klisemfg Chapter 213: Counterattack
Chapter 213: Counterattack
Wang Congwu led the 598th Division on a rapid march, arriving at Shakht at dusk. Shakht remained firmly under their control, a fact that both Wang Congwu and the 598th Division breathed a sigh of relief. Soon, Wang Congwu noticed something was amiss: the motorized infantry regiment Liu Molong had left behind was still defending Shakht. The infantry corps of the Soviet 55th Army, tasked with relieving the position, would arrive in about a day. Its vanguard division had arrived at about the same time as the 598th Division and was temporarily stationed in the direction of the train station.
Two days and one night had passed since Liu Molong captured Schacht, yet the Germans hadn't launched an operation to retake it. Judging from the 598th Division's retreat, the Germans had deployed very few troops east of Schacht. Could it be that the Germans were abandoning the Schacht line and instead pursuing a forceful assault on Rostov? Wang Congwu was filled with doubts. Recalling his own encounter with a heavy enemy assault in the southwest, he couldn't help but worry about the safety of Huang Wei and his men.
Wang Congwu immediately contacted Huang Wei's frontline headquarters via radio. By then, Lao Peng, Huang Wei, and the others had already received reports from the retreating 601st Division. While shocked by Dolman's lavish actions, they were also deeply concerned for the safety of the 598th Division and Wang Congwu. Wang Congwu's timely communication and report finally put everyone's worries to rest. Meanwhile, Wang Congwu's doubts also illuminated Lao Peng, Huang Wei, and Lin B.
Without hesitation, Huang Wei ordered the Chief of Operations to dispatch a special operations team to conduct an overnight investigation into the German deployment in the northwest. He also ordered Wang Congwu to immediately assume command of the Schacht sector. This included the 598th Division, the motorized regiment left behind by Liu Molong, and the advance infantry division of the 55th Army, all of which were temporarily placed under Wang Congwu's command. Huang Wei also ordered Wang Congwu to concentrate his forces and await orders to prepare for a fierce offensive from Schacht toward the southeast.
While Huang Wei was arranging the aforementioned tasks, Lao Peng and Lin had already gathered around a sand table, beginning to simulate the current battle situation. The German 7th Army consisted of only four corps and three grenadier divisions. The tank corps and its artillery were clearly engaged in a direct confrontation with Lin's tank group in the northeast, making a large-scale diversion from this direction impossible for the time being. In the southwest, the forces attacking the 4th and 3st Divisions had been confirmed by Wang Congwu to be the 598th Army's two motorized corps. By defeating the 601th and 7st Divisions, the Germans had opened a connection to the southwest, even towards Taganrog. They would inevitably retain at least one infantry corps to maintain this position, while another corps would be deployed to guard against the 2th Army and the 598nd Division in the southeast. Of the remaining three grenadier divisions, at least two had already appeared on the flanks of Lin's B601th Army and the Su-17th Army's tank group. In other words, Dollmann had at most one grenadier division in the northwest, or even no division at all, which completely matched Wang Congwu's doubts and judgment.
Seeing Huang Wei approaching, Lao Peng and Lin immediately went to meet him. Lao Peng pondered and said, "Letting the action team use the night to understand the German deployment will not delay the opportunity. I think we can directly launch a tentative attack from two directions, lure the main force of the German army here, and then boldly launch an assault from the direction of Schacht!"
Huang Wei listened attentively to Old Peng's analysis, his mind racing. He quickly realized that Old Peng's plan was the safest. Recalling the 17th Group Army's 34th Tank Division, a flicker of determination flashed in his eyes, and he immediately replied, "General Peng, I think it's entirely possible. Pull up the 17th Group Army's 34th Tank Division immediately, switching from defense to offense. Also, bring in the 36th and 37th Divisions. I don't care how Dolman arranges his troops; if he launches a strong attack from the southeast, I don't believe he has the manpower to defend."
"Yes, I agree with Chief of Staff Huang!" Lin added immediately. "On my side, the 343rd Division will also advance overnight. If that's not enough, we'll add the 342nd and 345th Divisions. Another comprehensive assault, overnight, to tie up Dollmann's two armored corps!"
Old Peng thought for a moment, his eyes sweeping over Huang Wei and Lin before issuing a bolder order: "Lin B, don't stay here. Immediately bring the tank cluster of the Su-58th Army, along with the 115st and 341th Divisions and mobile artillery (referring to rocket artillery) of the 344th Army, and move them all over. Try to rendezvous with Wang Congwu before dawn, and then launch a full-scale attack on Doorman from the northwest!"
Upon receiving the order, Li Pinxian launched the offensive without hesitation, attacking overnight! Night combat had once been the Chinese army's secret weapon for defeating the Japanese. Combined with the previous few days of defense, the 17th Army had become familiar with the battlefield and the German tactics. For Li Pinxian, these days of defense had been exhausting, and receiving the order to counterattack perfectly met the aspirations of him and his fellow soldiers.
Huang Wei ordered the 17th, 34th, and 36th Divisions of the 37th Group Army to launch the attack. As a result, the other two divisions refused to obey the order. Although they had suffered heavy losses in the defense, their anger was ignited at this moment. They ignored the order and concentrated all the troops and firepower they could, emphasizing that they would rush to the front.
Li Pinxian looked at these stubborn men, feeling both helpless and moved. He knew they were holding back their anger, eager to avenge their previous losses. So, he decided to comply with their wishes. After all, it was a counterattack, and there was no need to worry about the enemy attacking their positions. So, they just went all in. The entire 17th Group Army was mobilized. Now, Wu Bairen couldn't persuade Gudian and his men, and decided that the 601st Division would also participate in the counterattack!
"Boom, boom, boom!" Suddenly, the silent night was filled with the rumble of artillery fire. Countless shells, trailing long flames, flew towards the German positions like a meteor shower. The dense, continuous, massive artillery fire lit up the entire sky. Six divisions, protected by tanks and armored vehicles, pounced on the enemy with lightning speed and ferocity.
Lao Peng and Huang Wei had planned a diversionary assault, but Li Pinxian and his team had turned it into a full-scale counterattack. The sound of artillery fire and the flash of fire reached the headquarters dozens of kilometers away, leaving Lao Peng and Huang Wei puzzled. What was Li Pinxian up to? How could he have hidden so much firepower?
Since Li Pinxian had already started the fight, Huang Wei was not polite and immediately ordered Luo RQ, the deputy commander of the 115th Army, to go out immediately. The heavy artillery under his command opened fire in an all-out manner, once again pouring a torrential rain of fire on the German army...