Red Moscow

  Chapter 496 The Battle by the Wall

  After the German bombardment of the factory area stopped, the infantry, under the cover of tanks, attacked the Soviet positions that were still billowing with thick smoke. Among them, the troops attacking the Red October tractor factory consisted of one tank battalion and two infantry battalions.

Guriyev's 39th Guards Division stood guard at the Red October Tractor Factory. This division had under its jurisdiction the 112th, 117th, and 120th Guards Infantry Regiments and the 87th Guards Artillery Regiment. There were more than 10,000 people in total. The First Guards Army affiliated to Moskalenko was placed under the command of Chuikov by the base camp because the defense of the factory area needed to be strengthened.

  The German commander was very cunning. While sending people to feign a frontal attack, he sent troops to bypass the heavily guarded family area of ​​the Soviet army and detour to the side of the factory area with weak defenses. Since the Soviet army placed the defense center in the family area outside the factory, and in the direction of the main entrance, no one noticed that there was about a company of German troops rushing towards the wall of the factory area under the cover of three tanks.

  When the German tanks crashed into the wall at full power and broke into the factory area, they were discovered by more than a dozen workers who were carrying supplies nearby. Seeing the sudden appearance of German tanks, some workers stood in a daze, staring stupidly at the approaching tanks; some workers took off the rifles on their backs and shot at the approaching tanks in vain There were also one or two clever workers who immediately jumped into a nearby traffic trench and ran towards the factory building without looking back. They were going to report the news of the enemy breaking into the factory area to their superiors.

  The soldiers rushing in after the tank saw workers with weapons in front of them, and immediately fired without hesitation. The dense bullets knocked down all the workers standing in front of the tank in an instant. After eliminating the workers who appeared in their field of vision, the Germans did not continue to rush towards the factory area, but quickly occupied the position by the wall to prevent possible Soviet attacks, and prepared to hold on until the large forces arrived.

The director of the factory, Peter, was shocked when he learned that the German army had rushed in from the wall on the north side of the factory. He quickly picked up the phone, dialed a number, and said loudly into the receiver: "Hi, I'm Peter, the factory manager, call me immediately. Take the strike battalion!"

The phone was connected quickly, and the factory director announced his name, and said to the battalion commander of the destroyer battalion: "Major Borshak, the Germans used tanks to smash down the wall on the north side of the factory area, and about one company of German troops came from the factory." There is a rush in from the gap. I order you now, immediately lead your people to rush over there immediately, and destroy the enemies who rushed in from the gap in the wall."

"Understood, Comrade Factory Manager. I will lead people to rush there immediately." The militia destroyer battalion led by Balshak was prepared to support the defenders in front of the factory according to the plan. After breaking through the wall and breaking in, he decided to temporarily change the direction of action, first drive the enemy out of the factory area, and then go to reinforce the Guards Division.

  According to Borshak's thinking, his destroyer battalion has more than 400 people, so it shouldn't be a big problem to wipe out a company of German troops. Unexpectedly, after they launched the attack, the militiamen who charged in a dense formation, under the fire of German tanks and machine guns, suffered heavy casualties in an instant.

It seems that his troops were easily repelled by the Germans, and Balshak couldn't help but itch his teeth. He waved his pistol and tried to stop the soldiers who fled back from the front, but he couldn't stop them at all. The panicked soldiers , ran backwards like an ebbing tide.

  Bolshak withdrew his temporary command post, called the factory director Peter, and said with a mournful face: "Comrade factory director, the enemy's defense is too tight. Our first attack has been repulsed."

For such a result, it seemed that Peter had expected it long ago. As soon as he finished speaking, he continued to the microphone: "Major Balshak, attack, you must keep attacking, you must put The enemy is driven out. If the enemy is allowed to gain a firm foothold in the factory area, then they will use it as the starting point for their attack, and then the guards who stick to the family area and the front of the factory will face the situation of being attacked from the front and back."

"Understood, Comrade Factory Manager." Balshak replied with a bitter face, "I will organize another attack as soon as possible." After putting down the phone, he called a company commander and told the other party, "Captain, immediately Gather your company's fighters, and we're ready to attack again."

