Sokov felt that the enemy's sudden change of defense would bring many uncertainties to the subsequent counterattack, and he had to report it to Cui Kov immediately.
After answering Cui Kov's phone call, Sokov reported bluntly: "Comrade Commander, I have important information and need to report it to you immediately."
Cuikov said disapprovingly: "Col. Sokov, are you trying to build a bridge on the river? Our engineers and the front command's engineers will be constructed at the same time, and the bridge will be completed as soon as tomorrow. In order not to allow the enemy to discover this bridge too early, I hope you can establish an air defense position in Mamayev hill and drive away all the enemy planes trying to fly over the Volga River."
"I have ordered the troops to build several air defense fire points on the reverse slope of Mamayev's hill. As long as the enemy's planes are found, even if they cannot be shot down, they must be driven far away." After reporting his arrangements, Sokov continued: "Comrade Commander, what I want to report to you is another thing. According to the report of the scout, the enemy in the front of my defense zone is undergoing large-scale changes."
"Where is the location?" Cui Kefu was secretly surprised and asked quickly.
"According to the report of the scouts, the Romanian troops stationed in front of the Mamayev hill and the workers' new village are gradually withdrawing from positions and the German army will take over their defense." Sokov did not wait for Cuikov to ask again, so he took the initiative to say the following words: "Since it is daytime and our scouts cannot get close to the enemy, so he has not yet figured out the German number to be used to defend."
After recording what Sokov said in his notebook, Cuikov asked casually: "Col. Sokov, what do you think the German army's purpose of replacing defense at this moment? Did you discover our intention to counterattack?"
"Comrade Commander, our army has carried out such a large-scale assembly, and the enemy must have guessed that we will launch a counterattack." Sokov said thoughtfully: "But I think the enemy's change of defense at this time is probably not because he realizes that our army has the intention to counterattack, but because he is ready to re-adjust the deployment and launch a new attack on us again."
"Prepare to launch a new attack again?" Hearing Sokov's analysis, Cuikov said to himself, "That's right, it should be like this. The enemy may have seen our transportation line break and felt that there was an opportunity to take advantage of it, so he readjusted the deployment and prepared to give us another fierce attack to capture the entire city."
"Thank you for your report, Colonel Sokov. After dark, I will send scouts to figure out the German number to defend." After expressing my gratitude to Sokov, Cuikov added: "As for the reduction regiment of Commander Belkin, let's stay in the barricade factory for the time being. With them, it will not be so easy for the enemy to seize the factory."
After Trikov hung up the phone, Sokov was still holding the microphone with a blind voice. After putting down the phone, he looked at Papchinko and asked, "Lieutenant Colonel Papchinko, according to the original plan, Captain Shamrich's Marine Battalion will withdraw to Mamayevgang in the past two days. I ask you now, can you defend the workers' new village with your remaining troops?"
Regarding Sokov's problem, Papchinko was silent for a long time before speaking: "Comrade Commander, although there are only more than 700 people left in the workers' new village after the transfer of the Marine Battle Battalion, as long as the German army does not launch a regiment-level or above attack, we must defend our position, and there should be no problem."
After listening to Pupchenko's answer, Sokov did not feel at ease, but asked solemnly: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, please tell me the truth. With the remaining little force of your army, can you really defend the workers' new village?"
Perhaps because he was worried that Lieutenant Colonel Papuchinko would be a fat man, he also emphasized specifically: "Our army's large counterattack is about to begin. If we lose our position at this time, the consequences will be very serious. Not only will the sacrifices you have made in the past and the results you have achieved will be written off, but you will also be sent to the military court."
Sokov's words made the expression on Lieutenant Colonel Papuchinko's face become serious. He couldn't help but turn his head to look at Ivanov next to him, as if he wanted to get some hints from his old superior. Seeing Pupchinko's reaction, Ivanov looked down on his face and said, "Lieutenant Colonel, as the commander of the workers' new village, you should be the clearest. If you think the Marine Battalion should not be transferred at this time, just say it, the division commander is not an unreasonable person. He will readjust the deployment according to the actual situation."
