Chapter 891

It was three o'clock in the afternoon when we arrived at dokuchaev. As soon as we finished the arrangement of the army headquarters, we received an urgent telegram from the headquarters of the group army.

The telegram was signed and issued by haridonov himself. The telegram said: "in order to clear the obstacles of the main force of the front army on the way forward, your department should launch an attack on the enemy troops west of dokuchaev in kinotsga, Norway on the evening of February 9, so as to restore the smooth flow of highway H20. The battle must end before 10 a.m. on February 10."

When I saw the telegram, I raised my head and asked wittkov, "chief of staff, do you have any detailed information about the German army?"

Wittkov nodded and handed me a telegram he had just received. He said solemnly, "kinotsga, Norway is seven kilometers southwest of our city. It's 15 kilometers away from wolnovaha. The enemy built a large number of civil bunkers and firepower points here, firmly controlled the whole road, and completely cut off the contact between our front army and the southern front army. "

When I received the telegram, I didn't read it immediately. Instead, I asked casually, "what kind of forces is the enemy?"

"According to the reconnaissance of our army," wittkov had already memorized the contents of the telegram. Hearing my question, he immediately replied unambiguously, "the German army has placed a battalion in the town with two infantry companies and an artillery observation post. Once the garrison is attacked, they can call for long-range artillery support. As a result, several operations launched by the sixth group army to open up traffic lines ended in failure. "

I took the telegram and quickly found the location of the town of kinotsga in Norway on the map. It has to be said that the position chosen by the Germans is very good. It not only seriously threatens the flank of our army, but also restricts our army's movement. It's like a fishbone stuck in our throat. It's really disgusting.

"Comrade commander, how are you going to fight?" When Vitkov asked, he unconsciously raised his hand and looked at his arm. Maybe he was worried that we didn't have enough time to attack“ You know, the friendly forces have launched several attacks on this town, but they all failed under the enemy's fire. So if we want to attack, we must find a way to destroy the enemy's artillery observation post, so that when the enemy is attacked by us, he can not provide firing data for the artillery. "

"You are very considerate, chief of staff." I seriously considered vetkov's proposal and said, "well, send out lieutenant Vassily's sniper team immediately and let them find a way to kill the enemy's artillery observation post. As for the next battle, "when I said this, I couldn't help but look at my watch and found that the clock had already pointed to four o'clock." first, I'd like to call up some teachers to hold a meeting and make a good plan. "

When Vitkov accepted my order to call the commanders of each division, kirilov approached me and said in a low voice, "Comrade oshanina, the time given to us by the superior is too short. If we meet in such a hurry, I am afraid our attack will be..."

Before kirilov finished speaking, I quickly raised my hand to stop him from going on, glanced at the busy communication staff, and whispered to kirilov, "Comrade political commissar, I understand. Our troops have just arrived here, and they are still unfamiliar with the surrounding environment. If they rush into battle, they will suffer greatly. But the order from the higher authorities is clear. In any case, we must resolve the battle before 10 a.m. tomorrow. "

"Are you sure?" Kirilov asked anxiously.

I tried to squeeze a smile on my face and said calmly: "Comrade political commissar, you should not forget that our independent division, though not established for a long time, has always been an outstanding and experienced unit. When we covered the retreat of the main force of the 64th group army to Stalingrad, we also severely damaged the 29th motorized infantry brigade of the German army and captured their division commander through the night attack. I believe that in tonight's battle, the commanders and fighters of the Bantai leiev Division will surely make new contributions. "

As the 171st infantry division and the 84th tank brigade stationed in the volnowaha area are too far away from us, the military commanders of these two units were not allowed to participate in this military meeting. Only bantaileiev, gurdyev and artillery commander kavilin from dokuchaev attended.

Maybe it was because of yesterday's victory, I found him in a particularly excited state from Bantai leiev's entrance. He and major general gurdyev beside him talked and laughed loudly. After all, nearly 300 enemies were annihilated in the first World War, but none of them were killed. As the division's military officer, he really had the proud capital.

Seeing that everyone sat down, Bantai leiev pulled kaverin beside him excitedly and said again. Kirilov could not help frowning. He patted on the table twice and said to Bantai leiev discontentedly: "Comrade General, we are going to have a meeting soon. Please keep quiet." After kirilov's training, Bantai leiev gave us a shy smile and closed his mouth.

