After arranging the next combat mission, Chuikov called Sokov aside and said to him: "Comrade Sokov, I will now officially inform you that from now on, Colonel Vitkov will return to the headquarters and continue to perform his duties.
position of deputy chief of staff."
"What, you want to keep Colonel Vitkov?" Chuikov's words surprised Sokov. This thing was really too sudden for him. Considering that he might be sent to the Red October Factory again one day, he would not be there again.
At that time, there was no one in Mamayev Ridge to take charge of the overall situation: "Then who will be my deputy brigade commander?"
"If you have no objection, I plan to appoint Lieutenant Colonel Sidorin as deputy brigade commander." Chuikov seemed to have already considered all the questions Sokov wanted to ask, and opened his mouth to reveal his plan: "You don't have
What’s your opinion?”
Sokov knew that Sidorin and Chuikov had a good personal relationship. His son Little Sidorin was still serving as a messenger by Chuikov's side. Regarding such an appointment, he secretly thought about it for a while, shook his head and said: "I'm sorry, Comrade Commander, I don't want to
Agree to let Lieutenant Colonel Sidorin concurrently serve as deputy brigade commander."
"Why?" Chuikov originally thought that the appointment was a sure one, but was actually rejected by Sokov. He asked with some displeasure: "Don't you think Lieutenant Colonel Sidorin is not qualified for this position?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Although Sokov knew that rejecting Chuikov's proposal would make the other party unhappy, he still said bravely: "Lieutenant Colonel Sidorin is an excellent staff officer, but
But he is not a qualified military commander and he lacks the ability to act independently."
After saying these words, Sokov's heart was pounding. He looked at Chuikov with a guilty conscience, waiting for the other party to get angry. Unexpectedly, after waiting for a long time, Chuikov did not speak, but said with a wry smile: "Sokov
Colonel, maybe you are right. I have known Lieutenant Colonel Sidorin for so many years. He has always been engaged in staff work. It seems that he has never commanded a unit alone. Well, that's the end of the matter.
Mention it again."
Perhaps because he was worried about Sokov's psychological burden, he raised his hand and patted his shoulder twice, saying: "Although you rejected my proposal, don't be burdened, I won't wear small shoes for you.
"
Hearing that Chuikov had expressed his attitude, Sokov's heart hanging in his throat finally returned to his stomach. He felt that with Chuikov's caliber, let alone the selection of a deputy brigade commander, even if he and he were in the same tactical situation
Regarding the issue, even though he was red-faced, he probably wouldn't do anything to himself.
Samoilov, who was waiting outside the headquarters, saw Sokov walking out alone. He tilted his head and glanced inside, and asked Sokov curiously: "Comrade Brigade Commander, why are there only
You come out alone, where is the deputy brigade commander?"
"The commander asked the deputy brigade commander to return to the headquarters." Sokov said, shaking his head towards Samoylov, and said: "Let's go back to Mamayev Heights. There are a lot of things to do."
Waiting for me to deal with it."
As soon as he entered the tunnel in Beigan, Sokov went directly to the battalion command post. He wanted to ask Golya if he had compiled the statistics of the battle results. Unexpectedly, as soon as he entered the door, he saw Belkin sitting inside, and he hurriedly walked
He walked up and asked curiously: "Comrade Political Commissar, didn't you go to the Red October Factory? Why are you here?"
"I came back directly after handling the affairs of the Red October Factory." Belkin looked at Sokov and said with emotion: "I really didn't expect that the commanders and soldiers who stood at Beigang would actually engage in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy.
, and achieved victory despite being at a numerical disadvantage."
"What happened at the Red October Factory?" Sokov was eager to know what exactly Belkin was doing at the Red October Factory, so he didn't bother to ask about the results of Golia's battle. "I want you to go there yourself."
Belkin sighed and said: "Captain Briski called me and said that a group of wounded soldiers had recently recovered and could return to the army. He originally planned to integrate these wounded soldiers into his battalion, but who knew that
He was opposed by Colonel Koida and the two sides had a dispute over the matter. In desperation, he had no choice but to call me for help."
After hearing this, Sokov did not immediately express his position, but asked thoughtfully: "Comrade Political Commissar, I would like to ask which unit these wounded soldiers originally belonged to, the fourth battalion or Colonel Koida's mixed regiment.
?”
"None of them." Belkin shook his head and said, "They are wounded from friendly forces. Their original troops have now been withdrawn to the rear for replenishment. After they fell behind, they were taken in by our troops and placed in the basement of the assembly workshop for treatment of their injuries.
"
Hearing what Belkin said, Sokov also felt that the matter was difficult. If only one of his own troops stayed at the Red October Factory, then no matter which army the wounded originally belonged to, he could be integrated into his own army after he recovered.
However, since he was ordered to go north to Orlovka, he left four battalions of Koida's mixed regiment to guard the assembly workshop. As a result, which unit should be replenished with the recovered wounded became a confusing matter.
A headache.
Sokov felt that even if he personally took action, it would not be easy to handle the matter, so he cautiously asked Belkin: "Comrade Political Commissar, how did you handle it?"
"There are more than 80 wounded in total." Belkin replied: "After consultation between Colonel Koida and I, two-thirds of the wounded were replenished to the mixed regiment, and the remaining one-third was replenished.
Enter Briski's Fourth Battalion."
After listening to Belkin's treatment, Sokov nodded and said approvingly: "Comrade Political Commissar, you did the right thing. All friendly wounded who are recovering from injuries in the basement of the assembly workshop will be divided into four groups according to this ratio when they return to the army.
Battalion and mixed regiment assignments.”
"Comrade Brigade Commander," Golya, who had been silent next to him, heard Sokov say this and couldn't help but curiously asked: "According to your opinion, the Fourth Battalion will not return to Mamayev Heights again?"
"I would like them to come back." Regarding Goliya's question, Sokov said with some laughter and laughter: "But the superiors ordered them to continue to stick to the assembly workshop, so the defense tasks here can only be left to you and the newly added
Marine Corps Battalion." Speaking of this, Sokov suddenly remembered that the purpose of coming here was to find out the results of the battle, and added, "Have the results of the battle been calculated?"
"Yes, Comrade Brigade Commander, we have all counted." Golia said, took out a small notebook from his pocket and began to read: "After our statistics, a total of 1,748 corpses were found on the battlefield.
Among the corpses killed by mortars and machine guns, 1,139 enemy soldiers fell on the bayonets of our soldiers in hand-to-hand combat."
Seeing that the data reported by Goliya were not far from Vitkov's estimate, Sokov just nodded slightly, and then asked: "What are the casualties of our army?"
"Our army sacrificed 582 people and injured 119 people." When reporting the casualties of the army, Golia showed a painful expression on his face: "My 192nd Battalion has only 47 people who can stand up now, and Shamri
The reserve team brought by Captain He, as well as the sailors you added to us yesterday, the number of casualties has also reached 551."
Sokov clearly remembered that he had deployed 800 sailors to Beigang, but he did not expect that after one battle, 551 people were killed or injured. He originally planned to let the sailors play a role in the subsequent counterattack.
But now that the Marine Corps battalion has suffered more than half its casualties, the remaining troops can hardly be used for defense, let alone attack?
"Where is Captain Shamrich?" Sokov looked at Goliath and said, "I want to have a good talk with him."
"The captain and his men are in the position outside." After Goliath said this, seeing a puzzled expression on Sokov's face, he quickly added: "Romania sent people to collect the bodies.
Captain Mlih and his people are on guard outside."
This chapter has been completed!