Breakthrough (The Red Gambit Series) (35 page)

“And that’s an order, Goulding
”

The medical unit
departed
the area before the halftrack had burned out
,
and it was left to a
Soviet
artillery unit to pause long enough to remove the human detritus from the wreck and slip it all into a shallow grave.

Only three men were saved from ‘
Liberty
’
.

Randolph
would never have survived his terrible injuries
without the instant medical intervention of
Goulding
and his medics
.
The hideously injured young man was removed to a waiting ambulance where another team set to work.

Evans had shot sure and the bullet had
struck Hässler in the shoulder as he started to rise
, snapping his collar bone and adding to the
multiple fractures
sustained
when his body
bounced on the road. H
is journey from the spot where he lay
on the road
to the ambulance
that
arrived to
spirit him away
,
was eased by
numerous splints and
more morphine
.

Rosenberg
had been propelled towards the front of the vehicle when
it
struck the tree trunk
, his face smashing into the flat edge of
Randolph
’s machine-gun cupola, removing teeth and crushing bone. His unconscious body had started to suffer burns
,
until he was pulled clear by Goulding.

Stabilised quickly
,
he was loaded into the same vehicle as his friend
,
and both left the field, heading for the comparative safety of the new American lines.

Fox Company had
ceased to exist.

The
49th Guards Rifle Regiment slipped through the positions held by the exhausted and bloodied
soldiers of the 360th Rifle Division
,
and headed
south to Rotenburg.

A force from 2nd Guards Tank Corps had displaced the defenders of Scheeßel
,
and
the
11th Guards Army Commander
,
Nikitovich
,
wanted Rotenburg quickly
, in order
to trap whatever units the enemy had to the east.
A southern approach would be made by forces of the newly-arrived
second wave formation
, the
4th Tank Army. Its 22nd Tank Corps was sending a force northwards to pinch out Rotenburg, closing the jaws on the enemy troops to the east.

Time was of the essence
,
and
the Corps Commander ordered the 49th to Rotenburg by the most direct route.

It was not without risk, especially as it placed the
Soviet
troo
ps on the same side of the
Wümme
R
iver
as their quarry.
Normally a modest waterway, the recent rains had swollen the Wümme to twice the size, and defensive work on the banks, both from the previous conflict and more recent additions, had created an obstacle of note.

At Scheeßel, the newly promoted Major Deniken, now commander of the much depleted 49th Regiment, sought out the 4th Guards Tanks’ commander, and requested support from the man.
Despite having ground to a halt with fuel
supply
issues
,
the
Tank Colonel understood the situation perfectly and made arrangements for fuel to be siphoned from a number of vehicles, providing a back up force of ten T/34’s and two SPAA vehicles for Deniken’s advance.

The
concussion
he had received at Heilingenthal was
almost past, but his arm wound still ached
,
and the healing process was constantly disrupted by his
inability
to rest.

Taking leave of the Tank officer
,
he
brought together
his command group and organised the move
,
so that he would be ready the moment the tanks were provisioned.

             
Kriks
saluted and stepped to one side as the infantry Major left the room, watching the man depart before he entered the HQ
and
offered
his commander a
G
erman
canteen without announcing its contents.

Yarishlov sniffed cautiously and was greeted
with the sweet smell of peach schnapps. He took a small sip before handing it back to his senior NCO.

Lighting up two cigarettes
,
t
he
Starshina
gestured in the direction of the departing Major.

“That man looks like he knows his business
,
Comrade
Polkovnik
.”

Taking the cigarette
,
Yarishlov could only agree.

“He has the look for sure, and he wears the Gold Star
,
so he has seen his
combat
time
,
and done well it seems. We just discussed his mission
,
and I am going to give him a helping hand.”

Yarishlov extended his hand to illustrate the point, which Kriks also interpreted as an opportunity
to press the canteen into his Colonel’s
palm
again.

With a shake of his head
,
the offer was refused.

“A clear head is needed.
Maybe later, if you manage to leave any, Comrade.”

In mock subservience
,
Kriks crashed to attention.

