The artillery battalion commanded by Jegonovich, like a seasoned sniper, set up a new position, and after firing a few shots at the German artillery position, it quickly moved to a new position.

And although the German artillery is like a behemoth, it is a blind behemoth, and it does not know where our artillery battalion is, so it can only be beaten and then frantically fire shells in the direction where the shells are flying, in an attempt to destroy our artillery positions. When the German artillery, which was in hindsight, shelled the positions of the artillery battalions, Jegonovich and the others had already completed the transfer and began to build new artillery positions.

Although the German infantry had lost the support of artillery fire, they seemed to be willing not to take our position, so at this moment they were assembled at a distance of five hundred meters from the front of the fourth regiment, and without the staff of the artillery fire, they did not know where to find three tanks, ready to cover the attack launched by the infantry.

Seeing the three German tanks showing off their might, I remembered what Kosgaard said about the experience of the three regiments fighting tanks, and hurriedly grabbed the microphone and called Gaidar: "Lieutenant Colonel Gaidar, do you see the Germans assembled at the front of your regiment?" This time there were three tanks to provide cover for the artillery, trying to find a way to take them all out. ”

Gaidar was silent for a moment before replying: "I will have the fighters separate the German tanks from the infantry with firepower, and then after the tanks have crossed the trenches, they will use Molotov cocktails to kill them." ”

"German tanks cannot be allowed to cross our trenches, that would have a bad effect on our morale. All you have to do is kill the German tanks before they get close to the trenches. "I don't think he knows the anti-tank experience of the Third Regiment yet. Then he said to him: "The three regiments have a good set of tanks against the Germans. They were after the German shelling stopped. Send a few fighters out of the trenches. Sneak up in the craters and kill them all with Molotov cocktails as soon as the tanks get close. ”

"Understood, I immediately called the company commander at the front and asked him to arrange for the soldiers to hide in the crater, and try to kill all three tanks before they reach the trench."

"Then don't hesitate, let them act immediately."

It didn't take a while. I saw in my binoculars five or six fighters jumping out of the trenches and tumbling into the craters in front of me. Looking at the fighters hidden in the craters, and thinking of Gaidar, who carried out my orders to the letter, I couldn't help but nod with satisfaction.

Although there was only one platoon in the first line of defense, Gaidar specially equipped them with captured light and heavy machine guns, and aimed at the charging German infantry, and immediately separated them from the tanks. Tanks without infantry cover become lambs to the slaughter in the eyes of anti-tank fighters.

Several fighters hidden in the trench jumped out of the trench and smashed the Molotov cocktail in their hands at the two tanks rushing forward. Molotov cocktails shattered on the body, and the liquid inside flowed everywhere. With the flash of flames, the entire tank was suddenly surrounded by flames and smoke.

The driver of the tank that lagged slightly behind. Seems to be a seasoned veteran, he is highly skilled and composed. Seeing that the two tanks in front of him were burned by Molotov cocktails, he slowed down slightly, and after observing for a moment, it rushed up with machine gun fire from the turret while firing its guns. Tank guns hit light and heavy machine gun fire points in the trenches, and machine guns hit fighters who threw Molotov cocktails.

The tank bombarded a heavy machine-gun point of the fourth regiment into the sky with a single shot, and the fire in the trenches suddenly weakened, and the infantrymen, who were lying on the ground to avoid bullets and were far behind, rushed forward with a shout.

Seeing that it was approaching the burning tank, it suddenly turned its body, and the machine guns on the side of the turret swept down all the fighters holding Molotov cocktails. Seeing that all the anti-tanks outside the position had been wiped out, the tank turned around again and rushed towards our position at an accelerated speed.

Since the tank was so fast, almost in the blink of an eye, it had rolled over the trenches and rushed towards the second line of defense. When the tanks had all crossed the trench and rushed out of the distance, the soldiers in the trench came to their senses, and then three fighters jumped out, carrying Molotov cocktails in their hands, and followed closely behind.

