Burning Moscow

Chapter 1703 The Heights of Blood and Fire (Part 1)

On February 23, 1945, at three o’clock in the morning local time, 18,000 artillery pieces of various calibers broke the silence on the Oder River. Zhukov and I were standing in the observation post of Cuikov’s troops, using binoculars to see the German positions shrouded in fire and smoke, and to check the effects of the shelling.

Facing the powerful artillery fire of our army, the German army kept silent on the Zerauf Heights. My heart is secretly guessing, what are the Germans on the high ground doing? Or as usual, withdraw all the main forces to a relatively safe second position, and when we initiate the charge, will they return to the first fortification to block it?

Standing in front of our army is the German Vistula Army Group, which governs the 3rd Panzer Army and the 9th Army, with a total of 16 divisions. They deployed and deployed 10 divisions on the 30-kilometer area where our army is expected to break through. : Infantry 9th, 303rd, 309th, 169th, 712th Division, Kurman Division, Motorized 20th, 25th Division, Minhberg Division and Hitler Armored Division.

Since the German army was able to overlook the Oder River valley from the Selo Heights, all our army’s actions were under its vision, and our army was unable to launch a sudden attack on the high ground. Coupled with the continuous fortification area, our army’s attack on the Selo Highland can only be carried out by force.

The shelling was still going on. Over 700 bombers of our army flew over the smoke produced by the bomb explosion and dropped 3,000 tons of bombs at the defensive position on the Zerauf Heights.

At 3:30, Zhukov picked up the phone and issued an order to Malinin: “Chief of Staff, order all the searchlights to be turned on to illuminate the way for the troops to attack.”

The order was given, but after a long time, we didn’t see the expected beam of light. Zhukov picked up the phone again, a little annoyed, and asked Malinin: “Chief of Staff, didn’t I order you to turn on all the searchlights? Why have I not seen the searchlights after so long?”

“Comrade Marshal,” Malinin replied aggrievedly to Zhukov’s accusation: “The searchlight has been turned on long ago. It may be that the fire from the explosion on the battlefield was too bright, so our searchlights were eclipsed.”

After listening to Malinin’s explanation, Zhukov felt that he might be wrong to blame the other party, so he quickly covered the microphone with his hand and ordered a staff officer to go out and check. The staff officer ran to the door and looked for a while, then ran back and reported: “Yes, Comrade Marshal, the searchlights are all turned on, because the fire from the bomb explosion ahead was so dazzling that we didn’t see the searchlights.”

As soon as the shelling stopped, a series of red flares rose up in the air, which was a signal of an attack.

The commanders and fighters of the 23 divisions distributed on the front of the 30-kilometer offensive, shouted out of the trenches and traffic trenches, and quickly rushed to the German positions in the Zerauf Heights.

I raised my binoculars and stared at the charging troops, and saw that the soldiers were all straight, rushing forward behind the tanks and self-propelled artillery, trying to rush into the enemy’s defensive position in the shortest possible time. The machine gunner with the heavy machine gun fell at the back of the entire attacking team. They were in groups of two, dragging Maxim’s heavy machine gun and ran forward quickly, followed by several soldiers carrying ammunition boxes. Rear.

The German fortifications on the high ground have been silent until our soldiers entered a range of 100 meters, and only a few spots of firepower were shooting. In the face of these firepower points that survived the shelling, the tanks accompanying the infantry charge only need to stop and fire a shot at these firepower points, and the whole world suddenly becomes quiet. After the tank cleared the German firepower point, it continued to advance rapidly.

Seeing that the offensive troops are progressing so smoothly, everyone in the observation post who can see the progress of the troops at the first time has a knowing smile on their faces. General Pronin even said with a smile: “If the troops advance at this speed and seize the Zerauf Heights before noon, there will be no problem at all.”

Although everyone laughed without saying anything after listening to him, judging from the expressions on their faces, I think they also hold the same optimistic attitude. However, it was extremely sorrowful. After smoothly advancing two kilometers, Cui Kefu’s troops finally encountered big trouble. The advancing troops were blocked by small rivers and ravines. The tanks and self-propelled artillery that had rushed in front had to slow down. , Let the infantry cross over to continue the attack. The coordination of infantry and tanks that were originally formulated was affected. Even the Xujin barrage, which was implemented at the exact time, had to be stopped, and the artillery focused on firing successively to support the infantry and tanks.