Seeing that Lieutenant Colonel Papuchinko was looking reluctant but stopped, Sokov quickly struck while the iron was hot and said: "The counterattack plan I mentioned about our division is based on the fact that the frontal enemy is the Romanian army. Now that we want the enemy in the attack area to become a German, the original plan needs to be adjusted. If you have any concerns, just tell me."
Seeing that Sokov and Ivanov both let themselves speak freely, Papuqinko finally mustered up the courage and said: "Comrade Commander, I will say that during the period of staying at the Workers' New Village, the decisive role was the Marine Battalion. If you really transferred them away, I am worried that the troops would have a fluctuation in morale, and I am afraid that at that time...
Although Lieutenant Colonel Papuchinko had only said half of his words, Sokov had guessed his concerns and comforted him, "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, since the transfer of the Marine Battalion made you so difficult, I will now officially announce to you that Captain Shamrich's Marine Battalion is still under your command, and will not be transferred from the workers' new village for the time being."
"That's great, this is really great." As soon as Sokov finished speaking, Lieutenant Colonel Papuchinko spoke excitedly. After he discovered his incompetence, he blushed and explained with a blushing face: "I'm sorry, comrade Commander! I was a little excited when I heard that the Marine Battalion was temporarily unchanged."
Sokov raised his hand and pressed down for a moment, signaling Lieutenant Colonel Papuchinko to sit down, and then said: "Comrade Commanders, the German army suddenly implemented a defense change. Next, it will definitely launch a new round of attacks. You can hold on to your existing position at all costs and prevent the enemy from moving forward. Do you understand?"
If it were in the past, Sokov would never give the order not to take a step back. But now the counterattack is imminent, even if the troops and the enemy are trying to consume, it will be enough to support the day when the counterattack begins. When the enemy's attention is attracted to other directions, he can still piece together enough troops to counterattack the enemy.
"I understand!" the three commanders replied in unison.
"Our original counterattack was postponed due to the enemy's defense change, but it will never be cancelled." Sokov continued: "We will let the Germans on the front taste our power after the start of the big counterattack."
"Comrade Commander," he thought the enemy had changed defenses and the counterattack plan was to be cancelled. But when he heard Sokov's last words, the three commanders showed a gratitude on their faces. Starcha asked curiously: "How many troops will your superiors send us after the major counterattack begins?"
"This is hard to say." Although the East Coast will not replenish troops and technical equipment for the 62nd Army before the start of the major counterattack, after the counterattack has made great progress, the superiors will definitely send some troops to strengthen the defenders in the city: "This must be determined based on the results achieved by friendly forces in the direction of the attack."
After the meeting, Ivanov watched the three commanders leave, turned to Sokov and asked, "Comrade Commander, do you think you should say hello to Commander Belkin and prepare for a fierce battle with the Germans?"
"Well, Deputy Commander, you have made sense. You should really be happy with Commander Belkin." Sokov nodded and said, "Let him know what he knows."
After answering the phone, Sokov asked straight to the point: "My political commissar, how is your situation there?"
"The enemy launched two attacks today, but they were both repelled by us and the comrades of the 138th Division." After briefly reporting on the situation of the barricade factory, Berkin asked Sokov anxiously: "Misha, when will our regiment return to Mamayev hill?"
"Comrade Political Commissar, I call you because it's related to this matter." Sokov replied awkwardly: "You should stay in the barricade factory for the time being and help Colonel Lyudnikov and others stay at the factory."
"What, continue to stay in the barricade factory?" Belkin asked in surprise after hearing Sokov's words: "The commander called me in the morning and said that he would send troops to replace our defense tomorrow and ask our regiment to withdraw to Mamayev. It has just been a few hours since then, why has the situation changed?"
"That's right, Comrade Political Commissar, not long ago, the Romanian army stationed in the front of our division's defense zone retreated, and then two German troops came to replace their defense." Sokov explained to Belkin: "According to my judgment, the enemy may be brewing a new attack. At this time, our original counterattack plan could only be cancelled. We originally planned to draw the troops back to Mamayev, but we could only continue to stay where we were to assist friendly forces in defense."
