The second round of attack launched by the 53rd Army soon ended in failure.△↗,. Seeing our tanks burning on the battlefield and our troops retreating in a mess, I had no intention of continuing to watch. After saying goodbye to Managarov, I hurriedly left the observation site with Chisdakov.

On the way back to the Army Command, Chisdakov, who was sitting beside me, asked curiously: "Comrade Commander, General Managarov's second attack, although he failed, they obviously fought better than the first time, and the commanders and soldiers also acted more tenaciously."

"Comrade Deputy Commander," I urged my hand to interrupt him before I could finish his words, "The reason I was so anxious to leave is because I couldn't stand it anymore, because General Managarov's wrong attack method would cost us even more painfully."

Hearing me say this, Chisdakov asked curiously: "Comrade Commander, you must know that in such a tough battle, no matter how excellent commanders come to command the troops, the offensive troops will make great sacrifices."

"We can accept the price of paying the lost city and defend our great Soviet motherland," I said in an official voice: "But some wrong tactics will not only fail to defeat the enemy, but will instead cause us to suffer a lot of unnecessary casualties." Speaking of this, I thought of the tragic scene I saw when Liu Ban broke through, and said to him in a low voice, "When Liu Ban broke through, he opened a gap in the enemy's not reliable defense line. At that time, a general from the Second Assault Army at that time was a general in the Second Assault Army at that time

The army commanded our troops with the advantage of military strength and launched an attack on the German positions. Because he was afraid that the commanders and fighters would get lost in the forest, he asked the soldiers to charge hand in hand. When the commanders and fighters of the first echelon fell to the guns of the Germans, he ordered the commanders and fighters of the second echelon to take a truck and launch an attack on the German positions again. When both echelons were destroyed, he ordered the tanks to launch a final attack, but the tanks that had lost the cover of the infantry. Under the attack of the German anti-tank hands, one after another was destroyed."

After I finished talking about this past with anger, Chisdakov looked at me with a strange look and asked innocently: "Comrade Commander, do I understand what is the connection between Liu Ban's breakthrough battle and today's offensive battle?"

"Didn't you find something wrong from the failure of the second attack organized by Managarov?" Chiskakov's reaction really made me speechless. I was even secretly complaining in my heart that maybe when he commanded the troops to fight, he also used the same tactics as Managarov, so he became accustomed to many things. "The purpose of using tanks when attacking is to tear a gap in the enemy's defense line and to allow the rushing infantry to expand the breakthrough. But look at how Managarov's troops used tanks, and those tanks followed behind the infantry. Not only did they act slowly, they stopped from time to time to use themselves as a fixed turret, but they were killed easily by the German anti-tank hands as if they were targeted."

Hearing me say this, Chisdakov realized the seriousness of the problem. He frowned and asked me: "How to use the tank if you command?"

"Let the tanks charge in front." I replied casually: "Let the officers and fighters hide behind the tanks and follow them. Our officers and fighters hide in the dead corners of German light weapons shooting. This way, it is not easy to suffer too much casualties during the charge."

After listening to my explanation, Chisdakov nodded and then said: "I guess in the short term, our army will have no combat missions. The stairs and tank coordination tactics you mentioned can seize the time to let the troops conduct drills to reduce casualties in the subsequent battles."

When we returned to the Army Command, Kirillov and Bezikov who had been waiting overnight immediately came up. Among them, Kirillov also asked with concern: "Lida, what's the situation? Has the 53rd Army broken through the German defensive position?"

"No," I shook my head and said, "Before we left, General Managarov launched two attacks. But unfortunately, his attacks failed."

"How could it be?" Kirilof said in wonder: "In the preparation of artillery fire before the attack, we can also see here that the sky in the south was red by the fire from the shells. Could it be that the fortifications of the German army are so strong that they were bombarded by our cannons for several hours but were not destroyed?"

I sighed and said, "It's hard to say." After that, I quickly walked to the map hanging on the wall, turned to greet Kirillov and others: "Military Commissioner, Chief of Staff, please come here, I will introduce the situation to you." Seeing everyone surrounded me, I pointed at Kharkov's position with an explanation stick and said to everyone, "In order to defend our attack on Kharkov, the German army built seven lines of defense in the north of the city, and each line of defense was connected by traffic trenches. In this way, when our army began to shell their first line of defense, the German main force could be transferred to the second or third line of defense. When our shelling was over and the troops launched an attack, they would return to the first line of defense and launch a blockade against us."

After hearing me, Kirillov looked at the map and nodded, then said, "Lida, I understand what you mean. Although we made necessary artillery preparations before the attack, we did not consume much of the German army's vitality. Therefore, we will not only suffer huge casualties during the attack, but also find it difficult to achieve ideal results."

"Yes, that's it." I leaned the explanation stick against the wall and continued: "If we want to commit to the offensive battle against Kharkov, then we must make tactical adjustments."

"Comrade Commander, just tell us," Bezikov said as soon as I finished speaking: "Let us know what tactics should be used to deal with the enemy."

Hearing his question, I picked up the explanation stick again and pointed to the location of Kharkov: "The attack on the east side of the city is the responsibility of General Shumilov's Guards Seventh Army; and the north side of the city is the responsibility of the three armies of the Grassland Front. As for the most likely battlefield if we are going to fight, it is the west side of the city.

