"Before I came to the city, I had discussed with the commander the early battle situation of the 41st Guard Division." Seeing Sokov's confused look, Khrushchev explained to him: "After discussion, we agreed that all signs indicate that Colonel Ivanov is not a suitable division commander. If he was to lead his troops to defend Mamayev's post, the chance of losing here would be greatly increased."
"So, we have formulated two plans." Khrushchev raised his right hand and stretched out a finger: "The first plan is that you are the deputy commander and assist Ivanov in his work."
After hearing Khrushchev speak the first one, Sokov asked without hesitation: "What about the second one?"
"The second option," Khrushchev pointed at Sokov with his hand, and said, "You will be the commander of the 41st Guard Division, and Ivanov will be the deputy commander."
Although he was appointed as the commander of the division, Sokov was still unsure. He was afraid that the commander of the division would disobey his command, so he continued to ask: "Where is the political commissar and chief of staff of the division?"
"The political commissar of the division is served by Anisimov, the political commissar at the battalion level," Khrushchev introduced to Sokov: "He is a very experienced political worker, and I believe he will be able to cooperate with your work."
"As for the candidate for the Chief of Staff," Khrushchev glanced at Cidolin standing beside him and said, "Lt. Colonel Cidolin will take on this position."
Seeing that he and Sidolin had obtained new positions, but the political commissar of the brigade Berkin was not mentioned, Sokov continued to ask: "Military Comrade, I don't know how you plan to resettle the political commissar of Berkin."
Khrushchev knew that Belkin was Sokov's old partner, so he did not make a hasty decision. Instead, he stared at Belkin for a while and said, "I think Comrade Belkin stayed in the division as the deputy political commissar and also the director of the division's political department."
Unexpectedly, as soon as Khrushchev finished speaking, Berkin took a step forward, straightened his back and said: "Comrade Military Commissioner, I had served as the military chief before becoming Colonel Sokov's deputy. If you trust me, can you call the reduction regiment for me to command?"
Just now when Khrushchev mentioned reducing the infantry brigade into a regiment, Sokov was still secretly considering the candidate for the regiment commander. After recalling the situations of several battalion commanders, he chose the first battalion commander Vanya, the second battalion commander Vasily, and the Marine Battalion commander Shamrik. However, after carefully comparing the three, he felt that although they each had their own strengths, they still lacked in their ability to command a regiment.
At this moment, when he heard Bellkin recommending himself, he couldn't help but lit up his eyes. Bellkin and he had been partnering with him for about a year. Not only did they cooperate with each other, but they were also very familiar with the tactics he used. If he was really the leader of the reduction team, he would be the most suitable candidate.
Thinking of this, he hurriedly said to Khrushchev: "Comrade Military Commissioner, I think it is appropriate to have Comrade Belkin as the position of regiment commander."
After Khrushchev looked Belkin up and down, he said with some embarrassment: "Col. Sokov, but he is a political worker, how can he be the chief military officer?"
"Comrade Military Commissioner," Sokov heard from Khrushchev's tone that he was reluctant to let Berkin serve as the commander of the regiment, so he laughed and said, "Although Berkin is now a political worker, he has served as the military chief before. If you have such a politically strong comrade, you will be in a position of commanding our troops, what are you worried about?"
Sokov's words made Khrushchev smile: "Col. Sokov, you are right. A political worker who is strong in politics and serves as the military chief will command a unit with great military achievements. What can we worry about? Well, he will be the leader of the reduction regiment."
Seeing that Khrushchev agreed to his proposal, Sokov couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. He turned his head and said to Belkin: "Captain Belkin, hurry up and report the reduced unit system and the list of commanders at all levels."
"Braft Commander... No, comrade Commander." Berkin said confidently: "I plan to reduce the entire brigade's four battalions, the third battalion, and the commanders at all levels of the Marine Battle Battalion; the first battalion and the second battalion were merged into the new battalion, with the battalion commander being Captain Vasily; the fourth battalion and the 192nd battalion were merged into the new second battalion, with the battalion commander being Captain Brisky, and Captain Goria as deputy battalion commander."
