The day after moving the brigade command into the tunnel, Sokov got a frustrating news from the Front Command: in the Velgache area, the German army broke through the junction of the 62nd Army and the 4th Tank Army, and cut off the ties between the 62nd Army and the Stalingrad Front.
Sokov put down the phone and said to Cydolin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, it seems that the German army will rush to Mamayev's hill in the near future. This time is not the small fight before. They will inevitably concentrate their superior forces to seize the commanding heights we occupy. Immediately call the battalion commanders to have a meeting to make everyone be alert so that they will not be caught off guard by the German raid."
Just as Cidolin was about to call the battalion commanders to inform the battalion commanders of the meeting, the phone ringing on the table rang first. He quickly picked up and said to the microphone: "I am Lieutenant Colonel Cidolin, where are you?...What, City Defense Committee?...Yes, Comrade Commander is... Please wait a moment, I will let him answer the phone."
Sokov sat not far from Licidolin. When he heard that it was a call from the City Defense Committee, he quickly got up and took the call from Sidolin's hand, and put it in his ear and said politely: "Hello, I am Lieutenant Colonel Sokov. Do you have any instructions?"
"Hello, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I am Major General Sharaev, the commander of the city defense of Stalingrad." A strange voice came from the receiver: "Have you heard that the contact between the 62nd Army and the main force of the Front was cut off by the enemy?"
"Yes, Comrade General." Sokov quickly replied: "I have learned the news from the Front Command."
"According to the intelligence we have obtained, the German army was rushing towards Mamayev's hill after breaking through our defense line. You must strengthen your defense so that you will not be caught off guard by the enemy."
"Don't worry, Comrade General." Sokov continued as soon as Sharaev finished speaking, "We have been ready for battle and are waiting for the enemy here. As soon as they arrive, we will give him a head-on blow."
"Since you are ready, I believe that the Germans will not take advantage of your perfect defense system." After saying this, Sharaev hesitated for a moment and continued: "A regiment of the 87th Infantry Division, as well as the 35th Infantry Division of the Guards, are fighting and retreating to your location. I order you to draw elite soldiers and strong generals immediately to meet them."
"What, go to pick up the 87th Division and the 35th Division of the Guards?" After hearing Sharayev's order, Sokov asked tentatively: "Comrade General, I want to ask, is this your order issued by you or the order issued by the leader of the front army?"
"Is there any difference?" Sharaev said domineeringly on the phone: "I am the city defense commander of Stalingrad and have the right to mobilize any troops in the city."
"Sorry, General Sharaev." Although Sokov would not do anything to save him, he was unwilling to execute such an injustice as Sharaev. Therefore, he said with confidence: "My 73rd Infantry Brigade is under the command of the 62nd Army. I only obey the orders of Commander Lopatin and the head of the front army."
"Okay, comrade Lieutenant Colonel, since you are unwilling to obey my orders," Sharaev said gritting his teeth, "Then I will let you see me amazing." After that, he hung up the phone directly.
"Comrade Brigade Commander, what's going on?" Belkin heard Sokov clash with the person on the other end of the phone, but the specific situation was not clear. Seeing Sokov put down the phone, he quickly asked, "Who did you have an argument with?"
"It is Major General Sharayev, the commander of the city defense," Sokov explained to Belkin: "He ordered me to send troops to pick up the 87th Infantry Division and the 35th Guards Division that retreated to Stalingrad, but I did not agree to him."
Berkin didn't say anything about Sokov's behavior of refusing orders, but Cidolin, who had served as the commander of the Operations Department of the 64th Army, was anxious: "Comrade Brigade Commander, you have caused a big trouble. Do you know who that Sharaev is?"
"I don't know, I don't know." Sokov shook his head and said, "I've never heard of it."
As soon as Sokov finished speaking, Cidolin stomped his feet and said, "This Major General Sharayev is the 10th Division of the People's Committee of the Internal Affairs and was appointed as the commander of the city defense not long ago. Comrade Brigade Commander, don't forget that the Supreme Command issued Order No. 227 not long ago. If you refuse to implement the order of your superior, you will be dismissed from office and sent to the military court at the worst, and you can be shot directly."
"My troops are under the command of the 62nd Army. If anyone can mobilize us, wouldn't it be a mess?" Sokov said firmly: "It doesn't matter, they dare not do anything."
"Do you need to report to the Front Command?" Belkin advised Sokov: "In this way, even if there is any trouble in the future, the Front Commander can help us deal with it."
Sokov thought about Belkin's proposal for a moment, then nodded in agreement: "Okay, I think I can report this to the front leader so that they can know it."
While Sidolin called to inform the battalion commanders of the battalion to come for a meeting, Sokov picked up the phone and called Khrushchev, and reported to him in detail what had just happened. After hearing this, Khrushchev was silent for a long time, and then said, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, you did the right thing to do. You are a member of the 62nd Army. No one has the right to mobilize your troops at will except your commander Cuikov, or Commander Yelemenko and I..."
