Chistyakov's combat deployment was decent, but my heart was never steady, after all, this kind of frontal attack style of play was something I had always been reluctant to use. In the battle to liberate Kharkov, I used the frontal attack style of multiple sorties and breakthroughs at multiple points, although the speed of the attack was greatly accelerated, and at the same time, the casualties of the troops reached a level that was unacceptable to me.

Thinking of this, I picked up the phone on the table and asked the communications corps to connect to the command post of the 309th Regiment. When Lukin's voice came out of the earpiece, I asked, "Hey, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I want to ask you, what is the terrain near Izyum?" ”

When Lukin heard my question, he was stunned for a moment and then replied: "Comrade commander, the Germans have built three lines of defense north of Izyum, connected by communication trenches, and as long as we can occupy their first line of defense, then we can divide the army into two lines. One continued to attack along the road, while the other made full use of the German trenches and advanced into the depth of their defenses. ”

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I already know about the defense of the German army north of Izyum in the information you provided." When I heard him say this, I knew that he had misunderstood me, and quickly explained: "I want to know what the terrain of the other three sides of Izyum City is?" ”

"The terrain on the other three sides?" Lukin was surprised by what I said, but he replied truthfully: "According to reconnaissance, the west and south sides of Izyum are dense forests, and the soil in them is soft and impassable for technical equipment. To the east, there is a plain, but there is no shelter there, as long as you choose a commanding height to set up an observation post, you can see the situation within a dozen kilometers of the surrounding area. ”

Lukin said that the soil in the forest was soft, and it made me understand that the plan to send tanks through the forest was unrealistic. Although the terrain in the east is flat, which is conducive to the deployment of large-scale tank forces, if the enemy sets up observation posts on the commanding heights, then our every move will be under the enemy's surveillance.

Seeing that I was holding a microphone in a daze, Chistyakov patted me on the shoulder and kindly reminded: "Hey, Comrade Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Lukin is still waiting for your order." ”

Hearing Chistyakov say this, I remembered that I was talking to Lieutenant Colonel Lukin, smiled wryly, and then said to Lukin: "Okay, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, this is the end of our conversation. I'll call you when I remember what I need to ask. ”

"Comrade Commander, please wait." Hearing that I wanted to hang up the phone, Lukin hurriedly stopped me, and then asked a little embarrassedly: "I heard that you let the 375th Infantry Division serve as the vanguard, I don't know when you can let us join the regiment?" ”

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, don't worry." For Lukin, who was eager to fight, I said with an official smile: "When it's time for you to play, I will naturally let you go up." Tell the commanders and fighters not to think about fighting all the time, but to take advantage of the rare rest time of the current situation to take a good rest, so that when your regiment is put into battle, you can burst out with the strongest combat effectiveness. ”

"Understood, Comrade Commander." Lukin also replied with a smile: "I will convey your words to the warriors." ”

As soon as I put down the phone, Chistyakov asked tentatively: "Why, Comrade Commander, do you plan to attack from other directions at the same time as the frontal attack?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Deputy Commander." Without hiding my true thoughts from Chistyakov, I truthfully said: "Although we have equipped each infantry regiment with a tank battalion, it will be very difficult to quickly break through the German lines. I feared that it would be like the 53rd Army's frontal attack on Kharkov, which lasted more than ten days and suffered 20,000 or 30,000 casualties, but only advanced less than five kilometers. ”

"Comrade Commander, you are too worried." Chistyakov said to me with a smile: "As far as I know, the defense of the German army in the Izyum region is far less solid than that of Kharkov. Even if the 375th Infantry Division could not break through the German lines, what about the 51st, 52nd and 89th Guards Divisions that would go up next? Could it be that the repeated attacks of these three guards divisions could not tear a gap in the enemy's impregnable defensive line? ”

"I hope so." Seeing that Chistyakov was so optimistic, I couldn't spoil his interest, so I could only follow him and say: "You must know that these guards divisions are the main forces attacking Belgorod and Kharkov, and I believe that if they capture a small city like Izyum, they can also achieve brilliant results." ”

It was at this moment that I saw Akhromeyev walk in from outside. He walked straight up to me, raised his hand to salute me, and reported: "Comrade Commander, I have made all the arrangements for the newly arrived divisions. ”

"Well done, Comrade Major." After complimenting Akhromeyev, I asked him again: "Major, do you have a map of the German fortifications north of Izyum in your combat office?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Akhromeyev nodded and said in affirmation: "But it's not comprehensive." ”

When Chistyakov heard him say this, he immediately ordered: "Major, hurry up and bring the defense map." ”

Akhromeyev went out for about two or three minutes, and then walked in with a map in his hand. He walked over to the table, spread out the map on the table, and then briefed us on the situation: "Comrades two commanders, please see. The enemy built three lines of defense north of Izyum, each consisting of two trenches. The top of the half-man-high trench is covered with a roof of varying strength, which can not only prevent damage from shrapnel, but also act as a camouflage.

The trenches were connected by a well-connected traffic trench with barbed wire and minefields in front. In the depth of the defense, at the commanding heights, residential areas and forest edges, there are support points that form a ring defense and maintain fire contact with each other......"

When Akhromeyev gave a briefing on the German defenses, Chistyakov and I both looked serious, and it seemed that we had greatly underestimated the strength of the German army when we had just assigned the combat mission. It is very difficult to break through such a fortification without being covered by artillery fire in advance, relying solely on tanks to guide the infantry to attack.