Unexpectedly, the German tank ran too fast, and in a short time left the three fighters far behind. Seeing that the tank was about to rush to the second line of defense, two fighters jumped out of the trench, rushed forward, ran a few steps, then stopped, raised their hands, and smashed the Molotov cocktail in their hands on the tank body.

As the Molotov cocktail shattered, a large flame immediately burst out of the vehicle, but the driver of the tank did not seem to be willing to be killed like this, and continued to run forward with the fire until he rolled into the second trench, and finally lay there without moving.

The German tankmen were still aware of the current affairs, and as soon as they got out of the burning tank, they did not run away or resist, and immediately raised their hands high and surrendered to the soldiers who surrounded them.

Seeing that the German tank units were completely annihilated, the mortars in the second line of defense opened fire on the charging German infantry. More than a dozen shells fell on the dense German columns and exploded, and the soldiers, who were blown upside down, ran to both sides in a panic. But Morozov's artillery battery did not let them go, and the shells continued to chase them, blowing them to the ground.

At this time, the light and heavy machine guns in the first trench also opened fire fiercely, and the German soldiers, who had suffered a double blow, were beaten to the point of crying wolf, and were forced to leave hundreds of corpses and retreat wolfly.

The 4th Regiment once again repelled the German attack, which made my heart feel much more at ease, as long as the attacking German infantry did not have the support of artillery fire, it was really not an easy thing to break through the positions of our army.

Seeing the tanks sent by the Germans, I thought of Captain Perstian and his tank detachment, who had not shown up all this time, and hurriedly asked Razumeyeva to call me Captain, I wanted to know where he was at the moment.

After the radio came on, I got straight to the point and asked, "Captain Persjian, where is your tank detachment?" ”

"Report to Comrade Division Commander," Persjian's voice sounded a little urn-like, as if he was in some newly repaired underground tank depot, and he reported to me, "I and the tank detachment are in a newly repaired underground tank depot on the west side of the Fourth Regiment. I want to ask, when will we be able to attack? Watching the infantry brothers fight in full swing. And we're always on standby. The warriors are all in love. ”

I smiled and replied, "Comrade Captain." Don't be in a hurry. Good steel is used on the blade, and when the time is right, I'll send you guys. "I say this because I haven't figured out in what direction the tank detachment should be used.

As I was talking to Pelsjian, I saw a huge fireball suddenly rise in the distance, and the ground beneath my feet shook slightly, and then a clear explosion was heard into the observation post.

"Comrade Division Commander." Razumeeva excitedly said: "It must be Captain Jegonovich whose artillery battalion took out the artillery positions of the Germans." That's great! ”

I couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when I heard that the German artillery positions had been knocked out, so that when the German infantry attacked, I could feel confident and bold enough to let them attack in detachment without worrying that they would be attacked by German heavy artillery. However, while rejoicing, I secretly resolved that after dark, I must withdraw the whole division to the designated position of Chuikov, if I continue to hold on. Even if the number of independent divisions were doubled, they would have been completely lost under German artillery fire and aircraft bombardment.

With this in mind. Taking advantage of the fact that the Germans had not yet launched a new offensive, I hurriedly contacted Chuikov and asked if there were any troops in the new fortified area of our division.

When Chuikov heard my voice, he smiled and said, "Oshanina, your division is fighting well." You must know that the troops of the Gothic Army Group can defeat two or three divisions of our army by drawing out one division at will, and it is remarkable that you have resisted the attack of three German divisions with the strength of one division today after you inflicted heavy losses on the 29th German Motorized Rifle Division last night and captured the commander of the division. Please convey my respect to the commanders and fighters of the Independent Division! ”

After receiving Chuikov's praise, I really wanted to cry without tears, and said in my heart that I wanted to leave with some cheapness, but I didn't expect to cripple the 29th Division last night, but early this morning, the rest of the Gothic Tank Army rushed over, forcing us to stay and fight a brutal positional battle with them. I asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, may I ask if there are any responding troops in the new defensive zone of our division?" ”