Surrounding the two banks of the Haupt Canal below the Zerlauf Heights, there are strong German fortifications. The tanks and self-propelled artillery that could not cross the river directly had to drive along the highway towards the few bridges on the river in an attempt to break through the German defenses. They were stubbornly blocked by German anti-tank firepower along the way. Many tanks were destroyed by German 88mm anti-aircraft guns as soon as they drove on the bridge; the remaining tanks that reached through narrow passages and anti-tank trenches were fired at close range by German anti-tank crews. Destroyed by anti-tank grenades.

The infantry who lost the cover of tanks and self-propelled artillery became the targets of the German machine gun fire. In just half an hour, the area on the east bank of the Haupt Canal was filled with burning tanks and self-propelled artillery, scattered with corpses and dying wounded.

Seeing that the army’s offensive was stopped by the Germans, Cui Koff frowned. He turned to ask Cui Koff: “Cui Koff, the German resistance is very tenacious. When will your troops break through the German defense?”

Facing Zhukov’s question, Cuikov smiled bitterly and replied: “Comrade Marshal, you have also seen that the enemy’s resistance on the Haupt Canal is extremely tenacious. The German artillery deployed on the Zerauf Heights can directly block our army. If you continue to attack like this, it will be very difficult to achieve any results other than increasing the unnecessary casualties of the troops.”

Unexpectedly, Zhukov did not get angry, but asked kindly: “Then you tell me, what should we do?”

“Comrade Marshal, I request that the air force be deployed to suppress the German artillery positions on the Zerauf Heights.” Cuikov explained to Zhukov: “As long as the artillery fire on the highlands is suppressed, our offensive forces can force a breakthrough in the German Army at Haupp. Defense on the Canal.”

Zhukov stared at Cuikov for a while, and finally nodded, and said, “Well, Comrade Cuikov, I will call the Air Force and ask them to send a bomber formation to suppress the German artillery on the Zerauf Heights.”

When Zhukov called the Air Force, Cuikov was not idle. He instructed his engineering director Tkachenko: “Comrade General, I will give you one hour. At least I must order the engineers to erect three to three times on the Haupt Canal. Five floating bridges for tanks to pass, understand?”

“Comrade Commander,” Tkachenko said embarrassingly about the order given by Cui Koff: “Our engineers don’t have so many manpower…”

“If you don’t have enough manpower, let the infantry send people to support you.” Cui Kefu commanded in an unquestionable tone: “The road to Zerauf Heights has been blocked, and there are swampy river bay depressions and mine fields around us. Tanks, self-propelled artillery, and cars cannot carry out any maneuvering at all. If you do not move quickly, they will be wiped out by German artillery.”

While Cuikov’s troops were blocked, the 5th Assault Group on the right was progressing smoothly, and it finally saved us a little bit of face. After staring at the map for a long time, Zhukov finally made a decision to let Katukov’s Guards Tank 1st Army immediately cross the Oder River, proceed to the battlefield through the gap opened by Trikov’s troops, and do a good job in capturing Zelao. Preparation for the Highland.

After arriving at the battlefield, the bomber formation of our army bombed the artillery positions in the depth of the defense of Zerauf Heights. Seeing that the enemy’s artillery had been suppressed, Tkachenko ordered the engineers to speed up the construction of bridges on the canal, and at the same time organized manpower to tow away the tank wreckage on several bridges so that the infantry could cross the river as soon as possible.

As the pontoon bridge on the canal was erected and the wreckage of the tank on the bridge was cleared, the troops of the 8th Guards Army rushed to the opposite bank again. After more than two hours of fierce fighting, the offensive troops finally cleared out the German fortifications on both sides of the canal after paying huge casualties, and continued to advance to the Zerauf Heights.