When Khrushchev spoke, Sokov noticed a detail. When the other party mentioned the commander of the 62nd Army, he was not talking about Lopatin, but Cui Kov. He couldn't help but feel ecstatic when he learned that Cui Kov was the commander of the army. However, he still tried hard to control his emotions and pretended to be unaware of it and asked: "Military Comrade, isn't the commander of the army General Lopatin? Why did he change it to General Cui Kov?"
"General Lopatin was dismissed by the Supreme Command because he was unfavorable to command the troops and lost confidence in sticking to Stalingrad." Khrushchev said: "Now General Cuikov will take over his post."
When Sokov learned that Cui Kov had officially served as the commander of the 62nd Army, he felt much better. He assigned the next task to the battalion commanders of each battalion and informed everyone about this matter.
"It's great that General Cui Koff is the commander of the group army." Andre, the third battalion commander who had dealt with Cui Koff, couldn't help but smile when he heard that Cui Koff came to the 62nd Army to take office: "I think under his command, we will definitely be able to repel the enemy attacking Stalingrad."
"We not only want to repel the enemy's attack, but if possible, we also want to wipe them out here." After Sokov said this, he raised his hand and looked at his watch and announced: "Today's meeting ends here, the battalion commanders of each battalion will return to their respective troops to arrange tasks and disperse the meeting!"
Just as the battalion commanders stood up and were about to walk outside, several soldiers broke in from outside. Seeing that the people entering the door were all innocent, Cidolin raised his voice and asked, "Why are you rushing in without permission? Don't you know that this is the brigade command?"
"I know this is the brigade of the infantry brigade." A second lieutenant wearing a blue-topped hat glanced back and forth over Sokov and Cydolin, and then asked, "Who is the brigade commander Lieutenant Colonel Sokov?"
"I'm Sokov!" Sokov saw the hat on the other person's head was blue, and knew that the other person was from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. He stepped forward and asked, "Which part of you are from? Is there anything you have to do with me?"
"I am from the 10th Division of the People's Committee of the Internal Affairs, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov. You openly disobeyed the military order. I was ordered to arrest you." After the lieutenant finished speaking, he waved to the soldiers behind him and ordered them to capture Sokov: "Catch him!"
"I see who dares to touch our brigade commander." Seeing that the officers and soldiers from the Ministry of Internal Affairs were about to arrest Sokov, Andre quickly drew out his pistol and blocked Sokov: "Whoever takes another step forward will kill him."
Andrei's actions shocked the other battalion commanders. After hesitating for a while, they drew out their pistols and blocked Sokov. Selyosha, who was staying in the next room, heard the movement here, and hurriedly rushed in with more than a dozen soldiers and surrounded all the officers and soldiers from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Looking at the gun pointing at his black hole on all sides, the lieutenant became anxious: "I warn you that our Ministry of Internal Affairs is carrying out a mission. If anyone stops it, I will be polite to him."
"You're welcome, why are you not?" Xie Liaosha walked to the lieutenant, raised the submachine gun, pressed the other party's chin, and asked viciously: "Why are you not polite to us?"
"Lt. Seryosha and several battalion commanders, put down your guns." Sokov guessed the reason why the Ministry of Internal Affairs wanted to arrest him was definitely related to his refusal to carry out Sharayev's orders. He ordered his subordinates to put down the guns, and then said to the lieutenant: "Comrade. Since you are here to carry out the mission, I will not make things difficult for you, so I will go with you. But the war is imminent, I hope you will not make things difficult for these subordinates of my country."
"Don't worry, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov." The lieutenant saw that he was at the other party's gun, and his tone became softer: "I am also ordered to act, please come with us."
Just as Sokov was following the officers and soldiers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs toward the door, two more people came in outside the door. The leader saw Sokov walking outside and asked curiously: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, where are you going?"
After seeing the other party's face clearly, Sokov couldn't help but be overjoyed. He quickly stood at attention and reported: "Report to the commander, they took me to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for investigation."
"Investigate, what are you investigating?" Cui Kefu heard this and looked at the Second Lieutenant of the Ministry of Internal Affairs with a stern face: "Second Lieutenant, what are you going to take him to ask? I think, why don't you ask here."
"Comrade General," the lieutenant replied in a panic: "We were ordered to take him back for investigation. If it was tried here, I wouldn't think it would be appropriate?"
"There is nothing wrong," Cui Kefu said angrily: "The war is imminent. The infantry brigade commanded by Sokov is standing in the most important area of ​​Stalingrad. If he leaves, who will command here? Is it you or your superior?" Cui Kefu's words left the second lie silent and could only stand in place with his head down.
Seeing that the lieutenant was not speaking, Cui Kefu waved at him and said sternly: "Since you have nothing to ask, then leave quickly. If your superior has any questions, let him come to me just."
Chapter completed!