The cave happened to be quiet for a moment, and Lyudnikov's voice clearly reached everyone's ears. Everyone looked at Lyudnikov first, and then unanimously turned their attention to the man sitting behind the table.
Chuikov, waiting for him to give everyone a satisfactory answer.
"Comrades!" Chuikov stood up and said to everyone: "I think everyone knows a saying: As soon as General Zhukov arrives, it means that the attack will begin."
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Krylov echoed from the side: "In our army, there is indeed such a saying."
"This statement is not only known to us, but also to the enemy." Chuikov continued: "If Zhukov appears in the Stalingrad area before the start of the major counterattack, wouldn't it be equivalent to telling the enemy that we are going to take a major military action here?
It was out of this consideration that the Supreme Command sent General Zhukov to the west of the city, where he organized troops to launch an offensive against the enemy."
Chuikov's words obviously did not convince everyone. After he finished speaking, a general stood up and questioned: "Comrade Commander, this reason is too far-fetched. If you don't want the enemy to know our counterattack plan, General Zhukov will completely
You can quietly come to the Stalingrad area without being noticed by the enemy and command this major counterattack to encircle the German army."
Chuikov stared at the opponent for a long time, but did not blame him, but said seriously: "Filonenko, have you ever thought about how the enemy would react if we launched a major counterattack in Stalingrad?
?" Without waiting for the other party to answer, he took the initiative to tell the answer, "The enemy will definitely dispatch troops from other areas to rescue the enemies in the Stalingrad area. At this time, troops are needed to attack and contain this force.
The enemy will prevent them from coming to reinforce Paulus, so that we can easily surround Paulus and his army between the Don and Volga rivers."
Everyone knows that Chuikov's reason is impeccable. If Paulus's army is being attacked, the German high command will definitely dispatch a large number of troops from other areas in the shortest possible time to rescue Paulus's army.
Save them from the fate of being surrounded.
"Comrades, let me introduce you." Chuikov pointed to the general and said to everyone: "This is the new division commander of the 112th Infantry Division, General Filonenko. He just took over as division commander yesterday."
Sokov once dealt with Colonel Yermolkin, the commander of the 112th Division. When Chuikov said that this major general was the new division commander, he couldn't help but curiously asked Lyudnikov next to him: "Comrade Colonel, the former division commander
Where did Colonel Yermolkin go?"
Hearing Sokov's question, Lyudnikov showed a surprised expression on his face: "What, you don't know that Colonel Yermolkin died in the battle four days ago."
After hearing the news of Colonel Yermolkin's sacrifice, the muscles on Sokov's face twitched violently. He really didn't expect that when victory was in sight, one of his acquaintances would actually die like this. It was really regrettable.
.However, he did not ask Lyudnikov about the sacrifice process of the other party. He was very aware of the cruelty of the Battle of Stalingrad. Not to mention a division commander, even Army Commander Chuikov was in danger many times and almost lost his life.
.
"Have you finished asking everyone's questions?" Krylov lost no time in interjecting: "If there are no problems, let's all go back to our respective units. Although we don't have a share in this counterattack, as long as we hold on to the current position
, destroying the enemy in the future will also be a great achievement."
When the commanders in the meeting stood up and walked slowly out of the cave, Chuikov suddenly said: "Colonel Sokov stays!"
Sokov didn't understand why Chuikov wanted him to stay, and he felt somewhat guilty. When he saw Belkin passing by him, he grabbed the other man's arm and said to him in a pleading tone: "Comrade Political Commissar, can you
Will you stay with me?"
Belkin glanced at Chuikov's position, then shook his head and said: "There is no order for me to stay, so I'd better wait for you outside."
"Colonel Sokov," Gurov saw Sokov talking to Belkin and greeted quickly: "Please come to me!"
Sokov squeezed to the table, straightened his body and said to Chuikov: "Comrade Commander, Colonel Sokov, commander of the 41st Guards Division, has been ordered to stay, please give instructions!"
