"There are no more friendly troops, Comrade Commander." Although Nekrasov also knew that saying this would have an impact on the morale of the commanders and fighters in the front, he did not draw a blank pie for the other side, but told the truth: "The enemy's outer positions on the east and west sides blocked their attack. In other words, for a long time, you will be able to fight on your own. Understood, Comrade Regiment Commander. ”

The other party hesitated for a while before replying in a firm tone: "Understood, Comrade Division Commander." Our regiment will continue to maintain an offensive posture against the enemy until reinforcements arrive. ”

After Nekrasov hung up the phone, he asked me a little worriedly: "Comrade commander, can the troops of the 71st Guards Division arrive on time?" You must know that I only have two regiments in the city, and we are at an absolute disadvantage in terms of strength and equipment to deal with two German divisions. Don't get there when Tomarovka was not taken, and our troops were eaten by the Germans. ”

"Don't worry, Comrade Colonel." I remember that in history, it took two days from the Soviet offensive to the liberation of Belgorod, and before Tomarovka would have been recaptured, that is, no matter how strong the German army was in this place, they could not besiege the besieging troops. "I'm sure you'll get the reserves soon. If nothing else, we will be able to recapture Tomarovka today. ”

I was talking to Nekrasov when one of the staff officers, who was standing in front of the lookout, suddenly exclaimed: "Enemy planes! ”

When I heard about the enemy planes, my heart couldn't help but tighten, and I said that if the Germans had air supremacy, then no matter how strong our ground forces were, the attack on Tomarovka would probably fail.

I gritted my teeth when I saw several enemy planes circling over the city, swooping down from time to time to drop bombs and strafe. Because of every dive it takes. The bombs dropped and the bullets fired will take the lives of several of our commanders and fighters. I wish I could have brought in the self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery regiment and slammed these damn planes down.

Perhaps seeing their own planes coming to support, the Germans' hidden artillery fire came back to life and began to shell us. The shells exploded near the observation post, sending dust from the roof to the ground puff down. In a few moments, my body was covered with a thick layer of soil.

Seeing this situation, Nekrasov was a little anxious, he walked up to my side and persuaded: "Comrade commander, let's temporarily transfer to the headquarters, there is an anti-artillery hole in the room, which is much safer than here." ”

Although I was terrified at the moment, I wished that I would hide in the artillery hole in the next second to avoid the enemy's shelling. But in front of so many subordinates. I still tried to pretend to be calm and composed, and said, "Comrade Colonel, what are you panicking about? The enemy's artillery fire will not do us much damage here, so let's stay here. "Although I am a dead duck, I still think in my heart that if Nekrasov persuades me again, I will definitely follow him back to the headquarters.

I didn't expect Nekrasov to be a real person, he heard me say that. I really thought I was the kind of character who collapsed in front of Mount Tai and didn't change his face and heartbeat. He stayed with me honestly.

The German artillery in the city was firing, suppressing the regiment that remained in the outlying positions with firepower, covering the troops moving from the left and right flanks of the city, occupying a section of trench fortifications near the edge of the city, cutting off the rear of our troops in the city.

As soon as he saw the troops in the city, the connection with the division headquarters was cut off. Nekrasov was suddenly anxious. He picked up the phone and called the chief of staff who was sitting in the regiment and said urgently: "Hey, comrade chief of staff, have you seen the situation outside? ”

The chief of staff who answered the phone said briefly: "See, comrade division commander." ”

"Chief of Staff. Immediately send a battalion to attack. Nekrasov decisively ordered the other side: "Drive away the enemy who cut off the rear of our army, move quickly!" Do you understand? ”

"Understood, Comrade Division Commander." The chief of staff replied: "I immediately ordered the troops to attack. ”

A few minutes later, I saw hundreds of commanders and fighters, braving enemy fire, rushing out of the trenches and shouting towards the German positions on the edge of the city. Perhaps the Germans had artillery observers hiding in the middle of the forces that cut off the rear of our troops, and the artillery fire that had been bombarding the positions immediately turned and began to block the charging troops.

