artillery arc

Chapter 524 The Star of Victory Will Shine on Us (Update 22/81)

Temporary headquarters of the 51st Antetank Army.

It was called a temporary command post, but in fact it was just a few telecommunications vehicles sent by the United States to form a circle, and a piece of tarpaulin was put on the antenna to keep out the rain.

Army Commander Korodov was holding the receiver of a domestically made radio and listening to the report from the other end.

"General, my brigade is finished, but we have determined where the enemy's counterattack arrow is. The coordinates... the enemy is here! General! Don't send any more troops over! Our accompanying infantry is trying to delay the enemy!"

Korodov immediately marked the location of the enemy's counterattack on the map.

The army chief of staff immediately said, "I'll send the 123rd Tank Brigade over!"

"No." Korodov shook his head. "No, the 123rd Brigade will continue to carry out the task of clearing the enemy's artillery positions. Bring as much fuel and ammunition as possible, keep moving forward, and don't look back!"

After a brief pause, he said, "With any luck, I can return to Abawahan."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire temporary headquarters fell silent.

The commander of the 124th Brigade, who encountered the enemy, said on the radio: "We will delay the Plossen armored forces to the last man. The mud will also help us."

Korodov: "Good luck to you. Davarishi, good luck to you!"

"Thank you. Goodbye, Commander Davarish."

Korodov held the radio. He knew that the communication on the other end had ended, but he just wanted to listen to the static noise for a while longer, perhaps there would be a sound coming through the noise.

However, the radio was completely silent, with nothing but rustling sounds.

Finally, Korodov put down the radio, looked at the people around him, and said loudly: "When I set out, the commander of the front, Rokossov, invited me to dinner. I promised him that we would nail it on the west bank. Even if we only have one tank left, we must destroy the enemy's supply lines and destroy the enemy's artillery positions on the river bank.

"As for the enemy's armored forces, we really can't defeat them, so whoever encounters them will do their best to delay them until the last tank and the last man."

Korodov paused, took a deep breath, and continued, "Pass on what I just said to every brigade, every regiment, every battalion... every vehicle!

"Many good people and crews have already sacrificed their lives. We are not afraid of sacrifice, we are only afraid of not being able to complete the mission."

The chief of staff wiped his eyes and raised his voice: "Give the order quickly! Make sure every car hears it!"

At this time, the communications staff got off the telegraph car: "The front headquarters sent a telegram asking whether the enemy will deploy armored forces to counterattack."

Korodov: "Tell the front headquarters that we have been counterattacked, but please rest assured, commander, we will not be obsessed with competing with the Prosen tanks. We will complete the task and strive for victory."

----

"We will complete the mission and strive for victory. - Korodov, commander of the 51st Tank Army." Pavlov finished reading the telegram and looked up at Wang Zhong, "This is a fatal telegram."

Wang Zhong sat in front of the map, with his back to Pavlov, staring at the arrow of the 51st Army on the map without saying a word.

Popov came over and patted Pavlov on the shoulder: "Just give the necessary orders. The commander has sent away many commanders these days."

At this time Wang Zhong said: "Is it really okay for me to sit here? Let them die while I sit here?"

Pavlov: "Everyone has different responsibilities. You are the symbol of victory. Now that you have died, Abavahan may not be able to defend itself."

Wang Zhong was silent for a few seconds, then shouted, "Yakov, go to the kitchen and see if there are any snacks that can keep me busy. I can't concentrate, so I need some distraction."

"Yes." Yakov immediately left the headquarters.

At the same time he left the headquarters, the communications officer came in, brushing his shoulder and saying, "General, the transport fleet on the river reported that the pontoon bridge blocked the fleet. We hope to dismantle the pontoon bridge."

Wang Zhong turned his head and asked: "How many troops did they carry?"

Pavlov: "It carried the 16th Army, which has three infantry divisions with the title of Guards, and has strong combat effectiveness."

After a brief thought, Wang Zhong asked, "Can they go ashore at the nearest landing point?"

"Impossible. The fastest way to get them into battle is to dock at the inland port of Abavahan. And the probe is already crowded with troops, including naval infantry divisions, anti-tank artillery units, air defense units, and combat engineers. If we add another army, we really can't fit it in."

Popov reminded, "Logistics can't keep up. After all, the pontoon bridge needs to be dismantled. It's too difficult to supply an army group with only small boats."

Wang Zhong thought for a few seconds, then frowned and said in a cold tone, "Tear down the pontoon bridge and let the fleet come over."

Pavlov immediately began giving orders.

At this time, Yakov came back with a small bag. "General, the chef seemed to say that he had prepared some soybeans for you to eat like this."

Wang Zhong took the bag and smelled the aroma of fried soybeans as soon as he opened it.

He kowtowed silently.

----

October 10, Beachhead No. 26, 0230 in the morning.

The Marine infantrymen were using their break time to help the anti-tank artillery unit repair the bunkers when suddenly a private ran over and shouted, "Everyone, go check it out! The engineers are going to demolish the bridge!"

All the Marine infantrymen who were helping stopped. The old sergeant in charge stuck his shovel into the ground and cursed: "You are talking nonsense again! This bridge is our supply line, can you just tear it down?"

"I'm not talking nonsense. It seems that the transport fleet is blocked. We need to demolish the bridge to let the fleet pass!" The private waved his hands. "Go and have a look. The engineers are discussing how to demolish it!"

The old sergeant waved his hand: "You guys continue to repair the fortifications, I'll go see what's going on!"

As he said this, he picked up the towel from his waist and wiped the sweat off his face, then jumped out of the trench and walked towards the private.

