The observer commanders, including Sokov, did not expect that the second attack of the two guard regiments would be so smooth that many of the original plans were not intended. When the commanders started cheering, Sokov frowned.
He should be happy when the troops attacked smoothly, but he always felt something was wrong. Just like two equal boxers, even if they took the initiative and took the initiative when they competed in the ring, the opponent would not have no power to fight back, and would definitely have a full effort. Even if he wanted to win, it would take some effort. But now, as soon as he punched, the opponent fell down, which was a bit too abnormal.
"Comrade Commander, what happened?" Sidolin noticed Sokov's abnormality and asked in a low voice: "I seem a little unhappy when I see you."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov looked at the battlefield filled with smoke in the distance and said with a serious expression: "Do you think our breakthrough is too smooth? Will the Germans have any conspiracy?"
"I don't think so." Cidolin said in an uncertain tone: "I feel that the enemy has fallen into a panic state and it is difficult to organize effective defense. The failure of the first attack was because of the problems of the coordination between tanks and infantry, which gave the Germans an opportunity to take advantage of it. But in the second attack, the infantry and Tank coordination did a good job, at least the infantry killed all the anti-tank hands that emerged from the traffic trenches on both sides..."
Golikov also heard the conversation between Sokov and Sidolin. He put down his telescope, walked to Sokov, and said with a smile: "Col. Sokov, you are too worried. I think the Germans knew that their rear was attacked and were forced to draw troops to block our army, so that the troops here became weak, so that your troops could break through the enemy's defense so smoothly. Don't worry, I think the commanders and fighters of the Guards can take down the enemy's third line of defense as long as they charge another time."
Sokov did not refute Golikov's confidence. After all, the war was going well at this moment, but he jumped out to sing the opposite tune, which would not only make people disgusted, but might also affect the morale that he finally recovered, so he could only choose to remain silent. But he was still wondering whether there was any conspiracy hidden in the German army suddenly became so indifferent?
Before he could come up with something, Cui Kov called. Cui Kov asked angrily: "Col. Sokov, how is the counterattack you have carried out? Why not report to us in time on the progress of the battle?"
"I'm sorry, comrade Commander, it was my negligence." Perhaps because of the reason why Golikov, the great god, was here, Sokov and the others had ignored the fact that they should report to their superiors. At this moment, when Cuikov reminded him, Sokov immediately realized his mistake and quickly admitted his mistake: "I will report to you simply. The three regiments in the counterattack mission have now occupied the second line of defense of the German army. After a little rest, they will attack the enemy's third line of defense..."
"Why do you need to rest?!" Cui Kefu said dissatisfiedly: "You should take advantage of the favorable opportunity of the enemy's system being disrupted by you to continue to attack the third line of defense. The speed should be fast and you cannot give the enemy a breather. Do you understand?"
"I understand, comrade Commander." Since Cui Kov issued the order to continue the attack, Sokov could only give up the plan to let the troops rest on the second line of defense and then launch an attack on the third line of defense: "I immediately ordered the troops to attack the third line of defense, striving to seize the enemy's position in the shortest time."
"Col. Sokov, your attitude is very good." Cuikov was very satisfied when he heard Sokov agreeing to immediately attack the troops. After pausing for a moment, he continued, "Since you have the cooperation of tanks, I will take back the command of the artillery and let them support other directions."
Sokov was shocked and suddenly thought of the possible conspiracy that the German army had implemented. He didn't care that the call with Cuikov had not ended yet. He put the microphone on the table, ran quickly to the lookout, raised his telescope and looked at the German positions in the distance.
Seeing Sokov's strange behavior, both Golikov, Cidolin and Ivanov showed a look of surprise on his face. When Sidolin heard a sound from the microphone on the table, he quickly picked it up and put it in his ears. Cuikov's somewhat angry voice came from inside: "Col. Sokov, what are you doing? Why don't you speak?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander, I am Cidolin." Cidolin said quickly: "When the division commander talked to you, he seemed to remember something, and he was observing the battlefield at this moment."
To find out why Sokov had such an abnormal behavior, Golikov walked to him and asked seriously: "Col. Sokov, tell me what happened?"
"Report to the deputy commander of the front army!" Sokov heard Golikov asking himself, and quickly put down his telescope, turned his head to face Golikov and said, "I think I know what the enemy has conspiracy!"
"The enemy's conspiracy?" Hearing Sokov mentioning again what the German army might have, a hint of impatient expression flashed across Golikov's face. He tried his best to ask in a steady tone: "Tell me, what conspiracy does the enemy have?"
"I think the reason why we can break through the German second line of defense so smoothly," Sokov explained: "is that the enemy has shrunk all the main forces to the third line of defense."
After hearing Sokov's statement, Golikov said disapprovingly: "Even if the enemy shrinks its troops to the third line of defense, do you think they can block our attack?"
"I think they can stop it." Sokov replied unexpectedly: "It can not only block our attack, but also launch a counterattack, causing huge casualties to our offensive forces."
"Tell me your reasons." Golikov said in a cold voice.
Sokov knew that the other party was saying this, but at this moment, he could not care about the other party's views. He had to say what he was thinking, otherwise the attacking troops would suffer a great loss: "Comrade, Deputy Commander of the Front Army, just when I was on the phone with Commander Cui Kov, he proposed to take back my artillery command. His words reminded me that the artillery deployed by our army on the left bank, except for a few heavy artillery, most of the artillery can not bombard the enemy's third line of defense. In this way, it will become difficult for us to break through the third line of defense of the German heavy army.
