Since most of the buildings in the residential areas were destroyed, it made it difficult for Sokov to distinguish the direction. As he drove the tank, he slowed down from time to time and leaned out to ask the soldiers or militias on the roadside: "Comrade, do you know where the club is?" The soldiers or militias asked enthusiastically pointed out the direction for him.
Not long after, Sokov and his friends came to a building worth more than ten meters high. After asking the passing soldiers, they realized that this was the club they were looking for. According to Sokov's experience, the so-called club is actually a cinema or an opera house. The characteristic of this kind of building is that it is built with huge stones, which is stronger than other buildings. It is better to set up the command center here.
The one who stayed in the club was a squad of the Guards Division. It was hard to ask for help when Sokov and his team set up their command here, and they also brought a company of about 200 people and a tank platoon with nine tanks. The squad leader hurriedly gave up the luxurious office he occupied and asked Sokov and his team to establish a command center here.
There are ready-made phones in the office, which not only allows you to call the assembly workshop, but also ask the operator to connect to Cui Kov's headquarters. But Sokov felt that there was no need to report to Cui Kov under the current situation, so he called Koida and asked how the situation was in the assembly workshop.
After the phone was connected, Sokov first informed the other party of his name, and then asked: "Comrade Colonel, what's wrong with you?"
"No, comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Koida spoke to Sokov very politely because he had just been taught a lesson by Cuikov: "We are very calm here, and the enemy has not launched an attack on us. By the way, how is your situation there?"
"We have repelled the Germans' first attack, and I believe they will launch a new attack soon." Sokov was worried that Koida would underestimate the enemy, so he specifically reminded him: "Although the enemy has no movement in the direction of the assembly workshop, we must not take it lightly, so as not to be caught off guard by the enemy."
"Don't worry, comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Koida assured Sokov: "We will be vigilant and never allow Germans to get close to the assembly workshop."
After Sokov put down the phone, he said to Bere with a puzzled look: "It's really strange. The tone of Colonel Koida speaking to me seems to be different from usual. What's going on?"
"Comrade Brigade Commander, as long as Colonel Koida can keep the assembly workshop, don't care too much about what attitude he uses to speak to you." Bi Lei waved his hand at him, and then suggested: "To command the battle, it's not okay to just stay in the office. We need to find a suitable observation point."
“Go to the rooftop
Look," Sokov said: "There is a wide view there, and you should be able to see the entire battlefield clearly."
The two of them came to the rooftop with the radio operator and found that the view here was indeed very wide. The troops who had been staying here in the past also piled up several sandbags of fortifications on the rooftop. Sokov pointed at the fortifications and said to the radio operator: "Comrade Radio operator, you can stay there, at least you can avoid German bullets and shrapnel."
After Sokov arranged the radio operator, he raised his telescope and looked left and right. He found that the school and the stadium were not far from where he was, with a distance of up to a few hundred meters. Even without a telescope, he could see clearly the officers and fighters who were strengthening the fortifications and the tanks parked behind the defensive positions.
"Comrade Brigade Commander," Berey came to Sokov and asked tentatively: "How many days do you think we have to stay here before we can wait until Guriyev transfers the main force back?"
Regarding Bere’s question, Sokov hesitated for a moment and asked back: “Col. Bore, listen to your tone, it seems that you are not optimistic about this counterattack?”
"Yes, that's how I see it." Seeing the location of the radio operator, Bellei couldn't hear the conversation between him and Sokov, so he said boldly: "The preparation time for this counterattack is very short, and both the troops and the materials required are seriously insufficient. Moreover, there is no cooperation from artillery, tanks and air force. It is not easy for me to achieve the counterattack."
"Col. Bere, I also think so." Seeing that Berere was open and honest with him, Sokov did not go around with him, but said bluntly: "After this counterattack failed, our situation will become more difficult. Therefore, when we stick to this place, we must do our best to greatly consume the enemy's living power to reduce the pressure on the Guards Division in future defense operations."
"I agree." As soon as Sokov finished speaking, Bere agreed. He also said: "But we still have to find a way to preserve our vitality. Because after we return to the defense zone, we have to face the German attack. If we consume too much force, the next battle will be difficult."
As the two were talking, the enemy's shelling began. Seeing the flames rising in the school and the stadium, the black smoke rose, Sokov's heartbeat began to accelerate. He was worried that the enemy's shelling would cause great casualties to his troops. But Beret seemed not as much as Sokov thought. As soon as he saw the shelling began, he tentatively pulled Sokov out of the rooftop: "Comrade Brigade Commander, it's dangerous here, so let's go back to the office first."
Sokov originally planned to look at it for a while, but when he thought he needed to learn about the situation from Wanya, he followed Bere back to the office. He picked up the phone and answered Wanya's command post and asked straight to the point: "Comrade Captain, the enemy's shelling is very fierce. There is nothing wrong with your command post, right?"
"Don't worry, comrade brigade commander." Vanya replied loudly, "The German artillery fire in the location of my command post is difficult to destroy."
"Be careful of concealment," although Vanya was his old subordinate, Sokov still reminded him: "Let the soldiers hide, and when the Germans launch an attack, they will enter the position to block the attack."
"I understand, comrade brigade commander." After a hurriedly agreed, Vanya reminded Sokov with kindness: "Comrade brigade commander, the location of your command is only a few hundred meters away from us. I am worried that the enemy may bombard you, so you must pay attention to safety."
"Comrade Captain, don't worry about this." Although Sokov had not had time to get familiar with the situation in the building, he said confidently: "When the enemy attacks us, I will move to the basement. If you have any need, you can call at any time and I will provide you with the necessary assistance."
Seeing Sokov put down the phone, Bere asked in particular: "Comrade Brigade Commander, the enemy's artillery fire is very fierce. Do you need to ask the air force to attack and destroy the enemy's artillery positions?"
Sokov shook his head and replied, "It is not the time to use the air force so as not to expose our strength too early."
Chapter completed!