"This way! Quick!"

So the two of them quickly came to the beach.

The engineers were indeed holding a meeting, surrounded by a group of marines who were taking a break.

In the face of this powerful enemy, the priests accompanying the army turned a blind eye and did their job well.

As the old sergeant got through the crowd, he heard an engineer sergeant shout, "We are all against demolishing the bridge from this side." The commander of the engineer battalion said, "But the order is to demolish the bridge. The boats of the 16th Army are blocked by the pontoon bridge. The fleet is large, and it is not enough to demolish only a little bit. Let them keep blocking the river. When the weather is good and the enemy launches air strikes, it will be over."

Engineer Sergeant Major: "We are not against demolishing the bridge. What we are against is starting from this side."

Battalion Commander: "This way the bridge equipment will stay on the other side and won't be easily destroyed!"

"But we are combat engineers." The sergeant major refused to give in. "We want to stay here and fight."

The battalion commander looked at the young faces of the engineers one by one and asked, "Do you all think so?"

"Yes." A young corporal laughed, "We'll go wherever we can beat up the Prosen people."

The battalion commander was silent for several seconds before he said, "Those who volunteer to stay here and fight with the Marine infantry, step forward."

The combat engineers took a step forward in unison, their boots even making sounds on the beach.

The battalion commander looked at them and shook his head: "No one will demolish the bridge. First Company, you guys demolish the bridge, and the rest of the regiment will stay here."

After watching this scene, the old sergeant slapped the private's head hard and scolded him in a low voice: "Just say you are talking nonsense, making it seem as if we have been abandoned here."

"I don't know..." The second-class soldier felt aggrieved, "I thought...anyway...it was..."

Before he could think of a word, the engineer battalion commander shouted angrily: "First Company! My order is to demolish the bridge! Go to the bridge immediately and start the work! The bridge must be demolished before daybreak to allow the convoy to pass!"

The commander of the first company asked on behalf of everyone: "What about you, battalion commander?"

"My troops are here," the battalion commander said. "I will fight here to the end. Follow your orders, Vasily Antonovich."

The commander of the first company, Vasily Antonovich, pursed his lips, saluted, then turned and ordered: "Everyone in the first company, turn right!"

----

On the east bank, field hospital for troops crossing the river.

Lyudmila watched the nurses return to the camp.

Yesterday, the nurses discussed with the nanny who led the team and felt that it would take some time to continue heading towards Abawahan before they could be effective, so it would be better to lend a hand on the spot in the field hospital.

So the local church provided a small house as a dormitory, and the girls began their first internship.

Now, the girls who just returned look like wilted eggplants.

Lyudmila smiled and asked, "How is the field hospital?"

No one answered.

A few seconds later, a girl with pigtails covered her face and burst into tears, her tears mixing with the blood on her hands.

The girl next to her comforted her and whispered, "I think I will keep dreaming about this day for the rest of my life, in nightmares."

At this time, someone outside the house shouted: "They are going to tear down the bridge!"

All the girls raised their heads - even the one who was crying - and looked outside.

Lyudmila went out and called out to the person who had just shouted, "Are you going to dismantle the floating bridge?"

"Yes, it seems that they want to allow the convoy to pass, so they have to dismantle the floating bridge, and the connection with the other side will be cut off!"

Lyudmila: "Was it General Rokossov's order?"

"Yes." The man who answered suddenly narrowed his eyes. "Wait a minute, are you General Rokossov's wife?"

"Yes." Lyudmila seemed to have made up her mind. "Please go to the engineering unit that is dismantling the bridge and tell them that I want to cross the bridge."

At this point, all the nurses in the room stood up and said, "You can't do this!"

Lyudmila: "We can't let the troops feel abandoned by him - I mean, abandoned by General Rokossov. I know he won't abandon any troops, but he has to do this. I will replace him and be with the soldiers."

The nurses looked at each other.

The one who had just cried wiped her tears and said, "Sisters, we should go too. The training we received is battlefield first aid training, which is to provide first aid in the hail of bullets and carry the wounded, not to hold the hands of the wounded and watch them gradually die here.

"We have to rescue them!"

The girls were stunned for a moment, then they all became excited: "Yes! Let's go too! Mammy will agree!"

Lyudmila: "If she disagrees, I will convince her."

At this time, the nanny appeared in military uniform and said, "Of course I agree, but I will go with you. You girls are unreliable, so I have to go. Now that we have decided, let's go."

Lyudmila smiled and said, "Let's go!"

At this time, the door of the dormitory courtyard opened, and a technical monk entered the courtyard: "Lyudmila Vasilyevna Davarich, we received an order saying that you are the prayer hand. Our prayer hand was killed in the enemy's artillery fire. Our arrow team is responsible for covering the supply station that provides logistics to the other side."

"Eh? I..." Lyudmila pointed to the west, towards the other side.

Nellie suddenly came out and said, "Madam, it's enough for me to go there. Everyone knows that I am the general's orderly."

Lyudmila reached out her hand, pinched Nellie's face, and gently stroked her bangs: "Nellie, my good Nellie... You are just an orderly..."

"I am old enough for military service. According to the mobilization order, I should join the army." Nellie said softly.

Lyudmila silently adjusted her boat hat: "Okay, you can change into a military uniform..."

"No, I want to highlight that I'm the general's orderly, so a maid outfit is just right."

Nellie smiled and said, "Don't worry, ma'am, the star of victory will shine on us."

Lyudmila freed one hand to wipe away her tears: "Yes, the star of victory will shine on us."

(End of this chapter)