"Comrade Major," the company commander said repeatedly, his legs were so frightened when he heard the order from Bolshak, "Many recruits in our company have never fought in battle. Let them attack, not let them attack." Do you want to die?"

"Even if you are dying, you must charge forward." Balshak glared at the company commander and said, "If we don't attack, the enemy will gain a firm foothold in the factory. Once their main force When the troops arrive, we will no longer be able to hold the factory. Comrade Captain, do you understand?"

   Half an hour later, the destroyer battalion launched a second attack. This time Borshak learned the lesson from last time, instead of letting the whole battalion attack at the same time, he sent only one company to rush towards the enemy-occupied fortifications in a sparse formation. In order to ensure the victory of this attack, Borshak also deployed two heavy machine guns to provide fire support for the attacking soldiers.

  These soldiers in civilian clothes or overalls, carrying bayonet-mounted rifles, bravely rushed to the positions occupied by the enemy. Although they acted very bravely, they still fell in pieces in front of the enemy's intensive firepower. In a short distance of 300 meters, before they rushed to the enemy's position, more than 100 people from the whole company were killed. A lot of them fell into the hail of bullets. Most of the soldiers died on the spot, and the few wounded who did not die immediately fell on the cold mud and screamed.

Seeing that the attacking troops were wiped out in just a few minutes, Borshak couldn't help but feel pained, but in order to drive the enemy out of the factory as soon as possible, he gritted his teeth and ordered another company to do a good job. ready to attack. But this time, before he could give an attack order, the deputy battalion commander grabbed him and reminded him loudly: "Comrade major, we can't fight like this anymore. The enemy's firepower is very fierce, and with the cooperation of tanks, even if No matter how many people are sent up, they will die in vain."

Balshak yelled at the deputy battalion commander in despair: "No! We must take down the opposite position! Don't you understand that once the enemy has a firm foothold in the factory area, their large troops will continue to flow When the time comes, the guards who stick to the front of the family area and the factory area will face the danger of being attacked from both sides. Therefore, even if all the destroyer battalions are sacrificed, we must take this place! Do you understand?"

After saying this, Balshak saw that the deputy battalion commander was silent, and added again: "Pass my order, the second company is ready to attack, and we will launch another attack in half an hour. If Don’t blame me for enforcing battlefield discipline on the spot if you miss the opportunity to fight.”

  The deputy battalion commander saw that in less than an hour, the destroyer battalion suffered more than half of the casualties, and Bolshak still insisted on going his own way, preparing to fill the entire battalion. He felt that this battle could not be fought like this, so he found a phone outside, called Peter, and reported the matter to him, hoping that he would come forward to stop Balshak's impulsive behavior.

  Peter heard that it was the deputy battalion commander who called him, thinking that the destroyer battalion had driven the enemy out of the factory area, and couldn't help asking emotionally: "Comrade deputy battalion commander, have you driven the enemy out of the factory area?"

  The deputy battalion commander didn’t expect that Peter would ask this question as soon as he opened his mouth. After hesitating for a moment, he replied: “No, comrade factory director, we haven’t driven the enemy out yet.”

  Knowing that the enemy has not been driven out of the factory area, the expression on Peter's face became serious, and he asked sternly: "Since the enemy has not been driven out of the factory area, what are you calling for?"

"Comrade Factory Director," the deputy battalion commander said anxiously: "The enemy has occupied the position by the wall, and there are three tanks to cooperate. We have launched two consecutive charges, both of which ended in failure. At present, the number of casualties in the whole battalion exceeds Halfway through."

   "Comrade Deputy Battalion Commander," Peter interrupted impatiently before the other party finished speaking: "You called me, what exactly do you want to say?"

"Please stop Major Balshak," the deputy battalion commander said bravely in order to prevent the entire army of the destroyer battalion from being wiped out. It exists. Please call him immediately to stop his wrong play..."

Unexpectedly, before he finished speaking, he was interrupted by Peter: "I said, Comrade Deputy Battalion Commander, my order to you is to drive the enemy out of the factory area. I don't want to hear your casualties, I just want the factory area There is no German in the country, understand?" After saying this, he may still feel that he still has more to say, and he specifically emphasized, "If you are a coward who is greedy for life and afraid of death, I can let other comrades take over your position..."

