In the early morning of 10 August, the German army, which had been over-depleted in men and ammunition in the early stage, resumed a new offensive after receiving sufficient supplies. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info

After half an hour of artillery preparation, the Germans began to force their way across the Wopi River in an attempt to break through the Soviet positions on the east bank in one fell swoop. The 108th Infantry Division, which was stationed at the river, was the most combat-ready unit of the 16th Army. Faced with countless kayaks and various means of crossing the river on the river, the division commander Orlov calmly gave an order to his chief of staff: "Chief of staff, order the mortar company deployed on the river to open fire, and be sure to destroy as many enemies as possible in the Vopi River." ”

The chief of staff agreed, then picked up the phone, dialed the mortar company, and shouted into the microphone: "Comrade company commander, the division commander orders you to open fire immediately." It is necessary to use heavy artillery fire to destroy as many enemies as possible who cross the river in the river. ”

After the artillery company commander put down the phone, he immediately issued an order to his subordinates to open fire. At the sound of an order, more than 20 mortars deployed in the trenches by the river fine-tuned their angles, and with the muffled sound of continuous opening of wine bottles, a large number of shells streaked across the sky with a whistling sound, and exploded in the middle of the German ferries crossing the river. Seeing that the artillery was firing, the six heavy machine guns of the heavy machine gun company deployed nearby also opened fire on the dense German troops on the river.

When the Germans on board saw that the Soviets were firing, they immediately leaned their bodies on the rubber boat and paddled sideways to avoid the bullets and shrapnel flying from the opposite shore. Although the Germans tried their best to avoid Soviet fire, from time to time mortar shells hit boats full of soldiers, and rubber boats and human fragments were blown into the sky.

In just a few minutes, the Germans crossing the river had lost more than half of their kayaks, and the river was covered with floating corpses and debris of kayaks. But the remaining enemy stubbornly rushed to the river bank and charged towards the positions of the Soviet troops.

The Soviet troops, who were holding on to the river, saw that the enemy had come ashore, and all the weapons on the position opened fire at the same time. The dense firepower suppressed the German troops who came ashore too much. Occasionally, two daring people looked up and wanted to shoot, but before they could pull the trigger, they were sieveed by a dense stream of bullets, and the rest could only lie on the ground in despair, trying in vain to continue the last few minutes of their lives.

The battle ended half an hour later, and the German battalion that crossed the river, except for a few dozen who had been taken prisoner, was either killed in the river or died on the shore, and none of them could escape.

After listening to Orlov's report, Rokossovsky said approvingly: "Comrade Colonel, well done. On my behalf, please express your gratitude to your men for defending our country with their heroic deeds. After he finished speaking, he thought for a moment and added, "By the way, Comrade Colonel, remember to remind the soldiers that when they are shelled by the enemy, they must be well concealed to minimize unnecessary casualties." ”

Lobachevden, Rokossovsky, put down the phone, and said to him with a smile: "Comrade commander, it seems that the order you gave a few days ago to blow up the bridge after all the troops had withdrawn from the Vopi River was very correct. Now there are no bridges over the river, and if the enemy wants to cross the river, he can only force a crossing, and as long as our warriors on the east bank defend properly, then the enemy will not want to cross the Wopi River even a single step. ”

After Lobachev finished speaking, Malinin also continued: "Comrade Commander's decision to withdraw the troops to the east bank of the Vopi River is very correct. If we are still holding on to the West Bank at this moment, we will inevitably pay heavy sacrifices in the face of the enemy who charges under the guidance of tanks. Now that the river is blocked, the enemy's tanks are useless, and the pressure on our commanders and fighters can be greatly reduced when they are defending. ”

A few people were talking, when suddenly the phone on the table rang. Ma Linin walked over and picked up the microphone, put it to his ear, and then said loudly: "Hey, I'm here at the headquarters of the group army, where are you?" … What the?! … I didn't hear clearly, please say it again. … I understand! … I'll report to the commander right away. ”

