After the No. 74 armored train shattered the German attack, the commanders in the train did not even get off the train and greeted the commanders and fighters of the first battalion, and then drove back to the factory area to the north, which was a model of profound merit and fame.
Although the battle lasted for a short time and ended with the victory of the 73rd Infantry Brigade, Sokov realized that there were still many problems with his troops and needed to immediately convene commanders at all levels to avoid making similar mistakes again.
Considering that the battalion attended the meeting, there were as many as 20 or 30 company-level commanders and could not sit in the tent, Sokov decided to change the meeting location to the conference room in the tunnel.
"Comrades," saw that all those who attended the meeting arrived, Chief of Staff Cidolin stood up and said, "Today we have you gathered here to summarize a battle that ended not long ago."
"Fight summary, what kind of battle summary?" As soon as Cidolin finished speaking, a commander sitting below raised objection: "We have never held any battle summary before. Didn't we win the same battle?"
"You may have never heard of any battle summary before, but from now on, this should develop a system." Sokov stood up and said to the commander who questioned: "When we fight a battle, whether it is a victory or a defeat, we should summarize the experience and lessons in a timely manner to understand what problems exist in the battle, so that we can avoid making similar mistakes again in the next battle...
Today, the battle between the First Battalion and a German rapid column must have been seen by the commanders present on the position. This battle gave me the feeling that if there was no support from the armored train, the German army might have broken through our direction..."
"Comrade Brigade Commander," before Sokov finished speaking, Vanya stood up from his seat and said loudly: "Even if the commanders and soldiers of our first battalion sacrificed their lives, they would never let the Germans cross our defense."
"Captain Vanya, sit down first." Sokov raised his hand and pressed down, signaling Vanya to sit down. He continued: "From today's battle, the commanders and soldiers of the first battalion were very brave, but they lacked anti-tank weapons, so they were helpless even when facing the weakest light tanks. A few days ago, when I was acting as the Chief of Staff of the Southern Cluster, I easily saw some brave soldiers rushing up with cluster grenades and dying with the enemy tanks. Although they were very brave, our troops were also very shocking. Think about it, if all the people on a position were dead, who would block the German attack?"
Sokov's replies made all the commanders silent. They thought silently in their minds that their troops also lacked anti-tank weapons. If they encountered German tanks rushing towards the position, what method should they use to destroy the enemy's tanks? What other methods can they use besides using cluster grenades?
Some commanders who were quick to react unconsciously turned their attention to Captain Oshanin sitting next to him, thinking that there were 125 military dogs in the anti-tank military dog ​​company? Wouldn't let the military dogs blow up the German tanks reduce the casualties of the troops?
Sokov noticed the eyes of everyone and gradually focused on Oshanin, and quickly spoke again: "Everyone knows that Captain Oshanin's military dog ​​company is specially used to deal with German tanks. But if everyone pins their hopes on him, it is obviously not possible. You must know that training of military dogs is not easy, and one less is dead. The battle we fought with the Germans in Mamayevgang will not end in one or two days, so the use of military dog ​​companies must be kept until the most critical moment."
"Comrade Brigade Commander," a company commander asked on behalf of everyone after Sokov finished speaking: "If I don't understand it wrong, do we have to stay in the tunnel without repelling the enemy in this battle to defend Stalingrad?"
"Yes, the whole brigade, including me, will stay in the tunnel during the entire defense war." Seeing the company commander's dissatisfaction, Sokov added: "If you feel that your flesh and blood can withstand the German shelling and bombing, you can stay in the surface fortifications on the hillside."
Sokov's words caused a burst of laughter. The company commander sat down a little awkwardly amid the laughter of the crowd. When Sokov was about to continue speaking, he was interrupted by a sudden ringtone. Chief of Staff Sidorin picked up the phone and listened for a moment, then handed it to Sokov: "Comrade Brigade Commander, it is the phone number of the commander of the group army."
"I am Sokov," Sokov answered the phone and asked in his ear: "Hello, Comrade Commander, do you have any instructions?"
"Lt. Col. Sokov, are you back?" Lopatin said coldly on the phone: "Why did you leave your troops without authorization? Are you not afraid of going to the military court?"
Sokov didn't expect Lopatin to say this, and the expression on his face suddenly became serious: "Comrade Commander, there is a reason I left the army..."
"I know why you left the army, and even knew that you were the chief of staff in the southern cluster of Trikov." Lopatin said a little embarrassedly: "But why didn't you report to me when you left Mamayev's hill? Do you know that your behavior is called leaving the post without permission, and I can send you to the military court at any time."
"Sorry, Comrade Commander, I was wrong." Sokov knew that he could not contradict Lopatin at this time, so he quickly surrendered to the other party: "I promise you that you will never make any other mistakes in the future."
I thought Lopatin would continue to have an attack, but the other party's tone suddenly became kinder: "Okay, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, when you go to another place next time, remember to say hello to me in advance so that I can know... No matter what, you are all affiliated with my 62nd Army, do you understand?"
When did Lopatin become so easy to talk? Sokov answered with a brainless question: "I understand, Comrade Commander."
"I heard that you fought a battle with a German fast column today and won the victory." Lopatin said on the phone: "Please express my gratitude to the soldiers who showed bravery and tenaciousness in the battle. Thank you for your contribution to defending the great Stalingrad."
"I can do it, comrade Commander." Hearing Lopatin chatting with him in an old friend's tone, Sokov was really confused. It was logical that he led the troops away from Mamayev's gang to rescue Cui Kov. It was a little scolded, and he might be sent directly to the military court. Unexpectedly, Lopatin said a few words to himself now, and even talked and laughed with him.
