Red Moscow

  Chapter 232 Attack (4)

The siege battle in the east of the city was not only concerned by Zhukov and Rokossovsky, but even General Orlov, who was stationed in the north of the city, also sent scouts to attack the 31st Guards Division. The attack is monitored.

  When the scouts reported the news to Orlov that the 31st Guards Division had captured the outer positions of the German army and rushed into the city through the radio, the small army headquarters suddenly became lively like a vegetable market.

The chief of staff held the telegram he had just received, and said to Orlov with a wry smile: "Comrade General, it seems that Major Sokov is not easy. It only took half an hour for his troops to rush into the out of town."

Before Orlov could speak, Colonel Mamendorf, the commander of the 322nd Infantry Division, said unconvinced: "If it weren't for the attack of our three divisions two days ago, which greatly weakened the strength of the German army, how could they do this?" Successfully charged into the city? I think Comrade Commander is biased, if we are allowed to fight for another two days, we will also be able to break through the German defenses."

"That's right, Mamendorf is right." As soon as Mamendorf finished speaking, he immediately got the support of Colonel Yuzhkov, the commander of the 323rd Division: "If Comrade Commander allows us to continue our offensive, I think the honor of taking Zizdra will still be ours."

  The commander of the 97th Division, Colonel Semiyalit, was much calmer. After Mamendorf finished speaking, he said slowly: "Colonel Mamendorf, I don't think you are right. Our three divisions launched no less than twenty attacks in the east of the city, but there is still no attack." It can capture the enemy's outlying positions. I think that even if the Army Command tells us to continue fighting, it will be very difficult to rush into the city."

"Comrade Colonel," Mamendorf said, looking sideways at Semyalit, "we are all members of the infantry army, how can you belittle our own people by overestimating outsiders? "

   Just as the two disagreed and were about to clash, a communications staff officer walked up to Orlov and handed him a newly received telegram. After reading the contents of the telegram, Orlov couldn't help raising his eyebrows, and quickly patted the table with his hands, stopping the two teachers who were about to quarrel in time: "Okay, don't argue. "

Orlov handed the telegram to the army chief of staff sitting aside, then stood up and said to everyone: "Aren't you unconvinced that the 31st Guards Division broke through the outer positions of the German army and rushed into Zhizdra?" ?Now the opportunity has come, the commander ordered us to launch an attack from the north of the city immediately, and cooperate with the 31st Guards Division to seize the city."

   "What, the headquarters ordered us to attack from the north?" Orlov's words made everyone stunned. Then Mamendorf took the lead in saying: "Great, this is really great. Comrade Commander, please let our division be the first echelon and be the first to attack the city."

Regarding Mamendorf's request, Orlov only hesitated for a moment, then turned around and agreed: "Well, Colonel Mamendorf, your division paid a huge price in the battle of the previous two days. Now The German army in the city, under the fierce attack of the 31st Guards Division, has been unable to hold on. I will leave this opportunity for revenge to your division. You are not fighting alone, there is also a tank coming from the east of the city Brigade, cooperate with you to attack the enemies inside and outside the city."

After saying this, Orlov turned his attention to Semyalit: "Comrade Colonel, your division has the largest number of troops now, and you will be the second echelon, waiting for Colonel Mamendorf's troops. After breaking through the German defenses, you go into battle through the gaps that have been opened."

"Then what about us, Comrade Commander." Seeing that Orlov had arranged combat missions for both the 322nd and 97th divisions, but he had forgotten his troops, Yuzhkov couldn't sit still: "Other Troops are attacking and we're sitting around doing nothing?"

"I'm talking about Comrade Colonel," Orlov looked at Yuzhkov and thought for a while, and then said: "Although the German army in the city has fallen into chaos, we still have to consider that there may be unexpected situations. In order to deal with In such emergencies, your division will remain as the reserve force of the entire army."

