Chapter 882 The German counterattack

After learning that the preparations for artillery fire before the attack began, everyone in the headquarters cheered and shouted in unison: "Ula! Ula!" Looking inside, trying to figure out what made the commanders in the room so excited.

   "Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army," Sidolin tentatively asked Golikov when the tranquility was restored in the headquarters: "Do you need to pass this good news to the commanders and fighters of the division?"

"What's the matter with you, Comrade Chief of Staff?" Sokov saw Golikov's face, and when the question changed, he guessed that it was not the time to announce the counterattack, so he rushed to speak before Golikov Said: "Our artillery preparations have just begun. If you can't wait to report this news to the commanders and fighters of the whole division, don't you worry about leaking the secret?"

Hearing what Sokov said, Sidolin immediately realized that he was too excited to ignore such an important matter, and quickly apologized to Golikov: "I'm sorry, Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army, I didn't think carefully and almost Something bad happened."

   "All right, all right," fortunately Golikov was in a good mood and didn't bother with Sidolin. He just waved his hand and said, "Forget it this time, and pay more attention in the future."

After Golikov finished speaking, he turned his attention back to Sokov and asked: "Colonel Sokov, if our front army's attack goes well, can your troops take some countermeasures to contain the enemy's attack?" Some troops?"

   Seeing Golikov bring up the old story again and urging himself to launch a counterattack against the frontal enemy, Sokov couldn't help hesitating, because he knew very well that the conditions for counterattack were not yet available, and if he forced a counterattack, it would be tantamount to hitting a stone with a pebble. After a fierce ideological struggle, he felt that he could not risk the lives of the commanders and fighters, so he said righteously: "I'm sorry, Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army, the artillery preparations before the attack have just begun, and it is still impossible to conclude that our army's Whether the next attack will go well or not, I think it is inappropriate to think about such unrealistic things too early."

Seeing the embarrassment on Golikov's face, Ivanov said to Sokov in order to relieve him: "Comrade commander, I think you can try it. After all, Paulus's superiors have already given him an order." Order, I think the German forces in the city will become empty today, which is a good time for us to counterattack."

"Comrade Deputy Division Commander, you are so optimistic." Despite the smooth progress of the Southwest Front Army and the Don River Front Army, the counteroffensive of the Stalingrad Front Army is about to kick off, but Sukov is still a little uneasy in his heart. Said: "When the troops of our front army launch an attack from the south side of the city, we don't know what countermeasures the enemy will take. It is very dangerous to act rashly everywhere."

"Comrade Commander." Hearing what Sokov said, Ivanov was a little unhappy. He thought to himself why the Commander was different from usual, and he became cautious. You have also seen the intercepted telegram. Paulus's superior ordered him to transfer troops to the Don River Valley to stop our army's offensive. As long as his soldiers are transferred away, the pressure on the defenders in the city will be greatly relieved. , It is entirely possible to take some actions in local areas to attract the attention of the enemy."

"Comrade Deputy Division Commander, have you ever thought that after receiving that telegram, Paulus would really immediately dispatch troops to the Don River Basin to rescue the Romanian army that was defeated by friendly forces?" Sokov retorted: " If he deliberately postponed the mobilization time, but continued to order troops to attack the factory area, what kind of fate would we face if we left the existing fortifications and fought against the enemy at this time. Have you ever thought about it?"

  When Sokov and Ivanov had a dispute, Golikov sat aside and listened quietly, while thinking about who was more reasonable. When the two were almost arguing, he raised his hands and pressed down, and said: "I think what Colonel Sokov said makes sense. At times like this, we must be more cautious. If the Germans Really did not mobilize troops according to the order of that telegram, but continued to attack the factory area, and we let the troops easily leave the position to carry out the attack, which may bring unexpected consequences."

   Seeing that Golikov actually agreed with Sokov, Ivanov was very surprised: "Why, Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army, you also agree with the division commander, the enemy may still be struggling to death?"

"It's not the final dying struggle, but the final madness." Sokov corrected Ivanov: "I think even if they want to attack, it may be one day. As long as they can resist their attack, the final victory will be won. It will definitely be ours."

