Chapter 914 Attack of the Armored Division (Part 1)

  The command system of the German army failed, and the troops below could not contact the group army and the corps-level command units, and suddenly fell into a situation of being at a loss. Not to mention ordinary soldiers, even the division commanders didn't know whether their troops should continue to attack the Soviet army, or quickly withdraw from the city and move towards the Don River.

  Lensky, the division commander of the 24th Armored Division, is a typical example. He first received an order to let the troops withdraw from the silicate factory, and then received an order to attack the workers' new village. Unexpectedly, before the offensive started, he wanted to confirm the offensive order, but he couldn't get in touch with the army headquarters. Even the commander of the 14th Panzer Army, General Schlemmer, lost contact. In this situation, Lensky didn't know what to do? Should we continue to attack according to the original order, or withdraw from the existing area like other troops and rush to the direction of the Don River as soon as possible.

Just when the German army was hesitant and didn't know what to do, Belkin's drawdown regiment had quietly withdrawn from the barricade factory, and in the shortest possible time, entered a defensive position in the northwest of the Workers' New Village, preparing to stop the German army there. Attack of the 24th Armored Division.

When Belgin arrived at his regiment command post, the communication line had already been put into use, and he immediately had the communication corps connected to the division headquarters, and he spoke to Sokov himself: "Misha, all my troops have entered the new Defensive positions are being seized to build solid fortifications."

   "Great, this is really great." Knowing that Belkin's troops had entered the position, Sokov suddenly felt confident. Although the strength of the downsized regiment is smaller than the other three regiments, when it comes to combat effectiveness, this direct descendant of my own is the strongest. With their right wing protecting the main force of the division, the possibility of being cut off by the German army is boundless. at zero. "With your regiment guarding our flanks, I can rest easy."

"Misha," Belkin waited for Sokov to finish speaking, and said with some embarrassment: "In the battle to defend the barricade factory, we certainly sacrificed a lot of commanders and fighters, but the more serious losses were allotted soldiers." So far, there are only two rocket launchers left. I think there are only two rocket launchers. If we want to stop the German armored division, we can only let the soldiers carry cluster grenades to blow up the enemy’s tanks and use human lives to fill them.”

"Comrade my political commissar, if it's not necessary, don't let the soldiers carry cluster grenades to blow up the enemy's tanks. The casualties will be too great." Sukov knew how to use this tactic against the enemy's tanks, his The troop exchange ratio may be three to one, four to one, and the casualties of other friendly troops are at least ten times their own. After Belgin and the others entered the current position, they might have to stand there for two or three months. If they wiped out the troops prematurely, how would they fight the rest of the battle?

It was precisely because of this consideration that Sokov said to Belkin: "Comrade my political commissar, recently a new rocket launcher and supporting ammunition have been shipped from the other side. I will send someone to send you 20 rocket launchers later. and matching ammunition in the past."

Belkin is not a selfish person. After hearing Sokov's promise, he did not immediately rejoice, but asked cautiously: "Will the anti-tank forces of other regiments be affected by sending twenty rocket launchers to our regiment?" become weaker?"

"Comrade my political commissar, don't worry about other defensive areas." Sokov explained to Belkin: "The three regiments deployed in front of the Mamayev hills all have solid fortifications. The crazy attack, they are also fully capable of defending."

   "Can you really hold it?" Belkin questioned Sokov's statement.

"There should be no problem," Sokov explained to him in order to strengthen Belkin's message: "We defeated the German 71st Division. The chief of staff of the division was killed by our air force, and the division commander Ross Kai was also seriously injured. The division does not have the ability to counterattack for the time being. I think that under such circumstances, the three guard regiments should have no problem holding their own positions."

