When they saw that the demining tanks had moved forward for at least 200 meters, detonating at least 50 mines, and that the enemy, who had fired artillery and fired cold shots at the troops, was still nowhere to be seen, the commanders and fighters secretly wondered in their hearts: Is that the enemy's stragglers? Seeing that our army was strong, we didn't dare to fight, but just fired a shell and fired a shot, and then fled?

There was another loud "boom", and the tank that was demining in front suddenly stopped, and then the body was wrapped in raging flames. The fighters who followed behind thought that the tank had run over an anti-tank mine, and hurried over to rescue the tankmen trapped in the tank.

As soon as they ran to the burning tank, an inconspicuous mound of dirt on the hillside in the distance suddenly rolled down, revealing a rectangular firing hole, from which the muzzle of an MG42 machine gun protruded, paused for a moment, and then opened fire on the infantry preparing to rescue the tank crew.

After a burst of gunfire, five or six soldiers gathered around the tank fell to the ground. "Enemy attack, lie down!" When the remaining fighters heard the gunshots, they immediately realized that there was an enemy hiding nearby, and lay down on the spot while shouting.

After the German machine guns had finished half of the chain, they stopped firing, leaving the Soviet commanders and fighters without the target of the attack. The fighters crackled and fired their guns in the direction where the bullets were coming, and the bullets flew dirt on the hillside, but they did not hurt the Germans in the slightest.

After fighting for a while, seeing that there was no movement on the hillside, the warriors guessed that the enemy might have been wiped out by their own fire in the fire they had just fired, so they got up from the ground again. However, in order to move on, the tank was needed to open the way ahead, so another T-34 tank drove up, bypassed the still burning tank, and slowly drove forward.

However, the tank did not go far forward and was again attacked by German anti-tank guns. However, the enemy gunner did not hit the target this time, and the shell exploded at a distance from the front of the tank, accidentally detonating a mine, and the earth that rose into the sky fell on the tank body.

The tankmen in the car immediately judged that their comrades' tanks had not just hit a mine, but had been hit by German anti-tank guns. They returned fire in the direction where the shells were flying, and at the same time called in the rear tanks for support.

Due to the lack of accurate targets, a dozen tanks on the mountain road could only fire at the approximate position, and although fire balls rose from time to time on the hillside, the damage caused to the enemy's fortifications was negligible.

The enemy's anti-tank guns could not be destroyed, and the tanks could not continue to move forward; Without tanks to open the way ahead, the infantry could not pass through the mine-ridden area. The commander of the Soviet battalion reported the difficulties he was facing to the brigade commander in the rear through the radio.

Coincidentally, not only did they not make a smooth progress along the way, but the troops advancing from another mountain road were also intercepted by German anti-tank guns and machine-gun fire, and the troops paid a great price, but it was always difficult to move forward. After much deliberation, the brigade commander gave the two units the order to retreat.

As soon as the troops attacking the mountain base retreated, Zhukov received a report that his subordinates had given the order to retreat without asking for instructions, and he was very annoyed, so he called Malinin to his office and instructed the other party in a stern tone: "Chief of Staff, this brigade commander actually ordered the troops to withdraw from the battle without the orders of his superiors, resulting in the failure of our operation to contain the enemy. This matter must be dealt with seriously, and you immediately arrange for someone to take his place and send him to a military court. ”

After waiting for Zhukov to finish speaking, Malinin did not immediately carry out his order, but interceded on behalf of the brigade commander: "Comrade Marshal, I have already learned about the unauthorized retreat, and his troops are advancing in two directions along the mountain road towards the location of the enemy's base. However, due to the fact that the mountain roads were covered with mines and anti-tank guns and snipers were in ambush nearby, their tanks and sappers were unable to carry out demining operations. The brigade commander saw that the troops could not advance as planned, and he was worried that the troops would suffer unnecessary losses, so he gave the order to retreat. ”

After listening to Malinin's explanation, Zhukov was silent for a long time, and after he calmed down, he felt that he was a little too harsh on the front-line commanders. Faced with such a situation, even if he personally went out, I am afraid that he would not be able to continue to advance into the mountains in a short time, and choosing to retreat was the final inevitable result.

Thinking of this, Zhukov waved his hand at Malinin: "Forget it, the order just now is invalid." I can ignore the fact that you call the brigade commander and he ordered the retreat without authorization, but he must find a way to find out the situation of the base in the mountains as soon as possible, and prepare to launch a new attack at the right time. ”

"Yes!" Malinin then asked: "What should we do with the enemy in the city of Breslau?" ”

"Judging from the previous offensive, the city of Breslau has a well-established defense system, and the enemy's resistance is very resolute, if we want to forcibly seize the city, I am afraid that the casualties and time will be beyond our ability to bear." In Zhukov's mind, it did not matter whether or not to seize the city of Breslau, and if it had not been for Rokossovsky's request for help, he would have forgotten about this important German city: "Our priority at the moment is to advance to Berlin as soon as possible, and the rest of the goals can be put aside for the time being." After taking Berlin, it's not too late to turn around and come back to pick them up. ”

"And what should be done with the troops that are making a feint attack on the city of Breslau?" Malinen asked tentatively: "Let them continue to maintain a feint posture, or let them stop attacking?" ”

"Let them stop, judging from the current situation, the feint we have carried out has not achieved satisfactory results." Zhukov said with a blank face: "Let them all return to their respective defenses and continue to monitor the enemy in the city." ”

"And Marshal Rokossovsky asked, and how should we reply to him?"

"Comrade Chief of Staff," Zhukov said solemnly, with a straight face, "I repeat, our first task at the moment is to march to Berlin with all our might, and other matters can be put aside for the time being. I don't think there's a need to let more commanders and fighters sacrifice their lives for the sake of dozens of people. ”

Zhukov's words had already made it clear that before the capture of Berlin, the troops deployed around the city of Breslau only needed to continue to monitor the enemy and did not need to engage in any more feints. As for the friendly forces in the city on a mission, leave them to fend for themselves.

Just as Malinin was about to turn around and leave, Zhukov stopped him again and said to him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I think that the Germans are so well defended in the mountains, then there must be something important hiding in the base." With just one infantry brigade and two tank battalions, it can be very difficult to take this base. You talk to the person in charge of the intelligence department of the front army, and ask them to send competent men to the mountains to conduct reconnaissance, find out the enemy's troop deployment and defense, and prepare for the next offensive of our army. ”

"Comrade Marshal," Malinin heard Zhukov say this, thinking that he had forgotten what he had just said, and hurriedly reminded him: "Regarding this mountain base of the Germans, aren't you already ready for the brigade commander to send someone to reconnoitre?" ”

"Comrade Chief of Staff, I am not old enough to forget what I have said." Zhukov said with some displeasure: "It is not enough to find out the situation of the Germans' bases hidden in the mountains just by relying on the reconnaissance capabilities of an infantry brigade. Therefore, we need to send capable reconnaissance personnel to conduct reconnaissance with them at the same time, so that it is possible to find out the situation of the enemy's base in the shortest possible time. ”

"Understood, Comrade Marshal." After figuring out Zhukov's intentions, Malinin hurriedly replied: "I will complete the work you arranged immediately." ”