Gerhard guessed correctly, the Soviet artillery was indeed strengthened.

In fact, it was not a reinforcement, but the follow-up troops passed through Holm on the way to intersperse, so they were temporarily assigned to the 33rd Soviet Division by Pukaev to assist them in their attack.

General Pukaev was convinced that if more troops and firepower could be deployed in the same time, the victory would be achieved with less damage, so why not?

As a result, Pukaev incorporated a rocket artillery regiment and an infantry brigade into the 33rd Infantry Division, under the command of Major General Vardani, so that he could form an absolute superiority over the Germans in terms of strength and firepower.

The bombardment lasted for half an hour, and then the artillery fire extended deep into the German positions, and the Soviet soldiers jumped from their hideouts and rushed towards the Lovati River with a shout.

Gunfire soon rang out on the other side, but it was weak, there was a silent rifle fire in many positions, and only a few machine guns made the charging Soviet troops feel a little threatened.

Major-General Vardani was pleased with the situation, and he turned to Matevich beside him and said: "Comrade Commissar, as I said, the living forces of the Germans have been destroyed by us, and their defense line on the Lovadi River is vulnerable!" ”

Although Matevich still couldn't believe it, he couldn't say anything when he saw the scene in front of him...... The Soviet offensive was overwhelming, and Vardani threw a regiment of more than 3,000 people in this direction, and more than 20 tanks attacked along the two bridges in two directions. (Note: The two bridges have been frozen in the river and even covered with a thick layer of snow, and there is no point in blowing them up)

Although the east bank of the Lovati River had a height difference of more than five meters and it was difficult to climb, the Soviets prepared ladders, spikes and other tools, and the Germans did seem to be doomed this time.

But Matevic still felt that something was wrong.

One of the characteristics of most of the political workers in the Soviet Union is that they are extremely lacking in military knowledge and combat experience...... This was mainly determined by the partisan demands of the political workers, their ideological loyalty to Stalin, and their firm will, rather than the demands of real learning. This directly led to the fact that the Soviet army made low-level mistakes again and again on the battlefield and lost a large number of soldiers.

For example, in the war with Finland, the Soviet army even had an almost absurd situation of advancing hand in hand and singing military songs towards the enemy's line (otherwise there would not have been more than 300,000 casualties in the Soviet-Finnish war).

But Matevich was an exception, perhaps because his father was a World War I veteran who instilled tactical thinking in him from an early age.

"Comrade Vardani!" Matvich watched the Soviet soldiers easily occupy the Lovati River defense line and suggested: "I think we should gain a foothold on the Lovati River and move forward!" ”

"No, Comrade Commissar!" Vardani replied: "You should know that the Lovati River is not suitable for defense!" ”

In this regard, Vardani was right, to be precise, it was not suitable for the defense of the Soviet army, because behind the Soviet army was a five-meter-high cliff, and once it was attacked by the enemy, there was no way to retreat.

"But it's night!" Matevich said: "If you rush forward, you will probably fall into the trap laid by the enemy!" ”

"What kind of traps will there be?" Vardani replied: "We have tanks and they don't, we have several times more troops...... No matter what's in their way, they'll trample the enemy under their feet like a bug! ”

Hearing this, Matevich had nothing to say.

Then the correspondent sent the good news to Major General Vardani:

"The 1st Battalion occupies the predetermined position!"

"The third battalion occupies the predetermined position!"

……

"Keep going!" Major General Vardani ordered loudly: "It's time to drive these aggressors out of the USSR, they will regret not surrendering!" ”

It is understandable that Major General Vardani gave such an order, and the German defense area was a curved strip, like a bean.

Attack from the west to break through the German lines, and push a few miles further to enter another German line of eastward lines. As a result, the Soviet army was able to easily divide the German defense zone into two so that it could not echo each other, and then occupy the entire German defense zone as if it were a bamboo.

However, at this very moment, a burst of gunfire was heard on the defense line of the Lovati River.

"These idiots!" Major General Vardani couldn't help frowning and scolded: "They didn't even wipe out the enemy!" ”

Major General Vardani's first reaction was that the Soviets were advancing too fast, so they left a part of the remnants of the Lovadi River defense line that had not been cleared.

Matevich exclaimed with a solemn expression: "I said, that may be a trap for the Germans!" ”

Major General Valdani laughed: "I don't think so, it is impossible for them to suddenly appear in our rear......"

Before the words fell, the gunfire on the Lowati line became more and more intense, and then it became a loud one, and then grenades continued to be thrown from the line, blowing up the following Soviet troops under the line...... The Soviets were cut into two sections in an instant.

Matevich was right, this was indeed a trap prepared by Qin Chuan for the Soviet army.

The trap is actually quite simple:

First of all, the vanguard of the Soviet army was spared the line of defense on the Lovati River...... This trick can be said to lure the enemy deeper, because the Soviets hope to split the German army in two and achieve a decisive victory in one fell swoop, so they will quickly advance without stopping to consolidate their positions. This makes them a weak point in the rear while advancing.

Unbeknownst to the Soviets, the Germans were hiding in cellars beneath their feet as they advanced eastward, and these cellars also had access to the Lowady River defense line.

Of course, these passages are sealed with snow.

Needless to say, when the time came, the Germans suddenly came out of the tunnels to reoccupy the Lovati line and surrounded the Soviet troops who had broken through the line in one fell swoop.

"We are surrounded!" Matvich shouted angrily at Vardani: "Because of your stupidity, a regiment, as well as a tank battalion, is surrounded by the enemy!" ”

Major General Vardani hurriedly ordered the 73rd Infantry Regiment as a reserve to attack the Lovady River line, and the other side ordered the 164th Infantry Regiment, which had broken through the line, to continue to advance desperately.

Major General Vardani's order was correct, if the 164th Regiment was allowed to turn its guns, there would be confusion, and even worse, it would collide with the attacking 73rd Regiment and cause friendly casualties.

Therefore, he could only let the 164th Regiment continue to attack, so that it was possible to fight to the death.

But what Major General Valdani didn't know was that the 164th Regiment jumped into a net that could not be broken.