Red Moscow

  Chapter 145 The Battle of the Nameless Highland (Part 1)

Sokov knew very well in his heart that he had captured the material transfer station of the German army, captured the prisoner-of-war camp in Duminić, and rescued Yakov who was imprisoned there by the German army. He had become a thorn in the side of the German army and must be eliminated Then and soon goal. Therefore, he ordered the troops to rush to repair the position, strengthen the fortifications, and prepare to meet the possible German attack.

But in the next two days, the enemies in front of the unnamed high ground, apart from the scouts driving armored vehicles, wandering around two or three hundred meters away from the position, and shooting machine guns at the shaking figures on the position, there was no enemy at all. No sign of attack.

   In the area north of Susinich, the fighting is in full swing. The 61st Army, whose commander had been replaced, seemed a little powerless in the face of the German offensive. In just two and a half days, they retreated 30 kilometers from the original occupied position.

   Their retreat completely exposed the right wing of the 16th Army to the German army. Rokossovsky had no choice but to draw troops from Susinich to strengthen his right wing. Chernyshov's 11th Guards Division was emptied, and only one guard platoon was left in the city to guard the division headquarters. Under such circumstances, Chernyshov brought up the old matter again, hoping to transfer two companies from the Istria battalion, so he sent an urgent telegram to the Istria battalion early in the morning.

  When Belgin received the telegram, he said to Sokov with a bitter face: "Comrade battalion commander, the division commander has sent another telegram, ordering us to dispatch two companies to Sukhinich as soon as possible to accept the command of the division headquarters."

"No." Sokov said in a low voice: "The division headquarters stayed in the city and did not go to the front line. A platoon of guards is enough to protect their safety. If they transfer 400 people from two companies, I will If the German army launches a fierce attack on the unnamed heights, we will not be able to defend them at all."

"But, Comrade Battalion Commander." Seeing that Sokov wanted to disobey, Belkin quickly persuaded him: "Judging from the situation in the past two days, the German army has not shown the slightest sign of attacking. I think it is better to obey the order of the division headquarters and deploy two Let’s go to Susinich. Otherwise, the teacher will blame you, and you and I will not be able to bear this responsibility.”

   Sokov sat at the table, staring at the map in front of him with a frown, wondering what the **** the Germans were up to. Apart from daily reconnaissance, there was no sign of an attack. Could it be that the Germans look down on the nameless high ground they are holding on to, and don't bother to send troops to attack? But if you think about it carefully, it doesn't look like it, because the enemy deployed in the south has not withdrawn, and the muzzles of more than a dozen heavy artillery are always aimed at the unnamed high ground.

  He raised his head and looked at Belkin and said: "Comrade Deputy Battalion Commander, don't worry. Let's put aside the order of the division headquarters for the time being. Wait patiently and see what the **** the Germans are doing."

Seeing Sokov's stubbornness, Belkin had no choice but to sigh, put Chernyshov's telegram on the table, and said helplessly: "Okay, Comrade Battalion Commander, we will wait. But after noon, in any case, troops must be dispatched to Susinich immediately."

Sokov said to him unhurriedly: "Deputy Battalion Commander, you have to trust my judgment. We have made such a big commotion recently, and the division commander von Giles was dismissed. The Germans have long treated us. He hates it to the bone, wishing to tear us to pieces. The reason why there is no movement for so long must be that the preparations have not been completed."

   Time passed minute by minute, and it was almost noon. Unexpectedly, the German army had not yet launched an offensive, but Chernyshov personally called. Chernyshev asked angrily on the phone: "Major Sokov, I will send you a report at six o'clock in the morning, asking you to dispatch two companies to Sukhinich. But it is almost noon now, and I I didn’t even see a single figure, explain to me, what’s going on here?”

"Comrade commander." Sukov heard that Chernyshov was angry, and quickly explained to him: "I think the unnamed heights may be attacked by the Germans at any time. If we withdraw our troops and leave, our defense will be weakened." weak..."

"Stop talking nonsense," Chernyshov said in a loud voice, dissatisfied: "Don't you know the orders of your superiors and you must obey them? I will give you another three hours. If it is three o'clock in the afternoon, I have not yet Seeing your troops appear in Susinich, you will be removed as battalion commander."

Belkin, who was standing aside, was terrified by Chernyshov's tone. As soon as he saw Sokov put down the phone, he couldn't wait to ask: "Comrade battalion commander, what should we do now? If we don't draw troops Rush to Susinich, then you will be dismissed directly."

  Although Sokov insisted on his opinion that the Unnamed Heights would be violently attacked by the German army, Chernyshov had already issued such a stern order, and if he continued to resist, there would be no good end. Thinking of this, he picked up the phone on the table and connected the third company on the high ground. After hearing Saviev's voice, he asked straight to the point: "Captain Saviev, how is the situation there? Is anyone moving?"

"There is no movement, Comrade Battalion Commander." Savyev gave Sokov an affirmative answer: "My observation post has been closely monitoring the German positions in the distance, but there is no movement at all. It is estimated that they will still not be able to attack today." attack us."

   "I see." After Sokov finished speaking, he hung up the phone directly, and said to Belkin who was standing aside: "According to Savyev's report, there is no movement at all on the German positions."

   Hearing that the German army had not moved, Belkin quickly asked: "Then shall we transfer troops to Suhinich?"

  Sokov sighed, and said helplessly: "Deputy Battalion Commander, give the order to the second company and the machine gun company to pack up and follow me to Suhinich in an hour."

Seeing that Sokov finally agreed to transfer troops to Sukhinich, Belkin breathed a sigh of relief. He readily agreed, then picked up the phone and called Andrei from the second company and Vasily from the machine gun company. , Informing them to gather troops and prepare to move towards Susinich immediately.

   An hour later, Sokov marched towards Suhinich on foot with the assembled second company and machine gun company. Vasily left the team, ran to the front and walked side by side with Sokov, and asked curiously: "Comrade battalion commander, did the superiors see that there was no fighting here on the unnamed highlands, so they transferred us to Susinich? "

  Sokov did not immediately answer his question, but asked instead: "Do you think the Germans will attack the unnamed highland?"

"It stands to reason that we have caused the Germans to suffer such a big loss, so they should take revenge. I have all the soldiers in the company prepare to go to the high ground for reinforcements." Vasily frowned, and said with some wonder: "But It's so strange how many days have passed and the Germans haven't moved at all."

  Sokov stopped in his tracks, turned his head and asked Vasily: "Why, you also think there is a problem with the Germans?"

   "Yes, I think so." Vasily also stopped and said to Sokov: "I suspect that this is a German conspiracy. They want to wait until our army is paralyzed before launching a sudden attack."

  Sokov heard that Vasily's thoughts coincided with his own, and he further believed that the German army's delay in attacking was just an illusion. He just wanted to confuse himself so that he would be caught off guard for a certain period of time. Thinking of this, he raised his right hand high and shouted loudly: "The troops stop advancing!"

   "The troops stop advancing!"…

  His order was immediately and faithfully conveyed, and the advancing troops stopped.

  Andrei, who was walking at the end of the line, saw the troops stop, trotted quickly to the front of the line, and asked Sukov out of breath, "Comrade battalion commander, why did the troops stop?"

  (end of this chapter)