Rokossovsky saw that Malinin was very nervous when he answered the phone, so as soon as he put down the phone, he immediately asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what happened?" ”

Malinin hurriedly reported to Rokossovsky and Lobachev: "The commander, the military commissar, has just received a call from the chief of staff of the Front, who said that a British military delegation has come to inspect our troops, let us receive them well and ensure their safety. ”

"What, British military delegation?" Rokossovsky couldn't help but be stunned when he heard Malinin say this, he looked sideways at Lobachev and asked: "Comrade Military Commissar, do you know what is going on?" Why do foreign military delegations come to us at such times to inspect us, and don't they know that there is a war going on? ”

Lobachev smiled bitterly and said: "Comrade commander, as far as I know, our country seems to be talking with Britain and the United States about military assistance and opening up a second battlefield. This military delegation has come to inspect us to see how we are fighting and to judge whether or not to assist us. ”

Others may not know about the US aid, but Rokossovsky, who has integrated the memories of later generations, is very familiar with this matter, without the arms and various strategic materials provided by the United States, the Soviet Union in history would have been completely defeated by the German army. In addition to the assistance provided by the United States to the Soviet Union, Britain also provided tanks and ships to the Soviet Union, so this military delegation could not be left out in the cold, lest a major event be missed.

Rokossovsky was about to announce that he was going to receive the delegation in person, when Colonel Orlov called again and reported to him that the enemy was on the offensive and that he might again launch a river crossing. Under these circumstances, Rokossovsky, as commander, could certainly not leave all at once, so he had to ask Lobachev and Malinin with some regret: "Military Commissar and Chief of Staff, I am commanding the battle and cannot leave for the time being, so let the two of you replace me and go to meet the visiting British military delegation first." ”

"All right, Comrade Commander." Lobachev said briskly: "Then I will represent you with the chief of staff and go to receive this British military delegation." If you have time, I suggest that you come and meet with the members of the delegation, perhaps with unexpected benefits. ”

"Don't worry, Comrade Military Commissar," Rokossovsky confidently said to Lobachev, "I will be able to rush over in an hour at most." Speaking of this, he suddenly remembered an important matter, and hurriedly asked Ma Lining, "Chief of Staff, where is the military delegation at present?" ”

"According to the arrangement of the superiors," Malinin replied, "they should first go to the 38th Infantry Division of Colonel Kirillov, where I and Comrade Military Commissar will receive them." ”

"Okay, I see. I'll get over when I'm done here. ”

It was said to be an hour, but by the time the 108th Infantry Division had once again smashed the German attempt to cross the river, Rokossovsky rushed to the station of the 38th Infantry Division, three hours had already passed.

Rokossovsky's jeep came to a stop at the entrance of the divisional headquarters of the 38th Infantry Division, and the guards standing guard at the gate hurriedly greeted him. Rokossovsky, while raising his hand to return the salute to the saluting guards, asked: "Comrade Military Commissar, are they still inside?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Commander." The guard respectfully replied: "In addition to the military commissar and chief of staff, there is the commander of the 38th division, Colonel Kirillov, and several of his subordinates. ”

Rokossovsky walked into the house and saw a dozen servicemen in different uniforms, sitting around a long wooden table. Seeing him enter the door, Kirillov hurriedly leaned close to Lobachev's ear and whispered: "Comrade Military Commissar, the commander is here." With that, he quickly stood up.

"Comrade Commander, you are finally here." Lobachev stood up from the table, beckoned Rokossovsky to come to him, and then introduced to the soldier next to him in the uniform of a British general: "Mr. General, this is Lieutenant General Rokossovsky, the commander of our 16th Army. The translator next to him immediately translated these two sentences into English.

