Khrushchev did not let Sokov wear the medal, but asked bluntly: "Lt. Col. Sokov, do you know why we called you here?"
Sokov was not the roundworm in Khrushchev's belly, so he could guess the reason why the other party called him here. He shook his head and replied truthfully: "I'm sorry, comrade of the military committee, I don't know."
"Come here!" Khrushchev took off a cup hanging on the pillar, came to the wall, pointed to the map on the wall, and said to Sokov: "Just as you cross the river, the Germans launched a fierce attack on the nameless highland north of Orlovka."
"Nameless Highland?" Sokov was stunned when he heard Khrushchev say this, then shocked all over, and then asked tentatively: "Comrade Military Commissioner, are you talking about the German position I occupied when I led my troops to break through."
"That's right, it's there." Khrushchev nodded and continued to introduce to Sokov: "Last night, we received a telegram from General Rokosovsky and learned that you had occupied an important stronghold north of Orlovka when you broke through. If both fronts were moving there at the same time, there would be a possibility of a meeting. After asking the Supreme Command, the commander issued a new combat order to Cuikov, asking him to send troops to Orlovka immediately to prepare to join the friendly forces heading south."
Sokov was still confused when he heard this. He felt that since the position had been handed over to friendly forces, what would happen next had nothing to do with him. His current primary task was to lead the troops back to the city to strengthen the defensive power of Mamayev's hill so as not to be occupied by the German army.
Khrushchev did not notice Sokov's absent-mindedness, but continued: "Tuekov assembled his troops and attacked Orlovka; and Rokosovsky also took advantage of the night to mobilize a large number of troops towards the Unknown Highlands. The enemy noticed our actions and immediately sent people to contact the troops stationed in the Unknown Highlands. Only then did he find that there was already lost, so he mobilized heavy troops to Orlovka overnight and launched an attack on the Unknown Highlands after dawn."
From Khrushchev's story, Sokov finally understood what was going on. When he led his troops out of the nameless highland, he knew that the enemy would sooner or later find that his position had changed hands, but he did not expect it to be exposed so soon. After Khrushchev finished speaking, he asked carefully: "Comrade Military Commissioner, is the position still in our hands now?"
"Yes, the commanders and fighters of the Don Front Army are still standing on the position." Yelemenko, who was standing aside, interjected: "In order to prevent us from meeting with friendly forces, Paulus dispatched a large number of tanks and aircraft to try to retake the nameless highland. In just one hour, thousands of artillery shells and aviation bombs fell on the nameless highland, turning over the soil on the entire position. The enemy thought that our defenders had been wiped out by their artillery shells and aviation bombs, so he opened the way with tanks and guided the infantry to rush towards our position."
Although Yeliaumko had told Sokov that the position was still in the hands of friendly troops, when he heard this, the idea that the nameless highland had fallen flashed through his mind. After Yeliaumko finished speaking, he asked, "Comrade Commander, the casualties of the 298th Division must be quite serious."
Yeliaumko nodded and said with a painful expression: "The 298th Division repelled the German two charges in a row, but their casualties exceeded half, and even the division commander Vasiliev was injured."
"Ah, General Vasiliev is injured?" Sokov heard the commander he knew was injured, and quickly asked with concern: "Is his injury serious?"
"I haven't asked about this in detail." Yeliaumko, as the commander of the front army, naturally would not care about the injuries of an ordinary division commander. He shook his head and continued: "But I didn't hear Rokosovsky say that he would change the commander of the division. I guess he can still stay on the battlefield to command the battle."
Sokov muttered in his heart that it would be a matter of time before the German army launched an attack on the nameless high ground. Since he had handed over the position to friendly forces, even if there was a fierce battle, what did it have to do with him?
With this question, he asked carefully: "Comrade Commander, do you know if you inform me to come to the headquarters. Do you have any instructions?"
"Ltd. Colonel Sokov, let me explain it to you." Seeing that Sokov asked this question again, Khrushchev took the initiative to say: "Based on the German telegrams we intercepted and the information feedback from the scouts, we came to a conclusion: the German army had already used the troops originally planned to attack the Derrensky workers to transfer northwards."
