Chapter 381

At first, only a dozen people fled. Unexpectedly, with their help, more and more people fled. Later, a group of people on the left and a group of people on the right escaped from the smoke and ran to the second line of defense two kilometers away. Although these people left the positions shrouded by the smoke of gunpowder, they were not completely out of danger, and death followed them like a shadow. As soon as a shell fell, they fell to pieces. Some Elven soldiers, hearing the sound of the shell landing, immediately fell down on the spot, waited for the smoke to disperse, then got up and continued to run.

Seeing this scene, I was so angry and funny that I yelled at the side: "chief of staff!" After hearing the voice of boroda's reply, I issued an order to him in a loud voice: "Comrade boroda, please record the order: first, order major gogasov in the forward position to restrain his troops. No one can step back without my order; 2、 Major Antonov was ordered to send captain bulda with a company of guards to organize a supervision team to stop all the soldiers who escaped from the position. Those who did not listen to the order could immediately implement the battlefield discipline; 3、 Send a telegram to the battalion that detours back to the enemy's rear and ask where they are now

"Yes With a promise, boroda went downstairs to telephone and telegraph.

I looked at the soldiers who were still running back and felt a headache. Although I've heard that this division's combat effectiveness is not good before, I think it's hearsay, so I don't take it seriously. I didn't expect that the most elite main force of the division would have so many deserters just after the first round of German artillery bombardment.

Just then, I saw a lot of people in the second line of defense climbing out of the trench and running towards the deserters. I turned to look at the revolving stairs. Boroda had not yet come to the chapel downstairs. It was obvious that the attack of these commanders and fighters had nothing to do with him. It should be Antonov's arrangement.

I looked through my telescope at the officers and men who were on the attack. One of them, in his uniform and helmet, limped while running. I immediately recognized it as captain bulda, the company commander of the guard company. It seems that Antonov and my hero have the same idea. Seeing that there are deserters running back in the front, he immediately sent the people of the guard company to stop them.

The two teams stopped at a distance of 20 or 30 meters. Bulda's right hand was holding a pistol high and waving it at the retreating soldiers. Although the distance was too far, I couldn't hear him shouting at all, but from the posture of his left hand pointing to the front, he should let the soldiers go back to the trench immediately.

It's a pity that all the soldiers stood still, and not only did no one return to their positions, but some even attempted to continue to run to the second line of defense. In order to stop their escape, the soldiers of the guard company carried the guns of the experts and shot them to the sky desperately.

Rao was so. The soldiers hesitated for a long time before they slowly turned back. By this time, the German artillery had become sparse. After these soldiers, driven by Burda and the guard company, stepped over the bodies of their comrades and returned to the trench, the artillery fire stopped completely.

The German infantry, hidden in the forest in the distance, saw that the shelling had stopped, and immediately formed a scattered formation. Under the cover of tanks, they pushed fiercely towards our forward position.

At this time, boroda went upstairs and reported: "Comrade division commander, major gogasov called. In the shelling just now, two companies in the forward position lost more than 150 casualties, and the troops in the trenches almost lost their fighting capacity. In order to block the German attack, he asked to add two companies waiting in the forest Seeing that I wanted to speak, boroda quickly added, "I have agreed to his request that one company enter the position first, and the other company continue to stand by."

I nodded with satisfaction at boroda's decision. If the German infantry were frustrated, they might launch another artillery attack. If the troops in the front were too dense, the German artillery attack would certainly cause heavy casualties to our army. I looked at the German troops getting closer and closer to the front position, and without looking back, I asked, "Comrade chief of staff, where is the circuitous battalion of our army?"

Boroda replied, "Comrade division commander, according to their reported position, they are about two kilometers away from the German artillery position. If there is no accident, they will attack in an hour."

I frowned and said discontentedly, "they've been starting for five or six hours. Why are they so far away from the target?"

Seeing this, boroda immediately defended the circuitous troops: "Comrade division commander, we can't blame them. The terrain in this area is too complex. It's either forest or swamp. The troops can't move fast in the forest at all. Although the German artillery position is no more than eight kilometers away from us in a straight line, it will take at least 20 kilometers for the troops to get there. "

"Damned forest and swamp," I said, biting my back teeth. Then I raised my hand and looked at my watch. I saw that the clock had already pointed to seven. I could not help but say with some worry, "it's still four hours before dark. I don't know if we can eliminate this German army before dark."

The battle at the front of our army started again. A few hours ago, the fortifications were hollowed out by German shells. Many parts of the fortifications had been destroyed. The commanders and fighters hid in the relatively good trenches and fired fiercely at the German tanks and infantry. The infantry behind the tank fell from time to time, but their pace did not stop.

A tank, more than 100 meters away from the front line, pressed an anti tank mine. After a burst of fire and smoke, it began to burn. Several fire covered tankers got out of the tank and ran towards their positions. Without running far away, they were all knocked down by our soldiers.

