The left-wing counteroffensive forces composed of the second and third regiments, because of the blockage of the 10.5 heights, I can't see how they are progressing at the moment. As for the right-flank counter-offensive forces composed of the first and fourth regiments, because the battles they carried out were all in the open field with an unobstructed view, we could clearly see their fighting situation when we stayed in the observation post.

After seizing the forward positions of the German army, the right flank troops left part of their forces to defend them, and then continued to advance. Although the Germans were pushed out of their positions by our troops, they did not scatter and flee like the enemy on the left flank, but retreated back in an organized alternate cover.

Our air force has been suppressed by the German air force during this time, and they have long been holding back a fire in their hearts, and now they vent this anger on these German soldiers who do not know whether they are alive or dead. As soon as they saw the Germans in a group, they immediately dived down, throwing bombs and strafing them with machine guns, so that our ground offensive troops could attack more smoothly and faster.

The commander of the 1st regiment, Sederikov, and the commander of the 4th regiment, Gaidar, were both experienced commanders, and they quickly saw the way, found that the air force was guiding and covering their own attack, and immediately ordered the troops to follow the attack point of our fighters. As soon as the German-guarded areas were bombed, our battalions and companies of infantry swarmed up and completely drowned the surviving Germans. Because the speed of the attack was too fast, it was difficult for the mortarsmen and heavy machine gunners who followed behind, carrying barrels, ammunition boxes, and dragging heavy machine guns, although they had been trying to catch up with the infantry in front, but the distance between the two was still getting bigger and bigger.

See this. Pantai Laiev said to me with emotion: "Comrade division commander, according to this pace of attack of the right-wing troops, I see that there will be no problem in taking the city of Gorodishe before dark. ”

Although our army is advancing rapidly. But I had little hope of taking the city of Gorodishe before dark, because the Germans had been there for several months, and they must have built a lot of fortifications, and because of the existing strength of our division, we wanted to capture the heavily fortified and fortified city in the shortest possible time. Almost an intractable task.

Seeing that I was preoccupied, Kirillov came over and asked with concern: "Comrade Oshanina, what's wrong with you, you look very unhappy." Is there something on your mind? ”

Instead of answering his question, I pointed to the north and asked: "Comrade commissar, do you think we will be able to take the heavily defended city of Gorodishe by the Germans before dark?" ”

Kirillov looked at me strangely at my question, and then asked puzzledly: "The overall situation is in our favor at the moment." You see," he said, pointing to the warplanes circling in the sky, "our air force has taken control of the battlefield air supremacy. If, during the siege, we encounter stubborn resistance from the Germans, the air force can provide us with the necessary support. ”

I replied with a wry smile: "Comrade Political Commissar." We must not be too blindly optimistic, knowing that although the German forces attacking our positions have been routed, it is necessary to clearly understand that the enemy is stronger than ours, and you think that the troops on the left and right flanks can easily be taken away from the Germans who are waiting for their work after converging under the city of Gorodishe. Do you take the city by the way? ”

"What should I do?" When Kirillov heard me say this, he couldn't help but get worried. "The main forces of the group army had suffered heavy losses in the early battles, and it was very difficult for them to hold their own lines. Not to mention supporting us. If our attack is thwarted, then the enemy may turn around and eat us in one bite. ”

"Comrade Deputy Division Commander," I called Pantai Leyev, who was standing in front of the lookout, and told him, "in another hour or two, the troops on our left and right flanks will meet under the city of Gorodishe." Although the strength of the four regiments is quite large, there is no unified command, so I intend to send you to take up the heavy responsibility of command. Is there a problem? ”

Seeing that my expression was stern, Pantai Laiev said some nonsense, but nodded and replied unusually simply: "Okay, Comrade Division Commander, I will go to the city of Gorodyshe." ”

Bandereev was operating with Morozov's artillery battalion, and I stood in front of the lookout and looked down at the trucks with artillery at the foot of the hill, methodically driving through the open field between us and the 107.5 heights. I was very happy to see this kind of march in broad daylight, and I recalled that before today, if we wanted to move our troops, we had to do so at night or in bad weather when enemy planes could not be dispatched, so as not to encounter air raids. Today is different, our great counteroffensive has begun, and now it is the turn of the enemy to take care of our air raids.

