Red Moscow

  Chapter 85 In the Observation Station

  While the soldiers of the 972nd Infantry Regiment were preparing to attack in the trenches, Sokov and several of his company commanders stayed in a temporary observation post a few hundred meters away. They huddled in front of the lookout, observing the German positions in the distance with binoculars.

Andre looked at the bare highland a few hundred meters away, and muttered in a low voice: "Isn't it just a small highland with an altitude of more than 100 meters, so far away from the road, even if it is occupied by the Germans, it will not affect our transportation line." It doesn’t pose any threat. If they want to occupy it, let him occupy it, why do they have to organize troops to occupy here?”

Sokov, who was holding up his binoculars to observe the terrain, heard Andrei's complaints, and sighed secretly in his heart: Your brother is now a company commander, why is he still like when he was a deputy platoon leader, and he refused to accept anything? Use your brains more?

  He put down the binoculars, turned to look at Andre and asked, "Comrade Second Lieutenant, do you see any higher ground than this highland in the south of Susinich?"

  Andre lowered his head and thought about it. He felt that there was a forest to the south of the city. It seemed that he hadn't seen a second highland like this, so he honestly replied: "No!"

"Commanders," Sokov said to everyone in order to prevent other company commanders from having the same thoughts as Andrei: "This highland is the commanding height in the south of Susinich City. Standing on it and using a telescope, you can clearly see I saw most of the city. Just imagine, if the Germans set up artillery positions on this commanding height and bombarded the city, what would happen?"

Sokov's words shocked everyone into a cold sweat. Everyone silently summed it up in their hearts. It was really the case. If the enemy established artillery positions on the high ground, they could bombard the city condescendingly, giving the residents of the city and troops, causing huge casualties, so no matter how much the price is paid, this highland must be taken.

   At this moment, they saw friendly soldiers assembled in the trenches, forming a loose formation in front of the position, holding a bayonet-mounted rifle, straightening their backs, and striding towards the high ground.

  Seeing this situation, Vanya, who was standing on one side, seemed to be facing Sokov, and said to himself, "It seems that this attack by the friendly forces will end in failure again."

"Comrade Lieutenant, why do you say that?" Belkin, who had been silent all this time, suddenly said, "Don't you see the heroism displayed by these soldiers? I believe they will be able to seize the high ground and wipe out Germans on the crest."

"Comrade Deputy Battalion Commander," Sokov waited for Berkin to finish speaking, and then said, "Lieutenant Vanya is right. This attack by the friendly forces is very difficult to succeed. Look, starting from their The distance from the position to the foot of the mountain is more than 200 meters, and from the foot of the mountain to the top of the mountain is almost 500 meters. Soldiers without artillery support have to brave the enemy's powerful firepower to cross the thick snow and rush to the top of the mountain. I guess, there is no By the time they see the enemy, they are already exhausted and have suffered huge losses."

After Sokov finished speaking, he raised his binoculars and looked up the hillside. At this time, the sky was getting brighter and brighter, and he could clearly see the remains of soldiers lying in the snow on the hillside. They were all killed in yesterday's battle. Those who died, probably because the enemy's firepower was too fierce, their comrades-in-arms failed to **** their remains back.

  When the attacking soldiers approached halfway up the mountain, the German machine guns on the top of the hill began to fire. The soldiers walking in front were shot one after another and fell to the snow. The blood from their wounds quickly stained the surrounding snow red. But the soldiers behind were not afraid and did not retreat. They shot towards the top of the mountain while continuing to move forward without hesitation.

   Seeing the soldiers fall to the enemy's guns one by one, Sokov couldn't help but itch his teeth with hatred. He used binoculars to carefully examine the exposed fire points on the top of the mountain, and suddenly shouted: "Lieutenant Vasily!"

   "Here!" Lieutenant Vasily who was standing next to him, heard Sokov calling himself, and quickly agreed loudly.

Sokov pointed to the top of the hillside with his hand, gritted his molars and said to him, "Remember where the enemy's firepower points are. When our battalion attacks later, your machine gun company must use firepower to attack the enemy." They suppress. Understand?"

"clear!"

   "Lieutenant Savyev!" Sokov then shouted.

  Saviyev hurriedly stepped forward, "Here!"

Sokov looked at the other side and asked: "Comrade Lieutenant, how many sharpshooters I asked you to pick out so far?" If the artillery fire is used to suppress the German firepower, then we can only consider using snipers to deal with the German machine gunners. Among the four companies in the battalion, the members of Savyev's company are mainly guerrillas. Many of them were hunters with good marksmanship and are the best candidates for snipers.

  Hearing Sokov's question, Savyev quickly replied: "Report to Comrade Battalion Commander, the entire company has selected eleven sharpshooters. They have all been hunters before, and their marksmanship is quite good."

Sokov pointed to the exposed firepower point on the hillside again, and said to Savyev: "Comrade lieutenant, let your fighters and machine gun companies act together. Their task is to find a way to kill the enemy's machine gunners. Eliminate their firepower."

After assigning the task, Sokov turned around and said to everyone: "Now, I announce the order of attack. Vanya's first company is responsible for the first attack; Andrei's second company is responsible for the second attack; Vasily The cannon company provided fire support for the attacking troops. Savyev’s third company served as the battalion’s reserve.”

Savyev originally thought that Sokov would arrange his company to be the third wave of attack, but unexpectedly let him be the reserve team. He couldn't help feeling a little anxious: "Comrade battalion commander, other companies have participated in the attack. Why do we only leave our company as the reserve team? I am worried that the soldiers will have emotions..."

"Okay, Lieutenant Savyev." Sokov interrupted him, and said firmly: "Your company has dispatched eleven sharpshooters, and their role on the battlefield is comparable to that of your entire company. It’s still effective.” At this point, he glanced at several company commanders and announced loudly, “I now announce that all company commanders will return to their own companies to prepare for battle. It’s already dawn , the battle of the 972nd Regiment is over, next, it is our turn to attack."

  (end of this chapter)