Perhaps in order to eliminate the unsafe factors in the rear as soon as possible, the German infantry division arrived at the attack position and immediately launched an attack on the defensive position of the 67th Division of the Guards. Seeing the enemy launching a fierce attack, his frontier position was shrouded by fire and smoke, Merkulov did not dare to take it lightly and quickly ordered the 138th Artillery Regiment to block and shoot the attacking enemy.
Then, not long after the Soviet artillery fired, the German bomber group flocked to him. They dived from high altitude like disgusting flies and bombarded the artillery regiment's positions.
After the bombing lasted for five minutes, all the artillery on the entire artillery position became mute. The German tanks and infantry were intercepted by artillery fire and advanced forward again.
"Comrade Commander," Seeing that his artillery position was destroyed by the enemy's bombing, Merkulov quickly called Sokov for help: "My artillery is all done, please support the artillery fire, and support the artillery fire, otherwise our position will be in danger of being broken through by the German army."
Sokov did not immediately agree to give him any assistance, but asked directly: "Did the friendly forces on the left wing enter the position?"
"No." Merkulov replied simply: "I set up an observation station in the south of the city. If friendly troops arrived, I would know it at the first time. But unfortunately, we didn't see a single reinforcement."
"Don't worry, General Merkulov, you are not fighting alone." Sokov said to him in order to appease Merkulov's heart: "I will send someone to provide you with support soon."
"That's good." Merkulov felt much more at ease when he heard Sokov's assurance to him. However, before hanging up the phone, he still begged Sokov: "Comrade Commander, please be sure to act faster, I'm worried that the troops won't last long."
When Vitkov saw Sokov put down his phone, he immediately asked him: "Comrade Commander, how do you plan to support the 67th Guard Division?"
"Once Donetsk is lost, our retreat will be cut off." Sokov said with a serious expression: "I will call the commander of the front army immediately and ask him to dispatch the air force to provide the necessary air cover for the 67th Guards Division."
However, Vitkov was half-believing about whether the Front Command would send air force support: "Comrade Commander, as far as I know, the Air Force affiliated to the Front is facing a shortage of ammunition and fuel. Can they really come to support us in time?"
"If they don't come in time, Donetsk may be lost." Sokov told Vitkov: "Once Donetsk is lost, our retreat will be cut off, and then we will be easily defeated by the enemy like the Sixth Army and Popov quickly clustered. I believe that the superiors can see this clearly, and they will definitely not allow this situation."
When Sokov picked up the phone and was about to call Rokosovsky, he said to Vetkov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please contact General Krelov and ask the two infantry divisions he promised to arrive at the outskirts of Donetsk. If they go too late, they can only collect the bodies of our commanders and soldiers."
Although Sokov's words were unpleasant, Vitkov understood that this was the fact. Although the name of the Guard Division was scary, the number of new recruits had just been added, and there was no chance of winning in front of the powerful German army. So while Sokov called Rokosovsky, Vitkov also ordered the communications troops to connect to the 21st Army Command.
During the Stalingrad defense battle, Vetkov was once Krelov's deputy. When he called, he was still thinking that with his friendship with Krelov, the other party might not refuse the request he made. Therefore, when he heard Krelov's voice coming from his headphones, he immediately said excitedly: "General Krelov, hello, I am Vetkov."
"Oh, it's Colonel Witkov." But Krelov asked coldly: "Is there anything you have?"
"That's right, comrade General." Witkov thought the other party did not know about the German attack on Donetsk, so he introduced to him: "A German army is attacking Donetsk. In order to seize the city, they not only used artillery and tanks, but also dispatched air force. I want to ask when the two divisions you promised to send to Donetsk will enter the designated position."
After receiving the order from Rokosovsky the day before, Krelov issued a combat alarm to the troops of the two divisions as soon as possible, it took a long time to assemble because the troops were too dispersed. As a result, the assembly was not completed at this time. Hearing Vitkov's inquiry, he could only answer with a bitter face: "Sorry, Colonel Vitkov, I guess our troops will have to wait until noon tomorrow at noon before our troops can reach the suburbs of Donetsk."
"What, we can't arrive tomorrow at noon?" Hearing Krelov's reply, Vetkov almost smashed the phone in his hand: "General Krelov, whether our troops in Donetsk can last until tonight is a question, and you will not arrive tomorrow at noon. When you arrive, the city's commanders and soldiers will probably have turned into cold corpses."
"Col. Vitkov, I understand your mood very well." Krelov is now a clever woman who cannot cook without rice. The troops cannot complete the assembly. No matter how anxious he is, it is useless. He can only say tactfully: "But I have done my best. My troops will have to wait until noon tomorrow to arrive in Donetsk. You can only use your own strength to block the enemy."
When Vitkov put down the phone, Sokov had just finished the phone. From the expression on his face, Vitkov knew that Rokosovsky would definitely agree to send a plane to support him. But thinking that there were no reinforcements on the ground, it would be difficult to reverse the situation by just dispatching some planes. He said with a bitter face: "Comrade Commander, General Krelov said that his troops will not arrive at the battlefield as soon as tomorrow noon. What should we do now?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov pointed to the map and said to Vetkov: "In addition to Merkulov's Guard Division, there is also the 148th Tank Brigade. We can order the Tank Brigade to launch a counterattack against the enemy."
"There are only more than 30 tanks left in the Tank Brigade," said Witkov with a serious expression: "Can the counterattack they launched have an effect?"