Before attacking, we should still shoot the first line of defense of the German army as usual. After forty minutes of shelling, the artillery fire extends and smashes the shells to the enemy's second line of defense. The Germans have an illusion that we will attack immediately. They will go from the second line of defense that is being shelled back to the first line of defense to prepare for battle. When the enemy almost returns to the first line of defense, our artillery fire suddenly returns from the second line of defense to the first line of defense, and attack the Germans who have just entered the position."

"Then at this moment, will we attack the enemy's positions?" Bezikov couldn't help but interrupt and asked, "The enemy's shelling has not yet ended, so let the troops rush forward. Will they be accidentally injured by their own artillery fire?"

"Chief of Staff, please listen to me." I looked at Bezikov with dissatisfaction and continued: "When our artillery fire extended and fired into the depth of the enemy again, the tank troops took the lead in charge, and the armored vehicles loaded with soldiers followed closely behind. When the tank troops tore the German defense line open, the soldiers on the armored vehicles came down to clear the enemy in the trenches, expand and consolidate the breakthrough."

When I was talking about my offensive tactics, everyone nodded while listening, and no one raised any objections. After I finished speaking, I held the explanation stick with both hands, looked around, and asked, "Who has different opinions?"

When Akhromeev heard me ask, he immediately said, "Comrade Commander, your plan is almost impeccable. But the premise is that our tank army, many artillery regiments, guard rocket artillery battalions, can be built on time before the battle begins."

It turned out that everyone saw the dawn of victory, but when Akhromeyev said this, the expression on his face suddenly dimmed. Bezikov sighed and said, "Although the commander of Vatujing had said a long time ago that he would let several infantry divisions, tank troops and artillery return, it has been so long since he has not made any movement."

Seeing that everyone was depressed, I quickly coughed and said to them: "Okay, comrades in command, even if we want to fight, we will not be able to wait for Tomarovka's troops to return to the construction of the army. As for this period, we should urge all divisions to seize the time to train the troops, especially street fighting. The German army will never be willing to let us seize Kharkov from their hands. The street fighting in the city will be very fierce at that time. Let the commanders and fighters conduct targeted training. In the future, the casualties of the troops will be greatly reduced."

When everyone was working on their own work, Kirillov pulled me aside and asked in a low voice: "Lida, when you saw the troops failing in the observation center of the 53rd Army, you didn't express your own opinions casually."

I shook my head and replied, "No, comrade of the military committee. You also know that I just went to them to learn about the situation on the front line and could not point fingers at the friendly forces' combat methods."

"That's good, that's good." When Kirillov said this, he reached out and wiped the sweat from his forehead secretly. "I'll feel relieved."

I was confused by Kirillov's words, and I asked in confusion: "Comrade Military Commissioner, why do you say that?"

Kirillov looked around and saw that other commanders were at a distance from us. He probably couldn't hear us say yes, so he approached me and whispered: "Lida, in the eyes of others, you belong to Marshal Zhukov. General Managarov belongs to another. His backstage had a deep conflict with Zhukov. As for who this person was, please forgive me and I can't tell you. If you see Managarov's troops failing to attack, you will express your own opinions and make any suggestions to him. The victory of the troops' attack is undoubtedly Managarov's credit; but if you fail again, you will bear the responsibility."

Kirillov's words shocked me into a cold sweat. I didn't expect that before the Germans were driven away from the Soviet territory, the factional struggle within the army began. In everyone's eyes, I was marked with Zhukov, and in the following days, I would definitely be suppressed by another faction openly and secretly. Therefore, I must be more cautious in my words and actions in the future, so I will not be caught by others.

Just as I was struggling with this unexpected news, a vague sound of a report came from outside the door. Bezikov was closer to the door. After hearing this sound, he replied to the outside: "Come in."

As soon as he finished speaking, two commanders in general's uniform walked into the command center. After I looked up and saw the people coming, I was overjoyed and hurriedly met them. Between still far away, I stretched out my hands to them and said excitedly: "Col. Bere, Colonel Povsky, welcome you back."

The next moment, the hands of the three of us were held together. Just as we shook hands, Kirillov walked to me and smiled and said to me: "Lida, you are wrong in your name just now. They are no longer colonels, but generals." As he said that, he reached out to Bereh first, "Hello, Colonel Bereh, welcome to return to the headquarters."

The two who came were the commander of the tank army, Bere, and the commander of the artillery of the army, Povsky. Perhaps the superiors promoted both from colonel to major general in order to commend their performance in the battle.

After I asked the two to sit down at the table, I took two cups of tea from Akhromeev and placed them in front of them. Then I asked with a smile: "Two comrades, are you going back to the headquarters today to report to me, or to formally lead the troops back to build the building."

Hearing my question, the two men who had just picked up the teacup quickly put down their cups and stood up. Believe respectfully reported to me: "Comrade Commander, we received an order from our superiors a few hours ago to complete the return work within today. Since the troops need time to move in, I am afraid that you will be in a hurry, so I rushed over with Comrade Povsky first."

After Bere finished speaking, I turned my head and looked at Bejekov who was standing next to me and asked, "Chief of Staff, have you received a notice from the Front Command?"

"No, Comrade Commander." Bezikov shook his head and said, "I didn't receive any notification, so I didn't know that the artillery and tank troops would be built today."

"Major Akhromeyev." In order to avoid chaos, as soon as Bezikov finished speaking, he greeted the combat director who was standing not far away. "I will give you full responsibility for the task of receiving the return troops. We must arrange our tank army and artillery, and never have any chaos." To be continued.
Chapter completed!