red moscow

Chapter 3016

After a quarter-minute barrage of artillery fire, a cavalry regiment of the cavalry army launched a charge toward Red Polyana.

Logically speaking, cavalry are too large a target. Charging into the enemy's position without any cover outside the city would be tantamount to suicide.

In response to this, Kazakov had discussed the matter with Dovator before the battle began. He earnestly advised, "General Dovator, I think that after the artillery barrage ends, we should launch an infantry charge. After all, the area outside Krasnopolana is an open field with no view, and cavalry would be too large a target and easily become easy prey for the enemy."

Faced with Kazakov's persuasion, Dovator simply smiled and said, "General Kazakov, the area outside Krasnopolana is an open field. Whether it's infantry or cavalry, charging through this area under enemy fire will result in considerable casualties. Although cavalry are larger targets and easier to be shot at, you shouldn't forget that the speed of a cavalry charge is unmatched by infantry."

No sooner had Dovator finished speaking than Priev, sitting next to him, interjected, "Comrade Commander, you're right. Our cavalry is highly mobile and can break through the enemy's firepower in the shortest amount of time, quickly rushing into the city to engage in street fighting. Therefore, after the artillery barrage ends, our cavalry will launch the first wave of attack."

Seeing that Dovator was stubborn, Kazakov didn't try to persuade them any further, and simply said to the two of them, "I wish you good luck!"

After the artillery barrage over the city ended, the cavalry regiment launched a charge toward Red Polyana.

The German soldiers hiding in the trenches saw the cavalry charging towards them and immediately began firing wildly. They even set up mortars to bombard the approaching cavalry regiment.

Under the intense German fire, cavalrymen on horseback fell from their horses like leaves blown by the wind. Many galloping horses were also hit by bullets, collapsing to the ground with a mournful cry, the immense momentum throwing their riders off.

Kazakov and Orel stood in the observation post, watching through their binoculars as cavalry commanders fell one after another on the battlefield, their hearts breaking with sorrow.

Orel spoke first: “Comrade General, although infantry may encounter enemy fire during an attack, they can lie down and return fire. Cavalry, however, cannot take cover when under fire and can only rely on the speed of their horses to charge into the enemy's position. But with such intense enemy fire, a cavalry charge is nothing short of suicide.”

"Comrade Chief of Armored Forces," Kazakov put down his binoculars, turned to Orel, and said, "Why don't you send a few tanks or armored vehicles to cover the cavalry's advance?"

“If it’s infantry charging, there shouldn’t be much of a problem if we send out tanks or armored vehicles to cover them,” Orel said, pointing to the cavalry charging forward in the distance. “But if tanks and armored vehicles attack alongside the cavalry, their field of fire will be blocked by the riders on horseback, making it impossible for them to fire at the enemy’s positions. Otherwise, there’s a risk of friendly fire.”

Kazakov thought to himself that if the cavalry regiment's attack failed, he would replace the charging troops with infantry in the next attack, thus reducing the casualties of his troops.

The cavalry's attack lasted only a little over twenty minutes before it came to an abrupt end.

Nearly half of the regiment's officers and soldiers were killed or wounded, but not a single one of them managed to break into the enemy's position.

Seeing the remaining cavalrymen withdraw from the battlefield, Kazakov immediately called Dovator: "General Dovator, the enemy's firepower is too strong. I think it will be very difficult for the cavalry to break through the enemy's firepower and charge into Krasnopolana by relying on their speed advantage."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Dovator interjected, "General Kazakov, you're right. With such intense enemy fire, it's clearly impossible for us to break through their dense barrage using only the speed advantage of our warhorses. We must adjust our tactics to have any chance of advancing into Krasnopolana."

Kazakov was delighted upon hearing this and immediately asked, "General Dovator, how do you plan to adjust your tactics?"

“It’s very simple,” Dovator said. “Next time we attack, I will have all the cavalry dismount and attack the enemy on foot. Even if we encounter enemy fire, our soldiers can lie down on the spot and return fire.”

