When Sokov put down the phone, his mind began to think about an incident: After learning that Kursk was lost, the German army sent troops to try to retake the city, but perhaps because of the dispersed forces, so far, only two troops arrived. The 297th Infantry Division, which attacked the east of the city, suffered a great loss and is now still holding its troops; but the German army, who attacked the south of the city, although there was only one regiment of troops, was constantly launching attacks and trying to rush into the city from this direction.
Seeing Sokov sitting in his seat silently, Belkin handed him a cigarette, and then asked, "Comrade Brigade Commander, what are you thinking, are you thinking so enchanting?"
Sokov raised his head and saw clearly that Belkin was standing in front of him. After taking the cigarette from his hand, he spoke, "Comrade Political Commissar, I am considering how to deal with the enemy in the south of the city. Although their troops are not large, they either attack or attack, which poses great threat to us."
"Yes, the enemy in the south of the city poses great threat to us." Belkin ignited a match and helped Sokov ignite a cigarette: "Although the area from the river to the position is flooded by the river, it has to wait for the large German troops to arrive, and with their strength, they can easily pass through that area."
"Comrade Political Commissar," Sokov sucked two cigarettes hard, and put out the unsmoked cigarettes in the ashtray, looked at Belkin and said, "Look at us to launch a counterattack in the south of the city, how about it?"
"Project counterattack in the south of the city?" Sokov's words made Belkin think. After a long time, he shook his head and said, "Comrade Brigade Commander, I want to remind you that the flooded area not only hindered the Germans' attack, but also a big trouble for our army. Have you ever thought about how huge the price it would cost to let our counterattack troops pass through the flooded area in the enemy's artillery fire and then row to the opposite side of the Tenebra River?"
"I thought about it." Sokov nodded and said, "Therefore our counterattack will be launched from other places. Look," Sokov pushed the map on the table to Berkin and said to him, "The German troops in the south of the city are limited. They cannot arrange troops along the Tenebra River. We can send a force upstream, cross the river from there, and then sneak attack the German troops' garrison. Even if they cannot be wiped out, we must find a way to drive them away from the city."
After reading the attack route set by Sokov, Belkin asked curiously: "Comrade Brigade Commander, I wonder which battalion do you plan to hand over this task to complete?"
"The current person responsible for the defense of the south of the city is Captain Vasily's second battalion. Before handing over the warehouse area to friendly forces, some troops must be left behind, so they will not be allowed to participate in this counterattack." Sokov said to himself: "Andre's third battalion, more than half of the casualties in the defense battle in the east of the city, is currently under rest, so they don't have to consider it. As for Brisky's fourth battalion, he has just taken over and is not familiar with the commanders and fighters below. Once a war begins, some unexpected problems may arise."
After Sokov said everything he should say, Belkin guessed his true thoughts and asked tentatively: "Comrade Brigade Commander, what do you mean is to let Captain Vanya's battalion carry out this mission?"
"Yes, that's how I thought about it." After Sokov said this, he took the initiative to say without waiting for Belkin to ask again: "The First Battalion is currently the unit with the largest number of veterans in the entire brigade. I feel more at ease to let them perform such a arduous task."
"Since you are so optimistic about Wanya's troops, I have no objection." Berkin agreed with Sokov's plan: "I think I'll call Wanya now and assign tasks to him."
More than half an hour later, Vanya came to the brigade headquarters. Sokov said straight to the point without waiting for the other party to salute, "Comrade Captain, I'm calling you here. There is an important task to hand it over to your camp to complete."
From the occupation of Kursk to the present, the commanders and soldiers of the first battalion have never participated in the battle. Seeing the comrades from the Second and Third battalions fighting fiercely with the German army in the south and east of the city, I was somewhat envious. So many squad leaders went to find Vanya, hoping that he could talk to Sokov and assign some combat missions to the first battalion.
Wanya was considering how to mention this to Sokov. When he heard that there were important tasks to be handed over to himself, he was overjoyed and said excitedly: "Comrade Brigade Commander, if you have any tasks, please give me your order. On behalf of all the commanders and soldiers of the first battalion, I promise to you that we will complete the tasks you assigned."
"Come here," Sokov called Vanya to his side, pointed to the map on the table, and said to him: "Comrade Captain, we plan to launch a counterattack against the German army and drive the enemy away from the south of the city."
"Comrade Brigade Commander," Vanya asked curiously when he heard Sokov say this, "Isn't the south of the city the Second Battalion's defense zone? Are you planning to let us take over their defense?"
Sokov shook his head and said, "It is not for you to take over their defense, but for you to set out from the north of the city and find a suitable place to cross the Tenebra River and attack the enemies in the south of the city."
"What should we do with our defense zone?" Although the defense zone of the 73rd Infantry Brigade has shrunk a lot with the arrival of the Tank Army, the first battalion is still responsible for the defense in the west of the city. Therefore, when he heard that his troops would launch sneak attacks on the German army, he couldn't help but worry about the subsequent defense. "Which unit will take over the defense?"
"Captain Brisky's fourth battalion, after you leave the city, will take over your defense." Sokov explained to Vanya: "After darkness, you will lead your troops to cross the river from the upper reaches of the Tenebra River and quietly detour to the German camp. Before dawn, launch an unexpected attack on the enemy. Do you understand?"
"I don't understand." After Sokov finished speaking, Wanya asked in confusion: "Comrade Brigade Commander, after completing the crossing of the river, my battalion only takes one hour to reach the German camp. We should launch an attack immediately and defeat this enemy in the shortest time."
Sokov didn't expect Vanya to question his orders. After he finished speaking, he spoke: "Comrade Captain, the commanders and soldiers have become exhausted after completing the crossing of the river and the long-distance marches. If they were asked to attack at this time, do you think they still have enough physical strength?"
