Starting from mid-September, the German army's attack on the city seemed a little weak. Two months ago, their speed of forwarding was several kilometers, more than ten kilometers or even dozens of kilometers every day, but now the daily propulsion distance can only be calculated in meters. The reason for this situation is mainly because in the early battles, a large amount of their living forces were consumed, and in recent times, several divisions of the Soviet army have entered the city. The rise and fall of the strength of both sides has caused the Soviet and German sides in Stalingrad to fall into a stalemate.
After lying on the hospital bed for half a month, Sokov's injuries had basically healed. With the help of a soldier, he came to the observation center at the top of the hill. The first battalion commander Vanya, who was observing the terrain here, saw Sokov walking into the observation center, and was shocked and hurriedly stepped forward and raised his hand to salute him.
"Comrade Captain," Sokov said with a smile as he reached out to Vanya, "When I saw you saluting me, my heart was like, is my first battalion commander indicating the target for the German sniper so that I can become the result of the enemy."
Sokov's words caused a burst of laughter in the observation center. The originally nervous and depressing atmosphere suddenly became relaxed. After Wanya helped Sokov sit down, he asked curiously: "Comrade Brigade Commander, your injury has not completely healed yet, why did you come to the top?"
"There's no way, the air in the ward is too turbid." Sokov looked up at Wanya and said, "I'm here to breathe fresh air."
"Comrade Brigade Commander," Wanya saw that Sokov's injuries had been roughly recovered, and now the acting brigade commander Witkov is still in command, so he asked tentatively: "I wonder when you will be able to return to the command post?"
During Sokov's recovery, several battalion commanders came to visit him, and complained to him that they were not suitable for Vitkov's command style. In the past, everyone relied on fortifications to defend against the enemy in combat. However, since Vitkov became the brigade commander, he liked to use short-term assaults to attack and attack tactics. As a result, in two weeks, the casualties of the troops exceeded 3,000.
When he heard Wanya ask this, Sokov knew in his heart that Wanya might not be very satisfied with Vitkov. His injuries were almost healed, but to get the command of the infantry brigade, he still needed to get Cui Kov's permission. Therefore, he could only shake his head and said, "I don't know very well, it depends on how the commander arranges it."
"You all want to go out." Wanya waited for Sokov to finish speaking, and immediately said to the other commanders and fighters in the observation center: "I have something to discuss with the brigade commander." When the commanders and fighters heard Wanya say this, they quickly stood at attention and then walked out of the observation center.
After the observation center was only left with himself and Sokov, Vanya spoke again: "Comrade Brigade Commander, please be honest. If we follow Colonel Vitkov's style of playing, our troops will be completely defeated in one week at most."
Sokov did not immediately express his opinion about Wanya's statement, but reached out to take out a pack of cigarettes from Wanya's pocket, took out one and held it in his mouth, lit a match, and asked back, "Comrade Captain, how many people are left in your camp?"
"Three hundred people!" Vanya replied without hesitation: "Now the entire battalion can still fight with weapons, including the wounded, only three hundred people."
Hearing the numbers Vanya said, Sokov's hand trembled. Instead of igniting the cigarette, he burned himself. He pulled out a cigarette from his mouth and threw the extinguished matches on the ground, asking with some angrily: "Why are there only so many people left? What about the situation in other camps?"
"It's not good, comrade comrade commander." Wanya said hesitantly: "The battalions have suffered huge casualties in the past two weeks. According to my estimate, the entire brigade has no more than 1,500 soldiers with combat effectiveness."
There were 6,000 troops when the troops entered Mamayev's hill, but in more than two months, there were only less than 1,500 people left. When I thought of this, Sokov felt that someone was stabbing his heart with a knife. He grabbed Wanya's arm, stood up with difficulty, and then gritted his teeth and said, "This battle cannot be fought like this, otherwise I will die before I drive the enemy out of Mamayev's hill."
After leaving the observation center, Sokov returned to the tunnel with the help of the soldiers. After entering the tunnel, the soldiers supported Sokov and were about to walk towards the ward, but Sokov stopped him: "Help me to the command center."
Regarding Sokov's order, the soldiers who supported him said with some embarrassment: "But, comrade brigade commander, your injuries have not been completely healed..."
"Help me to the brigade command." Sokov saw that the soldiers did not obey his orders, so he strengthened his tone: "If you don't help me, I will go by myself." Seeing that Sokov was so stubborn, the soldier had no choice but to help him walk towards the brigade command.
Belkin, who was sitting at the table listening to Vitkov and Sidolin discussing the next combat plan, saw Sokov walking in from outside the door with the help of the soldiers. He couldn't help but exclaim, and hurried forward to support Sokov and asked with concern: "Comrade Brigade Commander, your injury has not healed yet, why did you come here?"
"Comrade Political Commissar, I've been lying on the hospital bed for too long." Sokov replied with anger: "If I don't come again, my troops should be exhausted."
Hearing Sokov's voice, Vetkov turned around and after he saw clearly that it was Sokov, he quickly said enthusiastically: "It turns out that Lieutenant Colonel Sokov is here. How is your injury? Sit down quickly."
"Comrade Colonel, I want to ask you." Sokov sat down and looked up at Vitkov. He was not affected by the opponent's military rank being higher than himself. Instead, he asked straight to the point: "Since our mission is to hold onto the Mamayev post and prevent the enemy from splitting our defense, why do you still need the troops to take the initiative to attack?"
