Republic of Korea in Yeokcheon - Chapter 122



Only Krnovel

#122. We die here!

March 14, 1949, 07:30.

Beach near Vladivostok Port.

thud! thud! thud!

As 30 LSTs simultaneously struck the bow, the anchor was lowered into the sea from the rear.

And then the function door opened and the lamp came down.

Buuuuung!

What appeared first was, unexpectedly, a truck loaded with what looked like rolled up toilet paper rolls.

This so-called beach mat was a piece of equipment that laid a mat on the floor so that troops and equipment could move smoothly in the sand during an amphibious landing operation.

As the beach mat truck backed up and cleared a path of about 50 meters, South Korean marines poured out in earnest on M3 half-tracks and other vehicles.

The weather in Vladivostok is still below freezing, so if you fall into the sea water on a day like this, you will likely get frostbite, and if you fall in even your feet, you will get frostbite before you can even walk a few steps.

That’s why all troops come out in armored vehicles and trucks in the first place.

The Marines who participated in the first landing operation of the Republic of Korea Marine Corps today are members of the 1st Marine Division, two armored battalions, two artillery battalions, and two battalions belonging to the Marine Special Operations Brigade.

The Marine Corps division was reduced in size to about 8,000 men, but since the 2nd division was still being formed, only the 1st division decided to participate in the war.

08:40.

Gunfire continued to be heard as the Marine Corps landing force took up positions on the beach, but nothing threatened them.

The three rifle divisions were still suffering from naval artillery fire and air attacks from F6F Hellcat fighters that had been rearmed and sortied, so they had no time to pay attention to this, and the guards guarding the Vladivostok port were mostly pulverized or injured, so it didn’t matter who came to the beach or not. There wasn’t.

As soon as a small number of troops approached there, the Hellcat fighter planes covering them from the air rushed in and destroyed them, so there was no chance of the landing being interrupted.

“Is everything ready now?”

“Yes, it is. “Division commander!”

“What about the search party?”

“We advanced to a radius of 500 meters, but they say they haven’t seen the Soviet troops yet.”

“Okay, then let’s get started. “The 1st Brigade will occupy Vladivostok Port, and the 2nd and 3rd Brigades will advance north along the coastline up to 10km and establish a defensive line!”

“Marine! “Hoo!”

“Hura!”

When the order was given by Major General Shim Jae-hak, commander of the 1st Marine Division, everyone shouted ‘Hura!’

‘Hura!’ means ‘Hurray!’ in Esperanto, and after General Ahn Jung-geun shot Ito Hirobumi, he shouted ‘Corea!’ There was a shout of ‘Hura!’

And, Kim Jong-woo adopted that as the slogan of the Marine Corps after reporting it at the ceremony to return the remains of Generals Ahn Jung-geun and Kim Gyeong-cheon.

“why? It looks like it’s there, right? And the U.S. military and Los Forces are also shouting similar slogans?”

This was Kim Jong-woo’s answer.

You can’t say no because the US Army says ‘Hooah!’, the US Marine Corps says ‘Oorah!’, and the Russians say ‘Oorah’.

In addition, it was so popular that it seemed to have a basis because it was General Ahn Jung-geun’s cry, so it eventually spread throughout the entire Korean Army.

Grrrrrr!

There was nothing blocking the advance of the 1st Marine Brigade, which was shouting ‘Hura’ and advancing towards Vladivostok Port with a tank company at the forefront.

While going to the port, only the occasional civilian looked at me with an anxious look.

Even though the shelling had stopped for quite a while, Vladivostok Port was still spewing out flames in various places, and in the sea near the port, the few large ships that were still there were also smoking with part of their hulls sticking out.

“Ha, the president, don’t worry too much… … .”

Director Shim Jae-hak sighed.

It was so crushed that it was difficult to advance.

In particular, the area where the Soviet Pacific Fleet base was located was just a heap of ashes.

The occupation had to be taken anyway, so the Marines’ first battle took place just as they approached the Pacific Fleet base.

Ta-ta-ta-ta!

bang! bang! bang! Taang!

Machine guns and rifle bullets rained down from somewhere, but they could not cause any damage as long as the Patton tank was at the forefront.

Wow!

The turret turned and soon the coaxial machine gun was firing.

Ride! Ta-da-da-da-da!

“Ahh!”

Boom! Boom boom!

And as the M3 Halftrack, which was following behind, fired machine guns all at once, it soon became quiet.

Sporadic resistance did not last more than an hour.

09:35.

The Taegeukgi was hoisted on the flagpole that remained intact despite the fierce bombardment.

The port of Vladivostok was occupied.

* * *

March 14, 1949, 10:40.

Zabaikal Front.

53rd Army headquarters near Lake Tabun.

“… … .”

“… … .”

“Whoa… … .”

Malinovsky, who looked twenty years older overnight, looked into the conference room and sighed.

Because there were too many empty seats.

Malinovsky sighed and felt sad.

It happened anyway, and it was difficult for him to avoid being reprimanded.

It may be difficult to avoid execution by firing squad.

However, measures had to be taken to prevent even family members from being taken to the concentration camp.

Besides, he didn’t know if he could survive if he did well.

It was not until the 53rd Army, which was in the rear, that it was able to receive information about the current situation from the Far East Army General Headquarters, and it is said that it was not only the Zabaikal Front that suffered a crushing defeat.

When he heard that the 1st Far Eastern Front Army, the 2nd Far Eastern Front Army, and all armies under the Far Eastern Command had been cruelly defeated, Malinovsky almost looked relieved without realizing it.

