Although the telegram said that the vanguard would arrive at 2 a.m., Sokov and Berkin waited until three o'clock and still did not receive a report from the observation center outside the city.
Seeing Sokov's drowsy look, Belkin said with concern: "Comrade Brigade Commander, it seems that friendly troops have encountered some trouble on the road. They may not be able to arrive before dawn. You should go and rest for a while."
"Okay, Comrade Political Commissar, I'll go to sleep for a while." Sokov was really sleepy at this moment, so he yawned and said to Belkin: "If there is news from friendly forces, remember to wake me up in time."
He thought he would be woken up by Belkin after he couldn't sleep for long, but he slept until dawn. Sokov sat up from the camp bed and saw Belkin sleeping on a wooden table not far away. Because he was worried that he would catch a cold, Sokov took off his military coat hanging on the wall, walked over and covered him carefully.
Although Sokov's movements were very light, he still woke Belkin up. He raised his head and saw clearly that the person who covered himself with military coat was Sokov. He grinned and asked, "Comrade Brigade Commander, you are awake."
"Is there any news about friendly forces?" Sokov asked.
"No," Belkin's expression dimmed, and he shook his head and said, "I guess he was delayed on the road."
Sokov picked up the telegram on the table and called the command post of the Third Battalion. After hearing Andre's voice, he asked directly: "Captain 3rd Battalion, is it possible for the German army to attack you at any time. Are you ready for battle?"
"Yes, comrade comrade, we are ready for all combat." Andrei immediately replied when he heard Sokov's inquiry: "Our battalion repaired fortifications overnight, and once again brought barbed wire in front of the position, laying landmines. If the Germans didn't come, they would have to pay a heavy price if they wanted to rush to our position."
While Sokov was talking to Andre, another phone ringing next to him rang, and Belkin, who was sitting next to him, immediately picked up the microphone. Seeing a surprise expression on Belkin's face, Sokov guessed something good might have happened, so he said to the microphone: "Comrade Captain, if anything happens, remember to call me in time."
As soon as he put down the phone, Sokov asked at Belkin who was calling: "Comrade Political Commissar, what's the matter?"
Berkin quickly covered the microphone with his hands and said to Sokov: "First Battalion Commander Vanya reported that the vanguard of friendly forces had reached their defensive positions outside the city."
"Thank God, the reinforcements finally arrived." Sokov said, took the receiver from Belkin's hand and said in his ear: "Captain Vanya? I am Sokov. How many vanguards are there in the friendly forces?...What, there are only two hundred people?... Immediately send someone to bring the friendly commanders to the command center."
Unexpectedly, after Sokov finished speaking, Wanya hesitated for a while before answering: "Comrade Brigade Commander, the commander who led the team is a general!"
"Is a general who leads the team?" Sokov was stunned when he heard Wanya's report. He thought to himself that in the 7th Tank Army, is there any other general besides the commander of the commander of the 7th Tank Army? He thought that the commander of the vanguard was at best a battalion commander, so that he could send famous soldiers to his command center at will. Now that he learned that he was a general, Sokov had to treat it carefully. After thinking for a while, he said to the microphone: "Captain Wanya, please accompany Comrade General to my command center in person."
When he learned that the commander of the vanguard of the friendly army was a general, Belkin was also surprised: "Why, the commander of the vanguard of the friendly army was actually a general?" After seeing Sokov nodding and expressing his affirmation, he continued, "But as far as I know, the chief of staff of the Tank Army is just a colonel. Apart from Major General Rotmistrov, I really can't think of any other general who will serve in the Tank Army."
After Belkin finished speaking, Sokov said casually: "Maybe the commanders from other troops followed the 7th Tank Army to Kursk to learn about the situation."
No matter who came, the other party's identity as a general had to attract the attention of Sokov and Belkin. The two chatted for a few more times, then stood up outside the command center to greet the unknown general.
Not long after standing outside the building, Sokov saw several jeeps driving along the street. Because he didn't know which car the nameless general was in, Sokov and Berkin could only continue to stand there and wait.
After Wanya came out of the first car, he quickly ran to the second car, opened the door behind, and then stood straight on the side waiting for the people in the car to get out. Seeing Wanya's actions, Sokov guessed that the owner was in the car, and winked at Belkin, and the two of them quickly met.
The general who came out of the car looked quite distinctive and had a very distinctive appearance. He had a big round head, a pair of black-rimmed glasses, and two beards, looking like a Japanese pirate. After getting off the car, he first pulled the hem of his military uniform with his hand, and then began to look around. When he saw Sokov and Berkin walking towards him, a smile immediately appeared on his face.
Although Sokov and Rotmistrov had never met, he still recognized at a glance that the general was no one else, but Rotmistrov, the commander of the 7th Tank Army. In Sokov's memory, the general's command ability was not outstanding, but he was a lucky general. The merits he made were incomparable to other tank commanders. The 7th Tank Army was adapted into the 3rd Guard Tank Army because of his outstanding military achievements in the battle to eliminate Paulus. After becoming the commander of the 5th Guard Tank Army, he also made immortal merits in the world-renowned Battle of Kursk.
Sokov came to Rotmistrov, raised his hand and saluted, and said, "Hello, Comrade General, welcome to Kursk."
"Hello, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov." Rotmistrov raised his hand and returned the salute, stretched out his hand to Sokov and said, "I am here to reinforce you."
"Comrade General," Sokov pointed to Belkin and introduced to him after shaking hands with the other party: "This is my political commissar Comrade Belkin."
