red moscow

Chapter 3073

While Malinin was busy answering the phone at the headquarters of the 9th Guards Division, the artillery chief, Kazakov, approached Rokossovsky and said apologetically, "Comrade Commander, I am truly sorry. I bear the inescapable responsibility for the failure of the 18th Guards Regiment's attack."

Rokossovsky was surprised by Kazakov's sudden statement and couldn't help but look at him with astonishment.

Kazakov continued, “Comrade Commander, the artillery preparation before the attack was unable to cover all areas due to insufficient artillery. In addition, the earthen fortifications on the riverbank were not destroyed because the artillerymen were worried that the shells would break the ice on the river and thus affect the subsequent attack.”

"Alright, Kazakov, there's no need to say any more. I'm not blaming you." Seeing that Kazakov seemed to have misunderstood, Rokossovsky quickly clarified, "The failure of the 9th Guards Division's attack is not your fault, but rather their failure to effectively utilize tactics."

"Failure to effectively utilize tactics?" Kazakov repeated, then asked in confusion, "Comrade Commander, I don't quite understand what you mean?"

"They attacked without any fire support," Rokossovsky said gravely. "This left the attacking troops directly exposed to the enemy's concentrated fire. Imagine, how could flesh and blood withstand enemy bullets? How could such an attack not be defeated?"

"Comrade Commander!" After connecting the phone with the headquarters of the 9th Guards Division, Malinin reported to Rokossovsky, "General Beloborodov is waiting to speak with you."

After thanking Malinin, Rokossovsky took the microphone, put it close to his ear, and said, "Is this General Beloborodov? This is Rokossovsky!"

"Hello, Comrade Commander!" Beloborodov asked respectfully, "What are your instructions?"

"Do you know why the 18th Guards Regiment suffered a defeat?" Rokossovsky asked.

Upon hearing this question, Beloborodov hesitated for a moment before cautiously replying, "Comrade Commander, I'm afraid the enemy's firepower is too intense, we..."

“General Beloborodov, it seems you haven’t realized the real reason for the defeat.” Rokossovsky interrupted him impatiently, pointing out the crux of the matter: “The enemy must have very strong firepower on their positions to stop our advance. As a division commander, you should be considering how to weaken or even eliminate the enemy’s firepower on their positions, thereby reducing the casualties of the attacking troops.”

He paused for a moment, then continued, "But your 9th Guards Division had no fire support during the attack, leaving the attacking troops directly exposed to enemy fire. How could that be acceptable? There was a serious tactical error in your operation."

Beloborodov fell silent on the other end of the phone, seemingly reflecting on his command issues.

Seeing that the other party remained silent, Rokossovsky continued, "Of course, I'm telling you this not to hold you responsible, but to remind you that the most urgent task is to readjust the tactics and make sure to provide adequate fire support when organizing the next attack, so that our soldiers don't have to sacrifice themselves in vain again."

"Comrade Commander!" Beloborodov asked hesitantly, "Do you have any new instructions regarding tactical adjustments?"

Rokossovsky glanced at Sokov standing beside him and said slowly, "Doesn't your division also have an artillery regiment? When the next offensive begins, let them move with the infantry."

"What, let the artillery and infantry move together?" When Beloborodov heard Rokossovsky say this, his first thought was that the commander must have made a mistake. The two branches of the armed forces move at different speeds, so how could they move at the same time? With this in mind, he cautiously reminded him, "The artillery, pushing its cannons, cannot keep up with the speed of the infantry. Soon after the attack begins, they will be left far behind by the infantry."

“You’ve got it wrong. I’m having your artillery regiment move with the infantry, not charge alongside them,” Rokossovsky explained patiently, seeing Beloborodov’s misunderstanding. “Deploy the artillery at the infantry’s starting positions. Once the infantry has launched their charge, have the artillery carefully observe the enemy positions. If any strongpoints are found to threaten the attacking forces, destroy them with direct fire. Understand?”

Hearing this, Beloborodov finally understood why the enemy had ordered the artillery and infantry to move together. He quickly replied, "Comrade Commander, I will redeploy immediately according to your instructions, striving for victory in the next offensive." Rokossovsky was very satisfied with Beloborodov's answer. He nodded and said, "Comrade General, I await your good news. Good luck!"

After ending his call with Rokossovsky, Beloborodov immediately instructed his chief of staff: "Comrade Chief of Staff, call the artillery regimental commander immediately and have him come to me. I have something important to discuss with him."

Without saying a word, the chief of staff immediately picked up the phone, connected with the artillery regiment, and said bluntly, "Have the artillery regimental commander come to the division headquarters. The division commander has something important to discuss with him."

Upon receiving the order, the artillery regimental commander dared not delay and immediately rushed over at top speed.

Upon entering the division headquarters and seeing Beloborodov, the artillery regimental commander stepped forward and saluted: "Comrade Division Commander, the artillery regimental commander has come on orders. I await your command and request instructions!"

"Comrade Regimental Commander!" Beloborodov said amiably to the artillery regimental commander, "Our first attack on the enemy positions by the river ended in failure. Now I intend to launch a new attack and hope to get your artillery support."

"Commander, how should we provide support for the infantry?"

“What you need to do is very simple,” Beloborodov said. “Later, you will move the artillery to the infantry’s starting positions. When the infantry launches their attack, the artillery will use direct fire to destroy enemy strongpoints that threaten the attacking forces. How about that? Can you do it?”

Upon hearing Beloborodov's question, the artillery regimental commander pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded and said, "From the infantry's starting position to the enemy's position, it's only a little over a thousand meters. At such a distance, direct fire from the artillery is perfectly feasible."

"Comrade Regiment Commander," the chief of staff leaned over and asked, "I just wanted to ask, what's the hit rate at this distance?"

The artillery regimental commander grinned and explained to the chief of staff, "Comrade Chief of Staff, for us, firing at this distance is like shooting at a fixed target during training. I wouldn't dare say we'll hit the target every time, but hitting six or seven out of ten shells shouldn't be a problem."

"That's enough." After listening, the chief of staff said with satisfaction, "When I watch those anti-tank guns firing at enemy tanks, if two or three out of ten shells hit the target, that's considered good shooting by the gunner. If you can hit six or seven, that's truly remarkable."

The artillery regimental commander was both amused and exasperated by the chief of staff's remarks, thinking to himself, "One is firing at a stationary target, and the other is firing at a moving target. How can the two be compared?"
However, he did not refute the other party, but instead asked Beloborodov for instructions: "Comrade Division Commander, when should we move our positions?"

"There's no time to lose. Let's move to the infantry's starting position now," Beloborodov said solemnly. "If we take the German positions on the riverbank as soon as possible, we can cross the Istra River as quickly as possible and advance into the enemy's defensive depth."

Upon hearing this, the artillery regimental commander immediately straightened up and replied loudly, "Yes, comrade division commander! I'll make the arrangements right away and guarantee that the mission will be completed on time." After saying that, he turned around and quickly left the division command post, jogging all the way back to the artillery regiment's barracks.

Upon arriving at the garrison, he immediately gathered all commanders of company rank and above and loudly conveyed the division commander's order to them: "Comrades, the infantry's first attack has failed, but the division commander has decided to launch another attack. This time, our artillery needs to play a crucial role. Our task is to move the artillery to the infantry's starting positions, and when the infantry attacks, use direct fire to destroy enemy strongpoints that threaten the infantry. Does everyone understand?"

"Understood!" the artillery commanders responded in unison, their voices loud and firm.

The artillery regimental commander nodded in satisfaction and then said, "Alright, everyone, return to your respective companies immediately and prepare to move to a new position!"

(End of this chapter)