  Although Sokov had already said this, Ivanov felt that he was alarmist. When he was about to refute a few more words, the phone on the table rang. Sidolin picked it up and listened for a while, then reported to Sokov in shock: "Comrade Commander, Commander Belkin reports that the enemy in the barricade factory has launched an attack on them again."

  Sokov took the microphone in Sidolin's hand, and asked straight to the point: "Comrade my political commissar, report to me the situation there immediately."

"Misha." Belkin said anxiously on the phone: "The enemy launched a fierce attack on us in the barricade factory. The troops participating in the attack included the 50th, 162nd, 294th and 305th Infantry Divisions. The 336th Engineer Battalion. Several forward positions that the 1st Battalion took last night through night raids have now fallen into enemy hands."

Knowing that the enemy really launched an attack, Sokov couldn't help but raise his heart in his throat. He was worried that if Belkin and the others couldn't hold it, the entire barricade factory would fall into the hands of the Germans, and the situation would change. It has to be against one's own side. He secretly said in his heart, if the situation of the barricade factory is really critical, then he will order Lieutenant Colonel Papchenko's 122nd Regiment to rush over for reinforcements.

  He collected himself and asked solemnly, "Can you hold on?"

"We can hold it." Belkin replied on the other end of the phone: "Even though our regiment is stubbornly resisting the enemy's attack, and the neighbor's Lyudnikov division is also fighting fiercely with the enemy, I believe we will be able to repel the attack." enemy attack."

  Belkin said he had the confidence to hold on, but Sokov did not dare to take it lightly. He said into the microphone: "Comrade Political Commissar, if you have any difficulties, just call and I will try my best to support you."

   Seeing Sokov put down the phone, Golikov couldn't help asking curiously: "Colonel Sokov, I seem to have heard you call Commander Belkin the political commissar. What's going on?"

"When I was the commander of the 73rd Infantry Brigade, Comrade Belkin was my political commissar." Sokov explained: "Maybe I got used to the address, even if he became the commander, I still used to call him political commissar."

   After explaining to Golikov, Sokov picked up the microphone again and asked the signalman to connect to the headquarters of the 122nd regiment. After hearing Papchenko's voice, he immediately asked: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, how is the situation there, is there any movement from the enemy?"

"It's very calm, there's no movement." After answering Sokov's question, Papchenko asked back: "Comrade commander, did you say that yesterday's rockets hurt the enemy so much that they were a little bit older today?" Nothing happened."

   "The enemy has not moved. This is really good news." Sokov continued: "The barricade factory on your right wing is now being attacked by the German army. You should immediately dispatch Captain Shamrich's marine battalion and rush over to reinforce it."

"What, transfer the marine battalion to support the barricade factory?" Hearing Sokov's order, Papchenko became anxious: "Comrade commander, if the marine battalion is transferred away, our defense force will be weakened." ..."

Sokov had long expected that Papchenko would say this, and continued with a sneer: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, the workers' new village that your regiment is defending, let alone transfer a battalion, even if only one battalion is transferred, it will still be worthless." It can completely stop the enemy's attack. Besides, the battalion I want to transfer originally belonged to the Belkin Regiment, and I asked them to reinforce the barricade factory, but it was only for the construction."

Papchenko, who originally wanted to argue with Sokov, immediately became honest when he heard Sokov's last words: "Understood, Comrade Commander. I will immediately let Captain Shamrich take The troops rushed to the barricades, but reinforced the Belgin regiment that was standing there."

Golikov waited for Sokov to put down the phone this time, and then asked curiously: "Colonel Sokov, I don't understand, there are Lyudnikov's division and Belkin's regiment in the barricade factory, and you have to mobilize troops Go for reinforcements. But you seem to be a little careless about the workers' new village, don't you worry that it will be occupied by the enemy?"

   "Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army," Sidolin said before Sokov could answer, "Please allow me to report to you!"

   "Allowed!" Golikov nodded, motioning to Sidolin: "Keep talking!"

