News of the German attack on the barricade factory soon reached the army headquarters.
When Chuikov heard the news, he frowned and asked Krylov: "Chief of Staff, the German attack on the factory area has been stopped for several days. How come they suddenly launched an attack again today?"
Krylov was not sure why the Germans would launch another offensive. According to his idea, the station where the Germans originally stored supplies had been destroyed by the guerrillas. Even if new supplies arrived, it would not be enough to support a strong attack. So he lightly
He shook his head and said, "I'm not sure. Logically speaking, even if they receive new reinforcements from the rear, the amount of ammunition and supplies will not be able to support a high-intensity attack."
Chuikov stared at the map in front of him for a while and asked casually: "How is the situation at the Dzerzhinsky Factory? How many enemies have launched an attack on them?"
Hearing Chuikov's question, Krylov was stunned for a moment, and then replied: "So far, we have not received any reports of attacks on the Dzerzhinsky factory."
"So, the enemy's attack target this time is only the barricade factory?" Chuikov asked in surprise: "Chief of Staff, tell me, why do they do this?"
Krylov thought for a while and replied: "There are two possibilities. One is that the German army's current ammunition and supplies cannot support their attacks in the two areas, and the road bridges leading to the Dzerzhinsky factory have been blocked.
If it is blown up, they will not be able to use various technical equipment in the factory area, so they can only choose the unsafe barricade factory as their target of attack."
After Chuikov heard Krylov talk about the first possibility, he stopped talking. He couldn't help but curiously asked: "Chief of Staff, why didn't you talk about it anymore?"
"I have a bold idea," Krylov said tentatively: "The German army launched an attack on the barricade factory in order to consume our army's inventory of ammunition. After all, the few troops holding on to the barricade factory have lost all their veterans.
The rest are new recruits who have just been added to the army. Except for a few of the militiamen from the original factories, most of these recruits are temporarily recruited citizens. They have little combat experience. Once a war breaks out, they will attack the enemy.
Panic shooting results in a large amount of ammunition waste and accelerates the consumption of ammunition in our army's inventory."
Chuikov remembered that after more than two months of fighting, almost all the troops originally stationed at the barricade factory had been lost. The only unit with a slightly complete structure was Lyudnikov's 138th Infantry Division. Thinking of this,
He looked up at Krylov and asked: "Chief of Staff, how many people are left in Lyudnikov's army?"
"There are probably more than two thousand people left." Krylov said with a bitter look on his face: "They have lost six thousand people. Most of the current troops are newly recruited, and there are very few experienced veterans.
If the Germans really storm the barricade factory, I'm afraid they won't be able to hold it."
Chuikov looked down at the map again and asked, "Are there any troops nearby that can support them?"
"The 87th Regiment of Colonel Sokolov's 45th Infantry Division is closest to the barricade factory." Krylov pointed to the northeast of the barricade factory and said to Chuikov: "If necessary, they can be allowed to enter the factory.
Assist Colonel Lyudnikov's troops in combat."
"No, we can't use this force." After Chuikov looked at the map for a while, he shook his head and rejected Krylov's proposal: "The Dzerzhinsky factory is the focus of our defense, and it is best not to use the troops there.
Easily used."
"But once the Germans occupy the barricade factory," Krylov saw the Germans' attempt to attack the barricade factory, he reminded Chuikov: "They can turn this place into a garrison site, and they can attack Dzerzhinsky to the north.
factory; to the south, it can threaten the flanks of the Red October Factory. Therefore, we must do everything we can to keep the barricade factory."
"Isn't there a regiment of Sokov's in the Red October Factory?" Chuikov was originally worried that the barricade factory might not be able to hold on, but when he saw the Red October Factory below the barricade factory, it was marked with a shrinking regiment.
When calling the number, the anxiety and uneasiness in his heart suddenly disappeared. He gently exhaled a breath and said: "Transfer this regiment to the barricade factory and let them help Lyudnikov defend the factory."
"Comrade Commander!" Knowing that Chuikov planned to mobilize Sokov's troops again, Krylov reminded him cautiously: "Do you think you need to say hello to Colonel Sokov about this? After all, in the defense of the city,
Since the beginning, his unit has basically become a fire brigade, and will be deployed wherever the situation is tense. If it is such a big thing and I don't say hello to him, I'm worried that he might get emotional."
"This is what it should be." Chuikov knew very well that if he mobilized the other party's subordinate troops without going through Sokov, it would be an act of overstepping the command, which might cause the unit's command system to fall into chaos. "I will call him personally.
Call and ask him to send troops to the barricade factory."
The call was quickly connected. Hearing Sidorin's voice from the receiver, Chuikov said: "Comrade Sidorin, this is Chuikov. Let Colonel Sokov answer the phone."
After a while, the voice on the receiver changed to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, you asked me to answer the phone. Are there any new combat tasks?"
Seeing that Sokov had easily guessed his intention, Chuikov did not intend to hide it, so he nodded and said in a positive tone: "Yes, Colonel Sokov, I am calling you because I intend to mobilize you to deploy in the Red Cross."
Troops in the moon factory."
Shortly after the enemy launched an attack on the barricade factory, the observation post on the top of the Mamayev Ridge reported the situation to Sokov. Sokov was discussing the enemy's intentions with Sidorin, Ivanov and others.
Whether the superiors would mobilize their troops to reinforce the areas under attack, Chuikov's call came.
After Chuikov finished speaking, Sokov asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, I would like to ask, did the enemy only attack the barricade factory and not the Dzerzhinsky factory?"
"No." Chuikov replied: "So far, we have not received any reports that the Dzerzhinsky factory has been attacked. It seems that the enemy does not have the ability to attack two factories at the same time." At this point, he paused.
After a moment, he turned the topic back to the mobilization of troops, "When will your troops arrive at the barricade factory?"
"Two hours, Comrade Commander." Sokov mentally calculated the speed of troop assembly and advance, and gave Chuikov an accurate reply: "My troops will enter the barricade factory on time in two hours.
"
Considering the importance of this reinforcement mission, Sokov finally asked Chuikov: "Comrade Commander, I plan to personally lead the troops into the barricade factory. Do you allow it?"
Chuikov felt very embarrassed about Sokov's request because the situation at the barricade factory was extremely dangerous. He did not want to see a young division commander with a promising future rashly go to such a place and risk losing his life at any time.
Therefore, after repeated thinking, Chuikov said resolutely: "No, Colonel Sokov, you can't go to the barricade factory. The task of reinforcing the barricade factory should be handled by Comrade Belkin, the leader of the drawdown regiment."
