red moscow

Chapter 2782: Compassion does not command troops

Korovin sighed softly and continued, "Captain Sokov, you should have heard the Chief of Staff's order. Since it is an order from a superior, it cannot be discussed and can only be executed unconditionally."

"Comrade Captain, if we launch an attack now, it would be equivalent to launching an attack directly against an enemy with superior manpower and equipment." Sokov explained to Korovin: "We have no chance of winning with such a head-on confrontation. In the end, we might not be able to rescue our friendly forces, but end up getting ourselves killed instead."

"Then what should we do?" Korovin looked at the position still shrouded in smoke and said worriedly, "I'm worried that the anti-tank artillery company on the position can't hold out for too long."

Sokov was also thinking about this problem. If he wanted to rescue the anti-tank artillery company, he had to attack the Germans immediately, otherwise those soldiers would be killed or wounded. But in this way, the casualties of the mixed battalion would also be considerable. But if he wanted to find a suitable opportunity, he could only sacrifice the artillery company and wait for the Germans to relax their vigilance before launching an unexpected attack, thus achieving great results.

"The timing is not right yet. It will be beneficial for us to launch an attack rashly." Sokov said to Korovin, "Of course, if you want to annihilate the mixed battalion, you can unconditionally follow the chief of staff's order and launch an attack directly on the enemy."

As a soldier, Korovin had long been prepared to sacrifice for his country, but who wouldn't want to survive on the battlefield? He looked at Sokov and asked tentatively, "Captain Sokov, tell me, what do you think?"

"When the Germans occupy the friendly positions and continue to advance, their vigilance is the lowest." Sokov said: "If we launch an attack at this time, we can catch the enemy by surprise and cause them huge casualties."

Korovin thought about Sokov's words for a long time, and finally made a difficult decision: "Okay, Captain Sokov, I'll go for it and do as you say."

Seeing that Korovin agreed to his proposal, Sokov was secretly relieved. He was really worried that the other side would ignore the actual situation on the battlefield and launch an attack on the German army without hesitation. That would be like hitting a rock with an egg and seeking death. He said slowly: "But before that, we must be prepared for the battle."

"What preparation?"

"Deploy all the anti-tank guns on the battlefield to this position. Also, move the heavy machine guns and mortars here. When the anti-tank guns fire at the enemy tanks, the mortars and heavy machine guns will fire fiercely at the enemy infantry."

"What about the tanks?" Korovin thought Sokov had forgotten that there was a tank platoon on the battlefield, and quickly reminded him, "The brigade commander also equipped our battalion with a tank platoon."

"No, no." Sokov shook his head and said, "Tanks make too much noise. If we move now, it will definitely alert the enemy. The best way is to wait until we open fire on the enemy, then order the tank platoon to cover the infantry's attack and expand our victory."

"Okay then, just do as you say."

While Korovin urgently mobilized the main weapons and equipment, the Soviet artillery company in the distant position was still fighting tenaciously. Although the anti-tank guns were firing slower, as the tanks got closer and closer to the position, their results were significantly increased. Now, even without a telescope, you can see that the number of destroyed German tanks in front of the position is close to ten.

Seeing this, Sokov couldn't help but sigh in his heart. If he were the commander of the artillery company, he would never let his men fire too early. At least let the German tanks enter the 300-meter range before starting to shoot. Firing at such a close distance can not only increase the hit rate, but also ensure that the armor-piercing shells can penetrate the front armor of the German tanks.

Before the deployment of the mixed battalion was completed, Katukov called to question them: "Captain Korovin, didn't the chief of staff order you to immediately launch an attack on the enemy and rescue the anti-tank artillery company in danger? Half an hour has passed, but according to the observation post's report, there is no movement on your position. Explain to me, what is going on?"

Facing Katukov's questioning, Korovin seemed a little hesitant and didn't know how to answer him. Fortunately, Sokov was right beside him, so he took the initiative to reach out to him: "Comrade Captain, give me the microphone, I will explain to Colonel Katukov in person."