Sokov knew something about the German army being about to concentrate superior forces to attack the Derrensky factory. He was still worried that if Cuikov saw the 37th Guard Division that was standing there could not withstand the German attack, would he be a firefighter and lead the troops to reinforce. At this moment, when he heard Khrushchev say that the enemy's troops were transferred north, he immediately showed a surprise expression on his face: "Military Comrade, if the enemy's troops were really transferred north, it would mean that the number of enemies in the factory area would be reduced, and will the pressure our troops under greatly reduced?"
"You are right, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov." Yelemenko said with a smile: "The enemy's troops are mobilized northward, and the power they use to attack several factory areas is weakened. We consider taking advantage of this opportunity to give the Germans another counterattack."
"What, we need to fight back?" Sokov was so surprised that his chin almost fell to the ground when he heard Yeliaumenko say this. He thought to himself that the scars were healed and forgot the pain. The counterattack he carried out a few days ago was just beaten to pieces by the Germans. Before he could take a breath, he couldn't wait to launch a new counterattack. He immediately realized that Yeliaumenko and the others asked him to come here would definitely be related to this new counterattack.
Sokov's speculation was soon confirmed. Khrushchev put a hand on his shoulder and said kindly: "Misha, after repeated research, we feel that if we want to fight back against the German army again in a short period of time, the most suitable place is the Mamayev hill and the Red October Factory where your infantry brigade is maintained."
When Sokov learned that his superiors were indeed preparing to launch a counterattack against the German army in the area he was responsible for, he felt that without air support and tank cover, he thought that if he wanted to counterattack against the German army with the thousands of infantry under his command, it would be like an egg-hitting stone.
After Khrushchev finished speaking, seeing that Sokov had not made any statement for a long time, he asked with a smile: "How about it, Misha, are you confident in this counterattack? I think if your father is still alive, he will be able to complete all the tasks of his superiors successfully."
Sokov was originally preparing to propose an opposition plan and told Khrushchev that they did not have the conditions to counterattack. Unexpectedly, when he heard that the other party had brought out all the "father" he had never met before, in order not to embarrass his "father", he had to swallow the words he said.
He coughed softly and said tactfully: "Comrade Military Commissioner, to launch such a counterattack, at least tens of thousands of troops are required, and the cooperation of artillery, tanks and air force. But now, I have only two or three thousand men under my command, and there is no cooperation of air force and tanks..."
"Don't worry, Misha. We will not let you fight alone." Khrushchev comforted Sokov: "After supplementing, Colonel Gurdiev's 308th Infantry Division will enter the city with Colonel Yudnikov's 138th Infantry Division to participate in your counterattack. Moreover, the troops that launched the attack from the direction of the Red October Factory will receive the cooperation of tanks."
"Comrade Military Commissioner," Sokov and Khrushchev said respectfully, after he finished speaking, he asked respectfully: "Since several troops participated in this counterattack, I wonder who do you plan to command?"
Khrushchev pointed at Sokov and said, "No matter what, it is your territory. Before the German army attacked Stalingrad, your troops were stationed there, and they were the most familiar with the terrain. Therefore, I think this counterattack is the most appropriate one, I think it is best to be commanded by you."
Seeing that Khrushchev had indeed handed over such an important task to himself, Sokov said with some embarrassment: "Comrade Military Commissioner, it may not be appropriate to let me command the troops. The commanders of other participating troops are colonels, and I am just a lieutenant colonel. I have no experience in this regard."
"What's wrong with it? Don't think I don't know. Nowadays, several of your commanders are under the rank of colonel." As soon as Sokov finished speaking, Khrushchev exposed his lie: "Since you think the rank is too low, let's adjust it for you."
Khrushchev said this and winked at Yelemenko, who was back at the table. The latter nodded after seeing it and said, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, given the courage and heroism you showed in the battle with the invaders of Faxi Temple, and the great achievements you have achieved, in addition to awarding you the Red Flag Medal, you will be officially promoted to the rank of colonel."
Sokov didn't expect that he had just received a Red Flag Medal. Before he could hold his heart in his arms, he was promoted to colonel. Things happened so quickly that he felt like he was in a dream.
After hearing the news of Sokov's promotion, he stood there like a dumb goose, and he looked at each other and smiled, then stretched out his hand to him and said sincerely: "Misha, I congratulate you on obtaining a higher level of military rank."
Chapter completed!