Chapter 1108

I picked up the phone again and dialed my neighbor's katukov headquarters while bzikov went to give a speech to the headquarters of the front army. Hearing my voice, katukov immediately asked, "Rita, according to my scout report, the German army is attacking your first line of defense. Do you need my support? If you need to, just speak up, and I will immediately order major general krivoschein to support his mechanized Third Army. "

"Thank you, Comrade General." Katukov's words touched me very much, but I politely refused his good intentions: "the German army just put in a small force and launched a tentative attack on our front line positions. Even if there is no support, our commanders and fighters can beat back their attack quickly. "

"In that case, I will not send reinforcements for the time being." Katukov, who was rejected by me, said carefully: "if you need artillery support, just open your mouth. Several artillery regiments of krivoschein can always be in a state of preparation and can cover the German troops attacking your positions at any time."

"I see, Comrade General." I laughed and said to katukov, "I'll call you if I need to."

As soon as I put down the phone, povsky, who was standing next to me, immediately took over the topic and asked me, "Comrade commander, we have a cannon regiment and a close guard rocket battalion behind the first line of defense. At this time, we can provide artillery support for our infantry comrades. Do you need to order them to fire?"

"No, comrade colonel." With a smile, I said to povsky, who was eager to fight: "since we have made clear the intention of the German attack, it is for pre war reconnaissance. If we order the artillery to open fire, their position will be exposed. If we bring in German artillery or aircraft, we will suffer unnecessary losses. "

Seeing povsky's silent expression after listening to me, he immediately comforted him and said, "Comrade Colonel, the infantry can cope with those enemies who are attacking position 4 now, and they can't use you for the time being. Remember, good steel needs to be used on the blade. In the next war, it's time for your artillery to show their skills. "

When I said that, povsky's face suddenly showed a smile again. He said with understanding, "I understand, comrade commander, our artillery will be the audience for the time being in today's battle. When the German army attacks on a large scale, we will teach him a good lesson with artillery fire."

While we were talking, the telephone on the desk rang again. Without waiting for me to pick it up, Danilov grabbed the microphone, put it in his ear and said in a loud voice, "this is the headquarters of the group army. I'm Danilov. Where are you?" After listening for a while, he continued: "Comrade commander has just said that our infantry will be able to deal with the enemy attacking position 4, and we can't use you for the time being. All right, that's it. Wait for the order. " Then he hung up.

From what Danilov said, I knew which army might want to fight again, so I asked curiously, "Comrade deputy commander, who is calling?"

"Who else can it be, don't be colonel ray." Danilov shrugged his shoulders habitually as he spoke. "He said that behind the first line of defense, he deployed two tank battalions and asked me if I would let our tanks attack and teach the Germans a lesson. I have declined his request. "

As for Danilov's practice, I nodded and approved, but at the same time, I also said: "Comrade deputy commander, although we can't use artillery and tanks for the time being in today's battle, there are some things that I think we need to make clear to Colonel berey, so as not to produce bad ideas."

"Bad ideas, what bad ideas?" Danilov didn't expect that I would suddenly say this. He said a little confused: "according to the regulations, the orders of the superior can only be executed unconditionally, and no discussion or disobedience is allowed. Even if I don't give him an explanation, I think Colonel berey can understand it

"You can't say that, comrade deputy commander." As for Danilov's attitude of disapproval, I could only explain to him: "the troops below were eager to fight and took the initiative to ask for a fight with the headquarters, but we refused each other without any reason. In this way, even if the commanders below don't say it, they will still have a knot in their heart. "

Fearing that my words would hurt Danilov's self-esteem, I stared nervously at him and observed the change of expression on his face. Fortunately, there was no change in his face. He just frowned and thought for a moment, and then he took the initiative to say, "I see, comrade commander. I'll call Colonel berey right now and make it clear to him." Then he reached for the phone on the desk.

Before I got through, it suddenly occurred to me that it was not enough to explain to berey why he didn't use them. I still need to discuss with him how to use the tank army in the next battle. He said to Danilov, "Comrade deputy commander, I'd better ask Colonel berey to come here. I have something to tell him face to face."

At this time, the phone was connected, and Danilov, who wanted to explain to berey, took the opportunity to say, "Comrade Colonel? I'm Danilov. Comrade commander has ordered you to come to the headquarters. "

I raised my hand and looked at my watch. Half an hour had passed since Nekrasov called me. As soon as Danilov put down the phone, I immediately picked it up and connected the 52nd division headquarters of the guards through the messenger. When I heard the voice of nikolasov, I asked frankly, "Comrade Colonel, what's the situation of position 4?"

"Report, comrade commander," nikolasov reported excitedly, "that the enemy's first attack has been repulsed by the garrison on Highland 4. The enemy lost two tanks and killed 78 or 80 people. The rest have been withdrawn from their offensive positions. "

"Good fight, comrade colonel." When I heard about the achievements reported by nikolasov, I praised them. Thinking of the number of new recruits on the Highlands, I asked, "how are the casualties of our army?"

"We didn't have many casualties. We sacrificed seven and injured more than a dozen." When niekrasov said this, he suddenly felt a little guilty and said, "Comrade commander, I'm sorry. Please accept my apology."

I don't know why niekrasov said this suddenly and asked in a confused way, "Comrade Colonel, what's wrong with you?"

