The day of counterattack has finally come.
In the early morning of November 19, before dawn, the political commissar of the division, Anisimov, who had not appeared for a long time, appeared at the division command center and asked Sokov excitedly: "Comrade Commander, is our big counterattack today?"
"That's right." Considering that Anisimov rarely stayed in the division headquarters recently and didn't know much about many things, Sokov introduced the plan of this major counterattack to him in detail. Considering that the major counterattack could not be immediate, the troops in the city had to survive a difficult period, he specifically reminded Anisimov: "Comrade Political Commissar, the German army in the Don River Basin was attacked by our army, and the German army staying in the city might continue to attack us. Therefore, we must not underestimate the enemy and take it lightly just because the counterattack is about to begin."
Anisimov's smile gradually disappeared on his face. He asked in confusion: "Why, comrade, do you think the Germans can still have the strength to continue to launch an attack in the city when they are attacked by our three fronts?"
"They have such strength." Sokov continued to raise his voice. Whether he was saying this to Anisimov, he also hoped that Sidolin, Ivanov, and everyone in the command would hear his words: "The enemy's defense is distributed between the Don and the Volga River. Even if we are attacked on a large scale by our army, it may not pose any threat to them in a short period of time."
Ivanov, who had never spoken for Sokov's prediction, widened his eyes in surprise: "No, comrade, division commander. You must know that our troops deployed in the direction of the Don River, but the two fronts, hundreds of thousands of people, could it not pose a threat to the enemy's defense line?"
"No matter how large the counterattack of our army is, as long as the Stalingrad front in the south of the city does not move, Paulus will think that the counterattack we launched, like the failed counterattacks in the past, was a restraining action taken to prevent him from seizing the city." Sokov said in a contemptuous tone: "In this case, Paulus will definitely continue to launch a new attack on the factory area north of the city according to his original plan."
Sidolin and Sokov had been together for a long time, so they naturally knew that Sokov's foresight was very strong. It was as if everyone had never expected the enemy to attack Stalingrad, and he took the initiative to transfer the troops to Stalingrad to garrison and build fortifications and tunnels in Mamayev Hill. If he hadn't prepared for the future and repaired the tunnels in advance, Mamayev Hill might have been occupied by the Germans.
It was precisely for this consideration that Sidolin took the initiative to stand on Sokov's side and reminded him: "Comrade Commander, since you speculate that the enemy is attacked by friendly forces in the Don River, you will still be attacked by the factory area in the north of the city. Should you report this situation to the commander and ask him to remind the troops who are sticking to the factory area not to relax your vigilance just because our army's counterattack is about to begin."
"Chief of Staff, you are right. We should remind the commander to prepare for combat." Sokov said: "Even if the Germans attack our army desperately, they must not succeed."
However, before Sokov could call, Cuikov called first. He said to Sokov with some excitement: "Col. Sokov, in a few hours, our friendly forces will launch a comprehensive counterattack against Paulus' troops in the Don River Basin. How about it, have you considered taking the counterattack in the Mamayevgang area to carry out today?"
Sokov knew very well that in history, when the Soviet army counterattacked, the reason why Cuikov's 62nd Army did not participate in the counterattack was that its troops were insufficient was one aspect; more importantly, the defense line with a width of 25 kilometers was less than one kilometer in the front, and in such a narrow area, it was impossible to assemble the counterattack troops. Now that he has defended Mamayev's post, the enemy cannot cut off the troops guarding the city, ensuring that the defense depth of the entire 62nd Army increased to five kilometers. Cuikov was eager to let his troops launch a counterattack because there was enough space to assemble the counterattack troops.
However, Sokov was very clear that the German army would launch the last fierce attack on the Soviet army north of the city today. If he rashly launched a counterattack when the enemy attacked, the final result would be to hit the stone with an egg. It was precisely for this consideration that he said firmly: "Sorry, comrade Commander, I think the conditions for counterattack today are not ripe."
"Why, Colonel Sokov?" Cuikov, who was rejected, gritted his teeth and asked: "Did the enemy on the opposite side make you feel scared?"
"Comrade Commander, I was just about to call you, but your phone number came first."
A little surprised Cui Kefu asked, "Is there anything wrong?"
"According to my analysis, even if our army launched a fierce attack on the German army in the Don River Basin, Paulus would still think that this was just a restraining action to prevent him from seizing the city." Sokov said to the microphone without hesitation: "In this case, he would not send any troops to reinforce the attacked areas. On the contrary, he would continue to concentrate his troops and launch an attack on the factory area north of the city, and immediately eliminate our army in these areas in the shortest time..."
After listening to Sokov's analysis, Cuikov remained silent for a long time. After repeated thought, he asked: "Col. Sokov, do you really think that the enemy will continue to attack the factory area in the north of the city while our army is attacking the Don River defense line?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." To convince Cuikov, Sokov decided to take a risk, he said to the microphone: "If you want, I'm willing to make a bet with you."
Perhaps Sokov's statement is relatively novel, which aroused Cuikov's curiosity: "Col. Sokov, what bet do you want to make with me? What is the bet?"
"Comrade Commander, I said the Germans will continue to attack the factory area today." Sokov said calmly: "If they attack, then when will my troops launch a counterattack be decided by me based on changes in the battlefield situation. You must not interfere."
"I can promise you this." Cui Kefu asked back with some dissatisfaction: "But what should you do if you lose?"
Sokov held his breath and thought for a moment, and bit his back teeth and said, "Comrade Commander, if the enemy did not attack the factory area before noon, I would lose. I will immediately command the troops to attack the enemy in front of Mamayev. Are you satisfied with this bet?"
"Very good, that's the decision." Cuikov waited for Sokov to finish his words, and said readily: "If the enemy really attacks the factory area, then I will never ask when your division will launch a counterattack against the enemy. However, if the enemy did not attack the factory area before noon today, then your division will launch a counterattack against the enemy today."
Chapter completed!