Korovin, who was in a dilemma, heard Sokov say this and quickly handed the microphone to Sokov.

"Comrade Colonel, this is Sokov." Sokov said straight to the point into the microphone: "It was my idea not to let the mixed battalion attack the enemy."

When Katukov learned that the "culprit" who prevented the mixed battalion from taking action was Sokov, he almost cursed. But when the words came to his lips, he remembered Sokov's special identity, so he could only suppress the anger in his heart and asked with gritted teeth: "Captain Sokov, then explain to me why the mixed battalion was kept idle?"

"Comrade Colonel, this is what I think," Sokov said into the microphone. "The enemy has dispatched about a regiment of infantry, and seventy or eighty tanks to support them. If we attack rashly to reinforce the anti-tank artillery company on the friendly position, it will put the mixed battalion in danger."

"There is no such thing as a war without danger." Katukov said sternly, "Captain Sokov, you can't just let the mixed battalion stay in its position and let the friendly forces be wiped out by the enemy just because you are afraid of danger, right?"

"You misunderstood, Comrade Colonel." Sokov knew that in order to achieve victory, he needed Katukov's support, so he explained to him: "The reason why I suggested Captain Korovin to stay put is not because I am afraid of death, but because I am waiting for the opportunity."

"Waiting for the right time? Waiting for what time?"

"Wait for an opportunity to inflict heavy damage on the enemy."

Katukov heard from Sokov's words that he seemed to have some ideas, so he slowed down his tone and asked, "Captain Sokov, what are your plans?"

"The enemy will only relax their vigilance when they occupy the positions of their neighbors and continue to advance," said Sokov. "We can take advantage of their carelessness and launch an unexpected attack on them, catching them off guard."

"Tell me more details."

Seeing that Katukov was interested, Sokov told him in detail the battle plan he had prepared in advance.

After listening to this, Katukov was silent for a while and then said: "Captain Sokov, I have thought about it carefully, and your plan is feasible. However..."

"But what?" Sokov asked nervously.

"It will not be easy to win the final victory even if you only rely on your mixed battalion to deal with the existing German troops, even if you catch them off guard."

"Are you going to send us reinforcements?" "Yes, I will." Before Sokov could be happy, Katukov continued, "But not now, but after you start the battle. In other words, you have to hold on for at least half an hour before my reinforcements can arrive. Do you understand?"

"Don't worry, Comrade Colonel." Although the troops and equipment on the position were far inferior to those of the German army in the distance, it would be easy to hold out for half an hour if a fight really broke out. So Sokov assured Katukov, "We can hold out for an hour without any problem."

Seeing Sokov put down the phone, Korovin asked impatiently: "Captain Sokov, what did the brigade commander say on the phone?"

"The brigade commander agreed to our combat plan." Sokov said, "At the same time, he will send us reinforcements."

"Ah, reinforcements?" Korovin was surprised when he heard Sokov's words. "When will the reinforcements arrive?"

"The reinforcements can only be dispatched after our battle begins, so as not to expose our intentions too early." Sokov explained to Korovin, "So before the reinforcements arrive, we can only rely on our own strength to deal with the Germans alone."

Knowing that his mixed battalion was still needed to deal with the large German army alone, Korovin felt disappointed. However, he still tried to force a smile on his face and asked, "How long will it take for the reinforcements to arrive?"

"About half an hour." After saying this, Sokov saw that Korovin's face was still full of anxiety, so he added: "After all, the deployed troops are still a bit far from us. It will take some time to get there after the battle starts."

As time went by, the artillery fire from the distant positions stopped. First, German tanks rushed into the positions, and then German infantry also poured into the positions like a tide.

"Captain Sokov," Korovin looked at the German troops occupying the friendly positions in the distance and whispered to Sokov, "When do we start?"

"Wait a little longer." Sokov had fought with the Germans for many years and was naturally very familiar with their tactics. He said to Korovin, "When we cross the position and continue to advance, we will launch a decisive attack."