After several trucks towing heavy howitzers passed, I was surprised to see behind several trucks towing a strange multi-barreled artillery. So he called Akhromeyev over, pointed to the strange artillery below, and asked him curiously: "Comrade Chief of Staff, do you know what kind of artillery is being towed behind the truck?" ”

Akhromeyev glanced down and immediately replied to me: "Report to the division commander, this is the Type 41 rocket launcher captured by the artillery battalion from the enemy. ”

I hurriedly called Kirillov over, pointed to the strangely shaped artillery, and said to him with great interest: "Comrade commissar, look at this kind of rocket artillery of the German army, it does not look like the 'flying thunder cannon' that we made homemade. ”

Kirillov looked left and right at the rocket launchers passing at the foot of the mountain, and nodded approvingly: "Well, Comrade Oshanina, don't say it, it's quite like our 'Flying Thunder Cannon'." ”

Akhromeyev waited for us to finish speaking, and introduced on the side: "Division commander, political commissar, this German Type 41 150-mm rocket launcher is 6 companies of rocket artillery, 6 launch tubes are arranged in a hexagonal shape, assembled together, and mounted on a towable two-wheeled cart. The length of the rocket launch tube is 1.3 meters, the outer diameter is five-rifled, and in order to keep the rocket stable in the launch tube, there are three 17 mm rails in each launch tube.

The two-wheeled traction trolley is equipped with an inverted bracket, which should be lowered and fixed when shooting, and play a role in stabilizing the dìng, and the rocket launch tube can have an elevation angle of 5 to 15 degrees on the launch frame, and can rotate 27 degrees left and right. The interval between firings is 2 seconds. It takes about 90 seconds to load 6 rockets. The total combat weight of the entire system is 536 kg, and it is usually towed by a truck or armored vehicle. The ignition method is wired ignition, which is quite similar to our 'Flying Thunder Cannon'. The ignition cable is generally 10 meters to ensure that the rear flame does not harm the operating soldier. ”

At half past three in the afternoon, I was contacted by the intercom of the Pantai Leev Guò Regiment. In order to prevent eavesdropping by the Germans. Instead of calling him by name, I got straight to the point and asked, "How's it going?" ”

Hearing my thoughtless question, Pantai Laiev was stunned at first, but he soon understood why I was talking like this, and briefly reported: "The left and right wings have converged, controlling the east, south, and north directions of the city. When Morozov is ready, he can officially launch an attack. ”

"Have you figured out the distribution of the enemy's forces?" I then asked.

"According to the confession of the prisoners, there is a division headquarters of the 295th Infantry Division in the city, and a regiment of troops in the east and south of the city is defended, and there are strong fortifications." Speaking of which. He asked me with some concern: "As far as I know, there are companies in the Shederikov regiment, which have a gun for every three people, is it appropriate to throw them into such a brutal battle?" ”

"So let's make the Shederikov regiment the general reserve." I knew in my heart that what Pandereev was telling the truth, because the regiment was expanding so quickly that there were thousands of fighters without weapons at all. If these bare-handed commanders and fighters were allowed to charge, it would be tantamount to sending them to their deaths, and I had no choice but to announce that I would turn a regiment into a reserve. "As for the offensive, it was handed over to several other regiments. The city of Gorodishe is relatively spacious, which is conducive to the assault of armored troops, so you must do a good job of coordinating the infantry and tanks of the troops. ”

As soon as I finished speaking, Pantai Laiev cried out: "This is the first time I have heard this word. How do I do that? ”

Bantai Leev's words made me cry and laugh, I actually forgot that he started with the independent division. Except for the mission to the north, the rest of the time was spent in the division headquarters. I haven't been anywhere, how can we know the "step-to-tank coordination" tactics that we used before? However, at such a time, even if I wanted to change people temporarily, I could only say to him: "Comrade Deputy Division Commander, you can ask Sedelikov about this matter, he has experience." ”

After I ended my call with Bantaireev, Kirillov said to me with a stern expression: "Comrade Oshanina, it seems that we were carried away by the victory at noon and forgot that the enemy before us was far stronger than us. I suspect that there will be a fierce battle ahead, and perhaps more than a third of the troops will be killed or wounded. I'm wondering now, what are your plans? ”

