red moscow

Chapter 2872

"What, Comrade Brigade Commander, what did you say?" Vasya gritted his teeth on the other end of the phone and said, "Spinachsky is a shameful deserter. He even pushed the squad leader down the hillside while escaping, which directly led to his death?"

"That's what Corporal Chevaryag told me." Sokov knew that Vasya had many doubts in his heart, so he took the initiative to say, "He is out of danger and has regained consciousness. When I went to visit him, he told me in detail what happened on the battlefield at that time."

Vasya was silent for a long time, then asked cautiously: "Comrade Commander, what do you plan to do with Spinachski?"

"I originally planned to send him to a military court for trial." Sokov said this, glanced at Karsokov standing next to him, and continued: "But my chief of staff told me that this kind of person is not qualified to be tried in a military court, so I plan to hand him over to you for disposal."

"I understand, Comrade Brigade Commander." Vasya understood the hidden meaning of Sokov's words and said quickly, "I will send someone to the field hospital to bring him back immediately."

"Well, let's do it." Before hanging up the phone, Sokov specifically reminded Vasya: "Remember to send someone to closely monitor the enemy's movements. If you find anything wrong, report it immediately!"

"Yes, Comrade Commander," Vasya answered loudly.

After Sokov hung up the phone, Belkin immediately asked, "Comrade Brigade Commander, do you really think the Germans will choose the Fourth Battalion's position as a breakthrough point?"

"It's very obvious, Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander." Seeing that Belkin was still struggling with this, Sokov said somewhat unhappily, "I've just said that the Germans gathered so many tanks, armored vehicles and soldiers in the forest in front of the Fourth Battalion's position. They are definitely not for display. Not attacking today does not mean not attacking tomorrow. We should prepare in advance to avoid being caught off guard by the enemy."

"Comrade Commander, I have an idea, but I don't know whether I should say it or not," said Karsokov.

"What are your thoughts? Tell me."

"Since we know that the enemy has armored forces massed in the forest in front of the Fourth Battalion's position, why not use artillery fire to strike the area?"

Hearing Karsokov's words, Belkin's eyes lit up, and he turned to Sokov and said, "Comrade Brigade Commander, I think the chief of staff's suggestion is a good one. Instead of passively waiting for the enemy to attack, it is better to take the initiative and bombard the enemy's gathering area in advance."

It must be said that Sokov almost agreed to Karsokov's proposal at that moment. But after thinking about it, he rejected the other party's proposal: "No, we can't bombard the area where the enemy is gathered."

"Why?" they asked in confusion.

Sokov clearly remembered that in July 1943, the Soviet army learned from interrogating prisoners that the German army would launch "Operation Citadel" at 7:5 on the 5th. Zhukov and Vasilevsky, authorized by the Supreme Command, launched a counter-preparatory bombardment codenamed "Thunder Prelude". To this end, the Soviet army mobilized more than 30 artillery pieces of various calibers to carry out fierce bombardment on the enemy's gathering area.

Although this bombardment delayed the German offensive by seven hours and forced Model to modify the offensive axis and move the main offensive direction 4.7 kilometers south, the enemy's main force was not damaged. In the following days of fighting, they continued to defeat the Soviet army, which relied on strong fortifications and had superior manpower, until the main force of Konev's Steppe Front was deployed to the battlefield, which completely reversed the situation on the battlefield.

The Soviet army had a general understanding of the enemy's assembly area, and they used a large number of artillery to bombard the enemy, but they were unable to inflict any damage to the enemy. Sokov did not think that with just the dozens of artillery pieces in his hands, he could inflict heavy damage to the enemy lurking in the forest. Therefore, in response to the two people's questions, he explained: "Deputy Brigade Commander, Chief of Staff, we only know that there are enemies in the forest in front of the Fourth Battalion's position, but we don't know their specific location. It is impossible to cover the forest with firepower with just the dozens of artillery pieces in our hands. Moreover, after the bombardment begins, there is a possibility of counterattack by the enemy's artillery. Once our artillery is wasted, how can we fight the next battle?"

Belkin and Karsokov looked at each other, their eyes full of helplessness, but there was nothing they could do. They knew clearly that what Karsokov said was true. Even if they ordered the two artillery battalions to fire at the same time, it would be basically impossible to destroy the German armored forces in the vast forest with just a few dozen artillery pieces. Even if they were not counterattacked by the enemy artillery, they would probably use up their limited artillery shells.