The charging troops, having suffered some casualties in the artillery fire, had to lie on the ground and wait patiently for the enemy's artillery fire to end before continuing to charge.

"What to do, what to do?" I thought anxiously that if this continued, the two regiments in the city might be eaten by the Germans, and then they would turn around and carry out a counter-assault, and not only would the gains we had achieved today be in vain, but the 52nd Guards Division would be in danger of being wiped out.

Miracles often occur in the most desperate moments, when the roar of airplane motors is heard in the air more and more clearly. A soldier ran in from outside, and said incoherently with excitement: "Planes, many planes, many of our planes, are flying towards us, flying over to bomb the Germans......"

I didn't wait for him to finish, I rushed out of the observation post and stood in the trench and looked in the direction where the sound was coming from. Basmanov, who was on guard duty nearby, hurriedly walked over, pointed to the sky and excitedly said to me: "Comrade commander, you see, our air force has been dispatched. Oh my God, there are so many planes, enough for the Germans to drink a pot. ”

Although when I was in the observation post, I heard a sound in the sky and knew that there were quite a few planes dispatched by our army, but I did not expect that there would be such a large number. Bombers in groups of 50 and attack planes in groups of 12, escorted by 20-30 fighters, were a piece of cake against the enemy planes over Tomarovka.

The fighters, acting as air cover, spotted the enemy planes circling over Tomarovka, and immediately sixteen fighters broke away from the flight formation and, in a formation of four, pounced on the enemy.

The four enemy planes that had been wreaking havoc over Tomarovka for half a day were estimated to have already dropped their bombs and exhausted their onboard machine gun bullets, and were preparing to return home. Suddenly, when he saw the overwhelming flight formation of our army coming, it was estimated that he was already frightened and scattered, and immediately scattered and fled for his life. Our pilots certainly did not let go, and each small formation followed an enemy plane in pursuit.

Drove away the German planes. Next is the start of our strike aircraft formation. Divided into groups of six, they began a surprise attack on the German troops on the ground, suppressing the enemy's artillery and German fire in the trenches with non-stop fire.

"Great, that's great!" As the attack on the ground by the attack aircraft began, the German artillery bombardment gradually weakened until it stopped, and Nekrasov, who was next to him, could not help but cheer excitedly. He called his chief of staff. He said loudly: "Comrade Chief of Staff, send the remaining two battalions as well, and destroy this enemy standing in front of us as soon as possible." ”

When I heard Nekrasov say this, I thought to myself that it is a pity that there are no tanks, otherwise I would have greatly reduced the casualties of the troops. I thought about it casually, but I didn't expect that outside Basmanov suddenly rushed in and excitedly reported to me: "Comrade commander, the tanks of the tank brigade have arrived. ”

I heard that when the tank brigade arrived. My mood suddenly became lighter, and I immediately ordered Nekrasov: "Comrade Colonel, send someone to signal their troops to rush forward directly and cover the infantry to rush into the city." ”

Nekrasov agreed, and immediately ordered a staff officer to send a signal to the tank brigade. The staff officer ran out of the observation post and stood on a relatively high mound of earth, waving two signal flags, one red and one green. Signal the tanks that are speeding here. I sometimes admire the people who invented the flag, a lot of complicated commands. It can all be sent out through the signal flag in the hand of the staff officer.

The tank troops, which were originally formed in two columns, immediately slowed down after seeing the signal, formed a battle formation, and rumbled towards the front. They deliberately slowed down as they passed the commanders and fighters who were lying on their stomachs. so as not to accidentally crush your own people. And those commanders and fighters who were lying on the ground, after the tank passed, immediately came to the side to measure and roll, and after hiding in the shooting corner behind the tank, they stood up. Carrying a weapon, he followed the tank forward.