Chuikov glanced at Sokov, then turned his head to Gurov, and said with a smile: "Military Commissar, I think it's up to you to talk to him." Sokov quickly faced Gurov, waiting for him to make arrangements for him.
Task.
"Colonel Sokov," Gurov said politely: "We asked you to stay because you proposed to the commander yesterday that you hoped to study at the Frunze Military Academy. During the phone call last night, the commander asked
The matter was reported to General Yereomenko..."
When Sokov heard this, he asked nervously: "Comrade Military Commissar, I wonder how the commander of the front army responded?"
"He was very satisfied with your desire to study at the Military Academy. Comrade Khrushchev even immediately contacted the dean of the Frunze Military Academy, hoping to arrange for you to enter a training class for senior commanders." Gurov
He smiled and said: "With Comrade Khrushchev taking action, the whole thing will be much easier to handle. The dean has agreed to let you enter the senior commander training class. As for the enrollment time, you need to wait until we defeat the Stalingrad area."
After the enemy."
"Great, this is really great." Sokov couldn't help but be overjoyed when he learned that he could enter this famous military academy. He quickly expressed his gratitude to Chuikov and Gurov: "Thank you.
!”
"Comrade Commander!" Seeing that the conversation between Chuikov and Sokov was over, General Lobov came over and said with a sad face: "Now the river is frozen, ships from the other side can't come over, and we don't know what our logistics transportation is.
It will take time to recover. If sufficient material reserves cannot be guaranteed, I am worried that once transportation cannot be restored before the counterattack, the area we defend may be occupied by the German army."
When Lobov complained to Chuikov, Sokov on the side thought to himself: The pontoon bridge that appeared because of him allows materials on the east coast to be transported not only by ships, but also by fleets into the city. Logically speaking,
The material reserves in the city should be twice as large as in real history. How can there still be shortages?
"Comrade Minister of Logistics," Chuikov waited for Lobov to finish and said to him with a straight face: "First distribute the ammunition and materials needed by the infantry brigade to them. As for the transportation issue, I will give it to the Volga River District later.
The commander of the fleet called and asked them to try to ship the supplies over."
"Transport it over by ship?" Lobov said with his eyes widened in surprise: "Comrade Commander, this is too risky. Now the river is frozen. Unless there is the help of an icebreaker, ships from the other side will not be able to get across."
"These are extraordinary times, we have to take risks." After saying that, he walked to a wooden table by the wall, grabbed a phone, cranked it a few times, and put the phone to his ear.
Said: "I am Chuikov, pick up the Volga Fleet for me and find Rear Admiral Rogachev."
After waiting for about two or three minutes, the call was connected. Chuikov said into the phone: "Hello, General Rogachev! I am Chuikov."
"I'm calling you to ask if it's possible to resume transportation on the river in a short time."
"What, you are also thinking of a solution? Okay, okay, I'm waiting for your good news."
Chuikov put down the phone, walked back to Krylov, and said to him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I just had a phone call with Rear Admiral Rogachev. He said that they are thinking of ways to use ships to transport supplies for us."
"Comrade Commander," Krylov glanced at the frowning Lobov, and said to Chuikov with a wry smile: "The ships of the Volga Fleet are all small in size, and they cannot break the ice like icebreakers.
."
"Comrade Logistics Minister, you go ahead and do your work first." Chuikov waved to Lobov and said, "I will send someone to inform you as soon as there is good news."
After Lobov left, Chuikov asked Sokov to sit down and asked: "Colonel Sokov, where do you plan to return to later, the barricade factory or the Mamayev Heights?"
"Comrade Commander, the current situation in the barricade factory is not optimistic. I think I'd better stay in the barricade factory for the time being." Seeing Chuikov opening his mouth, Sokov guessed the question he wanted to ask.
He said first: "But I will return to Mamayev Heights on the first night of the major counterattack, that is, the night of the 18th."
