enemy and ourselves at the Puutusk landing site before launching a new attack."
