"Comrade Commander, where is Klimov?" Sidorin suddenly realized that he had not seen his adjutant Klimov since Chuikov entered the room until now. You must know that the other party is Chuikov's adjutant.
, but they have always been inseparable, and now that they have not been seen, there is only one worst possibility, that is, they were sacrificed, so he asked cautiously: "Did they be sacrificed?"
"No, he is still alive." Chuikov stared at Yelena who was sending the report and said casually: "Many of the subordinates who were traveling with me were injured. Klimov took them and Vasily to the health team for bandaging.
Already."
After Chuikov answered this question, he suddenly realized that Sidorin would not ask this question for no reason. The reason for asking him about Klimov's whereabouts was nothing more than a pretext. The main reason was to inquire about the whereabouts of his son Little Sidorin, and he quickly added
Said: "Lieutenant Colonel Sidorin, your son Little Sidorin followed the political commissar Gurov to break through the siege by water, so he should be fine. Don't worry."
Sidorin handed Chuikov a cigarette, lit it for him, and asked: "Comrade Commander, I also want to ask, how many teams are there in total for the headquarters to break through the encirclement by land?"
"This matter was arranged by Chief of Staff Krylov. I don't know exactly how many teams there are." Chuikov took a puff of his cigarette and replied, "But I think there are at least seven or eight."
"Can they all break through smoothly?" Sidorin asked next.
"Casualties are definitely inevitable." Chuikov's brows knitted into knots when he thought of what his team encountered with the Germans when they broke through. "Oh, I don't know how many of these teams can successfully arrive.
New headquarters."
"Comrade Commander," while two old comrades were chatting, Yelena, who had just received the telegram, turned to greet Chuikov: "The front headquarters has called back."
Chuikov quickly put out the cigarette butt in his hand, walked quickly behind Yelena, took the telegram from her hand, quickly read the contents, and said to the female telegraph operator: "To the Front Army Headquarters
Send a message, we need two to three divisions of troops to strengthen the defense force in Stalingrad."
"Comrade Commander," Sidorin asked curiously after hearing the contents of the telegram dictated by Chuikov: "Can I ask what telegram the front army headquarters sent you?"
Perhaps out of trust in his old subordinates, Chuikov handed the telegram to Sidorin without hesitation, and said with some laughter: "The Front Army Headquarters informed us that General Rokossovsky's Stalingrad Front Army,
An attack will be launched from the north of the city in two days, and we are ordered to actively cooperate."
"Cooperation, how to cooperate?" Sidorin asked with a look of surprise: "Comrade Commander, our existing troops are not enough even to defend the city. How can we allocate forces to cooperate with the friendly forces' attack?"
"That's right," Chuikov said helplessly: "Currently I don't even have a complete regiment in hand, so how can I possibly launch a counterattack against the enemy? Therefore, I had to make a request to the front army headquarters to ask them to dispatch more
Several divisions have come to the city to assist in our defense."
While Chuikov and Sidorin were communicating, Sokov sat and stared at the map in front of him, mentally thinking about how to deal with the next German attack. At this moment, a voice calling for a report came from the door, and he quickly looked up.
He said towards the door: "Whoever is outside, please come in."
As soon as Sokov finished speaking, the artillery lieutenant responsible for guiding the artillery on the east coast strode in. After he raised his hand and saluted Sokov, he reported in a loud voice: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, all the data have been calculated.
"
"What data?" Before Sokov could speak, Chuikov interrupted and asked: "Comrade Second Lieutenant, what data did you calculate?"
"Comrade Commander," the artillery lieutenant knew that the speaker was Chuikov, and he immediately and respectfully replied: "I am counting the data on the German army's heavy artillery bombardment of Mamayev Heights."
Chuikov was eager to know how many heavy artillery pieces the Germans had used to bombard Mamayev Heights, so he directly ordered the artillery lieutenant: "Tell me your statistical data."
The artillery lieutenant nodded and said clearly: "According to our statistics, during the daytime battle, there were 3 craters from the 305mm heavy artillery and 25 craters from the 203mm heavy artillery near Mamayev Heights..."
"Wait a minute, Comrade Second Lieutenant." Chuikov heard this and interrupted the artillery lieutenant's words. He turned to look at Sokov and asked puzzledly: "Why, the enemy's 305mm heavy artillery is only aimed at Mamaev
Did the gang fire three cannons?"
