Chapter 901

When Godunov's familiar voice came through the earphone, without any greetings, I asked directly, "major Godunov, what's the situation now?"

Hearing my voice, gordonov immediately replied respectfully, "Comrade General, it's all set up. Although we are less than the enemy in strength, I still divide our troops into two echelons: the first echelon is composed of two shock engineer battalions, which built a defensive position five kilometers south of boloi; The second echelon consists of a tank battalion and a shock Engineer Battalion, which are mainly used for ambush and counter attack. "

"Do you know the number of the German troops?" As gordonov's telegram did not mention the number of German troops, I specifically mentioned this issue.

"Make it clear, Comrade General." Godunov clearly replied, "it's part of the 11th German armored division, which is headed by major general Herman balk."

"Well, I see." Because I was using wireless communication and didn't use any code, I worried that the content of the call would be intercepted by the enemy, so I said in a hurry, "I will send major akhromeyev to you to check the specific deployment." Then, without waiting for Godunov to answer, he interrupted the communication.

After putting down the phone, I called kirilov, vetkov, akhromeyev and Pugachev to the map, briefly explained the deployment of Godunov's report, and then said: "judging from the current situation, the German forces in the tokmak area are far beyond our imagination. In addition to the 11th armored division, it is estimated that there are a lot of infantry. Once the German army takes a coordinated approach to poloi, it is still a question whether the 171st division can resist their attack. "

"Comrade commander, please wait a moment." Before I finished, vetkov interrupted me. He ignored my displeasure and said to himself, "what's the German number you just said? The 11th German armored division Seeing that I nodded my head to confirm, I asked carefully, "is their teacher major general balk?"

"Yes, the commander of the armored division is balk." When I answered wittkov's question, I tried to recall that I only said the name of the German army, not the name of the commander. How did wittkov know. Thinking of this, I couldn't help but ask tentatively, "why, chief of staff, have you heard of this German commander?"

Wittkov nodded his head and said, "Comrade commander, it's this balk who killed hundreds of tanks of our tank army with 50 tanks in the battle on the banks of the river zier at the end of last year."

Fifty tanks kill hundreds of tanks?! I was startled by such a huge achievement, and my heart said: isn't this Rommel's achievement? Can't it be wittkov's mistake?

I was not the only one who was surprised. Kirilov, akhromeyev and Pugachev were also shocked. After a moment, kirilov asked, "Comrade chief of staff, can you tell us what's going on?"

Wittkov nodded again and began to tell me about the achievements of the 11th German Panzer Division: "on December 7, last year, in order to destroy the 336th German division which occupied the position between lower zir and surovigino on the banks of the zir River, our 1st tank army crossed the zir River on their left wing, And to the residential area of the 79th state farm, far behind their riverine defenses. At that time, the 11th German armored division had just left Rostov. After learning the news of our army's attack, they were ordered to move to the state farm to restore the original situation of both sides.

On December 8, the 15th German Armored Regiment attacked our motorized infantry column which was driving from the north. As our army was on the March, we did not take any precautions against the enemy's attack. As a result, the whole column was annihilated by the German army in a very short time. Then, with the direct support of armored infantry and artillery, the Armored Regiment advanced to the rear of our tank troops defending the state farm.

Although our troops, trapped in the encirclement of the German army, showed bravery and tenacity, it was impossible for them to break through the encirclement because they were within the range of the enemy's artillery fire. In the evening, the tank troops stationed in the farm were completely destroyed, and 51 tanks were destroyed... "

When wittkov talked to kirilov about the achievements of the 11th armored division of the German army, I couldn't help thinking: a tank army has hundreds of tanks and a considerable number of infantry, but it still can't stop balk's 11th armored division. Now we have only one infantry regiment in the south of boloi, with a tank battalion of only 18 tanks, It's impossible to block their attack.