Dovator's sudden idea left Kazakov momentarily speechless.

Seeing that Kazakov remained silent, Dovator continued, "General Kazakov, since you do not object to my idea, then when the second wave of attacks begins, I will have the soldiers launch an attack on Krasnopolana on foot."

Although Rokossovsky was far away in Klyukovsky's command post, he always kept the battle in Krasnopolana in his heart.

He called Kazakov and asked bluntly, "Comrade Chief of Artillery, how is your offensive on Krasnopolana going?"

"The attack didn't go very well," Kazakov said awkwardly. "After the artillery barrage ended, General Dovator sent out a cavalry regiment to charge the outer defenses of the city. But unfortunately, the enemy's firepower was too strong, and their attack failed."

"So what are his plans next?"

"Comrade Commander, General Dovator said that in the second round of the attack, he plans to have the cavalry dismount and charge the city on foot," Kazakov said. "The reason for this is simple: even if the infantry is intercepted by enemy fire, they can lie down on the spot and return fire. But if it's cavalry, they cannot hide in the face of dense enemy fire and can only rely on the speed of their horses to rush into the enemy's position as quickly as possible."

“Comrade Chief of Artillery, since the army has been equipped with machine guns on a large scale, the role that cavalry can play on the battlefield has become smaller and smaller.” Rokossovsky said, “I think Dovator’s idea is correct. Let the cavalry dismount and become infantry, and then charge into the city. Maybe we can break through the enemy’s defenses smoothly while reducing casualties.”

"Yes, I understand." Kazakov asked cautiously, "Comrade Commander, is there anything else you would like to tell me?"

Rokossovsky thought for a moment, then said, "Comrade Chief of Artillery, the reason I appointed you as the commander-in-chief of the counterattack operation is because the majority of the troops involved are artillery. I hope that before the attack begins, you will not be stingy with shells and will destroy as many enemy fortifications as possible, so that our soldiers can suffer fewer casualties during the attack."

"I understand, Comrade Commander. I will convey your message to General Dovator."

After hanging up the phone, Rokossovsky said to Malinin, who was standing next to him, "Comrade Chief of Staff, Kazakov's first attack on Krasnopolana has failed."

“Cavalry is indeed unsuitable for siege warfare,” Malinin said. “To the Germans, soldiers on horseback are simply giant targets. Comrade Commander, I strongly suggest that Lieutenant Colonel Sokov’s infantry brigade take over the attack on Krasnopolana.”

But Rokossovsky waved his hand after hearing his words and said, "Comrade Chief of Staff, our offensive against Krasnopolana has just begun. How can we change troops so easily? If we do so rashly, it will easily cause chaos. Moreover, Misha's infantry brigade is exhausted after this period of fighting. It will probably take some time before they can regain their original fighting strength."

He had barely finished speaking when the telephone on the table rang. Rokossovsky grabbed the receiver and held it to his ear: "This is Rokossovsky!"

"This is Zhukov!" came Zhukov's familiar voice from the other end of the phone. "I have good news for you." "What good news?" Rokossovsky asked impatiently. "Has the higher-ups sent us even more reserves?"

“How could that be?” Zhukov said. “I called you for something else.”

"whats the matter?"

"Here's the thing, I received a call from People's Commissar Ustinov, saying that they've produced a batch of new rifles and are preparing to send them to your army group for trial use..."

“What’s the point of rifles?” Rokossovsky said unhappily. “It would be better if we were issued more submachine guns.”

"Comrade Rokossovsky, I haven't finished speaking yet," Zhukov said. "The new rifle I'm talking about is a new type of rifle that was recently developed and, after testing, is only being produced in small quantities."

"A new type of rifle that has just been developed?" Rokossovsky repeated Zhukov's words, then suddenly shuddered and asked in an incredulous tone, "Zhukov, is the new rifle you're talking about the one developed by Misha's soldier?"