Sokov couldn't answer Chuikov's question, so he had to gesture to the artillery lieutenant to explain to Chuikov. When the artillery lieutenant saw Chuikov's eyes turning to him again, he continued: "Yes,
Comrade Commander, after our repeated checks, the German 305mm heavy artillery fired only three rounds, while the 203mm heavy artillery fired 25 rounds. Since the enemy first bombarded with 305mm heavy artillery, he also equipped artillery with other calibers.
The bombardment of Mamayev Hill caused us to mistakenly believe that the enemy had been using 305mm heavy artillery to destroy our army's fortifications and caused considerable casualties to our army."
"If the Germans are only using 203mm heavy artillery," Chuikov waited for the artillery lieutenant to finish, then said thoughtfully: "In other words, when they are shelling the city or Mamayev Hill, we are on the east coast.
Artillery can completely suppress them?"
"Absolutely correct, Comrade Commander." the artillery lieutenant replied: "The smaller the caliber of the enemy's artillery, that is to say, the closer their artillery positions are to us, so the artillery fire from the east bank will have the opportunity to destroy the enemy's artillery positions.
"
"Comrade Second Lieutenant," Chuikov asked: "Do you think the tunnel fortifications at Mamayev Hill can withstand the bombardment of the German 203mm heavy artillery?"
"It should be able to withstand it, Comrade Commander." the artillery lieutenant said: "The 203mm heavy artillery can only destroy fortifications with a covering layer of soil below five meters, while the covering layer of the tunnel fortifications in Mamayev Hill is more than ten meters thick. As long as
Unless the enemy's artillery shells are concentrated in one location, it is simply impossible to destroy the tunnel fortifications."
The words of the second lieutenant of the artillery gave everyone reassurance that even if the German heavy artillery blew up the tunnel exit countless times, as long as the tunnel fortifications did not collapse, it would not matter at all. Sidorin picked up the phone and dialed 2
Battalion, said into the microphone: "Captain Vasily, I am Chief of Staff Sidorin. Those exits on the front slope may still be destroyed by the enemy's heavy artillery in tomorrow's battle. I now order you to exit the mountain
Open new exits on the north and south sides of the hillock."
During the day's battle, Second Battalion Commander Vasily organized his officers and soldiers to carry out several civil engineering operations in order to dig out the exit of the tunnel that had been blown up by the enemy. Because it took so long to open the exit, the Germans were forced to do so several times.
After rushing to the top of the hill, if the first battalion deployed on the reverse slope had not counterattacked in time, the surface position of Nangang would have been occupied by the Germans.
Vasily is having a meeting with several company commanders to discuss how to dig out the collapsed positions in the shortest possible time after the German shelling ends in tomorrow's battle, allowing soldiers to enter surface positions. The fourth company has a long grid.
Risa asked Vasily: "Comrade Battalion Commander, can we open new openings on the north and south sides of the hill so that the enemy's artillery fire cannot reach that location? In this way, our commanders and soldiers can quickly attack after the shelling is over.
into defensive positions."
After listening to Grisa's suggestion, Vasily said hesitantly: "It's a big project to dig new exits on the north and south sides. Although there are hundreds of people in our camp, even if we dig all night, we may not be able to open them.
Dig through.”
When everyone was in a dilemma, he received a call from Sidorin, asking him to dig tunnel exits on the north and south sides of the hill. After Sidorin finished speaking, he said awkwardly: "Chief of Staff
Comrade, I was convening a meeting with the company commanders, and someone proposed to dig tunnel exits on the north and south sides. However, the amount of work required to do this is too large. Even if our entire battalion is dispatched, we will not be able to dig it out in just a few days."
Vasily thought that after he said this, Sidorin would criticize him for saying something like disregarding the overall situation. But as soon as he finished speaking, Sidorin said confidently: "Captain Vasily, you don't have to worry about this. Oh.
Major Zoll left us a design drawing of the tunnel fortifications. From the drawing, it can be seen that the soil layer at several locations on the north and south sides is only three or four meters thick. If it is to be dug through, it will not take more than one night. Drawing
, I will send someone to deliver it to you later."
"Understood, Comrade Chief of Staff." Seeing that Sidorin had already said this, Vasily knew that he would have no objection no matter how much he objected, so he bit the bullet and said, "I will organize the manpower immediately and start construction as soon as the drawings arrive.
