Before Rokossovsky could come up with a foolproof plan, the major's wireless phone came again, and he said with a crying voice: "Comrade division commander, according to reconnaissance, there is a German armored unit that is moving rapidly towards the position of our battalion. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ”

"What, the German armored forces?" When Mikhailov heard the news, he was taken aback and hurriedly asked: "What kind of strength is the enemy and how many tanks are there?" ”

"The scouts reported that the enemy had about ten tanks, as well as a battalion of infantry." The major said with some panic: "Comrade division commander, let's retreat!" If we don't withdraw, we will be in danger of being encircled if the German panzers rush up. ”

Mikhailov did not immediately answer the major's plea, but turned his head to look at Rokossovsky, waiting for his final decision. Rokossovsky frowned and thought for a moment, then said to Mikhailov: "Comrade Colonel, if they retreat, they will be easily crushed by the German armored forces that are following them. So I decided to put the motorized battalion in place. You immediately send a tank battalion to reinforce them and make sure they are rescued in the shortest possible time. ”

Within ten minutes, the German armored units rushed to Dukhovshina. The commander of the motorized battalion saw that the German army was so strong that he could not pay attention to Mikhailov's order to hold on, so he withdrew his troops in a panic. Since the road to Yaltsevo was unobstructed, German tanks, with tank guns and on-board machine guns, frantically broke or strafed our retreating troops.

After the major retreated into the forest with a group of commanders and fighters, he was taken aback when he counted the number of soldiers, and he did not expect that in such a short period of time, a third of the troops would be lost. However, this strengthened his determination to retreat.

In order to justify the retreat, he called Mikhailov again. On the phone, the major said to Mikhailov: "Comrade division commander, we have lost a third of our forces, and if we do not retreat, I fear that we will be annihilated." ”

Hearing the successive reports of his subordinates, Mikhailov's heart began to waver, and in order to prevent his troops from being annihilated by the Germans in an organized manner, he looked at Rokossovsky and said in a pleading tone: "Now that there is a huge disparity between the enemy and our forces, if we do not withdraw, I am afraid that my men will never be able to withdraw again." ”

"Wait a minute, Comrade Colonel. Wait for your tank battalion to arrive before covering their retreat. Rokossovsky said with some dissatisfaction: "Now we must first find out, how did our battle plan leak out?" ”

As soon as Mikhailov heard Rokossovsky mention this, he immediately obediently shut his mouth. He was also racking his brains to think that if a plan that only a few people knew about would actually leak when it was executed, then among these people, there must be spies from the German army. As for who was a German spy, he went through everyone's situation in his mind and found that no one had the level of being a spy.

The German tanks rushed to the edge of the forest and turned the whole area upside down by firing and strafing where there might be people staying inside. A company commander, wounded in German shelling, was carried to the side of the major. Lying on the stretcher, he asked unwillingly: "Comrade Major, there is no point in holding on, let's retreat and strive to save a little more seeds for the troops." ”

Although the major had long been panicked, when he heard his subordinates' proposal to let him abandon his position, he hesitated for a moment and said: "No, Comrade Company Commander, we must not retreat until we receive an order from our superiors. ”

Just when the major was struggling, the tank battalion sent by Mikhailov to meet them arrived. More than two dozen old-fashioned tanks, attacking from the flanks of German tanks. In just five minutes, half of the German tanks were destroyed, creating conditions for the retreat of the motorized battalion.

When the commander of the motorized battalion appeared at Rokossovsky's command, Mikhailov asked his subordinates with dissatisfaction: "Major, tell me why the actions of your troops were exposed in such a way that the Germans were prepared." ”

"Comrade division commander, on the way back, I also kept asking myself how this offensive order leaked out." The major shook his head and continued: "Before departure, no one except my first-class political instructor and three company commanders knew where the troops would go. And they've been with me since they learned about the plan, and they can't pass it on at all. ”

"That's right, Comrade Major, you analyzed it carefully." Rokossovsky continued: "I also think that this leak may not be related to you, but to other pedestrians who stayed on the street. ”

"Comrade Commander, may you allow me to say a few words?" A staff officer in charge of communications equipment came over and told Rokossovsky in a low voice: "Comrade General, I think that this leak may be related to our use of the radio to make plain language calls. ”

Rokossovsky humbly asked the communications staff officer for advice: "Comrade staff officer, is it easy to leak secrets when wireless communication is adopted?" ”

"That's right," replied the staff officer, affirmatively, "I believe that the Germans are tapping on our lines of communication not far from us." Send a telegram, nothing happens; But if you use wireless communication, everything you say will be heard in detail by the eavesdropping Germans. ”

"I see." Listening to the staff officer's explanation, Rokossovsky couldn't help but nod his head, and then said: "If we don't use wireless communication, I believe the enemy will not be able to steal our combat treatment." ”

When Mikhailov heard this, he was also taken aback. He walked up to Rokossovsky and asked worriedly: "Comrade commander, it seems that in the future, our communication can only be through telegraph or wired telephone, so that the possibility of being intercepted by the Germans is much smaller." ”

Rokossovsky raised his hand and patted the major on the shoulder, comforting him and saying: "Comrade Major, do not blame yourself. The responsibility for your defeat this time is not yours, but mine. We need to learn similar lessons in the future and avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. ”

The attack on Dukhovshina was like a hornet's nest. The Germans transported a large number of armored units and infantry to Dukhovshhna overnight and prepared for the attack on Yaltsevo.