"Comrade Commander." After pondering for a while, Chistyakov said to me with a serious expression: "Why don't we wait for the artillery units to come up and prepare the enemy's defensive areas for artillery fire before attacking?" ”

"No, resolutely not." Without thinking, I rejected Chistyakov's proposal and said to him in a straight voice: "Comrade Deputy Commander, our artillery almost ran out of shells in its stock when attacking Kharkov. Even if they were to be transferred now, it wouldn't help much. ”

"Is that still the same operational deployment?" After hearing this, Chistyakov frowned, and then asked: "What should we do if we don't succeed in tank impact alone?" ”

As for whether I could break through the German defenses, I also became uncertain at the moment, and when I heard Chistyakov's question, I could only say vaguely: "At this point, we can only try." ”

After another two hours, Lopukhov, who was sitting next to the walkie-talkie, stood up, came over and handed me a telegram, and at the same time reported: "Comrade commander, the Eighth Guards Army has launched an attack on the enemy's lines. ”

"Great, that's great!" Chistyakov was overjoyed when he heard Lopukhov say this, he took the telegram from my hand, read it carefully, looked up at me and said: "If General Chuikov's troops can draw the attention of the main German forces in their direction, then it will be possible for us to quickly break through the German lines." ”

I did not speak to this analysis of Chistyakov, but only nodded, and then instructed Lopukhov: "Major, you closely monitor the movements of the Eighth Guards Army, and as soon as there is anything new, report to me immediately. ”

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Perhaps encouraged by the news of the offensive of our troops, Lopukhov replied in high spirits.

"Comrade commander," Chistyakov waited for Lopkhov to walk away, and then asked me impatiently: "Do you think General Chuikov's troops will be able to break through the German lines?" ”

"What's wrong with you, Comrade Deputy Commander." Seeing his appearance of suffering from gains and losses, I couldn't help but ask strangely: "You and I know what the strength of the Eighth Guards Army is. Even if other units were unable to tear a gap in the German line, I think General Chuikov's troops would succeed. ”

Hearing me say that I was so confident, Chistyakov nodded with a wry smile and said helplessly: "Comrade commander, then let's wait and see when General Chuikov's troops will be able to break through the German defenses." ”

I looked up at my watch, it was six o'clock in the morning, but Tawart Kiradze, who had been away from the headquarters for several hours, had neither returned to the headquarters nor received any phone calls from him. For a moment, I could not help but fear for his safety, after all, we had not occupied Chuhuev for a long time, and there might still be scattered German troops in the city, and in case he was attacked on the road, our losses would be great.

Thinking of this, I looked up and asked Chistyakov: "Comrade Deputy Commander, is there any news of General Tavart Kiradze?" He had been away from the headquarters for hours, but he hadn't returned. ”

Hearing me say this, Chistyakov walked quickly to the door and shouted outside: "Hey, where is Major Basmanov?" Come to me. ”

Soon I heard Basmanov's voice outside the door: "Hello, Comrade Deputy Commander, do you have any instructions?" ”

"It's been hours since General Tawart Kiradze left the command, but he hasn't returned." I only heard Chistyakov giving an order to Basmanov: "Major, you immediately send a few fighters and go outside to look for him." If he encounters it, ask him to return to the headquarters immediately. Do you understand? ”

"Understood." As soon as Basmanov said yes, I heard a rush of footsteps near and far, and then soon there was no movement.

Chistyakov walked back in front of me and said to me with a serious expression: "Comrade commander, I have sent the guard battalion out to look for General Tavart Kiradze, and I believe that a report will come back soon." ”

My heart is secretly praying for General Tawart Kiradze that he will appear in the command sooner. In a few hours, the troops will depart, and if something happens to a corps-level commander at such a time, it will be a blow to the morale of the troops.

Chuikov's troops were launched at six o'clock in a fierce assault on the enemy's defensive positions. At seven o'clock, the first wave of battle reports came. It is said that the enemy's first line of defense was torn open by the Guards soldiers a kilometer wide and wedged into the depth of the German army up to two kilometers.

Seeing such a battle report, Chistyakov suddenly smiled. He said to me excitedly: "Comrade commander, General Chuikov's troops are really amazing, in just one hour, they actually broke through the positions of the German troops and are developing in depth. Do you think we need to order the troops to get up and go and deal with them? ”

I thought for a moment about Chistyakov's proposal, and then decisively refused: "No, Comrade Deputy Commander, it's not yet time for us to send troops. On the contrary, we should continue to stand still and create the illusion to the enemy in the south that our commanders and fighters have become exhausted and unable to continue the offensive after the liberation of Kharkov and Chuhuev in succession. In this way, it will be possible for them to divert some of the troops used to alert us to the southeast, and carry out a counterattack against General Chuikov's troops, in an effort to fill the gap that has been breached. ”

After listening to my analysis, Chistyakov nodded and said approvingly: "Comrade commander, you are right. After General Chuikov launched an offensive with them, it was estimated that the enemy north of Izyum was also put on combat readiness and was ready to meet our troops moving south from Chuhuev. At this time, we deliberately held our troops to give the enemy the illusion that they could draw troops from the line of defense to strengthen the line southeast of the city. ”

I waited for Chistyakov to finish speaking, and then turned my eyes to Akhromeyev: "Major, we are north of Izyum, do we still have reconnaissance troops?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Akhromeyev had been with me for a long time, and from my brief questioning, he immediately guessed my intentions and hastened to reply: "There are currently two reconnaissance groups, in the forest west of Izyum. They all carry radios and can send back any information they have detected. ”

"Major, send them a report immediately." When I heard that there was still a reconnaissance detachment near Izyum, I was immediately confident, and I instructed Akhromeyev: "Let them closely monitor the movements of the German troops, and report to the command as soon as they discover that the enemy is moving." (To be continued.) )