Hearing this, Sokov couldn't help but interrupt and asked, "Captain Belkin, Captain Vanya, you merged the first and second battalions into the new battalion, why didn't he arrange his position?" Sokov asked this because he was worried that Belkin would make a mistake in his busy schedule and forgot Vanya.
"Comrade Commander, with Captain Vanya's ability, it's a bit insignificant for him to be the battalion commander." Berkin said slowly: "I plan to make him the chief of staff of my regiment. Comrade Dmitry, the former director of the political department of the brigade, serves as the political commissar of the regiment."
Sokov had no objection to Belkin's arrangement. He nodded and said with praise: "Your arrangement is reasonable, I have no objection." After saying this, he turned around and asked Khrushchev, "Military Commissioner, I still have a remnant of the battalion. Now I am staying in the Red October factory. Do you see if they can be withdrawn?"
Khrushchev replied readily: "Since there are not only the 39th Guard Division, but also the 308th Infantry Division of Gurdiev in the Red October factory, one of your battalions can't play any role there, just withdraw them."
Seeing Khrushchev agreeing so simply, Sokov was overjoyed and quickly expressed his gratitude to him: "Thank you, thank you, comrade of the military committee. In this way, my troops can be concentrated in one area to fight without worrying about being too dispersed and weakening the combat effectiveness of the troops."
While he was talking, the phone ringing on the table rang. Sokov was closest to the phone, so he grabbed the microphone: "I am Sokov, where are you?"
Shamrich's voice soon came from the receiver: "Report to the comrade commander, the Army Command sent someone to deliver ammunition to us, and there were about seven or eight trucks. I want to ask, what should I do?"
"Comrade Captain, is it necessary to send someone to receive it immediately." Sokov was even more happy when he learned that Cui Kov had indeed sent someone to deliver ammunition to him. He said excitedly to the microphone: "With these ammunition, when the enemy attacks again, you don't have to fight with them anymore."
Seeing Sokov put down his microphone, Khrushchev said with a smile: "With the ammunition sent by Cuikov, when facing the enemy's attack, you no longer have to fight with them. It's getting late, so you continue to discuss the organization of the troops and the selection of commanders. I'm leaving."
"You are leaving?" Sokov saw Khrushchev leaving, and he couldn't help but ask curiously: "Comrade Military Commissioner, are you planning to go back to the east bank of the Volga River?"
"I just entered the city, why did I go back so soon?" Khrushchev waved his head and said, "I want to go to Cuikov's headquarters to learn about the German deployment in the counterattack area, so as to develop a reasonable counterattack plan."
When Sokov heard Khrushchev say this, he felt much more at ease. He was also worried that this counterattack would be a blind move without understanding the enemy situation. Since Khrushchev said he wanted to understand the situation and formulate a combat plan, the chance of success of this counterattack could be increased a little.
As soon as he saw Khrushchev away, Bethlei, who had disappeared for a long time, appeared from somewhere. As soon as he saw Sokov, he said with a smile: "Misha, I heard that my superiors have appointed you as the commander of the Guards Division. What a congratulation!"
When Sokov saw Bethlei appear, he was stunned at first, then patted his forehead with his hand and said repeatedly: "No, why did I forget such an important thing!"
"What's the matter?" Sokov's actions made Bere wonder.
"That's right, Colonel Bere." Sokov quickly explained to Berere: "The infantry brigade will be reduced into a regiment, with Berekin as the regiment commander, Dmitry, the political commissar of the brigade's political department, and Captain Vanya, the commander of the first battalion, was the chief of staff. In addition to the third battalion and the Marine Battalion, the first battalion and the second battalion were merged, and the fourth battalion and the 192nd battalion were merged. However, I actually forgot how to arrange your troops."