.”
When Sidorin put down the phone, he happened to hear Chuikov asking Sokov: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, the front army headquarters is going to give us an infantry brigade and a tank brigade. Where do you think we should deploy them?"
"
"Comrade Commander," Sokov heard Chuikov's question and did not answer immediately. Instead, he asked: "Can I ask what kind of troops are here?"
"The superiors sent us the 92nd Infantry Brigade and the 137th Tank Brigade." Chuikov said with some pride: "The infantry brigade is fully equipped. The members of this brigade are all sailors from the Baltic Fleet and the North Sea Fleet. They are very good.
soldiers."
After finding out that among the troops sent by his superiors, there was an infantry brigade composed entirely of sailors, Sokov suddenly knew that the combat effectiveness of the sailors was much stronger than that of the army, so he pointed at the map and said: "I suggest
The newly arrived troops are deployed in the direction of the city, allowing them to cover the left flank of Mamayev Hill."
"Deployed on the left wing of Mamayev Ridge?" Chuikov stared at the map for a while and asked rhetorically: "Why deploy on the left wing instead of the right wing? You know, fierce fighting is also going on in the factory area now, and we are in
There is also a serious shortage of troops in this area."
"Comrade Commander, the reason why I suggest deploying reinforcements in the direction of the city is because although our defense line in this area has been smashed to pieces by the enemy, the commanders and soldiers who stick to this area are still fighting with the enemy.
Fight tenaciously." Sokov said with emphasis: "If we deploy an organized force here, we can reunite the scattered forces and restore the defense line that was separated by the German army."
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, what you said makes sense." Chuikov nodded and said: "Actually, we were on the urban defense line. Originally, only the 13th Guards Division, an organized unit, existed. Now its 39th Guards Division
The regiment is deployed on your right wing, while the two regiments deployed in the urban area were beaten and lost their structure under the fierce attack of the German army. If we deploy all the newly sent reinforcements in the direction of the urban area, we can gather them and defeat them.
Remove the scattered troops and restore the original defense line."
"Do you need me to send someone to lead them?"
"Logically speaking, it is the responsibility of the Army Headquarters to guide the troops into the defense zone." Chuikov tried his best to force a smile on his face and said: "But currently the Army Headquarters is unable to protect itself and cannot send out suitable candidates.
Go to the ferry to meet the newly arrived troops. Therefore, I will leave this task to you." Chuikov slapped the map with his hand, "Take them to the station and let the sailors move the station away from the enemy.
Take it back from your hand."
"When will they probably start crossing the river?" Sokov then asked.
"It stands to reason that in order to ensure safety, the troops should use the night to cross the river." Chuikov said with a wry smile: "But these two troops are still marching. By the time they arrive at the east bank ferry, it will be almost noon. By then they will
Braving enemy bombing and artillery fire, we forcibly crossed the Volga River."
Chuikov's words reminded Sokov of the scene a few days ago when the 13th Guards Division was crossing the river. Many soldiers died in the bombing of enemy planes before they saw what the Germans looked like, and the ships carrying them sank.
After falling into the cold bottom of the Volga River, Sokov sighed and said: "Oh, if we cross the river in the daytime, we don't know how many soldiers will die in the bombing of enemy planes."
"I have asked the radio operator to send a report to the front army headquarters, requesting them to dispatch fighter planes to provide air support for the reinforcements when they cross the river." Chuikov said: "I hope this can reduce the casualties of the reinforcements crossing the river."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov turned to Sidorin and asked: "Who do you think should be sent to the ferry to pick up the reinforcements?"
"Vasil Zaitsev." As soon as Sokov finished speaking, Sidorin replied without hesitation: "He is familiar with the station area. Why not let him go to the ferry to pick up the reinforcements and take them with him?"
To the combat area." He was deeply afraid that Sokov would oppose his proposal. Before Sokov could speak, he added, "Because the city has been shelled and bombed, there are ruins everywhere, and the streets have become difficult to recognize. Except
With snipers like Vasily lurking everywhere, I think other people entering the city will definitely get lost."
Chuikov agreed with Sidorin's statement: "Yes, if we hadn't met Comrade Vasily today, we would still be wandering around in the maze-like ruins today. I agree to send Vasily to pick him up.
Recruit reinforcements and bring them to the designated location."