More importantly, the artillery deployed by the German army behind the third line of defense can intercept our attacking troops, causing us huge casualties. Once our army has to retreat due to heavy casualties, the Germans may take the opportunity to launch a counterattack and regain their lost two lines of defense in one fell swoop."
After listening to Sokov's explanation, Golikov's face turned red and white. If Sokov didn't say it, he had never considered this situation. At this moment, when Sokov explained, he found that it seemed like this was really the case. The German army retreated all the main forces to the third line of defense. If they rely on strong offensive and powerful artillery fire to block the attack of the Guard Division, they might be able to turn defeat into victory. Thinking of this, Golikov asked Sokov with a serious expression: "Col. Sokov, do you have any good solutions?"
The other commanders in the temporary command center heard the dialogue between Golikov and Sokov. They also realized the seriousness of the problem and instinctively turned their attention to Sokov, wanting to hear what good solutions their division commanders have.
"Under the current situation, our original combat plan needs to be adjusted, and the troops should be ordered to move to defense on the spot." Seeing that Golikov had no good idea, Sokov took the initiative to express his thoughts: "In this way, Mamayev's gang and the occupied first and second lines of defense will even become a piece of it. Whether it is defense or future attack, it will be very beneficial to us."
After hearing Sokov's words, Golikov felt disappointed. Before the counterattack began, he thought that the troops of the Guard Division could advance to the Don River in one breath and meet with friendly troops heading south. Unexpectedly, after the battle began, Sokov stated his interests to him, indicating that the troops could only advance to the third line of defense of the German army. After a fierce ideological struggle, he agreed to his plan. Not long after, Sokov actually proposed that the troops should turn into defense in the occupied second line of defense to fight against the possible counterattacks by the German army.
After explaining his reasons to Golikov, Sokov saw that Sidolin was still holding the microphone in his hand, he asked him: "Is Comrade Commander still online?"
Seeing Sidolin nodding, he stepped forward and took the microphone, put it in his ear and said, "Comrade Commander, I am Sokov, are you still listening?"
"Yes, I'm still listening." Cuikov just heard Sokov's words, including the transition to defense on the second line of defense, so he seemed particularly angry: "Tell me why should the troops be transferred to defense on the second line of defense?"
"Comrade Commander, please listen to my explanation." Sokov was deliberately looking at Golikov when he said this. Seeing that the latter was frowning and thinking hard, he continued: "Now our division has advanced several kilometers, and the left and right wings of the troops have been exposed to the enemy. If we continue to advance, as the front line is lengthened, not only will the supply problems occur, but even the two wings will become weaker. Once the German army discovers our shortcomings and launches attacks from both wings, our division will fall into the siege of the German army. Not to mention eliminating the enemy, whether we can save ourselves is a problem."
After Sokov finished speaking, he thought about it carefully and found that he could not refute the other party. Except for Sokov's troops, the other troops launched counterattacks in the factory area basically did not make any progress. In other words, the defense depth of the entire army ranged from a few hundred meters to a thousand meters. Only the defense depth here in Mamayevgang has reached four or five kilometers, and now the defense depth has increased to about ten kilometers, which means that the left bank can drop more troops into the city and deploy it in the Mamayevgang area.
Thinking of this, Cui Kev replied awkwardly: "Col. Sokov, since your division is responsible for the counterattack against the enemy this time, it is up to you to decide where to stop and turn on the attack on the spot."
When Sokov heard Cuikov agreeing to decide the distance for the troops to stop attacking based on the situation on the battlefield, he hurriedly expressed his gratitude to the other party: "Thank you, thank you, comrade Commander! I promise you that after our division's defense line is stable, I will organize the troops to advance to the enemy's defense in depth again."
"Col. Sokov, it is not enough for me to agree that your troops will move into defense on the second line of defense." Cuikov whispered to Sokov: "General Golikov, the deputy commander of the Front, is with you. Can he agree to your plan?"
"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Sokov looked up at Golikov, and even the other party looked at him. After the two looked at each other, Golikov nodded slightly to agree to the troops to move into defense on the spot. With the permission of the other party, Sokov suddenly became much more confident. He quickly said to the microphone: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army has agreed to our plan."
Seeing Sokov put down his phone, Golikov came over and said to him: "Col. Sokov, after the troops are transferred to the defense, what do you plan to do if the enemy from the third line of defense takes the initiative to attack?"
"Break all their attacks." Sokov replied briefly.
Golikov was obviously dissatisfied with Sokov's short answer. He shook his head and asked, "Tell me about your specific plan."
As the commander of the Guards Division, Sokov felt quite frustrated. Seeing that the two German soldiers on the opposite side had become panicked under his own attack, but due to the lack of sufficient artillery and necessary air support, he had to temporarily give up the attack on the third line of defense.
Since Golikov was eager to know how he planned to defend the occupied positions, Sokov did not hide anything: "I plan to ask the soldiers to strengthen their fortifications so that they could block the powerful offensive of the German army."
"To be specific," said Golikov impatiently, "I want to know your detailed plan."
"There is no detailed plan for the time being, Comrade, the deputy commander of the Front Army." Sokov replied with a smile: "But I only plan to leave a small number of troops on the position that are enough to resist the German attack. The remaining troops will take tanks and detour from the left and right wings of the German defense line to encircle as many enemies as possible."
Chapter completed!