"Hello, Comrade Belkin." Rotmistrov reached out and shook Belkin again, and said politely: "I'm glad to know you."
After a few greetings from Sokov and Rotmistrov, they returned to the command center together and called Vanya who was standing aside. After everyone sat down around the wooden table where the phone and map was placed, Sokov couldn't help asking curiously: "Comrade General, why didn't you stay with the main force, but hurried to Kursk with more than 200 vanguards?"
"My tank army has two tank brigades and one mechanized brigade. I have been marching hard in the forest and swamps these days because the roads are difficult to pass, so the troops' marching speed is very slow." Rotmistrov explained: "The most optimistic situation of the tank brigade will take two or three days to arrive. I am worried that you will not be able to see the reinforcements for a long time, so I followed the vanguard of the mechanized brigade to Kursk."
"Comrade General," Sokov asked tentatively as soon as Rotmistrov finished speaking: "Can I ask, how many tanks are there in one of your tank brigades?"
"One brigade has 46 vehicles, and the other brigade has 27 vehicles." After talking about the number of tanks, Rotmistrov said bitterly: "In the early battles, we suffered some losses, and our superiors had not had time to replenish us."
After understanding the situation of the tank company, Sokov thought secretly whether he could also incorporate Alitai's tank company into the tank army, so as to enhance the assault power of the tank troops. However, before expressing his opinion, he continued to ask: "Then do you have artillery in your army?"
"There is an artillery battalion in the mechanized brigade, but only a few mortars." Rotmistrov explained to Sokov: "From Yeretz to come here, there are almost no decent roads, and various towed artillery can't be transported at all, so we only carried a few mortars. Also, our troops were not formed for a long time, and many soldiers did not have weapons. I wonder if you can solve this problem for us?"
"Comrade General, don't worry." Sokov was overjoyed to learn that there were people in the artillery battalion under Rotmistrov's men and said very readily: "We have occupied an important German military warehouse. There are many rifles, submachine guns, pistols and machine guns inside. You can get as much as you need."
When Rotmistrov learned that there were a large amount of weapons and equipment in the warehouse in the city, he couldn't help but lit up, and then asked tentatively: "I wonder if there are artillery?"
"Yes, and most of them are standard artillery from our army. I guess they were captured by the German army in the Battle of Kharkov." Sokov nodded and said, "Since your army has artillery, you can let them use these artillery to teach the Germans a lesson."
Seeing that the weapon problem that caused his headache had been successfully solved, Rotmistrov looked at Sokov and asked, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, have the German army launched an attack on the city these two days?"
"The 297th Infantry Division of the German army launched an attack from the east of the city twice, but was repelled by our army." Sokov pushed the map on the table to Rotmistrov and continued: "Comrade General, look, according to the scouts' report, signs of German scouts' activities were also found in the south and west of the city. It is estimated that they will launch an attack in the next two days."
Rotmistrov stared at the map for a while, then raised his head and said, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, let's re-divider the defense zone. The south and west directions of the city will be responsible by your troops; and the east and north of the city will be handed over to my tank army to take charge. What do you think?"
Sokov couldn't help but be ecstatic when he heard Rotmistrov say this. He turned his head and looked at Belkin. Seeing that there was also a look of joy on the other party's face, he nodded and said, "This is really great, Comrade General. We are worried that there is not enough troops. If your troops come to defend the east and north of the city, we can concentrate our troops in the other two directions."
"My mechanization brigade may not arrive after noon," Rotmistrov said cautiously: "I suggest our defense change work, what will happen at that time?"
"I agree." Sokov replied: "The enemy we repelled may launch another attack today. You have only more than 200 troops, and you cannot defend the position in the east of the city. I agree very much that it is not too late to change defenses after the mechanized brigade arrives."
But what Sokov didn't expect was that after Rotmistrov finished speaking, he actually spoke, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I think this is the case. You can send someone to take my subordinates to the warehouse to collect equipment. After receiving the equipment, let them enter the position directly." He may be worried that Sokov would not agree, and added specifically, "Let them get familiar with the environment first, so that when the main force of the mechanized brigade arrives, they can better stick to their position."
Considering that the mechanized brigade's combat effectiveness is stronger than its own troops, if they could get familiar with the environment of the position earlier, it would be very beneficial for the subsequent battle. Therefore, Sokov only thought about Rotmistrov's statement for a moment, and nodded in agreement.
Wanya, who was standing aside, heard that his defense zone was about to be handed over to the Mechanized Brigade, so he looked at Sokov and asked: "Comrade Brigade Commander, I want to ask, what is the next task of our battalion after evacuating the position in the north of the city?"
"You put the main force of the first battalion in the national defense fortifications west of the city." Sokov tapped the map twice with his finger and said, "The Germans are unwilling to let us occupy Kursk. Their enemies in Orel will soon rush towards the city. The task of your battalion is to block them outside the city."
"Comrade Brigade Commander, what should we do with our tank company?" Vanya just finished asking, and Berkin also asked from the side: "Would they be allowed to stay where they are, or should they change the defense zone?"
Sokov once considered handing over Alitai's tank company to Rotmistrov's tank brigade command, but at this moment he changed his mind. After the troops switched defense, although there were only two left in the direction of defense, if the defensive troops lacked heavy weapons and technical equipment, they would inevitably pay a heavy price to block the German attack. After this consideration, he gave up the plan to hand over the tank company to Rotmistrov. He looked at Belkin and said, "Comrade Political Commissar, is it necessary to say that Lieutenant Alitai's tank company will act with Captain Andre's third battalion. They will be deployed where the third battalion is."
Chapter completed!