When Chuikov heard me say this, he couldn't help but be stunned, and then asked rhetorically: "What, you want to retreat?" When he had finished speaking, he was perhaps puzzled by my sudden offer to retreat, and then asked, "You were asked to retreat last night, but you did not retreat, and insisted on staying and continuing to deal with the Germans." I see that your troops are fighting well, and I plan to let you hold out for a few more days, just in time to hold back the Gothic army group and buy time for the battlefield reorganization of our army group. Tell me, why did you think of retreating? ”

After listening to his words, I felt that I was about to cry, it was not yet dark, Gaidar's four regiments were almost disabled, and if I held out for a few more days, the independent division should be canceled. I hurriedly defended myself and said: "Comrade commander, you also know that our division is a newly formed unit, and it has not yet fully formed its combat effectiveness, so it hurriedly entered the battle. It's okay to ambush the invading Germans and make a sneak attack, but if we really set up a position to fight the Germans, we will not be an opponent at all. In the daytime battle, the fourth regiment has been disabled, and the second regiment has also suffered more than half of the casualties, if the battle continues, the independent division is estimated to be forced to withdraw to the rear for replenishment, or directly withdraw from the formation. ”

Chuikov took a long breath and said: "The troops that were left to receive you have already moved to Stalingrad this morning after receiving the prisoners handed over by your division. In order to be on the safe side, I will immediately send troops to occupy that place first, so as not to be preempted by the detouring German army and cut off the rear road of your division. ”

I was also relieved to hear that my retreat plan had been allowed, and that according to the current way of playing, the Germans, without artillery cover, would launch one or two more attacks at most. In this way, the four regiments that held their positions could easily crush them. But now it's time to start arranging the retreat.

Now the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th regiments are fighting with the Germans, and the troops who went to seize positions will definitely not be drawn from them, so they can only be drawn from Sederikov's regiment. When I dialed Sederikov's phone, I didn't say hello and said straight to the point: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, now I have an important task to be entrusted to you to complete. ”

Sederikov replied loudly: "Comrade division commander, please give an order, all the commanders and fighters of the 1st regiment are ready for battle and ready to fight at any time." ”

"Four more companies were dispatched, and they immediately set out for a predetermined position thirty kilometers to the north. Occupy and consolidate the fortifications there. Prevent a sneak attack by the Germans. ”

"What. Four more companies? Sedelikov said with some embarrassment: "Comrade division commander, I only have seven companies in my hands now, and if you transfer four more companies, there will not be many people left in my regiment." ”

"Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov," I said to him in a stern tone, hearing that he was about to bargain with me, "and when it gets dark, my division will begin to retreat, if we do not occupy the pre-set positions in advance." As soon as it was occupied by the German detour troops, then the rear of the division was cut off. Do you think that with the current strength of our division, under the double blow of German artillery fire and aircraft bombing, we can ensure the integrity of the formation? ”

"It's okay to transfer four companies," said Sederikov hesitantly, "but I can't leave here for the time being, and I don't have any commanders in my subordinates who can take charge of your task on their own, and I'm afraid they won't be able to complete your task well." Look, can you send a competent commander to this force? ”

Sederikov's words also made me embarrassed, talent is really used in time, and there are few capable commanders under me. Now it's even more of a radish and a pit, and it can't be drawn out at all. What should I do?

I was in a dilemma when I heard a report at the door, and I turned my head and was overjoyed to see that Captain Pugachev, whom I had sent to escort the prisoners, had returned.

After Pugachev entered the door, he raised his hand to salute me and reported loudly: "Comrade division commander, Captain Pugachev has successfully returned from the task of escorting the prisoners, and I have come to report to you, listen to your instructions, and wait for your next order." ”

Pugachev's ability, I have already seen it, let him lead people to complete the task of occupying the preset positions, I believe that there are no problems. What's more important is that he took the prisoners with him last night, that is, he went to the preset position to hand over the prisoners to the receiving troops, and let him lead the troops over again, which is a familiar way.