"As long as their assault can destroy the German artillery positions, it will be a huge support for the defenders." Sokov told Vetkov: "If the German army loses artillery support, its combat effectiveness will be greatly reduced. At that time, the 67th Guards' confidence in defending Donetsk will become larger."
"There are two tank brigades in the Red Army village." Sokov continued: "Col. Bere's 84th Tank Brigade is our last assault force, and it is not easy to use until the last moment. The 246th Tank Brigade, now only twelve kilometers away from Donetsk, I think they and the 219th Guards Regiment can attack the German flanks."
After listening to Sokov's deployment, Vitkov nodded vigorously and said, "Comrade Commander, you are still thoughtful. The Germans would never have dreamed that our army would launch an attack from their flanks at such a time, and we would definitely be caught off guard by us. Just do that!"
While Vetkov conveyed his combat orders to the troops, Sokov called Merkulov in order to make him feel at ease: "General Merkulov, tell you good news. The plane sent by the Front Command will feel at least ten minutes above Donetsk. They will provide you with necessary air support."
"This is really great," Merkulov was overjoyed when he heard Sokov say this, and thanked him repeatedly, "Comrade Commander, on behalf of all the commanders and soldiers of the division, I would like to express my gratitude to you."
"There is no need to thank me," although he knew the other party could not see it, Sokov waved his hand and said, "As long as you do your best to defend Donetsk, you will be the best thanks to me."
Merkulov knew Esokov's order, and in addition to requesting his superiors to provide air support, he must have other backup plans. He hurriedly asked: "Do you have any specific deployment?"
"I will order the 148th Tank Brigade in the city to immediately launch a counterattack against the German army, and strive to destroy the enemy's artillery positions at all costs to relieve the pressure you are under."
When he heard Sokov's order, Merkulov was silent. After a long time, he spoke: "Comrade Commander, your order is equivalent to letting our tank soldiers die. You also know that tanks without infantry cover cannot deal with the enemy's anti-tank hands. I am worried that they have not seen the enemy's artillery position, and their entire army has been destroyed."
"This may exist." Sokov was originally planning to let the tank brigade take a storm-like attack. Even if it was fought all, it could bear it in his heart: "But in order to defend the city, some sacrifices are inevitable."
Merkulov knew very well that if the German artillery positions were not destroyed, the commanders and soldiers who were staying in the trenches would continue to pay the price of casualties under the fierce enemy's artillery fire.
Sokov noticed Merkulov's thoughts and changed the topic in time: "Of course, it is a forced method to let the 148th Tank Brigade attack. If you can hold on for a while, the 246th Tank Brigade can launch an attack from the flank of the German army under the cover of the infantry and cause them severe damage."
This plan to attack from the German flank was great for Merkulov. In this way, it would not only prevent the destruction of the 148th Tank Brigade, but also ensure that the German army suffered a heavy blow. He quickly assured Sokov: "Comrade Commander, I promise you that our division will do its best to block the enemy for a long enough time to gain valuable time for reinforcements."
"Very good, General Merkulov," Sokov said with satisfaction after hearing Merkulov's words: "If you can really do this, I believe that the enemy will not only be unable to take down your city, but also have the possibility of being completely wiped out or severely damaged by our army."
The air force sent by Rokosovsky arrived over Donetsk a quarter of an hour later and fought fiercely with the enemy planes hovering over the city. After a fierce battle, the German army lost six bombers, two injured, and the rest retreated from the battlefield. The Soviet army also lost three fighter planes and three injured. After driving away the enemy planes, they also returned to the airport one after another.
The battle in the air is over, and the battle on the ground is still continuing.
The Soviet army's position was already dark and scorched earth in the enemy's shelling and bombing. The soldiers shot at the German officers and soldiers rushing up in the broken positions. Although there were only seven or eight people left in some companies in the battle, the remaining commanders and soldiers were still resisting tenaciously.
Seeing the fierce battle ahead, Merkulov sighed softly, called the brigade commander of the 148th Brigade of the Tank, and said politely: "Comrade Brigade Commander, our frontier position is almost impossible to withstand. Please attack immediately and drive the enemy away from our position."
The tank brigade commander knew that attacking at this time was like committing suicide, but after hearing Merkulov's orders, he still said unwillingly: "Don't worry, General Merkulov, even if we sacrificed all of us, we will never let the enemy rush into the city. Five minutes later, we will launch a full-scale counterattack against the enemy."
The tank brigade commander picked up the sending machine and said to all the tank soldiers: "Brothers, because of the fierce enemy's offensive, our infantry brothers can no longer stand it. We need to attack immediately to save the crisis in front. When the attack is taking place later, my tank will rush to the front, and the tanks of the deputy brigade commanders and battalion commanders follow us. I will personally command you to crush the enemy's attack on the city."
A few minutes later, only 35 tanks left of the 148th Tank Brigade launched, and launched an attack on the German armored forces in a wedge-shaped formation. The Germans never dreamed that the Soviet army would launch an armored assault at this time, and were caught off guard. Many tanks near the Soviet trenches were destroyed at the first time. Seeing that the situation was not good, the remaining tanks quickly turned around and fled back.
The battle ended an hour later, and only ten Soviet tanks were left in the assault. The tanks that the tank commander was riding on were destroyed not far from the trench. Among the three charred corpses lying beside the tank were brigade commanders.
Chapter completed!