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Alekseyev ordered。 〃Sergetov； e with me。 I have to go forward。〃
The attack had ripped the heart out of his lead regiment； Alekseyev knew； but it had been worth the cost。 The NATO forces would have to move their units through a smashed town to get to the bridges； and having the allied units on the north side disengage first was a godsend。 Now with a fresh regiment he'd be able to run over them and； if he were very lucky； get the bridges intact。 This he'd have to supervise himself。 Alekseyev and Sergetov boarded a tracked vehicle； which motored southeast to catch the maneuvering regiment。 Behind them his operations officer began to give new orders over the divisional radio net。
Five kilometers on the far side of the river； a battery of German 155mm guns was waiting for this opportunity。 They had remained silent； waiting for their radio…intercept experts to pin down the divisional headquarters。 Quickly the gunners punched the target data into their firecontrol puters while others loaded high…explosive shells。 Every gun in the battery trained out on an identical azimuth。 The ground shook when they began rapid fire。
A hundred shells fell in and around the divisional headquarters in less than two minutes。 Half the battle staff was killed outright； most of the others wounded。
Alekseyev looked at his radio headset。 His third close brush with death。 That was my fault。 I should have checked the siting of the radio transmitter I must not make that mistake again 。 。 。 Damn！ Damn！ Damn！
Alfeld's streets were clogged with civilian vehicles。 The Americans in their Bradley tracked vehicles avoided the town entirely； hurrying down the right bank of the Leine and crossing to the other side in good order。 There； they took positions on the hills overlooking Leine； and set up to cover the crossing of the other allied troops。 The Belgians were next。 Only a third of their tanks had survived； and these covered the southern flank on the far side of the river； hoping to stop the Russians before they were able to cross。 German Swatspolizei had held back civilian traffic and allowed the armored units to pass； but this changed when Soviet artillery began bursting in the air close to the river。 The Russians had hoped it would impede traffic； and it did。 Civilians who had been late to follow orders to leave their homes now paid for their error。 The artillery did scant damage to fighting vehicles but thoroughly wrecked civilian cars and trucks。 In minutes； the streets of Alfeld were jammed with disabled and burning cars。 People left them； braving the fire to run for the bridges； and the tanks trying to make their way to the river found their way blocked。 Their only escape was over the bodies of innocent civilians； and even when ordered to proceed； the drivers shrank from it。 Gunners rotated their turrets to face over the rear and began to engage the Russian tanks now entering the town。 Smoke from burning buildings wafted across everyone's field of view。 Cannon fired at targets glimpsed for a moment； rounds went wild； and the streets of Alfeld turned into a slaughterhouse of soldiers and nonbatants。
〃There they are！〃 Sergetov pointed。 Three highway bridges spanned the Leine。 Alekseyev started to give orders； but they weren't necessary。 The regimental mander already had his radio microphone keyed； and directed a battalion of tanks with infantry support to proceed up the west bank； following the same route； still relatively open； that the Americans had used。
The American fighting vehicles on the far side of the river opened fire with missiles and their light cannon； killing a half…dozen tanks； and the remainder of the regiment engaged them with direct fire while Alekseyev personally called down artillery on the hilltops。
In Alfeld the battle had e to a bloody standstill。 The German and British tanks took up positions at intersections largely hidden from view by wrecked cars and trucks； and backed toward the river slowly as they fought to give the civilians time。 The Russian infantry tried to engage them with missiles； but too often debris lying in the streets tore the flight control wires； causing the missiles to fall out of control and explode harmlessly。 Russian and allied artillery fire churned the town to rubble。
Alekseyev watched his troops advancing toward the first bridge。
South of him； the mander of the lead regiment swore at his losses。 More than half his tanks and assault vehicles had been destroyed。 Victory was within his grasp； and now his troops had been stopped again by impassable streets and murderous fire。 He saw the NATO tanks pulling slowly back； and； enraged that they were escaping； called in for artillery。
