That night, Rokossovsky received a call from the artillery commander, General Kazakov, from the direction of Klin. Pen ~ fun ~ pavilion www.biquge.info

As soon as he heard the voice of the other party, Rokossovsky couldn't wait to ask: "Hey, General Kazakov, how many artillery do you have in place now?" ”

"Report to Comrade Commander!" Due to the poor signal, the sound in the earpiece was very small, and in order for Rokossovsky to hear clearly, Kazakov had to shout at the top of his voice: "Because of the road to Klin, it was bombed by the Germans; And our artillery, in turn, lacks enough towing vehicles, so so far we have deployed only one anti-tank artillery regiment in Kling with sixteen anti-tank guns. ”

"What about our rocket artillery battalion?" After listening to Kazakov's report, Rokossovsky couldn't help but be stunned, and said in his heart that the rocket artillery battalion would not need to tow trucks, why didn't it arrive at Klint on time? Thinking of this, he asked with some surprise, "Where are they?" ”

"Our two rocket artillery battalions are currently concealed in the southeast of the Istrian reservoir." After answering this question, Kazakov was deeply afraid that Rokossovsky would reproach himself for making decisions on his own, so he hurriedly explained: "Without the support of rocket artillery, our main forces will not be able to hold the reservoir area at all." ”

After listening to Kazakov's report, Rokossovsky was immediately overjoyed, if the other party was still in the headquarters, he would definitely hug and kiss him twice, and actually left such a magic weapon for the main army. He said excitedly into the microphone: "General Kazakov, you are doing this very right, I am worried that the output firepower in the Istria reservoir area is too weak, and it is difficult to compete with the German army." Now that you have the rocket launchers you have left, you can deal a head-on blow to the invading enemy. ”

Just as he was about to put down the binoculars, he suddenly remembered something important, and hurriedly added: "By the way, General Kazakov, when you see my deputy Zakharov later, please tell him that I have sent the mixed regiment of cadets and the Eighth Guards Division of Major General Leviagin to Klin, and they should be able to arrive before dawn." ”

After seeing Rokossovsky put down the phone, Malinin asked with some concern: "Comrade commander, now there is only one anti-tank artillery regiment in Klin, can they hold off the enemy's tanks?" ”

"Well, there's no way around it." Although he understands this period of history and knows that the Soviet army finally succeeded in repelling the German invasion of Moscow, he is now unable to confront the powerful German army head-on. "There are six German divisions in the Kling direction, and even if we deploy the entire army group there, we will not be able to stop the enemy's attack. Therefore, the focus of our defense is still on the Istrian reservoir, and on the Kling side, we can only do our best. ”

After Rokossovsky's words were finished, both Lobachev and Malinin nodded silently, because they both understood the truth of what Rokossovsky said. What can be done now is to rely on the existing forces in hand to do everything possible to delay the enemy's advance and buy time for the rear to gather troops.

…………

Early the next morning, fierce battles broke out in the Klin direction.

The Germans, with superior forces, under the cover of tanks and artillery, launched one strong attack after another on Kling.

Kazakov, who was staying at the forward observation post with Zakharov, hurriedly grabbed his phone when he saw the German tanks unfurling in battle formation and rumbling towards the Soviet defensive positions. After connecting the command post of the anti-tank artillery regiment, he shouted into the microphone in a hoarse voice: "Hey, Comrade Major, have you seen the German tanks?" The artillery immediately opened fire, destroying the enemy's tanks. ”

"Comrade General," the commander of the artillery regiment said with some anxiety, hearing what Kazakov said, "look, there are German planes in the sky. If our regiment fires artillery, it will be easily bombed by enemy planes, and it will be dangerous then......"

"Major, now is not the time to talk about conditions." Kazakov impatiently interrupted the words behind the major, "You guys are going to hold off the enemy's tanks anyway, you are the only artillery unit of our army in Klin, understand?" ”

"Understood, Comrade General."

