Chapter 1366 Occupation

"Great, this is really great." Sokov couldn't help applauding when he learned that Lieutenant Colonel Dobrushin's troops had successfully captured the bus station and seized more than 50 complete buses and trams. : "I'm worried about how to quickly send troops and weapons into the city. If I have these captured vehicles, I can solve a big problem."

"That's right, Comrade Commander." Sameko also happily echoed: "Although the hovercraft is good, it cannot enter the city. The anti-tank barriers and various barricades on the streets, as well as the ruins of collapsed buildings, will hinder its progress. Now that we have so many buses, we can transport the troops and supplies outside the city to the areas occupied by our army in batches, and at the same time transport the wounded at the front so that they can get timely assistance. treatment."

"I think trams are definitely unusable in today's circumstances. Only those buses can be used." Sokov told Sameko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, use buses to transport soldiers, supplies and wounded." For things, you must appoint a few reliable comrades to take charge."

   "Don't worry, I will let the director of the logistics department take charge of this matter." Sameko replied: "I believe they will be able to complete this matter."

  With the help of the bus, the troops moved forward much faster. At the beginning, the commanders and fighters of the two marine brigades had to break through the enemy's barricade defense line due to insufficient troops, and needed to divide their troops to search for the enemies in the buildings on both sides of the street, which inevitably slowed down their speed.

  But as more than 30 official vehicles continued to bring in troops from outside the city, the task of searching for remnants of the enemy was left to the friendly army, and the two marine brigades could advance deep into the enemy regardless.

Chuvashov's order to the troops was particularly concise and clear: "The attack speed must be fast, fierce, and ruthless! When encountering the enemy's defensive positions, whether it is barricades or building defenses, all use rocket launchers to greet them and smash everything that dares to resist. enemy!"

   Following Chuvashov's order, the attack speed of the two combined marine brigades was greatly accelerated. By three o'clock in the afternoon, the vanguard was less than 800 meters away from the municipal building where the German Army Command was located.

The troops rushing to the front were the battalion commanded by Shamrikh. When he saw the clearly visible buildings in the distance, he immediately reported the good news to Chuvashov, and at the same time asked for instructions: "Comrade Colonel, the enemy The command post is only about 800 meters away from us, can we use new rockets to attack?"

"No, Comrade Major, absolutely not." Although Chuvashov knew very well that as long as dozens of new rockets hit the enemy's headquarters, no matter how strong it was, it would turn into a sea of ​​flames, and many German troops might be burned to death. important person. However, he considered that only by planting the red flag on the top of the municipal building would it represent the occupation of the city. If the building was blown up with new-style rocket bombs indiscriminately, where should the red flag be planted? Therefore, he ordered Shamrih: "You continue to advance to the German headquarters according to the original plan. As for whether rockets can be used, I will talk about it after I ask the commander for instructions."

Hearing that Chuvashov said that he would ask Sokov for instructions, Shamrih, as Sokov's old subordinate, would naturally not disobey the order, and quickly replied: "Understood, Comrade Colonel, I will continue to command the troops and report to the enemy. Attack forward at the location of the headquarters, and wait for your next order."

  When Sokov received a call from Chuvashov, he couldn't help but sigh that the other party was progressing smoothly. He thought that he would not be able to approach the German command until noon tomorrow at the earliest. Unexpectedly, Chuvashov's troops made such rapid progress, more than 20 hours ahead of schedule, and completed the combat goals he set for a long time.

"Colonel, well done. Your advance is very fast. I believe that after the battle to liberate Belgorod is over, your brigade will definitely be awarded the honorary title." Sokov asked: "Your red flag is ready. Yet?"

"Red flag?" Chuvashov was stunned for a moment, and then said: "Report to Comrade Commander, didn't you order people to equip combat units above the battalion level with red flags? Don't worry, we will take over the city after we occupy the municipal building. Immediately plant the red flag on top of the building."

"Listen, Comrade Colonel, it is a tradition of the Russian army to plant a red flag on the municipal building of the ancient city to indicate the occupation of the city." Seeing that Chuvashov did not understand what he meant, Sokov asked Explain to him: "Since it is a tradition, we must pay attention to it. I think that after you occupy the building, you just put up an ordinary red flag, which doesn't make much sense. Occupy the city first."