"Although the superficial buildings of the workers' new village have long been destroyed by enemy shelling and bombing." Sidolin said: "But our troops have established new positions using sewers and ruins. As long as the enemy enters the defensive zone, they will be attacked." Attacks from all directions, the enemy gave up the idea of ​​seizing the workers' new village after suffering a few losses..."

"So that's how it is." After listening to Golikov, he said thoughtfully: "I heard that the troops in the city used the sewers to deal with the enemy, but the actual effect was not good. When the enemy attacked , Throwing grenades or explosives into the shaft of the sewer, killing the commanders and fighters hidden inside, causing great casualties to our army."

"Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army, you should be talking about other troops." Sidolin said with a smile: "They may choose their hiding places away from the exit of the shaft for the convenience of attacking. If the Germans find out, the enemy will throw grenades or explosives into the shaft, killing the soldiers hidden inside, causing huge casualties to our army. Our division chooses the hiding place to be deeper in the sewer, except A few people monitor the entrance of the shaft, and the rest of the soldiers hide far away, even if the enemy drops bombs, the damage caused to us is almost negligible."

"So that's the case." After Golikov figured out what was going on, he turned to look at Sokov, "This is probably another idea that Colonel Sokov came up with. If other troops also learn from you, it must be Can destroy more enemies."

  ...

  After the artillery preparations by the Stalingrad Front Army were completed, the troops of the 57th and 51st Army Groups assembled in the south of Beketovka-Red Army City launched a strong attack on the Romanian 6th and 7th Armies holding on to this area. The Romanian army, which is dominated by cavalry, can deal with the Soviet infantry without the cover of tanks and armored vehicles in the wilderness, but these cavalry are powerless in the face of the powerful offensive launched by the Soviet troops reinforced by tanks.

  The 57th Group Army encountered the Romanian 20th Cavalry Division on the west side of the Red Army City. The battle lasted only five minutes, and the division completely collapsed with less than 500 people killed. The cavalry turned their horses' heads and fled aimlessly in all directions, which made the Soviet commanders and fighters who had broken through the line of defense feel a little at a loss, not knowing which small unit to pursue.

  When the tank unit of the 57th Army was bypassing the Red Army City and preparing to continue to advance north, it encountered the German 29th Motorized Infantry Division that was rushing southward. Since some time ago, the commander of the motorized infantry division, General Laize, was captured by Sokov's subordinates. The officers and soldiers of the division have been holding back their anger. They dreamed of competing with Sokov's troops. It is a pity that the commander of the division was captured. Paulus never gave them that chance. Now under the order of Paulus, go south to stop the large Soviet troops trying to go north, the German officers and soldiers all seem to have been beaten.

  When the 129th Battalion as the vanguard rushed to the vicinity of the Red Army City, it was catching up with the tank troops of the 57th Army of the Soviet Army to defeat the Romanian cavalry and was trying to bypass the city and go north. The German battalion commander immediately ordered the tanks of the whole battalion to form a wedge-shaped battle formation, and rushed towards the Soviet tanks.

  The Soviet tanks that were advancing northward did not expect a German tank unit to rush towards them. Before they could form a battle formation, they were hit head-on. The German tanks stopped advancing, aimed at the advancing Soviet tanks, and destroyed them one after another like a target, so that the remaining Soviet tanks had to make an emergency U-turn and retreat in the direction they had come.

  Seeing that the Soviet tank unit was defeated, the German tanks started up again, followed the fleeing Soviet tanks, and rushed towards the breakthrough, trying to quickly block the gap abandoned by the Romanian cavalry and block the follow-up Soviet troops.

   Tank troops without infantry cover, counterattacked directly at the Soviet army attacking the defense line. This is a very risky tactic. But it may be that God is favoring the Germans and tilting the balance of victory in their favor. On the way forward, the tank troops did not encounter any counterattacks. On the contrary, what appeared in front of them were trucks full of commanders and fighters. The German tank unit stopped again, like a target, destroying the trucks that were heading towards them.

  The Soviet army did not expect to encounter the counterattack of the German tank units during the advance process, and suddenly fell into a panic. The infantry jumped out of the truck one after another, followed the retreating tanks, and fled towards their starting position.

  (end of this chapter)