Wanya just thought about leading the troops to the designated position and immediately launched an attack, neglecting the fact that the commanders and soldiers had already become exhausted after a long march. At this moment, when Sokov pointed it out, he blushed and said, "Comrade Brigade Commander, I am not considerate, I..."
"Okay, you don't have to say anything more." Sokov interrupted his later words without waiting for him to finish: "I know you are eager to destroy the enemy, so you are a little anxious to achieve success. But Comrade Captain, it is wrong to do this. We cannot ignore the physical condition of the commanders and fighters simply in pursuit of victory. The reason why I chose to launch an attack before dawn is because that period is the most exhausting moment for people and the easiest to relax their vigilance. At this time, you can definitely catch the enemy off guard."
"I understand, comrade comrade commander." Wanya asked after Sokov finished speaking, "I wonder what kind of support we can get?"
"I will report this attack to the Front Command later," Sokov said: "I ask the superiors to dispatch the air force to provide you with necessary air cover. In this way, you don't have to worry about the enemy's artillery."
When Sokov mentioned the artillery, Wanya suddenly asked on a whim: "Comrade Brigade Commander, if there is support from the Air Force, I think we will have the chance to seize the enemy's artillery. I don't know how to deal with these artillery at that time, should they be blown up or to find a way to bring them back?"
From the shelling that ended not long ago, Sokov inferred that the German artillery was all heavy artillery, and it was obviously unrealistic to transport it back. But if it stayed, it would be cheaper for the Germans. Therefore, he instructed Vanya: "Blast it, blow it up all. Since we cannot transport these artillery back, we cannot save the Germans. You can order people to blow up all of these artillery."
After Wanya left the brigade headquarters, Sokov called Lieutenant Maxim and handed him the telegram he had prepared, and ordered: "Comrade Lieutenant, send this telegram to the Front Command immediately. Hundred thousand hurried!"
After receiving the telegram, Malinin quickly browsed the content above and hurriedly walked to Rokosovsky and placed the telegram he had just received in front of him. At the same time, he said softly: "Comrade Commander, this is a telegram from the 73rd Infantry Brigade. They plan to counterattack the enemy south of the city at tomorrow dawn, hoping that we can provide them with necessary air support."
"What, Sokov intends to launch a counterattack in the south of the city?" Rokosovsky couldn't help but ask in surprise when he heard Malining say this: "Are they planning to cross the Tenebra River under the German artillery fire?"
"It's not a forced ferry, it's a smuggling from other areas." Malinin quickly explained to Rokosovsky: "He plans to send an army to cross the Tenebra River from the upper reaches, and counterattack the enemy on the right bank, striving to wipe out or severely damage the enemy."
When Rokosovsky heard Malinin's report, his first reaction was that Sokov planned to act recklessly and began to consider how to stop the opponent's wrong approach. But after seeing Sokov's telegram, he nodded slightly and said: "From Misha's combat plan, there is a great hope for success in the future. The factor that leads to the failure of the battle is that the enemy uses tanks and cannons to deal with the offensive troops, which will cause huge casualties to our army. But if there is air support, the enemy's tanks and cannons will not be able to exert their due power, and the resistance our troops will be greatly weakened when attacking."
Rokosovs basically wanted Malining to call, but he swallowed it back. He personally called the Air Force Commander and said bluntly: "Comrade General, after dawn tomorrow, dispatch two flight brigades toward Kursk."
When the Air Force Commander heard Rokosovsky say this, he couldn't help but ask curiously: "Comrade Commander, is it that our army is going to attack the enemy again in the direction of Kursk?" When he asked this, he thought to himself: If it is a large-scale attack, he can send more planes. But if it is just a small-scale battle, at most a squadron will be sent. Too many planes will affect the competition with the enemy for air supremacy in the direction of Voronov.
Rokosovsky guessed the other party's true thoughts from the tone of the Air Force Commander's questioning: "Comrade General, tomorrow's attack is only a small-scale attack, but whether our army can win will determine whether we can defend Kursk. Do you understand?"
Although Rokosovsky did not say more, the Air Force Commander was also a smart man. He guessed that this attack must be extraordinary, otherwise Rokosovsky would not call himself in person. Thinking of this, he quickly replied: "I understand, Comrade Commander, tomorrow morning, I will send two flight brigades to Kursk to provide our army with necessary air support."
After confirming that the Air Force Commander could dispatch two flight brigades to support Sokov's troops' attack, Rokosovsky felt much more at ease. He called Maksimenko, the director of the communications corps, and asked: "Comrade Director, can the Front Command directly talk to Kursk?"
"Yes, Commander Comrade." Maximenko nodded and replied: "We have a dedicated line that can directly call Rotmistrov's command."
"I can only talk to General Rotmistrov's command?" When he heard Maximenko say that he could talk to Kursk, Rokosovsky was still ecstatic, but when he heard what he said later, his heart was cold: "So, can't I talk to Lieutenant Colonel Sokov's 73rd Infantry Brigade?"
Maximenko nodded and replied with affirmative answer: "That's right, the connection between us and the infantry brigade is done through telegrams."
After Rokosovsky and Maximenko finished speaking, he sighed and said helplessly: "Since that is the case, Comrade Director will immediately send a telegram to Lieutenant Colonel Sokov. Tell him that the Air Force will arrive at the combat area after dawn tomorrow to provide his troops with necessary air support. Let them do a good job in ground-to-air communication to avoid accidental bombing."
After seeing Maximenko recording his orders and planning to leave, Rokosovsky called him again and ordered: "Comrade Director, we must hurry up and set up a few more routes to Kursk so that we can understand the situation there in a timely manner. Do you understand?"
Chapter completed!