The German rapid column advanced rapidly along the northwest road and towards the Red Army Village. When they entered the ambush circle of the 125th Regiment, they were immediately attacked from both sides of the road. Faced with the rocket launcher leading this era, the German tanks and armored vehicles unfortunately became targets for shooting.
Tank soldiers who escaped from the tank became targets of sharpshooters. Most of the infantry sitting in armored vehicles survived after the armored vehicles were destroyed. They immediately launched an attack on the anti-tank teams ambushed on both sides. Faced with the large number of German infantry, several anti-tank teams were quickly annihilated.
After learning about the frontline war by phone, Cidolin reported to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, the German fast column has entered the ambush circle of the 125th Regiment, and the battle is underway."
"What kind of results have been achieved?" Vetkov, who was sitting next to Sokov, asked impatiently: "Have you hit the enemy's fast column hard?"
"It was still going well at the beginning," answered Cidolin. "Since the German fast column's marching queue was two kilometers long, our attack was only the first half of the marching queue. The enemy found that we had a large number of anti-tank weapons, and the soldiers on the armored vehicles behind them were all out of the car to fight. Some of our anti-tank teams were wiped out by the enemy."
"What, an anti-tank team was destroyed by the enemy?" Hearing this news, Vitkov couldn't help but frown. He looked at Sokov and asked, "Comrade Commander, what should we do if the enemy seizes our bazooka? With their production capacity, they can completely imitate such weapons in a month or two. In this way, our advantages in anti-tank will be completely lost."
"There's no way, comrade Colonel." Sokov said with a wry smile: "If our new weapon is not captured by the Germans, the only way is to not use it at all. As long as the new weapon is not used on the battlefield, even if the enemy wants to seize it, there is no place to seize it."
"Col. Sidolin," Sokov felt that there were many inconveniences when the division headquarters was together. Some called him the division commander, some called himself the commander, and he could hear it all the mess, let alone others. Even if he gave an order, he would call out the other party's name: "Call Yershakov and order him to immediately put Major Shamrikh's third battalion into the battle. I believe that with the combat power of the sailors, this enemy will be defeated soon."
The third battalion of Shamrich did not participate in the ambush battle, but stayed behind as the reserve team of the entire regiment. Listening to the sound of guns and cannons in front, his comrades and enemies were fighting fiercely, while he was still standing in simple fortifications. The commanders and soldiers, mainly sailors, seemed extremely irritable.
But after hearing the attack order issued by Yershakov, the commanders and soldiers of the third battalion immediately cheered. They attacked the enemy who were still fighting fiercely with their comrades in the distance. They used the destroyed tanks and armored vehicles on the road to charge and shoot, step by step towards the place where the enemies gathered.
Although there were still quite a lot of enemies in the distance, they saw a group of Soviet troops rushing towards their place. At first, they wanted to find a suitable place to block, but when they found that the surrounding area was full of open land and could not rely on fortifications to defend, they couldn't help but panic.
The anti-tank soldiers hidden in the snow on both sides of the highway felt a little overwhelmed when they were attacked by German infantry. But at this moment, they saw the commanders and fighters of the Third Battalion rushed up and their morale was immediately high. When they joined forces and continued to attack forward, the anti-tank soldiers became the main force in clearing obstacles.
When they saw German soldiers hiding in tanks or armored vehicles and using machine guns to strafuse the charge, they used rocket launchers to destroy German tanks or armored vehicles to clear the road for the infantry. The enemies behind saw that the Soviet troops were coming up and did not dare to fight again. They turned around and fled to the armored vehicles behind, and fled in the direction they came last time.
When he heard that the German army had retreated, Sokov quickly ordered the troops to stop pursuing. Now that the large army has not arrived, the Red Army village is basically an empty city. If the enemy emerges from other directions, the city may be lost. The 125th Regiment, which was alone, is also at risk of being cut off from the rear.
While waiting for the large army to bring it, Vitkov pointed to the map and said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, look, if the troops of the Southern Army can go north and the 21st Army also go west, then we can form a huge defensive position in the center of Edonetsk-Red Army Village."
"The idea is good, but the Germans definitely do not allow this situation." Sokov analyzed to Vitkov: "Why was General Vatutin's southwestern front defeated by the German army in just over a dozen days? In addition to their insufficient supply, there is another important factor, that is, the German army reassembled a large number of troops and launched an offensive against the weak parts of our army.
If we really as you say, assemble the Southern Front and the 21st Army in the existing area, it will definitely become thorns in the eyes of the German army, and they will definitely try every means to destroy us. But if we only control Donetsk, the Red Army's village front line, it will create an illusion for the German army that we only have the ability to control the existing area, so they will turn their attention to other directions."
"If the enemy really turns their attention to other directions, once they destroy our friendly forces, will I become dangerous then?"
While the two were analyzing the occupation, Cidolin, Anisimov and others sat aside and listened quietly, and no one expressed their opinions. When the phone rang, Cidolin picked up the microphone and stuck it in his ear: "I am Colonel Cidolin, where are you?"
After hearing this for a while, Cidolin showed joy on his face. He covered the microphone with his hand and reported to Sokov: "Comrade Commander and Major Tnev, the commander of the guard battalion, reported that they had sent people searching for nearby forests and found some broken squads. According to these commanders and soldiers, they have been trying to find a way back to our defense line."
“How many people are there?”
Cidolin quickly moved his hand from the microphone and asked, "Comrade Major, how many people have your subordinates taken in?"