Alekseyev was surprised when the artillery fire shifted from the center of the town to the riverfront。 He was shocked when he realized that it was not tube artillery fire； but rockets。 As he watched； explosions appeared at random over the riverfront。 Then rounds began exploding in the river in rapid succession。 The rate of fire increased as more and more launchers were trained on the target； and it was already too late for him to stop them。 The farthest bridge went first。 Three rockets landed at once； and it came apart。 Alekseyev watched in horror as over a hundred civilians fell into the churning water。 His horror was not for the loss of life…he needed that bridge！ Two more rockets landed on the center bridge。 It did not collapse； but the damage it took was serious enough to prevent tanks from using it。 The fools！ Who was responsible for this？ He turned to Sergetov。
〃Call up the engineers。 Get bridging units and assault boats to the front。 They have absolute priority。 Next； I want every surface…to…air missile and antiair gun battery you can find。 Anyone who gets in their way will be shot。 Make sure the traffic…control officers know this。 Go！〃
The Soviet tanks and infantry had reached the only surviving bridge。 Three infantry vehicles raced to the far side and were taken under fire by the Belgians and Americans as they raced to cover。 A tank followed。 The T…80 rumbled across； got to the far side and exploded from an impacting missile。 Another followed； then a third。 Both reached the west bank。 Then a British Chieftain emerged from behind a building and followed the Soviet tanks across。 Alekseyev watched in amazement as it ran right between the two Soviet vehicles； neither of which saw it。 An American missile ran just behind it and plowed into the ground； raising a cloud of dirt and dust。 Two more Chieftains emerged at the bridgehead。 One exploded from a point…blank shot by a T…80； the other fired back； killing the Russian tank a second later。 Alekseyev remembered a tale from his boyhood of a brave peasant on a bridge as the British tank engaged and killed two more Soviet tanks before succumbing to a barrage of direct fire。 Five more Soviet vehicles raced across the bridge。
The General lifted his headset and dialed up 8th Guards Army Headquarters。 〃This is Alekseyev。 I have a pany of troops across the Leine。 I need support。 We have broken through。 Repeat： we have broken through the German front！ I want air support and helicopters to engage NATO units north and south of Bridge 439。 1 need two regiments of infantry to assist with the river crossing。 Get me support and I might have my division across by midnight。〃
〃You'll get everything I have。 My bridging units are on the way。〃
Alekseyev leaned against the side of his BMP。 He unbuckled his canteen and took a long drink as he watched his infantry climb the hills under fire。 Two plete panies were across now。 Allied fire was now attempting to destroy the remaining bridge。 He had to get at least a full battalion across if he wanted to hold this bridgehead for more than a few hours。 〃I'll get the bastard；〃 he promised himself； 〃who fired on my bridges。〃
〃Boats and bridges are en route； rade General；〃 Sergetov reported。 〃They have first priority； and the sector traffic…control officers have been informed。 Two SAM batteries are starting this way； and I found three mobile AA guns three kilometers off。 They said they can be here in fifteen minutes。〃
〃Good。〃 Alekseyev trained his binoculars on the far bank。
〃rade General； our infantry carriers are amphibious。 Why don't we swim them across？〃
〃Look at the riverbank； Vanya。〃 The General handed his glasses over。 As far as he could see； the far side was all set with stone and concrete to prevent erosion。 It would be difficult if not impossible for the tracked vehicles to climb that。 Damn the Germans for that！ 〃Besides； I wouldn't want to try that in anything less than regimental strength。 That bridge is all we have； and it can't last very long。 With the best of luck we won't have any assault bridges in place for several hours。 The troops on the far side are on their own for at least that long。 We'll run as many troops and vehicles across the bridge as we can； then reinforce with infantry assault boats as soon as they arrive。 The book calls for this sort of crossing to be made in assault boats； under cover of darkness or smoke。 I don't want to wait for night； and I need the guns to fire live shells； not harmless ones。 We must break the rules； Vanya。 Fortunately the book allows for that also。 You have performed well； Ivan Mikhailovich。 You are now a m