The position was finally captured by our troops, but the cost was enormous, the 13th Tank Corps, at least more than thirty tanks, was destroyed by the Germans, and the 83rd Guards Infantry Regiment was also disabled. I carefully observed the newly regained position through my binoculars, and found that there were no more than two hundred figures moving on the position.

General Kolpakchi also saw what I saw, and he hesitated, but he still had people dial the phone of Colonel Fanasyev, the commander of the 33rd Guards Division, and as soon as the phone was called, he asked straight to the point: "Comrade Colonel, when will your 84th and 85th regiments arrive at the positions that have only been retaken?" ”

Colonel Fanasyev was stunned by his question, paused, and then replied: "Report to Comrade Commander, my other two regiments are on a rapid march, and it is estimated that in a few minutes they will reach their destination." ”

"You push them a little more and get them to speed up their march. Now the 83rd Regiment is almost finished, and if the Germans come to a counter-assault at this time, they will not be able to withstand it. After saying that, Kolpakchi dialed the phone of the tank army again, although he had a verbal altercation with the commander of the army just now, but at the moment he tried his best to speak to the other party in a friendly tone: "Hello, Comrade General. I have just sent a new regiment to occupy offensive positions, will your troops continue to provide artillery cover for the infantry offensive? I'll call you again before the attack starts. ”

After putting down the phone, he stopped Captain Semykov, who happened to be passing by him, and without saying a word, took out a pack of cigarettes from his jacket pocket, smoked one and lit it, and walked out of the headquarters.

Saw Kol Pakchi's back disappear from the doorway of the command headquarters. I quietly asked Semykov: "Comrade Captain. I would like to ask who drew up the operational plan this time? ”

"Who else? Comrade Commander, of course. "Perhaps Semykov thinks that I am asking this question too much. Because the tone of his voice was inevitably a little impatient, "Comrade Commander has received combat training from a large corps in the Frunze Military Academy, and he is very handy in formulating such a combat plan. ”

For a commander like Semykov, who was of a lower rank than me, I did not have so many scruples in speaking, I pointed to the position in the distance and said to him: "Comrade Captain, please look. The hastily built fortifications on the great plain, where there was no danger to defend, could not stop the offensive of the German army, which had air supremacy and tank superiority, in addition to unnecessary casualties. ”

Semikov also took out a cigarette and put it to his mouth, and asked me thoughtfully: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, where do you think our defensive positions should be built?" ”

I stomped on where I was standing, and said, "If the fortifications are built on this hill, when the German troops want to pass through the open field below the hill, we can take advantage of our firepower and kill them condescendingly with artillery fire." In order to pass through here smoothly, the Germans would certainly concentrate their forces on the positions on the hills. And the topography of this hill. I think you can also see clearly, the mountains are high and the forests are dense and easy to defend and difficult to attack. If the Germans wanted to take it, they would have to pay a heavy price. ”

Semykov didn't argue with me, he could only snort softly and went straight to his work, leaving me there alone. Looking at the departing back of this operational staff officer, I could only laugh dryly twice, and continued to raise the telescope to observe the situation in the forward positions.

With the arrival of the 84th and 85th regiments, the commanders and fighters of the 83rd regiment began to withdraw from their positions one after another and move to the rear. I deliberately counted the number of people, and there were less than a hundred people left in the whole regiment, except for seven or eight officers, the rest were soldiers, and it seems that the commanders at all levels died in the battle just now.

Seeing this scene, my heart couldn't help but sink slowly, how long has it been fighting, you must know that the Ludao Army is only passively defending, and even long-range artillery, tanks and planes have not been dispatched, and a regiment of our army with artillery support and tank cover has almost been wiped out, and the commanders at all levels in the regiment have almost suffered casualties. I was secretly glad that I hadn't been in the fighting unit for the attack, otherwise I might have been one of the dead.

