Burning Moscow

"Comrade Deputy Commander, you are so optimistic." Bezikov said jokingly, "Don't you find the weakness of the Beretank unit?"

"Weakness, what weakness?" Danilov said with a blank face, "I think it's a good fight like them. The German troops that were attacked by them would not be able to stop them without the cover of planes and artillery. assault."

Bezikov grabbed the map on the table, held it in his hand and walked in front of Danilov. If they can move in the defensive area of ​​the group army, if they cross over Yakovlevo to the south, they will be killed by German aircraft and artillery like a target because they cannot replenish fuel and ammunition."

Danilov took over the map in Bezikov's hand, looked at it several times, and said with a flat mouth: "I thought that as long as a few more tank units of this kind are organized, the strength of the German army can be greatly weakened. Well, I didn’t expect that I would still be subject to logistical restrictions. It’s really an empty joy."

"Comrade Deputy Commander, you can't say that." Seeing Danilov's frustrated face, I quickly picked up a telegram that I had just received and stuffed it into his hand. At the same time, I comforted him and said, "From daytime According to the situation of the reconnaissance, the German army originally planned to transfer the 19th Armored Division and another infantry division to the Prokhorovka area, but after being attacked by Colonel Bere and the others, the German army stopped the movement and is still staying in place. ."

Hearing what I said, Danilov quickly picked up the telegram and scanned the contents of the telegram carefully twice. Then he breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Anyway, the actions of Colonel Bie Lei are still very It was successful. At least part of the German forces was constrained. They could not concentrate their superior forces and attack a certain point in our defense zone."

"Although the Germans are currently in our defense zone, they can't take advantage of it. They also paid a lot of money." I said distressedly: "But they have successfully split our defense line and let the first line of defense. The three guards were in a situation where they were fighting each other. All of our original plans were disrupted. At present, these three divisions can barely defend themselves, and are unable to launch an effective offensive against the Germans."

"Then what should we do?" Bezikov asked briefly: "If the status quo is not changed as soon as possible, even if a major counteroffensive begins, it is estimated that the three front guard divisions will be like Stalingrad's defense during the war. Like the 62nd Army, it can only stick to its existing positions and rely on tenacious defense to consume the enemy's vital forces."

"Comrade Deputy Commander." After hearing Bezikov's question, I turned my eyes to Danilov and asked him humbly: "Do you have any good ideas?"

After putting the map in his hand on the table, Danilov shook his head, pretending to say deeply: "It is very difficult to gather all our strength. Unless..."

"Unless what?" Seeing that Danilov was about to sell, Bezikov hurriedly asked: "Comrade Deputy Commander, you can just say whatever you think of it, can't you just stop our appetite like that?"

"Come and see," Danilov called us to the table. Pointing to the map and telling us: "Why are our three front guard divisions now in a situation where they are fighting separately, because their strength is too weak. They will be separated by the superior German army."

"Comrade Deputy Commander," Kirilov, who was writing the report, put down his pen, looked at it, and asked tentatively: "If I'm not mistaken, you mean let us send a force to strengthen these. Troops, strengthen their existing strength and regain all the positions lost in the first line of defense. Right?"

After listening to Kirilov's analysis, I immediately turned my eyes to Danilov to see how he reacted. Unexpectedly, he nodded. Affirmatively said: "Yes, Comrade Military Commissioner. You are right, that's what I meant." He turned his face to look at me and said. "Comrade Commander, I still don't understand. You clearly have complete guards in your hands, but why are you so reluctant to put them on the battlefield?"

"It's only the initial stage of the battle. We will put all our forces in. When we reach the later stage, we still have mobile forces that can be used?" I didn't tell them the truth, but in a few days, the Soviet army will A full-scale counterattack will be launched. I don't want to put the main force of the counterattack on the ground in a war of attrition with the Germans and consume them in vain. Sometimes it feels really uncomfortable to know something that others don't know, but can't say it.

After I finished speaking, Danilov laughed contemptuously, and then asked in a mocking tone: "Comrade Commander, then I can ask you, when can we use the mobile force you mentioned? "

I thought for a while, then stretched out a finger and said to Danilov: "A week, a week later, regardless of the situation on the battlefield, I will put all the guards that have not been used into battle."

"Well, since you say that, then I believe you." Danilov said reluctantly: "During this period of time, I will cooperate with you with all my strength to prevent the Germans from further penetrating our defenses. Deep."

We were talking when Lopukhov, who was standing next to a radio, called me: "Comrade Commander, there is your call."

I stopped talking with Danilov, walked over to take the call from the major, and asked casually, "Do you know who is calling?"

Lopukhov nodded and said affirmatively: "It was a call from Lieutenant General Rotmistrov, the commander of the Fifth Guards Tank Army. He said that he has important matters to discuss with you."

Hearing Rot Mistrov’s name, I guessed it would be related to the battle of the tanks. I hurriedly put the headphones on my ear and said politely: "Hello, Rot Mistrov General, this is Oshanina, do you have any instructions?"

Rotmistrov smiled and said: "Comrade Oshanina, how dare I give you any instructions? You know that we are all the same military rank. I called you today because I have something to do. Please help."

"If you have anything, please tell me, Comrade General."

