Chapter 1143

  After the air raid siren was issued, the drivers of the convoy did not know what to do.

   In fact, these auto soldiers cannot be blamed for this. After all, since they entered the land of the Soviet Union, they have never encountered any air raids except for guerrilla attacks. Suddenly encountering an air raid, I really didn't know how to deal with it. Most of the cars stopped on the road. The drivers poked their heads out of the cars and looked into the sky, trying to see where the Soviet planes were.

The four bombers in the sky stopped moving when they saw the convoy on the ground, and the trucks were parked neatly on the road. Although the distance from each other was a bit far, it was simply a sight for experienced bomber pilots. target during training.

  Four bombers dived down from the sky one by one, dropping bombs on the trucks on the ground. If the bomb that fell from the sky hit the truck directly, it would blow the truck into a ball of fire with a bang; even if it didn't hit the target directly, the air wave formed by the explosion not far away would overturn the truck.

  It would be better if it contained ordinary materials, but it was scattered all over the floor. But if it was ammunition, it would be a disaster, and it would explode soon, knocking the surviving soldiers around the truck to the ground.

  As for the resistance on the ground, it is simply negligible. The German army only has two soldiers escorting each vehicle. They basically carry rifles, at least a few submachine guns, and no machine guns at all. Facing the bombers diving down from the sky, their anti-aircraft fire was futile.

  After dropping the bombs it carried, the bomber began to return. At this time, the ground was full of fire and thick smoke. Except for two trucks that hid in the woods on the side of the road in time, the German convoy was basically destroyed by the Soviet bombing.

   Immediately after the bomber left, two reconnaissance planes appeared in the sky. The pilots flew low and passed the burning trucks, taking the risk of taking photos of the destroyed enemy convoy.

  After the photos were developed, Colonel Neche Polenko rushed to the headquarters to find Sokov and reported to him: "Comrade commander, look, this is the result of our bomber squadron."

  After reading a series of photos, Sokov had a gratified smile on his face. After he handed the photo to Vitkov and Lunev, he said with a smile: "Our air strike destroyed so many enemy transport vehicles, if they want to ensure the supply of the Skeleton Division, they have to transfer from other directions." Sufficient vehicles to replenish. In this way, the level of replenishment in other directions will decline to a certain extent.”

"Comrade Commander," Lunev said to Sokov after looking at the photos, "Actually, after you proposed this plan to attack the German transportation line, I didn't like you. I always think that it is better to use bombers to deal with the enemy's The transport convoy is a waste. But judging from the results achieved by the Air Force today, your tactic is very effective. If the Germans want to ensure the supply of the Skeleton Division, they must invest more transport vehicles in this direction , to replace those lost vehicles."

"Comrade Commander," Colonel Neche Polenko said with some excitement: "The pilots who participated in this air strike were extremely enthusiastic about fighting. After they flew back to the airport, they strongly demanded to rejoin the new battle after replenishing the ammunition and fuel. .”

"The enemy's transportation line has been attacked by you. I guess the Germans will not resupply the Skeleton Division before tomorrow." Sokov said casually: "Comrade Colonel, even if your pilots want to attack, they can only do so." Can wait until tomorrow."

"No, Comrade Commander, you didn't understand what I meant." Colonel Nechepolenko waited for Sokov to finish speaking, and quickly explained: "The pilots think that since we successfully attacked the western transportation line , then you might as well take advantage of the weather to attack, and then attack the German transport line in the north, cutting off their supply to the Imperial Division."

"It's not necessary." Sokov waved his hand after listening and said, "The Imperial Division has only one regiment to the north of us, and we have a division's strength, which can completely deal with them, so we don't need to consider cutting off their supplies for the time being." .”

   "Comrade Commander, I have a bold idea." Witkov interrupted: "We can order the troops stationed in the north of the city to feint against the Imperial Division, so that the enemy thinks that we may attack them."

"Comrade Chief of Staff," when Sokov was thinking about the plan proposed by Vitkov, Lunev asked first: "We plan to launch an attack on the enemy. In order to prevent them from preparing, we must take cover in advance. Work to prevent them from increasing their troops to the front. And your method will definitely alert the Germans. If they increase their troops to the front by a large margin, then it will make our upcoming offensive very disadvantageous."

"Comrade military commissar, please wait a moment. I think what the chief of staff wants to express is not what you imagined." Sokov first stopped Lunev, and then asked Vitkov: "Comrade chief of staff, what do you think?" Are you planning to use our army's feint to attract the enemy to transfer more troops to the north?"

   Seeing that Sokov had guessed his intentions, Witkov nodded with a smile, and replied affirmatively, "Yes, that's how I thought about it."

   "I don't understand, why should the enemy increase troops to the front?" Lunev said in a daze, "You know, the fewer troops the enemy has at the front, the easier it is for us to break through the enemy's defense line when we launch an attack."

Seeing that Lunev did not understand what Vitkov meant, Sokov explained to him: "Comrade Military Commissar, what the Chief of Staff means is to attract the enemy to increase their troops to the front. After their strength reaches a certain number, we will send Air Force to attack their transportation lines. You know, the more German troops at the front, the more supplies they consume every day. If their transportation lines are paralyzed by our air force, the German troops at the front will face the danger of running out of ammunition and food. The situation. Tell me, if you wait for the enemy to be short of supplies and morale is low, and launch an attack by surprise, what kind of results will be achieved?"

   Lunev is not an idiot either. After Sokov's explanation, he immediately understood what was going on. He said with a dazed face: "It turns out that this is the case. The more German troops at the front, the more supplies they need. As long as our air force blocks their transportation lines, they will soon have supplies and supplies." Ammunition shortage situation."