As he was watching, Kolpakchi's voice suddenly sounded in his ears: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I see that you have been holding the binoculars and not putting them down, I believe that you also have a certain degree of understanding of the situation on the battlefield, I wonder what you think about the next battle?" ”

I hurriedly put down my binoculars, straightened up and reported to Kolpacic, who had returned to me at some point: "Report to Comrade Commander, we should take advantage of the fact that our army has just won and our morale is high, and quickly launch an attack on the defense line of the Moral Army. Taking advantage of the coordination of our army's infantry and tanks, we quickly organized our troops to advance and assault to seize the positions of the German army with lightning speed, so as to achieve the goal of this counteroffensive. ”

"Butan synergy?! How do infantry and tanks work together? Aren't the tanks of our army in the rear of the infantry at every attack, providing them with fire cover, is this what you call infantry coordination? ”

I can understand General Kolpakchi's doubts, and the tactics I am talking about have hardly been used in the Soviet army at this time, so it is understandable that he does not understand, so I explained to him: "Comrade commander, what I said about infantry and tan coordination is slightly different from what you said. During the attack, the tanks open the way in front, and the infantry charge behind the tanks in squads or platoons. The advantage of this is that the tank can clear threatening fire points and strong fortifications for the infantry, and the infantry can help the tank force to eliminate the enemy's anti-tank men. ”

After listening to this, Kolpacchi clasped his hands to his chest and lowered his head in thought. At this time, Semykov walked up to him, and just wanted to call him, but I waved my hand to stop him, and I whispered to him: "Comrade Captain, please wait a minute, Comrade Commander is thinking about the problem, don't disturb him." ”

Although my voice was small, it alarmed Korpakchi, who turned his head and asked Semykov: "Comrade Captain, what is the matter?" ”

Semykov hurriedly reported: "Comrade Commander, the commander of the Tank Army, and the commander of the 33rd Guards Division called one after another, saying that the troops were ready, and asked when you would be able to attack?" ”

Korpakchi did not answer immediately, but said to Semykov: "Comrade Captain, just now Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina made a suggestion to me, saying that in the attack later, the tanks can be allowed to fight in the front, and the infantry can follow and charge behind in squads or platoons, so that during the attack, the tanks can clear the obstacles in the path of the attack for the infantry, and the infantry can also eliminate those pesky anti-tank fighters. ”

Judging by the tone of Kolpakchi and Semykov's speech, the friendship between the two is not shallow. Semykov groaned for a moment, and immediately replied: "Comrade commander, I think there is still some truth in this style of play of Comrade Lieutenant Colonel. As for whether it is applicable, let the 33rd Guards Division and the 13th Tank Army try it in the next battle. ”

Korpakich nodded with satisfaction and said, "In that case, then you go and call the commander of the tank corps and Colonel Fanasyev and ask them to try this new type of infantry and tank cooperation." ”

A new offensive was launched five minutes later, with a dozen tanks of the tank corps opening the way in front, each tank followed by a group of infantry with various weapons, attacking the German positions.

But step-to-tan coordination is easy to say, but not so easy to do, at least when the forces that coordinate the operation suddenly use this tactic, there will inevitably be confusion. After several tanks were destroyed by German anti-tank guns, the infantry who were following the tanks also stopped, and they did not know how to continue to attack, nor did they know how to shoot on the spot, and they were huddled together in a mess and became the target of German mortars and machine guns.

Seeing the hordes of commanders and fighters, blown to pieces by German shells and knocked down by machine guns, Kolpakchi was anxious, he threw the telescope to the ground, turned around and grabbed me by the collar, pointed to the battlefield in front of him, and shouted angrily: "Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina, open your eyes and see, this is the bullshit step-tan synergy theory you proposed." You see, the commanders and fighters are in chaos on the battlefield at the moment, they are the target of the German massacre, and you have to pay for all this. ”

I forcefully wrenched my collar out of his big hand, gasped and replied, "Comrade Commander, the tactic I have proposed to you is the most advanced at the moment. The reason why our army is in chaos at this moment is that this tactic has never been practiced between infantry and tanks, and even the commanders of the troops do not know anything about this tactic. The soldiers were ordered to charge behind the tank, and once the tank was destroyed, they didn't know what to do with it, but only stood in a daze, which would become a target for the Germans. ……”

Without waiting for me to finish, Kolpakchi turned around and ordered Semykov: "Call the commander of the tank corps and ask him to put all the remaining tanks into battle." It is necessary to destroy the mortar positions and machine-gun fire points of the German positions as soon as possible to cover the capture of positions by our infantry. Okay, that's all, don't hesitate, hurry up and call. ”

After Semykov left, Korpakchi glared at me again and said viciously: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, when the battle is over, I will settle accounts with you." After saying that, he went to find a new pair of binoculars and continued to observe the battle outside.

Although I felt that my future was uncertain, I did not dare to leave without permission, but still stood where I was, holding a telescope and watching the stubborn attack of our troops on the German positions. (To be continued......)