As soon as the artillery commander put down the phone, he called his chief of staff and instructed him: "Chief of staff, order all the artillery to enter the firing position at once." ”

"Comrade regimental commander," said the regimental chief of staff, pointing to the enemy planes that were constantly circling in the air and occasionally swooping down to drop bombs, "once we open fire, we will be bombed by the Germans, and then our regiment will be in danger of being completely annihilated." ”

"Chief of Staff, obey orders." The major glared at his chief of staff and said viciously: "Don't I know what you are talking about? This is an order given to us by our superiors, and it must be carried out unconditionally. ”

"Yes!" The regimental chief of staff agreed, turned around and prepared to leave. But the regimental commander stopped him from behind and said in a deep voice: "At present, we are the only anti-tank artillery regiment in Kling, and if we can't destroy the German tanks, we can only let the infantry brothers have grenades tied to blow up the enemy's tanks." ”

"I understand, Comrade Regiment Commander. I will immediately convey your order. The chief of staff turned around, straightened his waist and saluted the regimental commander, then turned around and strode out of the command post.

The Germans had twelve tanks in front, and they lined up in a line of four, guiding two battalions of infantry to rush violently towards the Soviet defensive positions.

When the artillery was in place, the regimental chief of staff remained in command of the position. When a commander asked him if he could open fire, he shook his head, pointed to the tanks in the distance, and said: "The enemy's tanks are two or three kilometers away from us, and if we fire now, most of the shells will miss, and at the same time, our artillery positions will be exposed too early, which will attract German bombardment." ”

"When can the cannon be fired?" The commander asked cautiously.

"Wait for my orders," the chief of staff looked up at the commander standing in front of him, and continued, "When the time comes, I say fire and fire again." Until I give an order, all the artillerymen must remain silent. ”

Zakharov, who was staying at the observation post, brought the German tanks closer and closer, while there was no movement at all on his own anti-tank artillery positions. He turned his head and asked Kazakov: "Comrade General, what is the matter with the artillery regiment, why has it not fired until now?" ”

Kazakov had actually discovered this situation a long time ago, but in front of outsiders, he could not speak ill of the artillerymen, and could only say vaguely: "I called the major and asked the major what was going on." ”

After connecting the artillery regiment, he angrily asked the artillery commander: "Major, what the hell is going on?" Seeing that the German tanks are getting closer and closer to our positions, why don't you open fire? ”

Although the artillery commander had been in the command post, he had also seen the situation outside. He hurriedly explained into the microphone: "Comrade General, the German tanks are a little far from our artillery positions. If we open fire at this time, the results will not be very good, and we plan to put the German tanks closer and then fight. ”

"Okay, I see." Kazakov knew that the artillery commander was telling the truth, and it was not good to blame him anymore. After putting down the phone, he said to Zakharov euphemistically: "Comrade Deputy Commander, the reason why our artillery has not yet opened fire is because the enemy's tanks are too far away from the artillery positions, and if we fire now, the effect will not be very good." ”

Hearing what Kazakov said, Zakharov did not want to fire again, and could only continue to see the enemy tanks guiding the infantry and rushing to his defensive positions.

Seeing that the German tanks were getting closer and closer, they had even crushed layer after layer of barbed wire erected by the Soviet army under the tracks. The German infantry, who followed behind, also passed through the barbed wire barrier of the Soviet troops through the gap crushed by the tanks. And then at this time, the anti-tank artillery positions were still not moving at all, and at such a time, Zakharov could not hold his breath, and he yelled at Kazakov: "Comrade General, what is the matter with your artillery, why haven't you opened fire yet?" Didn't they see that the Germans rushed forward a few hundred meters further and reached the trenches defended by our infantry? ”

Kazakov, who had been reprimanded, was about to pick up the phone to call the artillery regiment, when the artilleryman, who had been silent, opened fire. After a salvo, all four German tanks in the first column burst into flames and smoke. But the tanks in the back, bypassing the wreckage of these destroyed tanks, continued to rush forward.