"Well," said nikolasov, a little embarrassed when he heard my rhetorical question, "didn't you come up with a special training method a few days ago? At that time, although I agreed verbally, I didn't think so in my heart. I thought that you were making a fool of yourself. If you hadn't emphasized position 4 again and again, I would not have allowed them to carry out this kind of special training. I didn't expect that in today's battle, the effect of this kind of special training will be shown. In the face of the enemy's fierce attack, the recruits can also take advantage of it like the veterans, and have achieved great results. "

From what niekrasov said, I recognized that he had only carried out the special training I proposed among the recruits of position 4, so I tentatively asked, "Comrade Colonel, if I am not wrong, you have only carried out this training method in position 4, and it has not been promoted in the whole division, right?"

"Yes, comrade commander, you are right." Nikolasov admitted without taboo, and then he said to me, "but after today's battle, I have found the advantages of your training method. As soon as the battle is over, I will promote it in the whole division. "

"Then hold on, comrade colonel." I said angrily, "the enemy doesn't have much time left for you. Before dark today, all the troops of your division must undergo a similar training. Do you understand? "

"I see, comrade commander." Replied Nekrasov loud.

"Keep an eye on the enemy and report to me as soon as they have any trouble." With that, I hung up without waiting for him to speak.

After I put down the phone, kirilov asked with some surprise, "Rita, is the enemy in front of position 4 repulsed by our troops?"

I nodded and replied, "yes, comrade military Commissar. The enemy who attacked position 4, under the tenacious resistance of our commanders and fighters, left 70 or 80 dead bodies and two destroyed tanks and retreated to their starting position in ashes. "

Kirilov, when I finished, couldn't help but look at his watch. Then he said with emotion, "the commanders and fighters of the 52nd division of the guards are really good. It took only half an hour to repel the German attack."

"Comrade military commissar," seeing kirilov's confidence and optimism, I reminded him, "only the first wave of German attack was repulsed by us. If they retreat and reorganize their troops, they may soon launch a new attack on us. It depends on how the commanders and fighters who stick to highland 4 perform in the next battle. "

After hearing this, kirilov frowned and said anxiously, "Rita, position 4 will not be the same as the 197.5 highland north of Stalingrad. Will it become the battlefield repeatedly watched by our army and the German army?"

"It's possible." I thought about it before kirilov said that. However, after the loss of position 4, Fortifications on the hillside were strengthened, and tunnels were built to garrison troops and store combat materials. In this way, even if this position becomes the focus of contention between the enemy and us, the casualties of our troops will be greatly reduced“ However, position 4 has built a relatively perfect fortification relying on the tunnel, and the troops we stick to above will never have the situation that the 107.5 highland will be completely destroyed in one day. "

As soon as I finished, bzikov came in with an electronic newspaper. I guessed that what he was holding might be a reply from watujing, so he took the initiative to ask, "chief of staff, how did the commander of the front army reply to us?"

"General vatukin ordered us to hold position 4 at all costs and never let it become the starting point of German attack." With that, bezikov handed me the telegram in his hand.

I took it over and looked at it. Seeing that the above content was the same as what bezikov said, I handed it to Danilov at any time. At the same time, I also said to him, "Comrade deputy commander, it seems that the higher authorities have seen clearly the German army's intention to seize the Highlands, so they will give us the order to stick to it at all costs."

After reading the telegram, Danilov put the telegram on the desk, looked up at me and said, "the superior's view coincides with ours. No matter what, position 4 must be firmly held. Comrade commander, I think we should make the artillery and tank troops ready for battle. Once the enemy occupies position 4, we can counterattack in time. "

I laughed at Danilov's worry and said easily, "don't worry, comrade deputy commander. The German forces are limited in attacking highland 4. Even if they are allowed to fight for a day, they can't fight down. On the contrary, there is an important thing that must be implemented immediately. " At this point, I turned to bzikov, who was standing beside me, and said, "Comrade chief of staff, please call the division heads immediately to ask if they have promoted the training method I proposed in the army. All units that have not conducted live ammunition training must complete the training work before dark today. " Danilov listened to my order to bzikov and said, "Comrade commander, why do you want to promote this training method at this time? We should know that before we have time to test the applicability of this model, we should rashly promote it in all troops. In case of unnecessary casualties in training, what can we do? "“ Comrade deputy commander, you may not know that the recruits of position 4 had special training in these two days. " In order to persuade Danilov, I repeated what niekrasov had just said to him, and finally concluded: "it is precisely because of this special training among the commanders and fighters that the defenders in this position, whether veterans or new soldiers, show bravery and tenacity in today's battle, otherwise they would not have easily defeated the enemy's attack." I was talking to Danilov when the phone call from nikolasov came back. "Comrade commander, after a short rest, the German army launched another attack on position 4," he said hastily by telephone“ Can you block it? " I asked briefly“ No problem. I'm sure I can block it. " He replied confidently“ Can you handle the enemy's tanks? " Danilov asked in a loud voice at the receiver“ Please rest assured, commander and deputy commander. " Niekrasov replied clearly: "the 40 rockets distributed to us by the superior are very good. With a distance of two or three hundred meters, we can easily break through the front armor of German tanks, which is much stronger than the previous anti tank guns and anti tank guns." When I heard the answer from nikolasov, my heart suddenly relaxed. I said that the 40 rocket launcher, a weapon from the future, could easily break through the front armor of the tiger or leopard tanks within the effective range, not to mention the German No. 3 and No. 4 tankers.