"Comrade in the division," Cidolin quickly gave Sokov a rough data: "There are about six hundred people."
"Six hundred people." Sokov thought for a while and said to Cydolin: "In the battle to seize the city, the first battalion of the 125th Regiment suffered heavy casualties, so let's add all of these soldiers to them. By the way, ask Major Tenev how many wounded there are among these commanders and fighters, so I can arrange for the health officer to bandage and treat them."
When Sidolin called, Sokov added: "For those who are unwilling to be incorporated into the army, all of them will be brought to the division headquarters and let me talk to them in person."
The problem that Sokov was worried about at that time did not happen. Among the officers and soldiers who were contained, there were several school-level officers. When they heard that they were assigned to the first battalion as soldiers, they were not upset at all. On the contrary, they acted very cooperatively.
Sokov found it very strange and sent someone to find out after inquiring. These commanders and fighters were all from Popov's rapid cluster. They had several tank troops and many infantry divisions. They fought here for a long time. Not only did they not take down Donetsk and the Red Army village, but they were also defeated by the German army.
Now the troops of the 41st Guard Division easily captured the city with only one regiment of troops. People of any era respect the strong. Since the troops of the 41st Guard Division can easily defeat the Germans and be incorporated into this force, it is simply his own glory.
After the German army retreated and the lost troops were supplemented to a certain extent, the 125th Regiment withdrew its original defensive position and began to repair the fortifications.
Some newly-organized officers were a little complaining when they heard that they were asked to dig fortifications. But when they saw the regiment commander Yershakov, who was also digging trenches in person, immediately closed their mouths obediently, picked up tools and started to build fortifications.
At dawn, the two division commanders of Sivakov and Goryshne came to Sokov's command center, saluted him and Vitkov, and reported: "Comrade Commander, Comrade Chief of Staff, and the 71st (75th) Guard Division are ordered to come, please instruct!"
After Sokov stepped forward and shook hands with the two, he said to them earnestly: "Two division commanders, comrades, I know that after a long journey, the commanders and soldiers were very tired. But now is not the time to let them rest. The enemy is heading towards us day and night, trying to regain the position that was recovered by our army in the shortest time.
Therefore, when you two return to your respective troops, you must immediately mobilize everyone, overcome fatigue, and seize the time to build fortifications. Only when the enemy arrives again can you have fortifications that you can rely on."
"I understand, comrade commander." The two division commanders replied in unison: "We will return to the troops immediately and urge the soldiers to repair fortifications to fight the enemy's attack."
At noon, Colonel Bere arrived with his tank brigade.
Sokov was overjoyed to see Berettack. He stepped forward and held the other party's hand and said excitedly: "Col. Berett, you are here just in time. We have enough infantry in the city now, but there are only a lack of artillery and tank soldiers. If the enemy uses armored troops to carry out assaults, we really can't stop them. When you come this way, we will immediately have confidence."
"Hello, Colonel! I'm glad to see you." Witkov held Bereth's hand and asked with concern: "How about it, can your tanks be put into battle?"
"The roads leading here were basically destroyed by the German army, which led to us moving very slowly." Berre replied: "There are about twenty tanks that can be put into combat now. The remaining tanks are somewhat malfunctioning and need to be repaired again before they can be put into combat."
"It would be nice to have twenty tanks." Sokov knew in his heart that Colonel Bere's tank brigade was equipped with the best T-34 tanks today. Even if he encountered the Tiger, he would not have to worry about falling out. "In this way, our soldiers would not have to risk their lives to deal with the German tanks."
"Misa, where do you think the Germans will emerge from?" asked Bere, "As long as we know where the enemy may appear, we can cooperate with infantry in that direction."
"There is a road in the west and northwest of the city, and you can enter the city from outside." Sokov said to Bere: "Before dark yesterday, the 125th Regiment ambushed a fast column of the German army on the northwest road and successfully repelled them, adding valuable time to our defense.
If the Germans still want to attack the city, the path they can choose is to enter the city from the west, where we can wait for their arrival!"
"Well, you're very reasonable, Misha!" Bere said with praise after Sokov finished speaking, "I think the road to the northwest must be full of destroyed tanks and armored vehicles. The German armored vehicles may not be able to pass through. Therefore, the west side will be their only road."
After assigning the task, Bere suddenly put a hand on Sokov's shoulder, looked at him and said, "Misha, can we find a quiet place and have a good talk?"
Fortunately, there was never a shortage of empty houses in the city during the war years. Soon, the two of them found a seat in a room without roofs and half-collapsed. After smoking a cigarette between each other silently, Bere said: "Misha, I just saw Asia and Ada, and it seemed to be heading towards the west of the city. How can you put them in danger?"
Bere's words reminded Sokov. He was busy commanding the battle during this period and did not care enough about Asia and Ada. It must have been because of boredom that they took the initiative to go to the frontline to treat the wounded.
"Samoilov," Sokov was very anxious when he learned that Asia and Ada were in danger. He would feel distressed when Asia was in danger; and once Ada had danger, he could not explain to Rokosovsky at all, so he decided to find a way to keep the two in a safe place.
After he and Bere, he returned to the command center and ordered his most trusted platoon leader: "Samoilov, bring a few people immediately and bring Athia and Ada back."
Samoilov, who followed Sokov, naturally understood that what his commander cared about the most was Asia and Ada. He did not dare to neglect, so he quickly raised his hand and saluted him and turned around and walked out of the command center.
Chapter completed!