Shortly after the German major's telegram was sent, it was intercepted by the intelligence department of the Southeast Front. Chief of Staff Major General Zakharov took the telegram and reported to Yelemenko and Khrushchev: "Commander, comrade of the military, we just intercepted a telegram from the German army. I think it's interesting and I'll show you."
"A more interesting telegram?" Khrushchev heard Zakharov say this, and got up and took the telegram from him, and then smiled and said to Yeliumenko: "Comrade Commander, let's take a look at this telegram together."
"Comrade Khrushchev," Yelemenko looked at Khrushchev and said, "Read it quickly and listen to what's going on."
Khrushchev nodded and began to read the telegram in his hand: "After careful investigation, I found a place about two kilometers away from the village, which might have been the Russians who set up rocket launchers. The entire army of the regiment headquarters and the guards were destroyed, and it may have been attacked by rockets from here..."
After reading the contents of the telegram, Khrushchev put the telegram on the table and said thoughtfully: "I remember half a month ago, Yakov crossed the river to Mamayevgang. The arms he escorted should be this new type of rocket."
"Yes, I once contacted Comrade Ustinov and learned from him that the arms escorted by Yakov were this new type of rocket." Yelyemko replied: "It is said that the rocket was a design proposed by Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, developed by the military industry department. It is said that the power is not less than the kind of rocket used by Katyusha rocket launcher."
When Yelyemko mentioned Sokov, Khrushchev couldn't help but sigh: "Xiaomisha was injured in the battle some time ago, and was replaced by Colonel Vitkov, deputy chief of staff of the army. Although the German attack on Mamayevgang was shattered during this period, the casualties of the infantry brigade were far greater than those in the early stages. If this continues, I think they will be abolished in one week at most."
"You are right." Yelemenko agreed with Khrushchev's statement: "In the past, when Lieutenant Colonel Sokov was the brigade commander, no matter how fierce the enemy's attack was, he could always achieve the greatest results with the smallest price. Since Vitkov took over his command, the casualties of the troops have risen sharply. I think the reason for this situation may be because the tactics used by the two were different."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Khrushchev turned his head and asked Zaharov: "Call the 62nd Army Command and ask Cuikov what happened to the rocket attack on the German command? Let him give us a message report so that the commanders and fighters involved in the battle will be commended and commended."
After Khrushchev finished speaking, Zakharov pointed to the phone on the table with his hand: "Can I use this phone?" After getting permission, he walked to the table and was about to pick up the microphone of the high-frequency phone, but the phone ringing rang without warning. He quickly picked up the microphone: "I am Chief of Staff Zakharov... Hello, Comrade General Staff, please have any instructions?...What, change the number of the troops?...I understand, I will convey the orders of the base camp to the commander and the military commissioner. Goodbye!"
After Zakharov put down the phone, he reported to Yelemenko and Khrushchev: "Commander and military committee member, he had just received a call from General Vasilevsky, Chief of Staff, saying that given the great increase in the strength of the Stalingrad Front and the Southeast Front, its defense zone was too long. Starting from September 28, 1942, the former Stalingrad Front Army was renamed the Don Front Army, and the former Southeast Front Army was renamed the Stalingrad Front Army, and the original command organization did not make any changes."
"Damn, how can you change the number of troops at this time?" Yeliaumko muttered in a low voice and ordered Zaharov: "Chief of Staff, when you call the 62nd Army Command, you will also notify Cuikov of the number change."
After the phone was connected, Zaharov said to the microphone: "Hello, General Cuikov, I am the Chief of Staff of the Front Army Zaharov. I call you and I want to say two things. First, according to the order of the Supreme Command, starting from September 28, the number of our Front Army has been changed from the original "Southeast Front Army" to the "Stalingrad Front Army"; and General Rokosovsky's "Stalingrad Front Army" was renamed to the "Don Front Army". The original command organization did not make any changes."
The troops named after the "Stalingrad Front" were deployed in areas far away from the city; while the troops that were guarding Stalingrad were staring at the inexplicable number of the "Southeast Front" which made commanders at all levels in the city feel a little inconsistent. At this moment, when they heard that the number of the troops would be officially changed to "Stalingrad Front", Cuikov couldn't help but be overjoyed: "Great, Comrade Chief of Staff, this is really great. With this change of number, our troops that are guarding Stalingrad are truly worthy of their reputation."
Cui Kov was happy for a moment, and suddenly remembered that Zaharov said that he was calling himself for two things, and asked again: "By the way, Comrade Chief of Staff, didn't you say that you should announce two things? What about one more thing?"
"That's right, General Cui Koff, we intercepted a piece of intelligence, saying that a German regiment headquarters was suspected to have been attacked by our army's rocket launcher last night, and the regiment-level commander and guard forces were completely wiped out." Zaharov said to the microphone: "I want to ask, which unit was carrying out the sneak attack mission?"