Wittkov stood up and said solemnly to the participants: "comrades, in order to get through highway H20 and restore the connection between our southwest front army and the southern front army. The head of the group army asked us to launch an attack on the German army in the town of kinotsga in Norway tonight and to settle the battle by 10 a.m. tomorrow. "

After listening to wittkov's announcement, bantailiev stood up. He frowned slightly, looked at wittkov seriously, and said in a low voice: "Comrade chief of staff, the time for our troops to arrive at dokuchaev is very short, and the commanders have no time to get familiar with the surrounding environment. I would like to ask how our commanders, in a strange environment, direct their troops to attack the enemy occupied town? "

"General bandeleev, please sit down." Before answering his question, vetkov politely asked him to sit down, and then said, "as there is a German artillery observation post in the town, we have sent a sniper team of lieutenant Vassily. Their task is not only to snipe the German artillery observers, but also to light two fires outside the town to guide our artillery to fire targets."

For wittkov's answer, bandeleev nodded with satisfaction and did not speak again. Kirilov looked at gurdyev and said, "Comrade gurdyev, if you have any opinions, you can also tell me."

Gurdyev thought about it and replied, "Comrade political commissar, I want to know the attack sequence of the troops. What is the task of our division this time, as a main attack or as a reserve team? "

Kirilov did not answer his question, but turned to look at me, waiting for me to give gurdyev an accurate answer. I stood up, coughed and said to gurdyev, "Comrade General, since your division has a large number of new recruits, it may not be very effective for you to be the main attack in such a night battle. Therefore, according to the arrangement, your division will continue to be the reserve team, and the main attack will be in the charge of major general leiev of Bantai." Seeing gurdyev's silent face, I comforted him and said, "the reason why I chose them to take on the main attack task is that there are always enough fighting backbones in their division. As long as new recruits are added in, the whole army will be able to form combat effectiveness in a short time, and they have rich experience in night attack, It's perfect for the enemy in town. "

When I finished speaking, wittkov asked me, "Comrade commander, do you have any plans for the 171st infantry division and the 84th tank brigade stationed in the volnowaha area?"

"Chief of staff, record orders." Seeing that wittkov had prepared his pen and paper, I continued: "the 171st division dispatched a regiment under the command of the chief of staff of the division, Colonel bolvinov, and cooperated with colonel berey's tank brigade to move towards kinotsga town in Norway at night. When the artillery preparation of our army is over, we will immediately launch an impact on the town. " Seeing that he had finished recording the order, I waved to him and said, "send the order by telegraph immediately."

The shelling before the attack was set at 7 p.m. when the shelling started, the assembled 22nd division of the guards would take a truck to quickly approach the town of kinotsga in Norway and get off at about two kilometers away from the town. As soon as the shelling was over, they charged into the city.

Kirilov and I stood at the fourth floor window of a building on the edge of the city, overlooking the distant direction of kinotsga, Norway. Outside, the moon was covered by leaden clouds, and the sky was very low. The snow on the field outside the city, only a faint reflection. I looked through the telescope for a long time, but I could only see the dark outline of the town. I couldn't see anything else clearly.

After a long wait, I suddenly saw two flashing lights outside the town. Almost at the same time, kirilov also saw the bonfire of lieutenant Vassily, pointed to the distance and excitedly said to me, "Comrade oshanina, look, the fire in the distance must be the fire to guide the artillery."

I nodded, turned and went to the middle of the room. I picked up the phone on the desk. After shaking it twice, I heard the voice of lieutenant colonel cavelin. I ordered him decisively: "Comrade commander, let's go!"

"Yes I heard cavelling say yes, and then I yelled at the others, "start shelling!"

As soon as I put down the phone, there was a thunderbolt outside, and then the dense gunfire sounded like thunder. The cannons of 266th artillery regiment and the heavy howitzers of artillery barracks of bantaileiev division opened fire at kinotsgar, Norway, from different distances and positions at the same time.

The battle started and the unbearable wait ended.

Before we started, our actions were not discovered by the Germans, which made me very satisfied. Before that, I was concerned about whether it could start smoothly. After that, I was concerned about how to win. In order to correctly deal with all kinds of accidents that may happen in the battle, I tried to go over my plan again in my mind, and found that there were no mistakes, so I was relieved.