   "Comrade Commander, is this appropriate?" Hearing what Sokov said, Chuvashov said hesitantly: "You know, if there is something wrong with the military flag, you will be punished."

  Sokov knew exactly what Chuvashov meant. Once a unit with a military flag loses its military flag, its superiors will not hesitate to revoke its organizational system, and commanders at all levels will also be sent to court-martial. Even if the military flag is not lost, but if it is damaged, the supreme commander of the army will be punished. On a battlefield full of artillery fire, the military flag is planted on the top of the municipal building, and it may be destroyed by enemy artillery fire. In this way, not only will the troops occupying the building not be rewarded, but they will be criticized or even punished because of the damage to the military flag.

After guessing what Chuvashov was thinking, Sokov comforted him and said: "Comrade Colonel, don't worry, just follow my order. As long as you occupy the building, you can plant the flag of your brigade on the roof. Regardless of the future Whatever happens, I will help you take responsibility.

  Put the military flag on the top of the municipal building, and announce to everyone that your brigade was the first to occupy Belgorod. This is a feat that will be recorded in the annals of history. "Sokov said earnestly: "If you are worried that you may be sent to a military court because of the damage to the military flag, and thus miss the opportunity to make great achievements, won't you regret it in the future? "

Sokov's words accelerated the secretion of Chuvashov's adrenal glands. He slapped the table hard and said loudly: "Comrade Commander, you are right. Since it is the municipal building that our brigade occupied first, It is natural to plant our flags and announce to everyone that the troops occupying the enemy's headquarters are our 84th Marine Brigade."

After finishing the conversation with Sokov, Chuvashov immediately walked to the radio, asked the radio operator to connect to the first battalion at the front, and said into the microphone: "Major Shamrikh, this is Chuvashov .I am now giving you a special order. Once your troops storm into the municipal building, you must send soldiers to plant the military flag on the top of the building."

   "Comrade Colonel," Shamrich waited for Chuvashov to finish speaking, and immediately said loudly: "But I only have ordinary red flags here, and no military flags."

   "You don't have to worry about the military flag." Chuvashov said to him: "I will send someone to send it to you immediately. Be sure to send someone to plant the flag on the roof when the municipal building is occupied."

"clear."

   "By the way, Comrade Major. I also want to remind you that you must tell the soldiers who put up the flag on the roof of the building to love our military flag as much as you love your own eyes, and you must not make any mistakes."

   "Understood, Comrade Colonel." Shamrich assured Chuvashov: "I will definitely send the most experienced fighters to complete this task, and I will never let you down."

  The troops of the first battalion commanded by Shamrich continued to advance, and encountered the German fire interception at the crossroads ahead. The Germans probably didn't expect the Soviet army to advance so fast, so their defense in this direction was not very tight. The hastily built barricades were half-finished projects with no sandbags piled up. German officers and soldiers set up two MG42 machine guns on such unfinished barricades, trying to block the advance of the first battalion with intensive firepower.

  Shamrich saw that the enemy's machine gun fire suppressed his subordinates, and the fighters using the bazooka were a little far away from the barricades, and the range was not enough. He quickly ordered people to contact the tanks that were acting together, and asked them to clear the German firepower points on the road ahead and open up a passage for the attacking troops.

   Received the request for help from Shamrih, the commander of the tank battalion immediately dispatched a tank company with five T-34 tanks to open up the way forward for the sailors.

  Soviet tanks carefully bypassed the comrades who were suppressed by firepower, and drove towards the barricades in the distance. Ignoring the dense firepower network composed of German machine guns, submachine guns and rifles, the tankers drove forward at full speed. The machine guns on board fired wildly, making the German soldiers behind the barricades unable to look up.

   After a minute or two, several tanks rushed to the German barricades. None of them fired, but directly crushed them. A series of clicks sounded, and the German soldiers behind the barricade and the weapons in their hands were crushed to pieces under the tracks of the tanks.

  The commanders and fighters who were originally suppressed by the enemy's firepower saw that their tanks had passed the enemy's fortifications, they got up from the ground one after another, and rushed up with weapons shouting.

Seeing the Soviet tanks crossing the barricades, the Russian infantry, who had been suppressed by their own firepower, also attacked. The surviving German soldiers were in a hurry. They kept throwing grenades at the tanks, trying to destroy the Soviet tanks first, and then Turn around and deal with the charging infantry.