Sokov felt that the operation to eliminate the German command was not a big deal, so he did not report to the Army Command before or after the operation, so that when Cuikov heard about Zakharov's problem, he was speechless. He covered the microphone with his hands and said to Krelov next to him: "Chief of Staff, General Zakharov told me that we had an army that wiped out a German regiment headquarters during a night attack last night. You should hurry up and check which army did it."
"Comrade Commander," Krelov said in embarrassment when he heard Cuikov's order: "The troops we belong to are numerous and we did not find them for a while. I wonder if there are any more detailed clues in the Front Command?"
"By the way, he also mentioned a detail. The German regiment headquarters was destroyed by rocket launchers." Cuikov urged Krelov and said, "Go and check it quickly. Which army obtained the results?"
"No need to check, Comrade Commander." Hearing Cui Kov mentioning the rocket launcher, Krelov quickly replied: "Although we have hidden a rocket launcher battalion on the river bank, they cannot open fire at night. The only force that can use rockets to attack the enemy regiment headquarters is the 73rd Infantry Brigade stationed in Mamayev Hill. Don't forget that some time ago, Major Yakov sent them a batch of new rockets to carry out sneak attack operations, which is the most appropriate."
After hearing what Krelov said, Cuikov also realized that the German regiment headquarters might have been destroyed by Sokov's troops, so he quickly let go of his hand covering the microphone: "Comrade Chief of Staff, it may have been done by Lieutenant Colonel Sokov's 73rd Infantry Brigade. They are equipped with new rockets newly developed by our army and can be launched in various environments."
When Zakharov learned that the troops that destroyed the German army might be Sokov's infantry brigade, he whispered to Yelemenko and Khrushchev: "General Cuikov said that it might be the 73rd infantry brigade of Lieutenant Colonel Sokov."
"Let them submit a detailed report immediately," Yelyemko told Zakharov. "We want to commend the soldiers who carry out this mission."
"General Cuikov, the commander commander ordered you to submit a detailed report as soon as possible," Zaharov said to the microphone: "He intends to commend the soldiers who are carrying out this mission."
"I understand, we will submit the report as soon as possible." After Cuikov finished his call with Zakharov, he originally wanted Krelov to notify Sokov to write the report, but when he saw that the other party was busy answering the phone, he decided to call Sokov himself.
Captain Goria and his team attacked the German command with rockets at night. The results of the battle were not known because they could not get close to observe. Therefore, Sokov could only ask the radio operator to send a report to the reconnaissance team behind the enemy, so that they could persist in the attack after dawn.
As soon as the scout's telegram was sent back, Sokov received a call from Cuikov before he could read it. After hearing Sokov's voice, Cuikov asked directly: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, did you send someone behind enemy lines to perform missions last night?"
While looking at the telegram in his hand, Sokov replied, "Yes, Comrade Commander, I took Captain Porgoria to disguise himself as a German last night and went deep into the enemy's backbone to destroy an enemy's regiment-level command post."
Before Cui Kefu called, he was a little worried about his mistake in his judgment. At this moment, he heard Sokov bluntly saying that he had sent troops behind enemy lines and asked quickly: "How is the result of the battle?"
"According to the scouts' report," Sokov replied, staring at the telegram, "the village we attacked has become a ruin, and the enemy's regiment headquarters and the guards with more than two hundred men have been killed by us."
"Really?" Trikov was overjoyed when he heard that Sokov's troops had achieved such great results: "Did you really destroy a German regiment?"
From Cuikov's tone of questioning, Sokov guessed what the other party might have used. After learning about this action, he couldn't help but look at Sidolin and thought that he had a good relationship with the commander, and maybe he reported it privately. But Sidolin saw Sokov turning his eyes to him, quickly shook his head, saying that it was not his report.
"It's true, Comrade Commander." Seeing that Sidolin was not like he was lying, Sokov knew that Cuikov knew nothing about the battle last night. He quickly introduced the situation to him in detail and finally said: "Comrade Commander, it's a pity that there are too few rockets in our hands. If there are a little more, I can send people to attack more German targets and completely disrupt their offensive rhythm."
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, don't worry. I believe that a new batch of rockets will be delivered to Mamayev's hill in no time. You will be able to achieve greater results at that time." Cuikov said with a smile: "Just just now, General Zaharov, the Chief of Staff of the Front Army, called me and said that the Front Command intends to commend comrades participating in this operation. You should immediately write a detailed report and submit it to you. We will ask for credit for these soldiers."
Hearing Cuikov say this, Sokov finally understood what the other party used to understand the battle. He quickly replied: "Yes, Comrade Commander, I will submit a detailed report to you as soon as possible."
Chapter completed!