After receiving the shipped artillery shells, the German artillery regiment continued to launch violent artillery bombardment on the Soviet positions. At the beginning of the artillery bombardment, the Soviet commanders and fighters in the positions retreated along the traffic trench to the reverse slope position, just like the last time.

Tansen stood on a hill, holding a telescope and looking at the Soviet position that was blown into a sea of ​​fire, turned his head and said to a staff officer standing next to him, "Lieutenant, do you think the Russians on the position can survive such a violent shelling?"

"If it were the Russians' strong national fortifications, our shelling of such a scale would probably only destroy some of their fortifications, but it would be difficult to cause too much casualties to them." The consultant replied: "But the Russians now only have simple field fortifications. Under such fierce shelling, there are probably not many people who will survive."

After hearing this, Tansen snorted heavily, and then said coldly: "Our last shelling was as fierce as it is now. But when our attack began, the Russians who should have been eliminated by artillery fire emerged from somewhere, causing huge casualties to our attacking troops."

The staff officer stared at the hills covered by fire and smoke in the distance, frowned and thought for a while, and said to Tansen: "Mr. Flag Captain, when our army was bombarded by Russians, we would withdraw our troops from the front line to the second line. Look, did the Russians do the same?"

The staff's statement immediately aroused Tansen's vigilance. He thought that after the last shelling ended, the troops launched an attack before the smoke from the hills had dissipated. If the Russian troops really retreated to the second line, they would not have enough time to enter the defensive position.

Tansen shook his head and said, "This is impossible. If the Russians really moved to the second-tier position, when our army launched an attack, they simply did not have enough time to return to the position."

Seeing that Tansen denied his speculation, the staff officer continued: "Will that be there in places we can't see, and there are hidden fortifications? Every time we start to shell, the Russians hide in those fortifications. After the shelling is over, they quickly enter the defensive position."

"Well, there is this possibility." Tansen remembered that Sokov's troops were known for their good defense. There were so many troops attacking Mamayev's hill, but no unit had successfully occupied it. If they still rely on fortifications to defend this time, it would become extremely difficult for them to continue to advance forward.

At this moment, Tansen began to secretly regret that if he had followed Hauser's order earlier and handed over the combat area here to the 230th Infantry Division, and followed the main force to advance towards Prokholovka, he might have broken through the Russian defense line. But it was too late to regret now, and he promised Hauser that he would seize Shumakovo. No matter how difficult the next battle was, he could only fight.

After the one-hour shelling ended, the smoke shrouded on the hills took a full ten minutes before gradually becoming thinner. Through the telescope, Tansen saw that the fortifications on it were basically destroyed in the shelling, so he ordered the troops that were ready to go to attack the hills controlled by the Soviet army.

But the result was the same as last time. The charge launched by the German army was repelled by the Soviet army that suddenly appeared. After leaving behind the corpses all over the slope, they retreated in shame to the starting point of the attack.

Zhukov, who was in the command center, learned that the German army's two attacks were repelled by the defenders who were on the front line, so he asked Sokov: "Misha, you have repelled the enemy's attack twice. I want to ask you, when do you plan to attack the enemy?"

"Comrade Marshal," Sokov replied with a smile: "My detour troops have just entered the designated position, and the commanders and soldiers have become exhausted after a long march. I plan to wait for them to rest for a while before launching an attack from the enemy's side and rear."

"Then what time do you plan to let the troops rest?" Zhukov stayed in the command center, and he knew very well about the series of orders issued by Sokov. But so far, Sokov's orders are all guiding how to defend, and there is no order related to the attack.

"I plan to wait until it's almost dark before ordering the troops to launch an attack." Sokov saw Zhukov waiting for him to attack the Imperial Division, so he explained to him: "The battle will not last long and it will get dark. At that time, the enemy's planes, tanks and cannons will not play a role, and the weapons we equipped can give us an advantage in close combat with the enemy."

Seeing that the enemy's two attacks were repelled, Zhukov originally wanted Sokov to launch a comprehensive counterattack. However, after hearing what he said, he thought what he said made sense. During the day, what he was most worried about was bombing by enemy planes. Many attacks that had originally had the advantage were because the air superiority on the battlefield was in the hands of the Germans. After a violent bombing, the Soviet attack collapsed. If the attack was approaching darkness, not only would the enemy not be able to dispatch the air force to support the ground troops, but even the ground troops would become exhausted due to long-term battles. If you choose to attack at this time, the results of the battle will be the greatest.

After a while of silence, Zhukov asked, "Which unit are you going to order to launch a counterattack?"

Sokov pointed to a position on the map and said to Zhukov: "Comrade Marshal, one of my infantry brigades and two marine brigades, has arrived at this position. When it is almost dark, they will first attack the enemy from the front."

"Three brigade-level units," Zhukov saw clearly the troops number marked on the map, and said thoughtfully: "If there is no unified command, then after the battle begins, it will probably fall into chaos. At that time, each will fight and it will be difficult to form effective cooperation, and it may be defeated by the Germans."

"Don't worry, comrade Marshal." Sokov smiled and said, "After the counterattack begins, please let you and my military commissioner General Lunev stay at the command center. I personally command these three brigades to launch an attack on the enemy."

After hearing Sokov's arrangement, Zhukov shook his head and said with some amusement and laughter: "Misha, are you a marshal or I? A major general actually commands a marshal. I'm afraid no one will believe this if he says it."

"Comrade Marshal," Seeing that Zhukov seemed reluctant to stay here to help him grasp the overall situation, Sokov quickly laughed and said, "My chief of staff and several other troops are still marching on the road. If he were here, I would definitely not bother you..."

"Okay, okay, stop talking." Zhukov waved his hand and interrupted the words behind him without waiting for Sokov to finish his words. "It seems that you have already planned to let me help you command the troops. Well, I will help coordinate the command of the troops before your chief of staff arrives."
Chapter completed!