USSR 1941

  Chapter 39 Bridgehead

The commando team is the most vulnerable at the moment when they just come out of the water. The reason is that the equipment of all members is wrapped in waterproof bags, such as submachine guns, ammunition, grenades, etc. If they are attacked by the German army at this time, all 27 people will be wiped out. A matter of minutes.

  But of course Shulka also took this into consideration, so there are also arrangements for this:

   First of all, familiarity with the terrain.

  Brest is the territory of the Soviet army. Some soldiers even lived here since they were young and know every inch of land and terrain here.

  This can be said to be an advantage or a disadvantage.

  It is said to be an advantage because this advantage has greatly helped the Soviet army. For example, Major Gavrilov asked someone to draw a sketch based on his impression, including the direction of the river bank and the path.

  In addition, the thieves in the commando are very familiar with the South Island, which is Warren Fortress.

   Veteran Matvey asked the thief about this.

"Fovalikov!" The veteran's tone was somewhat unfriendly: "I remember that you joined our army last year, and you have been staying in the Kobrin Fortress, why are you so familiar with the terrain of the Volyn Fortress? "

   "Oh..." The thief replied falteringly: "I, I often go to Warren Fortress to buy things. As you know, there is a market there..."

   "Oh, 'buy'?" The veteran smiled contemptuously: "You don't buy it for money, do you?"

   The soldiers all laughed, they knew what the old soldier meant.

  The thief smiled awkwardly with an expression of indifference, he knew that no one would trouble him because of this at this time.

It is said that being familiar with the terrain is a disadvantage, because during the war, you actually have to rely on the memories of soldiers who are familiar with the terrain...At this time, the strategic thinking of the Soviet army generally believed that "offensive is the best defense", which is similar to the French "absolute defense" "Just the opposite.

  Under this guiding ideology, the Soviet army did not have an accurate map to refer to where they were stationed, because they believed that once a war started, they would attack the enemy and then fight on the enemy's position, so they did not need to know their own position. (Note: At this time, the top Soviet army still had blind confidence in the Soviet army, although the performance of the Soviet army in the Winter War can be said to be very bad.)

  So, all the maps that can be found are more than ten years ago or even longer, and many places are completely different.

   On the other hand, it is more important to attract the attention of the German army.

  Before the commando came ashore, another group of Soviet troops "taking water" appeared on the other side of the river.

  From the perspective of attracting attention, the Soviet army should launch a feint.

  Political Commissar Fuming put forward a similar point of view.

   "We can launch an attack at this time!" Political Commissar Fumin suggested: "Concentrate the enemy's attention on our attack, and the commando can go ashore safely to launch a surprise attack, and then take the Holm bridge together."

"No, Comrade Commissar!" Shulka denied. "If our goal is only the Holm bridge, then this may be feasible. But we must continue to seize the connecting bridge in addition to the Holm bridge. Let the Germans discover our strategic goals at the first time and adjust in time, then it will not be so easy to seize the connecting bridge!"

  Political Commissar Fuming thought for a while and nodded in agreement.

  So, what attracted the attention of the German army was not an attack or a feint, but still "taking water".

In order to prevent the Soviets from getting water, the German army always "lights up at one point" in this regard: there is a slight sound of buckets or helmets bumping on the river side, and there will be a row of bullets shooting wildly, followed by flares Lifting off will illuminate the opposite bank in white.

  This flare will instead provide cover for Pukarev's commando team... Human eyes have a problem with light adaptation. When the light is bright, the distance will be white, but the nearby will appear dark.

   Coupled with the sound of gunfire and artillery from the east, the commando went ashore without anyone noticing and was ready.

  The commando did not attack directly, but led by the thief along a road through the German blockade.

  To be precise, it is not a road at all, because this road sometimes has to climb over a two-meter-high embankment and sometimes crosses a pile of rocky hills.

Only then did the soldiers confirm that the old soldier's guess was correct... Usually, who would pay attention to such a secret "road", and only those with evil intentions, such as stealing things in case they were found out, so they planned their escape in advance Routes and hideouts.

Thinking of this, Shulka felt a little funny: the battlefield is a strange place, people who are looked down upon and even shouted to be beaten by everyone in a peaceful life can often play a big role in wartime and become heroes... A thief is the best example.

  So, although these people and things are still in the same land, before and after the outbreak of the war, it can almost be said that they are two different worlds.

   Ten minutes later, the commando successfully crossed the German blockade and circled to the rear of the German bridgehead position.

  As previously estimated, the German troops stationed at the bridgehead were not many, only two platoons...Military is often the most dangerous place where the least need to deploy too many troops. For example, the cable bridge in front of us only needs two machine guns to block it, and it would be a waste to have too many troops.

  The time to attack has come. If it is too late, the commando will lose the cover of sound as soon as the German artillery bombardment is over.

   Shulka nodded towards Master Pukarev who was looking at him, indicating that he could attack.

   This battle obviously has a great chance of winning.

  The Soviet army used one platoon to attack two German platoons, covered the main force of the Soviet army lurking on the other side of the cable bridge and quickly crossed the bridge, and then occupied the connecting bridge with lightning speed.

  If all goes well, it will only take half an hour from the start of the battle to breaking out of the encirclement.

  The only thing to worry about is the reaction speed of the German army... If the German commander realizes that the Holm Bridge cannot be defended at the first time and conveys the news, then the German army connecting the bridge will still have plenty of time to prepare.

   And that's hard to stop because it's just a phone call.

   Just as Pukarev was about to give an order, Shulka noticed a light flashing in the front left, and a German soldier walked out of a building in the darkness.

   At this moment Shulka suddenly changed his mind and stopped Pukarev just in time.

   "The plan has changed!" Shulka said in a low voice: "We are not attacking the bridgehead, but the building..."

   "What?" Pukarev looked up at Shulka in surprise: "But once we launch an offensive, the main force will attack the cable bridge. If we don't attack the bridgehead...they will suffer heavy casualties!"

   "It's worth it, Comrade Tuas!" Shulka replied.

  (end of this chapter)