"Misha." After Sokov finished speaking, he asked bluntly: "Will the Fourth Battalion deployed in the Red October factory be withdrawn?"
"Yes, I plan to withdraw them overnight." Sokov asked Bere, considering that there were still ten tanks, whether to stay near the assembly workshop for fixed turrets, he asked Berere: "Col. What are you thinking about those ten tanks? Keep staying in the Red October factory or withdrawing Mamayev's hill?"
Bi Lei said without hesitation: "I think I'd better stay in the Red October factory!" Perhaps because he was afraid that Sokov would be too concerned, he added, "There is no suitable parking place in Mamayevgang."
"Well, just leave all the tanks at the Red October factory," Sokov felt that Bere made sense, so he nodded and said, "The terrain there is conducive to the development of mechanized forces."
"I think so too." Bere said to himself: "I just went to the Red October factory and received thirty new tanks from Director Peter. On the day of counterattack, we launched an assault directly at the enemy from the Red October factory."
"Comrade Commander," Sidolin, who was sitting next to him, interrupted and asked after the two of them finished speaking, "If there is not enough artillery cover, we can only rely on infantry when attacking. I am worried that it will be difficult to break through the enemy's defensive positions in this way."
Sokov had observed the German positions in the distance many times. Although there were only a few trenches and a limited number of firepower points, and there were no barbed wire or minefields in front of the positions, it seemed not easy to rely solely on infantry to break through the enemy's defense line. Without the support of artillery and tank soldiers, even if the infantry barely occupied the enemy's position, as long as the equipment troops deployed behind the position counterattack, the results he had finally achieved could be wiped out.
"I think that when we attack the enemy's positions, Colonel Bere's tank troops will definitely provide us with necessary support." Sokov said this and deliberately looked at Berere and asked, "Do you think so, Comrade Colonel?"
"Although the infantry brigade is about to be reduced, the superiors have not spoken yet." Bie Lei said hesitantly: "I think after the counterattack war begins, the Tank Battalion should still focus on cooperating with your operations."
"The counterattack is about to begin in two days!" Sidolin said to Sokov: "I think we should study what kind of troops should be used to attack the frontal enemy."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Bereth looked at Cidolin and asked, "The Romanian army is deploying the front. I wonder how you plan to break through their positions?"
"According to the current situation, after the counterattack war begins, there will be no less than two divisions of troops attacking from the Red October factory." Sidolin pointed to the map on the table and analyzed the situation to everyone: "And there is also an infantry division of nearly 10,000 people in our attack area. This is how I considered it. With the 122nd and 124th Guards as the first echelons, and after the artillery fire preparations on the east coast are over, the 125th Regiment and the 2nd Echelon are the second echelons. After the defense lines in the local area are broken, they will immediately enter the battlefield to expand the breakthrough..."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov couldn't help frowning when he heard this: "Didn't you do this to put all our strength into the fight back? Have you ever considered who will defend Mamayev's hill then?"
Faced with Sokov's doubts, Sidolin quickly explained: "Comrade Commander, I considered this way. Since there is no powerful artillery and air support, the results we can achieve in this counterattack are very limited. Therefore, my plan is to break through the enemy's defense line and put the second echelon into the battlefield, while the first echelon will withdraw to take charge of the defense of Mamayev. What do you think?"
"I don't think so!" Biley sneered at Cidolin's statement: "Comrade Chief of Staff, have you ever considered that when two echelons hand over defense on the battlefield, chaos may occur. Once the German army launches a counterattack at this time, our troops may collapse instantly. If the enemy chases them and takes the opportunity to rush to Mamayev, how should we deal with it?"
"Col. Bere is right." Seeing that Berere and his own opinions coincided with him, Sokov nodded and said, "We cannot put all our troops into battle, otherwise Mamayev's hill will be in danger."
Chapter completed!