Ten minutes later, the German army crossed the occupied positions and continued to advance, just as Sokov had said.

Since the Germans did not find the mixed battalion position hidden a few hundred meters away, they did not remain vigilant enough when they occupied the position. The tanks were driving slowly in front, and the infantry lined up in neat rows and moved forward with the tanks.

"Comrade Captain." Seeing this, Sokov immediately said to Korovin, "The time is ripe, we can take action."

As the order was given, the anti-tank guns, mortars and heavy machine guns deployed on the positions opened fire.

The target of the anti-tank gun was the German tanks. At this time, the German tanks were moving slowly, which made them the best targets for the anti-tank gunners. The first round of four shells hit two tanks directly, one of which was destroyed on the spot. The other one drove forward for a distance, then stopped and began to burn.

The infantry following the tanks were bombarded by mortars and machine guns. Many of them fell down, and the rest were also dizzy and confused. They were like ants on a hot pan, running around aimlessly.

Sokov and his anti-tank guns fired two more rounds, defeating three German tanks again, and then said to Korovin: "Comrade Captain, while the enemy is in chaos, immediately let our troops launch an attack, let the four tanks of the tank platoon lead the way, and the infantry follow closely behind to charge the German troops in the distance.

"Okay!" Korovin agreed loudly, and then issued an order to his three company commanders over the phone: "Company One, hold the position, Company Two and Company Three, follow me and attack!"

After the order was given, Korovin pulled out the pistol from his waist, climbed out of the trench with his hands and feet, then turned halfway and shouted to the officers and soldiers in the trench: "Comrades, for Stalin! For the Soviet motherland! Follow me!"

Although his voice was drowned out by the sound of gunfire and few people could hear what he was shouting, the officers and soldiers saw the battalion commander personally leading the charge, and they all rushed out of the trenches and shouted as they rushed forward.

Sokov found that except for the anti-tank gunner, mortar gunner and heavy machine gunner, the rest of the officers and soldiers followed Korovin in the charge, and he was left alone in the trench, which seemed a bit out of place. In desperation, he could only pull out his pistol, climb out of the trench, and trot to catch up with the troops in front while cursing in his heart.

After running forward two or three hundred meters, Sokov saw that the troops led by Korovin had rushed into the position occupied by the German army and engaged in close combat and hand-to-hand combat with the enemy.

Sokov only had a pistol in his hand. If he rushed forward like this, he would be a lamb to be slaughtered once the bullets in his gun were used up. He quickly slowed down, put the pistol into his waist, then bent down and picked up a rifle with a bayonet from the ground, and then accelerated forward again, ready to participate in the ongoing hand-to-hand combat.

When he passed a T-3 tank with its tracks blown off, he heard someone calling him from above: "Captain, Comrade Captain."

Sokov stopped in his tracks and looked up. He saw the hatch of the tank turret was open and a tank soldier was shouting at him, "Comrade Captain, my tank track is broken. Can I abandon the tank and join the infantry battle?"

Although it is not uncommon for tank soldiers to take up arms and serve as infantry because their tanks were destroyed since the outbreak of the war, Sokov felt that it was a waste to use excellent tank soldiers as infantry. Upon hearing the tank soldier's words, he immediately asked back, "Do you have any ammunition?"

"Yes, Captain," the tank soldier nodded, "Not only are there enough shells, but there are also quite a few bullets left."

"Since you have enough ammunition, why do you want to abandon your vehicle? Isn't it a waste?" Sokov gave orders to the other party with a stern face: "Tell your tank commander to use the tank gun to bombard the enemy tanks and use the machine gun to shoot the enemy infantry. Even if your tanks cannot move, you can still use them as fixed firing points."

Soon, the tank fired at the German tanks in the distance. As people often say, tanks are the best anti-tank weapons. The tank destroyed a German tank with two shots and the machine gun mowed down more than a dozen German soldiers.

The tank soldier jumped off the tank at this moment, holding a sledgehammer in his hand: "Comrade Captain, let me see if I can fix the track!"

(End of this chapter)