"Hello, Your Excellency!" The British general stood up, took the initiative to extend his hand to Rokossovsky, and introduced himself: "I am Admiral Wavell, and it is a pleasure to meet you!" ”

Wavell?! After Rokossovsky heard the other party's name clearly, he began to secretly recall the other party's information: Archibald Percival Wavell, British Field Marshal, Commander-in-Chief of the British Command in the Middle East during World War II. But after seeing the black blindfold on his left eye, Rokossovsky immediately confirmed that this was what he knew to be Wavell, who had lost his left eye during World War I.

He shook Wavell's hand and said politely, "Hello, Mr. General! I have heard of you before and of the successes you have achieved in commanding the British army against the Germans in North Africa. ”

Two strangers will become familiar in a moment because of a common topic. Although Wavell is now a general in the British army, he can't help but show a smug expression on his face when he hears a foreign general mention his past achievements.

"Alright, two generals, don't stand, sit down." Lobachev saw that the two were holding each other's hands tightly, and they didn't let go for a long time, with a pity and pity expression, he hurriedly greeted the two and said, "If you don't eat it again, the beetroot soup should be cold." ”

Rokossovsky sat down, picked up a glass full of vodka in front of him, stood up and said to Wavell: "Mr. General, I propose to have a drink for you to have a meal of the Germans in North Africa!" ”

After listening to the interpreter's translation, Wavell also stood up with a smile, and after touching the glass with Rokossovsky, he followed the other party's example and drank the vodka in the cup.

After waiting for the glass to be filled with vodka again, Wavell also raised his glass to Rokossovsky and said in a friendly manner: "General Rokossovsky, for the fact that you led your troops to raid Lublin to seize the German army's logistics warehouse, and to inflict heavy losses on the German army at Shepetovka, a toast!" ”

After Lobachev waited for the two of them to finish drinking this cup, he was afraid that they would continue to drink, so he quickly stood up and stopped: "Okay, two generals, don't drink anymore, you will get drunk if you drink again." If you get drunk, you won't be able to taste our Russian cuisine. Everyone eats the food first, and there is time to drink. ”

"Hello, Your Excellency!" The British general stood up, took the initiative to extend his hand to Rokossovsky, and introduced himself: "I am Admiral Wavell, and it is a pleasure to meet you!" ”

Wavell?! After Rokossovsky heard the other party's name clearly, he began to secretly recall the other party's information: Archibald Percival Wavell, British Field Marshal, Commander-in-Chief of the British Command in the Middle East during World War II. But after seeing the black blindfold on his left eye, Rokossovsky immediately confirmed that this was what he knew to be Wavell, who had lost his left eye during World War I.

He shook Wavell's hand and said politely, "Hello, Mr. General! I have heard of you before and of the successes you have achieved in commanding the British army against the Germans in North Africa. ”

Two strangers will become familiar in a moment because of a common topic. Although Wavell is now a general in the British army, he can't help but show a smug expression on his face when he hears a foreign general mention his past achievements.

"Alright, two generals, don't stand, sit down." Lobachev saw that the two were holding each other's hands tightly, and they didn't let go for a long time, with a pity and pity expression, he hurriedly greeted the two and said, "If you don't eat it again, the beetroot soup should be cold." ”

Rokossovsky sat down, picked up a glass full of vodka in front of him, stood up and said to Wavell: "Mr. General, I propose to have a drink for you to have a meal of the Germans in North Africa!" ”

After listening to the interpreter's translation, Wavell also stood up with a smile, and after touching the glass with Rokossovsky, he followed the other party's example and drank the vodka in the cup.

After waiting for the glass to be filled with vodka again, Wavell also raised his glass to Rokossovsky and said in a friendly manner: "General Rokossovsky, for the fact that you led your troops to raid Lublin to seize the German army's logistics warehouse, and to inflict heavy losses on the German army at Shepetovka, a toast!" ”

After Lobachev waited for the two of them to finish drinking this cup, he was afraid that they would continue to drink, so he quickly stood up and stopped: "Okay, two generals, don't drink anymore, you will get drunk if you drink again." If you get drunk, you won't be able to taste our Russian cuisine. Everyone eats the food first, and there is time to drink. (To be continued.) )