When Belkin received the order, he was immediately happy to learn that Paulus's headquarters might be located in the basement of the department store. Therefore, judging from the overall distribution of Soviet troops, his regiment was closest to him, that is, as long as the enemy's headquarters was confirmed, he would seize Paulus alive, which would be recorded in history, and would fall on his head.
Therefore, as soon as he received the order, he did not dare to neglect and immediately sent a reconnaissance team to the residential area near the department store to observe the movements of the department store from a distance.
However, in order to prevent members of the reconnaissance team from being captured by the German army, they would confess to the reconnaissance mission. Therefore, when he arranged the mission, he did not tell the team leader, saying that he was to verify whether Paulus's headquarters was in the department store. Instead, he told the other party that there might be a German army-level command unit in the department store. The task of the reconnaissance team was to confirm whether the information was accurate.
The reconnaissance team was dispatched while the night was dark. Shortly after dawn, the team leader used the phone to have a call with Belkin directly: "Comrade Commander, we have carefully observed the department store."
Seeing that the other party had a report back so soon, Belkin felt ecstatic and asked quickly: "Comrade Sergeant, is there anything unusual in the department store?"
"Some." The sergeant leading the team replied: "There are double-layer barbed wire around the department store, and landmines should be buried in the middle. The windows of the building are piled with sandbags, which look like fire points..."
When Belkin heard this, he couldn't help but interrupt the other party's words: "Sergeant, I know that the enemy will convert the stone buildings into a solid fire point. Please tell me directly whether the enemy has established a command center in the department store?"
"In the parking lot on the front of the department store, there were more than 30 vehicles of various types parked." The sergeant reported: "I looked carefully and saw eight trucks with tents, two armored vehicles, and the rest were barrel trucks, with almost twenty."
"Sergeant, what did you say? There are almost twenty bucket trucks?" Belkin couldn't help but feel ecstatic. He knew what it meant to have so many bucket trucks in a parking lot. He quickly asked again: "Apart from the vehicles parked in the parking lot, are there any other vehicles entering and leaving?"
"Yes, comrade leader." The sergeant replied, "There have been a constant stopping in front of the department store and then drove away quickly."
"What kind of vehicles are there?"
"It's basically all barrel trucks, and some motorcycles. By the way, I drove five or six tanks, and they parked inside the barbed wire, close to the building."
Just from what the sergeant said, Belkin could not determine whether Paulus's headquarters was located in the department store. He continued to ask: "Who are there people entering and leaving? Can you see clearly?"
"Can see clearly." The sergeant replied without hesitation: "I saw through the telescope that, except for a few lieutenant-level officers, all the school officials wearing silver plates and ellipticals were in and out, and even several generals. But because they quickly got into the bucket cart when they went out, I couldn't see their ranks clearly..."
"Enough, comrade Sergeant, you don't have to say anything more, I understand." Belkin had concluded at this moment that even if there was no Paulus's headquarters in the department store, there was at least one army-level command. He ordered the sergeant: "Continue to observe, and report to me immediately if you find any new situation."
After finishing the call with the sergeant, Belkin called the division headquarters in Mamayevgang. After hearing Sokov's voice, he immediately repeated the situation reported by the scouts to Sokov. He finally asked: "Misha, do you think Paulus will really set up the headquarters in the department store?"
"My political commissar," Sokov could basically confirm in his heart that Paulus's headquarters, like history, was still located in the basement of the department store. He said to the microphone: "If it were only a division-level or even a military-level command, there would not be so many barrels in the parking lot; secondly, there would not be a few tanks. Therefore, I concluded that it must be the location of Paulus' headquarters. You have to send someone to monitor the place closely. If there is any situation, report it to me immediately."
"I have done this. I have arranged a reconnaissance team in the ruins near the department store. They will report the information there to me in time." Berkin said this and told Sokov that it was not bad or bad: "Misha, according to the scouts' report, the troops of the 64th Army have rushed into the south of the city and are fighting against the enemy. I believe that they will probably reach our location soon."
"I understand." Sokov heard his concern from Belkin's words. Once the 64th Army troops arrived at the Central District, the superiors might naturally order them to eliminate the enemies of the south residential area and the Central District. At that time, the opportunity to capture Paulus will fall into their hands. Sokov said to Belkin: "I will let you attack the department store at the right time."
When he learned that Sokov would let his shrinking regiment attack the department store at the right time, Berkin took a reassurance. He assured Sokov: "Misha, don't worry. I will closely monitor the movements of the enemy in the department store and prepare the attacking troops. Just wait for your order, we will attack the department store with all our strength."
After Sokov put down the phone, he said to Sidolin, who was surrounded by him, and Ivanov and others: "According to the report of Commander Belkin, I am 80% sure that Paulus has set up the headquarters in the department store."
Although Sokov had long told everyone that Paulus's headquarters was in the department store, everyone was always half-believing and half-doubted. Now he heard what he said, he thought this statement should be more reliable. Ivanov said, "Comrade Commander, if you really want to attack the department store, the reduction regiment's strength may not be enough. I think more troops should be transferred to rush over to reinforce."
Sokov also knew that the more troops attacking the department store, the smoother the battle. But at this moment, his regiments were distributed on the wide front of the defense. Even if they wanted to draw troops, they were still willing but not enough. Seeing Sokov's face was embarrassed, Cidolin suggested to him: "Comrade Commander, I have an idea. Why not report this matter to the commander and ask him to send troops to replace the defense of Mamayevgang, so that we can draw more troops to attack the department store."