I knew that the decision I made at this moment would be related to the life and death of the independent division, so I was extremely cautious. After thinking about it for a few minutes, I said to Kirillov with careful consideration: "Comrade commissar, I think it is unrealistic for us to attack and advance to the north and join up with the Don Front in the south. Maybe we've been wiped out before we see the shadow of our allies. So I thought about it this way, first concentrating my forces to take the nearest city of Gorodishe, and then sending a force to the north, and once again taking the city of Kongkiyi, and after occupying the heights to the north, the troops stopped and turned to the defense, waiting for the convergence with the Don Front. ”

Akhromeyev was on the side, marking the map according to the battle reports received. At this time, the telephone on the table rang, and since the division commander and the regiments were now in contact with each other by telegram, the phone calls that could come in at this moment came from the headquarters of the group army. He hurriedly put down the pencil in his hand, picked up the phone, and said politely: "This is the headquarters of the independent division, where are you?" ”

After listening for a while, he got up from his seat and said politely: "Comrade commander, please wait, I will let the division commander answer the phone." ”

Hearing that it was Chuikov's call, I hurriedly went to Akhromeyev, took the phone from his hand, and put it to my ear. Chuikov's voice came out of the earpiece: "Comrade Oshanina, how is the situation with you there?" ”

"Report to Comrade Commander," I quickly straightened up and replied respectfully, "at present four regiments of our division have arrived outside the city of Gorodishe, surrounded the city from the east, south and north, and are preparing to attack the German troops inside the city. After briefly reporting on our situation, I turned the subject to the counteroffensive of the Front troops, "Comrade Commander, do you know that the counteroffensive of the Front troops is going well? ”

Hearing my question, Chuikov replied with a smile: "The counteroffensive of the troops went smoothly, and at noon the troops of the Front achieved a breakthrough in the enemy's line of defense. At 13 o'clock, the 4th Mechanized Army entered the breakthrough. And the 13th Tank Army, at the moment, is rapidly developing in depth of the enemy's defense in its own area. After introducing the battle situation of the friendly forces, he suddenly asked, "Do you have any plans for the future?" ”

I listened to his question, and hurriedly repeated my thoughts to him, and at the end, I said with some concern: "If our whole division presses up, then the defense of Mamayev Hill will become empty, so that in the event of a sneak attack by the Germans, the high ground will be in danger of being lost." ”

"You don't have to worry about that." Chuikov quickly made a decision and announced to me: "I will send Colonel Vachuk's 284th Infantry Division to Mamayev before dark." As for the 107.5 heights, I plan to send the 92nd Infantry Brigade, which has lost the heights before. After handing over the defense to the commanders of these two armies, you can rush to the city of Gorodishe as soon as possible to command your troops. ”

"Understood, Comrade Commander, I'll make arrangements."

After putting down the phone, I told Kirillov what Chuikov meant. After finishing speaking, I suddenly caught a glimpse of Sherbina, the political commissar of the 37th Guards Division, who had been ignored by me, still standing beside him, and suddenly I had an idea, so I walked quickly in front of him and said to him politely: "Political commissar Sherbina, I have something I want to discuss with you. ”

"Comrade Deputy Commander, you are too polite," Serbina also responded to me politely: "If you have any matter, please tell me directly, as long as it is within my ability, I will definitely do it." ”

"In that case, Commissar Sherbina," seeing that he readily agreed to my request, I did not detour with him, and said bluntly: "I would like to ask you to lead the commanders and fighters of the 37th Guards Division to temporarily take over the defense of the 107.5 heights, and stay there to wait for the 92nd Infantry Brigade sent by the headquarters to take over." ”

"Yes," Shcherbina said very dryly, "I'll go back and gather my troops, and rush to the 107.5 heights at once." (To be continued)

PS: Heartfelt thanks to the book friend White-winged Demon and Ahhwa Bumblebee Children's Shoes for their two votes! Thank you for the precious monthly tickets of children's shoes such as ZZ120, the Old Figure, Oil Paper Umbrella & Secular, Will Be Carried Out to the End, National Mourning Celebration, Love Huzhou, Baiyun Spring, Luo-Xia, Fluffy Bear, few155, Nian Guofeng, etc.! Thank you for the reward of book friend fantasy 134 and Luoxia's lonely children's shoes!