Seeing that Lunev understood what he meant, Sokov turned to Nechepolenko and said, "Comrade Colonel, from now on, the task of your aviation division is to block the passage from Pavlograd to the Skeleton Division." The supply line, and on the northern line, as long as a reconnaissance plane is sent to find out the route and time of the enemy's transport convoy, it will be fine."

"Understood, Comrade Commander." Seeing that Sokov entrusted himself with such an important task, Colonel Necheporenko couldn't help but smile, and he quickly stated: "Don't worry, our team will take two days at most. The surveillance aircraft can figure out the enemy's transportation route and when it will appear."

After saying this, Colonel Necheporenko remembered Vitkov's proposal again, and planned to let a unit carry out harassment operations against the enemy in the north, so he offered to propose: "Comrade commander, the troops in the north will pretend to be the German Imperial Division." When we move, do we need our air force to attack?"

  "No, no, no," Sokov said, waving his hands, "Comrade Colonel, I have already said that the task of your aviation division is to block the transportation line to the west and minimize the supplies that the Skeleton Division can obtain."

"Comrade Commander, we should have no problem blocking the enemy's transportation line during the day." Colonel Nechepolenko waited for Sokov to finish speaking, and expressed his thoughts, "But if they adjust the transportation time to What shall we do tonight?"

"Don't worry, Comrade Colonel." Witkov replied with a smile: "We have sent a lot of sabotage teams to the enemy's rear. They carry a new type of rocket that can attack German targets from a long distance. Your Air Force Responsible for blocking the transportation line during the day, and they will use this new type of rocket to attack the German transportation vehicles at night."

  After Colonel Nechepolenko left, Vitkov asked Sokov for instructions: "Comrade Commander, we are making a feint in the north of the city. How many troops do you think should be dispatched?"

"The enemy has one regiment, and I think it is enough for us to send out one regiment." Sokov said to Vitkov: "Major General Merkulov's 67th Guards Division is considered to be a relatively powerful division in our army. , I think it is very appropriate for them to carry out the feint attack."

  Witkov said: "This mission, I can't explain it clearly on the phone, I think it's better to call him here."

   "Okay," Sokov nodded, "Call him."

The distance from the division headquarters of the 67th Guards Division to Sokov's headquarters is only five or six kilometers away. Major General Merkulov, who received the call, rushed to the command post in less than ten minutes. department.

   After shaking hands with Merkulov, Sokov said to him: "Comrade General, I called you here today because there is an important task for your division to complete."

Merkulov has been serving as Sokov's subordinate for a long time. He knew very well that if Sokov said that, it meant that the other party would entrust him with a task that could make a difference. He straightened his body and said : "Comrade commander, please give the order."

  Sokov pointed to Roginsik's position and said to Major General Merkulov: "Comrade General, the enemy has placed a regiment of the Imperial Division here, you should know?"

"Of course I know." Merkulov nodded and replied: "In the early hours of this morning, our patrol team also exchanged fire with the enemy who tried to sneak into our army's position, killing one person and wounding two on the spot, and the rest They all fled in a hurry."

   "What, did your division exchange fire with the enemy in the early morning?" Sukov frowned when he heard the unexpected news, "Why didn't you report it?"

   "Comrade Commander," Merkulov said with a smile, "It was just a small-scale exchange of fire. I don't think it is necessary to alarm you."

"Comrade General, your thinking is completely wrong." Hearing what Merkulov said, Sokov taught them with a straight face and said: "Perhaps these enemies are trying to sneak into our position for reconnaissance, and you But thinking it was just an ordinary firefight, with such low vigilance, it is very dangerous."

   Merkulov, who was criticized by Sokov, blushed and did not speak.

After Sokov finished speaking, in order not to embarrass the other party, he changed the subject again, and then talked about the purpose of calling him here: "Comrade General, I called you here because I have an important task to hand over. Give it to your division. Tomorrow, I hope you can use a regiment of troops to attack Rockinsik."

"Comrade Commander, don't worry." Hearing what Sokov said, Major General Merkulov became excited: "I assure you, it will take half a day for our division to occupy the town of Rockinsik , and drive away all the enemies inside."

"Comrade General, you made a mistake." Sokov waved his hand and said, "I asked you to launch an attack on Rockinsik, not to drive away or destroy the enemies in the town, but to pass your attack. , so that the enemy feels threatened and has to ask for help from the enemy in the rear, causing the enemy to send more troops to Rockinsik."

"Comrade commander, I don't quite understand what you mean." Regarding Sokov's order, Merkulov said with a blank face: "Since launching an attack on the enemy is not to destroy the enemy, but to attack the enemy." Attract more enemies to Rockinthick, I really don't understand why you would do that."

"Before I explain to you, I want to tell you another thing." Sokov said unhurriedly: "Today our air force launched an attack on a transport convoy from Pavlograd. After some bombing, basically all the transport vehicles were destroyed. This batch of supplies was prepared by the enemy to supply the Skeleton Division, but due to our air strikes, the Skeleton Division’s troops will not be able to get enough supplies for a day or two. You said Say, what does that mean?"

Major General Merkulov frowned and thought for a while, then said cautiously: "At the beginning, Paulus' troops were besieged by us in Stalingrad. Because they could not get enough supplies, as a result, the combat effectiveness of the troops decreased and their morale declined. Depressed and demoralized, otherwise it would not be so easy to be wiped out by us."

"You have analyzed a lot. The reason why we were able to annihilate the Paulus Group at the beginning was entirely because their supplies were interrupted." Sokov explained to Major General Merkulov: "I asked you to find a way to make the enemy All the more troops were transferred to Rockinsick in order to cut off their supplies with the air force after enough German troops were assembled there. In this way, the German troops who lacked supplies would avoid our army's strong attack. It won't last long at all."

  (end of this chapter)