And it was the same for generals such as Sergeant Lyudnikov of the 39th Army and Grand Marshal Krabchenko of the 6th Guards Tank Army.

Because we were broken together, there was hope for survival.

“What about Khudyakov of the Air Force?”

“In a few hours ago… … .”

“haha! “Should I say I’m lucky because I died in battle?”

“… … .”

Since he was killed in action, at least Khudyakov’s family did not have to worry about being taken to a concentration camp.

“Okay. Anyway, everyone had a hard time. No matter what anyone said, we fought hard. It’s just that the enemies were too strong. Isn’t that right, Lieutenant General Tepchenkov?”

“Whoa! To be honest, I don’t know what to say about this. This is my first time experiencing something like this… … .”

The expressions of the generals in the conference room brightened at Tepchenkov’s words.

Tepchenkov is the highest political commissar of the Zabaikal Front.

If he says this, there is hope.

“First of all, I will report it as it is. “The enemy was too powerful.”

“Oh oh!”

“Calm!”

It really seemed like there was hope.

“But I don’t know what will happen either. That’s why we lost so heavily in this battle.”

“ha… … .”

“Whoa… … .”

There were mixed feelings of joy and sorrow at the words of the political committee member.

However, it was still not bad for the political committee member to react that way.

“I understand. Still, if possible, please explain it better. “Please do me a favor.”

“If possible. Comrade Commander.”

“That’s enough. ruler! Anyway, let’s do our job. Chief of Staff Zaharov!”

“Yes, Comrade Commander.”

“First, report the damage total, at least roughly.”

“All right. Please do not forget that this is a provisional tally.”

“Okay, hurry up and report it.”

“First of all, the air force. “The 12th Air Army was destroyed.”

“… … .”

“… … .”

Everyone had expected it, but everyone seemed to have forgotten what to say when the Chief of Staff reported that an entire air force had been annihilated.

“And the 6th Guards Tank Army, which was at the forefront, lost 50% of its tanks and troops… … .”

As the reports continued, the air in the conference room became increasingly heavy.

“I will tell you in conclusion. “Of the 650,000 troops of our Zabaikal Front, 180,000 were killed, wounded or missing.”

“Keuung!”

“And it is estimated that more than 1,200 tanks and self-propelled guns were lost, leaving about 1,300 remaining.”

“… … .”

“And it is no exaggeration to say that almost all field artillery and multiple rocket launchers were lost, except for those owned by the 53rd and 36th armies. I don’t know what method the Koreans used, but it was because their artillery attacked more intensively. “70% of the entire Zabaikal Front was lost.”

“ha… … .”

“There is something more painful than anything else.”

“Something?”

“Ammunition and oil. You should think that this is all that the 53rd and 36th districts have. There was a little more ammunition that I brought with me individually while retreating… … .”

“… … .”

“… … .”

“… … .”

No one could open their mouths.

You cannot wage war without these two things: ammunition and oil.

This is why they cannot fight even if there are over 400,000 troops left.

After a while, Malinovsky spoke.

“What about additional supplies?”

“We have no choice but to receive it from the 4th Far Eastern Front, but it will take more than a week at the earliest. And that’s to a minimum.”

“Ha, oh my. “Can’t we get it here from the Mongolian People’s Republic?”

“You know very well, right? “What’s in it for those damn bastards?”

“Ha ha ha ha ha!”

“… … .”

Malinovsky suddenly burst into laughter.

It was so absurd.

“ha ha ha! This is really great! amazing! It’s really amazing! This is the first time I’ve seen people like this in over 30 years of fighting on the battlefield. “How can we fight like this?”

“Comrade Commander… … .”

“ruler! ruler! What should I do? If you have regrets, you should fight as you wish, right? Don’t bow your head too much! “We just have to do what we can!”

“Wow! Yes, Comrade Commander.”

“First of all, the last instructions we received from General Headquarters were clear. “Defend the current front until the 4th Far Eastern Front arrives!”

“But with what…” … .”

“I can’t help this. This means that the Far East Army General Headquarters has no choice but to give this order. “You wouldn’t know that once our front line is breached, the road to Moscow will open right away, right?”

“… … .”

It was like that.

Once the Zabaikal Front is breached and the 4th Far Eastern Front is breached, it is a breeze to get to Moscow.

“But since we have the 4th Far Eastern Front… … .”

“Why do you keep saying different things when everyone knows? “The 4th Far Eastern Front is a reserve force from the beginning, and isn’t it really a good thing if it has half the strength of our Zabaikal Front?”

“… … .”

“Do you understand now? From now on, the invasion of Manchuria is not the problem. From now on, we have to worry about the enemy advancing north. thus! “We are setting up a defense line with the determination to die here!”

“… … .”

“Until the 4th Far Eastern Front arrives, we must stop it by any means necessary.”

“All right.”

“Chief of Staff!”

“Yes, Comrade Commander.”

“Communicate to the 36th Army immediately. “Join us as quickly as possible.”

“All right.”

“And here we dig trenches and build defenses. Bring in all the power you can get! “Contact Cheoybalsang in Mongolia!”

“What do you mean?”

“Tell them all to come too! “It may not have much power, but it can be used as a cannon fodder!”

After speaking, Malinovsky stood up.

“Everyone take note! We cannot escape punishment anyway! “Then shouldn’t we make sure that the remaining family members aren’t taken to the concentration camp?”

“… … .”

“And this is real! If we get through, there won’t be any troops even to Moscow to stop those monsters! “We die here!”

It was the moment when the war changed from an invasion war to a defensive war.