After realizing this, Belkin said with a bitter face: "Comrade Brigade Commander, in this case, we can only wait for the enemy to attack."

"That's right, this is the only way." Considering that Belkin was now responsible for the safety of the defense zone's flank, Sokov reminded him, "Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander, if, I mean if, the geothermal launches an attack on the Fourth Battalion's position, you should not easily send in the reserve troops." He was worried that Belkin did not understand his intentions, and he emphasized, "In order to break through the Fourth Battalion's position as quickly as possible, the enemy may bombard and bomb the Fourth Battalion's position. If the reserve troops enter the position too early, they will suffer huge losses."

"Then I'll go back to the reserve team later," Belkin said. "I won't feel at ease if I don't go there and keep an eye on it myself."

Sokov nodded and reminded the other party: "Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander, pay attention to safety and make sure you come back alive!"

Belkin grinned and said, "Don't worry, Comrade Brigade Commander. The bullet that can kill me has not yet been invented."

Sokov's smile froze on his face: This seems to be my line, why did you say it first?

……

The next morning, Sokov was awakened from his sleep by the rumbling of artillery fire in the distance.

He sat up, rubbed his eyes, and asked, "What's going on? Where did the sound of the cannon come from?"

"Comrade Brigade Commander," the newly appointed clerk Romanov came over and reported to Sokov, "The sound of artillery fire came from the southwest of the defense zone. The chief of staff judged that something must have happened in the Fourth Battalion."

Upon learning that there might be a problem with the Fourth Battalion, Sokov immediately stood up, walked barefoot to the table, looked at Karsokov who was on the phone, and listened to what he was saying.

"…Leave a few observation posts, and the rest of the people hide in anti-artillery holes to reduce casualties in the shelling. Remember, once you discover that the enemy has launched a ground attack, report it to the brigade headquarters in a timely manner."

As soon as Karsokov put down the phone, Sokov couldn't wait to ask, "Is the position of the Fourth Battalion under enemy fire?"

"That's right, Comrade Brigadier."

"Was the entire 4th Battalion's sector hit, or was it just the high ground?"

"The entire defense zone of the Fourth Battalion has been heavily bombarded," Karsokov replied. "I have followed your orders and asked Major Vasya to leave a few observation posts, and the rest of the soldiers to hide in the anti-artillery holes."

Sokov nodded: "After the shelling ends, the enemy may launch a ground attack."

As soon as he finished speaking, the phone on the table rang. He thought it was Major Vasya calling, so he quickly grabbed the receiver and put it to his ear: "This is Sokov!" "Comrade Brigade Commander." Unexpectedly, Belkin's voice came from the receiver: "The enemy has launched a fierce artillery attack on the Fourth Battalion's position. Now not only is the entire Fourth Battalion's defense area covered by smoke and fire, but even the edge of the forest where the reserve troops are hiding has shells falling from time to time. It seems that the enemy is really planning to break through from the direction of the Fourth Battalion."

Sokov had long anticipated that the enemy might break through the Fourth Battalion's defense zone. What he didn't expect was that the German artillery shells actually hit the edge of the forest a few hundred meters behind the Fourth Battalion's position. He was worried that the reserve troops hidden here would be caught in the crossfire, so he quickly ordered Belkin: "Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander, you must retreat with the reserve troops now, and be sure to stay as far away from the shelling area as possible to avoid causing unnecessary losses to the troops."

"What? Let the reserve retreat?" Belkin said in surprise, "If we are too far away from the Fourth Battalion's position, if they need reinforcements, I'm afraid it will be too late."

"Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander, if you let the troops enter the position under enemy fire, they will be sending them to their deaths." Sokov said into the microphone, "Don't worry that the reserve troops are too far away from the Fourth Battalion's defense zone. Even if the enemy temporarily occupies part of the Fourth Battalion's position, it's no big deal. Their artillery fire will definitely stop to prevent accidental injuries. At that time, you can put the reserve troops into battle and take back the lost position from the enemy."

After hearing this, Belkin hesitated for a moment, then said: "Okay, Comrade Brigade Commander, I will obey your order and retreat with the reserve troops immediately!"

Seeing Sokov put down the phone, Karsokov, who was standing next to him, opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he didn't say it.

Sokov saw Karsokov's hesitant expression and guessed that he might have something to say, so he took the initiative to ask: "Comrade Chief of Staff, do you have anything to say?"

