Chapter 922

When kirilov and I visited the river on the north side of the city, I finally understood why Manstein ordered the troops to withdraw from the city so decisively. Zaporosh, located in the great bend of the Dnieper River, is surrounded by plain terrain. It is flat in the East and south, which is good for attack but not good for defense. The north and west sides are close to the Dnieper River. Due to the cold weather, the ice on the river has not thinned and melted, so the German infantry can rush directly from the ice.

Seeing the terrain, kirilov's expression became more serious. Even if I didn't say anything, he must understand why the German army gave up zaborosh so easily and withdrew to the other side of the Dnieper River. After a long silence, he asked cautiously, "Comrade oshanina, the situation is very clear now. The withdrawal of the German army is a complete conspiracy. They try to lure our main force into zaborosh, surround our army headquarters in the city from several directions, and then rely on their air supremacy and superiority in weapons and equipment, There will be a war of annihilation for us. "

After listening to kirilov's analysis, I nodded silently, because what he said coincided with what I thought. After a while of silence, I sighed and said helplessly, "Comrade political commissar, you are right. Manstein threw the city to us at this time to attract our troops here. As long as the main force of our army is stationed in zaborosh, his troops will come from all directions. You may have noticed that both the East and south directions of the city are the Great Plains, which are very conducive to the assault of armored forces. And, "speaking of this, I pointed to the Dnieper River, which is covered by ice in front of me." the river in the West and north of the city is ten kilometers wide. If the German army rushes over from the ice, how many troops should we use to hold the river bank? "

"What's your next plan?" After kirilov asked carefully, he kindly reminded me, "Comrade oshanina, I remind you not to give up zaborosh." Without waiting for me to ask the truth, he went on to explain, "whether it's taking zaborosh or destroying the headquarters of Manstein, it's a great victory. If you give up the city easily, you may be sent to the military court to accept the most severe punishment

I don't understand what kirilov said, but now I know that zaborosh is a decoy laid by the Germans, waiting for the main force of our army to enter here, and then implementing the tactics of encircling all sides, so as to achieve the goal of encircling and annihilating our troops.

"It's our old army to transfer Comrade bantailiev's close guard division 22 to the city. It's easy to use it." Since the city can not give up, then I can only consider how to keep it. If we put all our troops in the city, although they seem to be of great strength, if they are surrounded by the Germans, they can't run away. Instead of waiting to die like that, it's better to put the three divisions in a "pin" formation and support each other. So in the next order, I said decisively, "send a message to andriuschenko and akhromeyev, ask them to give up boloi, lead the troops to withdraw to Kuban, and build solid fortifications in the city, To deal with the following German 11th armored division and 336th infantry division. Gurdyev's 308th division remained in place to prevent the German imperial division from turning south. "

When the telegraph operator faithfully sent my order to the 171st and 308 divisions by telegraph, kirilov reminded me: "oshanina, since we have occupied zaborosh, should you report this to commander haridonov immediately?"

"Well, comrade Commissar." In fact, I have long thought of reporting the occupation of zaborosh to the headquarters of the group army. The reason why we didn't report to the police was that commander haridonov would order our army to keep the city at all costs. Through kirilov's reminder, I have understood that this city, which has become a "bait" of the German army, can not be easily given up under any circumstances. Therefore, the report to the higher authorities can not be further delayed. "After the telegraph is sent, I will personally talk to commander haridonov and tell him about the occupation of the city."

After the telegraph operator finished sending the telegram and contacted the headquarters of the group army, I put on my earphone and started to talk with haridonov with my transmitter. "Hello, comrade commander, I'm oshanina. I have information to report to you."

Hearing my voice, haridonov said happily, "it's our female general. Do you want to contact me at this time to tell me that your troops have launched an attack on zaborosh, which is occupied by the German army?"

Hearing harritonov's excited voice from the earphone, I gave a wry smile and then replied, "sorry, comrade commander, we didn't launch an attack on zaborosh."

"What?" When haridonov heard my reply, his tone changed and he asked impolitely, "Comrade oshanina, look at the time. It's almost noon now. Why hasn't your troops launched an attack on zaborosh?"

"Comrade commander, please listen to me. The situation is not what you think." When I heard haridonov's voice change, I knew that he had misunderstood. I quickly explained to him, "although my troops did not attack zaborosh, now the city is in our hands."

"Comrade oshanina, what did you say just now? Zaborosh has been occupied by your troops?" When haredonov heard me say this, he asked in some surprise, "but you told me clearly that your troops have not launched an attack on the city. I'm confused about what's going on. "

"Well, comrade commander." I patiently explained to him, "last night my scouts reported to me that the German army in the city had quietly withdrawn from the city and to the other side of the Dnieper River without our knowledge. As the enemy's intention to do so was not clear at that time, I ordered the troops to hold still for the time being. It was not until this morning that I sent a regiment into zaborosh. After a careful search, I found that all the German troops in the city had retreated. "

"The Germans retreated to the other side of the Dnieper because they couldn't withstand our attack." After learning that zaborosh had fallen into our hands, haridonov's mood became a little excited: "Comrade oshanina, I order you to immediately move all your troops into zaborosh, seize the time to build fortifications, and turn it into a solid fortress to resist the possible counterattack of the German army."