However, when the offensive troops braved the enemy’s fierce artillery fire and rushed to the Zerauf Heights, they discovered a new problem: the **** of the high ground was too steep, and our tanks and self-propelled artillery could not go up at all. After the dispatched scouts conducted a search, they finally found that there was a relatively gentle uphill road along the road leading to Zerauf, Fredsdorf, and Duschlin. However, the enemy has established strong defensive support points here. To suppress and occupy these support points, accurate and powerful artillery support is required. Therefore, Cuikov made a decisive decision and ordered the artillery commander Pozharsky to transfer the artillery unit of the group army to the vicinity of the Zerauf Heights to establish a new artillery position.

Although Zhukov watched the battle with Cui Koff, he was worried that Stalin could not find himself in an emergency, so he specifically asked the communicator to install a high-frequency telephone in the observation post. At noon, Stalin called from Moscow and asked about the troops’ attack on the Zerauf Heights. He also specifically emphasized on the phone: “Your troops on the left and right wings are progressing very smoothly.”

Zhukov reported to Stalin with a serious expression: “Comrade Stalin, our troops have occupied the main German defense zone and stopped in front of the Zerauf Heights where the second defense zone is located. There are many reasons why we were blocked: we were opposing. The German army is the most powerful, and the fortifications are relatively strong. In particular, the fortifications on the Zerlauf Heights are not only strong, but also occupy the dangerous terrain that is condescending. We have to fight under extremely complicated conditions.”

After finishing the conversation with Stalin, Zhukov’s face turned sullen. He unceremoniously said to Cuikov: “Comrade Cuikov, your movements are too slow. Our two fronts on the left and right flanks, during the offensive this morning, They all advanced at least ten to twelve kilometers deep into the German defense, but what about us? Five kilometers, after paying a huge sacrifice, we only advanced five kilometers.”

After Zhukov’s reproach, Cui Kefu twitched the muscles on his face several times, and then said: “Comrade Marshal, we did not expect that the terrain here is so complicated that tanks and self-propelled artillery suffered huge losses due to inconvenient movement Loss. But please rest assured that we will take the Zerauf Heights within the stipulated time.”

Regarding Cui Kefu’s assurance, Zhu Kefu only snorted softly, and said nothing more. Then he picked up the phone and called Ma Lining to ask how the other troops were progressing.

After the artillery of the 8th Guards Army established artillery positions in the new area, they blasted the Zerauf Heights wildly. After the shelling was over, the troops suppressed below the Zerauf Heights relaunched their offensive.

By two o’clock in the afternoon, the group army’s right-wing guard infantry’s 4th Corps area had achieved certain results. The 47th Guards Infantry Division, commanded by General Shugayev, attacked north of the road from Koschin to Berlin, smashing the enemy’s resistance, seizing several commanding heights north of Zerauf, and cutting off from Zelau A railway and two roads from the city of Lauf to Pogdorf and Guzov.

In the evening, the 57th Guards Division, commanded by General Zalijuk, rushed into the railway station in Zerauv and fought fierce battles with the defenders inside.

The 28th and 29th Guards Infantry Corps attacked the southern side of the city of Zerauf. Their troops had advanced to the Zerauf Heights, but they were unable to organize their full force and carried out assaults on the enemy’s support points at the same time.

With the generals in the darkness, the attack on Zelauf Heights stopped Cuikov’s troops only captured part of the Zelauf Heights and failed to complete the task of the day.

Regarding such a result, Zhukov snorted, pointed his finger at Cui Kefu a few times, and then left angrily. Seeing Zhukov leaving behind and the downcast Cui Kefu, I quickly comforted him in a low voice: “General Cui Kefu, don’t worry, victory or defeat is a matter of military affairs. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t reached the battle goal today. I will just make it up tomorrow.” Quickly chase after Zhukov who left.

Back to the front army headquarters, I asked Malinen for the latest battle report. I knew that the 1st Guards Tank Army that had been engaged in the war was temporarily unable to deploy and could only stay on the road in the depression of the Oder River.

The assault 5th Army, commanded by General Berzalin on the right, went out to the Old Oder before the end of the day.

The 69th Army commanded by General Kolpakchi on the left has not made progress.

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