"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, tell me." Cuikov asked with anger: "Where is the main defensive area here in the factory area and where is the secondary defensive area?"
"Comrade Commander," Sokov heard from Cuikov's tone that the other party was very angry, and he quickly said respectfully: "Please give me two minutes, I'll explain it briefly to you."
"I'll give you two minutes." Cui Kefu said angrily: "Explain it to me."
"Based on the information I have," in order to convince Cuikov, Sokov decided to tell everything he knew, so as not to let the Germans take advantage of the factory area due to the opponent's temporary negligence. At that time, his right wing would be in danger: "The troops used by the enemy to attack the factory area include the 100th Hunter Division, the 389th Infantry Division, the 16th Armored Division and the 60th Motorized Infantry Division. Among them, the first two divisions were arranged to the west of the factory area; and the latter two divisions were deployed to the north of the factory area."
Hearing Sokov say the German number so clearly, Cuikov snorted and said unhappily: "Yes, you're right. The troops used by the German army to attack the factory area are these four divisions."
"The two divisions on the west are infantry divisions. Their tanks have limited number and the front of the attack is too wide. Even if the terrain outside the factory is suitable for the deployment of armored troops, our army who is sticking to this direction can resist their attack." Sokov stared at the map spread on the table and said to the microphone: "The two divisions on the north have a large number of tanks and artillery, and their attack front is not wide, about three or four kilometers. If they launch a fierce attack on Rinok in the north, I am worried that our troops will not be able to defend it."
Sokov said this and deliberately paused for a moment to observe what Cuikov had reacted before deciding whether to continue talking. Cuikov stopped talking when he heard Sokov say it halfway and urged impatiently: "Why don't you say it? Keep talking, I want to hear what you think."
"Once the German army occupied Rinoke, it would be like an offensive starting point in the factory area." Sokov continued: "If they attack from here, they could separate the defense lines in the factory area."
"That's right, Rinok is the key to whether we can defend the north of the factory." Cuikov agreed with Sokov: "But we don't have many troops now and we can't strengthen the defenders in that area at all."
"Comrade Commander," Sokov heard Cuikov say this, knowing that his statement was recognized by the other party, so he continued: "I suggest that the troops west of the factory area be drawn to strengthen Rinok's defense and ensure that the enemy cannot break through that area."
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, since the enemy launched an attack from the north, will the troops in their west sit still?" Cui Kefu said helplessly: "They will definitely cooperate with the 16th Armored Division and the 60th Motorized Infantry Division in the north to launch an attack on the factory area."
"That's how I think about it, Commander," Sokov said to Cuikov confidently: "You can consider transferring the 42nd Guards Regiment of the 13th Guards Division to Rinok to strengthen the defense there."
"Transfer the 42nd Guard Regiment of Colonel Yelin to reinforce Renok?" After hearing Sokov's suggestion, Cuikov frowned: "If they are transferred, the defense in that area will become weak, and the enemy may regard it as a breakthrough. If it is broken down, what is the difference between it and Renok being occupied? The enemy can still divide our defense line."
"Comrade Commander, have you forgotten that the defense zone of the 42nd Guards Regiment borders our Beigang?" Sokov saw that Cui Kov was a little undecided, so he reminded him: "If the Yelin Regiment is transferred and the enemy launches an attack there, I can draw the Beigang troops to reinforce."
"How many troops do you have in your hands now?" Cui Kov couldn't help but feel secretly happy when he heard Sokov's proposal, but he soon discovered something was wrong, because he knew that the infantry brigade had suffered more than 3,000 casualties in half a month, so he became hesitant again: "Can you block the enemy's attack?"
"According to the intelligence, there are about 1,500 defenders in Mamayevgang." Sokov said to the microphone: "The third battalion stationed in the city has more than 300 people. With our existing strength, if it is used for attack, the number of people is definitely not enough; but for defense, or temporarily supporting friendly forces, these troops are still more than enough."
After hearing Sokov's confidence, Cuikov felt relieved. In his mind, Sokov was an amazing commander. If the other party was allowed to stick to somewhere, he would never let the enemy occupy it. Out of trust in Sokov, Cuikov nodded and said, "Okay, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I will accept your suggestion and immediately transfer Colonel Yelin's 42nd Guard Regiment to the north of the factory area to reinforce Rinok."
When Sokov put down the phone, he said to Cydolin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, immediately call the Fourth Battalion Commander and the 192nd Battalion Commander and ask them to change defenses."
"Switch defense?" Cidolin widened his eyes in surprise and asked in confusion: "Why should we let the two battalions change defense?"
"Yes, comrade comrade commander." Not only was Sidolin confused, but Vitkov also couldn't figure out the situation. "Why did you suddenly remember to let the two battalions change their defense?"
"That's right," Seeing that both of them looked confused, Sokov explained to them: "Deputy Brigade Commander, Comrade Chief of Staff, the reason I want the troops of the two battalions to be replaced is because there are more soldiers left in the fourth battalion than in the 192nd Battalion."
"Yes, there are more than 300 soldiers in the Fourth Battalion now." After affirming Sokov's statement, Sidolin still asked in a confused manner: "But does this have anything to do with the two battalions' defense replacement?"
"You must have heard some of the conversation between me and the commander just now." Sokov pointed to the right side of Mamayev's hill and said to the two: "I suggest that the commander transfer our right wing Guards 42nd Regiment to the Rinnok area to strengthen the defense there. With the transfer of Yelin's regiment, a gap appeared on our right wing, and the German army would likely choose this as a breakthrough..."