After saying these words, without waiting for Yuzhkov to express his attitude, he immediately urged the two division commanders who had accepted the combat mission: "Colonel Mamendorf, Colonel Semiyalit, you return to your respective units immediately. , and launch an attack on the city in the shortest possible time."

Half an hour later, Colonel Mamendorff commanded the troops of the 322nd Division and launched an attack from the north of the city to Zizdra. The tank unit that served as their cover was the one that covered the 31st Guards Division to break through the outer positions not long ago. Gustov Tank Brigade.

  It may be that the command post in the city was taken away by Sokov's troops, so that the enemies holding on to the outer positions in the north of the city fell into chaos, allowing the 322nd Division to easily break through the outer positions under the cover of the tank brigade.

  Just as Mamendorf was smiling, thinking that his troops could also make meritorious deeds, something unexpected happened. A tank rushing to the front was suddenly shot and caught fire. The tank driver drove the tank with thick smoke, and had to abandon the vehicle after driving 20 to 30 meters forward.

When the tank that followed was about to bypass the burning tank, a shell suddenly flew from the nearby ruins and accurately hit the side armor of the tank. After a loud noise, the tank was shot down. Surrounded by black smoke with flames. Seeing this situation, the infantry who followed immediately guessed that there must be German anti-tank guns nearby. Just as they were about to disperse and search, the window of a nearby building, which was sealed with wooden strips, was brutally opened , a MG34 machine gun protruded from it, condescendingly fired at the commanders and fighters crowded on the street.

The commanders and fighters who were caught off guard fell in groups under the machine gun fire, and the clever fighters hurriedly hid in the corner of the street, raising their guns to fight back at the exposed firepower points; , Hiding next to the still burning tank to avoid the enemy's machine gun fire.

   Fortunately, a tank following behind discovered the firepower of the German machine gun in time, quickly adjusted the shooting angle, and fired a shot at the enemy's machine gun. The shells shot into the room impartially, and amidst the violent explosion, the German machine gunner was lifted out of the room by the air wave and fell heavily on the street. The soldiers hiding nearby rushed to his side at the risk, trying to kill him and avenge his sacrificed comrades. However, the soldiers who rushed forward turned him over with the barrel of a gun, only to find that he had already died of exhaustion.

As the infantry continued to advance along the street, they were constantly attacked by German troops from the buildings on both sides. Tanks were constantly hit by German anti-tank weapons and turned into piles of burning wreckage; The incoming machine gun swept him down, and he fell under the sniper's gun.

   Seeing that his troops were not progressing so smoothly, Mamendorf couldn't help but regret secretly, regretting why he took on such a dangerous task? If the Germans continue to fight like this, when their troops reach the city center, it is estimated that there will be few people left.

But Orlov saw that Colonel Mamendorff's No. 322 had successfully charged into the city, and heard the report from the observation post that there were fierce gunshots in the city. He thought that his troops were annihilating the enemy, so he The leader was ordered to talk to Mamendorf on the radio and learn about the progress of the troops from him.

Looking at the tanks on the street that were constantly being destroyed by the Germans, and the soldiers who were blown up by the grenades thrown by the enemy and the soldiers who were knocked down by bullets, he reported with a sad face: "Comrade Commander, my troops were attacked by the Germans." Tenaciously blocking the attack, I request you to send the second echelon for reinforcements in time."

Hearing Mamendorf's crying voice, Orlov asked inexplicably: "Comrade Colonel, I saw that your division easily broke through the outer positions of the German army. Why did it not go well after entering the city?" gone?"

   "Comrade Commander, the enemy is very cunning. They hid in the buildings on both sides of the street, shot cold shots and threw grenades at our soldiers. They have caused hundreds of casualties to us."

   "Where's the tank brigade?" Hearing this, Orlov asked with some dissatisfaction: "Didn't they provide you with the necessary fire support?"