The German tanks rounded the wreckage and were about to accelerate forward, when the artillery of the artillery regiment roared again. This round of shells hit the German tanks in the second column with unmistakable accuracy, setting them on fire.

"It's amazing, it's amazing." Seeing this, Zakharov put down his binoculars and shouted at Kazakov, who was holding the microphone: "Comrade General, the commanders and fighters of the artillery regiment are really amazing, and it is wonderful that they destroyed eight German tanks in two rounds of fire." ”

The German planes hovering in the air discovered the Soviet artillery positions and immediately dived down from a high altitude, strafing and dropping bombs, turning the artillery positions into smoke. In the German bombing and strafing, although many gunners were wounded or killed, the remaining artillery soldiers still held on to the artillery and continued to shoot at the German tanks in the distance.

When the last German tanks were destroyed, they were only forty or fifty meters from the Soviet trenches. The German infantry, who were rushing forward, saw that the tanks covering their charge were all reimbursed under the blows of Soviet artillery, and suddenly lost the courage to continue to rush forward.

Seeing that the Germans were beginning to retreat, Colonel Mironov, who was staying in the trenches with his soldiers, was the first to jump out of the trenches, brandishing a pistol and shouting: "Brothers, follow me and destroy the fascist invaders!" Forward~Enter! ”

"Okay, I see." Kazakov knew that the artillery commander was telling the truth, and it was not good to blame him anymore. After putting down the phone, he said to Zakharov euphemistically: "Comrade Deputy Commander, the reason why our artillery has not yet opened fire is because the enemy's tanks are too far away from the artillery positions, and if we fire now, the effect will not be very good." ”

Hearing what Kazakov said, Zakharov did not want to fire again, and could only continue to see the enemy tanks guiding the infantry and rushing to his defensive positions.

Seeing that the German tanks were getting closer and closer, they had even crushed layer after layer of barbed wire erected by the Soviet army under the tracks. The German infantry, who followed behind, also passed through the barbed wire barrier of the Soviet troops through the gap crushed by the tanks. And then at this time, the anti-tank artillery positions were still not moving at all, and at such a time, Zakharov could not hold his breath, and he yelled at Kazakov: "Comrade General, what is the matter with your artillery, why haven't you opened fire yet?" Didn't they see that the Germans rushed forward a few hundred meters further and reached the trenches defended by our infantry? ”

Kazakov, who had been reprimanded, was about to pick up the phone to call the artillery regiment, when the artilleryman, who had been silent, opened fire. After a salvo, all four German tanks in the first column burst into flames and smoke. But the tanks in the back, bypassing the wreckage of these destroyed tanks, continued to rush forward.

The German tanks rounded the wreckage and were about to accelerate forward, when the artillery of the artillery regiment roared again. This round of shells hit the German tanks in the second column with unmistakable accuracy, setting them on fire.

"It's amazing, it's amazing." Seeing this, Zakharov put down his binoculars and shouted at Kazakov, who was holding the microphone: "Comrade General, the commanders and fighters of the artillery regiment are really amazing, and it is wonderful that they destroyed eight German tanks in two rounds of fire." ”

The German planes hovering in the air discovered the Soviet artillery positions and immediately dived down from a high altitude, strafing and dropping bombs, turning the artillery positions into smoke. In the German bombing and strafing, although many gunners were wounded or killed, the remaining artillery soldiers still held on to the artillery and continued to shoot at the German tanks in the distance.

When the last German tanks were destroyed, they were only forty or fifty meters from the Soviet trenches. The German infantry, who were rushing forward, saw that the tanks covering their charge were all reimbursed under the blows of Soviet artillery, and suddenly lost the courage to continue to rush forward.

Seeing that the Germans were beginning to retreat, Colonel Mironov, who was staying in the trenches with his soldiers, was the first to jump out of the trenches, brandishing a pistol and shouting: "Brothers, follow me and destroy the fascist invaders!" Forward~Enter! ”