Red Moscow

  Chapter 81 Takes Susinich lightly

  Although Sokov never ordered the commanders under his command to rush ahead of the soldiers when attacking. But today he held a submachine gun and walked at the front of the team with his head held high. Would the company commanders still have the nerve to hide behind the soldiers? Several company commanders lined up and followed Sokov in a row.

Battalion commanders and company commanders are at the front of the line, and those who are platoon leaders are naturally not able to squeeze together with the soldiers, so they also quicken their pace, surpassing the soldiers around them, and line up behind the company commanders. Loose rows.

  The first barbed wire fence of the German army was arranged one kilometer in front of the position. Seeing that the team was about to reach the barbed wire fence, the soldiers of the engineering platoon rushed forward, cut the wire with large pliers, and gathered them together so that the troops could pass through smoothly. After doing all this, they continued to run forward, marking the passage in the minefield with small flags, and went to cut the next barbed wire.

Sokov, who was leading the troops forward, was sweating in his hands all the time. He was worried that his judgment had gone wrong. The enemy's retreat was just a conspiracy. The weapons fired again, inflicting heavy damage on the Istria Battalion.

   But fortunately, after passing through the barbed wire barriers set up by the Five Virtue Army in succession, the opposite position was still quiet, with no movement at all. Sokov murmured silently in his heart: "There are still one hundred and fifty meters away from the German position, and there are the last two barbed wire fences. As long as they pass through this obstacle zone, the soldiers can change from striding to trotting. In order to be able to occupy the enemy's position in time."

   At this moment, a few figures suddenly appeared in the German trenches in the distance. Although the distance was still far away, Sokov instinctively turned his gun, aimed at those people, put his finger on the trigger, and was ready to shoot at any time.

   "Comrade Battalion Commander, it's our scout." Andrei behind Sokov suddenly exclaimed in surprise: "It's Pavel! It's the scout team led by Pavel!"

  Hearing Andrei's shout, Sokov took a closer look, yes, the person standing in the trench is not Pavel? Pavel looked at the large troops heading towards them, quickly climbed out of the trench, and ran towards Sukov's position quickly.

  The engineers of the engineer platoon had already cut all the barbed wire fences of the German army, so that Pavel could run in front of Sokov smoothly. Since he was on the battlefield, he did not salute Sokov, but straightened his back and said loudly: "Comrade Battalion Commander, Corporal Pavel has followed your order and completed the reconnaissance of Sukhinich. to report to you."

   "Corporal Pavel," Sokov put his left hand on Pavel's shoulder, and asked nervously, "How is the situation in the city? What are the Germans doing?"

   "Report to Comrade Battalion Commander, according to our reconnaissance, the enemy has abandoned all positions outside the city." Pavel said excitedly: "The enemy in the city is preparing to retreat."

  After learning from Pavel that the German army was about to retreat, Sokov finally put his heart in his stomach. He quickly began to issue orders: "Lieutenant Savyev!"

   Savyev, who was following behind, quickly replied: "Here!"

"Your third company is responsible for occupying the positions of the German army outside the city." After giving the order to Saviev, Sokov said loudly to the other company commanders: "The first company, the second company, and the machine gun company, follow up with the German army." I will rush into the city." Of course, he did not forget to order the radio operator behind him, "Immediately report to the division headquarters, saying that according to reconnaissance, the enemy in Suhinich City is retreating. Our battalion has occupied the outer positions of the German army. , we are continuing to advance towards the urban area, please follow-up troops to catch up as soon as possible."

   Following the order, Savyev rushed into the enemy's position with the soldiers of the third company, and quickly seized the favorable terrain. The other companies, like the tide, overflowed the enemy's position and rushed towards the city.

Just when Sokov's troops occupied the German positions, at the headquarters of the 11th Guards Division a few kilometers away, artillery commander Kazakov saw that it was time to prepare for artillery fire, so he sent a message to Rokosovs. Ji asked for instructions: "Comrade Commander, it's time for bombardment soon. Are we going to implement the original plan?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Chernyshov objected: "No, General Kazakov, you can't fire. The Istria battalion is advancing towards Sukhinich. If you shell, it will easily hurt your own people." .” In order to prevent Kazakov from going his own way, he also sought support from Rokossovsky, “Comrade Commander, I strongly recommend stopping the shelling. Do you agree?”

Before Rokossovsky could make a choice, he heard the chief of staff of the division shout excitedly: "Commander, I just received a report from the Istria Battalion that they have occupied the outer positions of the German army and are advancing towards the urban area. , and request the follow-up troops to catch up as soon as possible."

   Hearing what the division chief of staff said, Rokossovsky quickly winked at Chernyshov and motioned him to answer the phone. Chernyshov nodded, walked to the radio, took the headset from the chief of staff, put it on, and said into the microphone: "I am the division commander Chernyshov, and you are Captain Sokov. ?"

   "Hello, Comrade Commander! I am the radio operator." A strange voice came from the headset: "The battalion commander has personally led people into the city."

   Knowing that Sokov has entered the city, Chernyshov, in order to find out the situation, still asked unhurriedly: "How is the situation there, has there been an exchange of fire with the Germans?"

   "There is no one on the German positions outside the city." The operator replied: "According to scouts, the Germans in the city are also busy retreating..."

   When Chernyshov wanted to continue asking, Rokossovsky stopped him. The latter looked at him and said: "General Chernyshov, the situation has become clear. The Germans are retreating. Immediately order your troops to approach Sukhinich and cooperate with Captain Sokov to seize the city."

   When Chernyshov went to deliver orders to the troops, Rokossovsky told Kazakov again: "General Kazakov, since the German army has abandoned the outer positions, our artillery preparations can be cancelled."

   "I'll call the artillery regiment immediately." Kazakov replied with a smile on his face: "Order them to stop shelling the outer positions of Susinich, so as not to accidentally injure our own people."

Seeing that the entire division was busy, Rokossovsky picked up the telegram on the table and said into the microphone: "This is Rokossovsky, please pick me up from the 324th Infantry Division immediately. , find the division commander, General Kiryukhin." After hearing Kiryukhin's voice, he did not go around in circles, but directly ordered, "Comrade commander, the vanguard of the 11th Guards Division has rushed into Susi Nicky, don't hesitate, your division, act immediately and cooperate with the friendly forces to seize the city."

  Kiryukhin was taken aback when he learned that some troops had entered Susinich. He thought that the artillery preparations before the attack had not even started, so why did some troops rush into the city? But he did not ask Rokossovsky what was going on, but replied decisively: "Understood, Comrade Commander, I will immediately order the troops to advance to Sukhinich."

   Thanks to book friend Ping Ming, old driver Kozlov, book friend 20170629194441588, and invincible Xiao Xixi for their support!

   Thanks to the book friends who voted for recommendation and collected support!

  (end of this chapter)