"They can't take care of themselves." Mamendorf said in a panic: "The enemy hides anti-tank guns in ruins or buildings, and when the tanks of the tank brigade enter their range, they will shoot decisively. I saw it with my own eyes. No less than seven tanks were destroyed. Comrade Commander, I beg you to send the second echelon to support as soon as possible, otherwise our division may be driven out of the city by the Germans."

Knowing that the progress of the 322nd Division was not going well, Orlov couldn't help but feel a little discouraged. He ordered the chief of staff to let Semyalit's 97th Division go into battle, and at the same time called Rokossovsky. report.

   Rokossovsky heard the call from Orlov, and asked with a smile: "Comrade General, did you call me any good news?"

"Please forgive me, Comrade Commander! I have bad news for you." Orlov, hearing Rokossovsky say this, replied a little embarrassedly: "After entering the city, my 322nd Division , was stubbornly blocked by the German army, and is now struggling. The division commander, Colonel Mamendorf, has called me and asked me to send troops to support him."

  After listening to Orlov's report, Rokossovsky's smile froze on his face. Zhukov, who was standing aside, heard a few words and asked quickly: "Comrade Rokossovsky, what happened?"

   Rokossovsky quickly covered the microphone with his hand, and reported to Zhukov: "Comrade General, our troops attacking from the north have encountered a little trouble."

   "Little trouble?" Zhukov looked at Rokossovsky and asked sternly, "What little trouble?"

"According to General Orlov's report, his 322nd Division was stubbornly blocked in the city after successfully breaking through the German outer positions." Although Orlov's report was vague, Rokosovs Ji's shrewdness still figured out what was going on, so he reported to Zhukov: "At present, the tank brigade and infantry have suffered a lot of casualties. The commander in charge of the city has asked Orlov for support."

"Damn, what the **** is going on?" Zhukov stared at Rokossovsky, and said angrily, "Why did the 31st Guards Division successfully take down the German headquarters, and launched an attack from the north?" The attacking 322nd Division is making slow progress?"

"This may involve tactical issues." Although Rokossovsky was also dissatisfied with Orlov in his heart, but in front of Zhukov, he had to help Orlov and said: "Due to their improper use of tactics, their attack from the north of the city was not smooth."

"Okay, you don't need to talk about it." Zhukov waved his hand at Rokossovsky, and said displeasedly: "You immediately order Orlov to send troops to reinforce, and you must capture Zizdra as soon as possible." After a short pause, he added, "As for the colonel, I think he is at the level of a battalion commander. When this battle is over, he will be transferred to the 31st Guards Division as a battalion commander."

Hearing that Zhukov demoted Colonel Mamendorf, the muscles on Rokossovsky's face twitched violently, and he quickly replied: "Understood, Comrade General." He let go of his mask Holding the microphone, he said into the microphone: "General Orlov, immediately send out the second echelon to cooperate with the 31st Guards Division in the city to take the city down as soon as possible."

  After finishing the call with Orlov, Rokossovsky turned around and asked Malinin: "Chief of Staff, can I get in touch with Major Sokov?"

"According to the information just received, Major Sokov has entered the city of Zhizdra with the 1139th Regiment." Malinin heard Rokossovsky's question and quickly replied: "If you have a task to explain Give it to him, and I can get in touch with him through the intercom."

   Rokossovsky waited for Malinin to finish speaking, and ordered without hesitation: "Get in touch with him immediately!"

  Sokov, who was preparing to enter Zhizdra with the troops, suddenly heard the radio operator next to him calling himself: "Comrade Commander, your call is from the Army Group Command."

  Sokov signaled the operator to stand in a hidden position, and then took the earphone and microphone in his hand. Sokov put on his earphones and said loudly into the microphone: "Hello, hello, Comrade Commander? I'm Sokov. What instructions do you have?"

"Major Sokov," Rokossovsky said to Sokov in a calm tone, "I tell you some bad news. The 322nd Division, which launched an attack from the north of the city, encountered tenacious German forces in the city. Stop it. I order you to immediately send a force to the north of the city to support them."

  (end of this chapter)