After repelling two German attacks in a row, Sokov was worried that the Germans would not follow the routine and concentrate their superior forces on Lugansk without waiting to eliminate Kharitonov's Sixth Army and Popov's rapid group.
Launch an attack. Therefore, he urged the 125th Regiment in the city to seize the time to make repairs and prepare for street fighting with the enemy.
After the order was issued, Sokov was still worried, so he personally took people to the city to inspect. After the regiment leader, Lieutenant Colonel Yershakov, received the news, he immediately rushed over with several staff officers to greet him.
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," Sokov asked directly after waiting for Yershakov to salute, "How are your fortifications being repaired?"
"Reporting to Comrade Division Commander," Yershakov quickly straightened his body and replied: "We have followed your order and built necessary fortifications in important streets..."
"Just talking is not enough. I want to see with my own eyes the fortifications you have built." Before the other party could finish speaking, Sokov interrupted him: "Let's see if it is as reliable as you said."
Yershakov quickly waved to the two jeeps parked not far away and signaled the driver to drive over: "Comrade division commander, the city is too big, you'd better sit in the car and inspect it."
Sokov was sitting in the passenger seat, looking through the window glass and quietly observing the environment outside. There were fortifications piled with sandbags and logs at the street entrance, and sandbags were also placed on the windows of the buildings on both sides.
With a machine gun set up, it can form cross-dimensional firepower with the fortifications on the ground to block this section of the street.
As for anti-tank tripods, although they can be seen, the number is too small. Sokov counted along the way and found that there were only more than thirty, and they were all placed on important streets. He felt that he should pay attention to them later.
Yershakov told me to make more anti-tank tripods and have them on every street as soon as possible.
Two jeeps stopped at the Church Square in the city center. Sokov and Yershakov got off the car one after another. Yershakov jogged up to Sokov and asked with some guilt: "Comrade Division Commander,
What do you think of our regiment's defenses?"
Based on his observations along the way, Sokov felt that the 125th Regiment's defense work was pretty good, so he nodded and said: "Overall, it looks pretty good."
Being able to get Sokov's "not bad" evaluation made Yershakov feel a little more at ease. He heard Sokov continue to say: "This church is the commanding heights of the city. Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, in addition to the layout,
In addition to the machine gun firepower point, you should also place elite snipers on it to snipe the German commanders from a distance...
You build barricades on the cross streets and set up machine gun positions in the buildings on both sides. This can form a three-dimensional crossfire and blockade this block. This idea is very good, but it is not enough."
Hearing Sokov say that his fortifications were still imperfect, Yershakov quickly asked humbly: "Comrade Commander, I don't know where we still have shortcomings. Please give us your advice."
"The German tanks will definitely be at full speed when passing through the barricades. If you place two more rocket launchers in the buildings on both sides." Sokov said: "In that way, the enemy tanks can be easily destroyed. If the tank is lost,
The German infantry covering them will not have any advantage in our city."
"So that's it." Sokov's words made Yershakov suddenly realize: "I understand, comrade division commander. I will arrange soldiers carrying rocket launchers in the buildings behind the barricades as soon as possible to carry out anti-tank operations.
."
"Comrade Division Commander," Sokov was discussing with Yershakov the advantages of the existing fortifications and the areas that needed improvement. Captain Shamrih, commander of the third battalion, ran over from a distance. He came to Soko
In front of her husband, she gasped and said: "A general is inspecting the defense area of our battalion."
"A general?" Shamrich's report made Sokov stunned. He thought to himself: I haven't heard of any general coming to Luhansk for inspection recently. He subconsciously asked: "Where?"
Which department does the general belong to, and where is he now?"
"He said he was the commander of the First Guards Infantry Corps," Shamrih said anxiously: "He said he wanted to see the highest-level commander in the city. I called the division headquarters and Lieutenant Colonel Sidorin asked you
I came to the city for an inspection. I guessed that you would come to the church district, so I came here to try my luck. I didn't expect to actually meet you."
"It's Lieutenant General Kuznetsov, commander of the First Guards Army," Sokov asked casually: "What is he doing in Lugansk? You know, his troops are currently in the organization of the Voronezh Front.
"
"Comrade Division Commander, you are mistaken." Shamrih waved his hands and said: "It is not the First Guards Army, but the commander of the First Guards Infantry Army, who is just a major general."
When it became clear that the person coming was not Lieutenant General Kuznetsov, but an unfamiliar Guards Commander, a thought flashed through Sokov's mind: "Does the superior plan to send troops to take over his defense?"
Three jeeps, including the one brought by Shamrih, drove quickly along the street. Soon they arrived near the command post of the third battalion. Sokov often saw a group of soldiers standing on the roadside.
From the military coats and large-brimmed hats they wore, Sokov could tell that they were a group of officers.
The car stopped five or six meters away from the crowd. When Sokov got off the car, he saw the major general in the crowd. He quickly ran over and saluted him: "Hello, comrade general, I am the commander of the 41st Guards Division.
Colonel Sokov, how may I be of service to you?"
"Comrade Colonel," the general muttered dissatisfied, "do you know how long I have been waiting for you here?"
"Comrade General, I'm really sorry." Sokov didn't know the purpose of the other party's visit, so he could only laugh and said: "I was inspecting the defense in the city, and I didn't know you were coming, so I was delayed for a long time."
"Comrade Colonel, I would like to ask, why are you building fortifications in the city?" the general asked angrily: "Don't you know that our troops have almost driven the Germans across the Dnieper River? This will not happen again.
Why build fortifications during a war?"
"Comrade General, although our Voronezh Front Army and Southwest Front Army have achieved some victories on the battlefield, they may not be able to drive the enemy across the Dnieper River for the time being." Since the other party is not his direct superior, Sokov
There was no need to be polite when speaking to him. He said bluntly: "I'm worried that the German army may launch a large-scale counterattack, and Luhansk will also be threatened. We have no right to take back the city that our commanders and soldiers fought with blood and sacrifice.
Give it back to the Germans, so I will deploy the defense of the city."
"Colonel, my army headquarters is in Milerovo, northeast of this city. In order to better attack the enemy, from now on, your division will be temporarily under my command." The general said and nuzzled at a colonel next to him.
: "This is my chief of staff, he will assign tasks to you."
"I'm sorry, Comrade General." Sokov did not receive any orders from his superiors, so he had the right not to accept the other party's orders. He replied in a neither humble nor condescending manner: "Until we receive the orders from our superiors, our division still belongs to the 62nd Army.
.No one can give me orders except Commander Chuikov."
"Colonel, let me ask you to clarify. Is it the corps commander or the other way around?" Seeing that Sokov was unwilling to accept his order, the general couldn't help but became angry: "If you disobey the military order, believe it or not, I will immediately exempt you from the order."
your position and send you to a military court."
Regarding the general's threat, Sokov sneered and replied: "Comrade General, let me ask you to make it clear. This is Luhansk, which is the defense area of our 41st Guards Division. The front and group army headquarters give me
My orders are to defend this city at all costs. If we are to be assigned to a certain unit, my superiors will inform me.
But unfortunately, I have not received any such order so far. I'm sorry, Comrade General, if you have nothing to do, please leave my defense area. Even if the superiors want to assign my troops to your command
, I also need you to present a letter of authorization from your superior before I will obey your order."
The Guards Commander, who was contradicted by Sokov, turned blue with anger, but there was nothing he could do about Sokov. He pointed at Sokov and gritted his teeth and said: "Colonel, remember what you said today.
Sooner or later you will pay the price."
This chapter has been completed!