The black smoke that Sokov saw on the first battalion was the black smoke that rose when the German army burned supplies and military coats. The decision he made to turn off the offense to defend was also a coincidence. However, there were still many things to prepare for when the troops moved from the defensive state to the attack. After Sokov explained a few words to Starcha, he took Samoilov and the guard platoon back to the division command.
As soon as Sokov walked into the command center, Cidolin put down the folder in his hand, walked quickly towards him, and said, "Comrade Commander, you are back!"
"How are you preparing?"
"The tanks of the Tank Brigade have been activated and can be put into the battlefield after about twenty minutes of warming up." Cidolin reported: "In addition, the three infantry regiments are ready to attack. After the tanks pass through their defense zone, they can attack the enemy."
Sokov looked around and saw Ivanov and Anisimov were there, but he didn't see Golikov, so he asked curiously: "By the way, where did the Deputy Commander of the Front Army go?"
"Before you come back, the deputy commander of the Front Army received a call from the Front Army Command, saying that there was something important and he would rush back immediately." Cidolin finally emphasized: "In order to ensure his safety, I sent a guard platoon to escort it."
"Ah, the deputy commander of the front army has left?" With a great god like Golikov by his side, he can not only understand the latest progress on the entire battlefield in a timely manner, but also gain some convenience in some aspects. Now that he learned that the other party has left, Sokov couldn't help feeling a little disappointed. He asked absent-mindedly: "Have he explained what he was about to leave?"
Sidolin heard Sokov's implicit voice and quickly said with a smile: "The superiors agreed to send two flight brigades to provide air support to our offensive forces."
"That's great, this is really great." Sokov was worried that when Golikov left like this, his superiors might not provide air support to his troops. Unexpectedly, Golikov really did this before leaving. "With the support of the air force, we can increase the range of counterattacks to ten to fifteen kilometers."
Sidolin, who was originally smiling, heard Sokov say this, and the smile on his face became stiff. After a while, he asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, why should we set the distance to counterattack? If the enemy is really vulnerable, we can rush all the way to the Don River."
"Yes, comrade of the division commander." Ivanov also echoed: "If the situation is really like you said, the Germans try to escape, our advancement will make them more chaotic. We can advance to the Don in one breath and meet with friendly forces going south or north."
"I'll ask you." Seeing that the two of them looked at the situation so optimistically, Sokov reminded them: "Did there be other troops in the city, except for the troops of our division, in addition to the troops of our division?"
"It should be." Cidolin said in an uncertain tone: "But their troops are weak, and even if they launch a counterattack, they are still on a small scale. I am afraid that they will not pose any threat to the enemy's defense."
"That's right, the other troops in the city have weak forces, and even the effect of launching a counterattack is very limited." Sokov pointed to the red and blue lines of the map and said to the two: "You see, the location of our division has become a protruding part. If we continue to advance, not only will the troops be dispersed, but the supply line is also stretched very long. The German army can easily cut off our counterattack troops from both wings. Once this happens, it will take us a short time to attack the troops and fall into a desperate situation because of exhaustion of ammunition. At that time, we will wait for the fate of our commanders and fighters, either to die in battle or to be captured."
Speaking of this, Sokov deliberately paused and carefully observed the reactions of the two. Seeing that they were frowning and thinking hard about what he said, he continued: "According to my estimate, the battle to defend Stalingrad will soon end. If our unit of meritorious achievements is destroyed by the enemy on the eve of victory, it will be a huge blow to our army's morale."
Although Sokov had said many times before that if his troops went deeper alone, it was very likely to fall into the siege of the German army, neither Sidolin nor Ivanov seemed to be in the heart. They felt that even if the troops were trapped in the siege, as long as the troops in the north or south arrived, they might be able to bloom in a center and annihilate more enemies. At this moment, when hearing Sokov's heartfelt words, they couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
Seeing the two of them silent, Sokov struck while the iron was hot, "Think about it, if we can take steady steps, occupy an empty area, and wait for friendly troops to come and meet us, what kind of honor will we get then? If the troops are really trapped in the enemy's encirclement and are severely damaged, we will not only lose our contributions, but may also be sent to the military court."