   "Comrade my political commissar," Sokov figured out one thing during this time. The films about Stalingrad that he had seen before were all artistically processed. At the beginning of the counter-offensive, the German army was beaten by the Soviet army without any power to fight back. It was all artistically processed. To wipe out these hundreds of thousands of enemies, even if millions of troops fight at the same time, it will not be completed in a few months. Therefore, what I can do now is to rely on the existing defensive positions to consume as much of the German army's vital strength as possible. "My task for your regiment is very simple, that is, to do everything possible to hold the existing defensive position. How about it, are you confident?"

   "Misha, don't worry." Regarding Sokov's question, Belkin replied confidently: "As long as we have enough anti-tank weapons, there is no big problem in holding the position."

"Comrade Commissar, I want to remind you of one thing." Seeing the other party's careless answer, Sukov was afraid that he would underestimate the enemy, so he quickly reminded him: "Our army will not be able to eliminate Paulus' troops overnight. , you have to be prepared to fight for a few months. Also, I guess during this period, the superior may not give us any additional troops, so in the battle, you have to find a way to reduce the casualties of the troops. Understand?"

   "I understand." Belkin heard Sokov say this to himself in such a solemn tone, and immediately realized that he was too optimistic about the situation. He was sitting with Sokov's former partner, and he had no doubts in Sokov's judgment. Since the other party said that this battle would last for a few months, he would definitely fight for a few more months. If he really All the troops in his hands were exhausted. Then when the final counterattack begins, I can only do it to the bystanders: "I will use the forces in my hands reasonably to resolutely block the enemy's attack."

  As soon as Sokov put down the phone, a communications staff officer hurried over and said to Sidolin: "Report to Comrade Chief of Staff, just received a telegram from the Front Army Command."

   "Bring it to me to see." Sidolin was shocked when he learned that it was a telegram from the front army, and quickly reached out to the other party, asking for the telegram he had just received.

"Comrade Commander, good news!" Sidolin just read a few lines, and his face showed ecstasy: "The Front Army Command reported that the 36th Mechanized Brigade of General Volsky's Mechanized 4th Army, and The 45th Brigade of the 4th Tank Army of the Southwest Front has successfully joined forces at the Soviet Farm in the Don River Basin!"

  As soon as Sidolin's voice fell, the people in the headquarters suddenly cheered in unison. Everyone knew in their hearts that as the two front armies joined forces at the Soviet farm, the retreat of the German army was completely cut off. Paulus' Sixth Army and Hoth's Fourth Armored Army were both caught in the encirclement of the Soviet army.

   "Comrade Commander," Ivanov asked Sukov tentatively after the cheers in the headquarters died down, "How many enemies in the encirclement do you think we can eliminate?"

   "Comrade Deputy Division Commander," Sokov did not immediately answer this question, but asked Ivanov instead: "How many do you think we can eliminate?"

"I estimate that there are at least 100,000 German troops surrounded by our army this time." Hearing Sokov's question, Ivanov squeezed his chin with his hands and said thoughtfully: "I guess At least 50,000 to 60,000 of them can be wiped out."

   Sokov did not comment on Ivanov's guess. He knew very well in his heart that after Paulus and Huot's troops were encircled, how many enemies were in the encirclement, even the Soviet High Command never wanted to figure it out. They always believe that there are at best only more than 100,000 enemies in the encirclement, so when formulating encirclement and annihilation plans, they always follow the standard of annihilating 100,000 people. As a result, some troops suffered unnecessary losses because they miscalculated the enemy's strength when attacking.

"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov thought of the fact that the staff had just told Sidolin that the telegram was an order from the front army. It must not only convey the news of the reunion, but there should be more important content behind it. He looked at the good news in Sidolin's hand. Several telegrams asked: "What else was said in the telegram?"

   "Comrade Commander, the order is very long, I will read it to you slowly." After finishing speaking, Sidolin picked up the telegram and began to read: "Red Army soldiers, commanders and political workers!

   The time has come for harsh, but just punishment of the despicable enemy - the German occupiers of Jesses.

  German bandits treacherously attack our peaceful homeland, destroy it and humiliate our great people.

