The days of being stationed in Luhansk were still ordinary, patrolling the positions, supervising the submersible repair of fortifications, and the time passed step by step.
March was about to enter. At noon that day, Lieutenant Colonel Papuchenko personally sent a dirty officer. He introduced to Sokov: "Comrade division commander, this is the railway station."
Lieutenant Vanyusha, the military representative.”
"Lieutenant Vanyusha, what happened?" Sokov knew that the train station was located fifteen kilometers southwest of Lugansk, and a lot of military supplies transported from the rear were stored there. "Why are you in such a mess?
"
"Comrade Colonel," Vanyusha replied with a sad face, "the train station has been lost."
"What, the train station has been lost?" Vaniusa's words startled everyone in the room.
"Is this true?" Sokov asked with a straight face.
"Yes, of course it is true, Comrade Colonel."
"How did this happen?" Sokov asked again.
"This morning before dawn, a military train came into the station. Our soldiers on duty thought it was supplies shipped from Moscow, so they didn't pay attention." Vanyusha explained: "Unexpectedly, when the train stopped, from above
What came down was the Germans. They had about a battalion of troops. As soon as they got out of the car, they took action immediately. The soldiers on duty were either captured or stabbed to death with daggers. The enemy almost made no sound.
Controlled most of the station.
Not long after, the second military column came again. This time there was almost a battalion of troops coming down from the military column, and there were also three Panzer IV tanks..."
When Sokov heard this, he interrupted Vanyusha's words and asked sternly: "Comrade Lieutenant, please tell me, whose hands are Bi Zhen now? Our army or the Germans?"
"I can't explain this clearly," Vanyusha replied in a panic: "When I escaped from the town, the fighting was still going on. There must be part of the town still in the hands of our army."
The town of Bile is fifteen kilometers away from Lugansk, but only ten kilometers away from the 122nd Regiment's position. Once the enemy captures the entire town, they can use that as the starting point for their attack and launch a continuous attack on the 122nd Regiment's position at any time.
Continuous attacks. Sokov faced Papuchenko and asked with a serious expression: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you were on the phone just now, why didn't you report this directly? Do you know that if you do this, it will easily delay the fighter's opportunity?"
"Comrade Commander, I feel that this matter is of great importance and I need to report it to you in person." Papuchenko, who was criticized, replied aggrievedly: "I was worried that I could not explain clearly on the phone, so I brought Lieutenant Vanusha here in person.
"
"According to Lieutenant Vanyusha's report, there are at least two battalions of German troops in the town, and there are also three tanks." After having a general understanding of the strength of the German army, Sidorin reminded Sokov: "If we want to recapture Bile,
We have to dispatch at least one regiment of troops to the town. But doing so will disrupt our army’s defense deployment. What do you think we should do?”
"We must find a way to recapture the town of Bile," Sokov said with a serious expression: "Once the enemy gains a foothold in the town of Bile, they can use it as a starting point for their attack and launch an attack on Lugansk at any time. Don't
It seems that we have repelled the German attacks several times some time ago, but that was because they were far away from their main force and base and lacked the strength for follow-up attacks. As long as one attack fails to succeed, we will not be able to fight again."
"Misha is right." Regarding Sokov's statement, Bely agreed: "We must take advantage of the German army's unstable foothold to recapture the town of Bile as soon as possible, and we must not let them use it as a starting point for the attack.
"
"But, which troops should we use?" Sidorin said in embarrassment: "Now the three Guards regiments have their own defense areas. If they are mobilized casually, it will easily disrupt our overall defense."
"Deploy one battalion from each regiment and add two tank battalions." Sokov knew the importance of the town of Bile and decided to take a risk. It would be great if the town could be recaptured, but even if it could not be recaptured, it could still disrupt the situation.
The German offensive steps. "We launched an attack on the town around two o'clock in the afternoon. We must take back the town from the Germans."
"Misha, even if we dispatch three battalions, the number of troops we can use will not exceed 4,000." Although Bely agreed with Sokov's plan to retake the town as soon as possible, he still raised his concerns: "And the Germans
Through the railway line, we will continue to increase troops into the town of Bile. I am afraid that by the time our attack begins, the number of enemies in the town will have far exceeded us."
"Immediately send a small team on motorcycles and armored vehicles, carrying explosives and landmines, and rush to the railway line to destroy the railway and delay the arrival of the main German army in Bile Town." After Sokov issued this order,
Thinking of the agreement between himself and Krylov, he continued: "I will call General Krylov again and ask him to send troops to assist us."
Sidorin asked tentatively: "Will General Krylov agree?"
"If the German army gains a foothold in Bile Town, they can not only launch an attack on Luhansk at any time. At the same time, they may also attack our 21st Group Army to the south." When Sokov said this, he was not confident.
That's enough. Don't look at what Krylov promised himself when he took office, but it's hard to say whether he will change his mind when things come to an end. But in order to regain the town of Bile, Sokov decided
Touching tone: "I'll call General Krylov first and find out what he means."
The call was quickly connected. When he learned that the call was from Sokov, Krylov seemed very enthusiastic: "Hello, Colonel Sokov, why did you remember to call me?"
"That's it, Comrade General." Sokov thought of asking for help from the other party, and said with some embarrassment: "I have encountered some troubles and need your help."
"Oh, Colonel Sokov, I'm so sorry." Krylov rushed to say before Sokov could finish his words: "You also know that my troops just participated in the battle to defend Stalingrad not long ago.
, the consumed soldiers, weapons and ammunition have not had time to be replenished, and the strength has not been restored, so I am afraid that I will not be able to help you."
When Sokov heard this, he felt a bit familiar. When he refused to borrow money many years ago, he used this tone: I'm sorry, I bought too many things during this period, and I have almost used up the money. Salary
There's no other way, I can't lend it to you for the time being.
"Comrade General," Sokov knew that if he begged hard, Krylov might refuse even more thoroughly, so he directly changed the topic and took the initiative in his own hands: "You know why I want to
Do you want help?"
"Why?" Krylov asked.
"According to the latest news I got, the German army has occupied the Piraeus train station, and is still sending troops to this small town through the railway." In order to prevent Krylov from rejecting him again, Sokov explained the seriousness of the problem.
He told the other party: "Once the enemy establishes a foothold in Bile Town, they can use it as the starting point for their attack. Not only can they attack Luhansk at any time, but they can also attack your defense area."
"What, the Germans have occupied the town of Bile?" Krylov, as a commander with a background as a staff officer, naturally knows the location of the town of Bile and its significance. "Is this news reliable?"
"Completely reliable, Comrade General." Hearing that Krylov's attitude seemed a little relaxed, Sokov quickly struck while the iron was hot and said: "I am preparing to organize troops to launch a counterattack against Bile Town. Due to the lack of troops, I hope you can
Send a force to support us from the flank."
"Okay, Colonel Sokov." In order to prevent the German army from gaining a foothold in Bile Town, Krylov readily agreed to Sokov's request: "I am going to send a division to support you. When you are ready,
Launch an attack?"
"Two o'clock in the afternoon."
"Don't worry, my troops will be ready to enter combat positions before two o'clock in the afternoon."