Hearing that Mikhailov had heard that the Germans were pressing violently from the north, Rokossovsky inevitably felt pressure in his heart. He hurriedly began to transfer troops: "Mikhailov, it seems that the defense line of your division needs to be adjusted a little. At least one tank battalion and one infantry battalion were to construct a line of defense on the western side, so that the Germans would not take advantage of the ready-made roads and rush towards us. ”

"Okay, I'll go draft the order." After saying that, Mikhailov took out a pen and paper and began to write hard in his notebook. After about ten minutes, he stood up and handed Rokossovsky a copy of the order that had just been issued, "Comrade commander, let's see if there is anything that needs to be revised." ”

Rokossovsky quickly read the order he was about to give, and then said to him: "Colonel, we must learn the lesson of this time, and wherever we go to attack in the future." They can only be notified by telephone or sent to communicate by means of communication troops, and do not use wireless calls to avoid being eavesdropped by the Germans. ”

Mikhailov did not defend himself, took the battle order handed back by Rokossovsky, turned around and handed it to the major, and then said to him: "Major, you go back with this order, and together with the tank battalion to defend the northwestern side of Artsevo." You have to assure me that no matter how fiercely the enemy attacks your defensive zone, as long as you have one person left, you will not be allowed to take a step back, understand? ”

"Understood, Comrade Division Commander." After the major finished speaking, he raised his hand and saluted, then turned and walked quickly out of the headquarters.

Watching the Major's back disappear from the door, Carmela asked with some concern: "Comrade Commander, do you say that this Major will learn the lesson of tonight's defeat in the battle?" ”

"I think so." Rokossovsky said in an uncertain tone: "In tonight's battle, their battalion lost more than a third of its strength, and if it had not been for the timely arrival of the tank battalion, I estimate that they would have been in danger of annihilation." ”

After daybreak, the Germans attacked from the direction of Dukhovshina. Although the motorized battalion was a makeshift defensive line, with the support of the tank battalion, they stubbornly repelled German attacks after attack.

When Mikhailov heard about this result, a smile of relief appeared on his face. He said to Rokossovsky: "Comrade commander, it seems that our decision not to dispose of this battalion commander was right. You can see how stubborn he was in today's blockade, and the enemy, despite the support of aircraft and artillery, and the cover of tanks, was never able to break through their positions. ”

"Our commanders and fighters are all good." After Rokossovsky said this, he turned his head and asked Tarasov: "Chief of Staff, is there a German attack on the front of the 38th Division on the left flank?" ”

"No, Comrade Commander." Tarasov immediately replied: "The situation today is strange. The Germans seemed to be concentrating their attention on the right flank, frantically charging again and again at the easily defended right flank positions, while ignoring the left flank positions. Comrade commander, do you think there will be any conspiracy in this? ”

The attack on Dukhovshina was like a hornet's nest. The Germans transported a large number of armored units and infantry to Dukhovshhna overnight and prepared for the attack on Yaltsevo.

Hearing that Mikhailov had heard that the Germans were pressing violently from the north, Rokossovsky inevitably felt pressure in his heart. He hurriedly began to transfer troops: "Mikhailov, it seems that the defense line of your division needs to be adjusted a little. At least one tank battalion and one infantry battalion were to construct a line of defense on the western side, so that the Germans would not take advantage of the ready-made roads and rush towards us. ”

"Okay, I'll go draft the order." After saying that, Mikhailov took out a pen and paper and began to write hard in his notebook. After about ten minutes, he stood up and handed Rokossovsky a copy of the order that had just been issued, "Comrade commander, let's see if there is anything that needs to be revised." ”

Rokossovsky quickly read the order he was about to give, and then said to him: "Colonel, we must learn the lesson of this time, and wherever we go to attack in the future." They can only be notified by telephone or sent to communicate by means of communication troops, and do not use wireless calls to avoid being eavesdropped by the Germans. ”

Mikhailov did not defend himself, took the battle order handed back by Rokossovsky, turned around and handed it to the major, and then said to him: "Major, you go back with this order, and together with the tank battalion to defend the northwestern side of Artsevo." You have to assure me that no matter how fiercely the enemy attacks your defensive zone, as long as you have one person left, you will not be allowed to take a step back, understand? ”

"Understood, Comrade Division Commander." After the major finished speaking, he raised his hand and saluted, then turned and walked quickly out of the headquarters.

Watching the Major's back disappear from the door, Carmela asked with some concern: "Comrade Commander, do you say that this Major will learn the lesson of tonight's defeat in the battle?" ”

"I think so." Rokossovsky said in an uncertain tone: "In tonight's battle, their battalion lost more than a third of its strength, and if it had not been for the timely arrival of the tank battalion, I estimate that they would have been in danger of annihilation." ”

After daybreak, the Germans attacked from the direction of Dukhovshina. Although the motorized battalion was a makeshift defensive line, with the support of the tank battalion, they stubbornly repelled German attacks after attack.

When Mikhailov heard about this result, a smile of relief appeared on his face. He said to Rokossovsky: "Comrade commander, it seems that our decision not to dispose of this battalion commander was right. You can see how stubborn he was in today's blockade, and the enemy, despite the support of aircraft and artillery, and the cover of tanks, was never able to break through their positions. ”

"Our commanders and fighters are all good." After Rokossovsky said this, he turned his head and asked Tarasov: "Chief of Staff, is there a German attack on the front of the 38th Division on the left flank?" ”

"No, Comrade Commander." Tarasov immediately replied: "The situation today is strange. The Germans seemed to be concentrating their attention on the right flank, frantically charging again and again at the easily defended right flank positions, while ignoring the left flank positions. Comrade commander, do you think there will be any conspiracy in this? ”

"That's right, it's unusual." Carmella continued. "We have to be vigilant to deal with small movements of the Germans." (To be continued.) )