Red Moscow

  Chapter 150 Switching

   Sokov received a call from Porochenko and found it a bit unbelievable that the German tank unit that was trying to go around to the back of the high ground had been wiped out. I wondered how this was possible. A single anti-tank gun destroyed eight German tanks and four armored vehicles. No matter how I heard it, I thought it was a fantasy.

  If the Germans were really so vulnerable, they should have retreated to the border under the powerful attack of the Soviet army at this moment, instead of staying only two or three hundred kilometers away from Moscow and engaging in repeated tug-of-war. Sokov was silent for a moment, and asked in an unbelievable tone: "Second Lieutenant Porochenko, are you sure that the German tank squad has been wiped out by you?"

To Sokov's question, Porochenko replied decisively: "Comrade battalion commander, some tankers and soldiers fled back, but their tanks and armored vehicles were destroyed by us. To be precise, the anti-tank artillery Seven tanks and three armored vehicles were destroyed, and the remaining tank and armored vehicle were destroyed by an anti-tank mine."

Perhaps because he was worried about what Sokov would ask again, he added specifically: "The gunners in our platoon are not only highly skilled, but also have rich combat experience. They want to destroy fixed targets within 300-500 meters. Very easy."

After listening to Porochenko's explanation, Sokov felt that he was thinking too much. These soldiers in the artillery platoon were all rescued from the German prisoner-of-war camp not long ago. Everything they experienced made their hearts full. It is because of the deep-rooted hatred for the Japanese invaders that it has such a good performance on the battlefield.

   "Good job, Comrade Second Lieutenant." After confirming the results of the battle, Sokov said approvingly: "I will report the results you have achieved to your superiors and apply for awards for you."

   Porochenko suppressed the excitement in his heart, and asked in a calm tone: "Comrade battalion commander, what is the next task we have in line?"

"The task of your platoon has been completed." Sokov thought that even if the German army lost more than a dozen tanks and armored vehicles at once, it would be impossible to assemble an army of the same size in a short period of time to detour the highlands. Then he told Porochenko: "You immediately arrange manpower to dismantle the anti-tank gun and find a suitable place to bury it."

   "What, disassemble the gun and find a place to bury it?" Regarding Sokov's order, Porochenko asked incomprehensibly: "Then how will we deal with German tanks and armored vehicles in the future?"

"The anti-tank guns you use have been discontinued long ago, and all the shells you have are gone, leaving only a pile of scrap iron." Sokov explained to Porochenko: "I asked you to dismantle it and bury it. It is to wait for the end of the war in the future to dig it out and send it to the museum, so that our descendants will remember: In February 1942, the artillery platoon of the Istria Battalion wiped out the German army with 12 shells. A quick squad of . . . "

   "Understood, Comrade Battalion Commander." Porochenko waited for Sokov to finish speaking, and said straightforwardly: "I will immediately arrange for people to dismantle the anti-tank gun and find a suitable place to bury it."

  As soon as the German bombardment of the high ground ended, the infantry immediately launched a charge, trying to cooperate with the detoured fast troops to seize the high ground held by the third company. But not long after the offensive started, the German commander got the news that the rapid detachment had been wiped out, and hurriedly withdrew the attacking troops.

  Sokov received a call from Stepan and knew that the German army had retreated, so he quickly asked, "Instructor Stepan, what are the casualties of the troops?"

   "I just counted, the whole company can still fight, including the wounded, there are only 83 people left."

After listening to Stepan's report, Sokov's heart sank suddenly. He knew that in order to repel the two German attacks, the third company paid a high price, but he did not expect that the number of casualties exceeded half. It's like being disabled. He tentatively asked: "Comrade instructor, can your company continue to fight?"

From Sokov's tone of voice, Stepan heard the other party's plan to withdraw the third company, and quickly stated: "Please rest assured, Comrade Battalion Commander, even if there is still one person in the third company, the Germans will never be let go." Set foot on our ground."

Thinking that the defense will be changed tomorrow, if the situation is not critical, Sokov does not plan to send the company to reinforce the third company. After all, he will soon be transferred to a new direction to participate in more brutal battles. The troops in his hands It doesn't hurt to have more. But before putting down the phone, he still told Stepan: "When you need support, remember to call me immediately."

  The German army attacking the highlands lost troops, not only lost more than 200 officers and soldiers, but also lost a fast detachment composed of more than a dozen tanks and armored vehicles. As a result, the German commander mistakenly believed that the Soviet army had deployed at least one or two anti-tank companies on the side of the high ground, otherwise it would be absolutely impossible to wipe out his fast detachment so quickly, so he gave up his plan to take another risk, and at the same time The attack on the high ground was also stopped.

   Early the next morning, the vanguard of the 411th Infantry Division arrived at the unnamed highland. A captain walked into the battalion command post, raised his hand to salute Sokov, and said dryly: "Comrade major, I am Captain Kochin, commander of the 1st Battalion of the 1033rd Infantry Regiment, and I have been ordered to take over your defense."

"Take over the defense?!" After returning the salute to the captain, Sokov exchanged glances with Belkin and asked Kochin in surprise, "Comrade captain, didn't the superior say that the defense would be changed in the evening? Why did you come so early? "

"That's right, Comrade Major." Lieutenant Cochin replied, "Our battalion received an order from our superiors yesterday to rush here to take over the defense before this evening. But the superiors suddenly informed us that you are going to carry out important combat missions. , so let’s switch defenses early.”

   After figuring out what was going on, Sokov handed over to Captain Cochin. In addition to the detailed defense map of the high ground, he even handed over the distribution map of the minefield where only ten anti-tank mines were laid. According to the order brought by Captain Kochin, after the defense change, Captain Liuba's women's anti-aircraft machine gun company remained in the current position and continued to be responsible for the air defense mission on the high ground.

  The defense change between the two troops is very cumbersome and time-consuming. At this moment, Sokov was eager to know the combat mission that his superiors were about to issue, so he handed over the aftermath to Belkin, and took a guard squad and rushed to Susinich by truck.

  (end of this chapter)