Thinking of this, I hurriedly said into the microphone: "Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov, my guard battalion commander Captain Pugachev is back, and I plan to hand over the task of leading the team to him." ”

"Pugachev is back? It's great. Hearing that Pugachev had returned, Sederikov was also happy, and he hurriedly said: "Last night when the lieutenant led the troops to escort the prisoners, a company was transferred from our regiment. If he were to lead the team, I would only need to send him three companies. ”

Sederikov's words made me angry and funny, and I joked: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, how can you be like an old bourgeois accountant when you are still a middle-level commander?" At this, I paused for a moment, thinking that it would not hurt to let him keep more troops, and at least let his regiment serve as the rear of the palace, so I agreed to his request, "Well, just pull out those three companies as much as possible, and let them rush to the observation post to report to Captain Pugachev." ”

Putting down the phone, I said to Pugachev, who was standing in front of me: "Comrade Captain, I know that you must be very tired after not resting all night and having traveled so far. But I can't let you rest yet, because I have an important task for you to complete immediately. ”

Pugachev hurriedly straightened up and said, "Please instruct the division commander!" ”

"Our division will withdraw from its existing positions tonight and retreat north to a preset position thirty kilometers away. In order to prevent the Germans from making a detour to the rear before the transfer of our division, preemptively occupying this position and cutting off the retreat of our division, it is necessary for a capable force to rush to the above-mentioned area at once, occupy and consolidate the position, and ensure that the retreat of our division is unblocked. Considering that you had only been there last night and were familiar with the terrain, I asked Shedelikov to send four companies into mixed battalions under your command to complete the heavy task of occupying the position. ”

"Please rest assured, I promise to complete the task you gave me." After expressing his determination, Pugachev asked curiously: "I don't know where I should go to receive this unit." ”

"One of the four companies of this mixed battalion is the one you brought to escort the prisoners last night, and the remaining three companies, Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov, will send them here to report to you after the transfer is completed. As soon as the troops are assembled, you will immediately lead them to the preset positions of our division. ”

"Understood, I promise to complete the mission." Pugachev replied again loudly.

Since the whole division was to retreat after dark, I had to quickly inform the regimental commanders to prepare them so as not to cause confusion in the evening retreat.

Since the commander of the regiment, Sederykov, already knew about the retreat at night, the first thing I informed was Oleg. I said bluntly to the second regiment commander: "Comrade Oleg. There's something I want to inform you. The whole division will retreat after dark. You get the regimental commanders and fighters ready first. so as not to be in a mess when you retreat. ”

Oleg did not ask why he was retreating, but simply replied: "Understood!" ”

Then I called the commander of the third regiment again, and when I heard the fierce gunfire coming from the microphone, I asked with concern: "Lieutenant Colonel Kosgaard, are the Germans attacking your regiment's position again?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Division Commander." Kosgaard replied clearly and articulately: "This is the ninth offensive of the Germans on the positions of our regiment. Although their artillery fire was fierce, I was confident that they would be the same as the previous eight times. In front of our position, we were bleeding and had to leave behind the corpses and retreat in disgrace. ”

Hearing that the Germans had actually launched nine charges against the positions of the three regiments, my heart couldn't help but tremble, and I hurriedly asked nervously: "How are the casualties of your regiment?" ”

"There were about four companies of casualties, of which more than 100 people died."

