"Comrade Commander, please rest assured." Sokov thought for a moment and replied loudly: "We will immediately send anti-tank soldiers carrying the bazooka to the Derrensky factory to support the 37th Guard Division."
"Comrade Commander." Seeing Sokov agreeing to Cuikov so readily, Ivanov stamped his feet in a hurry. As soon as Sokov put down the phone, he couldn't wait to say: "Our bazooka and ammunition are limited. If it is used to support the 37th Guards Division, then when we counterattack, we will face the shortage of bazooka."
"Yes, comrade Commander." Although there are not many times used bazooka nowadays, Sidolin often hears Sokov mention that bazooka can not only attack tanks, armored vehicles, infantry fighting vehicles, and armored personnel transport vehicles at close range, but also use direct aim to destroy enemy fortifications. If such good weapons are handed over to other troops, what will his troops use in counterattacks? It is precisely for this reason that he echoed Ivanov's statement: "At present, we cannot yet receive supplementary bazooka and ammunition. Once it is exhausted, what weapons should we use to deal with enemy tanks, assault guns and fortifications after the counterattack begins?"
"Chief of Staff, Deputy Division Commander, I understand what you mean." Sokov naturally knew about Sidolin and Ivanov's dissuasion. But for the sake of the overall situation, he had to send people to support him. However, before sending reinforcements, he had to explain the reasons to his two deputy: "The enemy is launching a fierce attack on the Derrensky factory. If we do not support General Lujeff and others, once the factory is occupied by the enemy, our counterattack plan will have to be adjusted. At that time, our attack direction will no longer be the enemy in front of Mamayev, but the enemy who occupied the Derrensky factory. Even if we wipe out all our divisions, we must regain the lost factory."
When Sokov heard what he said, Sidolin and Ivanov shut up. They understood very well that Sokov was telling the truth. Once the Germans occupied the Derzhinsky factory, the adjacent barricade factory would become in danger. If the city fell before the great counterattack achieved results, no one would have good results.
Seeing that the house had calmed down again, Anisimov asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, the distance from Mamayevgang to Derrensky factory is not close. If there were ring-tracks before, we might have only been able to reach our destination in just over ten minutes. But now it will take at least two hours to hike to the factory. Now we send people to rush over now, can we have time?"
"I think General Lujeff's defense line would not be able to last for that long." Sokov said simply: "I will call Commander Belkin immediately and ask him to send the anti-tank platoons of the first battalion."
"What should I do in the barricade factory?" Cidolin asked back: "Once the anti-tank platoon leaves, the anti-tank power in the barricade factory will be weakened."
"The Second Battalion also has an anti-tank platoon, which allows Belkin to transfer them to the forefront," Sokov said. "In this way, we have plenty of time to send anti-tank troops from Mamayev hill to the barricade factory."
Hearing that Sokov had already considered all the issues that should be considered, Cidolin nodded, "Comrade Commander, since you have made careful considerations, I will call Commander Belkin immediately and ask him to send the anti-tank platoon of the first battalion to the Derrensky factory to support General Jolujev's troops."
Unexpectedly, after receiving the call from Cidolin, Belkin asked in confusion: "Comrade Chief of Staff, don't you know that the enemy is also launching a fierce attack on us. If the anti-tank lineup is transferred away at this time, who will deal with the enemy's tanks?"
Seeing Sidolin's embarrassed expression, Sokov knew that he must have hit a nail in front of Belkin, so he walked over and took the microphone from his hand and said to Belkin: "My political commissar, it is my order to let the first battalion of anti-tank platoons support the Derzhinsky factory. The enemy is now attacking the Derzhinsky factory. If they do not get the support of the anti-tank platoon, their defense line may be broken through by the enemy tanks."
"Misha, I understand what you mean." Berkin heard Sokov's voice coming, and knew that the order could not be changed. He sighed and said, "I can send an anti-tank platoon to support General Jolujev, but I have one condition."
"What conditions?" Sokov asked briefly.
"Can the anti-tank platoon of the Second Battalion to General Jorugev?" After Berkin made this request, he was afraid that Sokov would not agree, so he took the initiative to analyze to him: "The anti-tank platoon of the Second Battalion has been idle since entering the barricade factory. If they are ordered to take over the work of the anti-tank platoon of the First Battalion, they will not only need a familiar process, but may even cause unnecessary chaos."
"Then how did you think about it?"
"It's very simple." Berkin continued: "Turn directly transfer the anti-tank platoon of the Second Battalion to the Derzhinsky factory, so that no matter how disorder is avoided during the change of defense, the anti-tank platoon of the First Battalion does not have to be familiar with the environment in an unfamiliar area."
Belkin's words reminded Sokov. He immediately realized that some problems had occurred in his deployment. He could have directly sent the anti-tank platoon of the Second Battalion, which was now idle, to the Derrensky factory, but he insisted on adding extra money. It was simply unnecessary.
Thinking of this, Sokov smiled embarrassedly, and then said to the microphone: "Comrade Political Commissar, you are right, then let the anti-tank platoon of the Second Battalion to reinforce the Derrensky factory, and the anti-tank platoon of the First Battalion continue to stick to its position. In addition, I will draw soldiers who know how to use the bazooka from the division guard battalion and rush over to reinforce you."
After Sidorin and Sokov put down the phone, he immediately asked him for instructions: "Comrade Commander, who will take the troops to reinforce the barricade factory?"
"Comrade Commander, can I say a few words?" Anisimov, who was standing beside him, couldn't help but interrupt and asked, "Didn't the commander order us to reinforce the Derrensky factory? Why did you become reinforcement barricades again?"