   Not long ago, we celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Great October Revolution. The October Socialist Revolution transferred power from the landowners and capitalists to the workers and peasants, brought equality and freedom to the oppressed people of Russia, and transformed our country like never before.

   We live in peace, we have built factories, collective farms and state farms, schools and universities with tenacious labor.

   All of us have received the fruits of our great labors. The enemy, who has destroyed our peaceful working life, wants to conquer our country and turn our people into slaves of the German nobles and landowners.

  Hitler and his followers deceived the German people, frantically plundered the property of the people of European countries, and launched an attack on our country. The enemy was able to advance to the city of Stalingrad. Under the walls of this fortified castle on the Volga we stopped the enemy. Due to the heroic fighting of our army, the enemy suffered great losses in the battle under the city of Stalingrad.

  The officers and soldiers of the Stalingrad Front became a model of bravery, tenacity and selfless fighting. Now it falls to us to launch a mighty attack on the enemy.

  In order to repay the debt of blood from the thugs who killed our wives and children, and from the officers and soldiers who shed blood and died, we should ruthlessly destroy the enemy.

   Comrades, attack bravely!

   Each of us who went to fight knew that we were to liberate our sacred lands, towns and peoples from the German scoundrels who invaded our country and oppressed the freedom-loving Soviet people.

  …

   How our people rejoice when they hear that we are on the offensive, that we are advancing, that we are liberating our land.

  We must be able to defend the Volga River Fortress - Stalingrad, we must be able to destroy the enemy and drive countless enemy troops away from the Volga River.

  I order: the Stalingrad Front Army will carry out a resolute attack on the sworn enemy - the German Communist invaders, destroy them, and honorably complete the tasks entrusted by the motherland.

   Comrades! Forward to victory! Destroy the German invaders!

   Signatures: Ye Liaomenko, Commander of the Front Army, and Khrushchev, Military Commissar of the Front Army. "

Sokov waited for Sidolin to finish reading the thousand-word order, then quickly browsed through it, and handed the telegram to Anisimov: "Comrade Political Commissar, please send this message from the Front Army Command via radio. Give the order and tell every commander and fighter in the division."

   "What about the Belkin Regiment?" Anisimov took the telegram and reminded Sokov: "They have just entered a new defensive position, and they haven't installed radio yet."

   "This is easy." Sokov said without hesitation: "After you finish the broadcast, find someone to make a copy and send it to Commander Belkin."

   "Understood, I'll do it right away." Anisimov nodded, got up and walked out of the headquarters.

  ...

  Early the next morning, Lensky gathered 20 tanks, an infantry battalion and a company of infantry, and launched an attack on the Belkin Regiment. Lensky thought that the militia troops were responsible for the defense of this area, so he rushed in without any artillery preparations.

  The attacking troops started to progress very smoothly. The Soviet army's position was very quiet, not to mention the sound of gunfire, and even the silhouettes of people could not be read. The chief of staff of the division said to Lensky quite proudly: "Your Excellency, the militiamen standing on the ground may have run away in fright when they saw our tanks driving past. According to my estimation, our troops may It was easy to break through the Russian defenses."

Lensky, who was holding up the binoculars, saw that there was no movement on the Soviet positions in the distance, and agreed with his chief of staff's judgment: "Chief of staff, you are right. Seeing so many of our tanks and The infantry rushed up, and those militiamen who stood firm might have fled long ago..."

  As soon as he finished speaking, he saw several objects with long white smoke trails flying out of the crater one after another, flying straight towards the tank that was moving forward. If it hits the tank directly, a ball of flames will immediately rise up, and then the tank will be surrounded by raging fire and smoke; even if it misses the target, the object will explode when it falls on the ground, and **** of black mud and white snow powder will rise up. .

   "Damn, what is this?" Lensky was dumbfounded when he saw that three tanks had been destroyed: "Chief of Staff, come quickly and have a look. Is that the anti-tank gun that the Russians hid in the bomb crater?"

  (end of this chapter)