“It shall be as the Comrade
Polkovnik
directs
,
Comrade
Polkovnik
.”

“Hmmm
,
” was all Yarishl
ov could muster by way of reply
,
as he was concentrating on the map in his hand.

Outside
,
there was a hive of activity
,
as officers moved to obey the order and
directed the siphoning of
fuel from vehicles, but only after ensuring the
non-runners were well hidden and
properly positioned in the event of an enemy counter-attack.

Kriks stubbed out his cigarette on the window sill as he took in the scene.

“
Comrade
Polkovnik
. I notice your tank is being fuelled. Are you planning to go on this outing too?”

Folding the
paper carefully
,
and sliding it into his map case
,
Yarishlov considered his reply carefully.

“Starshina Kriks. I have been entrusted with a brand new vehicle and have yet to use it. The Corps commander
might
accuse me of avoiding
the action if I don’t give him a report soon. And that could mean you end up with a new
Polkovnik
,
who might be less tolerant of your little ways!”

The senior NCO smiled broadly.

“
Then
I will go and hurry matters along
, in order to save you from such accusations,
Comrade
Polkovnik
”, and punctuated his departure with a final swig from his liberated flask, “Your health
,
and
long
may you remain our understanding commander.”

The Soviet force set off south, preceded by Deniken’s depleted reconnaissance unit, and flanked by special platoons thrown together for the purpose. Immediately behind came the mixed force of armour, flak and mortars that could immediately swing into the support of the forward infantry units.

The recon troopers disappeared from view quite quickly, absorbed by the woods into which they drove at high speed.

3rd Battalion, under the trustworthy Grabin, was oriented to the east of the main road, accepting slower progress south in exchange for increased protection to the flank of the main force. A battalion in name only, 3rd comprised no more than one hundred and sixty fit soldiers, taken from all parts of the regiment.

Fig #
3
7
- Veeresebruck dispositions.

1st Battalion had been butchered during the attack on Westergellersen and its survivors were moved into the 2nd Battalion, which had fared better during its own assault on neighbouring Sü
dergellersen and now provided the main force of the 49th Guards Rifle Regiment.

Deniken’s HQ group consisted of a handful of staff officers,
an automatic weapon
s
laden
headquarters infantry
company
,
and the relatively unblooded mortar platoon, all other elements having been destroyed
,
or
their remnants absorbed into 3rd Battalion.

From what Deniken could gather
,
his division would not be called upon further once this mission was out of the way, and a time of recuperation and reinforcement would follow. Not before time
,
as 36th Guards Rifle Corps had suffered horrendous casualties since the start of hostilities.

The sudden crack of a high-velocity weapon reached their ears over the drone of vehicle engines, telling Deniken that the dying was not yet over.
Deeper explosions and the rattling of automatic fire followed.

Lead elements of the 2nd
B
attalion had reached the main body of the woods and immediately deployed from their vehicles, securing the edge
,
and ensuring the units behind could safely advance.

Deniken’s arrival with the 2nd coincided with the
erratic
return of one of his remaining BA-64 armoured cars.

The Lieutenant commanding the recon troop pointed out that his radio had been destroyed, lifting a bloodied arm as best he could to indicate the entry hole of solid shot
in the hull front
. He dropped to one knee and spread out the map he was holding, rapidly relating what had happened to the lead unit
.

Deniken overhead it all as he strode up, the wounded officer’s voice loud, accentuated with pain and the excitement of battle.

The upshot of it was that the other armoured car had run over a mine and that the infantry had gone to ground either side of the road, receiving casualties from enemy machine-guns as they deployed.

The surviving BA-64 had
manoeuvred
quickly
,
but an anti-tank gun had made a hit, destroying their radio and
wounding the driver
,
who was being retrieved from his vehicle even as the young officer passed on his information.

Not wishing to interrupt
,
Deniken stood back and let the Captain from 2nd glean all he could.

Consulting his own map
,
he listened in, making his own notes on likely anti-tank positions and machine-gun
nests.

Without doubt, the enemy were sat astride the
bridge in some strength
,
and had
no intention of
moving.