Several other tanks stopped and used artillery fire to suppress our firepower points in place to cover the infantry charging forward.

Seeing this, Captain aftuhov's voice came from the stairway: "report to the division chief and chief of staff, guerrillas call." Boroda quickly went forward to receive the telegram in his hand and read aloud to me: "all the German troops have left the village of piatnica. After repeated verification by our guerrillas, the enemy has three infantry companies, one artillery company and one tank company. At present, except one infantry company left behind to protect the artillery array, the other two companies have taken trucks to your location under the cover of tanks. " Reading this, boroda breathed a sigh of relief and suggested to me, "Comrade division commander, if the guerrillas have accurate information, then there are only two infantry companies and one tank company attacking our army in the front. With our current strength, we can fight back against them."

I waved my hand and said, "no, it's not time. If we don't get rid of the German artillery positions, their shells will bring heavy casualties to our counterattack forces. " At this point, I turn the subject around and ask, "have the 1132nd and 1133rd regiments arrived yet?"

Boroda nodded and replied, "the reserves are all in place. I order them to stand by in the south of the village for the time being. At your command, they can fight right away. "

I raised my telescope again to see the battle at the front. I saw a heavy machine gun fire point of our army. The shooter was calmly aiming at the German infantry and firing. One soldier after another fell in front of his muzzle. All of a sudden, a tank shell directly hit the firepower point. With the sound of "boom", the two living soldiers turned into blood fog in the sky in an instant.

I was so angry that I smashed my fist on the windowsill in front of me. I turned my head and saw that aftukhov had not come downstairs yet. I immediately told him, "Comrade captain, you should go down and call major Antonov immediately, and let the tanks on the second line of defense fire, so as to knock down all the German tanks parked in the front of our army."

"I understand!" The captain agreed and ran downstairs quickly.

Two minutes later, our tank company opened fire at the same time. Seven tank shells made a beautiful arc in the air and landed in the German tank line. Two German tanks were hit directly. The lethal ammunition blasted the surrounding area into a sea of fire. The flying shrapnel swept down the infantry following the tank.

At this moment, Captain aftuhov came up with a telephone on his back and yelled excitedly at us: "report to the division chief, chief of staff, and the circuitous troops. They are attacking the German artillery positions."

I was overjoyed to hear that the army was attacking the German artillery position. I took the earphone and the telephone from the captain, put the earphone on my head, held the microphone and asked aloud, "I'm acting division commander oshanina, who are you?"

"Report to division commander," a loud gunshot and grenade explosion came from the earphone. A man was shouting, "I'm captain Boris, battalion commander. My troops have reached the German artillery position and are attacking them."

"How's it going?"

"The enemy's nine guns have been captured by us, and the troops are now fighting with the German infantry defending the artillery positions. But please rest assured, because our surprise attack caught the Germans off guard. In five minutes at most, we can solve the battle. "

The German artillery was captured by us. If we could turn the muzzle to hit the German, our counterattack would be much easier. Thinking of this, I tentatively asked Boris, "Comrade captain, can anyone use those captured cannons?"

Unexpectedly, he replied carelessly: "please don't worry, division commander. Many of my subordinates turned out to be artillery soldiers. Because our artillery was lost in the battle, they became infantry temporarily. It's just a matter of one sentence to turn the gun and hit the Germans. "

Listening to what he said with such confidence, I immediately felt more relaxed than ever before, so I told him: "Comrade captain, after you have defeated the German infantry, you immediately organize the artillery and turn the muzzle to bombard the German troops who are attacking our front line. As for the firing parameters, I'll have them reported to you later. "

After terminating the call with Captain Boris, Captain aftuhov went downstairs with the telephone on his back. I turned to boroda and said, "Comrade chief of staff, we can now begin to deploy counter attacks. Inform major Antonov that as soon as captain Boris's shelling of the German army stops, the tank company ambushing on the flank will immediately move out, and all the troops on the first and second lines will begin to fight back. At the same time, the battalions in the south of the village should be transferred to the village first. When they fight back later, let them follow. Winning a battle is very helpful to the morale of the troops. "

Ten minutes later, our artillery attack began, and the German soldiers who had been lying in front of the front and shooting against our army were immediately enveloped in a sea of fire.

I went back to the headquarters downstairs and asked boroda to call Antonov for me. After dialing the phone, I took the phone from boroda's hand and immediately yelled into it, "major Antonov, the troops in the second line of defense are ready to attack. Order the soldiers to move forward and beat me hard. No matter how many enemies there are, don't come back to see me until they are completely destroyed. " In the microphone, came major Antonov's heroic voice: "please rest assured, I promise to complete the task." Almost at the same time, the sound of "Wula" came from the microphone. I don't have to ask, but I also know clearly that it was the roar of the second company of guards and the commanders and fighters of the combat battalion.