  If the Germans had encountered other Soviet units, maybe their tactics would have worked. However, the marine brigade is the most powerful unit in the Soviet army, and they are also equipped with the most sophisticated assault rifles. Before the commander gives an order, the soldiers continue to shoot with the assault rifles in their hands, killing those who are trying to blow up. Tank enemies.

However, Huot deployed elite troops near the headquarters. Seeing that the Soviet army broke through another line of defense and advanced towards the location of the headquarters, the German commander immediately organized troops. Under the cover of two Panther tanks, A counterattack was launched against the Soviet army.

At the same time when the German counterattack began, the German commander reported to Huot by phone: "Your Excellency, the situation is not good. The Russian vanguard is only five or six hundred meters away from the headquarters. For your safety, you still Transfer as soon as possible?"

"What, the Russians are only five or six hundred meters away from my headquarters?" Hort was taken aback by the commander's order. He quickly covered the microphone and asked a staff officer to go to the other side of the building. Check to see if Russian troops are approaching your headquarters.

The staff officer who went to investigate reappeared in front of Huot in less than two minutes, and said in a panic: "Your Excellency, the Russian infantry is advancing towards us along the street under the cover of tanks." , the visual distance does not exceed 500 meters."

Knowing that the Soviet troops were only less than 500 meters away from his headquarters, Huot was frightened into a cold sweat. He quickly let go of his hand covering the microphone and said loudly to the commander who reported to him: "Colonel , I order you to hold your ground at all costs and never allow Russian troops to approach my headquarters."

   "Understood, Commander. I will find a way to drive them away." The German commander also said loudly: "But for your safety, you should move to a safe place as soon as possible."

  Holt put down the phone, and asked Mei Linjin in a daze: "Chief of Staff, tell me, what should we do?"

   "Your Excellency, Commander!" Mei Linjin said hastily: "You are the commander of the 4th Armored Army. You cannot risk your life. I think you should move to a safe place as soon as possible."

"Chief of Staff, do you think there is any place in Belgorod that is safe?" Holt asked back: "Even if we move the headquarters to another place, judging by the speed of the Russian attack, I'm afraid we will continue to move tomorrow."

  Melinjin heard from Huot's tone that the other party didn't want to stay in Belgorod, so he asked tentatively: "Your Excellency, Commander, why don't we transfer the headquarters to Kharkov?"

He was deeply afraid that Hort would not agree to the request to transfer the headquarters in order to protect his honor, so he quickly added: "Belgorod and Kharkov are a complete defense system of our army. You transfer to Kharkov. Kov can also command the battle in Belgorod."

   "Okay." Huot didn't want to stay in the city for a second since he learned that the Soviet army was close to his headquarters. However, as the commander of the group army, he can't just withdraw immediately, at least he must have a reasonable reason. Hearing what Mei Linjin said at this moment, he said smoothly: "Chief of Staff, what you said is very reasonable. In order to prevent the Russians from destroying our headquarters and causing the troops in the city to fall into chaos due to the loss of unified command, I have decided to temporarily transfer my headquarters to Kharkov. I will return here after our troops have crushed the Russian attack on Belgorod."

  After Huot made the decision to retreat, within five minutes, the entire army headquarters began to retreat. The German officers and soldiers who were fighting the Soviet army in the distance saw that the headquarters was retreating. The morale of the army was inevitably affected, and their counterattack against the Soviet army became weak.

   Seeing that the German counterattack had become exhausted, Chuvashov ordered Dobrushin to put his troops into the attack on the German headquarters. The German officers and soldiers who were already unable to hold on saw more and more Soviet commanders flooding in like a tide, and were immediately beaten back steadily.

  The battle lasted for five o'clock. The German officers and soldiers who blocked the Soviet army retreated into the municipal building, and started close combat and hand-to-hand combat with the Soviet commanders and fighters who rushed into the building.

   Shamrih, who led the troops into the building, called a sergeant and said to him: "Comrade sergeant, take two people to the roof and plant the flag of our brigade on it."

  The sergeant promised, and ran towards the stairs with two unusually tough soldiers holding the military flag.

  (end of this chapter)