"Comrade Commander, you don't have to say anything more." Ivanov raised his head and looked at Sokov and said, "I understand what you mean. In order to achieve the final victory, we need to control the rhythm of the offensive, so as not to turn from a winner to a loser. Comrade Chief of Staff, I agree with the commander's plan. What do you think?" He asked Cidolin later.
After thinking for a while, Sidolin looked at Sokov and asked, "Comrade Commander, where do you think our counterattack should go?"
"Our troops are about to launch an attack on the German third line of defense," Sokov pointed his finger at the location of the German defense line: "After breaking through this line of defense of the enemy, we will advance five to eight kilometers appropriately, and then order the troops to move into the defense on the spot. Do you understand?"
"I understand." Sidolin nodded and then asked, "Do you need to notify the leaders of the group?"
"Yes." Sokov agreed with Sidolin's opinion, thought for a while and added: "Chief of the Staff, you should specifically remind Lieutenant Colonel Papuchinko of the 122nd Regiment not to rush too hard. After completing the breakthrough, choose the right location to build fortifications to prevent the possible counterattacks by the Germans."
Ivanov was puzzled by Sokov's order: "Why should I remind the 122nd Regiment alone?"
"Col. Bere and the first tank battalion he commands are now in the defense zone of the 122nd Regiment." Sokov explained to Ivanov: "The equipment and tactics used in this tank battalion are different from other tank battalions. If they let them rush forward, perhaps there may be tanks that can really rush to the Don River in one breath."
If Sokov hadn't said that just now, Sidolin and Ivanov might be ecstatic when they heard that the troops could rush to the Don River, but at this moment they were worried that if they were aggressive, they might plunge into the middle of the enemy. Before the friendly troops on the periphery arrived, the aggressive troops would become lambs to be slaughtered, and what they would have to wait for was the fate of the destruction of the entire army.
Half an hour later, three infantry regiments deployed in front rushed towards the German defense line under the cover of the tank brigade. The German officers and soldiers who were retreating in a hurry never dreamed that the Soviet army would launch an unexpected attack at this moment. Some evacuated troops had to return to the trenches and block the attacking Soviet army.
Paulus, who was far away in Gumlak, was very surprised to learn that Sokov's troops had moved into the attack again. According to his idea, the Russian army's tactics were rigid. Once they turned into defense, they would not attack easily even if they saw the enemy retreating without receiving orders from superiors. However, the retreat orders of the 71st and 76th infantry divisions had been issued for a few hours. Not to mention that the Russians did not know, even if the commanders of his subordinates were not aware of it. In such a short time, the Russian superior command department could not issue the order to move into the attack. Unexpectedly, Sokov's troops seized the fighter's opportunity in time and launched an attack on the troops that were carrying out the retreat.
Everything that happened now was beyond Paulus's perception. After staring at the map on the wall for a long time, he turned around and asked Schmidt: "Chief of Staff, what's going on? Why did the Russians react so quickly. Our troops had just retreated, and Sokov's troops launched an attack? Is there Russian spies inside us?"
"Mr. Commander, I think there is no Russian spy inside us." Schmidt denied the possibility of Russian spies in the headquarters in a positive tone, and then analyzed to Schmidt: "According to reports from other regions, except for the 41st Guard Division stationed in Mamayevgang, the Russian troops in the other regions only fought small-scale battles with our army. According to my analysis, the attack in Mamayevgang area must be Colonel Sokov's personal behavior."
After all, Paulus was a famous general in the German army. He had received a good military education and quickly calmed down his emotions. After listening to Schmidt's analysis, he nodded and said, "Chief of Staff, you are right. This Colonel Sokov has always never played according to common sense, which has caused our troops to suffer a lot of losses. Sometimes, I even feel that he is not a Russian, or even a person from this world, because I don't feel like he is like the Russians I know at all."