Faced with Sokov's attack on the army, Vetkov said calmly: "When Lieutenant Colonel Sokov appointed me as the acting brigade commander of the infantry brigade, he once told me that if I want to defend the Mamayev post, I cannot defend for the sake of defense, but should choose the right time to counterattack the enemy."
"Comrade Colonel, I'll ask you," Sokov said bluntly: "We are at a disadvantage in terms of military strength and equipment compared to the enemy. In this case, isn't we actively attacking the enemy with an egg? More importantly, this meaningless attack will exhaust all our only living forces. When the German army launches a fierce attack on Mamayevgang again, what should we use to block them?"
"Comrade Brigade Commander, please listen to my explanation." As soon as Sokov finished speaking, Sidolin came out to smooth things over for Vitkov: "All the orders issued by the Acting Brigade Commander were negotiated with me. I think his approach was right. Although our army's equipment and troops are temporarily at a disadvantage compared to the enemy, the enemy was weakened after a long battle. I think as long as we continue to maintain the offensive posture, they will be driven out of the city by us soon..."
"It's so confusing." Before Sidolin finished speaking, Sokov started to attack: "Comrade Chief of Staff, do you think the German army's recent offensive strength is much worse than before, and the enemy has become vulnerable? I tell you that they are accumulating their strength again and are ready to give us another thunder blow at the right time. Now there are less than 1,500 defenders in Mamayev's Gate. If the German army is about to launch a new offensive, the intensity is far greater than that in early September, do you think we can defend Mamayev's Gate? You answer, can we defend?"
Sokov's series of questions stopped Cidolin. He was silent for a long time and said unwillingly: "Comrade Brigade Commander, I think you are too pessimistic about the battle situation. The enemy has been severely weakened, and our reinforcements are constantly entering the city. I believe that a powerful counterattack against the enemy will soon be carried out to drive them away from this heroic city."
"Has the Germans really been weakened?" Sokov pointed his finger up and said bluntly: "But I saw the German bombardment and bombing of the Volga River, and it never stopped for a moment; the whole city was still covered by smoke, and even without a telescope, you could see the burning buildings..."
After saying his opinion, Sokov asked Belkin for a cigarette, lit it and said to Vitkov: "Comrade Colonel, my injuries should be almost healed. I plan to return to my post and continue to command the troops defending Mamayev. I wonder if you have any different opinions?"
Witkov didn't expect Sokov to say so directly that he wanted to be the brigade commander again. He couldn't help but hesitate for a moment and replied a little embarrassedly: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I need to report this matter to the commander immediately and let him decide."
Sokov didn't say anything, but made a call to the phone, indicating that Vitkov could call Cuikov and ask for the other party's opinions. He thought to himself: No matter what, he would have to get the command of the troops back today. If Vitkov was commanded, the 73rd Infantry Brigade was either revoked due to all casualties or lost its combat effectiveness, and was transferred to the rear for replenishment. If Stalingrad is now immediately, then the efforts he had made in the past will be wasted.
Witkov picked up the phone and called the Army Command. After briefly reporting the battle situation to Cuikov on the day, he said with some embarrassment: "Comrade Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov is by my side. He just said that he hopes to re-appoint the brigade commander of the 73rd Infantry Brigade from today."
After hearing Vitkov's report, Cuikov was stunned and then ordered: "Col. Vitkov, hand over the microphone to Sokov, I want to talk to him."
"Hello, Comrade Commander." Sokov took the microphone and greeted him politely: "I am Sokov."
"Hello, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I heard you want to return to the position of brigade commander." Cuikov asked on the other end of the phone: "Have your injuries healed?"
"Thank you for your concern, it's almost done," Sokov replied: "I don't think my physical condition will affect my command of the troops."
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov," Cuikov asked in surprise when he heard Sokov's answer, "I don't understand why you are so eager to return to the command post."
Sokov turned his head and looked at Vitkov standing next to him, feeling that he would tell the truth to Cuikov, otherwise the other party would not have allowed him to serve as brigade commander again: "Comrade Commander, I think Colonel Vitkov's command method is not suitable for the 73rd Infantry Brigade. If he continues to serve as brigade commander, the troops may be wiped out before the start of a new round of powerful German offensive."
Sokov's words aroused Cuikov's curiosity: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I think Colonel Vitkov has commanded well during this period. Why do you think he is not suitable to command your troops?"
"Comrade Commander, Colonel Vetkov, while serving as acting brigade commander, repelled many enemy attacks, but the casualties of the troops were also very amazing." Sokov explained his considerations in detail to Cuikov, and finally emphasized: "If we want to ensure that Mamayev's hill is still under our control before the end of the battle, then please let me return to the position of brigade commander."
Sokov's request made Trekov feel embarrassed. He did not reply immediately, but covered the microphone and asked Krelov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov intends to return to his position as brigade commander. What do you think?"
Krelov had just approached Cuikov and heard everything Sokov said. At this moment, he saw Cuikov seeking his own opinions. After a moment of silence, he replied: "Comrade Commander, on the heart, Colonel Vitkov performed very well in Mamayev's gang during his tenure as acting brigade commander and repelled the enemy's attacks again and again. However, as Sokov said, it does exist. The casualties of the 73rd Infantry Brigade within half a month are too great. If we continue to fight like this, we have to consider using new troops to replace the defense of Mamayev's gang."
Chapter completed!