"Oh, so that's it, I understand." Before Sokov finished speaking, Vitkov said with a sudden enlightenment: "The reason you want to make two brigades change defense is to transfer the fourth battalion to block them when the enemy forces break through our right wing."
Sokov gave Vitkov a thumbs up and said, "Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander, that's how I think about it."
Before Cidolin could speak, the phone ringing on the table rang without warning. Cidolin thought it was called by Cuikov, so he grabbed the microphone and put it in his ear and said, "I am Cidolin, is I a commander comrade?"
But surprisingly, what was heard from the receiver was not Cuikov's voice, but Zhukov's low and magnetic voice: "Hello, Lieutenant Colonel Sidorin, I am Zhukov. Are Lieutenant Colonel Sokov here?"
"You are here, comrade General, please wait for a moment, and I will let him answer the phone." After saying these two sentences respectfully, Sidolin handed the microphone in his hand to Sokov and whispered: "It was the call from General Zhukov."
"The call from General Zhukov?" Sidolin's words shocked Sokov. He didn't know how his little lieutenant colonel could have alarmed the deputy commander far away in Moscow. He quickly took the microphone and said nervously: "Hello, General, I am Sokov. What instructions do you have?"
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov," Zhukov did not affectionately call Sokov Xiaomisa as before, but called his surname and military rank, and said in an official voice: "I heard that you asked Khrushchev to come forward yesterday and forcibly took away a batch of new rockets from the Weapons and Equipment Department to the First Army of the Guards?"
"Comrade General," Sokov did not expect Zhukov to call himself and talk about the rocket dispute. He couldn't help but answer nervously: "Comrade Khrushchev did come forward to help us get the new rockets sent from Moscow from the First Guards Army, but the rockets were sent to us by the Weapons and Equipment Department. This can be proved by Major Yakov and Captain Valman, who escorted the weapons..."
"Okay, OK, Xiaomisha, you don't need to explain to me." Zhukov suddenly laughed before Sokov finished explaining: "I know that these weapons were specially sent to you by Comrade Ustinov. I just asked, but it was just a procedure. How about it? I heard that you achieved good results after getting the rocket last night?"
Sokov raised his hand to wipe away the cold sweat from his forehead, breathed a sigh of relief, and then replied: "Yes, Comrade General, after the rockets encountered Mamayevgang last night, I distributed fifteen of them to the squads that went deep into the enemy's backbone to carry out a raid. Fortunately, they did not disappoint me, and they all used these rockets to teach the enemy a lesson." After that, he reported the results of the team to Zhukov in detail.
Although Zhukov had seen these results in Cuikov's report, it was a different feeling when he heard Sokov mention it in person. After Sokov finished speaking, he sighed softly and said, "Misha, I want to ask you why you have to send four teams and be scattered in different directions?"
"Comrade General," Sokov was not sure why Zhukov asked this, and explained to him specifically: "You know that the troops operating in the rear of the enemy are at any time, and in order to minimize the risk, I specially sent four teams to move in four different directions to distract the German army. If the German army wants to dispatch troops to encircle and suppress the enemy, they have to draw troops from the front to reduce the frontal defense pressure of our army."
"Misha, your idea is correct." Zhukov was silent for a moment after hearing Sokov's words, and then said: "If the squads operating behind enemy lines do not carry new rockets that pose a huge threat to the enemy, your arrangement is completely correct. But now, each squad carries a certain number of rockets, and their actions behind enemy lines are not simply harassment. If necessary, they can even attack the area where the German army gathers heavily. If you use these troops together, how much role can they play? Have you ever thought about it?"
To be honest, Sokov really didn't consider what Zhukov said. After hearing what Zhukov said, he couldn't help but doubt his original arrangements. Has his actions dispersed his own strength? Should we gather the small teams behind the enemy and launch attacks on places where the German army gathered in order to constrain the enemy and consume the enemy?
Hearing Sokov stopped talking, Zhukov said kindly: "Misha, have you had any new ideas? You might as well tell me."
"Comrade General," Sokov said hesitantly: "You are right. Maybe I should gather the four squads behind the enemy so that they can use the rockets they carry to attack more important German targets, causing greater losses to the enemy, in order to disrupt their offensive deployment and reduce pressure on the defenders in the city."
Seeing that Sokov understood his intention, Zhukov couldn't help but smile with a knowing smile on his face. He reminded Sokov: "Although your four teams only have sixty people, if they are integrated together now, you may have to specially assign a commander to command this unit. Otherwise, it would be better to maintain the status quo."
Zhukov's words reminded Sokov again. The four squads who attacked this time, the highest-level commander was Lieutenant Fisher from the first battalion, and the other captains were either sergeants or sergeants, and there was not even a single officer. If the troops were integrated, Fisher, as the soldier with the highest rank, would definitely become the commander of the troops naturally, but it is not known whether he has the ability to command this troops.
"I understand, comrade general." After some consideration, Sokov felt that a capable commander must be taken to carry out large-scale operations behind enemy lines. He had limited knowledge of Lieutenant Fisher. It was too risky to give the troops to command him. He should find a suitable commander to command this force. Thinking of this, he said to the microphone: "I will arrange a suitable commander to command this unit that is active behind enemy lines and give the *** bandits a heavy blow."
Chapter completed!