"What, not to let other troops go into battle?" Malinin was confused by Rokossovsky's order, and after a moment of pause, he thought that the commander himself must be too tired and frightened, so he gave such an instruction that was contrary to the order of his superiors, and hurriedly reminded him euphemistically: "Comrade commander, you should want to say that all the troops participating in the battle should enter the attack position on time, right?" ”

When Rokossovsky heard Malinin say this, he glared at him and stressed to him again: "Chief of Staff, although I have encountered the Germans again today, I have not been stupid, I know what order I have given. Except for www.biquge.info the cavalry unit and the rocket artillery regiment, the rest of the troops were all standing still, all holding on to the existing defensive areas, and making all preparations for battle. ”

Seeing that his commander was stubborn, Malinin was frightened, and he hurriedly reminded: "Comrade commander, the higher authorities ordered us to concentrate all our forces and carry out a counterattack against the German troops occupying Kling and Sun Hill City. You are disobeying orders by doing so, and the consequences are very serious. ”

"Our troops, in the long fighting, have been greatly weakened." Rokossovsky felt the need to explain the reason to Malinin so that he could get his full cooperation: "If we are exhausted in this unwinnable counterattack, what forces will we use to defend against the German attack in the next battle?" ”

Malinin paused for a moment, and then retorted: "However, according to the order of the Front Command, we can still have a great defense to win by launching a counteroffensive against Klin and Sun Hill City. ”

Rokossovsky sneered and asked rhetorically: "Chief of Staff, I don't know about this counterattack, do we have air force support?" ”

"Nope."

"And how many artillery pieces can be involved in the preparation of artillery fire before the attack. After the start of the reoffensive, how many tanks will be able to guide our infantry to charge? ”

Malinin was stopped by a series of questions from Rokossovsky, and he was silent for a long time before replying with a red face: "Only one rocket artillery regiment newly transferred to us by our superiors can participate in the preparation of artillery fire before the attack. As for tank troops," he said this, after a moment of silence again, he added with little confidence, "maybe one or two tank battalions can participate in the attack after it begins." ”

Seeing that Malinin could not find a reason to refute himself, Rokossovsky continued: "Comrade Chief of Staff, our strength is almost exhausted, if we use forces unreasonably, how can we block the German attack?" You know, we're not just defending Kling and Cumbre del Sol, but also the Istrian Reservoir, where fierce fighting is still going on. ”

In this case, Malinin could not insist on his principles, but simply replied: "Well, Comrade Commander, I will now inform the troops below and let them continue to stand still, build a well-established defense in the existing area, and have resisted a possible German attack." ”

…………

Priev's cavalry assembled at four o'clock in the morning, and with the help of moonlight, they formed a four-way column and advanced towards the starting point of the attack southeast of the city of Mount Del Sol.

After walking seven or eight kilometers along the road, a three-wheeled motorcycle suddenly rushed out from the fork in the road in front. The motorcycle stopped in the middle of the road, and the soldier sitting in the car glanced at the cavalry unit for a few moments, then immediately picked up the submachine gun in his hand and began to fire in this direction.

The suddenly frightened war horse jumped up with a "bang", and then was strangled by the reins and neighed to stand up, but soon under the appeasement of the cavalry, it gradually regained its calm with a snort and a whirl. Although they were attacked by the Germans and several cavalrymen dismounted, the rest of the men did not panic, and they rushed towards the motorcycles in front of them with their sabers under the leadership of their commanders.

After paying several more casualties on the motorcycle, the cavalrymen finally rushed to the motorcycle, and the three German soldiers sitting on the motorcycle were immediately killed.

