On the evening of New Year's Day, Sokov suddenly received a call from Cuikov, asking him to rush to the Army Headquarters immediately and say that there was something important.
Since Cuikov didn't say anything on the phone, Sokov could only think about it. Could it be that Cuikov called him over to celebrate New Year's Day and New Year? For Russians, this is equivalent to a grand festival like the Chinese Spring Festival, and maybe there is something delicious to eat.
Unexpectedly, when Sokov hurried to the Army Command, he saw an unexpected person sitting at the table and chatting with Cuikov and Krelov. Sokov hurriedly stepped forward, straightened his body and raised his hand to salute the other party: "Hello, Comrade Commander of the Front Army!"
The person sitting between Trekov and Krelov was the new commander of the Front Army, Rokosovsky. He saw Sokov's arrival, smiled at him and said, "Col. Sokov, you are here, we are waiting for you."
After Sokov stepped forward and shook hands with Rokosovsky, he saluted Trekov and Krelov, and then sat down in an empty seat next to the table.
"Comrades," Rokosovsky and others sat down, and continued: "Based on the information we have, Hitler's plan to seize Caucasian oil was not disappointed, so he denied Paulus' plan to break through the southwest and ordered the Sixth Army to continue to stay in the existing area to implement defense. In order to eliminate the surrounded enemies, I plan to launch an offensive battle called "Rings"....
The enemies surrounded by us now control a vast area of ​​60 kilometers long and 40 kilometers wide. If we launch an offensive, they will inevitably retreat to the Volga and Stalingrad regions, and you may suffer unprecedented difficulties.
Comrade Cui Kefu, I want to ask you, can the 62nd Army block the enemy's attack?"
"Of course, Comrade Commander of the Front." As soon as Rokosovsky finished speaking, Cuikov said confidently: "Since Paulus was unable to drive us into the Volga River in October, the most severe situation. Now, he could not break through the defense line of our army and move forward to the Volga River."
In order to let Rokosovsky understand his confidence, he drew a circle above the map with his hands, adding: "For us, the enemy in front of us is no longer a complete army, but a huge prisoner of war camp, but the enemy has not put down his weapons for the time being."
"I really didn't expect that you were so confident." After hearing Cuikov's words, Rokosovsky showed a satisfied smile on his face: "This is really great. It seems that we should indeed attack the enemy." In order to prevent Cuikov from underestimating the enemy, he also reminded him: "But Comrade Cuikov, I need to remind you that it is a bit too early to call them prisoners of war camps at this moment. Sometimes the injured beast bites even more fiercely. When the enemy is compressed by our troops to the vicinity of the Volga River and Stalingrad, they must resist wildly. Don't be bitten by this injured beast."
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army, please rest assured." Sokov saw Cui Kov wink at him and signaled himself to express his opinion. He stood up and said, "Although our troops are a little less and may not be enough for attack, there is no big problem to block the enemy's attack."
Regarding Sokov's answer, Rokosovsky nodded again with satisfaction, and then said to Cuikov: "Comrade Cuikov, considering your insufficient troops, after research by the Front Military Commission and reporting to the Supreme Command for approval, he decided to add a force in the field fortification area to you."
"The troops in the field building area?" Cui Kefu's face showed a confused expression.
Rokosovsky considered that Cuikov might not understand the system of this kind of force. After all, the other party had just returned to China and led his troops to participate in the defense of Stalingrad: "The army of the forging area is composed of command organs and some small troops with powerful firearms. We will assign you such troops to replace those troops withdrawing into the base camp reserve."
After giving the task, Rokosovsky said a few more words, then raised his hand and looked at the watch, glanced at everyone, and asked, "Do you want anything else to add?"
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I have a request." Sokov was worried that it would be difficult for Rokosovsky to contact him again after he left, so he rushed to say, "Can we equip some artillery?"
"Architecture?!" When Rokosovsky heard Sokov's question, he looked at Cuikov in confusion. Seeing that the other party was also confused, he guessed that he might not understand the situation, so he asked Sokov directly: "Col. Sokov, can you tell me what to do with artillery?"
"For urban attacks, comrades, commander of the Front Army." Sokov explained to Rokosovsky: "The enemy's battle against the city, and he deeply realized that fighting in cities, not only attacks, but also in the use of long frontal trenches for defense, he cannot adopt the tactics of fighting positions in the field. With many painful experiences, the enemy learned to use the most solid buildings and residential basements as support points for their stubborn resistance. If we want to seize these support points from the enemy, we must use artillery on a large scale."
Sokov's words aroused the curiosity of everyone. Cuikov asked on behalf of everyone: "Col. Sokov, tell us how do you plan to use artillery to assist the infantry in seizing the support points occupied by the enemy?"
"The buildings in the city that have not been completely destroyed are very strong." Seeing that everyone wanted to know the answer, Sokov explained to them: "If we still follow the previous tactics and prepare for artillery fire for the target we are going to attack before attacking, it will not only consume a large amount of shells, but also the results of the battle are not ideal. Therefore, I considered pulling the artillery to a few hundred meters away from the building defended by the enemy and shooting directly. With just a few shots, it can destroy the enemy's firepower point and blow the walls of the building out of holes that are enough for people to pass through. In this way, our assault troops can rush into the building calmly and eliminate the enemies entrenched in it."
"Interesting, interesting." Rokosovsky couldn't help but nodded repeatedly when he heard this, saying in praise: "Col. Sokov, your tactics are very novel and should play a great role in the city's tough problems."
Seeing that the time was almost over, Rokosovsky stood up again and said, "The 'Ring' operation will officially begin on January 10. Before that, you can send someone to persuade the surrounded German army to surrender. If someone can take the initiative to put down his weapons and surrender, it would be better."
When he heard Rokosovsky say he would send someone to persuade the German army to surrender, Cuikov took the initiative to propose: "Commander of the Front Army, I think Colonel Sokov will be responsible for the work of persuading surrender. You don't know that his reputation among the Germans is much more important than mine. If he takes action, I believe that he will definitely achieve good results."
Chapter completed!