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Volume 3 Far East Story Chapter 582 (Part 2) Everyone has their own plans

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    Of course, judging from the clues on the front line, the 2nd and 4th Infantry Divisions on both defensive wings of the Soviet Red Army should have mobilized reserves to support the 1st Infantry Division in Chivelisk, otherwise the opponent's position would have been broken through by themselves.

    The Soviet Union¡¯s trump card was the armored train regiment with mobile firepower on both wings. An armored train had 18 carriages, carrying cannons from three artillery companies, Maxim heavy machine guns from a heavy machine gun battalion, and the strength of five vehicle-mounted infantry companies.  A very tough and combat-effective mobile force.

    What's even more rare is that the Soviet Third Army actually has as many as four armored detachments like this. This gave the Soviet Red Army infantry division a shot in the arm to defend the position. The artillery company on the White Guard side had already  Two were lost, and the only ones that worked were three clusters and 18 artillery batteries. Although the opponent's armored train had fewer cannons, with only six artillery batteries in each direction, they were more mobile and could hit and run.  , which caused a considerable headache for the artillerymen of the White Guards, and the numerical advantage was offset a lot.

    Since both sides do not have heavy artillery on the front line, especially for Kolchak's White Guards, in the absence of heavy artillery, the 76mm mountain gun's 6 kilogram shells alone can destroy the rails and sleepers on the other side's railway line.  It was very difficult, and many of the defensive positions of the Soviet Red Army were laid out on the railway roadbed and reinforced with sandbags, which made it more difficult for the 76mm mountain field gun to destroy the railway tracks.

    "Alexander Vasilyevich, I always feel that the opponent will not just be beaten passively. The longer the delay, the greater the possibility of the opponent withdrawing. In my opinion, we should choose the breakthrough point to the opponent's northwest defense line.  , break through from the position of the 2nd Ural Infantry Division and the 1st Division, and as long as the railway line is cut off, the opponent's troops in the east and south will become a turtle in the jar, and they can be easily captured. "Hastings' eyes rolled!  After a turn, he swallowed a piece of veal in his mouth and came up with another idea.

    "If we maintain this offensive intensity, I think Berzin is very willing to sit back and wait to rely on defensive positions to kill our effective forces. Unfortunately, we lack heavy artillery. If there is even a 150mm heavy artillery from an artillery company, we will already have it by now.  Blow up the other side¡¯s railway!¡±

    Kolchak couldn't help but think of the heavy artillery cluster of the Allied Powers that he had visited in the city of Ufa. The dark king of the army exuded endless domineering power. Unfortunately, none of these guns belonged to him. When he thought of the strength of an integrated division of the Allied forces,  Just three of our own divisions, one heavy artillery regiment has 72 such domineering 150mm heavy howitzers.

    Kolchak felt terrible just thinking about it. Fortunately, his White Guards did not have to fight with the coalition forces or the Volga Federation. Otherwise, if the two sides turned against each other in the future, the highest consul in Russia would have no idea at all.

    July 23, 1918, 12:00, the former enemy headquarters of the Soviet Third Army, fifteen kilometers northwest of Chivelisk

    "Karl Ivanovich, Comrade Commander, the 1st Division guarding Chivelisk has suffered more than half of its casualties. I don't think this battle can continue like this! The other side has concentrated the strength of three divisions to attack in turn, and we only have one  The division is guarding the position. At this time, one infantry battalion from the 2nd Infantry Division and the 4th Infantry Division have filled in. Without the support of the armored train, Zivelisk should not hold on any longer! "

    Merzheninov, the chief of staff of the Third Army of the Volga Front of the Soviet Red Army, struggled to swallow the last piece of black bread in his hand, and while using water to help swallow, he said vaguely to his commander.

    "Who said that? We have suffered heavy casualties, and the other side has suffered even greater casualties. My comrade chief of staff, now the front army and the group army have finally found the opportunity to fight head-on with Kolchak's East Route Army. They have six divisions, and ours  With five divisions on the side, it¡¯s not certain who will win. If our armored trains are included, our firepower and troops are not inferior to the enemy¡¯s!¡± Army commander Berzin replied while chewing a piece of horse meat in his hand with relish.  road.

