In order to quickly break through the German defenses, the Soviet air force entered the battle. After hundreds of fighter planes took off one after another, they completed their formation in the air and flew towards the German defense line.
Among these aircraft, there are a large number of Yin Er-2 attack aircraft. Their appearance is painted in camouflage colors. During ultra-low altitude attacks, it is difficult for enemy aircraft in the sky to detect them. Their thick armor can well resist ground anti-aircraft machine guns. shooting. A tactic commonly used by pilots of attack aircraft is to patrol and fly in a formation of 4 aircraft at an altitude of 800 meters. Once a ground target is discovered, they will immediately disperse and conduct dive attacks on the ground target in turns, using rockets, aircraft cannons or machine guns to shoot at the tank loading. , the effect is excellent. Coupled with its ear-piercing whistling sound when diving at low altitude, it gave the enemy a great psychological shock.
In addition to carrying ordinary bombs, the attack aircraft can also launch anti-tank rockets and small bombs called ptabs. Although based on the technology at the time, the hit rate of rockets was pitifully low, but once it hit, the rs-82 rocket could penetrate 50 mm of armor, while the rs-132 type had an armor penetration thickness of 70 mm. This is tantamount to a disaster for the top armor of any German tank, so the Germans - especially their armored soldiers call the Yin Er-2 attack aircraft the "Black Death".
When Soviet fighter planes were bombing the German positions indiscriminately, Rokossovsky ordered Batov's 65th and Popov's 70th Army to be mobilized, preparing to strengthen the frontal offensive force and speed up the attack. The speed of breaking through the German defense lines.
After Bogolyubov notified the two group army commanders to mobilize troops, he contacted the new artillery commander Sokolsky: "General Sokolsky, how is the ammunition reserve of the artillery so that it can carry out operations on the enemy's positions?" How long will the bombardment last?”
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokolsky replied after recognizing Bogolyubov's voice: "According to the regulations before the start of the battle, the artillery at the army level stores four bases of ammunition, while the artillery ammunition reserves of the front It’s seven bases, and based on the intensity of artillery preparations in the previous two days, we can continue for three more days.”
"That's great." Bogolyubov said into the microphone: "Now our air force is bombing the enemy's positions. After their bombing is over, it will be your artillery's turn."
"Chief of Staff, I don't understand." After Sokolsky waited for Bogolyubov to finish speaking, he immediately raised his own question: "According to convention, before each attack, the artillery is not the first to call, and it is not the first to attack the enemy. The positions were subjected to fierce artillery bombardment. After the artillery preparations were completed, the air force was dispatched for bombing. Why is it reversed today, with the air force being dispatched first and then the artillery preparations being carried out?"
Bogolyubov glanced at Rokossovsky who was on the phone next to him, and said to Sokolsky: "General Sokolsky, the reason why we will adjust the order of artillery and air force attacks is because This is completely the opinion of Comrade Marshal. He feels that if we prepare artillery fire first, then the enemy will definitely retreat to the second line of defense to hide, especially their tanks, and will hide in nearby tunnels. When our offensive begins Later, the concealed tanks and infantry will emerge to meet our attack, causing huge casualties to our army.
But if we dispatch the air force for bombing first, the enemy will think that our ground attack will start immediately, and they will stay on the existing position and hide in pre-dug shelters or tunnels. After our air force ends its bombing and leaves, the enemy will return to the ground, and your artillery fire poured onto the enemy's position at this time will cause them great casualties. "
After Bogolyubov's explanation, Sokolsky finally understood what was going on. He nodded and said thoughtfully: "So that's it!" The next moment, he asked Bogolyubov. Boff stated, "Don't worry, Comrade Chief of Staff, I will order the artillery units to prepare for battle. As long as we receive your order to fire, we will blow up the enemy's positions into a sea of flames in the shortest possible time."
"I hope so." Bogolyubov sighed and said: "At dawn today, the 2nd Assault Army launched an attack on the enemy's position."
"What was the result of their battle?"
