Sokov has always attached great importance to intelligence work. He knew very well that only by knowing oneself and the enemy can he win every battle. Therefore, as long as the troops arrive in a new area, he will desperately send batches of scouts to conduct reconnaissance on the deployment and equipment of the German army.
As Tansen's troops began to assemble, Sokov received information from the scouts from the rear of the enemy. After reading the information, he handed it to Zhukov: "Comrade Marshal, look, according to the report of our scouts, the 2nd Armored Regiment, the 2nd Artillery Regiment, the 2nd Motorcycle Battalion and the 3rd Grenadier Regiment of the Imperial Division are assembled, and they may soon launch an attack on our defense."
"As far as I know," Zhukov reminded Sokov after seeing the information from the scouts: "The Imperial Division's artillery regiment is equipped with 150mm large-caliber artillery. You only have simple defensive positions. Can you withstand their artillery bombardment?"
Zhukov's concern was correct. If the German army used such large-caliber artillery to bombard the enemy, even the national defense fortifications built with reinforced concrete would have the possibility of being destroyed, let alone the field fortifications built by Sokov and others in a hurry.
Sokov did not immediately answer Zhukov's question, but turned his head to Khokhlov who was standing aside: "Comrade Colonel, has your division built a back slope fortification on the back of the hill?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Hearing Sokov's question, Khokhlov quickly stepped forward and replied: "According to your order, we have built a backscene position behind each hill position. Once bombarded, the soldiers can quickly retreat to the backscene position along the traffic trenches on both sides of the hill."
"Reverse slope position?" Zhukov's face showed a puzzled expression.
Sokov guessed that Zhukov might not understand the real purpose of the reverse slope position, so he explained to him: "Comrade Marshal, when the enemy is bombarded by us, he usually temporarily abandons the first line of defense and moves along the traffic trench to the second line of defense, so that our army's shells will be hit in an unmanned place. After a long period of shelling, in addition to destroying some fortifications, the killing and wounding German troops are very limited.
The reverse slope position I proposed was based on this practice of the Germans. I ordered the troops to build back slope positions behind the hill positions that they were to defend. Once the enemy began to bombard our positions on a large scale, our officers and soldiers quickly moved to the reverse slope position along the traffic trench. The enemy's shells could hit the frontal defensive positions, but it was difficult to hit the back slope position behind the hill, so that our army's casualties would be minimized when we were bombarded."
"If the enemy secretly approaches the foot of the hill when the shelling is bombarded, and once the shelling stops, immediately launch an attack on your positions on the hill. I am afraid that the enemy has occupied your positions before you can react."
"It's okay, comrade Marshal." Regarding Zhukov's concern, Sokov explained to him: "Even if our army evades shelling, the enemy occupies the position on the top of the mountain, there is nothing to worry about. Our commanders and fighters hiding in the fortifications on the back slope can throw grenades at the enemies on the top of the mountain, causing them great damage.
And the enemies who occupy the top of the mountain want to drop bombs at our soldiers, but it is difficult to accurately drop into the trenches below. If the enemy wants to charge down, the terrain restrictions will prevent them from moving quickly, and our officers and soldiers hidden in the trenches will want to shoot targets and kill them one by one."
Zhukov continued to ask a few more questions, and Sokov answered without hesitation. After listening to Sokov's answer, Zhukov nodded and said with approval: "Misha, it seems that you have considered it quite comprehensively."
Sokov didn't speak, but just grinned, thinking that this tactic of reverse slope was actually implemented on Mamayev's hill as early as the Battle of Stalingrad, otherwise he would not have been able to attack one after another by the German army, no matter how many troops he had in his hands, he would not be able to ensure that the Mamayev's hill was not occupied by the enemy.
"The area where the Imperial Master is now is only ten or twenty kilometers away from you. If you advance quickly along the highway, you can enter your defense zone in an hour and a half." Zhukov said to Sokov: "Aren't you going to prepare quickly?"
"Comrade Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel Goriachkin's 564th Regiment is deployed at the forefront, right?" Sokov asked Khokhlov: "Are they ready for battle?"
"Report to the commander," Khokhlov replied: "The troops should be resting in the shelter at this moment. There are special observation posts on the hills that monitor the surrounding environment. Once the enemy is found approaching, they will quickly issue a battle alarm."
"Comrade Colonel," Zhukov asked after he finished speaking, "How big is the observation area of ​​your observation post?"
"Comrade Marshal, the hill we are stationed at is 107.9 meters above sea level. The observation post on the top of the mountain can observe movements within a radius of ten kilometers." Khokhlov explained to Zhukov: "As soon as they find the enemy appears, they will immediately issue a battle alarm. And the commanders and soldiers who are resting in the shelter have enough time to enter their respective defensive positions after hearing the battle alarm."
As he was speaking, the phone ringing on the table rang. Sokov picked it up and heard it was Lieutenant Colonel Goriakickin. After hearing it was Sokov's voice, he said anxiously: "Report to the commander, just now the observation post reported to me that German tanks and armored vehicles appeared in the distance, and were coming to our defense zone along the road."
"How many tanks and armored vehicles do the enemy have?" Sokov asked expressionlessly: "Have you ever checked it in person?"
"Verified," said Goriackin. "I went to the observation post on the top of the mountain and carefully observed it with a telescope. The enemy had about fifty tanks, as well as a large number of armored vehicles, motorcycles and trucks, and were advancing towards us along the road. It took less than an hour to enter our defense zone."
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, have you taken any response?" Sokov asked.
"I have sent a combat alarm to the troops and ordered the soldiers to set up positions. At the same time, several anti-tank teams have been deployed on the roadside."
Chapter completed!