"Comrade Political Commissar," Sokov turned to him and explained to him: "The barricade factory and the Derzhinsky factory are not far away. If we transfer the reinforcements to the barricade factory, we can achieve the goal of reinforcement at any time."
"Comrade Commander," Seeing that his words were interrupted by Anisimov, Cidolin repeated his question again: "Are you going to send someone to lead the troops to reinforce?"
"Let the guard battalion commander Major Tenev lead the team." Sokov considered that after Tenev came to his division, he was almost at a transparent level and rarely arranged any combat tasks for him. He was afraid that he would also feel resentful. He planned to carry out this mission: "Let him take two guard platoons, carry five rocket launchers and supporting ammunition, and rush to the barricade factory as soon as possible."
"Comrade Commander, there are almost nearly a hundred people in the two guard platoons." Ivanov couldn't help but remind Sokov: "Is it a bit too few to carry only five rocket launchers?"
"Not a lot." Sokov shook his head and said, "I asked them to go to the barricade factory not only to deal with enemy tanks, but also to deal with enemy infantry. Therefore, I plan to let them carry another thirty new rockets."
"I think if Commander Belkin knew this news, he would be very happy." Ivanov's face showed a knowing smile: "But in this way, the Germans who attacked the barricade factory will suffer."
Seeing Sidolin calling Major Tenev, the guard battalion commander, Sokov couldn't help but shook his head in his heart. He thought that as long as the Stalingrad front counterattacked, he could use his superiors to replenish his troops and launch a counterattack against the Romanian army on the front. However, the plan could not keep up with the changes. First, the German army changed defenses with the Romanian army, and then attacked the Barrier Factory and the Derrensky Factory, forcing him to draw some of the troops and technical equipment originally planned to be used for counterattack to reinforce these two factories with critical situations.
"Comrade Commander, what are you thinking?" Anisimov saw Sokov staring at Cidolin on the phone in a daze, and couldn't help asking: "Are you worried that our troops can't defend the factory?"
"That's right." Sokov nodded and said in a affirmative tone: "Wait for more than ten hours, our Stalingrad Front will launch a counterattack from the south of the city to the enemy, and then in the shortest time, we will join forces with the Southwest Front and the Don River Front that went south. But if the Barrier Factory and Derzhinsky Factory were lost at this critical moment, all efforts made in the middle of the night will be wasted."
"I think our troops should be able to defend the Barrier Factory and the Derrensky Factory." Anisimov said with some confidence: "No matter what, they also know that our army's large counterattack has begun and the destruction of the enemy is right in front of us. Therefore, no matter how fierce the enemy's attack is, they will find ways to support it and wait for victory to come."
Belkin received Sokov's order and was about to call Captain Brisky, the second battalion commander, but a new round of German attacks began. Lyudnikov called him and said in a panic: "Captain Belkin, the enemy has launched a new attack. It seems that they will never give up if they don't take down the factory. With my existing troops, it may be difficult to stop them. I hope you can get your help."
"Don't worry, comrade Colonel." Since the snow outside was not as heavy as that, Berkin could see the situation outside from his command post. He saw groups of German soldiers wearing white camouflages rushing towards the last line of defense of the barricade factory under the cover of tanks, assault guns and armored vehicles. He quickly said to the microphone: "We will continue to fight side by side with you and completely crush the enemy's attack."
Thinking that there were not many shells left in the artillery regiment, the Second Battalion continued to stay on the artillery position, which was a waste. He quickly called Brisky and told him, "Comrade Captain, I am the commander of the Belkin. Now I will give you two orders."
"Comrade Commander, please give orders." Brisky heard from Belkin's tone that the order the other party was about to issue was very important, and he said with a serious expression: "Our battalion has made all preparations for combat."
"Since you are ready for battle, this is very good." Berkin was very satisfied with Brisky's reply. He said sternly: "Order 1, to draw the anti-tank platoon to the Derzhinsky factory to support General Jolujeff's defense zone; Order 2, except for leaving a few troops to protect the artillery, the remaining troops rushed to the positions of the first battalion to strengthen their defense."
"What, transfer the anti-tank platoon to the Derrensky factory?" Brisky was shocked when he heard this order, because he also saw that the German army was ruthless this time. There were at least 30 tanks, assault guns and armored vehicles deployed. It was impossible to deal with just a few rocket launchers of the first battalion's anti-tank platoon. So he reminded Belkin carefully: "Comrade Commander, have you not seen how many tanks and armored vehicles the enemy has dispatched this time? It is impossible to deal with just the anti-tank power of the first battalion."
"This is the order of the division headquarters, please implement it immediately." Belkin was afraid that Brisky would not understand, so he emphasized: "If the Derrensky factory is lost, the enemy can surround us, and then we will be completely surrounded by the enemy. You must understand that helping friendly forces is to help ourselves."
"Also," said Brisky, after talking about the anti-tank platoon, he continued to raise his question: "Didn't the division headquarters just replenish the first battalion? If our battalion went over again, would the position be too crowded? Comrade Commander, in such a narrow area, gathering so many troops, every enemy shell would cause us more than a dozen or even dozens of casualties. Is this appropriate?"
"There is nothing wrong." Berkin said impatiently when he heard Brisky's repeated objective reasons: "The new troops added to us by the division headquarters are all new recruits with no combat experience. Faced with the speeding tanks and armored vehicles, many soldiers will be so nervous that they can't even hold their guns. To defend their positions, they can only rely on the first battalion and your battalion. Do you understand?"
"I understand, Comrade Commander."
"Since you understand, why are you still standing there?" Belkin urged: "Why don't you hurry up and bring your troops to reinforce, otherwise it will be too late if the enemy rushes into the position."
Chapter completed!