Not only have I noticed the crisis we are facing, but also political workers like kirilov can feel it. As soon as wittkov finished speaking, he asked me nervously: "Comrade oshanina, the situation is very unfavorable for us. Once the enemy's 11th armored division launches an attack, it will not be able to stop only by the gordonov regiment and pelsjian's tank battalion. We must send troops to strengthen them."

"Strengthen, how to strengthen?" As for kirilov's proposal, I said angrily: "at present, there is only the 171st division of andreushenko in boloy. With their equipment and combat effectiveness, even if they are all sent up, they will not be able to block the enemy's attack. If we let the enemy take boloi in vain, our whole army will be in danger of being defeated. "

At this moment, akhromeyev suddenly said: "Comrade commander, in fact, things are not as pessimistic as you think. It is entirely possible to block or even defeat the 11th German armored division with our current strength."

Akhromeyev's words gave me a glimmer of victory, and I immediately couldn't wait to ask, "major, tell me about your plan."

"As far as I know, the present 171st infantry division is composed of the original 115th, 124th and 149th infantry brigades. In their original organizational system, there is a tank battalion and two anti tank artillery companies. Although the original brigade has been reorganized into a regiment, the organizational system of tank battalion and anti tank company still exists." Although akhromeyev has just been in office for a few days, he knows more about the situation of all the troops in the army than I know. "I suggest that the tank battalions and anti tank artillery companies of the 115th and 124th regiments of the 171st division be transferred to the defense area of the gordonov regiment immediately."

"Comrade major, after sending the tank battalion and anti tank artillery company to the defense area of gordonov regiment," witkov's confidence was restored when he heard akhromeyev say so. He asked with great interest, "how do you plan to deploy?"

"The two battalions of the first echelon will be spread out side by side, each battalion will strengthen a tank company, and the tanks will occupy the flanking positions in the defensive area; At the same time, each battalion was assigned an anti tank gun company. The remaining tank units and anti tank artillery companies, together with another shock Engineer Battalion, form a second echelon for ambush and counter attack. " Major akhromeyev, as the director of both the staff and intelligence services, has worked out the most detailed operational plan in the shortest time according to the resources he has at his disposal: "while the tank battalion of pelsteen, which is dispatched, takes a small amount of infantry and detours to the flanks of the German army."

After listening to akhromeyev's plan, I studied the map for a while and thought it sounded good. Then I raised my head and asked wittkov, "Comrade chief of staff, what do you think?"

Wittkov nodded and said without expression, "I think we can try the major's plan."

Seeing that wittkov did not raise any objection, I did not ask kirilov or the chief of operations, Pugachev. After all, time is pressing and we must fight against time, so I decisively announced: "I declare that this battle will be under the full command of major akhromeyev." Then I looked at akhromeyev and told him, "major, you're going to the 171st division. Let Colonel andreushenko transfer the troops you need to you. Don't stop for a moment. Go to the defense area of gordonov regiment immediately."

Witkov, seeing that I had handed over the command of the battle to akhromeyev, nodded in agreement and said on his own initiative, "I'll call Colonel andreushenko first and ask him to assemble the troops to be mobilized. In this way, when the major arrives at the 171 division headquarters, the troops will be almost assembled and ready to leave at any time. "

When akhromeyev left, we began to wait anxiously and long. On the way, gurdyev and bandeleev sent telegrams successively to report to me the current position of the troops and the corresponding deployment. However, as I was always concerned about the upcoming battle on the south side of the city, I just glanced at the telegram sent by the two men and threw it on the table.

There was no news from akhromeyev. Not only I was worried, but kirilov and Vitkov were also worried. Kirilov sat at the table, staring at the roof as if something wonderful had caught his attention. Wittkov, on the other hand, kept circling the room with his hands behind his back, and sighed twice from time to time.

At two o'clock in the afternoon, news finally came from akhromeyev. Pugachev, who had been staying in the next telecommunication room, rushed in with a telegram and exclaimed excitedly, "commander, comrade commander, it's a telegram from major akhromeyev."

