Chuikov was a man of his word. He said he would report Gurov's proposal to the front army headquarters. After Wei Yinrubu left, he personally called Yereomenko on the east bank of the Volga River and said respectfully: "
Hello, Comrade Commander, I am Chuikov, and I have something important to report to you."
Yeremenko was secretly surprised and wondered if there was something wrong with the barricade factory and the Dzerzhinsky factory? He couldn't help but nervously asked: "Comrade Chuikov, it's the barricade factory, and the Dzerzhinsky factory has been lost?"
"No, Comrade Commander. Both factories are still in our hands." Seeing that Yereomenko had misunderstood what he meant, Chuikov quickly explained to him: "I called you for other reasons.
"
Knowing that the two factories he had been thinking about had not been lost, Yereomenko put down the huge stone in his heart and said casually: "General Chuikov, what are you going to report to me?"
"Comrade Commander, you should know very well that the enemy has been attacking the Barricade Factory and the Dzerzhinsky Factory like crazy these days, trying to seize these two factories." Chuikov said carefully: "In order to alleviate this situation
In this situation, the leaders of our group army have been thinking of ways to deal with this situation. Today, Comrade Gurov, the division political commissar, suddenly proposed that it seems that a battle group can be formed in the direction of Mamaev Hill and the south of the city to contain the enemy and relieve the pressure on the two
Factory defense pressure.”
"This suggestion is very good, Comrade Chuikov." Regarding the plan proposed by Gurov, Yeremenko only thought about it for a moment before decisively replying: "If another battle group is established, the enemy will have to attack in both directions.
Combat, this will greatly reduce the pressure on the factory direction. By the way, who do you plan to appoint as the commander of the combat group?"
"Colonel Sokov," Chuikov replied: "Comrade Gurov and I both believe that if a combat group is to be established, Colonel Sokov, commander of the 41st Guards Division, is the best candidate."
"Well, Colonel Sokov is indeed very good at fighting." Yeremenko said with concern: "But he is too young. Let a young man in his twenties command an army of tens of thousands of people.
I'm worried that many people will be dissatisfied with him."
"Age is not important, as long as he can lead the troops to win battles. As long as he fights a few battles, those rebellious subordinates will be convinced by him." After Chuikov refuted Yereomenko's question about age, he explained: "But
Comrade Gurov and I just mentioned this matter to him, but he rejected it."
"Rejected by him?!" Yeremenko did not expect that such a good promotion opportunity would be rejected by Sokov. It felt incredible. He quickly asked: "Comrade Chuikov, can you tell me,
The reason for his refusal?"
"He believes that under the current circumstances, it is inappropriate to hastily establish a new combat group." After Chuikov repeated the reasons Sokov said to Yeremenko, he also mentioned that at the group army military meeting, everyone collectively
Opposing the establishment of a new combat group, he finally said: "The reasons for everyone's objections are very good. For example, whether the superiors can dispatch new troops to us, and if so, whether the equipment and logistical supplies of these troops can be guaranteed..."
Yeremenko patiently listened to Chuikov's words and said with a smile: "Comrade Chuikov, you really posed a problem for me. If you don't agree with your establishment of a new combat group, our factory area will not be able to get rid of the pressure it is under.
Ease; agree to the battle cluster in the city, and I will send you more troops and supporting supplies."
He paused for a moment, and suddenly thought of a question that he had ignored: "By the way, if we can send you enough troops to establish a new combat group, can Sokov and the others withstand the pressure of the enemy?"
Although Chuikov has not clearly expressed his support for the establishment of a combat group in public, as a commander of the garrison holding Stalingrad, he certainly hopes to have more troops at his disposal so that he can control them on the battlefield.
Initiative. As for the problems that Sokov was worried about, they were not a problem at all to him. Therefore, in the face of Yeremenko’s doubts, he said unambiguously: “Comrade Commander, once the new combat group
If it is established, it will definitely face a powerful offensive from the enemy, but I believe that with Colonel Sokov's ability, these crises can be resolved."
"I understand, Comrade Chuikov." After listening to Chuikov's words, Yeremenko said thoughtfully: "This matter is of great importance. Although I am the commander of the front army, I can also make hasty decisions. I
I need to discuss it with Comrade Khrushchev. I’ll get back to you when we get the results, okay?”
"Okay!" Seeing that Yereomenko agreed to study the matter, Chuikov felt that there was a way to do it, so he readily agreed: "I'll wait for your news."
After Yeremenko put down the phone, he picked up the walking stick and tried to get up and go outside to find Khrushchev. But as soon as he took two steps, his injured leg started to hurt terribly, and he quickly sat down again.
, picked up the phone and dialed a number, then said into the phone: "I am Yeremenko, where is Comrade Khrushchev?"
"Report to Comrade Commander," the officer who answered the phone quickly replied: "He is still sleeping."
Yeremenko raised his hand and looked at his watch. Seeing that it was already five o'clock in the morning, he ordered the other party without hesitation: "Wake him up and tell him that I have something urgent to see him."
Khrushchev was woken up from his sleep, but he did not get angry at all, because it was during the war, and it was already common for him to be woken up in the middle of his sleep to attend meetings. As soon as he heard about Yelyomian
Seeing that he had something urgent to do, Ko quickly put on his clothes and hurried to the room where Yereomenko was staying.
As soon as he opened the door and saw Yereomenko sitting behind the table, he couldn't wait to ask: "Comrade Commander, is there something wrong in the city?"
"Chuikov just called me," Yeremenko said to Khrushchev after he sat down: "He said he wanted to set up a combat group to fight in the old city and Mamayev Hill area in the south of the city.
, to contain the enemy's forces to reduce the pressure in the direction of the factory area. I called you here just to discuss this matter."
"Establishing a new combat group?" Khrushchev frowned and said: "This means that in the short term, we have to send more troops to the troops and provide them with more supplies. But based on the current situation
See, there’s no way to do that.”
"Comrade Khrushchev, you are right." Yeremenko agreed with what Khrushchev said: "It is precisely because of this that I asked someone to wake you up from your sleep to discuss it.
How should this matter be handled?”
"Comrade Commander, I would like to ask first." Khrushchev did not express his opinion rashly, but asked cautiously: "How large is the size of this combat group, and who does Chuikov plan to appoint as the commander?"
"According to Chuikov, this combat group should consist of two to three infantry divisions or five infantry brigades, so that it can become a force that can influence the situation. As for the selection of the commander," Yereomenko said here
, paused for a moment, took a sip of the already cold tea on the table, and continued: "He thinks Colonel Sokov is the best candidate."
This chapter has been completed!