Before finishing the call, Lopatin asked habitually: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, do you have any difficulties? Do you need my help to solve them?"
If Lopatin didn't ask this, the call between him and Sokov should have ended. Unexpectedly, when Sokov heard this, he immediately remembered that his troops lacked various effective anti-tank weapons, and hurriedly said: "Comrade Commander, my infantry brigade lacks anti-tank weapons. I wonder if you can support some of us."
Lopatin took the initiative to call Sokov today and put his posture so low, which was entirely because the 62nd Army was currently losing ground on the battlefield. According to his idea, it was a matter of time before Stalingrad was lost. Sokov's 73rd Infantry Brigade stood on Mamayev's hill and defended the pier leading to the opposite shore. As long as the brigade was still stuck on the high ground, its retreat would not be cut off by the Germans. In this way, at a critical moment, he could lead the main force of the army to cross the Volga River from the dock covered by Mamayev's hill and withdraw as many troops to the other side.
He never dreamed that he would just say a polite word. Sokov was really serious and actually asked himself for anti-tank weapons. You should know that the troops that are fighting against the Germans in Stalingrad are now focused on dealing with German tanks, and they also lack sufficient anti-tank weapons. However, considering that Sokov's troops are his reliance on the future withdrawal, if they cannot block the Germans, then their retreat will be cut off.
Thinking of this, he said to the microphone with difficulty: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, although the army currently lacks anti-tank weapons, considering your actual difficulties, I will still find a way to solve a group of you."
After finishing the call with Lopatin, Sokov said to the commanders who were staring at him: "Comrades, please tell you good news. The Army Command will add some anti-tank weapons to us recently. In this way, we will not be helpless in the face of the German tanks."
"Comrade Brigade Commander," Sidolin reminded Sokov: "I know that all troops are seriously lacking in anti-tank weapons. Even if we are supplemented, the number may be very limited. I think we should still find a way for ourselves..."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, I want to ask you, how can we find a way for ourselves?" Vasily couldn't help but interrupt and asked, "If we have the ability to produce these weapons and equipment, then what else should we worry about? Just start production directly."
"Today's meeting ends here," Sokov felt that what he should say today was almost done, so he announced the meeting: "Four battalion commanders and tank company commanders stay, and the rest of the commanders will go back to their respective troops."
The battalion commanders who were left behind had their expressions as usual. They guessed that Sokov must have something more important and had to explain to them. Lieutenant Alitai, the tank company commander, was a little confused. He didn't know what would happen if the brigade commander specifically called him to stay.
"Sit down," Sokov saw that several people were still standing, and then said, "I left you behind for the anti-tank weapons. The Chief of Staff was right just now. Now we are fighting with the German troops in Stalingrad, and they focus on dealing with German tanks, so they need a large number of anti-tank weapons. Although Commander Lopatin promised to add some anti-tank weapons to us, I guess the number is not large, at best, and at best there are several anti-tank rifles and some anti-tank grenades. Therefore, I think that if we want the troops to have sufficient anti-tank weapons, we can only rely on ourselves to find a way?"
"Let's find a way, what's the solution?" Perhaps because Captain Vasily contradicted him in public, Cidolin felt that he could not get out of the stage, so he said angrily: "We do not have the ability to produce these weapons, and the weapons transported from the other strait are allocated to friendly forces, and we have no share..."
Sokov patiently waited for Cidolin to complain before continuing: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you are right. At present, we do not have the ability to produce ammunition, and we have received less and less supply from the logistics transport forces. Especially in recent days, in addition to food and supplies, the replenishment of weapons and ammunition has completely stopped."
"Comrade Brigade Commander, the situation is not good for us." Belkin, who had not spoken, also said with concern: "If the superiors do not replenish us ammunition, once the German army launches an attack on Mamayevgang, we will soon face a shortage of ammunition."
When Andre heard that several people were worried about ammunition, he immediately remembered the matter of an internal affairs department warehouse a few days ago. It is necessary to know that the materials stored there solved the big problem of insufficient ammunition in the southern cluster. Thinking of this, he hurriedly said to Sokov: "Comrade Brigade Commander, I have an idea. Since we can find a warehouse in the southwest of the city, it is better to look for it nearby. Maybe we can find the warehouse."
"Captain Andre," Sokov said with some amusement when he heard Andre's suggestion: "Do you think that such a warehouse can be found everywhere? It's already a lucky chance to find one. It's harder to find it again than climbing the sky."
"What should we do?" Andrei asked in a panic when he heard Sokov say this: "If you don't get a supplement, once the ammunition is exhausted, our officers and soldiers will have to fight bayonets with the Germans."
"Don't worry," Sokov waved his hand at Andre. "Since we can't get supplements from our own people, then find a way to go to the German warehouse to get the weapons and ammunition we want."
As soon as Sokov said, Chief of Staff Cidolin and Battalion Commander Brisky were both stunned. They didn't understand why Sokov said that? The reason why the other commanders were calm was because they were already familiar with Sokov's routine. Hearing his brigade commander say this, he guessed that he must be fighting the German military warehouse again.
Belkin asked curiously: "Comrade Brigade Commander, what do you think, why do you say it to everyone."
"Lieutenant Alitai," Sokov did not answer Belkin's question, but asked Alitai first: "How many German armored personnel carriers have you seized today?"
"Five," Alitai stretched out five fingers and said with a little regret: "It turned out that it was six, but when we went to receive it, we found that one of them was stopped by artillery on the armored train."
"Five vehicles are OK." Sokov calculated silently in his mind. If he squeezed to sit, he could almost be seventy or eighty people. Then he continued to ask Alitai: "Can you drive normally?"
Chapter completed!