Sokov thought about Sidolin's proposal for a long time and thought it was very reasonable. Once Cuikov knew that Paulus's headquarters was in the department store, he would definitely support him with all his strength. Therefore, as long as he grasped Paulus, the merits established by the 62nd Army could be recorded in history. This temptation is probably something that no one can refuse.
Thinking of this, Sokov nodded and agreed to Cidolin's proposal: "Chief of Staff, you are right. To completely defeat the enemy, we need to get the cooperation of friendly forces. I will call the commander and report this to him."
Not long after, Cuikov received a call from Sokov. After listening to Sokov's report patiently, he asked cautiously: "Col. Sokov, can you really confirm that the new German headquarters is located in the department store?"
"Yes, comrade Commander, I can assure you that the enemy's headquarters is located in the basement of the department store." Sokov said this in a positive tone and added: "But the enemy's headquarters has strong defense power. It may be difficult to take down the department store by relying solely on the strength of our division. Therefore, I hope you can get your help."
"Help?" Cuikov asked angrily and amused when he heard Sokov say this: "How do you plan to ask me to help you? You know, I don't have any extra troops in my hands."
"Comrade Commander, you can make a request to the leader of the front army and ask them to send you reinforcements." Seeing that Cuikov was so embarrassed, Sokov gave him advice: "Say that if you have enough troops in your hands, you can eliminate the enemies entrenched in the city as soon as possible."
"Col. Sokov, I definitely can't help you here." Cuikov poured a basin of cold water on Sokov. "As far as I know, the 64th Army troops attacked very quickly, and they could reach Mamayev's hill in a maximum of four or five days. Even if I request reinforcements to Commander Rokosovsky, the new troops would arrive at least half a month later. By then, Paulus had become a prisoner of the 64th Army."
"Comrade Commander, are we just watching such a good opportunity slipping away from ourselves?"
"Of course not." Cui Kefu thought that he had fought hard in the city for several months, and seeing victory was in sight, if the 64th Army easily picked the fruits of his victory, even if he didn't say it, he would be sorry for the bloody commanders and fighters under his commanders and fighters who fought and died in blood. He slapped his hands on the table and said, "How can we give it to others easily? Don't worry, Colonel Sokov, although we can't help you much, someone can help you."
"Can anyone help me?" Sokov's words made Sokov feel a little puzzled, "Who is it?"
"It's Batov's 65th Army." Cuikov said to Sokov: "Before you call, I had just received a call from Commander Rokosovsky. He told me that the 23rd Infantry Division of Batov's army was considering Mamayev's side. If the situation was ideal, you would be able to join you in less than two days. As long as you join, you can hand over the defense of Mamayev's side to them, and then draw some troops from the division to participate in the attack on the department store."
"This is really great." Sokov was overjoyed to learn that a friendly army was coming to meet him. As long as the two divisions united together, they only needed to leave a small amount of troops to defend themselves, and then they could concentrate the main forces of the two divisions and launch an attack on the department store.
"Tell you good news." Sokov put down the phone and said to Sidolin standing next to him. "The 65th Army has an infantry division that is moving closer to our army. It is estimated that the meeting will be completed in two or three days. As long as the two divisions join forces, we will have enough troops to attack the department store and capture Paulus alive."
"In addition, there will be two or three days, friendly troops will come to meet with us." This unexpected good news made Cidolin overjoyed, "That is to say, at most, in three to four days, we will be able to launch the final attack on the German army."
"Chief of Staff, you are wrong." As soon as Cidolin finished speaking, Ivanov corrected him and said: "It is the command to attack Paulus. The enemy's strength is still so strong that it is still very difficult to destroy them."
"Comrade in command," Sidolin was not angry, but continued to ask Sokov: "What preparations should we make in the past few days?"
"Order all troops to temporarily stop attacking the enemy." Sokov replied: "Let the commanders and fighters accumulate their strength and wait until they meet to gain enough physical strength and high morale to launch an attack on Paulus Command."
"What, order all troops to suspend the attack?" Sidolin immediately questioned the plan proposed by Sokov: "Comrade Commander, under the current situation, even if we stop the attack, will the enemy give up?"
"Don't worry, the Germans are already facing the dilemma of running out of ammunition and food." Sokov smiled faintly and said, "The soldiers are not full, so where can they have the strength to fight? If we don't attack, they will definitely be eager. Besides, we can numb the enemy and make them think that we are not able to launch a new attack. When they completely relax their vigilance, we will launch another attack and will definitely defeat them."
When he saw Sidolin picking up the phone and preparing to give orders to the commanders of each regiment, Sokov remembered another important thing and quickly ordered the other party: "By the way, Comrade Chief of Staff, there is another important thing that I almost forgot. You tell the commanders of each regiment that although the military attack has stopped, the political offensive against the enemy cannot be stopped."
"Are you still shouting to the enemy's position?" Anisimov couldn't help but interrupt and asked.
"Yes, in addition to calling out to the enemy's positions, we must also prepare enough food in the front positions, and then let Comrade Ubrich tell the enemy opposite that as long as we put down our weapons and run over, we can give them food. As for whether they stay or go back after eating, we will all listen to it."
Sokov's words made Anisimovre soured and tender. He opened his mouth in surprise and stared at Sokov in a daze. After a while, he murmured: "Comrade Commander, I heard it right? Is it appropriate to let the enemy come and eat and let them go back?"
Chapter completed!