The reason why Sokov chose to return to Mamayev Heights before the start of the major counterattack was to take advantage of the terrain there and see the counterattack from a high position.
Chuikov was not a god, so he naturally didn’t know Sokov’s true thoughts. When he heard that he would return to the division headquarters at Mamayev Heights before the major counterattack, he nodded and said: “Colonel Sokov, you
Our troops have been holding on to Mamayev Heights for several months. Now that the Battle of Stalingrad is coming to an end, I hope you can continue to persevere and never give up Mamayev Heights to the enemy."
"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Sokov quickly assured Chuikov: "As long as I still have breath, I will never let the Germans occupy Mamayev Heights."
Gurov raised his hand to look at his watch and said to Sokov: "Colonel Sokov, I think you will stay at the headquarters tonight. I have something else to say to you."
"But, Comrade Military Commissar." After hearing Gurov saying that he wanted to stay, Sokov explained anxiously: "Colonel Lyudnikov and one of my regiment commanders are still waiting for me outside.
."
"Let them go back first." Chuikov said: "You can go back after dawn tomorrow."
Sokov came outside the cave and saw Lyudnikov, Belkin, and Guzman smoking, so he walked towards them. Seeing Sokov coming, Lyudnikov quickly took the cigarette butt in his hand.
He threw it away and asked: "Colonel Sokov, your conversation with Comrade Commander is over, can you go back?"
"I'm sorry, Comrade Colonel." Sokov said to Lyudnikov apologetically: "The commander asked me to stay here for one night. You should go back first." He saw the guard platoon in the distance and added
One sentence, "Leave me one guard squad and take the rest back with you."
"I think it's better to let the guard platoon stay." Regarding Sokov's kindness, Lyudnikov declined and said: "The guard squad I brought is enough to ensure the safety of the three of us."
"Comrade Colonel, please listen to me and bring the guard platoon with you." Sokov thought about the higher risk of walking at night, so he insisted on his opinion: "When you go back at night, you may encounter scattered German soldiers.
If there are fewer people around, it will be unsafe."
Seeing that the two were about to have a dispute over this matter, Belkin quickly came out to smooth things over: "Misha, I think Samoylov will stay with a guard squad, and the rest will escort Colonel Lyudnikov and me.
Go back. What do you think?"
"Okay, that's it!"
…………
Chuikov’s purpose of leaving Sokov behind was to allow his troops to find opportunities to counterattack the enemies in front of them after the major counterattack began. After all, those currently stationed near Mamayev Hill were all weaker in combat effectiveness than the Germans.
of the Romanian Army.
Just when a few people were formulating a counterattack plan, there were sudden bursts of strange noises outside, as if some monster was hitting the ice. When Chuikov heard the noise, he quickly winked at Krylov and signaled
He went to find out what was going on outside.
Krylov picked up the phone, contacted the observation post by the river, and asked bluntly: "What happened outside? What was the sound coming from the river?"
After a long silence on the phone, an excited voice finally came out: "Comrade Chief of Staff, he is a sailor from the Volga River Fleet. He is driving two gunboats and hitting the ice on the river."
The observation post's words made everyone stunned. After a while, Krylov asked tentatively: "What did you say, use a gunboat to hit the ice? Did you read that correctly?"
"That's right, Comrade Chief of Staff." The observation post said in a positive tone: "I have carefully observed it. It is really the gunboats of the district fleet that are hitting the ice on the river. Now they have advanced about fifty meters."
"I understand." After Krylov put down the phone, he reported to Chuikov: "Comrade Commander, the observation post reported that two gunboats of the Volga River Fleet are hitting the ice on the river. It seems that
They plan to force a water transportation line."
Hearing that the fleet's gunboats were hitting the ice on the river and trying to open a transportation line, Chuikov could no longer sit still. He stood up and said to Sokov: "Follow me!" He walked a few steps toward the entrance of the cave.
After taking a few steps, he stopped, turned to Gurov and said, "Comrade Military Commissar, come with us."
This chapter has been completed!