On the day of the meeting, Sokov arrived at the position of the 122nd Regiment an hour earlier.
Seeing Sokov's arrival, Colonel Bere and Lieutenant Colonel Papchinko came out. Berere smiled and said to Sokov: "Misha, after several months of hard fighting, we finally waited for the day of meeting."
"Yes, comrade Colonel." Sokov said, holding the other party's hand, "To achieve this goal, we have thousands of commanders and civilians who have fallen into this hero's city."
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," After entering the regiment command post, Sokov asked Lieutenant Colonel Papchinko directly: "How many people are left in your regiment now?"
"There are more than 1,400 wounded people in the entire regiment company." Papuchinko said with some concern: "Comrade Commander, I'm worried that this amount of troops will be used to attack the German positions, so it may not be enough."
"Don't worry, comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Before Sokov could speak, Bethlei interrupted, "I have already transferred back the other two tank battalions overnight. Now we can concentrate more than 30 tanks and seven or eight self-propelled artillery to cooperate with your attack. There should be no big problem in breaking through the enemy's position."
Although Sokov was a little dissatisfied with the practice of transferring the other two tank battalions of the Tank Brigade without asking for instructions. However, considering that all the tanks were concentrated, at least they could gain the advantage of weapons and equipment in the situation, he avoided the matter and said to Papchinko: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I have agreed with the deputy division commander and political commissar that they will draw troops from the area they are responsible for before the attack begins. In this way, you will have enough troops to launch an attack on the German positions."
When he learned that his troops would receive cooperation from the tank brigade and friendly troops during the attack, Papuqinko showed a relaxed expression on his face: "Comrade Commander, since the cooperation of the tank brigade and friendly troops, I believe it should not be difficult to break through the enemy's position."
"Ltd Colonel," Sokov shook his head gently after hearing the other party's statement, saying, "It is not enough to break through the enemy's position. We also have to rush to meet with the friendly troops on the opposite side. I'll ask you now, how long does it take to break through the enemy's defense?"
"This is hard to say." Lieutenant Colonel Papuchinko said a little embarrassedly about Sokov's problem: "You know that the enemy's fortifications are all facing us. Even with the support of tanks and self-propelled artillery, it is very difficult to break through quickly."
"There are certain difficulties. No matter whether it is easy for you to break through the enemy's defense, even if you come to the friendly forces that we meet, it is not easy to break through the enemy's position in one go." Sokov continued, "How long does it take?"
"I think, I think," Papuchinko said two consecutive "I think" and finally said something: "I think it's time to wait until noon as soon as possible to meet with friendly forces."
"No." Sokov was very dissatisfied with Papchinko's answer. He shook his head and said, "I can't wait until noon."
"Comrade," seeing Sokov rejecting his plan without hesitation, Papuqinko asked guiltily: "How long do you plan to give us?"
"Eleventh hour." Sokov said without hesitation: "We must achieve our reunion with our friendly forces at eleven o'clock."
"Meet at 11 o'clock?" Papuqinko said in embarrassment: "Comrade Commander, is time too tight?"
"Not tight at all." Sokov shook his head and said, "Your regiment starts attacking from 8:30, and there are two and a half hours of time, which is enough to break through the enemy's defense."
"Comrade," Papuchinko tried to change his mind, and said carefully: "Look, can we leave more time for us..."
"The combat order has been issued, and a meeting with friendly forces must be achieved at 11 o'clock." Sokov said in an unquestionable tone: "If you feel that you cannot do this, I can let your deputy commander or chief of staff take over your command."
"Comrade Commander, what happened?" Ivanov's voice came from the door: "The war is imminent, why do you think of the military commander who wants to change the regiment?"
"Comrade Deputy Commander, you are here." Sokov looked behind Ivanov, but did not see Anisimov's shadow, so he asked curiously: "Where is the political commissar?"
"He is far away from here than me, and it may take a while before he can bring the troops here." After Ivanov finished speaking, he took the initiative to say without waiting for Sokov to ask again: "I brought a full battalion with nearly 500 people, so that they can participate in the attack."
"Very good." Sokov nodded and said, "Let them follow behind the 122nd Regiment later."
"By the way, comrade of the division commander." Ivanov looked at Papchinko standing next to him, remembering his question just now. Sokov had not answered himself, so he asked again: "What happened just now? When I entered the door, why did you hear you talking about the military commander of the regiment being changed?"
"That's right," Sokov glared at Lieutenant Colonel Papuchinko and explained to Ivanov. "I asked Lieutenant Colonel Papuchinko to meet with the friendly forces opposite at eleven o'clock. But he said it might not be possible, so I said that if he couldn't do it, I would change a commander who could do it to take over his position."
"So that's how it is." After Ivanov figured out what happened, he looked at Papchinko, who was blushing on his face and smiled at Sokov: "Comrade Commander, I don't think the commander needs to be replaced. With Lieutenant Colonel Papchinko's ability, he can definitely meet with the friendly troops coming from the opposite side at eleven o'clock."
Sokov was actually just talking angry, and he didn't think of replacing Lieutenant Colonel Papuchinko. At this moment, since Ivanov pleaded with mercy, he said with the flow: "Okay, since the deputy division commander said that, there is no need to replace the position of the regiment commander, and Lieutenant Colonel Papuchinko will continue to be the position of Lieutenant Colonel Papuchinko."
The troops led by Anisimov arrived when the opposite army launched an attack on the enemy. He walked into the command post, listened to the rumbling cannons coming from the opposite side, and said to Sokov with a smile: "Comrade Commander, it seems that I am here just in time. The 23rd Infantry Division on the opposite side is launching an attack on the enemy."
"Comrade Political Commissar," Sokov had just arranged the offensive sequence. When he saw Anisimov appear, he said to him: "When you attack later, the 122nd Regiment will be the first echelon, the 124th Regiment will be the second echelon, and the troops you lead will be the third echelon. Do you understand?"
When Anisimov heard that the troops he brought were actually assigned to the third echelon, he felt disappointed. This meant that the honor of meeting with friendly forces could only belong to the first and second echelons. However, his years of military career had made him develop the good habit of obedience. He quickly straightened his body and replied: "I understand, comrade in the division commander."
Sokov raised his hand and looked at the watch. Seeing that there were only twenty minutes left before the attack began, he ordered Bere: "Col. Bilei, please go back to the brigade immediately and let all the tanks and self-propelled artillery be launched. When the time comes, guide the infantry to attack the enemy's positions."
"Comrade Commander," Anisimov, who came the latest, did not know how Sokov's attack steps were arranged. But when he heard that the tank brigade of Bere's directly guided the infantry to charge, he couldn't help saying: "Before the attack begins, should we prepare artillery fire on the enemy's positions?"
"No, no, no," Sokov waved his hand and said, "We are only a few hundred meters away from the enemy's position. With tanks as the first path, infantry follow them and will soon rush to the enemy's position. There is no need to waste precious shells."
Shortly after Bere left, Sokov heard the roar of the tank engines coming from outside. It seemed that all the tanks and self-propelled artillery were launched and ready for an attack.
"Ltd. Colonel Papchinko," Since the tank brigade was ready for the attack, Sokov ordered Papchinko: "Immediately let your officers enter the offensive position, and immediately launch an attack on the enemy's position as soon as the three red flares are lifted."
Chapter completed!