"Comrade Brigade Commander, when the enemy launches an attack on the Fourth Battalion's position, do we need to provide artillery support for the Fourth Battalion?"

"Don't be anxious." Sokov waved his hand and said, "After the enemy's bombardment ends, they may launch a tentative attack. If we expose our true strength too early, then in the next battle, the enemy will adjust its offensive deployment, thus causing us to lose our advantage."

"So, during the enemy's initial attack, we are temporarily unable to provide artillery support to the Fourth Battalion?"

"That's right," Sokov said. "When the enemy thinks our defenders don't have any heavy weapons, they can safely throw their main forces gathered in the forest into the battle. Then we can use artillery to cause them huge losses."

The enemy's shelling of the Fourth Battalion's position lasted for an hour before it came to an abrupt end. Just as Sokov was secretly relieved and wanted to call Vasya to ask him to count the losses, the roar of an airplane engine was heard in the air.

Hearing the roar getting closer and closer, Karsokov's face suddenly changed. He cried out inwardly: "Not good, the enemy is preparing to bomb the Fourth Battalion's position."

Sokov frowned. The one-hour shelling had just ended when planes were sent out for bombing. It seemed that the Germans were determined to break through the position of the Fourth Battalion.

He picked up the phone on the table and prepared to call Vasya, but found that there was no sound in the receiver.

Seeing that Sokov was holding the microphone without speaking, Karsokov quickly took the microphone and listened for a moment, then said to Sokov: "Comrade Brigade Commander, the telephone line must have been blown off. I will immediately ask the signalman to repair the line."

When Karsokov ran to the door of the tent and ordered someone to call the signalman, Sokov contacted Belkin by phone: "Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander, this is Sokov."

"Comrade Brigade Commander." After recognizing Sokov's voice, Belkin said anxiously, "More than 20 German bombers appeared in the sky. It seems that they are preparing to bomb the Fourth Battalion's position."

"I heard the sound of the enemy aircraft formation." Sokov was most concerned about the current situation of the Fourth Battalion, and asked hurriedly: "What is the situation of the Fourth Battalion?"

Belkin was stunned when he heard this, and then asked, "Why, you didn't contact Major Vasya?"

"The telephone line has been blown up. I can't get in touch with the Fourth Battalion for the time being."

After figuring out what was going on, Belkin quickly replied: "I can only see the entire 4th Battalion's defense zone from here. It's all covered in smoke and I can't see anything clearly."

"Can you see clearly in front of the Fourth Battalion's position? Are there any enemies attacking?"

"I can't see anything. I can't see anything." Belkin said, "The damn smoke has blocked my vision. I can't see anything."

The telephone lines were blown down, making it impossible to contact the 4th Battalion; and Belkin, who was in the forest behind the 4th Battalion, could not see anything due to the obstruction of the smoke.

Sokov, who was unable to learn about the situation at the front line in time, walked back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, feeling extremely irritated.

Watching Sokov walking back and forth in the tent, Karsokov was very anxious, but he couldn't think of any good solution in a hurry. He could only pray secretly in his heart that the signalmen could restore the telephone line between the brigade headquarters and the Fourth Battalion as soon as possible.

"Comrade Commander," seeing Sokov's anxious look, Romanov, who had a very low sense of presence, suddenly plucked up the courage to speak, "I have a way that may allow you to understand the situation at the front in time."

Sokov stopped, stared at Romanov and asked, "What's the solution?"

"I remember that yesterday, in order to better strike the enemy's armored targets, the artillery deployed artillery observers in the defense zone of the Fourth Battalion to facilitate the timely provision of firing parameters to the artillery in the rear."

Before Romanov finished speaking, Sokov gave him a thumbs up and praised him repeatedly: "Comrade Romanov, what you said is really great. How could I forget that there are artillery observers at the front line."

Then, Sokov instructed Karsokov: "Chief of Staff, call Lieutenant Artyom of the artillery staff immediately and ask him to contact the artillery observer at the front and ask if there are any enemies in front of the Fourth Battalion's position."

"Okay, Comrade Brigade Commander." Karsokov also thought that Romanov's idea was really great, and he quickly agreed loudly: "I will contact the artillery staff immediately."

Just a few minutes later, Karsokov received accurate information from Artyom and quickly reported to Sokov: "Comrade Brigade Commander, the artillery observer reported that the front line was very quiet and no trace of the enemy was found."

(End of this chapter)