I went to the window, raised my telescope and looked at the town in the distance. A very spectacular picture was immediately displayed in front of us. The town was full of fire and the sky nearby was all orange red. One building after another collapsed in the light of the fire.

Seeing this scene, kirilov said excitedly: "the artillery preparation of lieutenant colonel kaverin is very good! I think that as soon as the shelling is over, the troops will rush into the town and wipe out the remnant enemy. "

Seeing that the town occupied by the German army was bombed into a sea of fire by our artillery, I should be very happy. But at the moment, I had an uncertain premonition in my heart, so I said noncommittally, "Comrade political commissar, we can't be too optimistic. It's hard to say whether we can completely annihilate the German army in the town because we are fighting in a strange area after all."

"Yes," kirilov said approvingly, "the Germans are not reconciled to their own defeat. After our troops rush into the town, they may encounter the enemy's stubborn resistance." Staring at the burning town in the distance, I said thoughtfully, "Comrade political commissar, under our heavy shelling, in addition to the heavy casualties of the German army, the destruction of the town must be particularly serious. If Colonel berey's tank brigade arrives at this moment, it will not be able to expand in the town. Instead, let them change their mission, detour to both sides of the town and cut off the retreat of the German army. "“ Comrade o'shanina, you've been very considerate. I have no objection. " Kirilov has always been very supportive of my work. Most of the time, he agrees with my proposal, and now is no exception“ I'll call the chief of staff immediately and ask him to inform Col. berey that the tank brigade should make a detour to both sides of the town. The retreat of the German army must be cut off. It must be cut off. " With that, he went to the phone and made a phone call. After half an hour, the shelling finally stopped. The decisive infantry attack finally began. As the town is still burning, I can see the black crowd pouring into the town from all directions. Seeing more and more people entering the town, I breathed a sigh of relief and went back to the table in the middle of the room to sit down, while gently beating my legs, which were sore from standing for a long time. Suddenly, a walkie talkie operator who used to be sitting in the corner came up to me and said nervously, "Comrade commander, the first unit of the second regiment who first rushed into the town was blocked in the attack!" When he saw me looking up at him, he took a mouthful of saliva nervously and finished what he said later“ Major Yaming, deputy commander of the second regiment, died, and captain horushov, commander of the first battalion, is commanding in his place. " Hearing that the attack of the second regiment was blocked and the deputy head of the second regiment died, kirilov and I jumped out of our seats. To tell you the truth, major Yaming came from the Ministry of interior. Although he showed remarkable courage and command level in the battle of defending mamayevgang and 107.5 highland, he never got my attention, and even didn't give him a rank. Now listen to the operator said that he died, my heart as if something was severely stabbed. I took a deep breath and said to the operator, "tell captain horushov to talk to me!" When the operator contacted horushov, he handed me the transmitter and earphone. I put a set of earphones on my head, held up the transmitter in one hand and said, "Comrade captain, you've done a good job! The army should not have a disordered command because of the sacrifice of a commander. For the enemy's fire point, first, destroy it with mortar! Second, we should leave a small number of troops to contain us, and the large forces should bypass it for the time being to eliminate the enemy in other areas, so as not to let a bandit escape from our hands. " After I returned the earphone and the transmitter to the operator, I picked up the place on the desk, dialed the army headquarters, and decisively ordered wittkov: "chief of staff, please contact Colonel berey immediately. After their tank troops complete the encirclement of the town, they should use tank guns to support the infantry who rush into the town and provide them with necessary artillery support." Speaking of this, I covered the microphone and asked kirilov standing opposite, "Comrade political commissar, do you have any amendments or supplements?" Kirilov shook his head and said, "No." Seeing that kirilov had no objection, I resolutely ordered wittkov: "well, comrade chief of staff, let's give my order to Colonel berey. At the same time, order the troops of the other three regiments to speed up the attack! " The battle was going on tensely. The German artillery seemed to understand that our army was attacking the town of kinotsga in Norway. Several shells fell in the middle of our attacking team and exploded, causing certain casualties to us. More shells fell on the open wasteland and exploded, sending up piles of snow mixed with soil.