  What else Peter said later, the deputy battalion commander didn't hear clearly at all, he only had one thought in his mind: I'm not a coward, I'm not a coward! He dropped the microphone in his hand, grabbed a rifle from the soldier standing beside him, jumped out of the traffic trench, and rushed towards the German position in the distance alone.

The actions of the deputy battalion commander immediately alarmed the commanders and fighters who were on standby in the traffic trench. They saw their deputy battalion commander rushing towards the enemy's position with a rifle with a bayonet attached, and couldn't help but looked at each other.

And Balshak also saw this abnormal behavior of the deputy battalion commander. After he was stunned for a moment, he shouted loudly: "Hey, deputy battalion commander, where are you going? You madman, where are you going?" Go?" However, the deputy battalion commander didn't seem to hear anything, and continued to charge forward without hesitation with his rifle in hand.

  The officers and soldiers on the German position were also stunned when they saw a soldier rushing towards him with a rifle. They discussed in low voices: "What's the matter with this man, is he crazy? How dare a single person charge towards us?"

  When the German commander saw the soldiers rushing over, he did not give the order to fire. In his mind, the opponent was only one person. Even if he was allowed to rush to the position, he would not pose any threat. On the contrary, he could capture a prisoner. So he shouted at the subordinates on the left and right: "No one is allowed to shoot, catch the alive!"

  The order of the German commander quickly spread among the infantry, so no one fired, but quietly watched the Soviet soldier who was getting closer. But the German commander forgot that in addition to the infantry under his command, there were three tanks standing on the ground.

A German tank commander was a little unhappy when he saw the Soviet soldiers rushing towards him, while the position on his side was completely silent, and no one fired, as if no one had seen the charging enemy. , thinking that if you don't fight, then I will destroy him, so he gave his gunner an order to fire.

  The first shell landed seven or eight meters behind the deputy battalion commander and exploded, causing him no harm. Seeing that the first shell was missed, the gunner immediately reloaded the second shell, and fired after aiming for a while. The shell landed in front of the Deputy Battalion Commander and exploded. The flying shrapnel shattered his chest. He stopped suddenly, turned half a circle on the spot, and fell limply on the ground. On the land blackened by gunpowder.

Seeing his deputy battalion commander fell under the enemy's muzzle, Baoershak's eyes turned red, and he turned his head and shouted behind him: "Comrades of the second company, prepare to attack, you must avenge the deputy battalion commander !"

The soldiers of the second company had already assembled. They saw the attack launched by the comrades in arms of the first company. In just a few minutes, they were blocked by the enemy's intensive firepower. No one could withdraw. Offensive, there is some sense of fear.

At this moment, seeing his deputy battalion commander rushing to the enemy's position alone with a rifle in hand, and the scene of a heroic sacrifice, everyone's adrenal gland secretion intensified, and they wished to immediately rush to avenge the sacrificed deputy battalion commander. Don't be afraid.

  The second company commander bent over and ran to Borshak's side, and said to him: "Comrade battalion commander, the soldiers are very enthusiastic about fighting at the moment, why not launch an attack now."

Balshak stared at the Second Company Commander for a while, then nodded, and reminded him: "Second Company Commander, the enemy's firepower is too fierce. When you attack, you must maintain a loose formation and use various obstacles to attack. Approaching enemy positions. Understand?"

   "Understood, Comrade Battalion Commander." The second company commander gritted his teeth and said, "Don't worry, our company will definitely be able to rush into the enemy's position, wipe them all out, and avenge the deputy battalion commander."

The second company commander ran back to the front of his company, stood up straight, raised his submachine gun high above his head, and shouted at the soldiers lying on the ground or hiding in the traffic trench: "Brothers, for the motherland, for Stalin , Follow me, go forward!" After finishing speaking, he swung his submachine gun forward and took the lead in rushing towards the enemy's position.

   Seeing that the company commander had taken the lead in the charge, the soldiers of the second company also crawled from the ground or jumped out of the traffic trench, shouting "Ula", and followed the company commander to the distant enemy position.

  (end of this chapter)