Priev, who was following behind, heard the dense gunfire coming from the front, and immediately asked the staff officers around him to inquire about what was going on. It took only a few minutes for the staff officers sent out to return from the front of the queue on horseback and report to Priev: "Comrade General, just met a German three-wheeled motorcycle, and there was a laughing encounter. ”

One of the regiment commanders near Priev asked the staff officer: "Have the enemies all been destroyed?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Colonel." The staff officer looked at the regimental commander and replied: "Our cavalry rushed up and hacked all three Germans to death on motorcycles. ”

"Fantastic, our cavalry warriors are fantastic." After listening to the staff officer's report, the regiment commander excitedly said to Priev: "This is a good sign, proving that our offensive during the day will be victorious." ”

Priev rolled his eyes at the regimental commander and continued to ask the staff officer: "How many casualties did we infringe?" ”

After hesitating for a while, the staff officer replied: "Since the encounter took place very suddenly, the enemy occupied a favorable terrain and suddenly opened fire on our cavalry, as a result of which seven soldiers were killed and sixteen were wounded. ”

"Hear me, Comrade Colonel?" After listening to the staff officer's report, Priev stared at the regiment commander and said angrily: "In order to kill these three Germans, we paid more than 20 casualties. If there were such a casualty ratio during the siege, we would have all died by the time we stormed the city. ”

The regiment commander, who had been given a lecture by Priev, did not dare to refute, so he could only bow his head and blush, and slowly accept Priev's criticism. Finally, after Priev's words were finished, he tentatively asked: "Comrade General, what should we do next?" ”

"In order to prevent something like this from happening again," Priev commanded, "you immediately send a squad to open the way in front and by the way clear the enemy encountered on the road, so that our large forces can advance smoothly." ”

"Understood, I'll go." After the regiment commander finished speaking, he rode his horse and ran forward.

But fortunately, the luck in the next step was good, and I didn't encounter the enemy again until I reached my destination. Seeing the cavalry entering the forest one after another, which was the starting point of the attack, the stone that Priev had hung in his heart finally fell to the ground. He called several of his regimental commanders over and instructed: "Comrade commander, let the soldiers dismount and rest for a while, and feed the horses some bean cakes to ensure that the horses can be kept in good condition when charging." ”

After assigning tasks to the soldiers, the regiment commanders ran to Priev and asked: "Comrade General, can we get artillery preparation before the attack?" ”

"There should be." Although Rokossovsky, when he called him, once told him that before the attack, there would be a rocket artillery regiment to provide them with artillery support; At the same time, after the start of the offensive, there will be one or two tank battalions, which will lead them to a charge towards the city. However, he was skeptical about all this, because on several occasions, the troops and technical equipment promised by his superiors had been temporarily transferred to friendly troops on the way, and he was worried that a similar situation would occur this time, so he seemed a little unconfident when answering the questions of his subordinates. "It is said that in addition to rocket artillery, there are also tank units to cover our attack on the city."

Seeing that their division commanders were so unconfident, the following regiment commanders were also a little stunned, and one of the regiment commanders asked tentatively: "Comrade General, what should we do if the equipment promised by our superiors does not arrive?" ”

"What else can I do?" Without waiting for Priev to answer, another regiment commander next to him said viciously: "Even if there is no artillery support and tank cover, we will use our sabers in our hands to drive the enemy out of the city of Cumbre del Sol." ”

"That's right, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Priev looked at his confident subordinate, nodded with satisfaction, and said approvingly: "As long as we can have the confidence of victory, even if the enemy is stronger than us, we can still defeat them and drive them out of the city." ”

At this time, suddenly a soldier rode over and reported: "Comrade General, an armored unit has come from the south. ”

"Armored troops!" Hearing the report of the fighters, Priev's heart sank, and he secretly said that the enemy had made a detour back to our rear? However, he still ordered the commanders of each regiment with a strong composure: "The regiment commanders should all go back to their respective units and let the commanders and fighters make all preparations for battle." ”

"Comrade General," the fighters who came to report saw that several regiment commanders had mounted their horses and were about to return to their respective units to give orders, and hurriedly said to Priev: "I haven't finished speaking, it's not the Germans who are coming, but our troops. ”

"What, our troops?" Priev drove the horse, came to the warrior, approached him and asked loudly: "You are not mistaken, right?" ”

"That's right, Comrade General." The soldier hurriedly explained: "There is a tank battalion in front, followed by about a regiment of rocket artillery, and it is coming towards us along the road. ”