As a senior commander, Belkin naturally understood the rapid change of the situation on the battlefield, and understood that Sokov allowed himself to stay in the barricade factory because the enemy on the front of Mamayev hill was replaced by the German army. He was silent for a moment and then asked: "Then what time do we need to persevere?"
Sokov recalled the history he knew in his mind. The Southwest Front and the Don Front launched an attack on the Don River Basin on the 19th. On the same day, Paulus ordered his troops to launch a fierce attack on the areas in the city that were controlled by the Soviet army. Even on the 20th, when the Stalingrad Front launched a counterattack in the south of the city, Paulus issued an order to the troops in the city to continue the attack.
Thinking of this, Sokov said to the microphone: "Comrade Political Commissar, the enemy has been bouncing for a few days. When they attack, you cannot make negative defenses. You must take advantage of the night to find ways to seize several fire support points in the enemy's defensive areas. In this way, when the enemy finds that something is wrong, it is not so easy to retreat even if they want to withdraw."
"Misha, I understand what you mean." Belkin and Sokov partnered for a long time, so naturally understood his intention: "In the open field in the wild, the direction of the enemy and me is clear, and it is easier for the enemy to retreat. The enemy and my defense lines in the city are intertwined and uneven. It is not that easy to retreat. Don't worry, we will definitely try our best to stop the enemy first, and then drag the enemy when our army's counterattack is successful, so that they cannot reinforce dangerous areas."
Sokov finished his call with Belkin and breathed a sigh of relief. After putting down the microphone, he said to Sidolin and Belkin: "Chief of Staff and Deputy Division Commander, although our counterattack plan has to be postponed due to changes in the enemy situation, we cannot continue to defend negatively. We can use the night to send a small group of troops to attack the enemy."
"Comrade Commander, can I tell me what I think?" As soon as Sadolin finished speaking, he immediately expressed his opinion: "In fact, if we want the enemy to sleep at night, we can do nothing to send small troops."
"How can the enemy be unable to sleep at night without sending troops?..." Sokov said in confusion, and suddenly thought of a possibility, and asked tentatively: "Chief of Staff, do you mean to use rockets?"
"Yes, comrade of the division commander, that's what I mean." Sidolin smiled on his face: "You know, there are still a hundred rockets in the warehouse in Mamayevgang. Since we can use rockets to attack from a distance, why should we take the lives of the soldiers to take risks?"
"You are right. Since we have rockets, we can fully carry out long-range attacks on the German army. There is no need to take risks with the lives of the soldiers." Sokov continued: "Also, our newly equipped rockets have never been used. If you find an opportunity, you must also try your power."
Sokov and Cidolin were studying how to deal with the enemy, and the phone ringing on the table rang. Ivanov, who had been obedient, picked up the microphone: "I am Colonel Ivanov, where are you?"
"Comrade Commander," Ivanov immediately stood up after hearing the other party's identity explaining his identity, handed the microphone in his hand to Sokov, saying, "It was the call from the commander."
When Sokov took the microphone, he was quite puzzled and said that he had just hung up the phone for a while, why did Cui Kov call again? Is there anything to ask for? He said respectfully to the microphone: "Hello, Comrade Commander, do you have any instructions?"
"Col. Sokov," Cuikov said seriously on the other end of the phone: "I just passed with Commander Yelemenko and reported to him about your situation. After careful consideration, he planned to draw four full infantry battalions from the reserve team to supplement your division. When the bridge on the ice is completed tomorrow, the troops can cross the river to Mamayev hill."
Sokov originally thought that the counterattack plan could only wait until the Soviet general attack began before finding the right time to carry out. But now he heard that Yeliaoméko had added four full infantry divisions to him, and he couldn't believe his ears and asked quickly: "Comrade Commander, I heard it wrong, did I? The Front Army Command wants to add four full infantry battalions to us. Is this true?"
Chapter completed!