"Hiss Commander." Schmidt asked for instructions after Paulus finished speaking, "What should we do? Should we continue to retreat, or stop to block the attack?"
Paulus turned around and stared at the map for a while, and said to Schmidt: "Chief of Staff, send a telegram to General Roskee immediately to stop his troops from transferring and to block the attack on the spot. In any case, the Russians cannot rush to the Don River and meet with their troops who went south or north.
As for General Rodenborg's 76th Infantry Division, since they were not attacked by the Russians, they were asked to continue to move to the Don River Basin as planned."
When Paulus's order was issued, Roskei was sitting in his bucket car, guarding an armored vehicle and three trucks full of soldiers, heading towards the Don River. A tricycle chased after him from behind and stopped not far from the bucket car. An officer wearing a big-brimmed hat jumped out of his sidewalk and trotted towards the bucket car.
When Roskai saw the officer who suddenly appeared, he quickly ordered the driver to stop the car. After the car stopped, the chief of staff sitting next to Roskai pushed open the car door and rushed over the officer and asked, "What's the matter?"
"Report to the Chief of Staff!" the officer quickly replied: "I just received a telegram from the Army Command, ordering our division to stop retreating and turn to defense on the spot to block the attacking Russians."
"Take me the telegram." After receiving the telegram from the officer, the Chief of Staff quickly browsed the contents above, then turned around and said to Roske: "Your Excellency the Division Command, it is indeed a telegram from the Army Command, and ordered our division to stop the transfer and go to defense on the spot."
After hearing this, Roske asked casually: "Since we ordered our division to move into defense, what about General Rodenborg's 76th Infantry Division? Will we also move into defense together?"
"No." The Chief of Staff shook his head and replied: "According to the command of the headquarters, the 76th Infantry Division continued to move to the Don River Basin, and only our division moved into defense on the spot."
"Damn bastard, isn't this letting our division stay and die?" Roske cursed in a low voice and said to the division chief of staff: "Leave a regiment to be used for the blocking mission, and the rest of the troops will continue to retreat to the Don River Basin as they were ordered."
"But, the commander, the commander ordered our division to move into defense. If we continue to retreat, it may be difficult to explain in the future." The Chief of Staff reminded Roske: "Do you think about it again?"
"Don't think about it, just give my order like this." Roske waved his hand and said carelessly: "If I pursue the investigation on the top of the mountain, I would say that it would continue to move to the Don River Basin so that the division command would not be attacked by the Russians."
After the officer left with Roskei's order, the convoy continued to advance. Roskei told the division chief: "Chief of staff, as usual, our division command is at least thirty kilometers away from the front. And now, we are only two or three kilometers away from the front. If the Russians break through the defense line of our division, their tanks will appear outside my command in less than ten minutes."
"You are right." The Chief of Staff of the Division agreed: "As the commander of the first division, there is indeed no need to establish the command center so close to the frontier. It poses a great threat to your safety. We should transfer the division headquarters to a safer place as soon as possible."
Seeing that the Chief of Staff agreed with him, Roske nodded and showed a satisfied smile on his face. As long as the Chief of Staff is consistent with his opinion, even if Paulus pursues it in the future, he can handle it with ease.
As the two were talking, the roar of the plane engine suddenly came from the air. The armored vehicle that was opening the road in front suddenly deviated from the road and drove towards the woods on the side of the road. The driver of the bucket truck suddenly activated the steering wheel and followed it to the side of the road.
The ground on the roadside was bumpy, and the driver drove the car quickly, causing Roske to jump out of his seat, and his head hit the roof of the car with heavy pain, so that his tears almost fell. He grabbed the back of the seat in front and shouted at the driver: "What are you doing, why drive the car to the side of the road?"
Chapter completed!