    This piece of horse meat was cut off by the 2nd Ural Infantry Division from the killed enemy horses after repelling the attack of the 3rd Don Cavalry Division detoured by Kolchak in the morning, and sent to the group army in selected parts.  He came from the former enemy headquarters. In 1918, when food was scarce and Russia was experiencing a famine, being able to eat meat was a great benefit.

    "By the way, have all our wounded been evacuated? We need to transport them quickly, don't stop at Cheboksary, transport them directly to Nizhny Novgorod!" Berzin thought of the wounded.

    "We have already withdrawn, and we are arranging trains to evacuate to the west. There are not enough medical staff and medicines. In two days, we have nearly 8,000 wounded. The burden is really heavy! Many brave young men have lost their last breath.  A drop of blood, but these are the good young men we brought out in Perm and Yekaterinburg!" Chief of Staff Merzheninov's tone was a little heavy and sad.

    Two and a half days of fighting, the Soviet UnionThe Third Army suffered more than 6,000 casualties and more than 8,000 wounded. In total, it lost almost one and a half divisions. Somewhere on the north bank of the Volga River, at least ten divisions of Kolchak's White Guards were making rounds, ready to wait for opportunities.  Crossing the river and taking his own retreat, no wonder Merzheninov was a little overwhelmed and wanted to persuade his commander to order a retreat.

    "The battlefield is so cruel. Although our losses were greater than the opponent's yesterday, the fight this morning was almost even. Kolchak's Eastern Route Army only had 20 division-affiliated artillery companies. Our armored detachment  Although the number of artillery is not as good as that of the opponent, it is much more maneuverable. One will wax and wane, and we will not suffer any loss in the artillery battle.

    Moreover, although the 1st Ural Infantry Division suffered heavy casualties, the opponent's three infantry divisions suffered even greater casualties. If we can persist even for half a day, we can gain more opportunities for Nizhny Novgorod to deploy defense lines and reorganize the team."  Berzin still shook his head, obviously not planning to retreat so early.

    Judging from the artillery battle between the two sides in the morning, Berzin was confident enough that unless Kolchak received artillery reinforcements from the direction of Kazan, his armored train would never fall behind. The only uncertainty was that  On the north bank of the Volga River, once it is discovered that Kolchak's West Route Army or Middle Route Army is beginning to cross the river, Berzin will have to start a full retreat as soon as possible, whether he is willing or not.

    "Karl Ivanovich, since you insist on continuing the fight, I have another idea. Is it possible to withdraw the main force of the 29th Infantry Division in the east to Chivelisk to strengthen the defense? That Alexandrovna is now basically  It¡¯s useless. If the enemy crosses the river, our infantry division alone can¡¯t stop it. I think we can just leave one battalion to guard and monitor the ferry, and we can transfer the entire 29th Infantry Division to Chivelisk!¡±

    Mezheninov's idea was obviously quite good. Of course, Comrade Chief of Staff was embarrassed to say that in addition to strengthening the defense of Chivelisk, it would also prevent the 29th Infantry Division from being left alone once the group army decided to retreat.  Alexandrovna, who was in the extreme northeast, had no time to retreat.

    "Well, what you said is a good idea. It doesn't make much sense for the 29th Infantry Division to stay in Alexandrovna now. Once the enemy begins to cross the river, the entire army group must retreat. I think it's okay. Give the 29th Infantry Division an order to call  They leave a cavalry battalion to monitor the ferry, and the rest of the main force moves towards Chivelisk in batches. Be careful of enemy artillery fire on the train along the way! "

    Berzin was obviously not a guy who couldn't listen to opinions. At this moment, he accepted the idea of ??the chief of staff. Of course, he could also clearly see the little calculation in Mezheninov's mind. Okay.  The 29th Infantry Division is indeed in the easternmost section of the front. Once it starts to withdraw, it may actually be cut off by the enemy.

    "In addition, the 4th Infantry Division guarding the Northeast Defense Line was ordered to concentrate its main force on the side near Chivelisk. At the far end of the Northeast Defense Line, the number of troops can be relatively small, but more heavy machine guns can be deployed.  In addition, let the armored trains strengthen patrols. If necessary, you can also launch small units to harass the opponent's positions and interfere with the enemy's sight!" Berzin held his chin and came up with a new trick.
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