Before he came to me, I couldn't wait to ask, "major Pugachev, what's the situation on the battlefield?"

After Pugachev came up to me and handed me the telegram, he said excitedly: "report to the commander, after the German army launched a fierce artillery attack on our defensive position, it opened up in columns to our first echelon defensive position with the strength of about a regiment under the guidance of more than 20 tanks. When they entered the ambush area, our second echelon suddenly shot at the column. We caught a German army unprepared, and immediately the formation was in disorder, and the coordination between infantry and Tanzania was out of balance. Our troops seize this favorable opportunity, give full play to their firepower advantage and kill the enemy in large quantities. The 61st motorized infantry battalion of the enemy has retreated hastily after our army destroyed six tanks, 15 armored vehicles and killed more than 100 soldiers. "

Now that Pugachev had said all the contents of the telegram, there was no need to read it again. I handed it to Vitkov, who was waiting anxiously beside him, and then continued to ask, "what about major perskin's tank battalion? What results have they achieved? "

Pugachev shook his head and replied, "according to major akhromeyev's report, when he arrived at the defensive area, he sent major pelsken's tank battalion to detour in the southwest direction of Livni, ready to go around behind the 11th German armored division and teach them a lesson."

"What, a detour to livny?" When witkov heard Pugachev say this, he put the telegram into kirilov's hand, leaned down at the table and searched for Livni's position. After a while, I heard him slap the table heavily and then cry bitterly: "Damn, what's the matter with major akhromeyev? How can we make the tank battalion detour towards Livni? You know, the advantage here is between the two cities of tokamak and vosrivka. If the enemy armored forces of vosrivka move out again, they will fall into a dangerous situation of being attacked from both sides. " At this point, he looked up at me and said, "Comrade commander, I suggest that we immediately send a telegram to major akhromeyev, and ask him to call back major perskin's tank battalion to avoid their fate." I looked at rivney, who was so small on the map that it was almost negligible. I quickly thought about whether I should follow wittkov's advice and withdraw pelsky's tank battalion and continue to block the attack of the 11th German armored division in the existing area. When I was in a dilemma, kirilov's voice rang out: "oshanina, major akhromeyev has worked with us for several months. According to my observation, he is not only a qualified staff officer in the headquarters, but also an excellent commander in the battlefield." Kirilov's words made me feel like I was in a daze. I'm right. Akhromeyev was the person I trusted most when he was the chief of staff of my division. When I was not in the headquarters, he was responsible for the division's work. I personally gave him the command of this battle. Why should I worry about it? Thinking of this, I stood up straight and said to Vitkov, "Comrade chief of staff, I know major akhromeyev very well. Since he wants to send major pelsky's tank battalion to detour in the direction of Livni, he must have considered it carefully. As the superior commanders, we should have confidence in our subordinates and not interfere too much in their decisions. " Listen to me, vetkov had no choice but to say: "well, since the commander has said so, we can only continue to wait and see what kind of good news major perskin can bring us." Then he told Pugachev: "Comrade major, please go back to the communication room first. If you have any latest information, please report it to us at any time." Although I have shown full confidence, I am not at all sure that a battalion of pelsken has to deal with so many German troops. After all, this is an adventurous assault, and no one can predict what the final result will be. But this time we didn't wait long. About ten minutes later, Pugachev came to the headquarters with a telegram. As soon as he entered the door, he announced in a loud voice: "commander, political commissar, good news! Major perskin's tank battalion wiped out the 15th German Panzer regiment. "“ What, one of our tank battalions wiped out an Armored Regiment of the enemy? " When witkov heard the news, his first reaction was that it was impossible. He asked suspiciously, "is there a mistake?"“ That's right, chief of staff, "said Pugachev, looking at me and nodding at me, he handed the telegram to wittkov, and said," the telegram was sent by akhromeyev himself. It's clearly written that major pelsken's tank battalion destroyed 37 tanks of the 15th Armored Regiment of the German army without any loss. "