"They successfully occupied the first line of defense of the German army." Bogolyubov said with regret: "Unfortunately, when attacking the second line of defense, they encountered a crazy counterattack by the German army. The JS-2 heavy tank covering the infantry attack , encountered the German Tiger tanks, and after a fierce battle, we lost 22 taels of JS-2 heavy tanks, but the enemy's losses were minimal."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, our artillery will blast the German tanks into a pile of scrap metal later to cover our infantry's smooth breakthrough of the enemy's defense line."
At this time Rokossovsky finished the call and asked Bogolyubov, who was still holding the phone: "Chief of Staff, what is the status of the artillery's ammunition reserves?"
"General Sokolsky reported that the artillery of the front army has seven bases of shells. Even if it does not receive supplies, it can still fire for several days."
"Very good." Rokossovsky nodded, and then thought of something: "By the way, I just heard you call the 48th Army and said that the superiors wanted to assign a military commissar to them. With this Is it something?"
"Yes, Comrade Marshal." Bogolyubov nodded and said, "In fact, you also know the new military commissar of the 48th Army."
"I know him too?" Rokossovsky asked in surprise, "Who is it?"
"It's Sokov's old partner." Bogolyubov said: "I just received a notification from the Supreme Command that a new military commissar has taken office."
"The original old partner, Lunev?!" Rokossovsky said with a face full of shock: "It's strange that he didn't stay in Moscow as his deputy minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but went to the front to become a military commissar. It's simply It’s incredible.”
"Yeah, I don't understand why I want to go to such a dangerous place on the front line when I'm staying well in Moscow." After Bogolyubov said this, he tentatively asked Rokossovsky: "Comrade Marshal, Do you need to call and ask General Sokov?”
"There is no need." Rokossovsky waved his hand and rejected Bogolyubov's proposal: "Since it is Misha's old partner who is here, I believe that he will not hinder Misha in the coming days. Son, maybe you can become his best assistant."
At the same time, in the 48th Group Army headquarters, Sokov and others knew that the air force had been dispatched in large numbers and was bombing the German positions indiscriminately, and everyone began to study the next action plan.
"Comrade Commander," Sidorin said, "why did the superiors bomb the German positions without preparing artillery fire?"
"Yes, today's action is quite abnormal." Ponejelin also echoed: "In previous attacks, artillery preparations were carried out first, and then based on the situation on the battlefield, it was decided whether to send out air force bombing. But today is better. Hundreds of planes came and bombed the German positions indiscriminately, with no intention of involving artillery in the battle."
Regarding Rokossovsky's approach, Sokov was also very confused. He asked himself secretly: "Did Rokossovsky really follow his own advice and send out the air force to carry out offensive operations against the enemy's positions?" Intermittent intensive bombing to achieve the purpose of destroying the German defense lines?"
"I'm not sure." Since everyone present was not an outsider, Sokov did not beat around the bush, but truthfully stated his true thoughts: "I didn't suggest to Comrade Marshal that the air force be dispatched to attack the German army. The position carries out continuous and intensive bombing to destroy those fortifications hidden in the blind spots of artillery fire and clear the way for our army's ground attack."
Lunev did not participate in the discussion of the previous two days, so he naturally did not know what Sokov meant, so he asked curiously: "Misha, what are you talking about? Why can't I understand it at all? Can you Can you tell me in detail?"
Considering that Lunev is now the military commissar of the group army, Sokov will naturally not hide the internal affairs of the group army from him, so he repeated to him what he reported to Rokossovsky yesterday.
After hearing this, Lunev nodded vigorously and said thoughtfully: "Misha, your suggestion is good. In order to prevent our army's artillery fire from destroying their fortifications, the Germans built many fortifications in very tricky positions. Our Artillery fire really can't hit it. But the situation is different when the air force is dispatched. Regardless of whether the German fortifications are built on a positive slope or a reverse slope, they can blow it to pieces, thus clearing the way for our attacking troops."
Hearing the words "positive bevel and reverse bevel" spoken by Luniev, Sokov felt very cordial. It seems that during the days when he got along with him, Luniev learned a lot of military terminology from him. At this moment When expressing opinions, they are also clear and logical.
"Comrade Military Commissar," Ponedelin asked Lunev: "Do you think that after the bombing is over, it will be time for our army to launch an offensive?"