"What, only about 400 casualties?" Such casualties were a bit too small for a position that had been attacked by the Germans nine times, so I asked curiously: "How did your regiment fight, and why were the casualties so small?" ”

"Before the battle began. I thought about it this way, the German artillery fire was fierce. If too many troops were placed in the trenches, unnecessary casualties would increase, so I placed only one company on the forward position, and when there were more than one platoon, I sent another platoon up. In this way, the casualties suffered by the troops during the shelling of the German offensive were significantly reduced. ”

Lieutenant Colonel Cosgaard, the commander of the Third Regiment, was a talent, and this was the first impression that came to my mind after listening to his report. His method of using force coincided with the method I had taught Gaidar. If I can find a suitable person to take over the post of commander of the third regiment, I would like him to be my chief of staff.

Gaidar did not say any superfluous nonsense, but replied simply and clearly: "Please rest assured that we will never let the Germans break through our positions before dark." ”

I would have suffered so many defeats in front of the positions of the 4th Regiment in the future, and even the artillery positions were destroyed by us, then their offensive should have been slowed down for a while. Unexpectedly, the Germans, who suffered a big loss, were unwilling and soon launched a new offensive.

Although there was no artillery cover, this time they used ten tanks as the front drive, followed by a battalion of infantry, and launched another attack on the position of the fourth regiment.

Since the Germans knew our anti-tank tactics, which were usually to wait for the tanks to approach and then have the fighters attack and throw Molotov cocktails, they were very cautious this time, and the tanks moved at almost the same speed as the infantry. As soon as the fighters of our army who went to bomb the tank came out, they were knocked down by the machine guns on the tanks or the submachine guns in the hands of the infantry behind.

Seeing that the shape was critical, Gaidar did not care about my order to put only one platoon in the trenches, but let all the reserves hidden in the communication trenches enter the first line of trenches, and use dense fire to eliminate the German infantry who followed behind the tanks.

Although two German tanks were burned by Molotov cocktails as they jumped over the first trench, the remaining eight continued on to the second trench. And the soldiers in the first trench, because they were engaged in a fierce battle with the German soldiers who rushed up, did not have the manpower to go to the tanks that had already rushed to the rear.

Due to the large number of craters and wreckage of various mechanical vehicles in front of the second line of defense, German tanks had to slow down and go around between these wreckage and craters. Morozov's mortar battery and the light and heavy machine guns on the position, although they opened fire fiercely, did not seem to have much influence on these steel behemoths. Although sparks flashed incessantly, the speed of the tank did not slow down at all, and even the cannon destroyed a heavy machine gun and three or four light machine gun fire points.

Seeing that the swaggering tanks were more and more solving the second line of defense, I couldn't help but get anxious and hurriedly asked Razumeeva to contact Persjian. I took the microphone and yelled angrily: "Captain Persjian, where is your tank detachment, still squatting in the underground tank hangar waiting for the cubs?" Didn't you see that the German tanks had broken through our first line of defense and were approaching the second? ”

"But, Comrade Division Commander, I didn't get ......"

Instead of listening to Persken's arguments, I gave him a straightforward order: "I order your tank detachment to strike at once, attack the flanks of the German tanks, and kill them all. ”

"Yes, I'll do it immediately!"

I didn't have time to inform Gaidar about the tank detachment, but his men bravely broke out of the trench when they saw the tanks approaching, and after sacrificing a dozen soldiers, they managed to take out three German tanks.

Before the German tanks could break through the second line of defense of the 4th Regiment, Perstian's tank detachment had already galloped up and lined up in a frontal line behind the German tanks. As the body slammed, a puff of white smoke erupted from the barrel, and then the bodies of the five tanks that rushed towards the second line of defense of our army burst into flames and smoke. Perstian's tank detachment, in the first round of shooting, hit all the tanks of the Germans.

Three tanks that had been shot immediately stopped there emitting black smoke and did not move, and the other two tanks, which were on fire, continued to move forward tenaciously.

Seeing that there were still two tanks that had not been damaged, Persjian's tank detachment opened fire again, this time each tank was hit by two or three shells at the same time, one was directly overturned by the turret, while the other was broken tracks, and after a few turns, it completely lay still. (To be continued......)

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