"That's it, according to our reconnaissance. The German troops of the Hitler Division, the Imperial Division, and the Skeleton Division are gathering in the Prokhorovka area and seem to be preparing for a large-scale tank battle with us." Rotmistrov gushed: "Although we have more tanks than them. But because the tankers are not proficient in the control of the new tanks, it doesn't matter if we fight with the Germans on a large scale. In tank warfare, we won't have much advantage on the battlefield."

"Comrade General, just say what you want to say." When I heard him circle around for a long time without talking about business, I interrupted him and said straightforwardly: "As long as I can help you, I will definitely not refuse."

"Really? That's great." Rotmistrov didn't expect me to be without knowing what he was going to say. He offered to help him, and suddenly became excited: "Comrade Oshanina, my request is very simple. When our army and the German army are engaged in a large-scale tank battle, you can send troops to attack and harass the German army to store fuel. And the ammunition camp. As long as the German logistics is cut off, no matter how many tanks they have, we will all be wiped out in the end."

"Do you know where the Germans are hoarding fuel and ammunition?" I can't wait to ask, because once I know the location of the German warehouses, even the tanks can't kill them. Our air force can also cause them heavy losses. However, we must first figure out where the German warehouse is before we can proceed to the next step.

"It's a pity, Comrade Oshanina." Rotmistrov said apologetically, "Although we have sent people to conduct reconnaissance. But we have not waited to find the enemy's warehouse. So I can only ask you for We provide the necessary help to harass the enemy from behind so that they cannot concentrate all their forces and launch a full-scale attack on the Prokhorovka area."

After I listened to him, I said solemnly: "Well, Comrade General, since you have made such a request, as your friend. I will definitely provide you with help within my power."

After putting down the phone, I directed to Danilov and Bezikov and said: "Lieutenant General Rotmistrov said on the phone. They may launch a large-scale tank battle with the Germans in the near future. We provide them with assistance."

"But. Comrade Commander." Before I could finish, Danilov interrupted me and said to himself: "We have a limited number of tanks in our hands. If we want to fight Rothemis on the battlefield, It is almost impossible for General Troff to provide support."

"Comrade Deputy Commander, how can you say that?" As soon as he was finished, Bezikov retorted with his eyes wide open. "Since General Rotmistrov is our friend, they are fighting with him. How can we stand by when the Germans are at war? Even if the number of tanks is limited, we have to find a way to piece together a tank unit to reinforce them."

"Deputy Commander, Chief of Staff, stop arguing between you two." I saw that the two of you showed signs of quarreling, and quickly stopped them and said: "General Rotmistrov didn't let us send tanks to join him. Fight, but hope that after the start of their tank war with the Germans, we will send troops to harass the oil depots and ammunition depots behind the Germans so that there is no fuel in the tanks of the German tanks and no shells in the gun chambers, so they can easily All the German armored units were killed."

"Then what should we do?" Danilov and Bezikov asked in unison.

Seeing the rare understanding of the two men, I couldn’t help but smile, and then said: “For the German warehouses storing fuel and ammunition, whether we send tank troops to attack, or plane bombing and artillery bombardment, the current priority is To find the specific location of the enemy’s warehouse. Otherwise, where shall we find such a wide area?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander, you are right." Bezikov grabbed the phone on the table as he said, turned his head and said to me before dialing, "I'll call Captain Travkin over and let him He personally takes people to perform this task."

Among my many subordinates, Captain Trafkin is a person who is particularly valued by me. I like to entrust him to carry out many important reconnaissance missions because I believe he has the ability to complete the mission. However, his performance is also expected to be outstanding, and he has never failed my trust, and has successfully completed the tasks I gave him every time.

When he stood upright in front of me, I repeated General Rotmistrov's request, and then asked him: "Comrade Captain, I will leave you with the task of finding the enemy's warehouse. But I will leave it to you. Time is very tight. I can only give you two days, which means that you must complete the task before midnight on July 11. Can you do it?"

After listening to my order, Trafkin frowned. After thinking about it for a long time, he nodded and replied with a firm expression: "Comrade Commander, please rest assured, I will definitely be within the stipulated time. Complete the task you gave me."

Trafkin’s answer made me feel very at ease. Since he said it can be done, I believe he can definitely complete the task. UU reading www.uukanshu.com, I smiled and said to him: "Since there is no problem, Comrade Lieutenant, you should go back and make preparations. Bring two more radio stations so that you can get in touch with the headquarters at any time. Remember, even if it's early. It’s very important for us to feed back information in minutes, understand?"

"Understood!" After Telfkin replied loudly, he saluted me and turned and walked out of the command post.

After Travkin left, Danilov asked curiously: "Comrade Commander, after we discover the location of the enemy's warehouse, how can we destroy it?"

"Comrade Deputy Commander, it's very simple. There are two ways." I stretched out **** to him and said, "The first is to let Colonel Bere’s tank unit sneak into the enemy’s warehouse in the dark. Destroy it with tank fire. The second method is for Povsky’s artillery to use rockets to cover firepower according to the coordinates provided by Captain Travkin. I don’t believe that under such artillery fire, the German warehouses can still be used. Survived."

"Yes, yes, these two methods are good." Danilov nodded with excitement after hearing this: "If the German warehouse is not heavily guarded, we will send a tank unit to attack; if the defense is tight, we will use it. Rocket launchers conduct long-range attacks. I don’t believe that even if the enemy’s heavy forces can block our ground attack, can they still block the rocket shells falling from the sky?” (To be continued.)