"How do you say this?" In response to Ponejelin's question, Lunev answered hesitantly: "According to convention, after our artillery preparations are completed, the air force will occasionally be dispatched to attack those that have not been destroyed. The fortifications were bombed. But now there was no artillery preparation, so the bombing was carried out directly by planes. I was thinking that maybe Marshal Rokossovsky had never thought of launching a ground attack at all, but just wanted to use the air force's bombing to destroy Those remaining fortifications on the German positions.”
As a senior military commander, Ponedelin heard the hidden meaning in Lunev's words, and asked tentatively: "Comrade Military Commissar, do you think that this large-scale deployment of the air force is just to destroy the enemy's fortifications instead of launching a ground attack?”
Lunev chuckled, and then said: "Comrade Deputy Commander, if it is a political job, you will definitely not be able to compare with me. But when it comes to formulating combat plans and commanding troops to fight against the Germans, I will definitely not be able to match you. Fuck you. The analysis I just made is just my personal opinion and is for your reference only."
Seeing that Lunev's words were flawless, Ponedelin nodded and expressed the doubts in his heart: "What is the purpose of Comrade Marshal's move? I really can't understand it. You can understand, Comrade Commander?" His next words were directed at Sokov.
"I can't understand it either." Sokov shook his head, and then told Sidorin: "Chief of Staff, inform the divisions at the front to be ready to attack. As soon as my order comes, they will immediately attack the German army. Attack from position."
Seeing that Sidorin still had a puzzled expression on his face, Sokov said to everyone: "I'm not afraid of your jokes. I don't know what Comrade Marshal is thinking at the moment. It is definitely right to order the troops to prepare for battle. If we order us If we attack, the troops who have been prepared for a long time can immediately go into battle; if we are not allowed to attack, just cancel the battle alert and let the commanders and soldiers rest where they are."
After listening to Sokov's explanation, Sidorin nodded, then walked quickly behind a telegraph operator and ordered him: "Contact me immediately to the 3rd Infantry Division and the 120th Guards Division on the front line. I want to speak to their division commander.”
"Comrade Commander." While Sidorin was in contact with the front line, Ponedelin asked Sokov cautiously: "During the process of liberating the town of Puutusk, the 1st and 6th Guards Divisions both It cost a lot of casualties. Do you think any other troops will be sent to take over their defense?"
"The war is imminent, and I don't think it is appropriate to mobilize troops at this time." Sokov shook his head and said, "If there is confusion when the two sides change defenses, it may affect the morale and morale of the front-line troops. I It seems that even if we really need to change defenses, we will have to wait until today’s battle is completely over before making arrangements again.”
Ponyjelin quite agrees with Sokov's statement. Now the troops south of the town of Puutusk are preparing to attack the German positions, but the troops in the town behind them are making large-scale defense changes. It is obviously impossible to affect the morale of the military. However, considering that the 3rd Infantry Division and the 120th Guards Division still suffered a lot of casualties in the first day's battle, Ponedelin added: "Otherwise, let two infantry brigades enter Puutusk Town, acting as a reserve force for the frontline troops?"
Sokov thought about it carefully and felt that what Ponedelin said was quite reasonable. Although the two divisions south of the town of Puutusk did not pay a high price when seizing the German positions, they still suffered casualties. . When they attack deep into the German defenses, they will certainly be outnumbered. If according to Ponejelin's statement, two infantry brigades were deployed into the town to serve as their reserve, so that when the two divisions on the front line were unable to attack, these two infantry brigades could be replenished in time.
It happened that Sidorin came over at this time, and Sokov called him in front of him and said: "Chief of Staff, I just discussed with the deputy commander and decided to dispatch two infantry brigades into the town of Puutusk to serve as the front line. The reserve of the troops.”
"Comrade Commander," Sidorin heard this order and asked quickly: "I wonder which two brigades you plan to send to the town of Puutusk?"
"You are the chief of staff," Sokov handed the choice to Sidorin: "Which two brigades will enter the town of Puutusk to serve as reserve forces is entirely up to you."
Seeing that Sokov trusted him so much and gave him the right to choose his troops, Sidorin felt very comfortable. He nodded and said: "Okay, Comrade Commander, leave this matter to me. I will definitely not let you down."
