"The 75th Guards Division?!" Merkulov thought for a while and felt that he really didn't know what the original designation of this Guards Division was. He shook his head gently, turned around and asked his political commissar: "Political Commissar
Comrade, do you know?"
Sheiko shrugged his shoulders, spread his hands, and said with a wry smile: "I don't know either. I only know that General Lyudnikov's 138th Division was reorganized into the 70th Guards Division."
"Comrade Commander," Sidorin saw Sokov looking like he was thinking hard and quickly persuaded him: "Don't worry, you will know which unit it is after they arrive in two days."
"Comrade division commander," a staff officer came over and reported to Sokov: "A plane has landed near the division headquarters."
"Plane, what plane?" Sokov asked in surprise.
The staff officer quickly replied: "The soldiers there reported that it seemed to be a commander from the group army headquarters. But he didn't know who it was."
"Who will be the commander of the group army?" Sokov knew that he could not get any more useful information from the staff officer, so he waved to him and sent him away.
"Misha," Bely reminded Sokov: "Didn't the order from the front army headquarters say that Colonel Vitkov, the deputy chief of staff of the 62nd Army, will serve as the chief of staff of the combat group? Could it be that he is here?
"
"Here comes someone!" After hearing Bely's words, Sokov felt that this was really possible, and hurriedly shouted out the door.
Soon, Samoylov trotted through the door and asked Sokov respectfully: "Comrade division commander, do you have any instructions?"
"That's it, Comrade Lieutenant." Sokov told Samoylov: "A plane from Stalingrad just landed near the division headquarters. There was a commander on the plane, probably the deputy commander of the 62nd Army.
Chief of Staff, Colonel Vitkov, please bring him here immediately."
"Yes!" Samoylov agreed, turned around and ran out.
A few minutes later, Samoilov came in from outside with Vitkov as expected.
After the two sides saluted, Vitkov gave Sokov a bear hug. His eyes were shining, he was extremely excited, and he said a little incoherently: "Colonel Sokov, I didn't expect that we would meet again.
." As he said this, he slapped Sokov hard on the back.
Sokov knew that this was a Russian etiquette. The more force the other party used, the more enthusiasm it represented. So even though he grimaced in pain, he still gritted his teeth and persisted.
After Sokov broke free from Vitkov's clutches, he immediately asked him to sit down at the table, poured him a cup of hot tea, and asked tentatively: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I want to ask, do you know about the Guards?"
Which unit was the 75th Division changed from?"
Hearing Sokov's question, Vitkov grinned: "Colonel Sokov, I had already guessed that you were going to ask this question. Originally, the front army headquarters planned to transfer the 321st Infantry Division, but
The superiors have considered that if this ordinary infantry division is replaced by a Guards division, then in the future you can directly change your combat group into a Guards army or even a Guards group army."
When he learned that the combat group he commanded might become the Guards Army or the Guards Group Army, Sokov couldn't help but his eyes lit up. But he quickly returned to normal and continued to ask: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please tell me,
Which army was this Guards Division adapted from?"
"The 75th Guards Division was adapted from the 95th Infantry Division." Vitkov knew the situation of this unit very well. Before Sokov could ask again, he took the initiative to continue: "Division Commander Gorish
Colonel Internal Affairs and Political Commissar Colonel Vlasenko, the division was established in Tula Oblast in September 1942 on the basis of the 13th Motorized Rifle Division of the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs. They entered Stalingrad at the end of September and fought until October 10
On March 16, the remnants of the division were organized into the 161st Regiment and stayed in the city to continue fighting. The division headquarters and its two other regiments were ordered to retreat for rest and recuperation.
Now that they have completed their replenishment, the troops are fully equipped and can undertake combat missions of any intensity, so your superiors have assigned the division to you."
If other people heard the word "full strength", they would be very happy. But Sokov was worried. He knew that the division was crippled in the battle to defend Stalingrad. Even if it was supplemented, it might not be enough.
Those who entered were all new recruits. The number of troops has increased, but their combat effectiveness has been diluted. I am afraid they cannot be counted on at the critical moment.
"So it's this division." Although Sokov's troops did not fight side by side with the 95th Infantry during the Battle of Stalingrad, in front of everyone, what should be said was still said: "They are here
They performed very bravely and tenaciously in the battle to defend the city. I believe that in the next battle, they will be able to achieve greater feats."
Vitkov did not notice that Sokov said this in a perfunctory tone. He also took the initiative to introduce to Sokov: "The three infantry divisions assigned to you all have their own artillery regiments.
In addition to the artillery division and the two Guards Rocket Battalions given by the Front Army Headquarters, that means we will not be at a disadvantage in terms of artillery fire."
"In addition to the artillery, there are also three tank brigades, which is also a force that cannot be underestimated." Sokov added: "But the superiors do not seem to have considered providing us with air cover. If the enemy deploys its air force in the next battle,
, to provide cover for their ground offensive forces, no matter how many tanks and artillery we have, it will be useless. As soon as these things appear, they will become targets of German aircraft."
"What?" Vitkov said in surprise when he heard Sokov complaining about the lack of air cover: "Can't we fight without an air force?"
"It's not that we can't fight." Sokov said bitterly: "Our tanks and artillery have no air defense capabilities. If they are attacked by enemy planes, they can only be passively beaten. If the tanks and artillery are attacked during the battle,
Destroy, then what kind of firepower will we use to suppress the German offensive forces in the next battle?"
Bely noticed that Sokovetkov and Sokovetkov seemed to be having a dispute, and he quickly came out to smooth things over: "Both of you, now that our superiors have suddenly given us so many troops, I think the original defense deployment should be adjusted.
Only by placing troops reasonably can we coordinate with each other when attacked by the enemy."
"What Colonel Bely said makes sense." Bely's words indeed diverted the attention of the two men. Vitkov asked curiously: "How do you think our troops should be arranged?"