"Comrade commander, I think there is a big conspiracy for Manstein to give up the city. He should want to send troops to encircle us from all sides after the main force of our army enters zaborosh." I was careful to tell haridonov my judgment so as not to fall into the trap of the German army.

"Surround us with troops!" After listening to me, haridonov said with disdain, "is there any more troops available for Manning? You know, we have several times more troops than them now, and there's no way for us to take advantage of his troops. You can safely and boldly move your troops into zaborosh. As for the empty cities, I will immediately send troops to take over the defense. "

"But, comrade commander, if all our troops move into zaborosh, we will easily fall into the siege of the German army." Hearing what I was most worried about happened, I quickly explained to haridonov, "so I plan to stay in Kuban and the north of the airport, except for the 22nd division of the guards entering zaborosh. In this way, no matter which direction is attacked by the German army, the other two divisions can provide the necessary support. "

"Comrade oshanina, you think too much." Haridonov said optimistically: "although our group army suffered a little loss in the battle with the German imperial division two days ago, their division alone could not have any impact on the whole campaign. So don't worry and boldly lead the troops to zaborosh. If the German troops really rush to zaborosh from all directions, our main forces can easily defeat them. " Maybe he was afraid that I would talk to him again. He specially added: "this is the order of the superior. Carry it out."

In this case, I can only reluctantly agreed: "yes, comrade commander, I firmly obey your order."

When I put down the transmitter and earphone, kirilov came to me and asked with concern, "Comrade oshanina, what's the situation? What's the commander saying?"

I replied with a wry smile: "Comrade political commissar, what do you think the commander will say? Of course, let our whole army march into zaborosh, turn it into a Battle Fortress, and resolutely defend the city under the fierce attack of the enemy."

"All the troops are moving into zaborosh?" Kirilov was surprised and asked, "what about the cities of poloi and Kuban? Are they all handed over to the Germans?"

"That's not true, commander haridonov said. He will send troops to take over the defense of those cities." I said with a wry smile: "that's what I said, but when the next defense force will arrive, it's something nobody can tell."

"Since we all know that it is an unwise decision to drive the whole army into the city." Although kirilov was also dissatisfied with his superiors, he still used very euphemistic words to make a vague criticism, and then asked me, "Comrade o'shanina, what are you going to do?"

"It is not advisable to move all the troops into the city." Although haridonov gave me an order to drive the whole army into the city, I am not going to follow his order completely. You know, even if the 171st division withdraws from the battle, the enemy's large forces will pursue them and easily occupy the towns that we abandoned. When the group army's reception troops arrive, they will have to stare. After careful consideration, I gave an order again: "the 308th Division will continue to stick to the existing defense area, while the 171st Division will withdraw to Kuban area as planned. After a day or two of rest, they will enter the airport and build a solid defense line in the south of the city. "

Then it's time for me to talk to the chief of staff. Under the current situation, I can't care to talk in Ming language. I will be eavesdropped by the German army. With a transmitter, I give a direct order to wittkov who is still at the airport: "chief of staff, you now give an order to general Bantai leiev to lead the whole division's commanders and fighters into zaborosh immediately."

"Apart from the 22nd division of Jinwei, how should the other two divisions be arranged?" When I finished, vetkov asked cautiously, "do you want them to stay in the existing defense area?"

"It seems impossible to stay in the original defense area now." With a bitter look on my face, I said to the transmitter, "the headquarters of the group army has ordered us to give up any area except zaborosh, and there will be friendly troops coming to take over these empty areas."“ Comrade commander, the situation is becoming more and more unfavourable to our army. " Wittkov tactfully pointed out to me: "our neighborhood is full of German troops. Once we give up these towns or defense areas and wait for friendly troops to enter, I'm afraid they will be occupied by German troops. Therefore, I think we should continue to retain a certain number of our troops in these areas."“ It's very thoughtful of you, chief of staff. " For his consideration, I nodded with satisfaction and continued: "after the 171st division arrived in Kuban, let them rest for half a day or a day, and then enter the airport to protect the safety of our south wing. As for the 308th division, let's leave a regiment to hold its position and let the rest go into zaborosh. " Wittkov said hastily, "Comrade commander, there is one more thing I must ask for your instructions."“ Comrade chief of staff, you are welcome to say anything? "“ What about the German "skull division" commander Ike, who is in our army headquarters? " Wittkov carefully reminded me: "because the bullets on his body were not taken out, and there were not enough anti-inflammatory drugs for him, so his injury became more and more serious. What should we do with him?" To tell you the truth, I want to order these captured SS officers to be shot directly. They are all heinous. Even if they were shot ten or eight times, it would not be too much. But now, when Vitkov asked me what to do with this prisoner, I couldn't make up my mind to kill him. After thinking about it for a moment, I said to Vitkov, "chief of staff, let him stay in the plane, while leaving a platoon of soldiers to take care of him. If I see that the airport can't be defended, I will authorize the top commander who sticks at the airport to deal with Ike. " After my orders were finished, there was no sound coming from the earphone. Just when I thought wittkov was offline and was about to take off the earphone, I heard wittkov's voice again: "Comrade commander, if our whole army enters zaborosh, will we really be surrounded by the German army?"