After listening to the soldier's report, Priev was overjoyed, and he turned to the regimental commanders who were riding on horses and said: "Comrade regiment commander, come with me and go and say hello to the commanders of our friendly forces." Then he instructed the messenger to "show us the way ahead." ”

Half an hour later, Priyev met with the commander of the tank battalion and the commander of the rocket artillery regiment. Seeing the two of them standing in the snow and saluting him, he hurriedly turned over and dismounted, stepped forward to shake hands with the two of them one by one, and introduced himself: "Comrade two commanders, I am General Priyev of the Cavalry Corps, and I am the commander-in-chief of the attack on Sun Hill City. ”

The commander of the artillery regiment was the first to speak: "Comrade General, our regiment has been ordered to provide you with artillery cover, please send someone to indicate to us the target of the shelling. ”

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Priev smiled and said to the artillery chief: "I will send our scouts later to introduce you to the coordinates of the shelling." ”

After the tank battalion commander waited for Priev to finish speaking, he hurriedly interjected: "Comrade General, the task of our battalion is to guide you to charge the enemy's defensive positions. I would like to ask, is it a direct attack on Cumbre del Sol? ”

"No, Comrade Battalion Commander." Priev waved his hand and said: "Compared with the German army, our strength is still a little weaker, and if we attack the city directly, it may be difficult to achieve any results." ”

"And where are we going to attack?" The tank battalion commander then asked.

Priyev took the map from the staff officer next to him, spread it out and put it on the saddle, pointed to the tank battalion commander and said: "Comrade battalion commander, please see." I intend to wait for the offensive to begin, and then have your tank battalion attack the three settlements of Sverchikovo, Selishevo and Maltnovo on the outskirts of Cumbre del Sol. Once we have captured this place, we will be able to push the starting point of our attack to the closest point to Cumbre del Sol. ”

The tank battalion commander looked at the map and cautiously asked: "Comrade General, I don't know what the terrain is like there, can our tanks be deployed?" If the streets are narrow, it will be difficult for our tanks to be used, and if we encounter the enemy's anti-tank fighters, we will even be in danger of being completely wiped out. ”

Hearing the concern of the tank battalion commander, Priev smiled and said: "Don't worry, comrade battalion commander." These three settlements are newly built, and the spacing between the buildings is very large, not to mention a tank battalion, even a tank regiment can be deployed. ”

…………

As soon as the sky was bright, the battle to attack Sun Hill City began in a rush.

After the rocket artillery regiment fired a salvo at the three settlements of Sverchkovo, Selishevo and Maltnovo, the cavalry units under the command of Priev launched an attack on the settlements from the southeast.

At the same time, the 24th and 44th Cavalry Divisions, deployed southwest of Cumbre del Sol, also launched an assault on the German positions on the outskirts of Cumbre del Sol.

The Germans never dreamed that the Soviet troops, who had been beaten by them yesterday and fled in all directions, would take the initiative to launch a counteroffensive early this morning and be blinded at once. Rokossovsky, who was staying at the headquarters of the army group, received the telegram with a satisfied smile on his face, handed it to Lobachev, and said quite proudly: "Comrade Military Commissar, look, the rocket artillery regiment and tank battalion sent to us by our superiors can be regarded as a great contribution in today's offensive. Most of the hastily built outlying positions of the Germans were destroyed by our rocket artillery; As for the tank battalion, at the moment it is also leading the cavalry in the attack on Sverchkovo, Selishevo and Martnovo. As long as Priyev can take these three settlements and hold them firmly, it will be much easier for us to take Cumbre del Sol. ”

But Rokossovsky was not happy for long, and a call from Zhukov ruined his good mood. As soon as Zhukov heard Rokossovsky's voice, he asked angrily: "Rokossovsky, didn't I order you to throw all the troops in the Klin-Sun Hill area into a counterattack against the above two cities?" Why did only the cavalry be sent to attack the city of Cumbre del Sol, while the rest of the city remained unmoved? Who gave you the right to dare to revise the operational orders of the Front Command without authorization? ”