I've seen so many steps in synergy, but it's the first time I've seen such a perfect fit. I couldn't help but ask Nekrasov: "Comrade Colonel, your troops are quite well trained, you see, the fighters are hiding behind the tanks, so that the enemy's bullets fired from the front, they cannot be harmed." ”

Hearing my question, Nekrasov stared at me with wide eyes and said strangely: "Comrade commander, didn't you teach us this kind of step-to-tank coordination?" ”

"I taught you?" I was confused by his words, and asked in confusion, "When did I teach you?" ”

"You forgot," Nekrasov cautiously reminded me, "that last month, you sent Major Akhromeyev, the chief of operations, to inspect the various units and instruct them in the training of infantry and tank operations. ”

I stared through my binoculars at the tank that was moving forward unhurriedly, and when I saw that the bullets fired by the German machine guns hit the body armor, they could only splash sparks and could not hurt the infantry following behind. After hearing Nekrasov's explanation, I just casually mumbled a few noncommittal mummmmmm

The tanks stopped fifty meters from the German trenches and were not only bombarded by tank guns, but also by vehicle-mounted machine gun fire, which smashed the German soldiers hiding in the mutilated trenches. Seeing that the enemy's resistance was almost destroyed, a commander issued an order, and the commanders and fighters hiding behind the tanks flashed out and rushed towards the enemy's position with their weapons in hand.

"Comrade Commander, take a look." When he saw our commanders and fighters rushing into the trenches and picking up the frightened German troops like hungry wolves in a flock of sheep, Nekrasov exclaimed excitedly: "The Germans can't stand it, and it won't be long before we can destroy them all." ”

After seeing the troops of the other two battalions also attacking Tomarovka, I put down my binoculars and said to Nekrasov with a smile: "Comrade Colonel, under such a powerful three-dimensional offensive of ours, the German army, which has long been discouraged, cannot be stopped. As soon as the troops of the 71st Guards Division arrive, I will go to the city with you to have a look. ”

Nekrasov, who was still full of joy on his face, heard me say this, immediately restrained the smile on his face, and said solemnly: "Comrade commander, the city is too dangerous, and you have no right to risk your life. When the 71st Guards Division arrives, I will personally take the division command to the city to establish a new headquarters. And you, stay here with the commander of the 71st Guards Division, Colonel Sivakov. ”

"Comrade Colonel." Although I knew that he had good intentions, I still stubbornly said: "I still say the same thing, as the commander of the army, I must be with my own soldiers." As for my safety, don't worry, I'm sure Major Basmanov and his men will be able to do it all. ”

After hearing what I said, Nekrasov actually shouted outside: "Major Basmanov, Major Basmanov, please come in." ”

Major Basmanov, whose name he had called, came in from outside, looked at me, then at Nekrasov, and finally asked in confusion: "Comrade division commander, do you have anything to tell me?" ”

Nekrasov pointed his hand at me and asked: "Comrade Major, do you, as the guard of Comrade Commander, have you the responsibility to protect her life?" ”

Although Basmanov didn't know the reason for his question, he nodded honestly and affirmed: "You are right, my task is to protect the life of the commander." ”

"But Comrade Major, now the commander wants to go to the city to direct the battle." Saying this, Nekrasov walked quickly to the lookout, pointed to Tomarovka, who was being bombed by our troops in the distance, and said loudly: "You see, how fierce the battle is ahead, I have no right to let Comrade Commander go to the city to take risks. ”

Hearing Nekrasov say this, Basmanov's face showed an expression of embarrassment. After a long time, he muttered: "Comrade division commander, have you forgotten that according to the regulations, the orders of the superiors are not allowed to be discussed, but can only be carried out?" ”

Nekrasov, who originally thought that he was in charge, suddenly fell down like a deflated ball when he heard Basmanov say this. He lowered his head and said helplessly: "Okay, Comrade Major, you have a point. Then I will obey the orders of the commander. At this point, he looked up at me and said in a firm tone, "Later, I will take the division commander into the city first, and you can only enter the city when you are sure that your safety can be guaranteed." (To be continued.) )

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