“Yes, you’re right, that’s exactly right.” Zhukov continued, “Due to limited production, only one thousand of these new rifles have been produced so far, and they have all been sent to the front by Ustinov. Since the new weapon was designed by soldiers of the infantry brigade, these weapons will be given to the commanders and soldiers of the infantry brigade for trial use.”

"Oh, I see. I'll call Misha later and tell him about it."

Rokossovsky then asked Zhukov some more detailed questions before hanging up the phone.

The next moment, he dialed the Sokov command post: "Misha, what are you doing?"

"Nothing was done..."

Sokov had barely begun to speak when Rokossovsky interrupted him: "Alright, whatever you're doing, put it aside for now and come to my headquarters immediately. I have something important to tell you."

"Comrade Commander, can we talk on the phone?"

"What do you think?" Rokossovsky countered.

Upon hearing Rokossovsky's words, Sokov immediately realized that there must be something important that had summoned him. Therefore, after hanging up the phone, he said to Belkin and Karsokov, "Deputy Brigade Commander, Chief of Staff, I'm going to the Army Group Headquarters now. The Commander said he has something important to tell me."

As soon as Sokov finished speaking, Belkin and Karsokov began to reason like detectives: "I think the commander called you over to assign us combat tasks. If that's the case, you'd better ask your superiors to send us some more troops, otherwise we'll face a shortage of manpower."

“I know, I know,” Sokov nodded. “If the commander really wants to assign us combat missions, I will definitely ask him to reinforce our troops.”

Sokov soon arrived at Rokossovsky's command post.

"Hello, Commander!" Sokov saluted Rokossovsky and reported according to regulations: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, commander of the infantry brigade, has come on your orders. Please assign me your tasks."

“Misha, I called you here not to assign any combat missions, but for something else.”

"Another thing?" Sokov looked at Rokossovsky and asked in surprise, "What other thing?"

"General Zhukov called me and said that People's Commissar Ustinov called him and said that a batch of new rifles was about to be delivered to the front and that the weapons were to be handed over to your brigade for use."

Upon learning that Ustinov had sent him a batch of rifles, Sokov thought to himself, "What's the point of sending rifles? It would be better to send more submachine guns or machine guns, which would increase the firepower of my troops."

But after a moment, Sokov realized that he might have misunderstood Rokossovsky's meaning, so he cautiously asked, "Comrade Commander, is the new rifle you mentioned the one designed by Comrade Khabarov?"

“I asked Zhukov, and it was one of your soldiers who designed the weapon.”

Upon hearing this, Sokov's lips curled into a slight smile. Khabarov's so-called new rifle design was none other than the world-renowned AK-47. Equipping his troops with such a weapon would be like adding wings to a tiger.

Thinking of this, he asked again, "Comrade Commander, how many rifles do the higher-ups plan to allocate to us?"

Rokossovsky held up one finger, but before he could speak, Sokov interrupted, "Ten thousand?"

“No,” Rokossovsky quickly shook his head and corrected, “There are only a thousand new rifles.”

When Sokov learned that only a thousand assault rifles would be issued to his troops, he couldn't help but feel disappointed. It was far too few. Even with his unit suffering heavy losses, this batch of assault rifles wouldn't even be enough to equip every soldier with one.

"Don't you think it's a bit too little?" Rokossovsky asked casually, seeing Sokov's dejected look. After the other nodded in affirmation, he continued, "Although this weapon has been tested by military experts, its performance on the battlefield still needs to be determined by various data. If too many are produced initially, and it is later found that this rifle is not suitable for battlefield use, it will result in a huge waste."

Since he hadn't seen a prototype of the assault rifle, Sokov couldn't demonstrate its advantages to Rokossovsky. He had to quickly change the subject: "Comrade Commander, I wonder how many bullets each rifle is equipped with? You know, the bullets used in this rifle are not the same as the rifle bullets we use now. If the number of bullets is too small, once the bullets are used up, this rifle will become nothing more than a fire poker."

(End of this chapter)